Page 125 of Stolen
His chest rumbles. His voice cracks. And the very air around him shimmers with magic.
“You do matter. You matter the most. Myrrin, you areeverything,” he swears. “Not because of what I was trying to do, tricking the Fates, which I obviously failed at because our bond is real. And not because the realm chose you. But becauseIdid. Because the moment I stopped trying to fake my destiny, youbecameit.”
The silence between us is thick with heat, heartbreak, and all the things we haven’t said yet.
I shiver, cold for some reason, and a moment later a fireplace appears, roaring to life.
I smile softly and watch as it crackles and warms me to the bone.
The bond hums between us, not just magical—but raw,real.
And I don’t know what tomorrow brings, or whether Nightfall will ever be safe again.
But this man, this Demon, thisLord—he is mine. And I think I’m his.
If I can forgive him.
If I can get past the how and why of it.
“I need to know you’re not just enchanted by the idea of this bond,” I whisper. “That if it faded tomorrow, you’d still want me.”
He leans forward, bracing his forearms on his knees, his voice low and rough.
“The bond exists because of us, Jules. It isn’t separate, but even if all of magic blinked out of existence, I would still chase you across a thousand realms to earn your heart again. You are not a convenience. You are not a tool for me to gain power. You are my viyella. My one true mate. I swear to you witheverythingI am, that is the truth.”
I let that sit for a moment.
Then I speak.
“And you won’t get tired of me? Won’t someday decide the bartender with too many opinions isn’t worth the trouble?”
His jaw tightens.
“Never. You aremine, Jules. Not because of fate. Not because of prophecy. Or arrogance. But because I love you.” A pause.
“I am in love with you, Jules Strano. You are my one trueviyella. Only you.”
He says it so simply.
So devastatingly.
I forget how to breathe.
“Did you hear me, Myrrin? I love you,” he repeats. “More than crowns, more than glory. If this realm asked me to choose between saving it or saving you—gods forgive me, I’d choose you.”
And that’s when I know.
The darkness here is real.
The danger is endless.
But this man? This Demon Dragon Lord?
He’s the light I never saw coming. A storm wrapped in flame and shadow, and yet somehow, he’s become my anchor.
My home.
And I’ll fight for him. For this fragile, terrifying, exhilarating thing between us. Forus.
