Page 9 of Falling in Love with A Tiny Bat

But…like…

Since we’re on the topic of souls…

Sending me asoulmate?

Are You serious?

I’m not okay with this turn of events.

Also—with all the respect and love You know I have in my heart—blackmailing me into this situation withan infantis mega rude. I’ve read the Bible. IknowYou have a sense of humor, and Iknoweverything will turn out to the goodness of Your glory and all that in the end, but, see, that does not help me right now.

Sniffing, I close my eyes to hold back tears and feelings andpanicthat I am not willing to address at this time.

In the blessed silence, I give myself the space to listen to the sorts of voices that don’t speak with words. Sometimes—when I was younger and terrified and surrounded by dozens of unseen chittering faeries—the quietest Voice was the only thing that kept me going.

In spite of the abuse.

In spite of the dark picture of God my mother hammered into me.

In spite of being forced to live a single door away from the biggest monster I have ever known.

Somewhere, deep inside, the softest sensation of love lived, and I knew it couldn’t belong to me.

Because, for so many years, allIhad left to give washate.

“Yes,” I mutter when that insipid unspoken sensation draws an insipid better-left-unspoken thought into my skull. “Alexiosispretty like an anime character.” Ya girl doesnotsee where that even reaches the top ten of important points right at this exact moment.

But Ya girl does appreciate You looking out for her in such nonsensical ways.

Heaving a sigh, I open my eyes and let the cool night console me.

I have got to stop being one of Your strongest soldiers. These twelve-on, twelve-off shifts are getting crazy. I need a break.Please. I need a break. A discharge. At least inactive duty.

“Snowflake?”

My stomach drops into my toes as I turn to find Alexios wandering through the evening like a wraith. The instant my eyes are on him, he stops. Takes a step back.

Scanning me from head to toe, he asks, “What’s wrong?”

“You got here fast.”

“You beckoned.” With all the elegance in the world, he bows. “I exist to serve.”

Facing him squarely, I cross my arms. “That’s a concerning statement coming from a faerie. You good, bro?”

His smile is devious and devilishly handsome when he lifts his head. “I did not specifywhoI exist to serve. It could be my prince, myself…or even you—if you could make it worth my time.”

My gut tangles up in knots at the mere notion.

“I believe I asked what’s wrong,” he says.

Well. For one, I have a flirty faerie soulmate in my driveway.

And, for two, I’m about to bind myself to him.Forever.

Instead of saying that, though, I gather my nerve and lift my chin. “Are we not about to make a life-changing deal?”

Moonlight shines across his perfect white teeth. “Ah, I see. You’re nervous?”

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