Page 114 of Anathema Codex

“Which won’t be for a long time,” I add. Lifting her hand, I place a kiss on her knuckles and then pull her closer, but just as I lean down to kiss her lips… she laughs and turns away. A rush of heat hits my face and I want to yank her back, but then she strokes my cheek, and those blue eyes freeze me in place.

“Oh, Aftyn.” She shakes her head, that beautiful smile keeping me transfixed. “I still can’t believe Lakyn had a son, and that you found your way to me.” Her voice has that dreamy quality, and I know Luminescence or Raindrop likely gave her more of the ambrosia. It irks me because she never quite sees me when she’s had it. The sex is fucking amazing after a cup of the stuff, but whenever she’s drank it, and I haven’t, things are a lot less fun.

“I thought you said you wouldn’t bring him up anymore,” I remind her, because I’m sure she doesn’t actually remember that conversation right now. When her smile doesn’t even flicker, I push down the anger and try and focus on the peace I felt just a moment ago, but it’s fucking hard. Huffing, I release her hand to shove my hair back from my forehead, but she just winds her arm through mine and turns us back toward the home we share.

“Did I say that?” she asks absently, and I sigh. It’s not her fault she’s like this. The Daughter just exists in a different way than the rest of us, and I have to remind myself of that sometimes. But I love her, so it’s not hard to forgive her, and since forgiveness is just another form of freedom I choose to take that path.

“Yes, Daughter, you did,” I answer. My tongue is so dry it sticks to the roof of my mouth as I speak, and I clear my throat. “But I was on my way to get something to drink when you found me. I need to—"

“Sun Wolf has lunch waiting for us.”

“Just us?” I ask, looking down at her so I can try and figure out if she’s trying to invite Sun Wolf into our bed again. I already told her no on that. She’s mine. She was always meant to be mine just like I was meant to end up here. Lakyn was just the dark conduit that brought me to The Daughter.

“Yes, my dear Aftyn. Just us.” With those words I feel that heady lightness return, and I know this is the Light working through her again. Whenever we’re apart for too long, I can feel the darkness creeping back in, threatening to drag me down again… but she always saves me. She always sets me free again, pushes the empty black away until there is only love and Light.

I can’t pretend to be happy when I see Sun Wolf and Luminescence in our house, but the sight of the ceramic pitcher is enough to bring a polite smile to my face.

“Daughter, we’ve prepared a private meal as you requested,” Sun Wolf says, and I feel like I could levitate off the floor. I know how important it is for everyone here to see her, to spend time with her, and that’s why I try to give her space when she needs it, but today shechoseme. Over all of them.

Over Sun Wolf.

Take that, fucker.

My smile is definitely more of a smirk right now, but both of them are too focused on The Daughter to notice.

“Aftyn is thirsty,” she says, waving a hand gracefully at the pitcher. “Luminescence, will you pour him a cup?”

“Of course, Daughter.”

“Thanks,” I say as she hands it over, and even though the scent of the ambrosia hits my nose to warn me it’s not water, I still chug the whole damn wooden goblet down. That warm hum kicks off in my stomach a few seconds later, and all I feel is relief that at least she won’t be the only one swooning in the Light in a few minutes.

“More?” Luminescence offers, and I wordlessly offer the goblet as I watch Sun Wolf and The Daughter whispering together while he removes her crown.

Jealousy is just another kind of darkness that keeps us away from the Light, but I can’t deny feeling it. Just like I can’t deny the urge to shove him away from her, but it fades when she smiles at me and I can see that lustful glint in her eye.

Sun Wolf may have her ear, but I’ll have her in our bed as soon as these two leave.

“So, we’re having lunch in here today?” I ask, gently reminding The Daughter that it’s supposed to be aprivatelunch, but it’s Sun Wolf who takes the hint.

“Yes. The Daughter has had a busy morning and has requested to spend time with the One True Soul Lover of Light. Please call on us if you need anything.” Bowing his head slightly toward The Daughter, he holds out his hand for Luminescence and they leave together, shutting us into the small home we share.

The Daughter steps closer to me and this time when I lean down to kiss her, she doesn’t turn away. Her lips are perfect, sweet, and warm, and even though a part of my brain is aware that the rush of tingles over my skin is likely due to the ambrosia, I really don’t give a fuck. Every second with her is vibrant and more fulfilling than any night with any whore I’ve ever bent over the end of a bed.

“You look so much like him,” she whispers against my lips, and it’s only the rolling heat of the ambrosia that keeps the darkness of my anger at bay.

“Don’t talk about him.”

“Why, Aftyn?” she asks, tilting her gaze up at me as she trails her fingers over my ribs. “You are a part of him. The best parts of him, from what I can see.”

“Right,” I scoff.

“You are,” The Daughter insists as she reaches up to cup the side of my face. “Just as handsome. Driven. Dedicated. Yet you are capable of holding the Light inside you in a way I fear he’s lost.”

“Can we just—”

She laughs and I can feel my teeth grinding as I bite down on the suggestion to get in bed.

“What are you laughing at?”

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