Page 116 of Anathema Codex

Ourlove.

Not Ichabod’s.

Not Aftyn’s.

Not that Trixie’s either.

Ours.

That’s the only thing that’s making me fight this sick feeling inside. I know that Ichabod said it’s my leg, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that Trixie lady had one of her hippies drug me while I was asleep because I wouldn’t drink their crazy cactus shit willingly.

They’re all so fucking weird there. I hated being abandoned there, and as time went on, and I got even sicker, all I wanted was to be near the one man that would make me feel better.

And now we’re together again.

“You okay, Red?” His voice sounds a little thicker than normal which prompts me to steal a glance in his direction.

I sit up almost instantly, which in retrospect isn’t the best idea because I almost end up vomiting all over his console when the world spins around me.

But…

“Lakyn,” I murmur in awe of what he looks like now.

He lets out a heavy sigh and I reach forward to slip my fingers through the air. I can see the gentle evil that lulls inside of him, waiting until he needs it, and it caresses my skin as I slip my fingers through his breath. Then I sit back and raise my hand in front of my eyes feeling a thousand times better than I did before.

“Lakyn…” I say again, shoving my hand in front of his mouth. I need more of the gentle evil—more than the weirdos in the desert need their cactus water.

She would be so jealous if she could see what healing really looks like,I tell myself as I squint from the pain of him bouncing over a bump in the road.

In the next moment, he takes my wrist between his thumb and forefinger and eases my hand back into my lap.

“Wait,” I object as I put the tips of my fingers in front of his mouth again. “I need this.”

“What the fuck, Red?” When Lakyn gives me an incredulous look, the beautiful, light-golden halo that’s been slowly forming around him shimmers slightly.

“Don’t make me leave you on the side of the road,” he snarls at me. Even through his mock anger, I can see the golden light around him starting to gain power, shining a little brighter… filling me with more hope.

“Please,” I beg him, tears starting to sting my eyes as his power fades from my skin. “Breathe on my fingers again.”

He eyes me for a moment before he pushes my hand away from his face and that devilish half-grin takes over his face.

It’s now that I realize what’s been happening this entire time.

This was never a trip to reunite with the woman in the desert—it’s been a mission to reclaim his throne.

Therealgod of the desert is sitting right beside me, and now I can see him for what he really is. A dark god of pure truth. No masks, no pretending. Lakyn is exactly who he wants to be at all times, and he never gives a shit about anyone’s expectations.

No, the world bends tohiswill.

It exists only to feed his dark cravings, to entertain him, and I feel like every fucked-up moment in my life has led me to this place at this time just so I could be a witness to his ascension to his rightful place.

A dark, beautiful god.

A force of nature.

The waves of golden light pulsing off him are tinged with a core of black that speaks to whatever version of a soul I possess. It’s overwhelming to be this close to him, close enough to touch if I dared—but I don’t.

He’s too perfect to touch.

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