Page 92 of Slay Me

Dante turns back and cups my cheek. “Since you’re feeling better, let me show you how not dead I am.”

Chapter30

Liv

Dante’s hands hold mine as we stand in the center of the ring. Fiona stands in the front row beside Bracken, Duncan, and Killian. We’re surrounded by performers and supernaturals who’ve gathered here to watch the ceremony.

Performers, who are now here of their own free will. Dante tore up the contracts, and to both our surprises, everyone who was already here has remained.

Harriss says he stayed for Fiona, who claims to enjoy her life here.

Brad and Kleo both say they have nothing better to do.

Uma, Ghrunt, Silva, and Lex all wished to stay until they find somewhere else to go. But I believe they will stay because, somehow, we’ve all become our own twisted-as-fuck House. Maybe we don’t have the power that the others do, but we have each other and a Ringmaster who will fight for us.

Adaya stands in front of us, a smile on her face. “Hold out your wrists.”

We do as she’s asked, both of us offering them up without hesitation. She raises a blade and presses it against my skin. The cut stings, but even the pain cannot touch the joy in my heart. Taking the same blade, she runs it over Dante’s wrist. Then she turns mine over and presses it to his.

“Blood to blood, so you are bound as one.”

Magic surges through my body, a warmth I’ve never experienced filling me from my toes up to my head. Emotions that are not mine hit me with such force I cannot even begin to sort through them, though there’s one that stands out above all others.

Love.

“You may kiss your mate, D.”

He reaches around and grips the back of my neck, yanking me forward and claiming my mouth. Lust pummels me, seeping into my veins and heating my blood until I’m sure I’ll combust right now.

I can feel Dante’s joy, the peace he feels with our connection, and it’s everything to me. Never did I think I’d feel such love and be loved in return. And certainly not with this man.

My captor. A man who owns so much more than my life now.

He claimed my body first.

My heart second.

And now he holds my very soul in his hands.

Cheers erupt around us as he releases me. Turning, we face all those in attendance. Dante’s friends from Fire and Fluorite and a whole slew of supernaturals we barely know but were released from Ernesto’s stone prison.

“Everyone get to your feet and meet us outside for one hell of a reception!” Fiona yells.

They begin to clear out, so I shift my gaze back to my husband. My mate. My dragon. “I love you,” I whisper.

“Not nearly as much as I love you,” he replies, pressing his lips to mine. “Can we skip the reception? I want to bury myself in my bride.”

* * *

Lights dazzle overheadas I make my way through the carnival. People are everywhere, laughing, playing games, and seeking fortunes. Their joy is palpable, and I am here to soak up every moment of it.

Beside me, Dante walks, his fingers threaded through mine. We move through the crowd, beyond overjoyed by our afternoon spent wrapped up in each other.Marriage.Never, in a million years, did I think I’d end up married.

And certainly not to a dragon shifter.

The Ferris wheel turns just ahead, spinning slowly while supernaturals mingle in the seats. It's by far the largest of the attractions here, even taller than the Big Top and apartment buildings that surround it.

As we move through, all I can think about is how much better this is than I ever could have imagined as I watched it from afar. I spent so many nights, sitting in that window, too afraid to come down and live my life.

---