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I realleons He’d been on the shore, an observer She’d remarked that Death had always been "fascinated with her Eifts"

"Eventually I revealed to you that we’d been wed--and what you’d done to me," he said "You acted so horrified that you convinced ht you told ht, I’d knooave asped at the unbearable pain in his eyes The hopelessness

He wanted to die, in order toforget To start over

"Your lips were so sweet that even after I’d co your mouth Only at the last second could I break away It took me months to recover" He reached behind him to touch the wounds on his neck "And now this"

"Aric, wait"

"I’ve waited long enough" He yanked off his breastplate, bowing his tattooed chest, offering his vulnerable skin "What is that saying about being fooled? If shaht that defeat comes to those fooled thrice" He positioned the end of his sword, forcing ainst him "You wanted to knohat the runes across ive you my trust--and certainly not , he rasped, "I desired you before, but I never loved you until this life"

My own heart beat faster than it had in the battle He loved e this sword I’ht hand, displaying histhem: a pair of horns

Before I could react, Aric had leaned into the blade, planting the tip above his heart Blood trickled from one of his runes As if it wept "You won’t even spare ony of your poison? Or perhaps you could deliver one last kiss? Now bitten, I can touch the viper"

I dropped the sword hilt, and the weapon fell between us "Speaking of vipers, I gave you a dry bite" At his confused look, I explained, "I didn’t use my poison on you--but I could have Those puncture marks will be healed by tomorrow Maybe now you’ll trust ain"

His expression said he didn’t dare believe

"While you were gone, I dreaht And this time, I am truly horrified by what I did to you I won’t ever hurt you again, Aric"

His jaw slackened, and his brows drew tight "Sievā"

He’d called me that before "What is that word?"

"Itto roggily, "What’s going on?"

My head swung around "Oh, God, Lark!" She looked really busted up

Herlike road kill, they’d positioned the to protect Even the falcon had hobbled over to her

They would heal, just as long as Lark did "Are you okay?" I asked her Aric had said he had a en hadn’t eaten him "Can you stand?"

With effort, Lark said, "Is the Devil dead?"

Gazing back at Aric, I answered, "Lots of things died down here tonight"

The Arcana were buzzing

--Death turned on his own--

--Devil no more!--

--Empress next--

I sat into coain, I wondered what I would do

I’d left Lark and the animals in the care of Aric and the en in the coal cellar The young e me, but once he’d pronounced his other patients stabilized, I’d left to go scour off the layers of gore

Aric had said nothingwith tension whenever I was near

By the tienerated Puny-looking, but healing If only I could shore up ht

I’d braided and unbraidedchoices I’d settled on a royal-blue silk nightgown and robe

Why was I so nervous about the prospect of sex with him? I was hitched to the man, for God’s sake, and I’d already done this once

With Jack In that moment of time I’m all in, peekôn

It sees for Jack had surged to the fore, ot to feel you with o a little crazy, , it had been Jack’s face I’d seen most clearly Why? He was non-Arcana, I reminded myself He’d lied to me in the worst possible way These were obstacles that simply couldn’t be overcolow, Aric stood in the doorway, see to take up the entire space "I’ve waited"--his voice broke lower--"so long for you to be like this" His accent was thicker than I’d ever heard it

Then he was striding toward aze pinned me in place as he cupped asped He took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, groaning into the contact His hands tightened on hts

Though he hadn’t undressed a woman in centuries, before I knew it allas well He broke the kiss to scoopazed down at ods" He laidin beside me He still had on pants, but for some reason I wasn’t shy with him as he surveyed my every curve

Probably because I’d felt naked in front of hiuised, yet when he dipped his head down toarm "My fierce Empress I could not be prouder" He bestowed a real srin

Glorious man

His lips were flawlessly shaped, his teeth even and white Though his eyes were starry, I could see their golden color They were filled areous before, noas devastating My glyphs flared in response, drawing his gaze "These used to fill me with confusion I find them so beautiful, but whenever I saw them, you were usually about to strike"