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Those walls tighten with her crashing climax. Neither of us can move as her body grips us in the midst of her breathtaking unraveling. The sight of her bowed in half, throat exposed has my own need to release peaking, but I hold it down as I give her everything she needs until her limbs shake and she’s gasping wildly for air.

My relief feels endless. An endless assault of cum that my body reflexively locks up inside her. It’s so much, I’m surprised it’s not oozing from around the knot.

Exhausted, I slump down into her arms and bury my face into her throat. I listen to her heartbeat beneath my ear and close my eyes.

“I love you,” she breathes into my ear. “Both of you.” Her small fingers thread through my hair as she holds my face into the curve of her neck. “More than anything.”

It takes effort, but I force my head up to peer down into her beautiful face glowing with release and shining with love. “We love you, too, little human.”

Tiny fingertips lift and brush my jaw. “I don’t think I like that name anymore.”

Careful not to crush her, I rise up with my forearm on the pillow next to her head. “Why not?”

Heavy lashes lower and only lift back up to my face when I capture her chin with my free hand.

“Because I am human. I always will be. You’re not. I will eventually die—”

With her chin still resting on my fingers, I plant my thumb into her lips. Silencing her. “You won’t die. You’re my mate. My entire existence depends on yours. Once a mate is found, my immortality extends to you because I cannot be immortal without you.”

There are tears in her eyes that I dislike, but they don’t seem to be sad ones. “So, I don’t have to make you swear never to find another woman?”

Both Aiden and I snort.

“There will never be another woman, sweetheart,” Aiden whispers. “You’re our everything.”

She gives a weak chuckle. “Well, that’s a relief. It saves me from poisoning you both to come with me.”

“You wouldn’t need poison,” I tell her softly.

Her features soften. Her arms find their way around my neck and I’m pulled back down to her. My face finds its home in theside of her neck while my knot stays secure within her warm heat.

CHAPTER NINE SERAPHINE

NO ONE’S ALLOWED TOsleep in on moving day. Even with a lot of the games and concessions packed up the night before, it takes most of the crew to dismantle the rides and stands. Not to mention rearranging the trailers.

My job is taking the apothecary down, counting and packing the inventory, and finding Mama.

I haven’t seen her since the other morning when Warrick threatened to make a crown of her bones. The trailer still holds the stench of her addiction, but it’s been less, like she hasn’t been there in a few days.

Not uncommon. If she has the money, she’ll set off into whichever town we’re in and pass out wherever she ends up. Yet, she always seems to know exactly when we’re about to set off and finds her way back. I stopped worrying years ago, but it’s different this time.

I don’t want her to come back.

It’s awful. But it’s been so peaceful without her. The shop cash tin is full. The air still stinks, but I could leave the windows open and clean it out until we can get our own trailer. Something just for us.