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“Hello, Dog,” Ruby said as it trotted into the forest. She ran her finger down the middle of the portal and watched it seal up. Then she paused, looking up at the sky.

“Would you look at that,” she said, marveling. “It’s dark.”

“Ruby,” Slate breathed.

Ruby turned to face him. She was still so small, even as half a god. He wanted to crush her close and never let her leave.

But he would. The knowledge was like rot on his tongue, but he would do it. For her.

“What are you doing here?” he asked quietly.

Ruby gave him a smile that was so sad his heart clenched. “Can I not visit my lovely Bygone?”

Slate frowned. Was she really joking at a time like this?

Ruby’s smile dimmed. She stepped closer, her dress sweeping over the shadowy leaves. She looked like she was a part of the void, a thought so potent it threatened to swallow Slate whole.

“My Bygone,” she repeated. “My Slate. You… fulfilled your half of the binding. What will you have of me?”

Make her stay!It rioted inside him, even with all his determination that he would never.

“I would have you…” He ground his fangs until his gums stung. The words were on the tip of his tongue. He had to force them back.

“I would have you live the life you wish,” he spat. “I hope your townsfolk continue to treat you as you deserve.”

Ruby blinked. Her eyelashes were longer, he realized. Longer and darker, more spiderweb than lash now.

“Sweetsguard,” she said. “You think I’m returning to Sweetsguard?”

The question made his heart leap. But Slate didn’t let himself hope yet.

“That was always your plan,” he said. “And you always wanted them to like you. Now they do.”

“Theyworshipme.” Ruby rolled her eyes. “I never wanted worship. At least, not like that.”

She stepped ever closer. Her dress brushed his foot, and Slate stopped breathing.

“I did want them to like me,” she admitted. “Now I want something more.”

Slate’s claws twitched to grab her and hold her close. He resisted.

“A void?” he rasped. “Something fit for a god?”

She laughed again, brighter than anything he’d ever heard in his dark void.

“No,” she said. “You.”

She reached up and stroked his skull mask. Her thumb trailed along the seam where bone met skin, and Slate couldn’t hold back anymore.

He picked her up and dragged her into a kiss, his claws twisting in her hair.

“You want to stay with me?” he asked, panting as they tore apart.

Ruby nodded wildly. “I’ll still visit Sweetsguard, keep it safe. But I want to live here. With you. If you’ll have me.”

She bit her lip. She even had the audacity to look shy.

Slate kissed her again until that shyness was replaced by an endearing giggle. Then he dropped to his knees in the leaves, holding her up above him.