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“I know. That’s why I’m here. That’s why we’re all here. Family doesn’t let family do dumb shit alone, remember? You taught me that. Ours may be little, and it’s a bit broken, but it’s ours. So, lie down, we’ll get the candles and herbs, and you’ll do it with your sisters, and your best friend.”

“Holy shit. You said it,” I whispered, then hugged her tightly. “I love you too, bitch.”

“Whatever. You can stop hugging me before people think we’re best lesbians,” she whispered against my ear. Pulling back, I smiled, then winked. “Why are you winking?”

“It’s our secret,” I whispered back, winking twice.

“What secret?” Siobhan asked. Turning toward her, I smiled as Esme sputtered at a loss for how to deflect what she’d said.

“Nothing. Aria was just telling me that, if Knox didn’t wake up, she’s considering dating women,” Esme replied, then waited for Siobhan to begin placing the candles around Knox before she stuck her tongue out.

“Real mature, Esme.” I laughed, slowly lowering down beside Knox.

I hadn’t heard Ember since whatever Knox had done to my forehead, which had silenced her. It was troublesome. He’d marked my forehead, which left me altered somehow. I felt it to my core, even though I hadn’t told anyone. I didn’t need Ember to fight every battle for me, which was why I’d planned this one around my magic, not including the things I’d gotten from her.

Soraya, Avyanna, Esme, and Siobhan began chanting, their voices echoing in my ears. The light of the candles erupted, sealing the circle around us. I felt the circle tightening, connecting. My lashes fluttered as the herbs eased the tension, lowering the walls of our minds to allow a merge into Knox’s.

“Snuff” by Slipknot played inside his mind. Sitting up on the floor, I peered around, smiling as the sound of his laughter reached my ears. Lifting up, I slowly rounded the bookshelves, stopping dead in my tracks at the sight of a little boy.

“Sven, I’m going to find you.” Knox’s voice wrapped around me like warm silk after being cold for too long. “Are you hiding?” He’d called from just outside the doorway. My heartbeat slammed against my chest at an alarming speed, even as the air caught in my lungs.

Sven laughed, then darted for the couch he’d been standing in front of. I watched him duck, then heard the sound of footfalls coming. Stepping out of the shadows I took in the sight of Knox, with bright, azure eyes that sent me awash me on endless waves. A smile curved his full, kissable lips.

“I’m going to find you, Sven,” he warned, slowly turning to look at the couch where the sound of laughter floated up from.

My heart squeezed as my mind pointed out what it didn’t want to believe. If he was with Sven, then he was either with his ghost, or he was among them, barely clinging to life. A tiny, baby laugh forced tears to sting my eyes. Another followed right behind it, forcing me farther into the room. Staring at two girls, one with silvery hair, and eyes the same stormy waters color as her father. Eleanora was beyond beautiful, with loose curls hanging down her back, in a fine white dress. Evelyn entered right on her heels, her dark blonde hair, with laughing turquoise eyes. Like Eleanora, she wore a white dress of the softest material.

“Daddy, Daddy! Find us,” Eleanora cried, her eyes flooding with love as she rushed for him.

“Me too, Daddy! Find me,” Evelyn echoed, her smile so wide and so beautiful it ached to look at it too long.

Knox picked up one and then the other. The girls laughed as Sven grumbled about stupid sisters. Tears rolled down my cheeks, forcing a soft sob to leave my throat. He was definitely playing with ghosts. Stepping closer, I pushed my fingers through Evelyn’s curls, gasping at how real they felt. How realshefelt.

“You can’t stay here with them, Knox. I want to, too, but I need you. Our babies need you. Come home to me?” His head lifted, which caused my heart to flutter.

“Stay with me, Little Monster. It’s better here. I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too,” I whispered through the tears. “So much,” I agreed, only for something to step through me. My eyes narrowed on…me?

“They’re winning, my love.”

“They always do, Knox.” I said, even though it wasn’t me.

“Ember?” I asked, uncertain if that was even possible. She’d looked like me, which was the only explanation I had. Turning in a circle, I narrowed my eyes on the walls around the library. No, it wasn’t the library. It was something like the library, but it was all wrong. Walking to the walls, I ran my fingers over the ink on the side.

“What are you doing?” Knox whispered against my ear. Heated breath drifted against my throat, forcing me to turn around. The way he looked at me caused my heart to still, then thud to life at the love shining within the ocean depths.

“This isn’t real,” I swallowed, uncertain how he could see me. The others were gone, which sent a trickle of unease through my mind. Why would he have sent them away? My eyes caressed every inch of him, feasting on the life breaming in him.

“It is,” Knox argued before sliding his arm around my waist, then yanked me against the hard, warmth of his body. A devilish smile played over his lips, causing my mouth to dry with the need to kiss him. “Do I not feel real enough for you, gorgeous girl?” His lips brushed against mine, sending eddies of arousal slicing through my belly.

His palm touched my cheek, even as his head tilted, forcing a whispered breath from my lungs. The tenderness of his touch mixed with the lips drifting over mine in feather soft whispers of lustful promise. Arousal warmed my belly, sending heat coursing through my veins like an untended fire, burning out of control.

“God, I miss you so fucking much,” I whimpered, unable to pull away from the tenderness he delivered.

“I’m right fucking here with you,” he hissed against my mouth. “I have dreamt of you for months, craving to feel your soft edges against mine. You taste so fucking delicious. I love your noises, and the way you melt for me, wife.” Knox devoured my lips, nipping the bottom one as he asked permission to plunder. He ravished. He destroyed. Knox devasted every sense within me, even as he tempted me, luring me into the sin his lips promised.

Knox went to war against my mouth. His tongue conquered, forcing me to submit with only his kiss. Heated lips provoked mine to part, allowing him to ravish my tongue as his slid against it, coaxing it to life. His growl sent arousal rushing toward my cunt, readying for him to plunder the treasure he’d earned.