Page 141 of A Taste of Bliss

The wraith raises a brow at me. “And who says? Are you saying fae tell the stars what to do?”

“No, of course not, but it can’t be true. I don’t see a rune in his eye. So he can’t be my mate.”

The wraith nods knowingly. “Because Made fae don’t have runes. The rune is a result of the activation ceremony. Pisces has not undergone one, so he has no rune.”

“So what? He needs to have a ceremony?”

“No, a ceremony would do nothing for him. You’ll see in time.”

“So why does my bond feel so weird?”

The wraith pretends to pick lint off his immaculate suit. “The magic interfering with your bond was why you had the odd reaction with the stone. And why your bond ties feel different.”

“Okay, so fix it.”

“It is already fixed. The bond is strengthening the more you’re around him. It’ll heal on its own and break the magic surrounding it. So that just leaves one last thing I owe you. What will it be, then? Water nymph? Wolf shifter? I think you’d make an exquisite earth elemental.”

I lower my eyes. Is it really that simple? I just tell him what I want to be and he makes the change?

Can I really turn my back on my essence, my core? Using my power on Jinx showed me there is so much else to be discovered about my powers. And if Pisces has another way to feed, then maybe so do I.

I lift my face back up and meet the wraith’s eyes. “No, I’m not going to change who I am.”

“Are you sure? Your entire existence seems quite exhausting.”

I ignore the slightly insulting statement and square my shoulders. “I’m sure. I’m just going to have to find out the right way for me to be a succubus. The way that works for me.”

The wraith smiles almost kindly, reaching out his hand. I clasp it, shaking his hand in goodbye. “It’s been a pleasure, Bliss Rassard.”

“Wait,” I reply, earning a wider smile. “Why did you need his tears? What are you doing with them?”

“They’re an ingredient for a spell.”

I already knew that. “What spell? It must be a pretty important one if you’re going to all this trouble? What are you planning?”

“Bliss, I have already told you, I mean no harm. That is all I can tell you. But don’t worry, this isn’t a final goodbye. You will be seeing me again.”

“Coming from you, that sounds like a threat.”

He smiles again, but this time it’s more of a grimace. And then he’s gone, leaving me in the alleyway. The rain has started to pick up again and I realize I’m soaked through. Turning, I make my way back inside The Wild Mare. But instead of returning to work early, I will be giving Amber my notice.

I’m going to get my bondmate back. Even if he hates me.

I have to believe that what’s between us is strong enough to overcome everything.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

PISCES

TWO YEARS AGO

The too-warm glowfrom the streetlight at the corner barely reaches where I sit staring at the lake across from me. It’s become part of my little ritual whenever my emotions start to get the better of me.

I sit on the bench and stare at the water, forcing myself to take deep breaths. Letting the sounds of the crash play in my head while grounding myself. I focus on the damp grain of the wooden bench beneath me. Let my fingers feel the cool metal of the bolts holding the planks together.

I can see the car going over the bridge, like some sort of out-of-body experience. I hear the loud splash, if you can even call it that, as the car hits the water.

I can see her face, eyes open, unseeing, blood dripping, head slumped against the dashboard. At least she hadn’t drowned.