Page 72 of Artemysia

“Elphie, you’re the sun in my endless winter. The moonlight on my darkest night. The stars that show me the way when I’m lost.” - Riev

“M y father wants to meet you,” Delphine says casually, one month later. She’s naked, reclined in my arms in her small bed at the Academy in Stargazer. We have been taking turns visiting each other as she transitions to her new role and prepares to move permanently to Artemysia.

I freeze on the spot.

“Why the pinched-up face?” she asks, glancing up.

“He’s not going to like me.”

“He already likes you.”

“Why? No one does at first. I’m a ‘once you get to know me, I’m loveable’ kind of guy. What’s my strategy for winning him over?”

She laughs. “Talk to him about elk. He also liked the chocolates Ivy sent back with me last time.”

“Were you unfortunate enough to try the duck jerky Ivy dipped in strawberry chocolate?” I suppress a gag at the memory.

“Vile,” Delphine replies. “But I told my father that I love you, and he’s thrilled to finally hear me admit that about someone.”

My still-healing heart twinges. “You told him that?”

“Of course. But he has a few questions for you.”

“Then I’ll muster up the courage to meet him. Meeting parents isn’t something I’ve ever done before.”

“He’ll be at the Ghost Elk Tavern in an hour.”

“Does he want to know how much I love you?”

“No. But I want to know,” she replies, a playful smirk spreading across her face. Her hand slides up my bare thigh, tickling the small hairs there. Her fingertips move higher, making it difficult to think of any words at all.

She looks at me expectantly.

“Elphie, you’re the sun in my endless winter. The moonlight on my darkest night. The stars that show me the way when I’m lost.”

“Keep going…”

I snort. “I’ve run out of celestial bodies to compare you to. The point is, I won’t make it without you. I refuse.”

“No?”

“There aren’t enough words to describe what I feel.

But…I have a full hour to show you.” I shift out from behind her, out of our embrace, and prowl over her body, my hands slapping the mattress next to her head.

Her hips lift to meet mine, eliciting a groan from me.

She rubs against my already-rock hard erection that’s come back to life not five minutes after our last round.

Like an idiot, I find myself impressed at my own cock, but mostly, I’m impressed by the woman face-to-face in front of me. She rules my world.

Delphine is the answer to all the questions I’ve held in my heart my whole life.

Am I a monster?

She was the first to tell me no. The first to show me no, by loving me.

Am I worthy of love?

She says unquestioningly—yes. She shows me yes, every single damn day.

At this, my Human heart rejoices .

And yet, she possesses the strength to kill me.I would die a thousand deaths—a thousand times over, by her hand. For her.

At this, my Syf soul sings.