Page 89 of Deceiver

Hudson nods, smiling. “Sure did.”

“Any tips for me?”

“Nah. It’s not that different really. Just keep loving each other.”

I glance at Wilder and nod. “I can do that.”

Wilder brushes his fingers across my cheek. “If we’re all ready, I’ll summon Farnsworth.”

“I’m ready.”

We all go outside to the backyard—apparently the ideal location for such a ceremony. The air is warm tonight, with a pleasant breeze blowing. Above us, the ravens flock to the tree, perched on the branches and looking engaged in the event.

Wilder takes my hand and says, “Farnsworth, requesting the love bond.”

A purple mist appears in the center of the yard, and a man dressed in a tailored dark gray suit appears. I remember seeing him on my front porch a year ago, and his suit is even nicer now.

His eerie gray eyes turn to Aster and Hudson first. “Good to see you both.”

“You too, Farnsworth,” Aster says.

Farnsworth’s gaze shifts to me, his lips turning up in the slightest of smiles. “I never thought I’d see the day, but I suppose we should never question Fate’s timing.”

He flicks his wrist and a scroll appears in his hand, along with a small vial. There’s a tattered brown tag attached to the vial with mine and Wilder’s names scrawled across it.

Farnsworth unfolds the scroll, and a glowing string of light appears. “Please extend your arms.”

Wilder glances at me, smiling as he holds his arm out to Farnsworth. I do the same, watching in awe as Farnsworth directs the string of light to wrap around our wrists with only his finger, like a magician or something.

The light feels warm as it tightens around us. Farnsworth pulls the cork from the vial and a swirl of red smoke rises from it. Then he releases the vial and the smoke floats in the air between us. My heart races with excitement and awe.

Farnsworth begins to read from the scroll, but it’s in a language I don’t understand. As Farnsworth reads, I feel an unmistakable tugging in my chest, drawing me closer to Wilder. His breath hitches as his eyes go wide. The red smoke from the vial blooms into a cloud, engulfing the two of us within it, but it feels warm and safe, like the best hug ever.

Our chests press together as our bound arms are pulled towards Farnsworth, and a white mist rises from Wilder, billowing from his mouth into mine. My eyelids flutter and my chest tightens.

“Keagan?” Farnsworth’s voice reaches me, sounding far away but clear. “Do you bind your eternal soul to Chaser ECW4, known to you as Wilder?”

“Yes.”

“Do you accept his life source, knowing it is everlasting?”

“Yes.”

“Do you fully understand the risk of premature death and the consequences of such?”

“I do.”

“That is?”

“No sorting. Right to the Below for both of us.”

“Correct.”

“But I’d still be with him.”

Wilder trembles as the mist rolls out of him, but I can see the awe and joy in his eyes.

Farnsworth rattles off more gibberish, but as he does, the string of light around our wrists sizzles into our skin, absorbed completely and painlessly. The white mist coming out of Wilder dissipates and his body grows still.