Page 124 of Evermore

“I’m not afraid!”

“Then prove it.” I stepped closer, watching the shadows dance across her skin. “Prove you’re more than a scared little mortal playing at being powerful.”

Her eyes flashed dangerously. “You think this is a game?”

“I think you’re hiding. I think you’re so terrified of letting anyone see the real you that you’d rather drown in those voices than admit you need help.”

She glared at me. “You think you can simply waltz in here and fix everything with your perfect control?”

“Nothing about this is perfect,” I said, letting my power wrap around hers like a caress as I met her glare. “But at least I’m not afraid of what I am.”

The Remnants surged at my words. “I’mnotafraid.”

“I think we both know you are.” I pushed harder. “Come play with me, Paesha darling. Let go… I’ll catch you.”

“You don’t know anything about?—”

“I know everything about you. I know you push away anyone who gets too close.” I caught her wrist as she tried to pull away. “I know the way you dance when you think no one’s watching. I know the sound of your laugh when you’re truly happy. And I know you’re terrified right now, not of the voices, but of letting someone see the real you. You’re afraid of being abandoned. You know what it feels like and you’re afraid. So you keep everything to yourself, battle your own wars in your mind and you fucking crumble. Alone. Every godsdamn night. I’m done watching it. I will not stand here and let you fall to pieces again. Now. Let. Go.”

She yanked free. “You want to see the real me? Fine.” The Remnants exploded outward, a storm of shadows and fury that would have sent a lesser being running. The ground shook, and I thought for a moment even the sun blinked out. But I stood my ground, drinking in the sight of her unleashed power. “This is what I am. Chaos and darkness and?—”

“Beautiful,” I breathed, watching her glow with raw energy. “Absolutely fucking beautiful.”

Her steps faltered. “What?”

“You heard me.” I moved closer, my own power rising to meet hers. “You think I want you to be anything other than exactly what you are? The woman who defies gods? Who builds families from broken pieces? Who dances in thunderstorms? You fucking own me. When will you finally figure that out?”

“Stop,” she whispered, but there was less conviction in her voice.

“Why? Because I’m right? Because it’s easier to push me away than admit you want this as much as I do? You said you were done fighting it on the rooftop and still you push back.”

The Remnants writhed across the ground, responding to the electricity crackling between us. Her eyes met mine, and for once, she didn’t look away.

“I see you, Paesha Vox,” I said, closing the distance. “All of you. The light and the dark. The strength and the fear. And I’m still here.”

“You’re a fool,” she breathed, but her hands came up to grip my shirt.

“Probably.” My fingers traced the markings on her arm, slow and reverent, feeling the way she trembled beneath my touch. “But I’m your fool. I have been since the beginning.”

I cradled her face in my hands, my thumbs sweeping over her cheekbones as I let her see everything, every fractured, unshakable piece of me that belonged to her before I placed my forehead on hers. “I love you. Not for who you were or who you might become, but for exactly who you are at this moment. The woman who makes a god question his own existence. Who tears apart everything I thought I knew and makes me want to build something new, something reckless, something real, just to keep pace with you.

“I love the way you fight, like your soul is made of starlight and you were born from lightning. The way you look at me, gods, the way you look at me. I love the sharp edges you use to keep the world at bay, and the quiet kindness you don’t even realize is there. I love that you drive me absolutely mad. That you argue with me, challenge me, make me better by merely existing. Fates help me, I even love the way you infuriate me, because it means I feel this, us, with every fucking part of me.”

She trembled, and I knew she felt it too. But I wasn’t finished.

“I don’t want perfection, Paesha. I don’t want easy. I want you. Exactly as you are, wild and stubborn and impossible. Because that woman? That beautiful, maddening, extraordinary woman who has unraveled me piece by piece?” I brushed my lips against hers, a promise, a vow. “She’s the only thing I have ever wanted. The only thing I will ever want. You, Paesha. Exactly as you are. You are not broken. You are fucking perfect.”

“That silver tongue of yours will be the death of me,” she breathed.

I traced her lower lip with my thumb. “Darling, you have no idea.”

The confession hung between us, but the Remnants were still a problem, still smothering the field with shadows and racing over her skin. I knew there was truly nothing I could do to help her control them other than coax her into trying. This was her battle, but I would be her shield for as long as she would let me.

“Focus,” I said, stepping back to give her space. “Don’t fight against them. They’re part of you. Command them.”

She closed her eyes, her jaw clenching as she reached for control. The shadows twisted violently, resisting her will. “They don’t?—”

“They will. You’re stronger than their hatred. Than their vengeance. Show them. I know Levanya is in there. She was a fallen queen of peace, Paesha. Find her peace and use it against them.”