Page 61

Dani

I wake up in Killian’s bed, drenched in sweat, the remnants of a haunting dream clinging to me like a second skin.

The sheets tangled around my legs feel suffocating and I notice immediately that Jules isn’t beside me; she must have slipped out of bed earlier.

The night’s events swirl in my mind like a relentless movie on repeat, forcing me to relive them over and over again, each scene more vivid and painful than the last. My heart plummets as the realization crashes down on me—Carter.

When you hit rock bottom, you feel it.

I allow myself to cry until my tears run dry.

It’s no longer ragged or chaotic; instead, it’s calm and deliberate.

These are the tears that flow from an expression without any drama.

There’s no gasping breath or crinkled nose, no tight lips or furrowed brow.

This is the pain of the quiet ones—a sorrow so profound it remains hidden from view.

The tears stream down my wooden expression, seeping from my slowly blinking eyes.

A deep, suffocating heat rises in my neck, quickly giving way to a wave of nausea that churns violently in my stomach.

I leap out of bed and sprint to Killian’s bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before the contents of my stomach rebel against me.

Carter is dead. The weight of that truth crushes my chest as I replay the moment in my mind, the image etching itself into my memory with relentless clarity.

The bile rises once more, and I hurl again, the taste bitter and acrid, mirroring the pain that lingers in my heart .

Once I’m done puking out my guts, I walk to the shower and turn it on. Before getting in, I let the steam cloud the mirrors like an opaque canvas.

After standing in the shower for ten minutes, I finally get out and wrap myself in a towel. I grab one more for my hair and wrap it up on the top of my head.

I wipe the fog from the mirror and drop the towel I held around my body.

I run my hand along my side, tracing Killian’s rune.

Then, I run my hand along my left arm where Dax’s sits.

I smile at my new shaded-in rune that covers my hand—Adonis.

I did it. I broke the fucking curse. I broke the curse that had my mates shackled for so long.

A sharp burning sensation flares at the nape of my neck and across my shoulders, pulling my attention. I turn slowly to catch a glimpse of the source in the mirror. As I do, my eyes widen in shock.

Holy shit!

Not only is there a distinctive symbol on my neck, but it elegantly winds down in a delicate, vine-like pattern that stretches across my upper back and gracefully weaves between my shoulder blades.

The design is so detailed that it creates the illusion of wings spreading outward from my back, each curve and twist meticulously composed to enhance the overall visual impact.

The interplay of light and shadow accentuates the organic flow of the pattern, giving it a sense of depth and movement as if the wings can take flight at any moment.

“Adonis! Dax! Killian!” I shout.

In an instant, the three of them are in Killian’s bathroom. I pull the towel off my wet head and pull my long hair off to the side.

“What is it?!” Adonis shouts.

“Are you okay?!” Dax asks.

“Look!” I turn so my back is exposed to them all.

The three of them collectively draw in a sharp breath, their eyes wide with astonishment. Adonis takes a step closer, his fingers gliding delicately along my neck, trailing down to my back, sending a cascade of shivers across my skin that feels electrifying.

“Badass,” Dax smirks.

“Absolutely beautiful,” Killian whispers. I meet his gaze in the mirror, a warm smile spreads across my face.

“Get dressed; we have some things to share with you,” Adonis says, pressing a soft kiss to my shoulder.

I stand there, not moving.

“Or don’t get dressed,” Dax flashes his dimples at me.

I quickly return to Killian’s room, grab one of his t-shirts from his closet, and put on a pair of panties. I sit on the edge of the bed and wait for any of them to speak.

Adonis explains everything to me. He tells me what my rune is, what it means, and what abilities it gives me.

“So, you’re saying I can go into the afterlife anytime I want and return here anytime I want… with the sowilo rune?” My heart beats frantically in my chest with excitement.

“Yes,” Dax affirms.

“I can… teleport?” The idea dances in my mind like an electric current, igniting a sense of wonder.

“Yes,” the three of them say in unison.

“And Amelia thinks I’m not human or demon? Does that mean I’m immortal?” As I contemplate the implications, a mixture of bewilderment and elation flood my thoughts.

“That, we cannot say for certain,” Adonis replies, a hint of gravity in his tone. “However, when you are in the afterlife, you will not age. You will be immortal there, along with everyone else,” Adonis says.

As his words sink in, I bite my lower lip, a smile breaking free as an exhilarating warmth spreads through me. The possibilities stretch before me like an endless horizon, and for the first time, I sense the thrilling embrace of boundless potential.

Gods, when she bites that fucking lip.. .

“What’s that, Kil?” I ask him. Killian frowns at me, “I didn’t say anything...”

I shake my head, trying to clear the chaotic swirl of thoughts racing through my mind.

“I have to tell Jules! We need to pack! I want to leave right away!” The urgency surges through me as I leap off Killian’s bed, the soft sheets slipping from my fingers. I scramble to snatch my leggings from the floor, determination fueling my every move.

“Woah, woah, slow your roll, little dove,” Dax says, grabbing my arm.

“There is no rush,” Killian smiles at me.

The fuck there is no rush!

“I don’t want to spend another fucking second in this godsdamn town,” I grit my teeth and purse my lips.

“You said ‘godsdamn’… looks like we are rubbing off on you,” Dax winks at me.

I pause, staring at all three of my mates.

“Where are your wings?” I ask them.

“We concealed them. Just like our masks, we don’t have our wings out all the time… unless we are in the afterlife, then they are always out. But here, in this cramped space, our wings tend to become more of a hindrance than a blessing,” Killian explains, his voice low and contemplative.

“Show me,” I insist, my curiosity igniting.

With a fluid motion, Killian spreads his wings wide, and I gasp at the sight. They are breathtaking—broad and majestic, the deep brown leathery skin resembling rich, hardened leather that expertly complements his striking features.

Unable to resist, I reach out, my fingers brushing against the soft material.

It feels like silk gliding beneath my touch, smooth and delicate.

I let my hand wander delicately down to the tip of his wing, and at that moment, I sense a shiver ripple through him.

He flinches slightly, cracking his neck in response.

My gaze drifts up to meet his, intrigue dancing in my eyes.

“They are… quite sensitive. Especially when you touch them like that,” he murmurs and clears his throat. An intense hunger ignites in his gaze as he surveys me, taking in every detail.

Dax then steps forward, unfurling his wings with an impressive flourish, only to send Killian’s lamp crashing to the floor in a cacophony of shattering glass and metal.

“See? Inconvenient in here,” Adonis comments with a smirk, clearly amused by the display.

Dax’s wings are even more imposing than Killian’s; their vast black texture catches the light, making them look almost iridescent.

I feel drawn to him, and without hesitation, I kneel on Killian’s bed, reaching out to run my fingers along the edges of Dax’s wings.

The soft silk beneath my touch sends a thrill through me, igniting a sense of excitement as I explore the powerful beauty before me.

Adonis steps forward, and my breath hitches in my throat. His wings are even more magnificent than I remembered, a breathtaking display of sheer beauty that takes my breath away. Each feather glistens with a pearlescent sheen.

“Show off,” Dax huffs.

A single white feather gently detaches and floats to the floor, landing softly at my feet. I bend down to pick it up, feeling the delicate softness of its barbs as I run it through my fingers, marveling at its pristine purity.

Carefully, I trace the feather along my arm, feeling the softness of its touch. I bring it up to my face and trail it across my lips. Dax and Killian watch me with smirks on their faces. As I rise from the bed, my eyes are drawn irresistibly back to Adonis.

He stands there with his mouth wide open. “That has to be one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen you do,” he chokes out.

I am captivated by my mates’ beauty .

Their wings are striking.

My gaze shifts back to Adonis. I approach him, my curiosity leading the way, and reach out tentatively.

My fingers glide across the sturdy top of his wings, marveling at the robust structure beneath the feathery exterior.

With each movement, I trace a line from the strong base to the delicate tips, feeling the warmth radiate from him and the vibrant energy coiling around me.

Adonis growls, “If you’re going to touch all of our wings like that, then you’re going to have to take care of business, my beautiful fucking goddess…”

“I thought you broke up with me,” I tease Adonis.

He closes in the space between us. With a deep, throaty voice, he says, “Break up?” He pauses, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. “The only thing we’ll be breaking is my fucking bed.”

Yes please.

Dax and Killian draw closer behind me, their presence mingling in a protective formation, while Adonis stands resolutely in front, creating an intimate circle around me. I find myself at the very heart of their trio.