Page 53 of Ma Petite Mort

He exhales, slow and rough. “Fuck. I don’t know what to say.”

Indie squeezes his hand. “You don’t have to say anything. Just accept it.”

He nods, finally. Just once.

We all gather closer, no spotlight, no stage. Just ash underfoot and the bones of a new beginning.

Together.

Lux gave me the night I dreamed of. I spilled blood for the gods. I was heard. And now, we’re needed for something more.”

Giselle throws her arms around my neck. “We’re gonna raise a murder baby together!”

I grunt. “A strong one. Taught the old ways. The runes. The hunt.”

“And laughter,” Indie says, pulling Giselle into her arms.

“And fuckin’ glitter!” Johnny adds.

We stand like that, wrapped around each other, a knot of blood and love and something impossibly new.

The smoke from the altar curls into the sky.

And for once, the gods are silent.

Maybe even… proud.

We walk away together.

Not from each other.

But toward something better.

Towardfamily.

chapter fifteen

giselle

They’re havin’ a baby.

Can you believe it?

Indie—Queen of Carnage herself—growing a teeny tiny terror inside that deadly little body.

And Lux? Mr. Cool Calm & Carnal? Gonna be adaddy.

I’ve seen a lotta twisted things in this tent. But this? This one might take the blood-stained cake.

I’m not mad about it though.

Nope. I think I love it.

Them, with their soft smiles and secret touches, standing there in the ruin of what we made, like the storm passed and left them a future. It’s weird. And warm. And a little gross.

Kinda like love.

Still, there's that feeling clawing at the back of my neck. That tingly little itch that sayssomething’s not done yet.