Page 18

18

DANTE

S he stands in front of me like she’s ready to shatter.

Not from weakness. Liora doesn’t do weak. It’s not in her bones.

No—she’s shaking from the war she keeps fighting with herself. That tug-of-war between needing to run and needing to stay. To let someone in.

Her hands are clenched at her sides. Her shoulders tense. I know she wants to bolt. I can see the decision brewing in her eyes like a storm rolling in.

But I’m not letting her go. Not this time. Not ever again.

“I’m not leaving you,” I say, low and steady. “No matter what’s coming.”

Her gaze flicks to mine. There’s fire there. And fear. But behind it seems to be a flicker of trust.

It’s buried deep, but it’s there.

She scoffs, bitter. “You don’t get to promise that.”

“I just did.”

“You don’t know what that means.”

“I know exactly what it means.”

She takes a step back, eyes sharp. “Dante, loving me or simply being with me is a death sentence. Do you hear me? You think this is some epic romance, some ride-or-die fantasy where we save each other and walk off into the fucking sunset?”

She laughs—hollow and hurt. “It’s not. It’s blood and ruin. It’s me waking up in a circle of bodies because I lost control. It’s Seraphiel calling me his like I’m a goddamn object. It’s the Veil cracking open with my name written in every fracture.”

“I know.”

“No, you don’t?—”

“I know, Liora,” I growl, stepping toward her. “I know what he is. What you are. What this is. I know the prophecy. I know the risk. Know what it could possibly do to the world even. I know I’m probably gonna die fighting beside you.”

Her mouth parts.

I close the distance, towering over her, not threatening—just sure.

“But if I have to choose between walking away or fighting for you— with you—I’ll bleed for you a thousand times over.”

Her breath stutters.

“You don’t get to protect me from this, Liora. You’re not a monster. You’re not cursed. You’re not some weapon with no control. You’re you. And I choose you with every part of me. Nothing has been so clear as this is.”

She blinks fast like she’s trying to hold something in—but her lip trembles just enough that I know she’s losing the fight.

Still, she shakes her head.

“You’re not supposed to love me,” she whispers.

“Says who?”

“Everyone.”

I soften, finally closing the space between us. My hands come up to her face—gentle, steady. I cradle her like she’s made of starfire, like she’s holy.

“Screw everyone, because I do. I love you. I know this is real and this is more than just a calling. You’re it for me.”

She closes her eyes. One tear escapes. Just one.

“You deserve something good,” she says.

“You’re good.”

“I’m dangerous.”

“So am I.”

Her eyes open, glowing faintly violet in the low light. That magic of hers is coiled under her skin again, like it’s listening.

“I’ve been running so long,” she whispers.

“Then stop. Don’t leave again,” I say, my voice rough, the words like gravel scraping out of my throat. “Don’t run. If you need to fight, we fight. If you need to fall apart, I’ll hold you together.”

She doesn’t move.

Doesn’t speak.

Just looks at me.

And then she turns. Walks two steps toward the door. And I feel my chest split open. But she doesn’t leave. She stops.

She spins on her heel and I see her tear streaked ethereal face. Liora crashes into me letting her trust and hope pour out unguarded, probably for the first time in her life.

Her arms wrap around my neck, her mouth on mine before I can even breathe. It’s desperate, it’s messy, it’s everything. Her fingers twist in my shirt like she’s afraid I’ll vanish if she lets go.

I don’t. I never will.

I catch her around the waist, lifting her off the ground as her kiss deepens, hungry and raw and real. Her shadows wrap around us like they’re claiming me too.

And maybe they are. Let them. Because this isn’t a bond I’m running from. This is a vow. And I’m not breaking it.

Not for anything.