39. I Remember You
Chapter thirty-nine
I Remember You
Ione
"Come back to me." The words crack against something deep inside me, ancient and fragile. I close my eyes—and the world tears open.
Memories flood in: the garden, the potion, the glass box in my mind. The weight of Ambrose’s spell shatters like brittle glass. And I remember. I remember everything. I gasp as the haze lifts from my skin like smoke. My muscles scream, my mind spins, but none of it matters. Only one thing matters.
Athanasius.
With a raw sob, I wrench myself out of Ambrose’s arms. He shouts my name, grasping at me, but I'm already gone—hurtling across the space and slamming into the solid, burning strength of Athanasius.
He catches me with a sound that's half growl, half prayer, hands cradling my face like he's terrified I'll disappear.
His mouth crashes down onto mine, desperate and rough, tasting of starlight and something bitter—something like grief.
I kiss him back just as hard, fisting my hands in the fabric of his shirt.
That same damn shirt from the first time I dressed him.
He knows what I like, and I do like a man… primordial, that pays attention.
When he finally pulls back, I lean my forehead against his, panting, my heart clawing its way out of my chest. "I knew you'd come," I whisper, voice trembling. "Took you long enough, you bastard."
He laughs—actually laughs—a sound so wild and broken it makes my throat tighten. But before I can smile, a sharp shout breaks the moment. A woman, she moves fast, faster than thought. Ambrose is lunging toward us, his hand outstretched, when she slams something silver straight into his chest.
He gasps, blood spilling from his lips in a dark, ugly stream.
"What are you doing?!" Athanasius roars, stepping in front of me, his hands sparking with shadow.
I stumble back, breathing hard—and freeze. The witch turns toward me, and I see. Her brown and green eyes shimmer, glowing like embers stoked to life. Eyes that are too familiar, too sharp. "She's his sister," I say, the realization punching the air from my lungs.
Athanasius immediately swirls himself in a coil of darkness around me, shadows licking over my skin like velvet armor. "Fantastic," he mutters. "I always wanted to be saved by the Evil Twin Special Edition."
The witch smirks, standing in front of her brother. I thought she was an old woman, no, she drops her disguise, her skin melting into softness as she places a hand on her hip. "I got you your woman, didn't I?" she says breezily. "And my idiot brother gets to ascend. Win-win."
Ambrose coughs out a laugh, red staining his teeth. "You thought it was over?" he wheezes, smirking even through the pain. "Wait until I come back, Athanasius. Then we'll be on the same level. Won't that be fun?"
Before Athanasius can even snarl a reply, the witch throws a hand wide—and a portal cracks open behind us, a roaring tunnel of gold and black. "No time," she states. "Bye now."
She shoves Athanasius and me backward—and we fall, tumbling through the magic and crashing down onto the sun-blasted sands of the Atacama desert.
It's night, and I shiver going from humid beach scenery to a desert night. Athanasius wastes no time. He rises, shaking sand from his hair, and with a muttered curse, assumes the form I know best. 4 eyes blink at me, 2 black, 2 red. 4 arms reaching for me.
Moireth claps, looking utterly delighted while Caspian whoops, throwing his hands in the air. "Finally!" he crows. "Welcome back, you two!"
I sit dazed in the sand until Athanasius bends down, cupping my face in his lower hands. His thumbs brush my cheeks, reverent, almost trembling. "I've missed you," he says hoarsely, bringing me to a stand, he leans down, pressing his forehead to mine.
I smile, tears burning my eyes, and kiss him softly—once, twice—before slapping him hard across the cheek. He blinks, stunned. "Who was that woman?" I snap. Yeah, yeah, I remember that too! Motherfucker thought he was going to getaway scot free? Not on my watch!
Still holding his cheek, he grins crookedly. "I like to play rough, rabbit, but not in front of my sibling. Have some decency."
"I'm serious," I hiss. "Ambrose showed me—some whore you were going to use for 'entertainment.'"
Athanasius scrunches his brow and groans dramatically. "I would never," he says, rolling his eyes skyward. "He fooled you, woman. I didn't touch her. I didn't even look at her. You're the only madness in my blood."
Moireth chuckles, patting my back gently. "How do you feel?" They ask kindly.
"Like hammered horse shit," I mutter, holding my pounding head. "I just want to go home."
Still rubbing his red cheek, Athanasius makes a face. "We'll go to my home," he says, sounding far too smug for a man who has just been slapped.
"If you mean that underwater dungeon you call a palace," I say dryly, "you'll be living there alone."
Caspian laughs loudly. "I told you! We'll leave you to it, then. Have fun, you two." He and Moireth disappear through another portal, leaving us standing there in the blazing moonlight.
Athanasius pulls me against him again, lower arms tight around my waist, refusing to let me go. "You'll like it, I promise," he says, nuzzling into my hair. "Just once, woman. Please?"
I sigh, long-suffering. He should be grateful for that. Grateful for me. "Let me decompress at home, first. Then we can consider it."
He grunts dramatically. "Bossy."
"You like it," I tease, tilting my chin up stubbornly.
He smirks, lifting me effortlessly into his arms. "Whatever," he says. "Let's go before you change your mind and punch me again."
The shadows curl around us, ready to carry us wherever we need to go. And this time—I am finally ready to follow him anywhere.