Chapter 30
MIA
H oneyed fingers, poisoned tongue. Sharpest is the kiss that feeds. There is no dream in which I’m from. Lost between the Wishing Trees.
My hand throbs as I drift in and out. He’s here…
Roses bring thorns. Night is ever black. When the raven comes, the Crane will attack. Heads will roll when the shadow plays. Stick close to the trail of unmarked Graves.
They’re all here. My four beautiful monsters. I wince as I roll over onto my side and attempt to sit up. A sharp pain shoots down my wrist. Fuck. My head buzzes from the poison still swimming in my veins.
“I hope this is what you meant in your letter, Emma,” I whisper. The fire crackles, startling me to my feet. I wrap the blanket around my arms and creep toward the door. I listen, my heart racing. Are they getting along or trying to kill each other? It’s too quiet. Maybe I dreamed the whole thing up.
But as I make my way downstairs, muffled voices sound from the kitchen. I take a deep breath before entering.
“Holy, shit,” I say on the exhale.
Nox is fucking here .
His black hair hangs loose around his horns, the tips of his strands grazing his enormous shoulders. I drink in the sight of him with fresh eyes. He looks the same but different here; his skin’s more golden under the track lights.
And he’s wearing clothes. The black cashmere sweater and black slacks barely fit him, accentuating his ripped muscles more. He winds his tail around his legs, reminding me of all the things he can do with it.
Aries, Bones, and Draven lean against the counters, drinks in hand. Whiskey and gin before noon seems appropriate after last night.
I swallow down the lump in my throat. “Hi.”
“Good morning, beautiful,” Bones murmurs.
Aries hands me a steaming mug of black coffee. “I can make you breakfast, too, if you’re hungry.”
I take a sip of the hot liquid, and my stomach growls. But I’m too nervous to eat. “Maybe later. Thank you.”
It’s hard not to look at Nox. “Your eyes… they’re black.”
He nods in response.
“Let’s give them some space,” Draven demands.
Before they file out, I grab his hand. “I’m still yours,” I whisper.
His eyes darken. “I know. We’ve already discussed a schedule.”
I almost laugh out loud at the absurdity. “Not with me, you didn’t.” I pull his waist toward me so our chests are touching. “Of course, we’re going to have our alone time. But I want you together too.”
He presses his forehead against mine. “I’ll give you whatever you want, Trouble. ”
Nox tenses at our display of affection. I kiss Draven on the cheek before he follows Aries and Bones out into the foyer.
“They worship you as I do.”
He looks strange in my kitchen. After all these years, my whole life, of only ever seeing him in a fever dream… to have him standing here in front of me, in my house, is jarring.
“I can’t believe you’re here. Can I touch you?” I feel like a nervous teenager again, unsure of how to connect with him.
He blows out a deep breath. “I want nothing more.”
I cross the room to him and place my hands on his chest. He’s more solid—sturdier. Nothing can break him.
He bows his head. “What’s wrong with my eyes?”
I cup his face in my hands. “Nothing. They’re beautiful. You are beautiful.”
He wraps his arms around me while his tail slithers around my waist. “You kept your promise. I would have kept loving you anyway, but now I love you even more. I’m yours, dark one. Use me. Fuck me . Tear my skin apart with your teeth if I ever anger you. You own me.”
I rest my head on his chest. “I want to serve you, Nox.”
He threads his claws through my hair. “You will serve all of us well, my love.”
We hold each other for a few more minutes before I break away. “I need to talk to them too.”
“I’ll wait for you here.”
My heart almost bursts at his words. He’s not my nightmare anymore. I don’t even know what sleep will bring for me now. But I’m euphoric just knowing that he will be here every time I wake up.
I find the three of them lingering by the front door. The tension and anxiety are so thick I’d need the raven’s blade to cut it.
“We have to go to work now, little lamb.” Aries slips on his jacket before planting a kiss on my cheek.
“Our team will be arriving later today to start harvesting the baneberry for production. They’ve been instructed not to bother you,” Draven huffs. He won’t look at me.
I block his path. “Hey, don’t shut me out. We’ve come so far.”
Without warning, he grabs my face and kisses me hard. Our tongues swirl hungrily around each other in response, ravenous and desperate. It sends butterflies to my belly. “I never want the taste of cherry to leave my lips… I’m not shutting you out, just processing.”
I nod, relieved that he’s not having second thoughts. “See you here later tonight, then?”
“You’re never getting rid of us, Trouble.”
Bones inspects my hand again. “Keep this wrapped. I’ll change it when we get back.”
I tease him with a salute. “Yes, sir.”
“Ooh, I like hearing you call me that.” He flashes me a grin before heading out the door.
As I peer out the window, I spot Rodrick waiting for them in the limousine. He’s a good man—loyal, dutiful, and he doesn’t judge.
Nerves mix with excitement at the thought of sharing myself with all four of them. There’s so much I want to explore and experience. And I hope in time, they will share each other.
I return to the kitchen to find Nox exactly where I left him. “You know you’re free to go anywhere you like. This is your house too now.”
“I want to see your artwork. The ones you’ve told me about. Show me.”
My stomach knots. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. “Okay,” I squeak out.
We head upstairs to the study. When I switch on the lights and reveal all the canvases, another flicker of nerves eats away at me. I fold my arms over my chest, watching him as he takes his time looking at each one.
“They’re all of me .” His voice is richer than I remember, deeper and full of ache .
I fidget with the zipper on my hoodie. “Um, yeah. It’s always been you.”
He strips out of his clothes and sprawls out on the floor. “Will you paint me now?”
“I-I haven’t been able to paint in a long time.” I feel sick. What if he hates it?
“Will you try? For me. Please. I want to see you in your element.” He spreads his legs and rests his tail to the side.
He’s so beautiful. So perfect. This is the first time I don’t have to paint him from memory. I nod. “Of course. I’ve always wanted this.”
As I dip my brush in the paint, butterflies dance in my belly. This is Nox in the flesh . I touch the brush to the empty canvas and begin. I wince slightly from the ache in my palm. The bandage makes it awkward to hold the brush at first. But I soon adjust and find my grip.
Our love flows through me as I work, almost as if I’m in a trance. No one has ever watched me paint before, let alone the subject I’m painting.
My body comes alive as I furiously switch between colors, my fingers tingling under the heat of his gaze. And I don’t stop until it’s a masterpiece. All the other paintings of him from before are ominous, thick swirls of black ink with red eyes.
But as I stand back to look at this new piece, a smile plays on my lips. He’s a man with horns, a tail, claws, and a forked cock. His skin is golden brown, and his eyes are black. There’s nothing dangerous or sinister about it. This new version of Nox is so pure it’s almost human.
His gaze lingers on the canvas for what seems like an eternity before he breaks the silence. “Thank you, my love. I wanted to know how you see me now. This makes me happy.”
I stifle a giggle as I watch him squeeze back into the clothes Aries gave him.. “Sorry. We’ll get some custom things for you to wear.”
He smiles back at me. “Whatever you wish, Mia.”