Chapter 21 #2
He sweeps a loose strand of hair behind my ear and steps closer. The skin contact makes me shiver, it’s so soft, so tender, and the way he looks down at me gives me a feeling I want to bottle and keep forever.
“If my brother wasn’t in a state of life or death I wouldn’t let you leave this room for at least a week. My dick is nowhere near done with you, Satapti.”
The pulse in my clit says that she agrees wholeheartedly and I push up onto my tiptoes to kiss his plump lips. He rumbles deep in his throat in response before I pull away, dropping the new crystal into my pocket.
“Come on, demon, let’s go and save your brother.”
Quicker than I can blink, he lifts me, bridal style, making me squeal as he adjusts his hold. He walks me out of his bedroom, through the living room, and down the stairs until we’re outside where he finally puts me back on my feet.
With a heavy sigh, he presses his lips against my forehead, breathing me in, seemingly unwilling to move from this spot.
“Lead the way.” I grip his hand and he links our fingers together, squeezing tightly.
“Don’t let go, you still smell like an anthros and will attract a lot of attention.” He’s using his serious voice, so I nod, not wanting to end up with those rock people and their decorative human parts.
“Do the others have any news on Danika yet? Or a way to make me not die in the next two months?” I hear the way his breath stutters on an inhale as I ask my last question, but now I feel like I have so much more to live for.
It’s like my heart will literally tear into a thousand pieces if I ever have to leave Hack.
“We have some leads on kyn who may know something about Danika’s kidnapping, but nothing solid.
And…” He pauses and clears his throat as he continues to lead me through the dull, maze-like streets.
“No. But if you stay with me, I can keep you safe. I will see you through to this thirtieth birthday.”
His breaths are heavier than before, and his grip on my hand is almost bruising, but I’m good with that. I never want him to let go, either.
“Have I ever been here before? To The Shade, I mean.” A subject change is clearly in order. His mood has darkened and I feel like that’s kinda my fault.
“Never. This is the first time. Mainly because an anthros, here, is not recommended, as you discovered yesterday. It isn’t safe.”
We come to a large clearing at the end of another row of homes and I can feel my eyes widening at the sight before me.
“Oh my goddess…it’s exactly how I imagined! The books and films with places like this all got it on point!” I almost let go of Hack’s hand in my excitement over the many stalls and gazebo-type things, all of them made of some kind of wood or steel and adorned with multi-colored cloths.
And the kyn…? I can’t even begin to name even half of them.
Tiny faerie-like beings with multi-colored wings are zipping around, mostly visiting one of the many stalls specifically for them.
Or so I imagine, due to the size of the goods being so tiny.
It’s like there’s a miniature version of everything, including a furniture stall.
Hack’s grip on my hand remains firm as he leads me through the market and I note the way he keeps glancing back at me with a glint in his eyes, as though he’s enjoying my discovery of this fantastical place.
I about shit my pants when I see a tall rock creature—or ogre, as I now know—then I remember the way Hack and his friends tore those other ones apart and my fear eases slightly.
It increases again when the ogre pauses to sniff the air as he walks past, but a glare from Hack is all it takes for the ogre to be on his way.
It’s still a little strange how I feel so immediately safe with Hack, I don’t even know him that well in this life, but my soul does. It knows that we’re only complete when we’re together. We’re stronger in a way that only fated mates can be.
My memories may be lacking, the flashes giving me minimal information, but this fact is woven in the fabric of my very being, just like Hack.
My eyes practically pop out of my skull when I see what I know for damn sure are elves.
Lord of The Rings, eat your heart out because these are a dead ringer.
Tall, ethereal, beautiful thick, pale hair, and the ears!
They have pointed ears! They’re dressed in furs, some still in the shape of the animal the fur is from.
I don’t love their outfits, but to each their own.
What are they? There’s a surprising number of animals or people that look mostly human but with animal features, some with reptilian eyes, bat-like wings…
and I’m guessing Hack can sense my internal questions because he leans down and whispers, “Shifters. Stronger ones can partially shift and like to showcase that fact. And yes, I can sense your thoughts now. If you open your mind to me, you’ll be able to sense mine too.
” He straightens and continues to lead me past the many stalls filled with amazing things.
One vendor has shelves of clear glass jars filled with different-sized eyeballs that I swear are watching everything around them. Another has rows of bags made from what looks like a leathery skin, each held up by a glowing string that writhes as though it’s alive.
Shouting from up ahead makes Hack pause and sigh heavily. He’s a lot taller than I am so I’m guessing he can see what the problem is.
“Don’t let go, Satapti. Okay?” He looks down at me, concern in his eyes and his grip almost vice-like.
“Promise.” I nod, because why would I ever want to do that?
As if he’s steeling himself, ready to go, he takes a deep breath before moving forward again with me in tow.
The shouting gets louder, but I notice the way Hack tries to veer us around the main commotion.
It looks like a couple of the elves from earlier are arguing with a vampyre—if the pointy teeth are anything to go by.
I can’t make out what they’re saying, only that the elves seem real angry at whatever the vampyre is selling.
The yells seem to reach a peak, with literal screams now making the crowd shout in panic, some of them turning to run away from whatever is happening. One runs straight for me, and I manage to jump out of the way quick enough to not get bowled over.
“That was a close—” I don’t get to finish my sentence because one of the elves flies through the air after being thrown by the screaming vampyre, and this time, moving out of the way is impossible.
The elf, furs and all, crashes into me, feet first, into my chest. A sharp burning sting shoots through me from the point of impact and no amount of tight grip can hold me as I fall to the ground. There’s a wetness dripping down my cleavage as I try to sit up, and I panic when I can’t see him.
“Hack!” The single yell makes me cough and I look down to find black veins shooting in all directions from the new cut on my chest.
“Oh, shit.” The elf scrambles to his feet and I notice the sharp thorns wrapped around his shoes. Great.
If it weren’t for the growing black shoots branching off across my chest and the searing pain, I’d be thankful it’s just a thorn scratch, but I’m gonna take a wild stab in the dark and say these aren’t your average thorns.
“I’m sorry, Liege Hack. Fuck. I’m so sorry. I didn’t—” The elf’s sentence is cut short—literally—as his head is sliced off and bounces to the ground beside me.
“Unless you’re going to be helpful or want to die, then get the fuck back.” A thin vine retracts away from the now-headless body to its owner as Hack appears by my side, on his knees, and immediately pulls me onto him.
“Sage, Satapti, fuck, you hang on. Do not fucking leave me.” He clutches at my chest as I struggle to form words and tears begin to pool at my eyes when I realize what this is.
This is me dying before I’m thirty.
And I don’t want to go.
I’m not ready.
I have too much I want to do. To see.
Too much time I need with Hack. My Zelos.
I cough and the tears fall in fat droplets down the sides of my face, the taste of iron in my mouth telling me I’m close.
I need to tell Hack how much I love him. How much he completes the very essence of me.
I need more time…
My tears fall faster and the fear on Hack’s face grows, but when his eyes fill with tears of his own, my soul breaks right along with his.
“Somebody fucking help me!” he screams into the crowd of kyn just going about their day, nothing to see here.
Only, this is everything.
My heart is being crushed with every second of panic I see in Hack’s eyes, every guttural yell that leaves his throat as he cries out for a potion, an antidote, anything that will help.
I wince as the sharp pain in my chest expands into my stomach and my arms and Hack’s broken voice cracks my soul into pieces alongside my heart.
“You promised you wouldn’t let go, Satapti, please, please stay with me. Pierce is almost here, he’s so close, Sage, so fucking close.” He strokes my hair back from my face, carefully tucking it behind my ear as I’m cradled in his hold.
I wish I could speak, but every time I try, my throat feels like it’s closing and I cough up more liquid from my chest.
“Don’t try to talk, I know.” He kisses my forehead, his lips lingering there for the longest time, savoring the contact that we both crave. “I know.”