Page 56 of Wicked Ties
“Deal.” Maze grabbed my hand and then we stepped toward her. Beckett walked only a foot behind us. My heart hammered in my chest and Maze gave my hand a little squeeze of reassurance.
When we met in the center, I barely held myself from ripping it out of her hands. We were so close. I was so close. I wanted this for myself, for Astrid, and for Maze. I wanted to be the kind of friend they all deserved, and I wanted to feel that friendship.
Maze extended his hand and waited for her to hand over the bottle.
Please, please, please.
When she dropped it into his hand, I had to lock myself down. Not move, not breath. We weren’t finished here yet. He turned and handed it to me. “For you.”
When I held the bottle close to my chest I felt a shift, something sparked to life. It was excitement, happiness, maybe even relief. The little spirit fluttered around like a pixie caught in a jar. Maze remained stoic as he took the three bottles from Beckett.
“And these are for you.” He handed them to Nyx one by one.
When she had all three with in her grasp, she tilted her head to the side, studying him. “Why so honorable?”
He shrugged. “Because it was the right thing to do.”
“Indeed.” She pressed her lips into a thin line as though thinking. She sucked in a deep breath. “I will grant you one favor for this. And one only. You need only call.”
Maze inclined his head toward her. “I am grateful.”
“As well you should be.” Without any more drama, she melted away into the shadows that she created and took her daughters with her.
The moment they were gone, everyone whooped and hollered. This was for me. They were all here for me, and I wanted to be there for them. I held the bottle toward Maze. “How do we get it back in?”
“That’s what she said.” Grayson chuckled.
“I believe I can help with that.” Zinnia strutted over the field toward us.
My hands shook as I handed her the bottle with the one thing that could make me whole. But I didn’t want to wait a moment longer. She opened the bottle and held her hand over the top of it. Her silvery magic flowed into the bottle and wrapped around my spirit, holding it ever so gently. When she lifted it out of the bottle, she smiled at me. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
She tossed the ball right at my chest and shoved my spirit back into my body. It was like a jolt of lightning. All at once everything came rushing back. Sadness at not having any parents, happiness that I found family in my sister, Astrid. When I turned to her, tears stung my eyes and ran down my cheeks. Honor, to be part of such a world of power and people. Grateful, for the life they all worked to save. They supported me, protected me. This was friendship, this was family. This was LIFE.
I blew a kiss in her direction, and tears fell from her eyes. She ran to me and leapt into my arms, hugging me so hard I could barely breath. “You’re gonna smother me.”
“You have no idea.” Then she pulled back and swiped at her face.
“Crying is awkward.” I looked at the crown on her head. “But that is fabulous. Can I borrow?”
“I’ll get you one of your own if you like.” Maze cleared his throat and kicked at a rock on the ground. Not meeting my eye.
There it was, so huge, so bright, burning brighter than the sun. Love. so much of it for him that it twisted my insides. How could he ever expect me to walk away from something like this? It was as immense as the sea, and it took my breath away. He was all the things I needed and would never give up. The connection sizzled between us the moment his eyes rose to meet mine. He was beautiful in a deadly way. Mazerial didn’t love often, but he loved me. He’d done something bad to achieve something good. Without him I would’ve died. I would forgive him turning me into a demon, because in the end he saved my life and deep down, I knew he would never do anything bad or hurt me ever again. A girl couldn’t ask for more than true love and someone always watching her back.
“Hello, handsome.”
His lips pulled up into a huge smile. “Hey, sunflower.”
I stepped away from Astrid and moved closer to him. The closer I got the more that connection sizzled and shined between us. I loved him. I loved him with every little broken piece of my soul. “Every time I get near you, you do this cute thing where you save my life. And playground rules state that means you like me.”
He placed his hand on my cheeks and cupped my face so gentle. “More than like.”
I wrapped my hands in his shirt and pulled him into me. His lips smashed into mine and excitement mixed with pleasure exploded behind my eyes. I wanted him closer, needed him with me always. This was connection, like the perfect pot and lid finding each other. This was it. This was my love, and Mazerial gave everything to me.
CHAPTER 25
MAZE
