Page 268 of Chandelier Sin
She took a deep breath. “I’ll always be grateful.”
My gaze was filled with deep admiration and affection. “My reward is your happiness.”
She studied my gold bee cufflinks. “I designed them.”
I unclipped the left one from my cuff and held it in my palm. “I’ll treasure them.”
“One of them is you and one is me.”
“Surely one of them should be bigger?”
“Why?”
“The queen is the largest bee in the hive.”
“As long as they’re together.”
I shot her a look.
“If theybothwant that,” she added.
“Do you want that?”
“Me staying away was about keeping you safe. You know that.”
I lifted the flute to my lips and sipped ice-cold bubbles. “It wasn’t easy.”
“It’s been hell.”
“At least Hell is fun,” I chided.
“Beemine forever,” she whispered and then looked away, laughing.
“Cute.”
It made me want to pull her into a hug.
“I have something important to show you.” She twisted her arm, showing me her left wrist.
I blinked as I took in what I was seeing.
The barcode was now covered in a black strip of ink, and in the center was a three-dimensional bumblebee, similar in design to my cufflinks.
She’d rendered me speechless.Again.
“What do you think?” She raised her chin with pride.
“You chose…”
“I decided to disguise it but leave it there to remind myself I’m a survivor.”
“You are a survivor,” I said quietly. “It’s beautiful.”
“It matches your tattoo in a way.”
I ran a thumb over the snake’s head on the back of my hand. “Two sacred species that are often misunderstood.”
“Good choice, right?”
