Page 37 of Shadowkissed

She gasps. “I didn’t know I could…”

My breath hitches. The pain’s still there, but fading fast. And the warmth?—

It’sher.

She’s pouring something into me that’s more than magic. What feels like hope.

“Liora,” I whisper.

Her name tastes like salvation on my tongue.

Her hands shake, but she doesn’t pull away. “I was never taught this. They said I couldn’t—Thorne said I was only good for breaking things.”

“You’re not.”

She looks at me, startled.

“You’re good for more than destruction,” I say, voice low. “You saved me.Again.”

A soft laugh escapes her lips, but her eyes are wet. “Yeah, but you were also hurt because of me.”

“My choice and I’d do it again.”

Her small smile is there and her eyes look warm instead of guarded for once. I want to kiss her. But not like before—not just because of the heat or the magic or the bond crawling through our veins. I want to kiss her because shechosethis. Chose me. Again. I can feel her decision. ANd even though she’s scared. Even though it might cost her everything.

Her glow fades as the wound seals completely. She leans back slightly, still close, her chest rising and falling fast.

“I didn’t think I could do it,” she says quietly. “Not until you.”

I don’t know what to say to that. So I don’t.

I reach up, brush a thumb across her cheek. She leans into it like she didn’t mean to—but can’t stop herself.

“You scared the shit out of me,” she mutters.

“Good.”

She smiles. Just a little. It’s the first real one I’ve seen.

“I came back to protectyou,” I say, softer now. “And I went and got myself cursed instead.”

She huffs. “Dumbass.”

I grin, just a little. “You love it.”

And then I do what I’ve wanted to do since the second I found her again.

I kiss her.

Slow. Sure. No desperation this time. Justus. Fire and shadow. Light and wolf. Two broken things finding something steady in the middle of all this chaos.

She melts into me, one hand on my chest, the other tangled in my hair. And for a moment, the world goes quiet.

No Seraphiel. No hunters. No Veil. Just her lips on mine and the taste of something holy blooming behind my ribs.

When we finally pull apart, she rests her forehead against mine. “We’re not safe here,” she whispers. “They’ll come for you again. For both of us.”

“Let them,” I say, voice rough. “I’ve got you now.”

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