Page 54 of Vexed
Lily
The cold stone of the Cathedral was starting to feel familiar, like a second home. Or maybe a very depressing waiting room. I sat on this bench not too long ago, waiting for death. All because Vex came into my life, turning my world upside down, bending the rules of the Underworld forme.
Now, I was waiting again. Waiting for him to come back and tell me what’s going to happen next.
My body was weak, the lingering effects of being stuck between worlds. Adimus, bless his stony, reaper heart, hadsomehow managed to snag me a chicken sandwich from the human world.
A chicken sandwich! I swear, I tried giving him a hug but he only pressed his palm against my forehead and gave me a smile. It’s better than nothing, I guess.
I watched Vex talking to a group of Arc Reapers behind the Altar of Souls. Whispers floated on the air, hushed and serious. I bit my lip, anxiety gnawing at me.
Whatever they were discussing, it couldn’t be good. Not with the weight of the underworld practically crushing Vex’s shoulders these past few days.
Finally, they stopped. Vex turned, his gaze immediately locking onto mine. He walked towards me, and my stomach plummeted. Something was wrong. I could see it in his face, in the way he held himself.
I stood up, my legs wobbling slightly. “Is everything okay?”
He took a deep breath, the kind you take before diving into freezing water. “I’m gonna get you home, darling.”
A wave of relief washed over me, so potent it almost knocked me off my feet. Home. I was going home! Fucking finally. As fun as it’s been, I’m ready to get the hell out of here. A wide, genuine smile stretched across my face.
But then he added, “But there’s one condition.”
My smile faltered, “What?” My voice trembled, betraying the fear that was clawing its way up my throat.
He sighed, his eyes locking with mine. “You’re going to forget me.”
The words hit me like a physical blow. Forget him? Forget Vex? My heart hammered against my ribs, like a frantic bird trapped in a cage.
“You’ll forget we ever met. I’ll be completely erased from your memory. I’ll stay away from you.” His voice was rough, likesandpaper. “You have no idea how this is going to kill me, Lily, but it has to happen.”
“No,” I choked out, the single word laced with a desperation that surprised even me. “No, no, no!” Tears streamed down my face, hot and heavy. I swiped at them uselessly, but they just kept coming.
How could I forget him? How could I forget everything we’ve been through?
I scrubbed at my eyes, trying to clear my vision. And then I saw it.
Tears.
Tears were rolling down Vex’s face. A Grim Reaper, a being of death and shadow, was crying. Andthat, more than anything, broke me.
He pulled me to him, holding me so tight I could barely breathe. “I’m so sorry, Lily,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m so,sosorry.”
After a few moments, I managed to calm myself, pulling back just enough to look up at him. My heart ached, a raw, throbbing pain. I reached up, my trembling hands cupping his face. I pulled him down, closer, and pressed my lips against his.
It was a desperate, passionate kiss, a silent promise, a rebellion against the fate they were trying to force upon us.
A voice broke the silence. “God, here we go,” Adimus deadpanned.
I couldn’t help but giggle, a shaky, watery sound. Vex smirked, a flash of the old devilishness I’d grown to love. “Damn right, here we go.”
And then he hoisted me up, my legs wrapping around his waist, clinging to him like my life depended on it. Because, in a way, it did. He walked with me over to the Altar of Souls, my eyes glued to his.
He slid me down, spinning me around so my back was pressed against his chest. His hand rested on the small of my back, slowly dragging it up my back before he gradually bent me over, my hands resting on the cold, smooth surface of the Altar.
He turned, his eyes challenging, addressing the other reapers. “Either you leave,” he said, his voice a low growl, “or you can watch as I fuck her.”
The Arc Reapers didn’t need to be told twice. They scrambled, mumbled apologies, and practically bolted for the Cathedral doors.
