Page 75 of A Kiss From Death
“C’mon, let’s go,” he whispers. Striding over to my armoire, he snags a fresh shirt and pants to replace my bodysuit then scoops me up, drawing me close so I’m nuzzled into his chest. I look up at him with confusion, and he lets out a soft, content sigh. “Let’s go feel alive and free.”
His magic wraps around us like a warm blanket, and its familiarity is a welcome comfort tonight. A phantom gust of wind swings the stained glass window in my bedroom open, letting in fresh air. Hade’s magic floats us out the window into the open sky.
The sun is slowly making its descent, getting ready to dip behind the towering buildings in the heart of the city. Warm hues of pinks and oranges take over the once-clear blue sky, making a halo over the city. It’s breathtaking, and I picture it’s Theo’s way of saying hello, his contagious personality personified through cotton candy clouds and golden rays.
“It’s stunning,” I say, more to myself than to Hade.
“I couldn’t agree more,” he breathes. I turn back to face him, only to find him staring intently at my face, and my body instantly breaks out in chills.
His magic carries us over the busy city, Magicals milling about with their families and friends, heading to taverns for the night’s festivities. It’s amazing to see the way the citizens all move like one body of flowing water. Children run about the streets, laughing and playing, while their parents shop the vendors lining the cobblestone. It’s peaceful and unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed.
The thrum of magic can be felt from every corner, even from above. It’s the heartbeat of the city, keeping it alive and running. We near the edge of Lunaria, and I spot where the ground turns to nothing, a giant drop off just beyond my view. Hade looks down, shooting me a playful smirk.
“Ready?” he says excitedly.
Fisting his shirt, I respond, “I’m ready to feel alive.”
Hade lets out a deep, satisfied growl then tightens his arms protectively around me. “Try not to shatter my eardrums,” is the only warning I get before he releases his magic from around us and we start to free fall over the edge of Lunaria.
I let out a loud shriek, caught off guard by this man once again. I should have known this was in my future, seeing as I askedhim to make me feel alive. This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but what I do know, with certain clarity in this moment, is that I wholeheartedly trust this man with my life.
We freefall, wrapped in each other’s embrace, and the world melts away. My stomach flips, and adrenaline fills my veins as we fall through the sky without a care in the world. Life stops around us, the sky a blur, my eyes only focusing on one thing.
Hade’s eyes are locked on mine, and my ability to breathe vanishes again. He’s looking at me in awe, like I’m the only thing to exist in this world besides himself. I feel the click of the metal lock around my heart come apart at the same time I do.
Hade is death and life all the same. He is as deadly as the creatures that plague my nightmares and a lifeline to hold onto at the same time. He is myremedyto surviving life. He is theairthat fills my lungs. He is thereasonI want my heart to never stop beating.
He is thefateto the rest of my existence.
The rope tethering me to him pulls taught, finally at its limit since the first time I laid eyes on him. There was no avoiding this, avoidinghim. His very being is etched into my skin like a prophecy from the gods. He chipped my darkness away until I was left in my rawest form in front of him, and hereveledin it.
This moment feels like a change of tides, destiny rearranging the stars to paint a portrait of us. It rewires my brain until all I can see is the light shining through the storm that has plagued my life.
The loudest laugh bubbles up my throat, vibrating from deep in my chest. It’s raw and real and everything I have not been for a very long time. It’s my way of letting life in and rising above it on the other side. It’s freeing and tastes like taking control instead of letting it suffocate me.
I throw my arms out wide and tip my head back, letting out a loud whoop of joy, like a child experiencing a core memory for the first time. I laugh and scream as the crippling emotions slither from the depths of my soul, purging them to the abyss.
Hade’s deep, warm chuckle washes over my skin, urging me on. I can feel his gaze burning my skin like a brand, and I bask in it. My back tingles right between my shoulder blades as a warm rush of energy skitters over my body, zapping me to life.
The world rushes by, but all I see ishim.
We are locked in a stand still, eyes unblinking and smiles taking up the entirety of our faces. His magic lashes out, wrapping us in darkness right at the last second, dragging us to an abrupt halt right before we touch the ground.
“That was extraordinary,” I say, trying to catch my breath.
He looks at me with the most intense stare. “Yeah, extraordinary, Nyxi,” he whispers, looking back and forth between my eyes.
My breathing picks up and my heart skitters a beat. He gently sets me back on my feet as an idea slams into my head.
“We need to make one stop before we head to the lake,” I tell Hade, and he agrees immediately, ready to grant me anything I desire.
I ask Hade to float us over to Visionary Sector, and he gets us there in minutes. He plops us down in the center of Harmony Hills, surrounded by a tall field of wildflowers in every color. Each flower glows in the golden light of the dying sun. It’s one of the most majestic sights I’ve ever seen.
Hade watches me as I start to spin, my arms stretched out wide, letting the warm sun dance over my skin. I take off in a gallop, letting the tops of flowers drag over my fingertips as I weave in and out of rows. I hear Hade let out a satisfied groan, then the sound of his feet pounding the ground behind me.
He catches up to me quickly, and I can’t stop the childish giggle that takes over my body. I feel large arms wrap around me from behind as he picks me up and spins us in circles. His foot catches on a rock and sends us toppling backwards. He cradles me to his chest as he takes the impact of the harsh ground. I laugh hysterically,twisting in his arms until my chest is pressed against his, with him sprawled on the ground below me.
He shines me a toothy grin as flowers make a crown of colors around him. I reach forward and flick his nose playfully.
