Page 136 of Damned and Broken Gods
Whump!
The serpent’s head whipped to the side, the coil around me coming loose as its head hit the ground.
A figure landed on it, all gleaming, golden skin, and dark hair threaded with gold flying like a flag in a breeze that seemed to blow only for him.
Araz!
Tears blurred my vision.
He was free.
He was here.
The serpent turned its head to look up at its attacker, and I expected Araz to punch it or grab its jaws and rip them open, but instead he placed his hand on its metallic head, then leaned in to press his forehead to its scaly flesh.
Golden light rushed out from Araz, spilling over the serpent’s body. It glowed so brightly I had to look away and close my eyes until the world beyond my eyelids dimmed.
“Leela?” Araz called.
I turned toward him. The serpent was gone, and he was alone, glowing softly from within.
“Araz!” I ran into his arms, and he crushed me to him, his chest heaving with emotion that matched mine.
“You’re safe,” he said. “You’ll always be safe. Don’t be afraid. Promise me you won’t be afraid.”
I tipped my face up to his. “I won’t. I promise. I have you back now, and we?—”
“Listen to me.” He cupped my face like it was a fragile offering. “I love you. I love you with every aspect of my being, and I would have come back for you. I would have loved you for eternity as Araz. As me. Remember that. Rememberme.” He shook his head and winced. “No, I need more time, I…”
My stomach trembled. “Araz, what’s going on? Who are you talking to?”
His eyes flared with orange flame, and he kissed me, soft and tender, filled with a yearning and longing that tugged at the heart of me. The flame inside me flared, searing heat spreading across my torso and climbing up my throat, into my mouth, into him. His heat answered, spilling into me and twining with mine.
I couldn’t breathe.
I didn’t need to.
There was only his mouth. His lips. His tongue.
Him.
His fingers threaded into my hair and made a fist, anchoring me as he deepened the kiss, the intensity shifting to hunger. A low moan crawled up my throat while a hum vibrated in my chest echoing his name. Araz, Araz, Araz.
“Get away from her!”
I was suddenly kissing air with Araz standing several feet away.
Someone grabbed me and pulled me back. I twisted and looked up at Chandra.
His wings were out, flared and glowing white. His eyes burned like cold fire, and his gold-armored suit radiated light that hurt my eyes.
“What are you doing?” I tried to break free of him. “Let me go!” I wanted to be with Araz. “Araz!” I reached for him, our gazes locking across a distance that Chandra had enforced. “Get off me!” I tried to break free again, but he squeezed my arm hard enough to hurt.
“You will not have her!” he yelled at Araz.
Araz tore his gaze from me and fixed it on Chandra. He tipped his head to one side, a smirk painting his lips.
“Oh, you think you can keep her from me?”
