Page 45 of Maiming
“I love you.” He says it so loudly the people dancing next to us look our way. Several people pause to look at the unmoving couple among the happy dancers.
For a split second, I’m afraid I’ll say it wrong. The wordlovkis a taunting tune within my mind.
“I love you too, Chaos.” I swallow down all the doubt that I was letting breed within myself. All I feel is warmth spreading through me despite the cool breeze tickling my skin.
The wide smile that shows off his perfect teeth only makes me want to say it all over again to him.
“Shit, I was so worried you wouldn’t say it.” His pushes his hand all the way down his face.
And then he steps back from me.
He turns away from me. The audience that’s watching us pays even more attention when he turns his back on me. A feeling of self-consciousness drops into me, and I strangely can’t help but feel like he’s about to walk away from me.
I know he’d never do that. Deep down I know Chaos would never trick me into showing him a vulnerable part of me just to walk away.
But I can’t help the fear of my past from trickling back in.
Then he turns to me. A brilliant crystal is held in his hands. The onyx color of it catches the light and shines brightly along the sharp edges of the sporadic bursting points of the circular shaped stone. It looks like something powerful exploded the material from the inside out and now it’s left in jagged but beautiful layers.
At the sight of it, Myla and Helen gasp in unison from their spot at the dinner table near us.
“Arlow Winters.” Chaos says my name like it’s a statement all on its own. It demands my attention and the attention of everyone around us. “I want you as our mate.” When he holds the onyx crystal out I realize it’s a ring.
And then I can’t speak.
Kain and Rime stand close behind Chaos and the three of them look at me so expectantly. The ring in Chaos’ hand is forgotten as I stare at the three shifters in front of me.
The longer the seconds pass the more the murmurs start to build.
“What a strange gesture,” Lord Carlin whispers.
“He’s doing it all wrong,” Brylee replies. “Everyone knows he’s supposed to bring her the heart of an enemy. What are they supposed to eat on their first year anniversary now? Idiot.”
“I don’t think you want Chaos to bring me the heart of an enemy.” I turn my head to better glare at the young woman and her deep blue eyes widen as she hides her face by taking a large drink from her wine glass.
The corner of Chaos’ lips tilt up. His attention flickers across my face as he waits with forced patience.
“You three really want me as a mate?” I swallow and I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to accept the proposal as it is.
I need to hear them say it.
I don’t mention it, but I come with complications. I come with a past. I come with shaky emotions. I come with a friend who we all know will always own a piece of my heart.
They want me? Every terrible broken part of me?
“You see, this ring wasn’t something they had in stock at a market.” Chaos takes a step closer until his body is flush against mine, his hand pressing low down my spine until everything I feel is entirely Chaos. “I had to pay a visit to a fucking guy Sinister knows. The only guy’s Sinister knows are demons. They’re not all as friendly as our little four-legged friend.”
“Aye, fuck you.” Sinister’s reply and the abundance of fuck words are really starting to put a damper on this adorable mating proposal right now.
“So, to make a perfect ring I needed powerful, intense magic. We paid a visit to some literal demons who wanted me to trade my …stamina—” He’s cut off by a smart mouthed boy standing behind him.
“You can say the word erection, Chaos, we’re all adults here.” Alloex smirks as Chaos grimaces.
“Anyway, we spent a long time haggling and finally Kain gave upalotto get the perfect crystal made in a way I thought represented the four of us just to ask you. So yeah, we’re sure, Low.”
In a way that represented the four of us. The dark material is glittering and beautiful. It’s so alluring it’s impossible to look away from. But jagged. So damn jagged.
Something else stands out in his statement.
