Page 213 of Wrath of the Fae

My Mates live with it.

I actually think they adore it.

‘Take my hand,’ I encourage. ‘I’m not going to hurt you.’

Rhea takes my hand in hers.

‘I offer you a vow,’ I tell her. ‘I will come if you need help to restore any peace that gets stolen. If you need me, use the markings in this vow to call me. And I will come.’ I tighten my grip and step closer. ‘But…’

‘But?’ she asks, her shining eyes searching mine.

‘But you will only call if it is dire. You will not come looking for me, Rhea. For us.’ I nod to the two guys sitting side by side, leaning back and admiring the sky. ‘You let us be. Let us have our peace. We will protect you all from the monsters and the demons. We will fight for you if all else fails. But you let me go. And you let me finally be free. If you don’t, you will regret it.’

She continues to search my eyes as more tears brim and spill over her cheeks.

‘But… I love you,’ she cries softly. ‘I can’t do this without you.’

‘You have the council. You have El.’

‘But I want my sister. Is this because of what I did? Because of Cyrus?’

I feel that hot rage swirl in my belly at her words. Behind me, the two boys slowly turn to face us and reach their feet, standing on the balcony and preparing to intervene. I know they felt my reaction through our Bond, and they ready themselves to contain me if needed.

But I take a deep breath.

‘I will always be your sister. You know that,’ I offer. ‘But I want to live my life the way I want. And I want to live it with them and in freedom. Not ruling. Not fighting. Not deciding laws or handing out punishment.’

‘I can come with you. El and I.’

‘No. You won’t. It’s not safe for anyone to be near me. I’m Leviathan, Rhea. I destroy. I need nothing but them. I want nothing but them.’ I look at our hands again. ‘Will you accept my deal?’ I ask. ‘Know that if you do accept and you call me without cause, you will die, Rhea.’

‘You really mean it, don’t you?’ She swallows dryly. ‘You want to leave for good.’

‘Yes.’ I grip her hand in mine. ‘I mean it with every inch of me.’

For the last two months of my life, I have worked to help her. I have put up the shield and contained my monsters. I use a considerable portion of my power to contain the remaining leviathans. I have warned every human king, queen, president and every form of leader that they must never come for us again.

Now I demand a life of my own.

I have lost too much to risk losing another thing.

She grips my hand.

‘I agree.’ She sniffs and nods.

So I make the vow between us. The black ink sweeps across her skin, marking her body with an eternal promise.

I pull her into a hug and shed a tear as I say farewell to my twin.

It’s harder than I thought it would be.

I loved her for so long. I longed for her. Grieved for her. Fought for her and defended her.

But no good will come to me clinging to her now.

Not when I can never forgive her, not truly, for what she did to Cyrus.

I kiss her on her wet cheek one last time and turn on my heel, striding towards Reid and Cyrus.

---