Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 156210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Still, not brave enough to fight off Heartbreak, and it must pain him that we all know it. Maybe that shame is even part of his punishment.
I get a glimpse of the silver collar around Sylvan’s neck, and I can’t help my satisfaction. The smug bastard was happy to see it on Kyran. Now he is getting a taste of his own medicine. It blocks his access to shadowcraft and will teach him all about humility.
“Anything else, my lord?” he says through gritted teeth as he puts the tray on our table a little too abruptly.
He’s lucky that we found him a job here and he’s not forced to figure it all out on his own. Though he does have to live with my mom, so that’s punishment I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. I suppose Kyran couldn’t stop himself from subjecting his cousin to a bit of everyday torture.
“Thank you, cousin. That is all.”
“You two look nothing alike,” Kurt says, rubbing Flap between the long ears and making them tilt to the sides like two antennae. “The Prince of Darkness,” he says and points at Kyran before moving his gaze to Sylvan. “A dolled-up version of an ice prince.”
Sylvan squints at him as I snort. I can only hope he’s not giving Kurt a hard time, but Kurt knows how to befriend anyone, so I doubt he’s struggling.
“Dolled-up?” Sylvan asks coolly, but I can sense he’s seething.
Kurt shrugs. “I mean it as a compliment. You’ve got that…” he gestures around Sylvan’s face. “That whole pretty boy thing going on.”
“How dare you disrespect me!” Sylvan grabs a handful of ketchup packets and throws them at Kurt, but they just bounce off him as he laughs.
“Not in front of the baby!” Kurt yells back, shielding Flap with his body.
I smile at Kyran as they bicker. “I told you it’s the perfect punishment.”
He smirks and pulls me close, settling both his warm hands around my waist as I curl against him, drunk on the sense of safety his love offers. “You have many good ideas, my love. What was the one you mentioned before we embarked? The one you wanted to show rather than tell me?”
“So I was thinking… We could get matching tattoos? They don’t have to be the same thing. Just something connected to each other. I want to get a shadowy eel on my chest. I did conquer a shadow wielder after all.” I wiggle my eyebrows at him and feed him another fry. “Would you like to do that with me?”
Kyran nods, but his gaze drifts off as he plays with my fingers, contemplating the idea. “You definitely deserve an eel over the heart for taming someone like myself. As for me… I think what makes us most similar is our fight for freedom. Remember when you told me about the key you stole to escape your school? Maybe I should get that?”
He pulls on my sleeve to reveal my wrist and the ink on it. The symbol I never want to forget. I swallow, feeling all tender inside, because he sees all of me, and knows me so well. We might not have spent that much time together, but we’ve been tested and stood beside each other in circumstances regular people never have to deal with.
What I saw inside of Heartbreak still haunts my dreams, but whenever I wake up, Kyran is there for me, protecting me, so with each passing night I feel safer. I became stronger that day, and even though I dread the time the beast comes back, I know I’ll stand alongside Kyran, ready to aid him in any way he needs.
“It also stands for being the master of my own destiny.” I whisper and give him a kiss on the cheek. “It’s only fitting that you have it too. Whenever we’re apart, you will be able to look down on it and remember I’m yours.”
Kyran smirks and brings my hand to his lips. “Darling, I never want to be apart from you. Not for more than a few hours.”
I laugh and grab a burger. “How are you both so sweet and so deadly?”
“Practice?” He winks at me and leans closer. “Better tell me if that key also opens your legs.”
I almost choke on my food laughing, but then give a serious glance down his body. “You already have the tool for that.”
The End