Page 56 of Up In Flames
“Death has a voracious appetite for life. It can become a beast, merging with the wild part of us. The need to consume and grow. To spread your seed and feast. But you are in control, not Death. Remember that. That is our reward for housing him.”
I lifted my head and looked at Aranren. It was so odd. I thought I knew him. I had seen him. Felt him. But now, I looked deeper. I saw the cage again. The bones. I remembered that I wasn't a god. I wasn't even free. I had a cage that matched his.
“Housing him,” I whispered. “Death is inside us, isn't he?”
Yes,Death purred in my mind.I have you, now, Ember. But don't worry. I'm a generous god. I have desires and you have fulfilled them for now. You may have control for a while.
A tear slid down my cheek, and Aranren kissed it away.
“We have each other now,” Aranren said. “He takes, but he also gives. You will see. With him, we shall rule. The lunacy is a small price to pay. And as I said, it can be controlled.
When I allow it, Death whispered, then vanished.
Chapter Thirty-One
Flashes of memories began to come often. Not of my time before I arrived at the fortress but before Ara and I had become a couple. I remembered how we had planned together, how we had fooled Death. How we were going to escape. But those memories were distant, almost as if someone else had lived them. Fight Death? Why would we do that? He gave us everything, including each other. And Ara was all I wanted. I craved him. He gave me what no one had ever given me before. He opened me to possibilities, not the least of which were sexual.
I wanted Ara all the time. Inside me. Me inside him. Both of us inside each other's mouths at the same time. It was a hedonistic paradise. I never wanted it to end. So, I pushed aside the latest memory and focused on Aranren.
“I love your hair,” I said as I brushed Ara's hair while he sat at his dressing table.
He watched me through our reflection. “I love it when you brush it. Thank you.”
“I enjoy it. I used to do it for . . .” I blinked, my hands going still.
“Ember?”
“I was about to say someone's name.” I frowned. “Whose hair did I used to brush?”
Aranren frowned. He had been getting forgetful lately too. “I don't know, my love. There has only ever been you and I.”
I nodded, my expression clearing. “You're right. I'm being silly again.”
“What should we do today?” he asked.
“I should probably train.”
“You should have breakfast, then each other,” Death said. “Or maybe you should have each other first.”
“Why are you so interested in our sex life?” I growled. “Go away! We're trying to have a private moment.”
“Good. Have more of those.”
“What is wrong with you?” Ara asked Death. “You've been behaving oddly lately.”
“It's not me. It's the two of you. You should be bonded by now. Aren't you in love?” Death grumbled.
“Yes,” Ara and I said together.
But then I paused, trying to remember what bonding was and why I wanted to do it with Ara. “How are we supposed to bond?”
“Magically!” Death roared.
Ara shot to his feet. “Do not speak to him like that!”
The echoes of Ara's shout rang off the walls, silencing Death.
I took Ara's hand. “Thank you, but it's all right. He's only trying to look after us.”
