Page 115 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
Azrael’s gaze turns heated with equal parts desire and adoration.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
I don’t miss Violette’s look of surprise as she draws in a deep, steadying breath. Her ascent is barely a whisper.
“Fine.”
My hand absently clutches at my chest. How is it possible that my chest isn’t a gaping wound, that I’m not bleeding out, and moments from death?
What have I done?
“Take me to them, Somnus. I’ll do anything.”
Somnus’s words drip with disdain.
“Oh, now you want her? Now that you see she has other options? Who are you to stop her if you, her ownsoulbound, won’t protect and provide for her in any of the ways she needs you to?”
The words of their spoken vow sound miles away as I watch Azrael extend his hand, and Violette places her own within it. Blinding light pierces the air between their hands. Blood trickles from their palms onto the floor between them. The light between their palms grows to encompass their hands, burning so bright I have to squint until it dims swifter than it arrived.
My heart feels as though it’s being shredded into a million fucking pieces.
I’m not sure if this male can die. He possesses the aura of someone distinctlyimmortal, but no one is immune to pain.Even if he can’t die, at the very least, I will cause him enough agony that he’ll wish he could. The fact that I will likely die in the process is of little consequence to me, especially if he severs my bond with Violette.
Perhaps I’ll end up in his Hell realm and can torture him for the rest of eternity.
Violette looks down at the new, faint pink scar running the length of her palm before rubbing at her chest, determination burning in her gaze.
Azrael examines the twin scar on his own hand before her words draw his gaze.
“And what of the bond?”
An unmistakable sadness bleeds into his gaze.
“You’re sure this is what you want?”
VIOLETTE
The bond in the center of my chest burns like hellfire. Now that I’ve experienced even a fragment of my mother’s pain, I’m beyond shocked she lasted as long as she did. Even now, I feel as though I will surely combust and burn to ash from this agony if I were to continue this way.
And to think Azrael has lived like this for aeons...
Who can blame him for being cruel and selfish?
If I were to endure this for even a day more, I’m fairly certain I would burn the world down around me if only it would make it stop.
“I cannot fathom having to bear this pain for a second more…”
Azrael’s eyes gradually drift, focusing on some vague point in the distance. “It’s been so long, I cannot imagine a life without it. All I know is this pain.”
Empathy splinters my chest, and I find myself closing the small distance between us. Hesitantly, I lay my hand upon his chest, right over where the bond to his ownsoulboundstems from. Azrael lays his hand over the point of contact, fingers curling to clutch mine and press it more firmly against him.
“For what it’s worth, I will do my best to alleviate your suffering. As long as you promise to do the same for me.”
Under other circumstances, I might laugh at the startled expression on Azrael’s face in response to my vow. As though no one in his life has ever promised him kindness or affection.
Azrael’s chest expands on a deep inhale as one of his large hands encompasses mine, still resting on his chest.
“Precious Violette…”
