Page 117 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
The most powerful one I know of, outside of Mors, perhaps. Though I have never metthatgod of death. He is notoriously reclusive.
Azrael, despite his infamy, has been nothing but kind to me and has just forfeited his life to me. I no longer have to fear the fate of my mother befalling me. For the rest of my life, I will have this undeniably striking, powerful male at my side.
A male that even my foul father fears.
Hope, radiant and true, sparks inside my chest for the first time in as long as I can remember.
Perhaps Levi’s denial of me was a blessing.
My eyes scan the luxurious space of what I can only guess is a study, perhaps. He has dominion over two realms. Countless souls—perhaps even my father’s. Unimaginable wealth and power.
If I so choose, I won’t have to live in exile anymore.
He might even help me kill him.
VIOLETTE
“I’ll allow you to rest…” Azrael’s words drift as his eyes dance across the gardens in front of my home appreciatively. Stepping through the portal, he remains on the other side. In Ourinessa. “But tomorrow, we will begin our courtship.”
Azrael lifts a brow as if requesting affirmation.
My stomach gives another swoop. “Yes.”
He hesitates for a moment, as his gaze rakes over me. Every passing inch causes my skin to heat. Finally, he crosses the threshold, closing the distance between us. His hands cradle the back of my skull as he brushes his lips against my forehead.
“In all these years, there hasn’t been a day that passed where I haven’t hoped to see you again. That you would show up at my gates in search of me. From the moment I laid eyes on you in that restaurant, my soul recognized yours like a stranded male in the desert spotting a well.”
My chest pinches, and my throat cinches tight with emotion.
He presses another featherlight kiss to my forehead before pulling back to take in my breathless reaction. Tears spill from the corners of my eyes, and he leans back in to kiss each one away before pressing his forehead to mine.
My emotions are too tumultuous for words to suffice. Hope and mourning settle upon my chest. Mourning thesoulbondI once had, and now, the hope that has risen in its wake.
Azrael withdraws and turns back towards the portal. Casting me one last, long glance, it closes.
I stand, stock still, in shock, in front of my home.
The sun has lowered beneath the forest’s treeline surrounding my home—only a couple more hours until dusk. The trees are oddly still, the creatures inhabiting them silent as if the entire woods held its collective breath the moment a god of death appeared.
My heart thuds a steady, heavy beat in my chest as I attempt to gather myself. To settle into this new reality, no longer ruled by fear and loneliness.
LEVI
Tires spit mud and gravel as my truck roars down Gideon’s driveway. Gideon’s already glowering at me from his front porch as I slam the truck into park. He’s shirtless, belt unbuckled as if he just yanked them on at the sound of Trigger barking like a maniac in warning. The cold, fall rain hammers across my burning skin as I march my way to his house. The space inside my chest where I once felt my tether to Violette, fiery with the pain of denial, now is...not.
What lies in its place is rage, fear, and bronze veins spreading out from the center of my sternum.
Just as I ascend the porch steps, Winnow appears behind Gideon, wearing a fluffy bathrobe.
Oh, thank fuck. Just the person I came to see.
“I need your help.”
“I haveno idea where Violette lives, Levi. I’m sorry.”
The desperation ready to explode from my chest turns my voice into a growled whisper, causing Gideon to frown.
“Don’t you have... magic or something you can use? Surely,someoneknows where she lives?”
