Page 127 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
No fucking way was I ever going to allow one of them to diagnose me, document any of the shit I’d have to say if I answered a single question honestly, or have anything at all about my ‘mental state’ put on record.
So here I am.
A bomb with a perpetually burning wick.
And the way Violette is caressing Azrael’s perfectly sculpted cheekbones as she continues to cry and whisper to him in words I can’t understand isdefinitelyfueling the flame devouring it.
Violette finally guides the earrings into place—piercing each lobe with a sharp stud, making Azrael’s dark brows pinch almost imperceptibly.
The look she gives me is one of disdain.
“Better hurry.”
VIOLETTE
My heart aches as my fingers stroke the arch of Azrael’s brow.
“I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
Even if Levi hadn’t killed him—however briefly—I’d still want to help him. Ease his pain, if not eliminate it altogether.
For reasons I don’t understand, I feel connected to Azrael, and outside of that, for what little I know him, he is a kindred spirit.
Despite being a little wicked.
A little unpredictable.
Volatile.
Tortured.
All adjectives that apply to me.
Perhaps, somehow, some way, I can convince hissoulboundto give him a chance. The tether between them is terribly faint; a mere phantom of what it should be. So faint I can scarcely follow it to where she is—somewhere on Terrenea.
Though I cannot yet discern specifically where. Persephone has a ward of some kind preventing anyone who might possess the power from finding her. I can’t help but wonder why she would reject Azrael as hersoulbound.Willingly cause herself somuch pain... Only something truly unforgivable could warrant such an outcome. And I intend to find out what it is before we reach the final stages of courtship.
The stages that requireintimacy.
My fingers come to a halt as the last of Azrael’s wounds heal and the ghost of his presence hovers behind me.
Azrael’s eyes remain closed as his severed head whispers.
“Don’t stop.” His eyes peek open. “Please? I can’t recall the last time I was touched with such tenderness.”
My fingers resume tracing his brows, and he hums.
“Are you in pain?”
He gives a noncommittal grunt as a corner of his mouth curls softly. “I’ve experienced far worse.”
Akash.
Azrael’s eyes dip as if attempting to see his earrings.
“How do I look?”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Dashing as ever.”
