Page 246 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
The moment I sink into the gloriously scalding hot water of the copper tub, I send my magic venturing to the tavern’s kitchen, even as tears of relief wet my eyes.
It feels like I’m stumbling in the dark with blind hands reaching, searching...
Victory bursts through me bright and powerful enough to steal my breath as Iwilla hot, fresh loaf of bread, someone’s half eaten brisket, and,sacred-fucking-heavens,a wheel of cheese into my too-few hands.
A choked sob of joy escapes me.
I nearly panic at my fleeting sense of indecision.
Gripping all three, I shove the brisket and cheese into my mouth first, biting off as much as I can as a hiccuping sob wracks my body.
Oh, gods. The glory is inconceivable.
How have I ever taken this for granted?
Never again.
Pure, undiluted tears of epic joy cascade down my cheeks as I chew—my mouth so full I can’t even fully close it.
Either of my males could burst in at this very moment to see me at my most unhinged, and it wouldn’t hinder an ounce of my euphoria.
With each bite, my weeping ever so gradually wanes, until finally, I’ve licked the last crumb from my fingers before patting my now protruding belly, so full I can scarcely draw a full breath.
Thank you, Akash.
And forgive me, whoever you are, for stealing your brisket.
Heaving a sated sigh, I sink further into the bath,willingaway the soggy crumbs peppering the surface. It doesn’t take long before a familiar, but long-suppressed urge creeps in.
Gods, how I yearn to shift.Dipping beneath the hot water of the tub, I have to force it away as the sides of my neck itch from my gills trying to surface. It’s been too long. I always go too long; it reminds me too much of my father; my past; everything I wish to forget. Though, even if I wanted to allow myself to partially shift in this tub, the freshwater would make me ill, or kill me if I breathed it long enough. My mer form requires saltwater.
Still, after days of ice and snow, and only wiping theimportant bitswith frigid river water, I’ve never been more grateful in my life for a hot bath.
Slowly, I exhale gradually through my nose in a stream of bubbles before finally coming up for air. I jolt, gasping in surprise when I see someone leaning against the wall across from the copper tub—Azrael.
“Akash almighty,you gave me a fright.”
I wipe the water from my eyes.
Somehow, Azrael is now dressed in dark leather trousers and a black linen tunic, the laces of which are loose and revealing the bronze skin beneath. Black tendrils and whorls that weren’t there before creep over the sides of his neck. The familiar hum of his magic presses against me.
Akash almighty–his magic.
His shadow!
Has a body?
Fear shoots through as my eyes flick towards the bathing chamber door.
“He’s fine, I assure you.”
The timber of his voice sounds the same as Azrael’s, but the cadence, the warmth—something isoff.
Azrael—or whoever this is—sniffs, nostrils flaring. “Darling... why does it smell like a charcuterie board in here?”
Embarrassment heats my cheeks as I scowl. “I was hungry.”
The affection and mirth in his gaze is nothing short of disarming.
