Page 258 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
Lazarusgrumbles, tossing his towel on the floor and striding towards the bed, gesturing flippantly, voice heavy with exasperation. “I’m going to sleep. Growing this meat-suit was thoroughly exhausting.”
He lifts the covers, tucking himself beneath and rolling over to give us his back and face the door, reminding me of a shunned dog.
My heart aches for him watching him lie on the very edge of the bed all alone.
After eons of loneliness and heartbreak.
Only to sever your own soulbond.
To then be treated like a stranger by the two people you’ve grown to love and trust.
Azrael, Levi, and I all exchange a look, silently communicating.
I frown.Shall I go to him?
Azrael and Levi give me a nod of encouragement. The former murmurs, “How about I procure some food for us?”
My cheeks heat slightly as I manage an agreeable expression—as though my stomach isn’t already stuffed to the brim.
“Perfect.”
Lazarus gives a derisive snort of laughter from the bed that makes my cheeks flame further. They both narrow their eyes but I shoo them away before they can pester me with questions.
Levi however remains immovable as a mountain as his eyes bounce between Azrael and Lazarus. “It’s... safe?”
Azrael gives him a devilish grin as he leans towards me to press a kiss to my lips.
“About as safe as she is with me.”
The thread of tension surrounding Levi eases and he gradually nods in acceptance and wills a glamour over Azrael that makes him appear blonde, shorter, and dressed in a pair of pantaloons, a frilly tunic, and a gold cockscomb—a court jester's cap.
Azrael scans himself, eyes peeking up to the tinkling bell dangling in front of his face courtesy of his hat. His mouth twitches with suppressed amusement before taming it into a firm line and giving Levi an unimpressed look. “Hilarious.”
I burst into an abrupt cackle that’s as shrill as Levi’s is deep.
Azrael’s lips tremble from the force of the grin trying to burst free. “I’m going to give you three seconds to incinerate this clown costume before I remove at least one of your testicles.”
The threat only makes us laugh that much harder, but Levi yields, and replaces the outfit with a very normal looking brown set of fighting leathers.
Levi presses a kiss to my lips before leading Azrael to our door.
Lazarus grumbles behind them, “The other outfit suits you better.”
Azrael feigns a saccharine grin. “I think my fist would suit you better.”
Levi chuckles as he shuts the door behind them, sealing Lazarus and I inside.
Alone.
My heart leaps as my stomach swoops like a butterfly with leaden wings.
I quietly pad over to him, kneeling beside the bed.
Hands folded between head and pillow, a singular tear pools in the corner of one eye before slipping over the bridge of his nose.
Seeing him like this makes me feel as though I’ve been lanced through the heart with a rapier.
“Oh my darling..."
