Page 330 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
My lip curls as I blink at him. “If you honestly think I would allow another person to lay their hands orinstrumentsupon you; allow someone other than me, or Violette, or Azrael, to permanently mark your flesh—you don’t know me at all.”
Levi chuckles, looking every bit the king as he casts appreciative eyes over me.
“Well, then... by all means.”
The magic in my veins hums with delight as I send tendrils in the direction of Levi’s chest. Goosebumps blossom at the first wisp licks his chest. I take a moment to study my canvas before using the tip of one finger to guide it. Levi watches as inky magic sinks beneath his skin and the first letters of Violette’s name are formed in the cursive of his mother tongue though I stop halfway.
“Close your eyes. No peeking.”
Levi gifts me a glimpse of that boyish grin before he surrenders, shutting his eyes.
I take my time with each precious letter.
Pour my love into each of her spiralling horns.
My reverence into each wing I illustrate beside it.
And then, again, pause.
After a few moments, Levi peeks open an eye. “Is it?—”
I make an admonishing noise—the kind that one might give a dog.
Shutting the rebellious eye, his lips twitch with amusement.
Tilting my head, I consider my work.
It’s detailed in fine lines and shading to the point of delicate realism. But still something’s missing.
Two words come to mind, and I have to hum thoughtfully to mask the chuckle that wants to rise. I try to think of alternatives, but... nothing else seems quite as right.
Quite as perfect.
Guided by inspiration, and perhaps a little humor, I nestle the words,Property of,between Violette’s horns. Her wings frame her name scrolled beneath.
“Done.”
Levi opens his eyes to take in my handiwork, tendrils of magic still billowing gently outward. His grin splits wide, eyes flashing up at me. “It’s perfect.”
He tilts his head, hesitating for a moment. “I’m a little surprised you didn’t add your name.”
I huff a laugh. “It would ruin the composition entirely, and you and I both know if I added my name, Azrael would demand that he add his, and I’m not sure how I feel about another man’s name marking your body. Even if..."
It was once my own.
His expression softens, sensing my train of thought. One large hand rises to thread his fingers through mine before drawing the back of my hand to his lips and pressing a lingering kiss. “Do you know how perfect you are?”
The question drops another pebble of emotion that sends little waves of emotion rippling through me. When I hesitate to reply, his head lifts and our lips graze.
“How verymineyou are…”
VIOLETTE
364 DAYS LATER - TERRENEA
“Do you think it’s enough?” Levi, Lazarus, and Azrael look around the space that is the new storefront to my matchmaking business. Flora of every variety, ancient tomes—and some newer ones—along with flueratheurgic potions of my own making line the walls. One of which has a gilded plaque dedicated to Thessaly that reads, “To Thessaly, the most beautiful and gifted flueratheurge in all the realms. ‘If only I’d had a cock.’”
I wept engraving those words, all of which he’d once spoken to me.
