Page 146 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
“Which name do you prefer?”
His reply comes without hesitation. “Levi. Salvatore brings back too many painful memories. No one’s called me that since my parents were alive. Not to mention... I would have a lot of explaining to do if anyone else heard you calling me that.”
I steel myself as I ready to reveal my own past, and its wounds.
“I have my own confession to make…”
Levi’s expression—more content and tender than I’ve ever seen it—doesn’t waver. As if I could reveal even the worst and most shameful parts of myself, and it would do nothing to change his feelings for me.
“My name isn’t actually Violette, either.”
His thumbs gently stroke my waist as he gives me the space to continue.
“Like you, I took on my little-known middle name. My full name is actually Raia Lunessa Violette Vale. My father is... to be reductive and put it simply... evil. I’ve been living in Caerwynath—hiding from him—for the last fifteen years or so. I feel obligated to kill him…”
Levi’s brows knit together, eyes darkening with menace. “Did he... abuse you?”
Expelling a heavy breath, I shake my head. “Not in theconventionalways you might be thinking. After my mother passed—something I have increasingly begun to wonder if there was more to her death than I could have grasped at the time—he disappeared from my life entirely, yet from afar, orchestrated every person and significant relationship I had from that point on. He is a powerful male. His connections run deep beneath the surface of society—like a fucking mycelial network of spies and henchmen he has, more or less, forced into subservience. As far as I know, I am the sole, rightful heir to the throne of Sinsól. I’m actually not even certain why he didn’t killed me to prevent challenging him for his throne when he had the chance. Not that I want anything to do with his throne. I want nothing more than to live my quiet, isolated life in the woods. But he has destroyed too many lives, killed people I love…”
My throat tightens as grief for Thessaly swells in my chest.
Having Thessaly murdered is more than enough reason for me to hunt him down, but even the remote possibility that he had anything to do with my mother’s death—outside of his neglect—is something that has been eating away at me for years. And the only way of finding out is confronting him directly.
Sensing my turmoil, Levi cups my cheek, stroking back strands of wet hair from my face. “I’ve killed for far less, princess. You’ll get no judgment from me. And if you need me to be your revenge, just say the word.”
My gaze holds his, taking in the verity of his promise, and my heart swells further. More romantic words have never been spoken. And I have no doubt he would fulfill them.
My own admission spills from my lips before I can think better of it.
“Truly, Akash sculpted you just for me…”
The emotion swirling in my chest is mirrored in his eyes.
A corner of his mouth tips up in a small grin as he arches a brow, voice gravelly with dark promise. “Shall we ride at dawn?”
My head tips back with laughter. It seems there are some universal narratives that transcend time and space,literally.
“I’m afraid this is my burden to bear,” I quip, using another common theme to portray the truth. I don’t want to risk his safety. Especially not as a human.
Levi’s eyes twinkle with mirth. “Not anymore, Vi... It's ours.”
Gods, soulbond or not, this male really is the other half of my soul.
Unable to stop myself, I press a lingering kiss to his lips, but withdraw before it can escalate. The look in his eyes tells me he’d hoped it would have lasted longer, but he doesn’t push. Instead, he just continues to caress the length of my thighs and my lower back with one hand as he holds me with the other.
“Do you prefer I call you Raia, or Violette?”
A corner of my mouth tilts. Truly, the parallels between us are too numerous to be coincidental.
“Violette. Like you, my first name brings back too many memories I’d rather forget.”
He nods in understanding, studying me. “Will you tell me one day?”
“Tell you what?”
“Everything. I want to know all there is to know about you. Everything about you fascinates me. Every time you reveal something new to me, no matter how small, I am... awed.”
My cheeks flush in a way that has nothing to do with the heat of the shower as I gradually nod and swallow back that pesky emotion threatening to break my restraint to just give every part of myself to this male.
