Chapter 27

27

SLOAN

B ones' confession is quiet and raw. I turn my face into his chest and kiss him.

"I didn't want you to see me kill Paul or damn his soul."

I take a breath, knowing he won't accept any immediate response. Like Dr. Grayback told me about accepting my right to feel, I need to give him that same respect. I think about how I felt in that moment, where I saw Bones literally bite my ex's head off. I'm relaxed, the violence from earlier unable to touch me now.

I turn and prop my chin up on his chest, looking at him. He meets my gaze, clearly hesitant but filled with hope. "Honestly," I begin, then take a breath. "Honestly, seeing you in your real form killing Paul? It doesn't change how I feel about you all. I know you wouldn't ever hurt me."

"Never." His vow is practically a growl and it makes me smile, then I twist my lips.

"To be honest, the biggest thing I'm struggling with is just how fast it was over," I admit. I lay cheek back on his chest and start tracing his scars as I let my thoughts roll out of me. "It doesn't seem real. Yesterday, I had reason to be afraid of Xavius and now he's just. . . gone. No final words, no final vindications. Did I get justice? Could I have ever gotten justice? What about Paul? I don't know how I feel."

Bones is silent but his focus blankets me, his hands never faltering in their paths. I let out a long sigh.

"I'll probably need a lot of sessions with Dr. Grayback to even begin to unpack all of it," I say with a smile.

My eyes flutter closed as he presses a kiss to the top of my head.

Silence fills the room, but it's the perfect silence between two beings in complete trust and love. Two mates existing as one. My thoughts drift, the bedroom dark save for the light spilling in through the open doorway from the living room. The sun was set by the time we pulled up to Bones' apartment complex. I hadn't known exactly what to expect when we'd returned but Bones had me out of my clothes as soon as the front door had been closed behind us.

I jerk, like one of those twitches as you're falling asleep, except my eyes fly wide open and I push myself up on his chest. His hands brace my waist, his face concerned. "Sydney!" Guilt and shame flood me as I realize I hadn't thought about her since the moment I stood in the door of the plane and watched Bones kill Paul. "Is she okay? She helped me take on that stupid guard. He wasn't expecting it but he still got in a couple hits on us."

I yelp as Bones bolts upright, maneuvering my body like I weigh no more than a feather. "Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?" He demands, running his hands over me again but this time searching out any injuries. I shake my head, slapping his hands gently before bringing a hand to his cheek.

"I'm fine," I swear. "I might have a few bruises show up tomorrow but other than being a bit achey, I'm fine. I'd have told you if it was serious. It's Sydney I'm worried about. He punched her in the face."

Bones runs a hand over my hair, his expression still troubled. "I shouldn't have been so rough."

I capture his hand in both of mine and bite one of his fingers with a playful growl. "I enjoyed every second of it. Don't you dare treat me like I'm going to break."

His cock thickens underneath me and I shake my head, astounded that he's already ready to go again. I give him his hand back and try to get off of his lap. "I need to check in with her."

He captures me around the waist, holding me in place and buries his head in the crook of his neck. "She's okay. Reaper has her. He'd never let anything happen to her."

I melt back against him, tracing the tattooed bones over one of his hands; I try to accept that. I cock my head. "She yelled something before hurling herself at the jerk who tried to take me away from her. Odantos? Orthanos? Do you know what that means?"

He breathes out roughly, the warm air fluffing my hair. "Odanatos. It's Reaper's real name. I didn't know she knew it. Explains why he lost his shit when he heard it. He's honestly why we took them down so quickly. Not that I wasn't interested in the same. There was no point in dragging it out when we realized how little defense they had."

I twist in his arms, my interest piqued. "What's your demon name? I've honestly never thought to ask. To me, you've always just been Bones."

His hesitation and unease bleeds through the love in our mating bond, dimming it. He goes to speak but closes his mouth. The conflict and pain in his beautiful eyes which shine like polished bronze makes my heart ache. When he starts to answer I press my fingers against his lips, quieting him.

"You don't have to tell me," I whisper, hoping he can feel my sincerity and full acceptance through our mating bond.

He kisses my fingers and I lower them. "I've never gone by since we escaped and came here. I never wanted to be that demon again."

I nod, once, resolute. "Then that's it. That name is no more. That demon is no more. It's dead. You are only Bones. My Bones."

He stares at me, awe on his face. It's almost too much. He crushes me to him, plundering my mouth with his.

"Fuck, I love you, Sloan," he tells me, his breathing labored. "I don't deserve you. No one on this earth deserves you. But I'm going to spend every day for the rest of time making sure you are happy and safe and have anything you could ever want or need. You are the light which has brightened the darkness of my soul. You don't just have my heart, you are my heart."

Warm tears roll down my face but I'm smiling so hard my cheeks ache. God, I feel like I'm going to explode with happiness. Who knew it was possible to be this happy?

"Forever," I tell him. "I'll love you forever."