The Scattered Bones

by Nicole Scarano

You’re the altar I pray at, the deity I worship, and I would sacrifice my life for you, but you don’t belong to me.

“Then love me, Kaid.” My fingers laced through his hair. “Love me enough for a lifetime.”

The kiss was holy. It was destruction, and I burned in its desire.

“I will love you until my death,” Kaid promised. “And then I’ll love you from the grave until I’m dust. When your consciousness returns after she abandons your vessel decades from now, I’ll be here waiting for you.”

“I’ll want you even in death, Sellah. There’s no afterlife, but that doesn’t matter. I’ll love you until I’m dead in the dirt, then I’ll love you until my body is nothing but bones. And when my bones fade to dust coating the earth, I’ll still want you.”

“I will love you until I am nothing but dust, and even then, I’ll still love you.”

“Until I am dust, wife.” “Until I am dust.”