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January 14 - January 14, 2025
Bloom’s Blooms has been wilting as quickly as Mom’s memory.
I don’t realize I’ve stopped walking until a deep voice rasps right beside my ear, “The first thing that draws most women’s gazes when they step past my threshold is the expensive art on my walls or the breadth of my entry hall, yet you, Calamity, seem enraptured by my floors.” “I was expecting the fires of Hell, or the stones to runneth over with blood.”
I’ve doomed you, that’s what it was. I’ve fucking doomed you because I couldn’t set you free.
“Your magic stung me?” “Yes.”
Whatever she picks, she ends up with me, the god of her misfortune, because my magic, for reasons that elude me, has made Calanthe Bloom mine.
My building is the property on the left of the Monopoly GO square.
“Kemos.” I don’t miss the jagged dip of his throat.
“Because Tarian could’ve saved himself, but instead, he depleted his powers to save you. Which an Atlantean would know.”
“Kemos means mine.”
“K.” He traces the letter with one fingertip. “E.” He follows the swooping shape. “M.” Another agonizingly languid caress. “O.”
“You are a siren, Calanthe Bloom.” His knuckles trail back down. “My siren.”
“Remember that Chinese symbol Mackenzie got inked on her hipbone? The one she thought meant love but actually meant queef?”
I believe it ties us together. I believe it ties you to me.”
“No person outside of my family has ever hugged me.” I want her to know that I don’t make a habit of getting close to people. “Until you.”
She frowns. “Because he’s a really good friend. Why did you just light up like a firefly?”
“You’re not some means to an end. You’re my fucking salvation, Calamity.”
“For enjoying your crazy?” I feel the curve of his mouth against my scalp. “For enduring my crazy. For not despising me.” “I think we have a real chance at friendship, you and I.”
My jaw slackens before zippering shut. “Like me?” Saul’s throwaway people in need comment resurfaces. Is that how Tarian perceives me? “Yes, like you. A woman I’m dying to fuck.”
But then I sigh and refocus. “Did Tarian have the word withdraw twice on his body?” She blinks. “What?”
“Once I break free, I will hire a designer whose sole purpose in life will be creating footwear for you. He will never produce more than a single pair, and that pair will only ever grace your feet, and once you’re done with them, we’ll burn them so they can never find their way into someone else’s closet.”
“What’ll it be, Calanthe darling?” “Fuck me,” I breathe out.
“A word of warning”—the runes on his biceps glitter as he brushes a kiss to the hollow of my collarbone—“you’ve awakened the beast, Calamity Darling, and beasts aren’t always gentle when they devour.” “Devour away, Beast.”
“My Nick.”
“One step closer to grandpadom.” The quietest, most heartrending whimper rises out of Calanthe.
“I love you, sweet pea. Unconditionally and for always.”
“Will live rent-free in my heart and dick for the rest of time.” My
She shoots, and although I pitch my body sideways, the bullet bites into my skull.
“You inspire my heart to beat, Calamity Darling.” He traces the outline of my mouth. “To keep beating.”
“Promises lead to expectations. Kissing only leads to sex.”
“There will never be anyone else for me. I sensed it before, but now it’s far more than a feeling—it’s a conviction. You’ve burrowed yourself so fucking deep inside me that pieces of your soul have merged with mine.” I trace every letter on her spine, reminding her of their presence, of their meaning. “I’m not saying that you have to stay with me—I may be an asshole, but I would never take that choice away from you—but I am saying that I am irrevocably and entirely yours.” Her pulse gallops. “One day, you’ll wake up—” “And speak this vow out loud.”
“Tarian Hadez”—her slender thumbs sculpt my cheekbones—“I’ll wait for you.”
I’m about to say yes when I remember his panting comment. “No. On elliptical bikes. We had to pedal or the TV turned off.”
“I don’t want to be rid of you.” Her murmur skates over my lips. “Not anymore and not ever. But I need to get back. Send me back so I can stop them, Tarian.”
Tears stream down my cheeks as my lids glow with Tarian’s bloated, bloodless, runeless remains.
Find me. Wake me. “I love you,” she murmurs, pressing a feather-soft kiss on my pulse point. When she fades out of my embrace, my heart tightens. Hardens. Deadens.
He cups my face, dark eyes sparkling. “I don’t think you understand just how deeply I love you.”
One final dream?
“It gives till death do us part a whole new meaning, doesn’t it?”
“My magic didn’t make you immortal. It only enchanted your sleep.” “What?” I try to pull away, but he won’t let me. “You woke me with your last breath.”
“I want it back!” I suddenly shrill. “I want my rune back.”
that I’m going to wake up from this dream, Tarian.”
“Her Nick,” Tarian says, startling a rogue tear clinging to my lashes.
“Nothing’s wrong with it, Callie.” “Then why does it hurt?” “Because the way that man looks at you reminded me of your father. Of the way he used to—” Her voice catches. “Of the way he used to look at me.”
“Yes. This is when I tell you it’s real.”
“You made my fucking heart beat, Calamity. It will probably stop again if you ever try to leave me.” Her dimples make an appearance. “I’d sure hope so, ’cause I’d really hate for it to beat for anyone else.”
“I love you, my beast,”
“T’adoshek, me belesa,” I murmur against her wildflower skin. Her fingers loop my short black strands, tugging deliciously at their roots. “What does that mean?” “I adore you, my beauty.”
The aquamarine shine of the mine’s walls dances on her skin,
I am not done, my son. Gaea’s eerie
