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“What a little nightmare you are.”
“I loathe you.”
“You are the one I loathe the most.”
“If you wish to hex me with that pretty mouth of yours, you’ll have to swallow.”
“It is okay to care about him, my lord.”
Despite his fearsome reputation, Cassian was kind-hearted—and lonely.
him. “It is amazing what rage and sorrow pushes a person to become. Existence, Death, and Chaos all fell, along with the other personified beings, and the existence of deities were born. My siblings and I were the first to walk out of its mouth. Iliana resides in the Land of Entity. Acacius’s realm is beneath mine, and his Chaos brews into Moros.”
“You are mine to chase, to fight with,” Cassian snapped. “Nobody else’s.”
“Who knew the High God of Death and Curses to be so possessive?”
Finnian’s eyes were green like the moss Vale grew along the stones of Moros.
“I loathe you just as much,” Cassian whispered. I long for you, is what he wanted to say instead.
“I am not strong enough for this,” Cassian said.
“I loathe you.”
“No,” Cassian whispered. Tears dampened through the material of Finnian’s shirt. “I loathe you, and I…” “Long for you.” The words pushed up his throat before he knew what he said.
An insatiable longing, a tender devotion, an eternal affection embedded in Finnian’s skin, dissolving into his blood, seeping down into his marrow until he was made of Cassian and Cassian alone.
Say whatever you wish out of your conflicted feelings, but you came here today for the same reason I crafted a spell to keep every deity out of my home but you.”
“I should not have come, but I ache when I am not in your presence,” Cassian’s voice strained.
“You cannot care about me.” Finnian took a daring step closer. “Oh, it is far too late for that.”
“I loathe you,” Cassian said against his lips. He ran his hands down the sides of Finnian’s neck, over his shoulders, around his waist, and grazed underneath the back of his shirt. “I long for you.” He traced his fingertips over Finnian’s spine, memorizing every divot of bone, the lush terrain of his skin.
Finnian was his stillness in the storm; silence in the screaming; peace in the chaos.
“Whatever she throws at us, we will face. Together.”
“I am yours to ravage.”
Darkness only scares those afraid of the unknown.
Heed my warning. Whoever yearns in your soul will be just in reach, but never able to fully grasp. One day, when you know the kiss of love, all you will have left is regret.”
“And if your memories fail to return?” “Then you must find a way to help me remember us.”
“I am not strong enough to face you when you despise me. Even if it is only temporary.” “You have before.” “Not after knowing what it is like to love you.”
Death was love, and love was death again.
One day, Cassian recited over and over in his mind. We will have our one day.
“I need you.” His lips quivered. “Please. I can’t go on without you any longer.” Cassian bound their foreheads, praying to whatever god that would listen. “Come back to me.”
Tears stung Finnian’s eyes as he said, “Help me. One last time.” “Even in death,” Isla murmured without looking down at him. Eleanor slapped her hand on her chest, over her heart. “Even in death.”
“Death is peace, Finnian, and pain is simply a sign of love’s presence.”
Forever is wasted if you spend it in anger.”
“Even in death, Finnian. Love is the only thing truly immortal.”
“Love is death,” Cassian whispered, holding him close. “But death is love again.”
The only truly eternal thing in life was not the life of a god or a goddess, but the love that gathered in one’s soul, transcending flesh and scouring the edge of the dawn to reunite us in small moments. Perhaps that was the entire meaning of life, to always find each other again.
