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“Whatever you desire, whatever you need. Command me, little miko.”
“Should you doubt my sincerity, I will say it again.” Those scorching, ancient eyes held her like crimson chains, drinking her in. “Command me, Emi.”
“Tell me,” he commanded. “You,” she cried, angry tears spilling down her cheeks. “I wish I could have a future with you. You’re the only thing I’ve ever wanted badly enough to risk my purity for. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
She saw the man who had chained her heart in bonds she couldn’t escape, who had awoken passion in her she’d never felt before, who had nurtured strength she hadn’t known she possessed. She needed him. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.
Pain twined with pleasure, sorrow with love. As his lips moved with hers, her grief stuttered and faded, overcome by the electric need that passed between them like an ever-growing current.
Sparks danced between them, and their eyes met. In his stare, she could see only ancient battle calm, only primal cunning. Only Inari.
“I told you before, little miko. Amaterasu might be fine with you sacrificing your life, your Guji and your shrine and everyone else might be fine with it, and you might be fine with it—but I’m not.”
“It’s my decision,” she said with less strength than she’d intended. “If I want to—” “If I can prevent it, I will,” he said flatly.
“Now,” he murmured, his voice unexpectedly close to her ear. “Open your eyes.” She obeyed. At the sight before her, the weight of her body vanished and she felt like she was floating inside, held to the earth only by her skin.
He stepped to her side and held out his hand. She entwined their fingers tightly, and together they walked into the bright, hot sun.
How could he be a threat to her inner harmony when his nearness was a balm to all her fears? How could being with him be wrong when she felt so strong, so fearless, so complete at his side?
She loved him. She was in love with him and madly, irreversibly desperate for him. Why was it wrong to touch him?
“I don’t have to wear that mantle for you.” She couldn’t quite seem to breathe as he stared upward. “I would forget everything else,” he murmured, “as long as I didn’t forget who I am with you. This is who I want to be.” “Shiro …”
“I don’t want to lose this. You are my fire, Emi. You are my warmth. Before you, the flames within me were cold as ice.”
“Close your eyes.” “I thought you wanted to tell me something.” “I do, but I can’t when you’re looking at me like that.”
“I am indisputably the selfish half of this pair we make, little miko.”
“If I am your fire, then you are my light.”
Her heart ached, love blending with sorrow until it became another shade of love.
“You realize you’re mine now, don’t you?” he growled. “I am keeping you. Forever.”
