The Bone Witch (The Osseous Chronicles, #1)

by Ivy Asher

All I can do is slowly get up and reluctantly close the distance between myself and the unwanted bones that are encased in purple velvet on my table. The bag looks so unassuming. So faultless. But I know nothing could be further from the truth. The bony contents will awaken the dormant abilities in my marrow and unlock a world of secrets, the likes of which I can’t even begin to fathom.

fairy pool of hemoglobin spilling over.

Life isn’t easy. There’s good and bad, just like there is in all things. You want to cherry-pick the bad in order to justify your ignorance, go for it, but you’re not doing yourself any favors.

“Abracadabra? Really?” I tease. “What would you rather I say? Shazam? Boom shaka laka? Voilà?” “I mean, a simple yeet would have sufficed, but boom shaka laka is a solid choice as well.” “Noted,” he deadpans, and I fight a smile.

“Shove calm up your ass, Siren,” I fling back, and his answering chuckle pisses me off even more.

“Really? What would it take to talk you into it?” I blurt, like I’m nothing more than a Gollum staring at the one true ring.

Well, crap, there goes my precious.

“Here I was trying to find the bright side to being tethered to a possible immortal. But really you might be the immortal equivalent of premature ejaculation. That’s disappointing.”

He kisses me reverently, unhurriedly, like we have all the time in the world to get it right.

this is the kind of kiss that changes everything. It’s deep and hungry, but not rushed or frenzied. He’s not just exploring, he’s not testing the waters, he’s staking a damn claim.

“If you keep that up, we’re going to need a safe word,” I blurt. That’s it, brain, you are in time out!