“It’s kind of funny, you know,” I say with a low chuckle to Zora.
“What’s funny?”
“Watching them run around in a panic, completely clueless about everything that transpired tonight.”
“I agree,” Zora replies. “But Azrael—Mercy using her powers like this could be dangerous for all of us.”
“I know,” I concede, trying not to dwell on the worst-case scenarios.
“The Fates won’t ignore it for long if her magic keeps interfering with free will. We both know they’ll be angry,” Zora sighs. “Maybe you should let me teach her how to control it.”
“No.” My reply is clipped.
“Oh, come on, Azrael. If I can teach someone with your kind of power, I can help the girl too.”
She has a point, whether or not I want to admit it. Zora is an excellent teacher—the only person I can trust to help Mercy harness and control whatever magic is tethered to her.
I relent. “Fine. I’ll think about it. But Zora, I’m not even sure what kind of magic it is. Hers felt like magic I’ve never encountered before. It was strange and foreign. Not the magic of the Divine. Not gypsy. And certainly not anything from Hell.”
“I know, Azrael,” she says quietly. “It feels old. Ancient. like nothing I’ve ever encountered. ”
“But you believe she can learn to control it?” I ask, the concern in my voice evident.
“Yes. It won’t be easy,” she admits. ”But I believe it can be done—much like yours.”
We walk the rest of the way in silent reflection.
When we reach the circus gates, we pass through with ease. My shadows return, swirling in a comforting mass around me as magic pulses through the ground. I breathe a quiet sigh of relief. Order has been restored, Mercy is safe, for now, and the Ringmaster will remain pacified by the illusion I’ve crafted. The Divine is my only real threat left. If they discover I’ve claimed a mate, everything I’ve done to protect her will unravel. And then there’s my debt to the Fates, still looming in limbo until they call upon what is owed to them. And they will. Sooner or later.
“Good night, Azrael. Get some rest. You need it,” Zora says, interrupting my thoughts.
We’ve reached the barn. Marblas trudges inside, wearily. He’ll need rest and food to replenish his strength. I watch until the shadows swallow him, then whisper, “Good night, Zora. Once Mercy arrives, I’ll send word so her training can begin.”
She dips her head in acknowledgement. “Until we cross paths again,” she says with a wink.
I watch as she walks away, slowly disappearing into the darkness following Marblas inside the barn. He’s already returned to his stall to rest in the large piles of hay.
Sitting beside him, he rests his enormous head against my leg. I pat him affectionately. “Thank you, old friend. You didn’t have to accept Mercy as part of our bond, but I’m glad you did. Healingher took more out of you than I realized. Tomorrow I’ll hunt and bring you the spoils.”
Marblas blinks a few times before responding thoughtfully.You know I’ll always be there for you. She belongs to us both now.He huffs.Besides, I think I’m going to like her.
“More than me?” I ask, scratching behind his ears.
Our connection is unique. I serve you. We’re tethered together for all of eternity because your mother gifted me to you—a piece of her, so you’d never be alone.He yawns, his teeth gleaming in the moonlight.I’m bound to her out of service to you. And it feels like what she needs is my protection.
A pang of sadness ripples through me at the mention of my mother I never knew my mother. Only that she gave the ultimate sacrifice by giving birth to me. I push my grief aside, focusing on Mercy. “Promise me, Marblas. You’ll always keep her safe—even if it’s from me.”
I promise to protect her for eternity. But my Prince, I know you’ll never hurt her.
“I would never intentionally hurt her. She’s been through so much already. I feel every shard of pain trapped in her soul.” I confess.
She’s broken, yes,Marblas murmurs,but there’s strength in her too.“But I could’ve prevented all of this if I’d stood up to the Ringmaster instead of believing him. I knew—deep down, Ialways knew she was meant to be mine. I can see it now. The clues were there all along.”
It’s not too late to make up for it.Marblas assures me.
“I’ll never stop trying. Not for all of eternity.”
He chuffs in agreement, and we settle into a comfortable silence. Once his snores fill the stable, I give him one last pat, then shift into my shadow form and slip through the night, carried through my open window and into bed. I had no desire to run into the Ringmaster tonight. It’s been a long night. The soul ceremony was unexpected, but for the first time in years, a peaceful calm has settled inside of me. It all feels right for once. As I close my eyes to recharge for a few hours, I think of Mercy—how it will feel to finally bring her home. I can build a life with her, break the curse, fulfill my destiny. I’m more than halfway there now that I’ve found her. All that remains is keeping her safe long enough to break the curse—and surviving the price of loving her.
