Page 209 of I Will Mend You
His lips are warm and insistent, infusing me with delicious heat. “Congratulations,” he says, his voice breathy with pride. “I always believed in your talent. And in Rapunzelita.”
The kiss deepens, his tongue teasing mine, and I lose myself in the sensation. Every touch, every caress ignites a fire within me that goes straight to my core.
“Let’s celebrate,” he murmurs against my lips.
“How?”
“The Spring brothers just transferred Dr. Forster to a holding cell. We can give him a painful welcome before dealing with my father and Charlotte.”
My lips curve into a smile. By the time I’ve finished with Charlotte, she’ll be the one seeing dead people. I plan on sticking Delta’s worthless dick up his ass and making him swallow his own balls. Dr. Forster will experience every unnecessary medical procedure he subjected me to while I was at the asylum. When his mind shatters and he no longer remembers his name, I’ll hunt him through the catacombs and drown him in a puddle.
Rocking forward on my tiptoes, I give Xero a peck on the lips. “Sounds like a plan.”
He pulls me into a tight hug, filling my nostrils with his signature scent. Citrus, spearmint, and cedar wood blend together in an intoxicating mix that has me melting against his strong chest.
“I love you so much,” I murmur.
“And I love you too, little ghost,” he replies, his fingers teasing my curls.
My chest releases a happy sigh. If someone had told me the man behind the mugshot would be my happily ever after, I would have scoffed. And if they said I’d fall for the grim reaper chasing me through the graveyard, I’d have thought they were crazy.
I relax against Xero’s larger body, luxuriating in this new sense of connection and belonging. He isn’t just a lover or a savior, but the other half of my soul.
For the first time in my adult life, I see clearly, and I’ve finally found my place in the world.
NINETY-FIVE
XERO
Now that Amethyst has said goodbye to her parent, it’s time to welcome mine to the final stage of his existence.
I park outside the safe house’s double doors and turn off the engine. At this time of the afternoon, the sun paints the gardens with vibrant bursts of color, but nothing is as enchanting as Amethyst.
She stretches in her seat and yawns. “Any update on Dr. Forster?”
I pull out my phone and check my messages. There’s a status report on the new prisoner and a link to the live camera feed to his interrogation room.
An unconscious red-haired man in his sixties slumps in a chair. He’s naked, with his genitals obscured by his hanging gut.
“Is that the psychiatrist?” I show her the screen.
Her face pinches. “A flabbier version of him, yeah. When can I see him?”
I navigate to another screen to review his records. “He’s still sedated, but he should be awake in three hours. Delta is in the cell next door. We could pay him a visit while we wait.”
“No,” she replies, her face paling. “Give me a few weeks. I’m not ready.”
My brow furrows. “Are you alright?”
She gives me an eager nod. “It’s been a long day. I’d rather get the Rapunzelita manuscript ready for Myra.”
“Do you want company?” I ask.
She leans in, pressing a soft kiss on my lips. “I’ll be okay on my own.”
As she draws away, I cup the back of her head and pull her closer to deepen the kiss. With a soft moan, she kisses back, her body melting against mine. I hate the moments when we’re apart, but my presence is needed for the first few days of Father’s captivity.
I pull away at the thought of that bastard, which lets Amethyst catch her breath. Pink tinges her cheeks and the corners of her mouth lift with a relaxed smile.