Page 62 of Dragon's Blood

“Oh? And how do you see it?”

I smiled. “Just that you’re completely head over heels for me. It’s kind of sad to watch, really.”

His eyes sparkled. “Is that so, cher?”

I kissed him, leaning into the ache behind my breastbone. He was here, and he was close, and for the first time in forever, I could exist without hurting anyone. It made me feel like the future between us was actually possible.

When we finally broke apart, I rested my forehead against his. “You always know how to make me feel like I’m not broken.”

He smiled. “You were never broken, cher. Just holding your breath too long.”

My heart swelled. I wanted to kiss him again. I wanted to tug him into the water and drown him in the feel of my hands and my mouth. I felt the siren at my core, a thing that lured sailors to their doom. It lived in me. The desire to hold someone too tightly. To sink beneath the waves and never emerge.

But I wasn’t cursed. Not anymore.

For the first time in forever, the song didn’t rule me.

For the first time, I was free.

~~~~

The End