Page 205 of Revels on an Angel’s Grave

And as on Lyra, everyone would see. They may not know why it was happening, but they wouldn’t be able to hide the stars.

“They’re answering,” Roremar said, awed.

Emmeline’s attention snapped down to him, the glass above painting his sharp features in a statuesque blue.

“The stars are responding to this.” Roremar squeezed her thigh. “Us.” His voice was breathless, each word laced with relief. “Fatesworn bonds are gifted by the Fates, right? They have to be confirmed, no matter how deeply two people love each other.” His eyes flicked back to the sky. “This is them acknowledging ours.”

Emmeline’s mind raced through all the bonds she’d read about as she watched the constellations flash above, still afraid to admit this was true. “That’s normally done during a joint reading, though. In a…in a bonding ceremony, overseen by a priestess and the Fates, and a tattoo is given.”

“When has our magic ever been normal?” Roremar traced her jaw. “The stars are acknowledging how deeply I love you.”

“Is it because of the bond?” she whispered, almost afraid to ask. Is that why she felt she belonged here? Is that why he’d claimed her?

“No,” Roremar swore, understanding how deep her fear ran after how long she’d searched for security. “No, Emmeline. I don’t love you because the stars ordained it. I love you for all the reasons I’ve told you. I’ll remind you every day if you’d like. But none of them are because the Fates wrote it. If anything, they guided me to you, but I choose you, I have been choosing you, and I will choose to love you again and again even if we are cursed to be apart. My love for you? It exceeds the stars. It could write entire galaxies, Emmeline.” His grip on her tightened. “Please agree.”

Emmeline’s heart rioted. She couldn’t help the instinct that while they were right about the rare, mythical bond they shared, that wasn’t the whole truth of what was happening right now. That while the stars were addressing their bond, the crashing lights above sent an ominous fire sparking through her veins.

But it also woke something else…Something right.

An answer she’d searched for her entire life.

A home she’d never allowed herself to wish for.

A love she’d never dared accept.

And so instead of giving into the fear of what burned on the horizon, Emmeline took. Eyes still stinging, for the first time in her life, Emmeline gave herself a true chance at belonging.

“Yes,” she whispered, lips crashing back to Roremar’s.

It was only one word, barely more than a breath, and yet she knew he heard everything she wanted it to convey. The terror she clung to, but the utter release of it all. The admission that she wasn’t used to having anyone belong to her or her to them, but she was taking him as her own, against the will of whatever may come and whatever stars may shatter because of it.

Roremar tangled his hand in her hair, tipping her jaw so he had perfect command of her mouth. His tongue stroked against hers at the same time his fingers dove beneath her skirt.

She whimpered as he drew circles against her, brushing the sensitive spots along the inside of her thighs. Long fingers traced along the edge of her panties, down her center, teasing her until she was panting and remembering how he looked stroking himself. How she’d always wondered what it would feel like to have him touch her.

Her hips jerked, wetness gathering between her legs. Magic tunneled through her with a hungry pleasure she’d never experienced before.

“Fates, please, Roremar,” she begged. She needed him to touch her.

“Tell me, Huntress,” he said, breathing heavily as one finger circled where she wanted him. She could barely think straight from the need. “Tell me you love me. Tell me you’re mine.”

“I love you. Fates, I love you,” she nearly cried. “I’m yours.”

Roremar pressed down, and pleasure mounted within her, stars shattering in her vision and tipping her toward that peak faster than she would have thought possible.

“More,” she begged, even as constellations forged in her mind. As the stars above answered and starfire rippled in her vision.

Roremar cursed as he pushed aside her panties and gathered her wetness, plunging two fingers into her center. “So fucking wet for me, Emmeline. Do you know how perfect you are? How good we are together?”

Those words had been haunting her for days. We’re not good. We only ruin each other. If this was ruin with Roremar, Emmeline claimed it.

His thumb pressed teasing circles as she clenched around him, not offering her even a second of reprieve. She squirmed against the pillar.

“Do you want it fast or slow?” he asked.

His stare flicked between her face and where he fucked her with his fingers, memorizing every slight reaction. Fates, he was always so observant, it only stood to reason he studied her here, too. That silver gaze flared as a moan slipped up her throat, his lips brushing her neck again, dragging out every reaction she gifted him.

“I think you want me to be slow,” he said, his pace matching his words. “Take my time.” His lips pressed to her neck. Her legs fell open wider, hips rolling into his hand. “To taste and tease every inch of you until you see the stars you’re made of.”