“Are we making the right choice?” Anger asks.
“We won’t know until we try,” Merry says. “But how thrilling to have a choice.”
“What are we waiting for?” Love demands. “One of us should take the first step.”
Malice would volunteer, but he doubts they want him leading the pack.
Andrew speaks up when no one else makes a reply. “You know what I’ve never understood? Why the hell is love the outcome of only five emotions? If it’s the most complex one in existence, shouldn’t a bunch of other feelings play a part? We feel a crap ton of things when we’re with someone who matters, and I wouldn’t break it down to just a handful. And what about happiness? What about confusion? What about fear?
“Plus, Merry feels love, and Malice feels it, not just the Infamous Original Five. I mean, we’ve established that it’s possible all deities might feel it and just need convincing, right? All they need are examples that prove it. So maybe…I don’t know, but maybe every deity is love itself.”
Well, hell. For a mate who can’t shut up, he’s got something there.
Everyone stalls. They stare at one another, like Andrew’s speech had never occurred to any of them. It definitely hadn’t to Malice.
Love grins at Andrew. “I suppose we’re the core.”
“That’s why evolution starts here. It’s up to us to make the first leap,” Wonder adds.
Malice can swallow that. It sounds plausible, if heavy handed.
Andrew nods. “Then I’ll do it.”
Meaning, he’s the first to make a move. Done gawking at the landscape, he limps down the incline while armed with his frost crossbow. Love skips after him, linking their arms together.
Anger and Merry trade sappy glances and follow. The goddess hops on her immortal skateboard and cruises ahead, the wheels shearing smoothly through grass as if on solid ground. The rage god strides next to her, keeping up with the pace while they each balance weapons of neon and iron.
Envy and Sorrow avert their gazes from each other, like that’s going to make a damned difference. Until they get their heads out of their asses and give the final legend a try, this class has a contingency plan to act out.
The swaggering god and sour goddess trudge into the forest, marching alongside their class, forming one insurgent line.
Wonder glances at Malice while adjusting the straps of her quartz archery. “Ready?”
“I’m always pumped to raise hell with you,” he says. “Oh, and when this is over, we’re soooo coming back to this spot.”
She throws back her head and chortles, a boisterous sound that he’ll never get tired of hearing. “I’m counting on it, Demon,” she says.
“Then lead the way, Wildflower,” he invites.
Wonder kisses him and threads her fingers with his, her scarred hands clasping his clawed ones. And hell, this female is sexy when she arms herself while also wearing a corsage. His blooming, bookish, badass goddess.
Yeah, he’s got it bad. Forever bad.
Malice nips the base of her palm, loving her mirthful flush—loving all of her.
How clever. Here they are, descending into the unknown, returning to deadly terrain. But this time, he’s whole. He knows himself, and she knows him, and they’re still here.
And now he knows what that feels like.
***
Thank you for reading Wonder & Malice’s story!
Ready for Envy and Sorrow?
Get Transcend (Selfish Myths #4)!
***
Join my mailing list to get exclusive content, advanced updates, and details about new books at www.nataliajaster.com/newsletter.
Sharing your thoughts helps new readers to discover my books, so please consider leaving an honest review. The support truly means a lot.