At first, all I feel is burning.
A burning so violent it steals all the air from my lungs. My body arches beneath Azrael’s, every muscle tense, my fingers desperately gripping his powerful arms. I want to scream, but no sound leaves my throat. The bite at the base of my neck pulses with monstrous, searing heat, and I feel… I feel something forming. Something that chains me to him. Chains me forever.

The bond.
I feel it.
I feel it flowing from his mouth into my soul, burning everything in its path, leaving his mark inside me. A love so powerful, so possessive, so absolute it makes me dizzy.
I feel it.
I feel him.
Azrael.
His love. His desire. His burning, devastating possessiveness, but also his tenderness, his gentleness, his fear of losing me. It’s all there, entwined with my own light.

“Azrael…” My voice is broken, trembling, barely a whisper.

And suddenly, the pain explodes.
It is so violent my back arches off the bed, my white wings beat furiously, silver feathers scattering into the burning air of the room. I scream. A scream so shattering it makes the stone walls tremble. I feel my wings…
I feel them burning.
I feel them dying.

The pain is unbearable. I feel flesh tearing, bones breaking, the base of my wings burns as if molten lava is being poured onto them. I scream again, my voice ringing out like a funeral wail. My white wings detach from my back, falling heavily onto the bed, their light extinguishing in an instant. My body lifts off the mattress in agony, my heart beating so fast I lose my vision.

“Azrael… Azrael… it hurts… it… hurts so much…”

I feel his warm hand close around mine. I turn my head weakly. He is leaning over me, his forehead pressed to mine, his red eyes filled with burning tears. His black hair falls around our faces, enclosing us in a world of our own.

“I’m here…” His voice is deep, trembling, broken. “I’m here, my angel… hold on… it’s almost over…”

I scream again as the pain becomes unbearable. And then… I feel them.
I feel something pushing out.
I feel my flesh splitting, my bones reforming, growing, lengthening. Two new wings. But they are not white. They are black. A deep black, iridescent with red and gold under the firelight. Demonic wings. Immense. Magnificent.

The pain is so intense I lose consciousness for a moment. I come back sobbing, my body shaking with spasms. Azrael is still there, above me, his tears falling onto my burning cheeks. He kisses my forehead, my eyelids, my temple, his lips soft and hot, soothing some of the pain.

“I’m sorry…” His voice is broken, hoarse, trembling with love. “I’m so sorry, Caël… I can’t take away the pain… you have to… you have to go through this… if you want to be mine… completely…”

I tremble, my new black wings beating weakly behind me. They are heavy. Powerful. They hurt, but they are beautiful. So beautiful. I lift a trembling hand and place it on his cheek. His red eyes look down at me, shining with tears and burning love. He leans into my palm, closing his eyes, a soft growl rumbling in his chest.

“It’s okay…” I whisper weakly, my voice cracked, hoarse. “I… I’m yours… Azrael… I… I love you…”

He opens his eyes, and I see everything. His fear. His tenderness. His infinite love. His monstrous possessiveness. And I love him. God, I love him so much it burns hotter than the pain.
He kisses me. A slow, deep, tender kiss, burning with a love so powerful it makes me dizzy.

“Rest now, my angel…” His voice is deep, soft, reassuring. “You are mine… forever… my husband… my life… my eternity.”

And as my eyelids close, as my body sinks into heavy, burning sleep, I feel his love envelop me completely.
For the first time… I am no longer afraid.
Because I am his.
Forever.
For eternity.