Disclaimer: Taylor Swift. Rainbow Rowell. The end.

SIMON

I don't remember I'm wearing my cross until I feel Baz tear open my shirt collar and grab it. I don't mind that he gets rid of it. I mean, yes, I was wearing it to keep him at bay, but that's not necessary anymore. At least, I don't think it is. We're on the same side now, right? That's what kissing means.

I find the cross again and put it back on while he's draining the deer, though. Just because Baz doesn't want to kill me now doesn't guarantee he won't change his mind. Merlin, I hope he doesn't. I want him to . . . I want him to like me. Right? That goes along with kissing him. Wanting him to like me. Yeah, that's definitely what I want.

I want to kiss him some more when we get back to his house, so I take off my cross once we get to his room. I think that's the end of the matter, but then I squeeze his hand and he yelps. He sounds so hurt. Like a kicked puppy or something. My heart breaks. I take his hand and lift it to my face, and that's when I see the burn mark from when he grabbed my cross. The marks on his palm are raised and pink, and I'm pretty sure they're going to scar.

I kiss his palm. Somehow that feels more intimate than kissing him on the mouth. Baz relaxes when I do that, and I can feel the tension going out of him, even though only our hands are in contact. It's odd, because I'd have expected the pressure of my lips there to hurt, but I suppose they must feel more good than bad.

He asks me questions then, and I do my best to answer them even though I'm incredibly tired. But I can't stop thinking of the mark on his palm. Will it scar? Will it become a permanent part of him? (Merlin and Morgana, he really is a vampire. For real.)

I think about all the other scars that are permanent parts of us. The marks on my leg where I got bitten by that dog that was were. The scars on Penny's knee from the worsegers. The scars around Baz's ankles from when the numpties chained him up. The marks on Agatha's wrists from when we were kidnapped by goblins.

It occurs to me that being around me is bad for people's health, and that, if I really care about Baz, I should probably warn him off. But then, he's been around for the better part of eight years now. He knows how dangerous this is, probably better than I do.

Besides, I want him around. And I'm the worst chosen one who's ever been chosen, so I probably get to be a bit selfish.