?Chapter 679:

    Right on cue, the deepening whir of a helicopter sliced through the calm.

    Elliana’s face brightened. “They’re here!”

    The aircraft touched down on the tarmac in a blur of wind and sound. A man and a woman stepped out, each carrying a sleek aluminum case that glinted in the sun. They entered with quiet professionalism, offering polite nods before cing the cases carefully on the table. With a soft click, thetches were undone.

    Cole leaned in, eyes narrowing as he took in the contents of the cases. Recognition struck like a quiet thunderp. Tattoo guns. Inks arranged in gleaming rows. Needles resting in sterile precision—symbols of permanence, carefully set in foam. Matching tattoos.

    And just like that, her cryptic phrase—“painful yet wonderful”—unfolded its full meaning. Yes, there would be pain. The sting of needles, the ache beneath the skin. But what they were about to do was so much more than ink and artistry—it was a vow made visible.

    Elliana watched Cole closely, her smile dancing between mischief and vulnerability. “Are you scared of a little pain?”

    “Not when it’s for you,” Cole answered, pulling her into his arms and pressing his lips to her hair. “What did you have in mind?”

    “A pair of hummingbirds,” she said simply, as if the answer had always been waiting. “We made a promisest night—to be each other’s one and only. This will be our mark. Our proof. A reminder no one can erase.”

    His heart clenched, full to bursting. “I love it,” he said, his voice thick. “Where do you want them?”

    “Shoulder des,” she replied, her tone resolute. “Mine on the right. Yours on the left. A female for you, a male for me. That way, if you ever forget me, I can show you this. And you won’t be able to deny we were meant to be.”

    Cole met her gaze with unwavering resolve. “Anything you want.”

    His easy agreement sent warmth surging through her. Her smile broke wide and genuine, lighting up her face. “I hired the best,” she told him. “True artists. The hummingbirds will be breathtaking.”

    “Then let’s do it,” he said, surprising even himself with the eagerness in his voice.

    L??t??τ ?h??ρτ?rs ιn g??l??ov?l??.??оm

    Given the intimacy of the moment, Cole led Elliana to his private lounge. There, the quiet hum of preparation filled the space as the artists—a man and a woman—began their work. The hours blurred into a rhythm of buzzing needles and hushed breath. Pain threaded its way through the silence, but neither Cole nor Elliana flinched.

    When it was done, the hummingbirds were more than just tattoos—they were soulmarks. Vibrant, alive, and impossibly tender. They adorned their backs, but the imprint went far deeper. It was as if they’d etched the memory of each other onto the very marrow of their bones. A promise—Even if memory failed and time stole everything, they would find their way back in this life and the next.

    The days that followed were golden—sun-warmed andughterced, drifting by in a haze of joy and quiet intimacy. But like all beautiful interludes, the moment began to tighten around them. The tenth day had arrived.

    Elliana stood still for a long moment, the second injection vial cool in her hand.

    For thest ten days, Cole’s body and mind had steadily grown stronger, the Elysian Elixir’s miraculous effects revealing themselves more and more with each sunrise.

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