Page 77 of Of Bone and Ash

“No!” I snap, knowing it’s a lie.

“Yes!” he hisses, his hand moving to grab me again. “Your father saw you do it and immediately questioned what happened. He felt her soul being reaped, only he thought it was me since you weren't supposed to be a Reaper. He thought I was trying to save her from her fate and destroy his chances of success. So in order to keep me under his and my father's thumb, I was taken and bound to you.”

“I—I didn't! The first soul I reaped was…” I trail off, blinking furiously, trying to clear my darkening vision. This is a lie! It has to be. But how the hell does he have all this information? Stuff that not even my brother knows about!

“What happens to a Reaper who has reaped without forming a mate bond or magical connection strong enough to bind them to reality?” Darius asks.

“They go insane. Surrender to the bloodlust,” I whisper, and Darius nods.

“You were six, Serafina. How come you haven't gone insane? Why are you still functioning? Sure, our physical distance has given you control issues, but you’re still here. Your magic hasn't taken over yet. Why is that?” he asks, and I shake my head in denial. Everyone in my family doesn't know I’ve reaped my first soul. They don't know that I need an anchor, so they wouldn't know that my functioning shouldn't be happening. “It’s not because you were lucky,” Darius hisses, spinning his scythe in one hand as he eyes me with disdain. “It’s because of me—us. We give each other the anchors we need to be the monsters we crave without losing ourselves to the bloodlust.”

“No!”

“Yes,” he snaps back, looking equally upset over the fact as I feel. “Now, you come with me, and I won't help add to the death count here tonight,” he offers, hand outstretched, and for the first time, I have the urge to take it—to save who I can.

“You’ll call the Demons back from the school?” I ask hesitantly, all while knowing there is no guarantee. Even if I take his hand, he could simply lie and keep on letting students die.

“I will call back my men,” he promises and sighs when I hesitate. “And your Dragon friend can live,” he adds, making my heart stall.

“What? What have you done to Ryland?” I snap, worry clouding my judgment as I lunge toward Darius, only for him to spin and grab me by the neck. There is a sting of a pinprick, and suddenly my magic starts to drain from me, shutting down as Darius slowly removes a needle from my neck.

“What did you do?” I cry out as I try and fail to yank out of his grip. I watch in horror as my sword melts from my hands, then my cloak, leaving me in my leggings and black tank top I was wearing before the fight. Without the help of my magic, my arms feel heavy, the strain of fighting weighing heavily on me as I stumble. A cold rush of nothing fills me, leaving me feeling empty as whatever Darius injected me with takes over.

“You should have taken my offer,” Darius whispers into my ear, magic wrapping around my wrists and ankles, keeping me in place as he hauls me into his chest and then nods at his men. “Let's go. Tell the Hunter to kill the gold Dragon and pull back our men before Malik or one of the princes sees us,” he commands, lifting me off my feet, ignoring as I scream and try to kick, but with my feet and hands bound, there’s nothing I can do!

“Stop fighting me,” Darius snarls as I try to throw myself out of his arms. Anything to break free. I have to get to Ryland! I watch in stunned horror as the trees of the forest glow red and shift, the world spinning as Darius holds me tightly to him. Looks like my luck may have just run out. Teos is going to kill me if I survive this.

Darius

I smirk at Serafina as she strains against the binds holding her captive, her magic locked away with the magical blocking serum. I nod at the men tying her up as I yank my shredded shirt over my head and press it to the deep gash on my belly, hissing through my teeth from the pain. My magic is already starting to heal it, but it will take time.

“I’m going to kill you,” she snarls, eyes wide and wild as she glares death at me. I grin and nod, moving closer to her and wondering why I can’t seem to shake this weird feeling when I draw near her. I gesture toward the open doors, silently instructing my men to leave as I crouch down in front of Serafina.

“I have no doubt that you will try. But you are outmanned, and outmagicked,” I point out, my hand darting out to circle the column of her narrow neck. I can feel the flutter of her pulse under my hand, and it's thrilling to know I hold her life in my hands. I’m careful not to squeeze too tight this time; still unsure what's going on with her magic and ability to withstand normal injuries. But there is something about the idea of her life in my hands.

With one simple squeeze, the snap of her neck and her life will be extinguished. It’s a Reaper thing, I suppose. I have no doubt Serafina would have the same thrill if our positions were reversed. Unfortunately, if her life ends, so will mine. Not that I want to actually kill her. I may hate her with every part of me, but I don't wish her dead.

“You have no idea what you're doing. Count your fucking days,” she threatens, and I laugh, letting her throat go and walking back over to my desk, nodding at Alastor and waiting for him to leave, shutting the door behind him before I turn back to my pretty little captive.

“Oh. And who will kill me? That Dragon shifter you seem to care for? Really, Serafina, who runs into a Demon-infested forest for a boy?” I chide, unable to keep the bite of anger I feel out of my voice as I ask her the question. Her eyes flare with a rage that I can’t help but adore.

Oh, she’s so feisty. I love it. It will be a delight to break through her shields and see what truly lies beneath the mask she wears to keep her friends and family happy.

I lean forward, pressing my hands against the desk as I look at her. “I have news for you. He’s dead. I had him dosed with the same serum I did you, and the Hunter has already reported back to the castle. He can't burn the Demons Bane out of his system without his Dragon magic. So that leaves…” I stall for added effect. “The Reaper brother?” I ask and grin. “I can only hope that he comes. It will make it easier to kill him when he’s here, and I don't have to track him down.”

Tossing a few papers out of my way I move the mouse on my desk, waking up my computer to start going over the files I had sent to me on the Covington family group.

“Ryland is not dead,” she snarls, looking more like a feral animal strapped to the cushioned chair than a young woman. “And Gabriel won't have the chance to kill you. I’ll do that myself.”

I look up at her, surprised at the amount of venom pouring from her when she's this hurt and without magic. I grimace, hating how her blood makes me feel out of control, then sigh and walk to her, knowing I won't be able to concentrate on anything until she’s healed.

“And what if I told you my death would cause your own?” I ask, watching her carefully.

“You act as if that would stop me,” she scoffs, surprising the hell out of me. Did she not understand what I just said? But as I look into her eyes I see an odd sort of detachment there. I pause, looking at the broken woman in front of me with a hint of concern, letting my magic wrap around her, trying to feel whatever I can from her dark magic that is currently silent, dormant in her chest.

“Your magic is completely altered. Warped and fading,” I whisper in realization, trying to see more then cursing when I can't press past the magic serum I gave her. I growl under my breath as my hand moves back to her neck, and I let my magic seep into her. She fights it, and I grin, feeling my teeth sharpen with the urge to lean forward and bite, pinning her in place so I can do what I want. I shove down the instinct and raise an amused brow as she curses and tries to kick me.

“I’m only trying to heal you. Why waste your energy stopping something that will only help?” I point out.

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