Page 38 of Destined to the Reaper

“At some point,” I said in a non-committal fashion.

She nodded, content with that response. Myress then held her hands a few centimeters from my woman’s body, moving them up and down as she whispered a few healing incantations. By the time she was done, Kali had stopped trembling, and her skin no longer felt feverish.

Myress picked up the flasks and jar she brought and poured a small amount from each into the bath. After setting the containers down, she waved her hand over the warm water with another spell. I could have performed that part myself but welcomed her assistance.

“I will go air your room for you,” the Cambion said as she turned to leave.

“Thank you, Myress. But please prepare a guest room for Kali, as well as a nightgown and fresh clothes for when she wakes,” I requested.

She recoiled, baffled that I wouldn’t just take Kali to my room. By the way she pursed her very thin lips, she was itching to question me about it, but thankfully thought better of it. She gave me a stiff nod before exiting the room.

Obviously, I wanted nothing more than to share a room with my mate. But I wouldn’t be so bold as to assume her consent. After all, I took her to my home without asking first. However, I didn’t doubt for a second that Cornelius was already tracking down where she resided and likely already knew. He would never stop seeking to punish her in the most atrocious way for ‘stealing’ from him.

I stripped out of my clothes, which proved a little awkward while still supporting my woman, then carried her into the tub. I settled inside it first and held her against me. Although my regeneration powers had already fully restored me, the healingmagic in the water seeped deep into me, relaxing and soothing every cell of my being. I could feel it coursing through my mate. Through the clear water—which had taken a slightly purple tinge due to the herbs and oils Myress poured into it—I watched Kali’s wounds slowly mend.

Simultaneously, I shared my regeneration aura with her. I couldn’t heal another person with it the way I healed myself, but it helped accelerate the process, enhancing both her body’s natural abilities and the magic in the water.

By the Gods, this felt so right! Her body aligned perfectly with mine. Her soul sang the most enthralling melody, harmonizing flawlessly with my own. I could stay like this, embracing my soulmate for eternity.

To think I nearly lost her…

The memory of those dire last few minutes before I managed to drag her into that safe room had my anger instantly flaring. A part of me wanted to spank Kali for her stubbornness. It hurt me that she genuinely considered death over giving me her soul. She should trust me. Granted, we’d only met a few days ago. Kali barely knew me, and after the mess between her brother Jasper and Cornelius, she had every reason to be wary of what could befall her should she ever allow another to take over the most precious thing anyone possessed.

And yet, I had to acknowledge that after I’d spent centuries being enslaved, sharing the mind and vessel of a narcissistic psychopath, my mate couldn’t be sure that I hadn’t somehow been corrupted by him. Frankly, I couldn’t swear to it either.

Still, Kali was almost fully mine now. I still couldn’t believe she felt strong and genuine enough affection for me to enable the mate bond. Had I even remotely suspected that possibility, I would have brought it up to her.

But she likes me. She genuinely likes me.

The joy that swelled in my heart came crashing down moments later as a dreadful thought popped into my head. Yes, Kali was almost fully mine, but I was not fully free. Until I was made whole again, I couldn’t plan a future with her.

The clock was ticking, and I needed answers.

I remained in the tub with my woman for a while longer until the magic concluded its work. I stepped out of the tub, dried my mate, then took her to the guest room. A nice fire was burning in the fireplace, and an elegant flowy nightgown was neatly folded on top of the fresh blankets. I swiftly dressed Kali before tucking her in bed. She would remain unconscious for a few hours, giving me the time I needed to handle my business.

I brushed my lips against hers, then headed back to the terrace. I took flight even as I opened a rift through the Veil and teleported a hundred meters outside of the Weaver’s domain. Contrary to widespread belief, Reapers couldn’t simply teleport at will anywhere we pleased. We could do so near a dying person assigned to us for reaping, or near people or places with whom we shared a powerful bond...

As was my case with the Weaver…

Flapping my wings—which were still a bit wet from the bath—I carefully approached the imposing gates of her domain. The guardian imps didn’t stir, and the gates didn’t open for me. Although a more official welcome would have been appreciated, I simply flew over the closed entrance, unimpeded. Had I been trespassing, the Weaver’s powerful magic would have taught me the error of my ways.

The door of the ridiculous little thatched-roof witch hut illusion she gave her mansion opened as soon as I landed in front of the house. I walked in to find the Weaver sitting next to her spinning wheel, as always.

“My son,” she said, her eyes still glued to the glowing thread between her fingers.

“Mother,” I replied in greeting, my chest filling with warmth as I admired her timeless beauty. “It’s been too long.”

She nodded and stopped the wheel. “Too long, indeed.”

She rose to her feet and circled around the large table a short distance from where she sat at her wheel, and which faced the door like a reception desk. I stood still as she slowly examined me from head to toe. She caressed my right cheek, her soft hand gliding down to my chest before her index finger traced one of the exposed bones of my rib cage.

“By the Gods, I do make beautiful offspring,” she said wistfully before caressing my wing.

I snorted, and shook my head at her, having no word to respond.

“You regenerated well,” she added approvingly.

“I have. The Keres in the crypt provided me with quite a few of her minions to feed on,” I said mockingly.

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