Page 52 of Destined to the Reaper

My chest constricted at the sight of the grateful tears welling in her eyes.

“I can never thank all of you enough for this,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “It is the best that I could have hoped for Jasper. But seeing what happened to him and recent events have taught me that I cannot allow fear to dictate my life. In fact, your brother really helped open my eyes.”

“Haroth?!” I asked, surprised.

She nodded, a frown marring her forehead. “He reminded me of what it felt like when you gave your soul to me. For the first time in my life, I felt whole, at peace, and truly happy. But more importantly, I felt all of you. I may first and foremost be a Bone and Blood Mage, but I’m also a respectable Soul Mage. And when I held you, I perceived no malice, no evil, or underhanded intent from you towards me. Your feelings for me were pure and loving. We vibrated in perfect harmony.”

My heart skipped a beat as her underlying meaning started making its way into my mind.

“What are you saying?”

She took a deep and fortifying breath before answering. “I’m saying that I am scared, but I believe in you. Therefore, the same way you trusted me with your soul in the crypt, I will trust you with mine.”

I stiffened, joy, confusion, and worry battling inside me for dominance.

“You want to give me your soul?” I asked, wanting to make sure there was no misunderstanding.

Kali swallowed hard but nodded.

“You understand that it is not reversible?” I insisted.

“I do,” she said firmly.

Still flabbergasted, considering how adamantly against it she had been not even twenty-four hours ago, I studied her features as if they could reveal the answer to this mystery.

“You have no obligation to make this sacrifice simply to save my life,” I said carefully. “You have no debt towards me.”

She waved a dismissive hand. “I know that. It is not guilt or a sense of obligation that made me come to that conclusion. To be honest, I would have preferred a lot more time to come to terms with such a monumental decision. But holding your soul convinced me that we are meant to be. We may not be in love with each other yet, but there is no doubt in my mind that it will come. I just know that I cannot contemplate a life without you. And I know you will not abuse this gift.”

“But—”

“Stop arguing, Pharos,” Kali said sternly. “I have made my decision, and you will not discourage me. I had the entire night to sleep on it, and I already knew that I would go through with this the moment I woke up this morning. I’m not doing this out of a sense of guilt, but because it’s what I want. You took me out of hell yesterday. Tomorrow, you and I will send Cornelius to its darkest pit. And then, you will get to show me what it’s like to be your bride for the rest of our lives.”

“My Kali,” I whispered, my heart filling to bursting.

Rising to my feet, I went over to her chair and pulled her into my embrace. As I claimed her lips, I thanked all the powers thatbe for sending my soulmate my way. Whatever future awaited us, this moment would have made it all worthwhile.

She was mine, and I wouldn’t let anything or anyone stand in the way of the future I wanted for us.

Chapter 14

Kali

My pulse picked up when he broke the kiss. Eyes locked with mine, Pharos summoned his ghostly scythes by flicking his hands open on each side of his body. Memories of how things went sideways with hisalmatharflashed in my head. Obviously, that tragedy only occurred because Cornelius had trapped him. But I couldn’t help the sliver of nervousness that coursed through me.

“Do you trust me, Kali?” Pharos asked in a gentle voice devoid of any accusation or suspicion.

In spite of the slight anxiety I felt at the prospect of what was about to take place, I didn’t hesitate as I nodded firmly. “Yes, Pharos. I do.”

And I meant it, too.

“Are you sure you want to go through with this?” he insisted.

That, more than anything else he might have said or done, put to rest the lingering uncertainty that gnawed at me.

“I would lie by saying I’m not feeling a little worried and unsettled by this whole thing. But yes, I am certain I want to gothrough with this. I truly trust you, and it would only be delaying the inevitable and needlessly putting both of us in danger,” I replied calmly.

My stomach flip-flopped in response to the infinite tenderness with which he gazed upon me. Yeah, I was falling hard for my Reaper. Whatever misgivings I may have had, this felt right, like it had been ordained from the beginning of time.

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