Page 57 of Destined to the Reaper

“No,” Kali said firmly while shaking her head. “There’s no question that he has set up a trap for you over there. Cornelius has hosted you for the past five centuries. He knows you well enough to expect you will come in using your invisibility powers. I should be the one to go first.”

“WHAT?! Are you insane?” I exclaimed. “They will all be able to see you!”

“Yes,” she conceded calmly. “But the women and Cornelius were using Blood Magic. I can read and interpret it. You can’t. I’m certain there are traps on the ground that will trigger the moment you step into them. Why else would they have chosen such a large and open area with a flat terrain?”

“Even if that were true, it will still put you in harm’s way,” I argued.

“Any way you cut it, I am getting in harm’s way today. But I will do so on my own terms. Cornelius doesn’t want me, he wants you. I can create a distraction while remaining out of range of their spells and disrupt their ritual so that you can go in safely.”

I clenched my teeth and involuntarily shook my head, further wanting to say no and argue.

Kali pressed a palm to my chest and gently caressed it in a soothing fashion. “Look, I know you’re scared for me. But both your mother and brother said I needed to come to this fight.Trust them and trust me. I must go first. I can feel it in my bones.”

I stared at her for a while in silence, too many conflicting emotions warring within me. I placed my palm on the back of her hand on my chest, my heart aching at the thought of losing her.

“Don’t you dare get hurt,” I snarled at last.

She chuckled and leaned against me. My right arm immediately closed around her, drawing her tightly in my embrace.

“I can regenerate now, remember? Someone made me near unkillable,” she said teasingly.

“You had better remember your lessons,” I growled before claiming her lips with a possessiveness laced with passion and desperation.

With much reluctance, I released her and let my gaze roam over the perfection of her features as if to memorize them. I shifted my vision to peer at her thread. Despite the worry twisting my insides, I couldn’t help a smile of relief.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Your life’s thread is even brighter and stronger now than it was this morning,” I confessed. “It’s not yet at the level I wish it would be, but most of the dire paths are gone. We are making the right choices.”

“Of course we are,” she said with conviction. “Wearegoing to win. But what about yours?”

I gave her an apologetic look. “Sadly, I cannot see my own. But seeing yours thrive gives me hope.”

“Then let’s go get rid of the trash and settle the matter once and for all,” Kali said.

I nodded and claimed her lips in one final kiss. Picking her up in my arms, I flew her closer to the mansion, circling around the outer gates into the backyard. Despite my earlier reluctance,I felt silently grateful to have her able to scan for the wards and traps that might have been laid out for me.

I dropped her at the edge of the thick garden that provided some shelter from view. We didn’t say a word. Heart heavy, I let my eyes do all the talking for me as I caressed her cheek. She smiled, leaned into my touch, then turned her face to kiss my palm. As I dropped my hand, I realized that I was in love with that woman. No matter what it took, neither of us would die this day. I had waited too long to find the other half of me for it to end now.

I faded into my ethereal form and started invisibly roaming around the perimeter my mate had deemed safe. My stomach twisted as Kali boldly started walking towards the courtyard. I couldn’t tell if I was more impressed than worried by her assurance. I wanted to believe it wasn’t a sign of reckless arrogance now that she had enhanced powers. Knowing it was the fear I felt for her making me paranoid, I cast those negative thoughts out.

Seconds later, my blood turned into ice when Piers emitted a soul wrenching scream. His naked body began to swell, his limbs twisting like one would a wet towel to drain the water out. It was grotesque and horrendous. His skin darkened as inky blotches appeared all over his overly bloated body.

“Pharos, I can feel you lurking in the shadows!” Cornelius suddenly shouted, his eyes flicking this way and that looking for me. “Come out, come out, little Angel. Let’s play!”

“I think not!” Kali shouted back as she continued her approach.

Cornelius’s head jerked in her direction. The instant hatred and malice that descended over his features sent my protective instincts into overdrive. I barely refrained from rushing over to him and tearing him limb from limb for harboring ill intentions towards my bride.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the little thief!” Cornelius hissed. “What’s going on? Is Pharos too scared to face me? Does he need his little bitch to fight his battles for him?”

“You are one to talk, you carrion feeder,” Kali retorted with contempt as she continued her approach. “You need both of your bitches to fight your battle and to sacrifice that fool. Sounds pretty pathetic to me.”

Under different circumstances, I would have laughed at Cornelius’s outraged expression. That monster was insanely thin skinned. He could dish out the insults but couldn’t withstand even the smallest slight.

“I’m going to have fun with you once I’m done with him. You will be my obedient little bitch. I’ll keep that foul mouth of yours too full of cocks to spew anymore disrespect at your betters,” Cornelius shouted, his anger almost palpable.

But his words fanned my own.

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