Page 3 of Bound By the Wraith: Northern Realms

Gootch’s eyes gleamed. “Well, being the grandson of Death gives you powers that not all wraiths have. I want those.”

“My powers?” Cillian snorted. “Those are not transferrable. You know this.”

“Well, sort of,” Gootch burbled. “You have forged a very strong blood spell over the northern realm and I know for a fact you’re trying the same things with other realms, all so you can rule over everything from yours. Your realm sits in a very good spot. I never thought it was particularly fair you have your own private realm. So, if I give you this contract and she doesn’t stay with you for the year, then you will be banished out of your realm and be locked inside the northern realm for eternity.”

There was a slight warning voice in his head, telling him not to take this bet, especially not after all the work he had done, but Cillian couldn’t let Cali be lost to Gootch and the netherworld forever. He had to take the risk. Still, the idea of giving up plans of ruling it all and having to be stuck as his sister’s neighbor was a bit off-putting.

He liked to be able to come and go as he pleased between time and the other realms. Would he give up all that freedom and power to build a shack next to a bunch of hairy forest apes and his sister?

“Deal,” Cillian stated.

So, apparently, he would. The thing was, Cillian was pretty positive that he couldn’t lose this bet. Cali had always fallen for him.

And fallen out of love for you too, remember that.

At least he could remedy that, by reminding her of who he was.

“Not so fast, my friend,” Gootch chortled. “I have some conditions.”

“Name them,” Cillian growled.

“You can't win her over by revealing her past connection to you and you can’t fuck her into submission either. I know you’ve tried that before. You can’t possess her or bed her unless she begs you to. She has to ask you to claim her. I know sex with a wraith is powerful magic, so I don’t want you using some kind of other influence on your little pet.”

“So I can’t mate with her. And by mating you mean, penetration?” Cillian hated discussing this with Gootch, but what choice did he have? There were other ways to seduce Cali into staying with him, but he had to make sure that Gootch didn’t twist it that way.

“Correct. Until she begs for it, no planting your seed in her womb.”

Cillian tried to hide the smile of satisfaction. He might not be able to make love to her like he’d always done, but at least it wasn’t completely off-limits. He could pleasure her other ways, but once she asked for it, then she was his.

“So?” Gootch asked. “Do we have a deal?”

Cillian clenched his fists, his nails elongating and biting into the flesh of his palms. “Very well.”

Gootch tried to clap his short stubby arms together, but it didn’t work. It was like watching a tyrannosaurus rex try to clap. “You have a year to make her stay. And it starts now. If I were you, I’d go claim her. The clock is ticking.”

The contract appeared in front of him and he took it, tucking it into his coat.

“Where is she now?” Cillian asked.

“At the hospital. Her soon-to-be ex-husband had her committed, she was going on about selling her soul to save him, begging him to stay with her because of her sacrifice.” Gootch grinned, his eyes flashing red. “She was hoping, I suppose, to convince him to stay. Or she was hoping that I would convince him to stay with her, but all she asked of me was to save his life. I did that. Now, her husband thinks she’s lost her mind and is having her institutionalized. Apparently, mental illness runs in her family. Or so he says.”

Cillian spun on his heel and left Gootch’s and went straight back to his realm, where he could find her through his orb. Unlike other magical beings, he didn’t rely on the portals, but he still needed to be in his own realm to transport himself and see where he was going. He’d need a portal to bring her here though, and he hoped she was in the northern realm.

Last he checked, she was, but then again, he didn’t know she had married and was surprised when she’d sold her soul.

None of his little minions said anything as he stormed his way through his own palace, straight to his looking orb to see where she was. And Gootch was right, she was being strapped down to a hospital bed and injected with something. She was terrified, betrayed, hurt.

It enraged him.

He pulled out the contract and read it all over. It was fairly straightforward. Cali had sold her soul to Gootch to save her dying husband, and Gootch wouldn’t collect unless her husband was killed, or if her husband left her. By having Cali committed and telling her it was over, Cali’s soul belonged to Gootch. At least now, Cillian could kill her ex, but that would come later.

Cillian rolled up the contract and placed it in his vault, where he kept most of his valuable documents, promissory notes and other items. He’d look it all over later. Right now, he had to deal with getting Cali out of the hospital and back here.

And unfortunately, to do that, she was going to have to make another deal with the devil.

Him.

She wasangry and beyond hurt.

---