Page 33 of Bound By the Wraith: Northern Realms

“Oh?” Gootch asked.

“My immortality. I’ll age and die once Cali ages and dies, but she belongs to me. You free her.”

“No!” his mother shrieked.

“Why would I care if you die?” Gootch asked.

“Then you’ll be the most powerful in the Netherworld you blubbery twit. Now, do we have a deal?"

“Deal,” Gootch agreed.

Cillian smiled. Cali had spilled her virgin blood in this realm, extending her mortal life, binding her life to his the moment their souls really connected when they made love the last night she was here. He’d protect her in the northern realm and they could live their life together, happily for centuries. And when itwas time for them to age and die, it would be together. Their souls bound forever.

“You better hurry,” Gootch warned. “Her life is in peril.”

Cillian turned and walked away from them.

Gootch was laughing and chortling with glee, but Cillian didn’t care. He had to find Cali and save her. His heart couldn’t take losing her again and he knew if he didn’t save her in time, her soul would be lost forever.

The love, the bond that Cali and he shared was strong. It was a threat to all those who wanted to control the realms. Just like it had been too powerful for him to completely control, he saw it all now.

His mother floated in front of him. “Are you mad? You’re giving up everything for a mortal?”

“I guess I am mad,” Cillian stated. “But this isn’t an eternity I want to live. Without her, I am nothing.”

“You’ll eventually die,” his mother warned. “Too much time in that northern realm and the bits of your father will take over.”

Cillian shrugged and stepped toward the portal, before the connection was lost and his realm became fully in possession of Gootch. “I don’t care anymore. Good-bye, Mother. Oh, and since none of the beings in the realm belong to Gootch, I release all beings under my control. Except Honk. They’re coming with me.”

And with that final word, he stepped through as his mother screamed her banshee rage from the other side.

8

Iknew something bad was going to happen.

Cali stared up at the Elven princess. It was dark, the sun had set, and she knew that by not passing through the portal back to Cillian’s realm, he had lost everything, just like his mother had warned her would happen.

She just hoped that Cillian could forgive her for what had happened. Though, this wasn’t her fault.

Coraliane was nowhere to be seen and Cali was no longer in front of the portal by the hospital, but she wasn’t far. She was down an alleyway.

“What have you done with Coraliane?” Cali asked Elodi.

“Wiped her memory and sent her on her way.” Elodi grinned. “I know how her pretty little mermaid mind works.”

Had Coraliane slept with everyone?

“Cillian will come looking for me,” Cali stated, although she knew that was probably far-fetched.

He wouldn’t know where to find her and she’d been moved away from the portal. There was also the fact that if he lost his realm, he might not be able to come through the portal. Shedidn’t know the extent of the bet he had made with Gootch to take control of her soul, but she bet Cillian’s hands were tied.

Cali had been a fool to let her guard down. Like she did countless times over her lifetimes. Now, she was going to die.

Elodi brandished a silver knife. She was grinning wickedly and it sent a chill down Cali’s spine. “Oh, how I’m going to love killing Cillian’s plaything. Only this time, you won’t ever be coming back, and Cillian will have power no longer.”

Cali closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable, the bite of blade which was a better way to go than being burnt at the stake.

Cillian, I love you.

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