Page 182 of Dark Souls

“What was all that back there? Why were you looking at Hana like that?” I couldn’t keep the growl out of my voice as I glared at him.

He huffed, clearing a space on his desk. “She just looks like someone who recently died. A witch from Heroux. It just took me by surprise, that’s all.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. And was this girl someone you… loved?” I asked bluntly.

“Love’s a strong word.” Leif sighed. “She was someone I cared about. But it wasn’t meant to be. Doesn’t make it hurt any less, though. Sigil, please, big guy?” He held his hand out for it and I hesitated, fighting every cell in my body to give it to him. I pulled it out of my pocket, gently placing it in his hand.

“Be careful with it. If you destroy it, Hana dies. Do you know what you’re doing?”

“I have no idea what I’m doing. Yet. But that’s why I need it. I have all the other puzzle pieces except the main one. The sigil holds the power of the spell. Without it, there is only so much I can understand.”

I sat down on a stool next to the table, never taking my eyes off the shimmering crystal as he held it up close to his face and stared into it curiously. “Do you really think you can reverse the spell?”

“I know I can. That’s not the part that concerns me.” He lowered it extremely carefully onto the table, giving me a look that proved he was taking my words seriously. “It’s the effects of reversing the spell that are unknown. The use of dark magic always has consequences. And now there are mate bonds to consider.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ilaria is bonded with Luka’s soul but not fully bonded with Heathen’s. Being a demon, he needs to own her soul to complete the bond. If I reverse the spell, I don’t know how that will impact their bond. My mum once returned my Grandma’s soul to her body. That spell was complex enough. But there are three souls to consider here.”

Seeing as this affected me too, I leaned forward, placing my fist on the table. “Why did Ilaria not bond with Luka’s demon’s soul? If she was fully bonded with both, would that make it easier?”

“Maybe, I don’t know. This is an unknown territory I’m working with. Luka told her not to give her soul to Heathen because of what that would mean.”

“What would that mean?”

He raised his eyebrow at me with a smirk. “Aren’t you soulmates with one?”

“I literally just found out what a Demonski Upir was a day ago, was turned by one and now mated to another. Forgive me if I haven’t had time to ask questions,” I snapped, defensive that I felt like I should know more about how to help the most important person in my life.

“Okay, Mr Grouchy.” He clicked his fingers, causing a blood bag to appear between them and threw it at me. “Have a drink. It will make you feel better. Or at least make me less appetising.” I ripped it open, guzzling it down. It was such a strange sensation, drinking blood. But it was amazing how much it really didn’t faze me. “And I meant, if you give your soul to Hana’s demon and complete your bond fully, you will be forever tied to her life. You will depend on her for blood, never want anyone else’s and when she dies, you’ll die too. Slowly of starvation. Pretty harsh really.”

I got carried away with the fantasy of me drinking Hana’s blood, of imagining how delicious it would taste and how sensual it would be. My fangs tingled. My dick throbbed. And then the rest of what he said registered.

“I wouldn’t want to live without her,” I said, unbothered by the revelation. “I want to give myself to her fully.”

Leif lifted his sleeve and looked at an invisible watch on his bare wrist. “You’ve won. That is the quickest I have ever seen a female have her mate by the balls. You are officially the most whipped man in the world.”

I shrugged, really not giving a fuck. “If she asked me for my soul right this minute, I’d gladly hand it over. It’s already hers.”

“Aw,” Leif placed his hand over his chest with a mocking expression. “I can’t wait to tell all your GI Joe mates at the SIA what a big fucking melt you are.”

“Oh, they already know,” I smirked just as a puff of black smoke appeared next to me, revealing Ilaria and Hana.

“Hey, I am going to ambush Lia and I didn’t want to leave Hana with the crazy bunch, so I hope you don’t mind, but Hana felt more comfortable being here, if that’s alright?” Ilaria glanced at Leif but Hana’s green eyes swerved to me. A pink blush crept up her cheeks as she looked away quickly. Well, that was fucking adorable.

“Not at all,” Leif said, pointing to the stool next to me. “Take a seat. It might actually help to have you here.”

Hana sat down, twiddling her thumbs in her lap. But I didn’t miss the subtle way the tension left her body as her arm brushed mine. She didn’t move away from the touch either, which made me smile. I had no idea what I was doing here. I was normally the self-assured, cocky twat who had no problem making all the moves, but Hana had been through so much trauma that I was terrified of doing or saying anything that might make her uncomfortable or pull away from me.

“You’re ambushing Lia?” Leif asked as Ilaria stepped back, ready to transport herself away.

“You just focus on that sigil, and I’ll focus on finding out the truth, okay?” Ilaria fixed him with her no-nonsense glare that said to not push her on this and Leif shrugged his shoulders.

“Just promise me you will hear her out before you hurt her because I am convinced she’s innocent in this. I know you have personal beef with her but try to be the bigger person until you have all the facts.”

“No fucking chance. I’m only 5”2 and she’s an oxygen thief. Being the bigger person is out of the question.”

Leif sighed, waving his white flag because we all knew arguing with Ilaria over this was pointless.

---