Page 45 of Reaper

The memory surges back—fleeting images, sensations, the cold embrace of darkness. “When I was in that accident, when Reaper found me …” My voice trails off as I relive the moment, “I thought I was dead.”

“Dead?” She raises a brow.

“I don’t know if it was a hallucination or what, but it felt real. Too real. And then, suddenly, I wasn’t.” Confusion wraps around me like a heavy fog. “I woke up to Reaper calling my name, and everything was different.”

“Sounds like you went through quite an ordeal,” she says, her eyes searching mine. “And you think Reaper had something to do with bringing you back?”

“Maybe,” I admit, the possibility both terrifying and awe-inspiring. “Maybe not. I just know something happened. Something weird.”

“Then you should ask him about it,” she advises, not unkindly. “But brace yourself, Lexi. There’s a lot about Reaper that goes beyond what we see on the surface.”

I nod, the weight of her words settling in my chest. Learning about Reaper—his past, his pain, his powers—t’s like peeling back layers of a mystery. Each revelation brings me closer to the man who’s both shielded and bewildered me since the day we met.

“Thanks, Nina,” I say, gratitude warming my voice. “For everything.”

“Anytime, honey.” She reaches across the table, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze before we both turn our attention back to the field, watching Reaper watch over our boy.

The scent of freshly cut grass and the laughter of children fill the air as I watch Ace play, his joy infectious. But my mind is restless, teeming with questions about Reaper, about us. Nina’s words echo in my head, a reminder that there’s more to him than the tough biker exterior, more than even I understand.

“Go on and ask him,” Nina urges gently as she tidies up our tea setting. “You need peace of mind, and he owes you answers.”

“I will. When we get back.”

A scream tears through the tranquility of the afternoon. My heart lurches. It’s Ace, his small face crumpled in distress. The other two kids gather around something on the ground.Reaper strides over, his movements controlled but swift. I jump out of my chair, ready to run to my child.

“Wait. Let Reaper handle this.” Nina grabs my arm before I can pass her.

“He might need me.” I gently tug out of her grasp and run down the steps.

As I move closer, Reaper’s already kneeling beside whatever has caused the commotion. A tiny bird lies motionless, its delicate wings splayed awkwardly. A collective sorrow hovers in the air, the finality of death too apparent for the young kids.

Ace’s eyes brim with tears as he looks at Reaper. “Can you fix it?” There’s so much hope in his voice it nearly breaks my heart.

And then, it happens.

Reaper’s hands hover above the lifeless form, his fingers twitching ever so slightly. It’s subtle, almost imperceptible, but a soft glow emanates from his palms. The kids gasp, their eyes wide with wonder.

“Shh,” Reaper says softly, a rare tenderness in his voice.

The bird shudders, its chest heaving with a sudden breath. In moments, it’s fluttering up, taking flight as though nothing happened.

“Are you a wizard?” Ace’s question is full of awe, innocence shining in his eyes.

Reaper chuckles, shaking his head. “Nah, buddy, it was just dazed, that’s all.” But his smiledoesn’t reach his eyes, and I sense the weight of the secret he carries.

“Thank you,” Ace murmurs, his gratitude simple and pure.

I stand there, frozen, grappling with what I’ve just witnessed. My heart races while my mind scrambles to make sense of the impossible. There’s no way that bird was simply dazed. It was dead.

“Thank you for taking care of him,” Ace repeats, his voice steadier now.

“No problem,” Reaper replies, ruffling Ace’s hair with a grin that doesn’t quite mask the shadow in his gaze.

I’m still reeling from the shock of what I just witnessed. The image of Reaper’s glowing hands etches into my memory. I knew there were untold depths to him, but this … this is something else entirely. It’s magic—real and undeniable—and it scares me as much as it intrigues me.

As the children resume their play, now with lighter hearts, I steal a glance at Reaper. He’s watching them, but his eyes are distant, as if he’s somewhere far away. I have to know more. I need to understand who he really is, what he’s capable of, and why he hides it so fiercely.

“Lexi?” Nina’s voice pulls me back, her hand gently touching my arm. “Are you okay?”

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