Page 123 of Reaper's Ruin
Until her.
Until the moment I would have to watch her walk away, back to the light where she belonged, leaving me alone in the shadows once more.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Soraya
Rhyker walked away toward the small stream cutting across the wild, lush landscape. He was once again in the dark armor he’d worn the day we met—familiar and ominous and heartbreakingly beautiful. His wings curled behind him like smoke and shadow, dissipating as he sat down beside the stream.
I turned slowly in place, taking in the living world around me. The molten rivers, the wind rippling the trees, the sunlight casting golden light over the mountains—and I felt none of it. Not the breeze. Not the heat.
Nothing.
This world existed around me, but notforme.
He hadn’t just pulled us through the Veil, he’d pulled us out of our mortal forms.
“I’m a ghost again,” I whispered, shattered by the loss. “A soul.”
And that realization settled like a stone in my chest—heavy and hollow and final.
I stood alone staring at Rhyker by the water, his back turned toward me as he reached through a rock. I wondered if he had forgotten and meant to pick it up and toss it in the lazy stream.
He looked sad and lonely. Broken once again. How badly I wanted to go sit beside him, to ask him why he’d pulled away after our kiss—that world-altering, soul-shattering kiss. The distance between us seemed to have grown exponentially, or at least it felt that way after I’d just been tangled in his arms.
Arms I wanted to fall into once again.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I walked toward him, my frustration building with each step until it burst from me like one of the geysers erupting in the distance.
“Why are you doing this?” I demanded, my voice sharp with hurt and anger.
He didn’t look up, just trailed his fingers through water that didn’t acknowledge his presence by parting for him. “Doing what?”
“Don’t play dumb. It doesn’t suit you.” I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring down at him. “One moment you’re ripping out hearts for me, the next you’re acting like I’m nothing. Like what happened back there meant nothing.”
He rose slowly, his face carefully composed. “We should keep moving. I’m not sure what we need now to find you peace or get your door. We’re not mortal anymore, so we can’t kill the Queen Mother if that’s what you need. Maybe I can take us back to Selyse. Have her do the spell again. But trying to get back into the Storm Court is going to be near impossible.”
“No.” I planted myself directly in his path. “We’re not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on. Why you’re suddenly so cold.Again.”
“I’m not cold. I’m focused on keeping you alive.” He waved a hand over my undead form. “Or whatever this is, so you can get your fucking door and move on already.”
“Bullshit.” I spit out harshly. Too harsh. Far harsher and bolder than I’d ever been in life. But death had changed me.Hehad changed me. “I’m so fucking confused! Clearly, you don’t care about me the way I—” I stopped myself from sayingthe way I love you.Instead, I finished with, “but then why do you care what happens to me? It doesn’t make sense. None of this makes sense. Why not just leave me to my fate? Better yet, why not just reap me and get it over with? Isn’t that your job?”
He glanced at his forearm showing beneath his rolled up leather sleeve, and I saw the dark, swirling purple just beneath his skin had returned.
“Go on. That’s your scythe, isn’t it? It’s back. So, reap me, Rhyker. Just put an end to this.”
His eyes flashed dangerously, something dark and volatile stirring beneath the surface. “Don’t you ever say that to me again,” he snarled. “Don’t youdaretell me to reap you.”
“Why not?” I cried. “If this doesn’t mean anything, if you don’t care about me, then what’s the point of any of it?”
“Fuck!” He grabbed his hair, gripping it in frustration as he shouted toward the sky so loud it sent me back a step. But then he looked back at me, eyes blazing with fire that would have stolen my breath if I had it. “Because youdomean something!” he roared, stepping toward me, storming into my space. “You meaneverything.Youareeverything! You think I don’t care?” His voice dropped to a dangerous rumble. “You think that’s what this is about?”
“I don’t know what to think anymore!” I threw my hands up in frustration. “One minute you’re kissing me like you’re drowning and I’m your air, the next you’re acting like I’m a burden you can’t wait to be rid of. So please, enlighten me. What exactly is going on with you?”
He turned away, his shoulders tense, hands clenched at his sides. For a long moment, I thought he wouldn’t answer. Then, so quietly I almost missed it:
“Because I am drowning. And you are my air. And I’m not going to survive without you. I’m just trying to protect myself, Soraya.”
