Page 154 of Reaper's Ruin
“Mmm,” he hummed, a dreamy look crossing his face. “The moment she opened that door... damn. I wanted to rip my heart out and hand it to her. Those eyes. That power.” He sighed dramatically. “When this is all over, I’m going back to her little forest. I bet she could use a charming rogue like me to keep her warm during those cold Sylvan nights.”
“She is beautiful,” Soraya said, smiling like she loved the idea of more love stories like ours.
I ignored his comment, focusing on more pressing things. “So they’re alive and coming here then? Selyse was able to make them mortal too?”
“Yes. She said it took a lot out of her, but she did it. They should be along shortly.” He patted his horse’s neck. “Been years since I’ve been in a saddle. Fun, but I’ve gotta say, I feel every damn bump in the road in this mortal shell. I forgot how much riding can make your ass ache.”
Soraya laughed, the sound bright in the morning air. “Come inside! We have food, and Rhyker’s actually a decent cook for someone who hasn’t eaten in eight centuries.”
“Food?” Taelon’s eyes lit up like a child’s. “Real, actual food that I can taste? Lead the way, beautiful.”
Inside, Taelon settled at the small table, watching with undisguised eagerness as I set a plate before him. The moment the food touched his lips, he let out a moan of pleasure.
“Holy shit,” he mumbled through a mouthful. “This is... gods, I’d forgotten how incredible food tastes. It’s like... it’s like...” He shoved another bite in before finishing his thought.
Soraya laughed, perching on the edge of the table. “Right? When I got my mortal form back, I wanted to eat everything in sight. Wait until you get yourself a sweet roll.”
His eyes flickered with excitement, then he gestured with his fork. “Speaking of things in sight, this place isn’t half bad. Rustic, sure, but kind of cozy.”
“It belonged to an old hunter,” I explained. “I reaped him about two months ago. Heart gave out while he was gardening. Peaceful, as far as deaths go but the old man didn’t want to leave here. Thought he could stick around as a ghost and keep enjoying this place. He did leave though... just at the end of my scythe.”
“And now you’re playing house in his cabin,” Taelon observed with a smirk. “Ironic, don’t you think?”
I shrugged. “It was empty. Isolated. Safe.”
“For now,” Taelon said, his expression growing serious. “But we need to talk about—”
A knock at the door interrupted him. I tensed, my hand moving to the axe once more, but Taelon waved dismissively.
“Relax. Probably just our companions.”
I opened the door cautiously, nonetheless, relaxing only when I saw the familiar faces of the two Reapers who’d fought alongside us. They stood side by side—Skorn imposing with his massive frame and piercing ice-blue eyes, Lorien leaner but no less dangerous-looking with his sharp features and calculating gaze.
But it was the third figure that made me freeze, my wings erupting defensively once more.
“Jade?” I snarled, positioning myself to block Soraya from view.
The Enforcer stepped forward, those once-silver eyes now a soft green meeting mine without flinching. She looked different inmortal form—smaller somehow, her features softer though no less striking. But I knew what she was capable of, knew the destruction she could wreak even in this form.
“What the fuck is going on?” I demanded, looking to Skorn and Lorien. “Why is she here?”
Skorn raised his hands placatingly. “Ease up. She’s with us.”
“She’s an Enforcer,” I growled.
“Was,” Lorien corrected, his voice carrying that same easy confidence I remembered. “And she’s the reason we got out of the Umbral Keep alive.”
I turned my attention back to Jade, studying her warily. She met my gaze unflinchingly, her posture neither aggressive nor submissive—just waiting.
“Is that true?” I asked her directly.
“Yes,” she replied simply, her voice softer than I’d expected.
I felt Soraya’s hand on my arm, a gentle pressure that somehow managed to cut through my tension. I looked down to find her watching me with those impossibly blue eyes.
“Let her in,” she said quietly. “Hear her out.”
After a moment’s hesitation, I stepped aside, allowing the three to enter. Skorn had to turn sideways slightly to clear the doorway, his massive frame making the cabin feel suddenly cramped. Lorien moved with a predator’s grace, his eyes taking in every detail of our sanctuary. Jade entered last, keeping a careful distance from me.
