Page 63 of Virgin Lust

He wrapped his arms around me, enveloping me in his warm, strong hold. “I know what I need to do.”

“What?”

“For the moments you can’t protect you and others, I’ll do it instead.”

I squeezed him tightly, burying my face against his chest. “There’s so much I’ve yet to tell you.”That you’re actually my soulmate. That my powers will eventually become yours. Or at least until the end.I shook the gloomy thought away. “I need more time for us to talk. You need to know everything.”

“I’ll be waiting, Princess.”

_______

Shepherd

“Why did we come to the castle?” Prudence asked as I pointed to her bed. “I thought we were going to my place,” she murmured, not meeting my gaze as she sat down.

“There’s something I must do,” I said. “Rest. You’ve had a long day.”

“Okay.” She frowned and glanced down at her boots. I wanted to stay beside her, but I also wanted to take her worries and make them my own. Regrettably, I had to leave her where she was safe.

“Goodnight.” I kissed her forehead, and she leaned into my touch. It made it that much harder to leave her. I could already feel the petals falling.

“Goodnight,” she whispered.

I ported into the ballroom after leaving Prudence’s room. “Grim!” I called out. “Grim!” I paced the floor until he showed up.

His shirt was half open. He shoved his hands into his unkempt hair. “This better be good.”

There was no need beating around the bush. “I need you to make me a Reaper.”

His eyes widened, and he stopped dead in his tracks. “Why?”

“Why hasn’t anyone told me your family fades away when the end comes?” I practically yelled the words.

He scratched his jaw and sighed. “I’m afraid you’re probably one of the few demons that doesn’t know. I guess if you lived in the Underworld, that would be old news.”

I waved my hand in the air. “Make me one of you. Send me where you need me to be. I’ll do anything to help.”

His forehead crinkled. “Now, I’m curious. What has my daughter done to you?”

“I won’t lose Prudence.” My skin tingled. I glanced at my hand and saw my shadowy mass taking over. “You don’t understand. I desperately want to help.”

I had to help Prudence. If I lost her…

Grim stared at me before I regained control of my form. “You didn’t listen to me before, did you?” he asked with a frown. “Prudence could very well meet her soulmate soon, you know that, right?”

More of my blackened soul bled out of my human form as I scowled. So much for keeping myself under check. “Then I’ll just have to eat him, won’t I?”

“Very well, then. Come here, Shepherd.” Grim waved me forward. I stopped in front of him. He placed his hand on my shoulder and closed his eyes for a moment as his essence barreled out of him. Instead of one color, his was a mixture of black and blue. His grip tightened on me, his eyes shot open, and then his mouth parted. “There’s no point in making you one.” He quirked a brow as he looked me over from head to toe.

“What? Why?” I asked, but he’d already dismissed me, making his way up the stairs. “Don’t walk away,” I growled. “I need to help all of you.”

“Are you wilting?” he called out over his shoulder.

I kicked the petals at my feet. “That’s not important.”

Grim chuckled before facing me. “I can’t make you a Reaper. Shepherd, everything you need to become one is already inside of you. Figure it out. Prudence hasn’t told you, so my lips are sealed. Don’t bother me again. Even my kids know not to bother me at this time of night.”

I had everything I needed to become one.

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