by Becca Andre
She cried out, her back arching with an explosion of pain and pleasure. She could no more deny the command than any Alexander had given her while she was under his control. Against every instinct, she fed James her soul.
All of it.
Chapter 12
“Ely!” James gripped her shoulders, his claws biting through her hoodie as he shook her. “Elysia!”
She sucked in a breath and coughed, her lungs spasming. What the hell? It felt like she had been holding her breath.
“Thank God.” James crushed her to his chest, his embrace so tight, she feared it would prevent her from drawing more air into her starved lungs. A quick squeeze, and he loosened his hold.
She pulled in another breath. This one came more easily, her lungs accepting the offering and no longer fighting her.
“Talk to me,” James said against her hair.
“What happened?” she whispered. They were on the floor in the middle of his living room at his apartment in Athens. James had pulled her into his lap, though she didn’t remember it.
“You don’t remember our experiment in the land of the dead?”
She remembered returning to his apartment after leaving the cemetery, then joining him on that dark plain where— “You made me feed you my soul, then I passed out.”
“I don’t think you passed out.” His arms tightened. “When I looked at you, I couldn’t see your soul at all.”
“That’s because I gave it all to you. That’s what you told me to do.”
“I didn’t think you could give it all. How could that be possible?”
“It’s probably not, but it felt that way.” She braced a hand against his bare chest and sat up. That had been crazy. He had given her a command, and she couldn’t refuse. Had she really almost killed herself?
He was watching her with those glowing green eyes, his forehead bunched in concern. Green eyes. She reached up and touched his cheek. Had she imagined the red?
“What?” he asked.
“Your eyes. They’re green again.”
“Of course. I didn’t consume a whole soul; just those bits you had absorbed.” He still looked worried. “How do you feel?”
It occurred to her that she was no longer sharing her soul, yet there was no pain. There wasn’t even any tension. It was almost as if…
She pulled away from him and scrambled to her feet. She was a little lightheaded, but otherwise fine. She hurried to the bathroom. Flicking on the light, she crossed to the sink to examine her face in the mirror. Her heart surged when she saw her eyes, then she remembered the contacts.
“Ely?” James stepped up behind her.
She didn’t speak. Instead, she reached up and plucked the contacts from her eyes. Beneath the false brown, her eyes were their original shade. Not white. Not even a little faded. She hadn’t seen her natural eye color in weeks.
“Oh my God,” she whispered, staring into her own eyes.
“Your eyes…”
She met his gaze in the mirror. “The pain is gone.” A slow grin spread across her face and she turned to face him. “I feel like my old self.” She gripped his arm. “It worked. You cured me!”
“I cured you,” he whispered. “I am your guardian.” He pulled her into a tight hug.
She smiled, her cheek against his chest. “My guardian?”
“As my brothers are mine, just in a slightly less psychotic and abusive fashion.”
“That’s good.” One last squeeze, and she released him. “But in our case, I think it’s our magical compatibility finally paying off.”
“No, it’s not random compatibility. I’ve learned that the original grim really was created via ash alchemy—using a soul reaper’s ashes.”
“What? How did you learn that?”
“An old family journal George had hidden from me. I figured that was why I could heal you, but I didn’t know how to use it to heal your soul.” He abruptly grinned. “But you helped me figure it out. It might not have been the intent of the alchemy, but I really am your guardian. You could almost say I was made to help you.”
“That’s where our compatibility comes from?” She didn’t like the idea of this connection between them being the result of some alchemical formula.
“It explains a lot.”
“So this,” she gestured between them, “is just alchemy.”
“The compatibility? Yes.”
She turned and walked out of the room. This was so frustrating. Just when it seemed he was connecting with her once more, he found a new cause to explain the connection between them. It was like he was constantly searching for a reason why they shouldn’t be together.
“Ely.” He caught up with her in the living room.
“Would you take me to Grams’s?” she asked, keeping her back to him. “I want to tell her that I’m better.” At least, there was that.
“I will. Later. After you stop making excuses.”
“Me?” She turned to face him.
“We are not slaves to our magic,” he said with heat. “Who cares if alchemy made me, and you for that matter, into what we are. We have minds and hearts independent of our magic.”
“But you agreed that this connection between us is alchemical.”
“Some of it is.” He shook his head. “But why should that matter?”
“You’re the one who keeps searching for reasons behind our compatibility.”
“I was searching for the reason behind why I could heal you. There’s no magical reason why your scent drives me wild, or why the sound of your laugh fills me with joy. Magic had nothing to do with the despair I felt while you lay in that coma.” He took a step closer and wrapped a hand behind her neck. “Lock me in iron, and I won’t long for you any less.”
She didn’t know what to say. Was he telling her he loved her?
He held her gaze for one long moment, then he leaned down and took her mouth with his.
She gripped his shoulders and returned the kiss, the exchange rapidly growing heated as what they had started in the mausoleum came roaring back. She slid her hands down his bare back, loving the feel of his warm skin beneath her palms and the way his muscles tensed at her touch. She pressed closer, wanting more.
“I’m feeling overdressed,” she said against his mouth. He, of course, was naked.
“Leave it to a Mallory to be concerned about clothing choices now.”
She laughed and pulled down the zipper on her hoodie. He took her mouth again, kissing her while she stripped down to her underwear.
He stepped back as she dropped the last article of clothing to the floor. His eyes swept over her and she forced herself not to squirm beneath his devouring gaze.
“Good thing I decided to the wear the uncomfortable underwear today.”
“Uncomfortable?”
“Underwire.” She pointed at the lacy red bra, then ran a hand down her hip. “And thong.”
He followed the motion of her hands, then lifted his eyes to hers. For the second time today, she saw what he truly was in those deep green eyes. Though her instincts screamed otherwise, she gave him her back and strolled toward the stairs.
He growled, raising the hair on the nape of her neck. The sound made her want to run, but she forced herself to walk with a steady, confident pace up the stairs. She was keenly aware of him following, though she gleaned that knowledge from her necromantic senses and not because she could hear him.
When she reached his bedroom, she glanced back. He still watched her with that unblinking focus. “You’ve got that look like if I ran, you’d chase me.”
“Yes.”
She smiled and turned her back on him. Slowly, she walked to the bed. “And what would you do when you caught me?”
“Eat you up,” he whispered, his breath hot against the back of her neck.
She jumped. “Hell’s blood.” How had he crossed the room that quickly?
“Close enough.” His hands slid around her waist and pulled her back against him.
She groaned as he pressed his body to hers. “So I’m Little Red Riding Hood?”
“Not a red hood exactly.” He leaned back to trail a finger along the back of her bra, then began to unclasp it.
“I don’t think this fairy tale is suitable for children.”
“No.” He undid the last hook, and she let the bra fall to the floor. His growl was soft as he cupped her breasts from behind, his claws lightly brushing her skin.
“Big Bad Wolf, indeed,” she whispered.
He chuckled, his hands sliding down to finish disrobing her.
Once bare, she climbed up on the bed and turned to face him. “I’m sure you have a fondness for doggie style, but I want to watch you the first time.”
He crawled up after her and pressed her against the pillows. “You’re as bad as my brothers with the dog jokes.”
She grinned. “Well, is it your favorite position?”
He growled and covered her mouth with his, cutting off any further teasing.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, then reached up to run her fingers through his soft hair. This was so surreal. She had just about given up all hope of him defying Ian’s advice and coming back to her. For as much as James bristled at everything Ian said, he never failed to listen to him.
James’s lips left hers, and he worked his way down her throat, then lower. It was mostly lips and tongue, but every once in a while, he would nip her with those too-sharp teeth, though he never broke the skin.
She moaned when he nipped at the skin beside her navel, then felt him smile against her stomach.
“Why do I like that?” she whispered. “Why do I want you to bite me?”
He lifted his head and watched her with that unwavering stare that made her want him more.
“I know we joke about it,” she continued, “but I’m really not into that whole pain and pleasure thing.”
“It’s not the pain, it’s the magic.”
She considered that a moment and suddenly understood. “My blood gift. I’m trying to use my magic.”
“Yes.”
She frowned. “But my gift is to reap souls.”
“I don’t have one—on this plane. That makes me safe. Your gift doesn’t work on me.”
“But I still bound your soul to mine.”
“Did you, Elysia Grace Mallory?”
Her back arched of its own accord as the bond tightened. Her soul spilled free, ratcheting up the pleasure to a phenomenal height, and she cried out.
He kissed her, cutting off her cry, though a low growl reverberated deep in his throat as more and more of her soul slipped her hold. Needing some outlet for the growing tension within her, she twisted beneath him until she could wrap her legs around his waist.
His teeth closed on her bottom lip, biting hard enough to draw blood. She pulled in a breath through her nose as the burn of his saliva began the healing process, but it was of little concern as a wash of pleasure submerged her senses. Oh damn, he was right. It was the magic.
“Take me,” she said against his mouth, not realizing it was a command until he slid forward and did just that.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
“Forgiven.” He growled the word as he moved against her.
The pleasure continued to roll over her, and a more logical part of her mind wondered at her reaction. Was it her shared soul, her blood in him, or was she catching his emotions, too? Maybe it was all three, but she had no interest in sorting it out. Right now, all that mattered was the building wave she was about to ride.
“Let go,” he demanded, his voice so rough it was barely intelligible.
She didn’t realize she was still holding back until that moment. Everything that had stood between them seemed to vanish: his death, her magic, and the alchemical curses on them both. The wave swelled to an impossible height and then it broke. She was aware of him letting go at the same moment, but she had already lost herself to her own crashing wave. The pleasure was so intense it hurt, making her want to pull away and draw into herself, but some instinct kicked in at the last moment, and she did the opposite. She let go entirely.
“Welcome back.” James’s grinning face filled her field of vision as she blinked her eyes into focus. She still lay on her back in the center of his bed with him up on one elbow beside her, his fingers trailing lazy circles across her stomach.
“Holy crap.” She had to stop and clear her throat to get her voice to work. “I knew you would be amazing, but I didn’t expect to black out.”
He continued to grin. “So I get the credit for that? You’re not going to blame the alchemy?”
She made a face, then rolled up to brush his lips lightly with hers. “I’ll blame you—this time.”
“So there will be other times?”
“Hell, yes.”
He grinned, then leaned over to exchange a leisurely kiss with her. When he released her, he reached out and cupped her cheek, his gaze holding hers. He rubbed his thumb beneath her eye.
“Yes,” she said. “You healed me—and gave me the best sex of my life. You’re on a roll today, Mr. Huntsman.”
He sat up with a laugh. “It’s been a very good day. Shall we go tell your grandmother and cousin?”
“About the healing or the sex?”
“Ely.”
She winked and sat up beside him.
“I was just—” A wave of vertigo followed by a flash of heat washed over her, and she braced a hand on his thigh to regain her balance. Her skin tingled as the heat faded.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She rubbed a hand over her face. “Just a touch of vertigo, and maybe a hot flash.” She laughed.
“Is that… normal?” he asked, his brow wrinkled in concern.
“Maybe? That’s the first time an orgasm knocked me unconscious. You ever have that happen before?”
“No. You’re the first.”
“The first woman you ever left unconscious?” she teased.
He glanced away, then met her eyes once more. “The first woman I’ve ever been with.”
She blinked. “No way.”
A bit of color bloomed in his cheeks, and he shrugged.
“I—” She struggled to find something to say, so stunned that not only had he never been with a girl, but that he would confess as much to her.
“I don’t know what to say,” she admitted, taking his hand. “I’m humbled, yet also grateful that you told me. It makes me feel special.”
“You are special.” His blush deepened.
She smiled. He was such a contrast. One moment, he was a lethal predator, and the next, a sweetheart. Her heart swelled, and she reached up to touch his cheek. The words I love you rose to her lips, but at the last moment, she chickened out. “You’re special, too,” she said—a bit lamely, in her opinion.
“Even though I’m not human?” he asked. She knew his differences ostracized him. No doubt, it had held him back in the girlfriend department as well.
“Do you really have to ask? It turns me on, remember?”
He smiled. “Twisted necromancer.”
“Absolutely. I would demonstrate, but I really want to go tell Grams I’m okay.”
“I understand. Let’s grab a quick shower, then I’ll take you home.”
“That would be perfect,” she agreed. “After we let Grams and Livie know I’m okay, we’re going to pay Ian a visit.”
His smile turned feral. “I like the sound of that.”
Chapter 13
Grams wiped a hand across her cheeks. “I’m sorry.” She sniffed, then gave Elysia a tremulous smile. “I can’t seem to stop crying.”
Elysia laughed and embraced her. Again. “It’s fine.” There had been a lot of hugging this evening—before and after Grams had insisted they join her for dinner.
Livie grinned at them, but didn’t join the hug this time. “So alchemy cursed you, and provided your cure?”
“No,” Grams spoke up. “That was James.” She turned to face where he stood, leaning against the kitchen counter. “Come here.” She held out a hand to him.
Elysia chewed her lip, watching him walk over to them. He was clearly uncomfortable with the praise, but he did as Grams asked, submitting to a hug.
“I feel so bad about the way I treated you when Elysia first brought you home,” Grams told him.
“I wasn’t very polite, either,” he said. “I didn’t think much of necromancers.”
“Well, no wonder.”
Elysia could see this continuing all night. “We need to go, Grams. I’ve got a big ole I told you so to serve up to Ian.”
Livie grinned. “He’s going to be so happy.”
Elysia smiled at her enthusiasm. Livie could never see any wrong in Ian’s actions.
Grams released James. “Go on.” She patted his arm.
He turned away, his eye catching Elysia’s as he passed her. He smiled, then he left the room to go change.
Grams choked back another sob. “I can’t get over this.”
“And it’s permanent?” Livie asked, her eyes searching Elysia’s.
“I feel like I used to,” Elysia said, “and James says my soul is free of all the extra bits.” She winked at her cousin. “So yeah, until I reap another one, I’m good.”
“Ely.” Grams’s tone turned stern.
“It’s not something I plan to do,” Elysia said. “But crap happens.”
“And if it does,” Livie said, “James can fix you again?”
“Yes.”
Grams pressed a hand to her chest in relief. “Hang on to him.”
Elysia smiled. “I plan to.” She felt a portal open upstairs, and a moment later, a new one opened in the hall behind her. “My chariot awaits,” she told Grams and Livie. Exchanging one more hug, she walked over to meet James in the land of the dead.