Soul Bound

by K. G. Reuss

  “I know,” I answered tightly.

  “Apparently, she’s in love with you. Strange, considering she’s also in love with the creature she calls Shadow. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, General?” his voice grew soft as he stared back at me.

  “She’s here for a reason,” I said, moving Ever back to the couch and pulling a blanket down over her.

  I got up from my seat after making sure she was tucked in and went to my bar. I poured two glasses of tarish and handed one to Nev who’d gotten to his feet and sat in one of the chairs by the fireplace. I took the chair beside him and took a big drink from my glass.

  “I know she’s the Mancer, General. Everyone knows. It’s one of the reasons she was brought into Conexus, wasn’t it?”

  I nodded tightly, not knowing why I was bothering to divulge any information to him. Maybe I thought I owed him for helping Ever tonight.

  He took a sip and nodded at his glass. I lifted the bottle on the table between us and refilled his cup before staring back at the flames in the fireplace.

  “But it’s not the main reason, is it?”

  “You don’t tell me your secrets, Blackburn, so why should I tell you mine?” I asked, sipping my drink.

  “I suppose we both have secrets which could get us killed if people knew them.” He downed his drink and wiped his mouth before getting to his feet.

  I stood up, watching as he moved to Ever.

  It took everything I had not to pummel him as he leaned down and whispered in her ear loud enough so I could hear.

  “Dream of me, Everly.” He placed a kiss on her forehead and let out a breath before he turned to look at me.

  “Don’t screw this up again. For now, I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt you won’t lead her down paths she doesn’t belong on. If I wanted, I could take her away from you. Know that it’s by my will alone that she is where she is.”

  I glared after him as he walked to my office door.

  He turned back one final time. “Oh, and one more thing. Do a better job at taking care of her. It is your job, after all. Right?”

  He only smiled and winked at me before tugging the door open and strolling out without a look behind him. I stood stone still as I stared at the spot he’d been, his words on repeat in my head.

  He knew. The bastard knew.

  That was a problem.

  Thirty-Five

  Everly

  I woke up with a groan and rubbed my eyes. Bright light filtered through the blinds on my window, so I kept my eyes covered to shield them.

  It took me a moment to remember what the hell was going on, but once I did, I was on my feet and rushing around my room.

  “Raiden?” I called out through our mind connection. “Shadow?”

  “What’s wrong?” His voice was tight with worry.

  “I… Eric?”

  It was silent in my mind before Eric’s smooth voice sounded out.

  “I’m OK, Ever.”

  I practically cried at the sound of his voice. I’d been too scared to directly jump into his head, fearing he wouldn’t be there.

  “A-Are you?”

  “Yes. Aside from a bit of a headache, I feel good.”

  I breathed out and sank back onto my bed.

  “Are you OK? Raiden said you were bitten by vamps.”

  “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. Sore. That’s all. I’m more worried about you. You don’t feel weird or anything like that?”

  He chuckled in my mind. “If you’re asking if I’ve come back as a mindless zombie, the answer is no. You did good, Ever. I’m with Raiden and Damien right now. We’re just leaving for a meeting with the Order. We’ll be back once we’re done. Damien wants to celebrate my rebirth with a party. We can talk when I get back, OK?”

  I smiled. He sounded like Eric. He seemed perfectly fine. I let out a slow breath.

  “I’ll be here,” I answered.

  “See you soon.”

  And the connection ended. Feeling satisfied, I dropped back into bed and took a nap. When I woke a few hours later, I went to the bathroom and cleaned up. Ugly memories of those damn vamps chewing on me circulated in my head. As I took a shower, I frowned.

  Raiden.

  Nev.

  His office.

  I dropped my soap and let out a soft gasp as the memory of rubbing my body against Raiden’s flashed in my mind. Of brushing my fingers against the waistband of his pants. Licking his skin which tasted salty from the sweat of battle as I ran my lips along it. Him stopping me.

  Him whispering he loved me in my mind.

  “Shit,” I whispered, swallowing hard.

  Embarrassment flooded my body. But the want for him was bigger. He could’ve just gone with it. He could’ve taken what he wanted, but he didn’t. He stopped me. He took care of me.

  I quickly finished washing, got out, put on my uniform, and braided my hair in one long side braid before dotting on lip gloss and mascara.

  Once I was done, I went downstairs to find Raiden and the guys already back. My heart jumped in my chest as Eric smiled up at me, perfectly alive. I grinned back at him, telling myself I’d get to the Raiden situation in a moment. In a flurry of my black robes, I skipped the few paces left and flew into Eric’s arms.

  He let out a soft laugh as I squeezed him to me, sniffling.

  “I was so scared I’d lost you,” I whispered.

  “I was too,” he murmured softly, his lips brushing my temple as he gave me a tight squeeze and we rocked back and forth. “But you did it. I’m so proud of you. And grateful, if I’m being honest.”

  We broke away, and I gave him a watery smile. “Don’t do that again, OK?”

  He grinned. “Well, I can’t promise that, but I can promise to return whenever you call. Not a fan of being dead.”

  “You know, I almost died,” Damien called out.

  I looked at him and rolled my eyes as he bit into his jelly donut.

  “You should give me a hug too.” He popped the rest of his donut into his mouth and opened his arms.

  Laughing, I went to him and gave him a hug.

  “There we go.” He squeezed me and lifted me off my feet. “You’re not hugging me as much as you hugged Eric. Is he your favorite now?”

  “You know I can’t replace you, you big lug,” I joked, embracing him tighter. He laughed and put me on my feet.

  I backed away and turned to face the elephant in the room. Raiden. He sat in his high-backed chair, his face expressionless, his aquamarine eyes taking in everything like they always did. Without overthinking it, I approached him and dropped to my knees before him.

  He sat forward, his brows crinkled, as he studied me.

  “Everly?” he asked softly in my mind. “Are you well?”

  “I am.” I rested my hands on his knees. “I just wanted to thank you. For last night.”

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t there sooner,” he said, a frown marring his handsome face. “But the plan was—”

  “I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about in your office. Thank you.”

  His expression softened, and he reached out, cradling my face gently with one hand, the coolness from his rings sending a wave of gentle goosebumps over my skin. “I’d never take anything from you that you’d regret. When I take you, it’ll be because you came to me of sound mind and body and you asked me to.”

  My heart thudded hard as we locked eyes.

  He pulled out of my mind and leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “Just say when.”

  I swallowed hard as he got to his feet and stepped around me without missing a beat, his black robes swishing in his wake. I watched as he sauntered into the kitchen and talked to the guys in Conexus who were all now convening around a large box of donuts.

  “He’s intense,” Amara’s voice cut through my wild thoughts.

  I swiveled around to stare at her as she stepped deeper into the room.

  “And it never gets easier with him. He�
�s rough.”

  I followed her gaze to Raiden as he watched the guys laugh, his face impassive once again.

  “He never smiles. His love is cold. You think it’s what you want until you have it.”

  “It’s not like that—” I started.

  Her gaze snapped to mine. “Trust me. It is. He’ll tell you anything you want to hear to get you to spread your legs for him. He’s a prince. A general. Soon to be a king. And he’s going to save the damn world. What’s not sexy about him? He conquers women, Everly. He never loves them. Remember that when he tosses you aside for his next toy. A man like Raiden Hawthorne will always have a toy. I would know. I was his toy while he dated Tansy Miller, another member of Conexus from the Eastern region. When she’d leave, it was me warming his bed. And now you’re on your knees for him. Trust me. Boys always like new playthings.”

  She stepped past me and joined the guys in the kitchen, her hand trailing along Raiden’s shoulder as she gave him a sexy smirk. His lips quirked up in the smallest of smiles, and he shook his head at her before speaking to Mason. She winked at me.

  Normally, I would’ve left. I was good at running. And God knew I was sick of the mess I was in. But something changed in me last night. Raiden—Shadow—was mine. I almost lost one of my best friends here. I didn’t know how long of a life I had. Maybe I’d just die after saving the world because it was my purpose. I was too afraid to find out.

  But I was more afraid of never taking what I wanted. To hell with everything. I didn’t want Raiden as my enemy. I wanted him on my team. If he was mine fully, then maybe I really could save the world.

  I got to my feet and reached out to Raiden’s mind and whispered one word into it, “When.”

  Thirty-Six

  Raiden

  Everly’s soft voice pulled me away from the conversation I was having with Brandon and Damien about whether we should leave campus to celebrate Eric’s rebirth or stay and just order in a shit ton of pizza.

  “When.”

  I snapped my eyes in her direction. She stared back at me for a moment before making her way upstairs, not looking back at me.

  “Raiden, I was thinking, we should talk—”

  I removed Amara’s hand from my forearm wordlessly, not interested in a damn thing to do with her. Yeah, we might have a tentative truce, but I wasn’t going to entertain time alone with her because I knew she wanted to make Ever jealous and put more space between me and my Mancer.

  “Hey, man, where are you going?” Damien called out as I removed myself from the room.

  I didn’t answer him, simply moving to the stairs and ascending.

  When I got outside her room, I stood there for a moment, frowning. I stepped away and moved to my bedroom instead. I opened the door, knowing that was where I’d find her.

  Once inside, I closed the door behind me, my heart racing.

  She stared back at me from the center of my bedroom, her cheeks pink with flush, her pretty, moss green eyes shining.

  I stalked forward, knowing I wasn’t going to question shit, and drew her into my arms before pressing my mouth to hers.

  She parted her lips, allowing me entry, our tongues sliding against one another’s.

  Home. That was what it felt like to be in her arms again. The crackle of our blue flame gently flickered along our skin as I deepened the kiss. Her fingers twisted in my shirt.

  “Do you think we’ll burn the house down if we move to the bed?” she panted against my lips as we stopped for air.

  “We have a smoke alarm.”

  I lifted her into my arms and hauled her to my bed. I wasted no time tossing my black robe to the floor as Ever tugged at my tie. I chuckled softly at her frustration and took her hands in mine.

  “Slowly, sweetheart,” I murmured, straddling her and slowly undoing my tie. I tossed it on the floor next to my robes and started on my buttons, my eyes locked on hers as she ogled me, her lips swollen from my kiss.

  Once the buttons were undone, I chucked my shirt aside. Her fingers tentatively skimmed the hard planes of muscle as I let my head fall back, relishing her soft, warm touch. I’d missed her so damn much I had a hard time not just tearing her clothes off. But I wanted to savor it. I wanted her to enjoy whatever she had planned too.

  She sat up beneath me as her fingers moved to my waistband. I watched as she undid my belt with shaky hands. Gently, I clasped her wrists to halt her motions.

  “You don’t have to do this, Ever. We can go slow,” I whispered.

  She peered up at me from beneath a fringe of dark bangs and nodded. I pushed her back onto the bed and hovered over her.

  “I just want to keep kissing you,” I murmured against her lips. “And never stop. I’ve missed you so damn much, Everly.”

  “I’m sorry—”

  “No.” I balanced myself over her on my elbows, our bodies pressed against one another. “Don’t you dare apologize to me. It was me. Not you. I should’ve told you everything.”

  She licked her lips. “Promise we’ll be honest with one another from this moment on?”

  I swallowed and pulled away from her. She scrambled after me and perched at my side.

  “What is it? The wedding’s off still, right?” worry laced her tone.

  I took her hand in mine and twined our fingers together.

  “Yes, the wedding is still off. I did something crazy, Ever, and before we go any further, you need to know about it. I want you to decide.” I peeked at her and took in the confusion on her face. Sighing, I released her hand and went to my knees before her this time. “I’ve loved you since we were children. I got lost along the way, and for that, I’m sorry.”

  She nodded, watching me. I took her hand again and pressed it to my chest.

  “These tattoos aren’t ordinary tattoos, Ever.”

  “They aren’t?”

  “No.” This was it. I had to tell her about the Vow of Eternity. She needed to know before she went any further. “Votum Aeturnum.”

  “Votum Aeturnum?” She frowned at the words. “What is that? You said that during the ceremony.”

  “I did,” I confirmed softly. “I took the Vow of Eternity that night. That’s how I got out of marrying Amara.”

  “What is it?”

  “I pledged myself to you. Forever. I vowed to love only you for eternity. I cannot ever fall in love with anyone else. I sacrificed that part of my heart in your name. I can never make an heir with another. It’s you. Always.”

  “What?” Her eyes widened at me, her voice filled with disbelief. “Why would you do that? Why—”

  “Because I love you so damn much,” I answered. “I don’t want anyone else. Just you. Always.”

  “But what if—"

  “Nothing. There are no what ifs for me, sweetheart. I went all in or nothing for you.”

  “Jesus, Raiden.” She shook her head at me.

  I thought that was it. I thought she was done for good, but she surprised me by leaning in and taking my face in her hands, her eyes locked on mine.

  “You’re an idiot, Raiden Hawthorne.”

  “I’m your idiot,” I murmured.

  “It’s a big deal.”

  “It is.”

  “I’m barely legal for marriage.”

  “Age is just a number.”

  “Nev—"

  “Irrelevant,” I growled. “Because you’re mine.”

  “I am,” she breathed out, running her fingers along the marks over my heart. “Why did you have to do this?”

  “Because I made a promise to you. I didn’t want to break it. I wanted to prove to you how serious I was.”

  “What if I didn’t want that? What if I just wanted to get you naked and have a little fun?”

  I smirked at her as she continued to hold my face. “Then we’d have had a little fun, but I know you, Everly. You’re not a little fun kind of girl. You crave love and loyalty. I can give you all that and more if you’ll let me.”

  “Can we go slow? I-
I’m worried I’ll want out someday and hurt you—”

  “You won’t.”

  “But what if—”

  “You won’t.”

  She blew out a breath. “You’re a pain in my ass, Hawthorne.”

  “Likewise, Torres.”

  “Are we doing this?” she asked, studying me.

  “I’m yours to command, my Mancer. Just say the word, and I’ll do what you ask.”

  “Do you want to?”

  I chuckled softly. “Do you see my tattoos? I’m in it for the long haul, baby.”

  “So do I have to marry you or something?”

  I removed her hands from my face and placed gentle kisses along her fingertips. “I’d love nothing more in this world than to call you my wife and my queen, but that can come later if you decide you want it. The choice remains yours.”

  “What about the prophecy? And me bringing back the dead and possibly killing everyone—”

  “I won’t let that happen. I’m at your side, always.”

  “Even if the Order is bad?”

  “Even if I have to overthrow the Cipher and become their king, I’m at your side. Wherever it is.”

  “A vampire?”

  “I’d do it.”

  “You hate vampires.”

  “But I love you. It would be but a minor inconvenience to have to taste you every night.” I kissed her palm.

  She shivered beneath the motion.

  “I love you too. So…OK,” she whispered.

  “OK.” My heart thudded hard in my chest.

  We were doing this. She was mine.

  She. Was. Mine.

  Thirty-Seven

  Everly

  Raiden leaned down to kiss me. His lips were nearly on mine again before I froze, the impending feeling of a vision washing over me. He sensed it too because he held my face and pulled away a little, studying me.

  “Everly?” he whispered.

  “Seal the fate

  With a little lie

  And a truth.

  The Rule of Five will apply.

  Fate surrendered in love’s embrace

  A path will be taken