Chapter Seven #3
Naomi probably should have felt bad about stealing several items from his collection after he died, but she didn’t.
Not even a little bit. Besides, she hadn’t killed him.
At least, not this time. Of course, she would have, but that would have prevented the two women he kept locked away in the basement of his mansion from claiming their revenge.
It was actually a pity she hadn’t gotten the chance to stick around to help them, but perhaps it was better that way.
Some revenge schemes were meant to remain private.
“What? Are you afraid I’m going to stab you?” she teased.
“Maybe.”
She threw her head back and laughed like a mad thing. Perhaps she was a little crazy. She couldn’t exactly say that the past few years hadn’t done some serious damage to her psyche. Even if she was a little unhinged, there was nothing she could do to change it, nor did she want to.
“You like my sword? It’s called The Last Judgement, which is sort of fitting, considering it destroys bad guys’ souls. Sybil deserved it, and her soul definitely doesn’t deserve to be reincarnated or left to rest in peace. Not after everything she has done.”
“I thought that sword was stolen a few years back when that bank was broken into,” Cassian said.
Viktor nodded. “It was, but I don’t think she acquired it back then.”
“I didn’t,” she confirmed. “I stole it from a mage who didn’t deserve to keep it.”
She used her magic to send the sword somewhere safe until she needed it again. With her free hand, she pointed a finger at Cassian.
“Don’t get too comfortable. You are going back soon.”
Cassian frowned and sat up in a rush. “What? Why?”
“Because you were right about the house in the woods being the location of the auction. What you aren’t aware of is they already know you are planning a raid.
You need to go warn the crew at The Manor that Cyrus’ mate was actually the demi-goddess I just killed.
She was in charge of the operation and had bespelled him into sharing information with her.
Even with her gone, there are other traffickers who still need to be dealt with.
Oh, and they are selling supernaturals they kidnapped in addition to the other magical items up for auction. ”
“Those bastards,” Cassian growled.
“How do you know all of this?” Viktor asked.
He only sounded mildly curious, but she knew he must have been slightly suspicious. She would be if the tables were turned. Then again, she was his mate. There had to be a level of trust between them, even if they had just met. If not, he never would have brought her to his private retreat.
She decided to lay it all out for him. Not just because they were mates. It was also more expedient.
“Because I have already experienced it before. Only, last time I found you, the two of you had already been captured and were taken through a portal back to the demi-goddess’s base in the Hell Realm.”
Viktor’s hand tightened around her wrist, but she didn’t complain.
Since they were short on time, she gave them a brief explanation of what happened during her last cycle.
She told them all the details she could think of that would help them take down the trafficking operation, including the location of the base in the Hell Realm.
“Sybil and the guards seemed particularly afraid when Killian Black showed up, so it would probably be best if you asked him to join the raid.”
“I think that would be wise,” Viktor agreed. “If you have already experienced all of this, how are you here with us right now?”
“About that…” She let out a heavy sigh. “I’m actually stuck in a death loop that has me reliving the same two-year span over and over again.
Well, I don’t always make it to two years.
Sometimes, I only make it through a day or a few hours.
Every time I die, I start back at my original death date, like an automatic reset.
Surprise, your mate is a freak of nature. ”
“Death loop? That’s fucking wild.” Cassian gasped. “Wait a minute. You two are mates?”
“We are,” Viktor confirmed. “How many—”
“I’ve lost count,” she answered honestly.
“You need to go now, Cassian. There is a chance the team can raid the house in the woods before the others realize that Sybil is missing. And you have to make sure you are personally part of the team because one of the captured supernaturals is your cousin.”
Cassian jumped to his feet. “Lucie? You found Lucie?”
“Pretty redhead?”
“By the gods! It’s her!”
“Calm down,” Viktor ordered. “You can’t just rush in there without a plan. We need to contact Arson and Killian first.”
“Right. We need to go right now,” Cassian insisted.
Naomi shook her head. “You go. Viktor and I have other important business to take care of.”
Cassian hesitated, but he relented once Viktor gave him a nod of approval. With that, he teleported away from the island retreat. Once they were alone, Viktor turned Naomi until she was facing him.
“So, what other important business do we have to take care of?”
“Something very dangerous,” she warned. “We both might not make it through it alive.”
“Then, we can just try again in the next life cycle.”
She let out a wild laugh, then caught him by surprise when she launched herself at him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she finally gave in to the burning need inside of her and pressed her lips to his in a scorching kiss.