Chapter 30
I hadn’t been to the burial grounds for years. The last was when I was ten and we’d gone to share magic with our ancestors.
Dad’s family graveyard was halfway across the country, and we traveled out every few years to visit. Now that my magic had
bloomed, it was my responsibility to commune with our ancestors.
Logan pulled onto a patch of ragged brown grass leading to the ancient burial grounds. I could feel the energy of my ancestors
even before I neared the old stone wall, which stood no higher than my thighs, surrounding the parcel of land. There were
no human dwellings nearby; magic and wards kept them out of this area. We weren’t the only private burial grounds in the vicinity,
with other magic users having purchased parcels over the years.
“Do you know where your gran is entombed?” Logan asked, scanning for danger.
My magic pulsed as I closed in on the arched, gateless entrance. There was no need for a barrier, with the warding keeping
out those not of blood. As my bonded mate, Logan should be able to enter with me—this would be the first real test of our
magical connection.
“Yeah, I was here with Mom when I was younger. I know the way.”
Reaching out, I grasped his hand, heat unfurling through me as he laced our fingers together. “You know how to release your
magic now, don’t you,” Logan said. “Those blocks I used to have to break through are all but gone.”
I nod. “Yeah, it’s because my affinity should be used in conjunction with other reapers.”
I’d never be as strong without others of my affinity, but I also wasn’t a complete dud now that I’d figured out how to tap
into the reaper side.
Logan captured me in a fierce kiss, and I was breathless when he released me. “If there are others of your kind out there,
we will find them,” he promised in his intense way. “You don’t have to be alone. You’ll never be alone with me.”
“You’re more than enough to fill that void in my magical soul,” I told him, meaning every word.
We reached the arch, ancestral magic wrapping around us. “There’s true power in your family line,” Logan said huskily. “How
many others do you think were reapers?”
“I have no idea.” I was sad not to have this knowledge. “Gran would have known. It’s so unfair that she was lost to us before
I was born.”
Logan tugged gently on my arm. “Come on, Precious.”
I drew him to a halt. “You’re not worried about the wards blasting you to pieces?”
His chuckle contained exactly zero worries. “You know our bond will stand up to the protection spells of your family.”
“At least we’re in a good place for your burial if it doesn’t work,” I muttered, and his grin kicked up a notch. Cocky bastard.
Familiar energy caressed my skin like a warm hug as I stepped through, and Logan showed no sign of discomfort as he followed me past the warding and into our burial grounds. The magic here was strong, with many goddess blessings bestowed on our magical line over the years.
“Your maternal family line is really powerful,” Logan noted without any real surprise.
“I’m sure your dad’s is strong,” I said as we walked through the front lot. “I hear there are many spellcasters in your family
line.”
“Almost all of them,” he said with a shrug. “Most who didn’t deserve the power they were gifted.”
Logan’s family line, if one looked at pure power, was the crème de la crème of the magical world. Sure, there were a few crooked
branches in the tree, but for the most part it was still hard to comprehend that we were fated mates. If that magical spell
hadn’t worked at an age when it should have been impossible, I’d never have believed it.
When we were past the first headstones, Logan released me. “It’s time for you to flex your magic, baby,” he said. “Can you
tap into your elemental side?”
A snort escaped me. “Are you back to kicking my ass in training? If you pull out a set of weights, I’ll beat you over the
head with them.”
Logan laughed so hard his head dropped back, the strong lines of his throat drawing my attention. It was a captivating sight,
but I managed to keep myself under control and not jump his sexy ass.
“You show more fear of weights than you do of my deranged father,” he finally said. Fucking truth. “Don’t stress yourself, love. I’ll do the heavy lifting when the time comes, but you still need to flex your magical muscle.
You’ve spent the year since your magic bloomed locked down in one way or another. It’s time to let the energy free.”
The very thought sent a flutter of lightness through the tendrils of exhaustion from the curse.
I’d sat through enough classes to know how to draw the elements to me. I built it in layers as I’d practiced countless times,
swirling the wind around us until it felt strong enough to lift us. Pulling more power, I sent us zooming over the rows of
graves, tombs, and crypts, slowing only when I recognized the crypt where Gran was buried.
I’d had no practice with gentle stops, and if Logan hadn’t used his own control over air to help, we’d have gone splat against
the side of the crypt. “Whoops,” I huffed with a spurt of laughter. “Overshot.”
Logan looked thrilled by my effort. “You’re perfect. You fucking nailed that.”
Wanting to preen like a damn peacock who’d been told they had a pretty tail, I forced myself to focus on our task. “Gran rests
here,” I said, pointing to the small entrance, which was a roughly hewn stone doorway surrounded by a weathered exterior.
“How many others does it hold?” Logan asked as we approached the door.
“Gran’s crypt contains three witches, from what I remember. Her maternal line . . .”
It was our choice where we resided in death, with our maternal or paternal line. For some, it was an easy choice, especially
when they were tied closer to one parent over the other. True bonded mates resided together, with one side of their families,
or started their own site completely.
I’d never given it much thought, but now that I had Logan, it was a discussion we needed to have. Our wishes would be cast
into a magical will that would release upon death.
“Where would you choose to reside?” I asked Logan.
“With you, of course,” he said as he opened the crypt door, the heavy stone taking effort to shift.
Strong magic slammed against us as we stepped into the darkness, lanterns lighting along the walls and down the set of stairs.
“We’re joined in life and death, Precious.
When we return for our next journey, we’ll find each other again.
Again and again, until there’s no more existence.
” I was still in the entrance, my heart racing.
“Paisley,” he said, turning back. “You okay?”
He must have felt the surge of my emotions as he tracked back toward me. “One day,” he whispered, pressing his lips to the
sensitive spot behind my ear, “you won’t question the depths of my devotion to you. One day, you’ll expect me to choose you, because you’ll understand that I don’t exist without you. One day—” another kiss “—the depth of my love
will feel as natural to you as magic and breathing. Until then, though, you can trust my word. We’re eternal.”
I threw myself into his arms, desperate to breathe him in and bathe in his love. “I love you,” I managed to say. “So fucking
much. I don’t care where we reside in life or death, as long as we’re together.”
“Come on,” he said, tucking me against his side. “I’m not ready for the death part yet, so let’s ask your gran if she can
help save our lives.”
My heart told me that we’d be fine, but the truth was, if Gran refused our call, we’d have to find another reaper. And hope
they would be more giving.