Page 92 of The Reaper's Vice

“But… but that makes no sense,” I sputter. “When a new Madam is appointed, the old one is killed. Vee couldn’t be… there’s no way…”

“I’m afraid it’s true.” Ghost gives me a sympathetic look, but it’s the last thing I need. “I don’t know how, but somehow, she was able to escape. Tolive.I think that when she found you ten years ago… I think she knew what you were. I think she protected you, and it’s the only reason you’ve gone undetected for this long.”

I shake my head, looking anywhere but at his face—at his eyes, bursting with the truth of his words. I blink, my throat hot with unshed tears, and suddenly, a familiar face appears in my periphery. I nearly fall out of Orion’s lap as Maggie’s smile peeks through the shadows. I blink and blink at that spot, but she never disappears—just keepsgrinningat me with that knowing twinkle in her eyes.

“He’s telling the truth.” Her voice is muffled like she’s talking to me from another room. I look deep into her cobalt eyes, fighting back tears as she begins to fade away. Just before she disappears completely, she opens her mouth, giving me one last piece of advice.

“Trust the Phantom…”

I look back toward Ghost, a myriad of questions swirling in my mind. But before I get the chance to ask any of them, the sound of footsteps draws my attention over my shoulder.

One of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen stands on the threshold of the doorway, her bright green eyes twinkling with kindness behind layers of thick black hair. At her side stands a little girl no more than eight years of age, her features a carbon copy of her mother’s—save for the bright violet sheen of her eyes. That, I have no doubt, she got from her father.

“Hello.” The woman speaks first, tugging the little girl along as I stand from Orion’s lap. “My name’s Brett. I’ve heardsomuch about you…” She stops a few feet from me, gauging my expression to see if it’s safe to come any closer. “Ghost told me about your Vee… I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you...” I fight the urge to fall into her arms and sob. She looks like she could give ameanhug.

To my surprise, the little girl steps right up to me, shooting out her hand. “My name’s Sloane. I’m eight.”

“Hi, Sloane.” I take her little hand in mine and give it a shake. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Her serious expression falls away to a bright smile, showcasing the gap from her missing front tooth. “You’re really pretty! I like your scar!” She points at the long silver line that runs the length of my face. “Are you a warrior? Daddy gave me a book about Valkyries, and you lookjustlike one of the pictures!” She presses up on her toes, excitement brimming from her tiny body as a pale purple aura bursts from her outline.

“I… uh…” I sputter, not quite knowing how to respond to the little girl without crushing that excited sheen in her eyes. “I am?”

“I knew it!” She lets out an excited squeal. “Can you teach me how to fight? Daddy says I’m too young to practice with arealweapon, but I think?—”

“I will not risk you accidentally hurting yourself, little one.” Ghost interrupts, stepping forward and hauling her into his arms. She lets out a happy squeal as he tosses her into the air, only to pull her back into his chest as she falls back down. “When you’re old enough, I will teach you. Until then, you’ll have to deal with the wooden blade.” He presses a kiss to the top of her hair as he meets Brett’s eyes, and the look they share causes my heart to squeeze with emotion.

Sloane wriggles from Ghost’s arms, and he reluctantly places her back onto the ground. With a cheeky grin, she turns to Orion, addressing him for the first time since she arrived. “I have something to show you.”

Orion raises a brow. “Hello to you, too.”

Sloane just rolls her eyes. “No time for formalities, onion. Comeon.” She springs forward, grabbing his hand and tugging him toward the passageway at the back of the room.

Curious, I follow them, my interest deepening as we pass through a long, dark hallway that seems to slope downward into the cliffside. We come to a small square foyer with a door at the far end, complete with a large metal bar across the width.

Sloane steps forward, dropping Orion’s hand and sliding the barricade out of its slot. “Remember when you said there were no tigers in the woods?” Sloane looks over her shoulder, giving Orion a haughty smirk. She places the barricade on the ground and throws open the door, stepping back to reveal two massive white tigers.

“A simple ‘you were right’ will suffice.” She throws her hair over her shoulder, placing her hands on her hips as Orion and I stare on, dumbfounded. Before I know what I’m doing, my legs take me into the darkened room.

“No!” Sloane jumps forward, gripping the back of my shirt. “No! They could hurt you!”

I press on, my heart cracking wide open at the sight of the metal collars strapped around my babies’ throats. I fall to my knees in front of Sviato, my fingers working uselessly at the lock as tears stream down my face. Savyne crawls forward, baring gleaming white teeth as she pounces at me. Sloane cries out in horror, only for the sound to die as Savyne sticks her tongue out and slides it up my face.

A laugh pours from my mouth as I throw my arms around the twin white tigers, heaving sobs of relief shaking my body as I cling to them.

“Sviato… Savyne… I was so worried about you.” I press a kiss to each of their noses. “I don’t know why—look at the size of you two…” I look over their bodies, checking for any signs of injury, but find they look nearly the same as the last time I saw them.

“Daddy has been coming down here every day to feed them.” Sloane takes a tentative step toward the tigers. “He said… he said they belonged to someone. But I never thought—” Her eyes go wide as she gazes down at me. “You reallyarea warrior princess…”

I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. “I never thought about it that way.”

Sloane takes another step forward. “Can I… will they let me pet them?”

I shrug, shuffling aside so she can step forward. “They can sense energies really well. If you’re in any danger, I’ll tell you to step back.”

Sloane nods resolutely, her face pinching in concentration as she slowly outstretches her arm. As soon as she places her fingertips on Sviato’s snout, a chuffing sound fills the air. He presses his nose into her hand, lowering his lids in content as she gives him a few gentle scratches.

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