Page 85 of Dante's Circle Reborn

Her stomach hurt. She knew she was pale, her body shiny with sweat. They had been going through so much recently already, and her body just hurt. She wasn’t going into shock, but she was close.

“If you are the reincarnation of someone who died, and you look just like him, are you supposed to know who you were once?” Levi asked, his voice soft.

Eva reached out and put her hands on the small of Ashen’s back. He leaned towards her, and she was grateful.

“I don’t know if I should know too much. Because if I do, when I start to remember things, it hurts. I feel like there’re hot pokers in my mind. I passed out the first time I looked at this one,” Ashen said, gesturing to her, and she blushed.

“Oh,” Levi said softly.

“My name is Ashen. That’s the name that they gave me anyway.” He paused. “Do you know what my name was before this?”

Levi looked as if he were considering holding back, but he blurted it out anyway. “Torrent. You were Torrent. A bear shifter, and a friend.”

Eva reached out as Ashen leaned sharply to the side, sucking in a deep breath.

“I don’t think I’m supposed to have these memories. But they’re slowly coming. Damn it.”

“What do we do?” Eva asked.

“I don’t think we’re supposed to do anything. I don’t think I’m normal.”

Levi moved closer. “I won’t say anything else. There’s going to be some people who want to see you, though, Torrent.”

Ashen let out a groan. She didn’t think of him as Torrent. He was Ashen to her. And he would be until he decided otherwise.

Levi seemed to understand that because he winced as soon as he said it.

“I’m sorry. Take your time. I’ll just…I guess I should handle that dead body back there.”

“No need,” a voice said from behind them. They all turned, the ward’s pulsating all at once.

Ten shrouded figures stood behind them in the small house. She shrank back, looking for a weapon.

Ashen’s claws were out again, something that had startled her at first, but now she liked it. It was handy to have a bear shifter when she didn’t have a weapon.

Levi was on her other side, his palms outstretched as burning flames spun. He was a wizard and would use his magic to protect his home. She was just grateful that his mate and children weren’t here to get caught in the crossfire. If anyone came to attack them, he would burn the place to the ground.

“How did you get past my wards?” Levi asked.

“We are reapers.” An answer in itself, apparently. “I have no quarrel with you, wizard. Thank you for protecting our secret from the others. I’m sure you’ll ensure that none of the others in this realm speak of this.”

“I’m not sure of anything,” Levi growled out.

“I see.”

“I am Reaper,” the main man spoke.

“We figured you were a reaper,” Eva said dryly, her hand on Ashen’s elbow. She needed to touch him, needed to make sure he knew he wasn’t alone.

“No,Reaper. My title and my name. It’s not very original, I know, but I am millennia-old. It’s what happens when you are one of the first.”

“Oh.”

“You’re special,” Reaper said to Ashen.

“Really?” Ashen asked, his voice a growl.

“Already able to partially shift. And I know your memories are coming back. That makes me think the man who sent me out for you was wrong.”

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