Page 19 of Claim My Soul

“What concerns?”Alexia asked.“And which fights?Gotham Point or other locations?”

“Alllocations.”

“The Lycan said, ‘Don’t let him take my soul.Him,’” Herleif restated.“Who ishimand is he somehow coercing shifters?If so, how?It was clear to me that Evan was fighting for his life in a way many others did not, and he did not want this soul collector to win.”

“I learned that Evan Hosten was a pack leader, fighting in place of his son.But I haven’t been able to find outwhyhe fought instead of the son.And now the son has disappeared without a trace.”

“Where is his pack from?”Alexia asked.“How does no one have any information on his whereabouts?”

Her Uncle Nic sighed.“He is one shifter among thousands in New York City alone.Tens of thousands in the entire state.Their pack is located upstate near the Canadian border.I’ve sent an agent to investigate.”

“And what of these concerns in all The Gin Room locations?”Herleif asked.

Uncle Nic faced him.“Increased activity, more fights.Curiously enough, the majority of them involving Lycan.And they’ve been more aggressive fights at that.All within the past week.Of course, the spectators and bidders aren’t going to complain, but my agents have taken notice.”

“Leading up to Samhain, which is tonight,” Alexia said.

“Did Evan ascend?”Alexia’s uncle asked of her.

“He did.But when he did, he passed through me versus me simply guiding him, showing him the way.And somehow, a portion of his essence, his energy, remained with me.”

“What?”Both men shouted at the same time.

“Why did you not say something to me?”her uncle said.

“Or me?”Herleif groused.

“Because at the time we spoke, Uncle, I was unaware.It was only when I teleported back to my apartment after my first encounter with Herleif, did I realize it hadn’t taken as much energy as previous times.”She then turned to Herleif.“And, because the subject didn’t come up.”She cleared her throat, knowing she was blushing as she thought about what occurred during their recent encounter.“Now, whether that were to happen again, I cannot say.The only way to know is to return to the fights—the pit, to be exact—and guide the next soul.”

“No,” both men bellowed again.

Alexia felt herself scowl.“Neither of you can tell meno.It is what I do.It may even be the way to locate this soul collector.I have the ability to follow the soul, and I’ve no doubt the collector will be active tonight.Maybe even now.”She looked at her uncle.“Are there fights taking place now?”

“Yes.Usually, they’d only occur at night, but as I said, activity has increased and now they’re happening continuously.”

Alexia was on her feet, looking between the two men.“Then we must go.Now.”

“Alexia,” Herleif began as he took her hand in his.“Sit, eat.You need your strength.We ate nothing this morning.”

A quick glance at her uncle, and Alexia saw his brow quirk in question.She ignored it and sat, grabbing bites of the food and sipping her tea.“I wonder how long this soul collector has been active?And how he—if he is indeed ahe—is getting away with it?”She looked at Herleif then at her uncle.“Mother never spoke to me about someone she or others before her had to answer to.Throughout history, there were and still are many psychopomps who—”

“I’m sorry, what?”Herleif interrupted.“Psychopomps?”

“It’s the term that describes a guider of souls.As I said, there were many, like Hecate herself, Charon, the ferryman, Anubis, the Egyptian god.”

“Valkyries,” he said softly.

“Exactly.Every religion, culture, aspect of humankind had their version of a soul guider.I am but one among an indeterminate amount.I never questioned my ability, and before last night, I was never visited by an entity regarding my skill or mission.”She took another sip of tea.“Why now is Fate sending someone to us, telling us we are to stop him?”

“I wish I had answers to those questions,” Herleif said.

“Ki ego,” her uncle mumbled.He then popped his head up and said, “Apologies, slipping back to my Greek.Me too, I said.”He looked at Herleif.“If you don’t mind telling me, what are your powers?Other than strength.Are you a shape-shifter?”

“I am, only to human form.”Without any effort at all, he shifted to his Viking then back again, causing Alexia’s uncle to startle.

“Wow, okay, impressive.”

Herleif simply chuckled.“And yes, I have my strength and speed, but I also have a limited ability to heal and influence others in subtle ways.”

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