Page 61 of Ransomed to the World
Edgar clamped down on her arm and dragged her closer, his grip just short of brutal. He got right in her face, his eyes bleeding black. “Never merge your power with anyone! Ever! You both risk either consuming too much power and burning out or…dying.” He released her and launched to his feet, his chair rocking back and forth as he practically leapt away from her.
“You would never harm me.” She didn’t doubt it for a second.
“It’s still dangerous,” he grumbled, the steam going out of him.
“That’s it.” Annora sat up straighter. “You once told me that when a perfect match is found, phantoms can join their powers, making them stronger and faster. Making them unstoppable. Daxion thought he had that with his wife, but his plan backfired.”
Edgar gave a bark of caustic laughter, stepping through the darkness to appear in front of her a second later. “Merging is giving and taking. There has to be a balance. Daxion had no intention of being an equal to anyone. He trusts no one but himself.”
Her mind immediately switched directions. “So he always planned to kill her. What he couldn’t have predicted was her becoming a reaper and retaining her powers. Having me kill her won’t just sever their connection like he claimed, will it? Killing her will finally give him the power boost he’s been craving!”
For being so smart, Annora wanted to smack Edgar for not connecting the dots sooner. She couldn’t believe she didn’t work it out sooner. “Did you know?”
“Of course not!” Edgar clenched his hands into fists, as if to stop himself from snatching her close. “The connection is supposed to be severed when we die so we don’t drag our spouses into the afterworld with us.”
Annora growled her frustration, feeling foolish for thinking she could outwit Daxion at his own game. “Maybe that was the plan. Maybe he thought if the connection remained open, he would still be able to control her and in turn, gain control over the reapers.”
“Fuck.” Edgar blanched, threading his fingers through his hair as he began pacing again. “He wouldn’t take that risk.”
Annora bit back a groan, deflating in her seat. “Unless he was working with a young, naïve witch who believed she was saving her unborn child. He must have found something in the grimoire to bind himself to his wife even after she died. When he failed to get what he wanted, he had my mother create the coin. That’s why he wanted it so badly…not so he could go into the afterworld, but protect himself from the reapers. It’s the final part of his plan. With the coin, he could kill his wife and take her reaper powers without being harmed.”
Edgar stopped with his back toward her, his hands on his hips, his head bowed. “Fuck.”
“If we had kno—”
Edgar whirled in a cloud of smoke, appearing before her. He snatched her out of the chair and dragged her to her feet, his voice guttural. “Would knowing have changed anything?”
Annora opened her mouth, then finally closed it, the fight going out of her.
No, it wouldn’t.
If she didn’t obey Daxion’s orders, he’d still try to harm her mates.
“How am I supposed to protect you?” Edgar’s question was hoarse.
“You don’t. You aren’t supposed to protect me.” Annora rested her hand on his chest, and her heart clenched when he flinched away. She stretched up on her toes, brushing her lips against his, only pulling back when he froze. She wasn’t even sure he was breathing.
Heart hammering against her ribs, she gave him a small, uncertain small. “We protect each other, that’s how.”
The tension drained from his shoulders, his focus dropping to her lips, hunger darkening his expression. “Always.”
What she noticed most was that he didn’t back away.
She trailed her fingers up his chest, skimmed them over his shoulders, then down along his collar, humming in approval when he shivered.
Maybe he was like her, craving closeness but afraid of taking a chance.
Eyes on his, she stretched up and brushed her lips against his once more.
Something inside him snapped, and he wrapped his arms around her, crushing her to his chest. He bent forward, dipping his head, his kiss devouring her, as if he couldn’t get enough of her taste.
One kiss wasn’t enough.
The edge of the table pressed against the backs of her legs, and she fell against it, clutching him close until he was sprawled on top of her. She wrapped her legs around his waist, shivering at the intimate contact.
His hungry growl sent lust pounding through her.
He stiffened at the sound, his mouth slowing, and he nibbled at her lips before reluctantly retreating. Her breasts rubbed against his chest with each ragged breath, and he cleared his throat, tugging her up with him as he straightened. His touch lingered on her as he pulled away, then he ran a distracted digit down the front of his shirt.
