41. Hunter

The sound of the door slamming shut behind Pandora reverberated through my office, an echo that matched the rhythm of my heartbeat. The scent of caramel lingered in the air, a reminder of Pandora and the taste of her lips on mine. I’d kissed her, and she’d kissed me…she’d also kissed Reed. But she was so sweet, honest, and perfect. My magic was worked up inside of me, swirling into a tornado of emotions.

Death’s sudden, violent grip on my throat snapped me back to the present. He loomed over me, his hands like a vice grip. “What the fuck was that? How long has that been going on?”

My breath hitched, a strangled sound escaping as Death siphoned a wisp of my soul, anger radiating from every pore of his being.

Fates, I was screwed.

“It just happened! I’ve cared for her from the moment I saw her, but it’s only now turned romantic,” I croaked out, but it wasn’t in pain. Only discomfort. It seemed he was keeping his promise to his daughter while still making me pay for kissing her.

“Why would you kiss her? She’s my daughter!” A whimper pulled from his throat as his grip loosened. “I just found her. I wasn’t able to protect her before, but I can now. I can protect her from heartbreak.”

“I think she”s my fated mate,” I managed to gasp, the words barely a whisper.

“What do you mean think?” Death’s grip loosened even further, but his eyes bore into me, searching, probing. “Why wouldn”t the bond be in place then?”

“Magically malnourished?” I squeaked my theory.

“I suppose that would make sense,” Death conceded, releasing me and stumbling back to lean heavily against the desk. His figure, usually so imposing, seemed to deflate as he buried his face in his hands.

The room was quiet except for the sound of our labored breathing.

I stumbled back and sat back on the sofa with a groan, running my hand through my hair. “I didn’t mean to fall for her, and I tried not to. But she’s perfect.”

Death looked up, his expression a mix of desperation and understanding. “I’ve just found my daughter,” he confessed, raw with emotion. “I can’t bear the thought of her getting hurt again.”

I stiffened. “I would never hurt her, Death. You know that.”

“I thought you wouldn’t kiss her, too.” He huffed, dark eyes meeting mine accusatory. The light from the candles around my room flickered, and shadows danced across his face.

“You knew how I felt about her,” I murmured. “You knew.”

“Maybe.” He clutched the side of the desk with another sigh. “I’ll find a witch and seer and see if your theory is right.”

“That’s logical.” I nodded, inhaling her scent that still lingered on the couch—still lingered on me.

“Keep protecting her,” Death snapped, his gaze softening, “but maybe don”t kiss her again.”

“I’ll protect her with my life.” My lips curled into a half-smile. “But I can’t promise not to kiss her. My feelings for Pandora are genuine, and I can’t deny the protective instinct that surges within me at the very thought of her. Plus, I…I think I’m in love with her.”

He inhaled a deep breath before exhaling roughly and straightening on his feet. “If anyone were to be Pandora”s mate, I’d want it to be you.”

Happiness roared through me, and my lips curved into a wild smile.

“But don’t push it,” he grumbled, rolling his eyes. “She’s still my daughter.”

“I know.” I held up my hands in surrender. “Trust me. That’s the sole reason I hadn’t been pursuing her…that and the fact that I didn’t feel she was ready until now.”

“Maybe it’s good that you did.” His brows bumped together in a frown. “But only time will tell. Why do you think she’s ready now?”

I shook my head with a small shrug. “Honestly, I don’t know. My magic urged me closer to her. It’s like a?—”

“Pull on your heart?” he finished for me.

I nodded. “Exactly that.”

“I remember,” he murmured softly, and I didn’t have to be a shadow demon to see the pain stemming off him. “It was the same for Amy and I.”

“It was?” I was full of hope for being her mate, and at the rate she and Reed were going, it was clear he’d be a mate, too, if I was right.

But I also knew that him mentioning Amy was a big deal. I’d only ever heard stories about her. And only once had I heard of her from him. I knew it must’ve been agony to lose his mate, but I was more than happy that he found Pandora. He deserved love, and the love he could provide Pandora would help heal him, too.

He nodded, sweeping a hand over his hair. “Anyway, I actually came to tell you about the investigation into the Shadowhearts. They’ve been caught setting up to perform demonic curses, specifically, shadow rituals.”

“Of course they have.” I frowned. “Any proof of dark magic?”

He shook his head. “Not yet, but we managed to pinpoint that the painting filled with dark magic had come from the Shadowhearts. Dexter Shadowheart had to have been the culprit. We’re aware of his parents’ influence over him, but we want you to discuss it with him during a session. See if you can get anything out of him.”

I nodded. “Sure.”

As Death left, my mind raced with images of Pandora’s lips against mine. I got up and reached for my caramel fae wine in the coffee cup at my desk, sipping it and feeling the fae magic relax my frayed nerves.

Dexter Shadowheart wasn’t evil, but he was insane. That was common knowledge. What concerned me the most about his ties to his parents and their ties to dark magic was his obsession with Pandora. I didn’t want her getting involved with dark magic any more than she already had.

I strode over to my cabinet and opened it, grabbing a new label from my printed sheet of flavors. I labeled my latest bottle of caramel fae wine, the third bottle I’d gone through this month.

Pandora’s scent made me feel at peace in the way I knew my dad felt around my mom. They had been fated mates, and I knew what to look for. Even with the matebond absent, I had no doubt in my mind that Pandora Gravesend was my soulmate.