Reaper's Dark Kiss (32 page)

Centuries ago, the lovers had been dug from the ruins. Anya’s sarcophagus of white marble stood on a stone bier in a silver beam of moonlight. Tariq’s sarcophagus, jet-black marble, lay beside her, sheltered in night.

Rose petals—yellow, white, red, pink—were strewn over Anya’s last resting place in this world. Among them were offerings: gold rings, heart lockets, necklaces, gems. With Julian beside her, Sky climbed three black marble steps to Anya. Taking out the heart stone, she kissed it softly and laid it among the scattered petals.

“You’re going after Vandar, aren’t you?” Sky asked.

Julian took her hand and said, “I’m a reaper.”

“No,” Sky said. “You’re
my
reaper.”

“I love you,” he said.

“This is well wrought, Prince,” a ghostly voice said from behind them.

A smile surfaced on Julian’s face. “You shouldn’t spend so much time sneaking around, Oracle,” he said, not turning around. “You could get hurt.”

Sky suddenly wanted to be outside in the night air. She grabbed Julian’s hand tighter, and they took off running. Oracle’s laughter followed them as Julian lifted her into his arms and flew her through tunnels nearly faster than their shadows could follow.

In the marketplace, they walked arm in arm. Back home, there was Vandar to be dealt with, scrolls for Julian to carry out, and all the thousand things that made up their new life together. But tonight in Verona, the moon was full, Sky was in love, and forever was longer than she’d ever dreamed.

Ahead, a couple strolled hand in hand, silhouettes in moonlight. They cast no shadows. Their footsteps made no sound. They stopped before the fountain. The man turned to the woman at his side and gave a bow, courtly, old-fashioned. Over the murmuring water, Sky heard him say, “A rose for you, my love.”

Loose Id Titles by Ryssa Edwards

Reaper’s Dark Kiss

Ryssa Edwards

Ryssa Edwards is a writer with a day job who lives just outside Dallas. She writes about romance between mortals and creatures from farflung realms, some of them just around the corner.