Damn it, he’d survived the Death Wards. Even survived a pack of fucking hellhounds. Death wasn’t sinking its claws in him yet. “How do I get back?”
“Easy. You jump.”
“What?” As Sam voiced the word, a tunnel of light appeared before him. It was an exact duplicate of the one that’d led him to Pricilla’s mansion.
“Better catch your ride before it passes.”
Sam broke into a run, his legs eating up the ground as the tunnel began moving away from him. He risked one look over his shoulder. The stranger was gone, but his voice whispered on the wind. Jump.
And that was exactly what Sam did. He hurtled through the tunnel and slammed into his body. Gasping, he heaved up from the mattress. The sextet of reapers gathered around the bed all nodded in greeting before giving each other the thumbs-up and walking to the door.
Bemused, he watched them file outside. Raised voices sounded, and a moment later Marabella rushed into the room. She slammed to a halt and stared at him before bursting into tears.
Despite his previous assertion about not wanting her to cry over him, he had to admit it did his heart good to see the evidence of her love for him. He had no idea what strange twist of fate deemed him deserving of receiving it, but he was damn well going to do everything in his power to prove himself worthy. “Come here, Bella.”
With no further prompting, she raced toward him. He opened his arms, and she dove into his embrace. He hugged her closer to his chest, but she immediately pulled back, concern washing across her features.
“Your injury.” Her gaze dropped and she gasped. “It’s gone!” As if she wasn’t certain whether to believe her own eyes, she probed the spot where his bullet wound had been. “Those reapers saved your life.”
“No, baby. You did.” Holding her tight, he brushed his lips over hers. “You’re my love. My light. My happiness.” He stroked her cheek. “My everything.”
A sudden deluge of tears escaped Marabella’s lashes and wet his fingertips. “I love you, Sam.”
“I love you too, my sweet Bella.”
Blinding joy radiated from her in massive waves. “That sounds just as wonderful coming from your mouth as getting to hear it in my head.”
He chuckled before letting his damp fingers rove her skin and trace her jaw. “You’re the one who told me I have a voice. Well, I intend to use it to declare my love. A lot.”
“Speaking of voices…” Marabella bit her lip. “I’ve been thinking about what Pricilla said. About your freedom. I’m going to go before that damn demon council and demand they release you from any contracts they’re holding on you.”
He read the fierce determination in her eyes and grinned. Marcus and his council were about to come up against one angelic force to be reckoned with. They didn’t stand a devil of a chance.
“Furthermore, I’m going to release you from our contract.”
His humor faded. “Don’t you fucking dare,” he growled.
“Sam, I don’t want you to feel indentured to me.”
“This is a partnership, remember? Besides, I like having the sweet voice of my moyet inside my head. It makes me feel even more connected with you.”
She frowned. “Moyet?”
“Mate.”
Her eyes widened, seconds before a beautiful smile lit her face. “Hmm, moyet. I think I like the ring of that.”
He drew her close again, and they indulged in a lush, exploring kiss. The light within his soul glowed brighter, banishing any remaining dark shadows of his previous life. “Me too, Bella. Me too.”