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“Restore what we had, little bird. You’ve suffered long enough since my death. Twenty-eight years is long enough for me. I thought myself mad, falling in love with a dream all those years ago. I’ve come to learn dreams really do become reality, and love spans all dimensions of time.”

Rihanna’s lips separated on a breath. “I lack the willpower to try and dissuade you, Bryce. Are you certain you recall how sacred a blood bond is betweenanam caras?”

The corner of his mouth twitched, then curled upward. “Sacred enough to follow me into this life and lead me back to you.”

Her heart gave a weakening flutter at his words. Still, she accepted the dagger, unlatching the gold sheath and flicking it to the floor. He held his scarred hand up and she folded her fingers between his own, feeling a tingle of magic skitter along their scars when they aligned. She watched for any hintof doubt in his eyes, his face, as she lifted the heel of her palm away and placed the narrow double-edge blade along the old wounds.

“There’s no turning back, Bryce,” Rihanna whispered, a final warning her heart begged him to ignore.

“I leave nothing behind if you’re by my side.”

Not a flicker of doubt broke his expression or darkened his eyes. Rihanna hesitated, each second drummed out by the beat of her heart. Not once did he indicate he doubted his confidence or their bond.

A single, sharp jerk, and the dagger opened their flesh. She stifled a gasp, the pain sharp until her blood mixed with his and soothed the ache with heat and peace. The fragmented cord that had once bound them so bright and strong swelled anew within her chest, overflowed into her limbs, weaving together frayed ends, mending broken threads, all the while reaching for the other half of herself. The soul she knew so well. The man she loved until death claimed her final breath.

When it reached the severed end of the bond, magic crackled and sizzled, repairing the damage, wrapped them both in a ribbon of golden light. Goddess-blessed light.

“What once was shattered is now whole.” Rihanna squeezed her fingers between his and said quietly, “To renew our blood oath in this lifetime. To restore all the safety, security, and sanctuary as ’twas once before. To revive the love we once shared, for as long as we shall live. This is my oath to you.”

“This time, sweet Rihanna, will be forever. Nothing will come between us again. We’ve all our love to experience after it was stolen from us.” He tipped their combined hands, bringing them up to his lips. “All that was taken from us before, I will give you now, and more. All my love, my protection, my home, my everything. This is my oath to you.”

She felt a shocking burst at the seam of their old bond. A ferocious wave of heat pouring over her body. She caught the wisps of smoke from the leather band around Bryce’s wrist as it withered until it popped apart, dropping like a weight to the floor, where it vanished, no longer needed.

Just as he dispensed with the remainder of her clothing beneath a ravenous touch. Just as the last of her willpower left her as she tore away his towel and pressed herself flush to the hardened plane of skin and muscle that her soul recognized and yearned for.

Just as the last century of pain and grief melted away as he lifted her off her feet, locking her legs around his narrow waist, and carried her to the bed.

Bits and piecesof his past life played in his mind the instant the magical bracelet fell away, but it wasn’t as it had been the other night. In fact, it felt like something welded two separate people into one, mending a soul that had been split inside himself for the twenty-eight years of his existence. All he knew of Rihanna from the past returned to him with visceral clarity, as if he’d never died and lived his childhood and young adulthood without her in the present.

Everything he once experienced within his heart exploded, intensified, consumed him until all he understood this powerful emotion called love.

The powerful hunger called desire.

Bryce lowered her on his bed, his mouth drinking deeply from her kiss, unable to satiate this wicked beast she’d created. All of this was familiar. An old dance awaiting their presence. Two separate lifetimes blended into one, the present.

He never wanted to break from her kiss, but he craved the taste of her skin. Craved the quiet mewls he brought to her lips as he licked at her hard nipples before teasing each pink peak with a scrape of his teeth, a tender nip, and finally a hungry suckle. Her fingers dove into his hair, fisting close to his scalp, causing his skin to burn and tingle with a mixture of pain and pleasure. He growled in response as she bowed, pressing her breast deeper into his mouth.

He took shamelessly, rolling her neglected nipple between his thumb and finger, tugging until she gasped and moaned and tried to pull his hips into the cradle of her legs.

God, he never wanted a woman as badly, as excruciatingly, as he did his little bird.

Bryce tended to her other breast, extracting so many beautiful sounds, so many hushed pleas. His cock ached, throbbing harder and harder as he forced himself to take his time, deliver her pleasure. He knew exactly what she liked, how she reacted to certain touches and pressures, and by God, he’d make her scream before he claimed her body.

Tracing his mouth down her belly, nibbling along her delicate hip bones, he unlocked her legs from his back, spreading her wide as he settled between her thighs. The heady scent of her arousal, the glistening moisture along her seam made his mouth water. His jaw ached with anticipation as he glanced up at his lovelyanam cara. Her amethyst eyes watched him, smoky with desire. Her creamy cheeks were brushed with the most lovely rose. Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth, her narrow nose flared at the nostrils.

Stunning.

Breathtaking.

Hisgoddess.

Hiseverything.

Bryce flicked out his tongue, tasting the earthy dew he’ddrawn from his woman. Her reaction to him was addicting, unleashing the carnal beast as he feasted. Her hips rolled with each lick, each suck, each probe of his tongue deep inside body. He teased her clit, swirling his togue around the hard nub until she writhed and trembled.

“Sweet Goddess, ’tis been too long for this. Bryce, I beg you—”

He chuckled, answering her plea when he sucked her clit. Over and over, a hard suck followed by tender licks, until she bucked wildly and an unabashed cry filled the room.