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A lexia felt as if she were floating on water, surrounded by warmth. And when she opened her eyes, that’s exactly where she found herself—in her Jacuzzi tub with her and Herleif filling the space.

“How did I not wake before now?” she asked groggily.

Herleif was gently caressing her body, and she realized she felt more energized than she expected.

“I may have persuaded you to rest until your body was ready to wake. I didn’t want you feeling any pain, and I also wanted to clean you.”

She covered his hands with hers, halting his movements and turning her head to look at him. “Thank you.” When he simply nodded, she continued. “For everything. You were ... well, you were wonderful. You made me feel amazing.” She turned her head forward. “I wish I had better words to describe it.”

Alexia felt Herleif move, his mouth at her ear. “It was exquisite. Intense. Exceptionally marvelous.” He ran his tongue down her neck then nuzzled a particularly soft and tender spot.

“Yes,” she said and chuckled. “All that and more.” Suddenly her hand flew to the base of her neck. “Did you ... did you bite me?” Her fingers found tiny indents.

“Yes. I soothed the bites so you wouldn’t feel any residual pain. You will, however, retain my mark.”

Alexia shifted her body to face him, her thighs bracketing his. She was completely comfortable with her nakedness, considering what they’d experienced together earlier.

“Are you claiming me as yours, Herleif Aganarsson?”

His strong hands held her waist, pulling her closer. “I am. I have.” He brought her sex against his growing erection. “I told you, you are mine, did I not?”

She smiled as she rested her hands atop his shoulders. “You did. And you are mine.” His only response was the brisk nod of his head, and Alexia’s pulse beat in double-time.

“Your eyes glowed like fire when you climaxed,” Herleif said while gently caressing her lower back.

“Is that so? Well, it was an extraordinary moment. Very powerful.” She smiled.

He grinned. “That it was.”

She leaned forward, looping her arms around his neck to kiss him, then drew back. “How am I only now realizing you morphed your mouth when kissing me? You made these disappear.” She ran a finger across an extended tooth, pressing against the sharp point and causing a droplet of blood to well.

Herleif took her finger, inserting it into his mouth to suck off the crimson liquid. “Yes, I did. Other than intentionally biting you, I did not want to harm you with my tusks.”

“Tusks,” she murmured. “Not canines?”

He shrugged. “Some call them that.”

“Herleif? You don’t have to alter who you are or what you have. I want it all.” She began kissing him, working around his teeth and taking her time to thoroughly enjoy this moment.

But just as she began to grind herself against him, hoping for another joining, her phone blared, startling them.

“What is that godawful sound?” Herleif growled.

“My phone. It’s my uncle.”

Herleif pulled her even closer. “Ignore him.” He tried resuming the kiss, but she averted her face.

“I cannot. He’ll persist until I answer, or he’ll be at my door in less than thirty minutes.”

“Plenty of time for me to fuck you.” He grinned.

She gave him a playful glare even as she punched his shoulder. “Enough.” After a quick peck on the lips, she moved away and rose out of the tub. Wrapping herself in a towel, she stared down at his glorious body. “Might as well dry and dress. No doubt he’s called to tell me he’s on his way over.”

Alexia turned away to go to her bedroom, grinning at Herleif’s startled look. She heard him splashing about before stomping toward her. She quickly dried herself and began to pull clothes out when he arrived in her room.

“Do you wish me to leave?”

“No. Why would I want that?” Watching his face screw up in confusion, she marched to him. “Herleif, if I have to tell you one more time that I want you here, and that I am not ashamed of wanting you, you’re going to feel your ass zapped again. Is that clear?”

A slow grin spread across his handsome face as he palmed a cheek. “That is clear.” He leaned down to give her a gentle kiss. When he pulled back, she smiled at him before spinning to get dressed. She received a swat on her rear, causing her to yelp and look back at him.

“I like you feisty.” He winked.

She scoffed and rolled her eyes as she resumed her task. “Then dry my floor.”

“Gladly,” he said and chuckled.

Moments later, dressed and the floor cleaned, they were back in the living room. She noticed the tray of food and mugs of tea were nowhere to be seen. She turned to Herleif. “Thank you for tidying up.” He merely smiled and dipped his head. Picking up her phone, they listened to her uncle’s message.

“I have news and am on my way over.”

Simple and direct.

Alexia put down her phone and headed to the kitchen. “Time for more food and tea.” She grinned.

Fifteen minutes later, she was opening the door to her Uncle Nic, welcoming him in, and taking his coat. He stopped short when Herleif stood, apparently ready to greet him. “You’re...”

“Herleif Aganarsson,” Herleif said, offering his hand. Uncle Nic hesitated a second before grasping it to shake. He then looked at Alexia in question.

“Sit, please,” she said, indicating to the chair flanking the couch.

She then went to Herleif’s side, looping her arm with his and pulling him down on the couch beside her.

“Seems we both have news to share. Help yourself.” She nodded to the food and drink while getting a mug and offering it to Herleif before grabbing one for herself.

“It would seem so,” her uncle said. He then lifted a cup and took a drink, never taking his eyes off Herleif.

“Uncle Nic, no need to be wary or awkward. You can speak freely, and you can trust Herleif.” She looked at her .

.. lover? While she wasn’t going to divulge details, she also wasn’t going to hide the fact that they were more than .

.. friends? Gah, it was all so new, and Alexia wasn’t sure how to navigate this budding relationship.

“He came to me this morning regarding a mutual visitor we both had.”

“Visitor?”

“A dream walker on behalf of Fate,” Alexia began then detailed her experience and conversation. Herleif added his as well with Uncle Nic interjecting at times with questions for clarification.

“And this messenger deemed you two would work together,” he stated.

“Yes,” Alexia answered. “He said there is more to Herleif than even he realizes.” She faced her troll. “And that he would not forsake me.”

“Never,” Herleif whispered to her. “As for some hidden power or talent, he must be mistaken.”

“I suppose we’ll see.”

Alexia turned back to her uncle who was watching their interaction with curiosity but remained quiet about it. “A fucking soul collector,” he mumbled with disgust.

“Were you aware of this happening or has it happened before?” Herleif asked.

“No, I was not aware of it happening now or ever, but it could explain recent concerns with the fights.”

“What concerns?” Alexia asked. “And which fights? Gotham Point or other locations?”

“ All locations.”

“The Lycan said, ‘Don’t let him take my soul. Him,’” Herleif restated. “Who is him and is he somehow coercing shifters? If so, how? It was clear to me that Evan was fighting for his life in a way many others did not, and he did not want this soul collector to win.”

“I learned that Evan Hosten was a pack leader, fighting in place of his son. But I haven’t been able to find out why he fought instead of the son. And now the son has disappeared without a trace.”

“Where is his pack from?” Alexia asked. “How does no one have any information on his whereabouts?”

Her Uncle Nic sighed. “He is one shifter among thousands in New York City alone. Tens of thousands in the entire state. Their pack is located upstate near the Canadian border. I’ve sent an agent to investigate.”

“And what of these concerns in all The Gin Room locations?” Herleif asked.

Uncle Nic faced him. “Increased activity, more fights. Curiously enough, the majority of them involving Lycan. And they’ve been more aggressive fights at that. All within the past week. Of course, the spectators and bidders aren’t going to complain, but my agents have taken notice.”

“Leading up to Samhain, which is tonight,” Alexia said.

“Did Evan ascend?” Alexia’s uncle asked of her.

“He did. But when he did, he passed through me versus me simply guiding him, showing him the way. And somehow, a portion of his essence, his energy, remained with me.”

“What?” Both men shouted at the same time.

“Why did you not say something to me?” her uncle said.

“Or me?” Herleif groused.

“Because at the time we spoke, Uncle, I was unaware. It was only when I teleported back to my apartment after my first encounter with Herleif, did I realize it hadn’t taken as much energy as previous times.

” She then turned to Herleif. “And, because the subject didn’t come up.

” She cleared her throat, knowing she was blushing as she thought about what occurred during their recent encounter.

“Now, whether that were to happen again, I cannot say. The only way to know is to return to the fights—the pit, to be exact—and guide the next soul.”

“No,” both men bellowed again.

Alexia felt herself scowl. “Neither of you can tell me no . It is what I do. It may even be the way to locate this soul collector. I have the ability to follow the soul, and I’ve no doubt the collector will be active tonight.

Maybe even now.” She looked at her uncle. “Are there fights taking place now?”

“Yes. Usually, they’d only occur at night, but as I said, activity has increased and now they’re happening continuously.”

Alexia was on her feet, looking between the two men. “Then we must go. Now.”

“Alexia,” Herleif began as he took her hand in his. “Sit, eat. You need your strength. We ate nothing this morning.”

A quick glance at her uncle, and Alexia saw his brow quirk in question.

She ignored it and sat, grabbing bites of the food and sipping her tea.

“I wonder how long this soul collector has been active? And how he—if he is indeed a he— is getting away with it?” She looked at Herleif then at her uncle.

“Mother never spoke to me about someone she or others before her had to answer to. Throughout history, there were and still are many psychopomps who—”

“I’m sorry, what?” Herleif interrupted. “Psychopomps?”

“It’s the term that describes a guider of souls. As I said, there were many, like Hecate herself, Charon, the ferryman, Anubis, the Egyptian god.”

“Valkyries,” he said softly.

“Exactly. Every religion, culture, aspect of humankind had their version of a soul guider. I am but one among an indeterminate amount. I never questioned my ability, and before last night, I was never visited by an entity regarding my skill or mission.” She took another sip of tea.

“Why now is Fate sending someone to us, telling us we are to stop him?”

“I wish I had answers to those questions,” Herleif said.

“ Ki ego ,” her uncle mumbled. He then popped his head up and said, “Apologies, slipping back to my Greek. Me too, I said.” He looked at Herleif. “If you don’t mind telling me, what are your powers? Other than strength. Are you a shape-shifter?”

“I am, only to human form.” Without any effort at all, he shifted to his Viking then back again, causing Alexia’s uncle to startle.

“Wow, okay, impressive.”

Herleif simply chuckled. “And yes, I have my strength and speed, but I also have a limited ability to heal and influence others in subtle ways.”

“Like ensuring I rested,” Alexia said. Herleif only nodded. “I too can influence most. But not you. I had to zap you to get my point across.”

They chuckled together for a moment until Alexia realized her uncle was staring again.

She looped an arm around one of Herleif’s.

“You may have surmised, Herleif and I are very comfortable with one another. In fact,” she glanced at Herleif before facing her uncle again, “we are lovers.” She felt the subtle tensing of Herleif but gave him a reassuring squeeze.

“Oh, I see.” His gaze toggled between the two. “That was quick.”

Alexia smiled up at Herleif and whispered, “It was Fate.” She winked, receiving an endearing smile from her troll. Her heart fluttered at the thought and at the feeling of rightness.

“Well then,” her uncle started, “what’s your plan?”

“We go to the fights,” Alexia said. “And we go now. We need to get a sense of any unease or the presence of this soul collector. If need be, as I said, I will follow a soul and see where, or to whom, it leads.”

“I do not like this,” Herleif stated. When Alexia started to protest, he held up a hand. “I realize this is your journey and you are fully capable, but something feels off. And don’t ask me to expand because I cannot. It’s just a feeling.”

“Then we will be vigilant, and we will stay together.”

“Are you able to call upon Nonia anywhere, anytime?” Herleif asked.

“I can. She’s never failed me.”

He nodded and stood, holding out his hand for her. “Then we go.”