Page 15 of Frosty and the Reaper

Instead of being insulted, he laughed. When he leaned closer, she tried to lean back but could only move back a few inches since he was still holding onto her.

“Of course, I am. After all, I am your psycho, scary reaper.”

She let out an audible gasp. “You heard that?”

He simply smiled in response.

“But…but…that was before we shared magic. Can you read everyone’s mind?”

“Anyone I care to.”

“That’s just…” she sputtered. “It’s an invasion of privacy.”

It was, but that didn’t bother him.

“I am War, one of the Four Horsemen, Keeper of the Seal, and one of the strongest supernaturals ever to walk the realms. Asking me not to hear your thoughts is like someone asking you not to breathe.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “You’re what now? One of the Four Horsemen? That’s a real thing?” She poked a finger against his chest. “Is that why your eyes are red? Like the red horse thing? You’re that War? Wait, does that mean you are going to bring about the apocalypse and end everything? Oh, my god, we just completed our mating bond. Does that mean I’m going to turn into a murderous dark god now, too?”

He frowned. “I am a source god. There is no distinction between light and dark. I can be petty. I can be cruel. I can also be merciful if the mood is right. But in everything, there must be balance.”

She frowned. “You are totally going to have to explain all of that, but not right now. I think it would go in one ear and out the other. I have a hard time listening when I’m really stressed out.”

Kami knew that he could hear her chaotic thoughts, so she tried to censor herself. That didn’t work so well since she had trouble controlling her wild imagination. Besides, he could probably hear everything more clearly now that they were bonded. That meant there was no point in trying to hide anything from him.

She tried to recall all of the stories she’d heard about War and couldn’t hold back a shudder. War was known for riding a fiery red horse that symbolized blood and fire. He was a destructive being who incited conflict and bloodshed wherever he went. His presence signified a time of widespread violence, strife, and the breakdown of civilizations.

War was the bringer of chaos when fear, pride, or vengeance prevailed over reason. He amplified destructive behavior like aggression and hostility. In some of the stories, he was a fearedwarrior wearing armor and carrying a sword, while in others, he was a mere shadow manipulating events from behind the scenes.

There were some pretty outlandish stories about all of the Horsemen, but she really hoped they weren’t all true.

“There will be no apocalypse now that I have returned.”

“I’m really glad to hear that.”

“While there is some truth to the stories about me, I did not leave destruction in my wake everywhere I went, but I did tip the scales occasionally. It is all about bringing balance. Sometimes devastation needs to occur for others to flourish.”

While that might have been true, it was still terrifying.

She tentatively stroked a finger over the mating mark on his chest. “I’ve never seen a mating mark like this before. Is it supposed to look like this, or did I mess it up somehow?”

“The mark I put on you looks the same. It looks different than other marks because my magic is unique.”

“Right, Horsemen magic.”

“Source magic,” he corrected.

“Same difference.”

He chuckled as he carried her straight into the pool, walking down the steep steps until they were submerged in the warm water. She let out a gasp of surprise when their clothing vanished and her bulky sweatshirt and jeans were replaced with a diaphanous red dress that did little to conceal her body. Even if it was merely a conciliatory nod to her modesty, she appreciated the gesture.

Zander didn’t bother to hide his. He seemed as comfortable being nude as he had been wearing his full set of armor earlier. She felt the heat of his bare skin against her but couldn’t see much else because of how he was holding her. Still, his hard muscles and silky smooth skin were unmistakable.

The surface of the water rippled slightly as he sat down with her on his lap. He adjusted her legs a little, automaticallyreading her thoughts to make sure she was comfortable. While she felt a little awkward at first, the soothing warmth of the water helped her relax a little. It took a few seconds before she realized there was a tingling sensation along her skin.

“What the—?”

“The water being fed into the pool is magical. All of your scars will be gone in a few minutes. It will also ease muscle aches, mend broken bones, and can even reverse aging if you drink it.”