Page 23 of When Death Called Life Home (When Deities Awaken #1)

Chapter 23

A Reaper Who Can Heal

ASCIAN

S harp pain stabbed behind Ascian’s eyes as he slowly tried to open them. Glimpses of blonde hair blurred with black, blue eyes into dark hazel. A cool, damp compression weighed his head into the ground, preventing him from even thinking about trying to sit up. His whole body ached, joints stiff and nausea settled into his gut. A soft voice drew him from the impending darkness, weaving in and out of his mind.

“You can’t go to sleep, Ascian. Not yet.” Soft skin grazed over his temples. Delicate fingertips drawing away the pain.

Another voice entered, responding for him. “We need to get you to the Academy.”

“I’m not leaving him here.”

“And I don’t want to face his anger if he wakes up and you’ve been taken, or killed by reinforcements.”

Silence fell as the tension rose. Ascian could almost imagine the stare down between the two women. Each unwilling to give up. He knew they’d need to compromise, if only he could get his tongue to work.

“Help me get him onto his guardian, then,” Maelo finally grunted.

His body shifted, eyelids cracking as the movement triggered his brain to sharpen. Low light filtered through, careful movement circled them in a predatory manner, feline in every way. Glimpses of black fur appeared with each full circle the animal made. Basilius had fallen into protection mode, his tail flicking violently as he did another sweep around them.

Another groan as they heaved him onto his own guardian brought a face into view. Dark hair draped over her shoulder, deep hazel eyes assessing him with worry. “They beat you to within an inch of your fucking life. ”

Ascian grimaced, dragging his heavy arm up and laying his hand over her own. He felt her fingers wrap around his, gripping tightly. Her eyes glistened but Ascian ever so slightly shook his head. No, she would not cry for him, not out of sorrow.

The forest spun around him, Maelo appearing as though she were on a balanced, fallen tree trunk. A constant sway to her body. He closed his eyes and forced a breath out his nose. When he reopened them Alora was there, her forehead creased with concern.

“Are you okay?”

Ascian nodded, regretting the action as soon as he’d made it.

Alora cringed, pressing her warm hand to his cheek. She then moved her hand into his, taking on more of his pain and wounds as she said, “Squeeze my hand if you can keep travelling to the Academy.”

His hand tightened around hers instantly. Alora sighed and nodded, glancing towards Maelo.

“Here, get on in front of him while I help him remain upright.” Alora’s hand slipped from his as Maelo’s arms pulled him upwards. Alora pulled herself onto Alamea’s back and then reached behind her for Ascian’s arms. They wove themselves around her, Ascian breathing in the sweet floral scent as he rested against her back.

He turned his head towards Maelo. “Emilia?”

Maelo glanced over her shoulder. “She’s okay. Almost broke her neck when she hit the ground, but I managed to shift her landing so I got more of the impact.”

“Good,” he sighed, eyes drifting closed again for a moment. He gathered his energy before opening them and saying, “Let’s go.”

They travelled slower than they previously had, and it wasn’t hard to deduce that it was for Ascian’s benefit. They’d tried to match their previous pace, but Ascian lost his strength too quickly trying to keep his grip on Alora with the harder bumps of Alamea’s faster strides.

Still, they arrived at the Academy with no other trouble crossing their path. The darkened sky provided them with a quiet entrance. All students were likely asleep in their beds, if Ascian remembered the Scholars’ routine correctly.

Sure enough, when Maelo disappeared inside to find help, only two scholars he didn’t recognise returned with her. They spoke quietly and quickly to his sister. Their bodies betrayed nothing of the topic.

They helped Ascian off his guardian once they finished their conversation and into the large building. Alora remained close by as the scholars led them up a staircase and down a hallway to the last remaining rooms.

“Two in here,” one of the scholars said as he walked Ascian into the room. “And two across the hall. We’re full up, otherwise.”

“That’s more than enough. Thank you,” Maelo murmured. The scholar set Ascian down on the bed and exited the room, his footsteps slowly fading until he disappeared to the ground floor.

Time felt as though it paused while the footsteps faded, each of them waiting for total privacy to speak, or even relax. Ascian shifted across the bed more, gaining immediate help from Alora and Maelo until the back of his head rested on the wall.

Emilia watched them, but Ascian noticed how her focus always drifted to Alora. She sought safety and security. That was as plain as the bed beneath him. It made a little sense for her to seek it in Alora if they two had been close on Earth. Except, they hadn’t. Alora’s comment when Emilia first tackled her told him as much. Adoptive sisters? It was strange. Something he’d need to investigate when he’d healed.

“Everyone needs to sleep,” Ascian managed to get out. He sent a pointed look to Maelo, knowing his own sister would fight about needing to keep watch. “We’re on neutral ground. They can’t attack us here.”

The words dropped Maelo’s shoulders and she loosened a breath before herding Emilia out the door with her. It closed quietly, only the slightest tap sounded, as wood connected with wood. Ascian immediately closed his eyes.

“Do you need anything?” Alora’s voice floated around him like a lullaby, sending him towards sleep.

His eyes cracked open as he answered, “Only you.”

Something flashed in Alora’s eyes, her movements growing hesitant. She pulled her shoes and satchel from her body, resting them with the other bags. Then, without him even asking, Alora pulled Ascian’s boots off, and slid his scythe from his back to rest atop the bags. He smiled at her actions, the care she put into them, the respect she showed his belongings, but especially his scythe.

Alora returned to the bed and helped him under the blankets before climbing in herself, hesitating further as she shifted closer and drew his head to her chest. He complied, wrapping his arms around her torso and listening to the steady heartbeat beneath his head as she ran her fingers gently through his hair.

A sensation spread throughout his body from the top of his head where her skin brushed his scalp. His nerves fired up, flesh mending itself and soothing the aches the ambush caused. Ascian knew he should sleep. That they both needed rest before the day ahead of them. Did it really matter, though?

He’d found Alora. Or rather, she’d found him. But they were together again and repairing the rift her disappearance created. Every minute he spent with her, every second she drifted closer to him, he felt Death’s hand stretching out. An offering for his Life.

Ascian looked up at Alora and found her already watching him. She cracked a smile, fighting it with every breath and failing miserably.

“What?” Ascian asked softly.

Alora shook her head with a breathy laugh. “Your heart rate is worse than a dog chasing a rabbit through the gardens. ”

A smile broke out on his face, a laugh following. “I can’t help the effect you have on me, amorsa.”

She raised an eyebrow, her smile breaking through. “And what effect might that be, Commander Ascian?”

A rumble left Ascian’s chest at her last two words. He slowly lifted himself up, testing his body to check for residual pain and finding nothing. She’d completely healed him without a single thought. Alora watched him, playfulness collecting in her blue irises.

Ascian lowered himself slowly, eyes remaining on Alora’s as he brushed his lips over her collarbone. When that got him no reaction, he nipped at it, grinning at the returning squeal she provided him. Her eyes widened, her grin following as she trailed her fingertips down from his hair and onto his back.

“That’s not an answer,” Alora whispered, tilting her head like a cat.

“You,” Ascian murmured, pressing another kiss an inch from the previous one and nipping the skin there, too, earning another squeak. “Bring. Me. To. My. Knees.” He placed a kiss and nip between each word, covering the entire length of her collarbone. With each one, Alora’s fingers pressed into his back .

“Here I was thinking you were this dangerous Reaper,” she hummed in reply.

Ascian chuckled, lifting himself up her body and nipping at the delicate skin of her neck. She let out a whine this time, her grip tightening. “I am to everyone else.”

“But to me?”

Ascian paused, pulling back enough that the tip of his nose brushed hers. “To you, I am a faithful servant. Ready to fulfil any and all tasks you ask of me.”

Alora brought her hands back to his hair and then down to cup his face. She swallowed, gaze taking him in and all his vulnerability. He meant his words with his entire soul. He’d spend whatever remained of his life proving that to her.

“I do not want a servant,” Alora spoke quietly but firmly. “I want a partner. Someone to better me, fight for and with me. I’m fine on my own. I can survive. But I do not wish to simply survive in this world. I wish to live.”

Butterflies awakened in Ascian’s stomach as Alora’s eyes fell to his lips.

“I wish to love ,” she spoke the words so softly that Ascian strained to hear them. To hear the yearning built over the three years she’d been gone. He knew the feeling. Knew it like it was his own breath. Alora flicked her gaze back to his, something like remembrance flashing within it. “But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

Ascian slowly nodded. “Do you remember me?”

Alora’s lips opened and closed a few times as her eyes darted across his face. “I’m starting to.”

Her hands dropped to the front of his shoulders and she pushed him to the side, onto his back and followed him, straddling his hips. Ascian’s hands fell to her thighs, thumbs brushing over the fabric that separated their skin. Fabric, he was tempted to rip off of her just to get the contact he needed.

Alora shivered atop him, placing her hands over his before running them up his arms as she leaned down and hovered with her lips right above his. Her breath fanned them, teased him, called for him to close the distance. He waited, held himself from being the first to move. This was on her terms, and he wouldn’t force her, even when it caused him pain.

She smiled, even without seeing it he knew it was breathtaking, and pressed her lips to his.