Page 162 of Wicked Bonds

She’d tempted him so completely that he hadn’t wanted to look at another soul.

Until he’d been forced to forget her. Yet their spirits had been connected, his desire to find her overwhelming and intoxicating and driving his actions throughout the millennia.

She’s always been meant for me,he marveled, his forehead touching hers. The resulting zing reminded him of the netting, but he ignored it, needing his vixen and the memories inside them both.

They spiraled together through a history of sex and intrigue, their lives constantly crossing as they found each other time and again.

Only to have the memories ripped from their psyches.

Melanythos had screwed with his head. She’d always shown up, confused his understanding of the past, seduced him, and mindfucked him.

His heart ached at the onslaught of stolen experiences, twisted recollections, and harmful deeds that Leela had been forced to watch before having her own memories erased.

Dian had forced her to choose—Balthazar’s life or the moments they’d shared.

She’d chosen Balthazar, begging for him to be allowed to live.

Without the bond in place, he could be killed.

But now they were forever linked, their spirits thriving together as one.

War raged around them, the Seraphim battling in the sky while Balthazar clung to Leela, reliving a dozen memories at once.

They’d found each other throughout the centuries, playing and fornicating and often coming close to the truth. But this was the first time they’d actually learned about their history, had actually been able to experience it together, because it was the first time Balthazar had linked to her thoughts.

The rules had been redefined.

The tables turned.

And now their futures would intertwine indefinitely.

Leela could suffer reform, but it wouldn’t dismantle her ties to Balthazar.

He could undergo a similar treatment, but his soul would forever be hers.

His lips curled in triumph, the emotions of his youth caressing his heart to deepen how he already felt about Leela.

His sweet Seraphim.

His vivacious vixen.

His daring deviant.

Fuck, he wanted to kiss her. To devour her. To consummate this bond in the truest of manners.

But the damn net held her captive.

The sky opened up with more ethereal energy, Stark’s sword a flash of light that caught Balthazar’s attention. It clashed against another warrior, the rage a rope of fire lassoing Balthazar’s senses and urging his power to come out to play.

Because he could now affect the Seraphim. Sense them.Feelthem.

Yet his gift stopped short at being able to manipulate their essence.

The protective runes, he realized. Vera remained entirely mute to him, while Stark’s mind boasted fragmented thoughts.

How do the protective runes work?he asked Leela.The ones that block Seraphim from using their powers on each other, I mean.

Leela hummed something in response, her mind blissed out on memories as she recalled an incident in Scandinavia about three hundred years ago. They’d run into each other on the street, quite literally, and ended up spending a weekend in bed.