Page 70 of Reaper's Quest

Clutching her chest, she beamed at me. “To me, you most definitely are.”

I shook off her comment and title given.

“What shall I call you, then?” she asked.

“Just call me Raven and nothing more.”

The man remained close at the woman’s back, his face upturned, his posture straight, and a light dancing in his eyes. He didn’t allow his gaze to wander a fraction from the woman. As though, should he do so, she would disappear.

The woman’s smile widened, cracking the dry skin on the sides of her mouth. She reached for me, seemingly planning to take my hands in her own, but then she hesitated. Her chest rose, and then she threw her arms around me in a hug, crushing me against her bosom and warmth—her renewed, healthy warmth.

Seizing the opportunity, the man released his words. “I cannot thank you enough for returning my sweet one to me. I was certain she was forever lost.”

I wheezed. “I don’t believe I am responsible. But if I am, then I’m glad I could help.”

The words slipped from my lips even though I didn’t believe for one reaping second that I had anything to do with any healing.

I wanted to yell,I am a reaper, a bringer of death. But I held my tongue.

Extracting myself from the woman’s hold with care, Ileaned forward and whispered, “I hope you can keep silent regarding the source of your recovery.”

The two visitors gasped. “But?”

“Please?”

The couple looked at each other as if engaged in a silent debate.

I caught sight of Chace’s watchful gaze, one of reluctant approval. Whether I did or didn’t have anything to do with the miraculous recovery, both of us understood the need to keep our actions secret. At least for now.

On an average reap, the knowledge of our true nature usually incited a fight-or-flight response. But here, where people had been trapped in a never-ending life, our reception could play out differently. We wouldn’t know the level of the people’s acceptance until we tested our welcome…ourtruewelcome.

Given the citadel’s current state, if the reception went poorly…

“Can I count on your confidence?” I pressed.

The woman twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, then she whispered to the man and shook her head.

Thoughts of the woman crushing me in her zombified state flashed to my mind. That image quickly transformed into a nightmare of specters. Specters falling upon me. Consuming me. Involuntary shivers raced over my skin.

I didn’t want to think about the curses within the citadel walls—the specters, the afflicted, the magical barrier. Too many challenges faced us. The time didn’t yet feel right to test how Chace and I, in our true capacity, would be received by the citizens of Veritas.

Plus, if I had done something that somehow left meresponsible for this woman’s returned health, I needed proof…andknowledge of what I’d done—how I’d done it.

I touched her arm. “I understand your hesitation, but please, I implore you not to say anything.”

“How can you ask such a hardship of us?” The man’s eyes widened, and he placed his hands upon the woman’s shoulders, tugging her backward into the safety of his hold. “Magical news of this magnitude is meant to be shared. Celebrated.”

“We’re not yet ready to relay the news,” I said as if sharing confidence with fellow conspirators in a game of missions and spies. “When we’re properly prepared, and the time is right, we’ll spread the news throughout the citadel.”

“Why not be ready now?” asked the man.

The woman rested her palm against his chest and spared me an apologetic frown. “May we have a moment?”

The visitors backed away from me and mumbled too quietly for me to hear.

I could already envision the flow of gossip among the people. How wildly the word would spread and how unreliably the message could morph.

I swept my gaze past Aoes, his curled fingers pressed against his lips as he attempted to hide a grin and his ever-interested observance. What would he do with the information he’d gathered?