My spirit magic surged forth, holding onto his spirit until it dissipated to make sure the mage wouldn't reincarnate back into our world at any point.
I stumbled backward, tripping over loose cobblestone.
Bastian caught me. "Are you okay, love?"
"Just making sure that prick didn't reincarnate." I gripped his biceps and steadied myself back on my feet. "I don't ever want you to run into that spirit again. His taste for revenge was potent even in his spirit. To the point that it stained his vessel."
"Thank you, love. I'mso fucking gratefulto you." Tears glistened in his eyes, and he bent his head down until his warm lips met mine. He tasted like herbs, and I had never imagined that would tasteso good.
He pulled away with a content sigh. "I've been so fucking terrified of fire, but I wanted to make that vial just in case something like this happened. I knew he would find me sooner or later. He was the only fire mage that escaped when I went after them."
"You did amazing," I whispered, my lips tingling from his kiss. "I'm so proud of you."
"I'm just sorry you were in the crossfire." He glanced at the ashes of the mage. The fire had dissipated after the mage's spirit departed from the vessel. "I never wanted that."
"I know, but I'm happy you were able to face your past. Iwantto be there for that." I laced my fingers through his again after he deposited the unused vials back into the rune. "I believe there is a gazebo somewhere in here."
I tugged him along the path, away from the mage's remains, and we walked in silence as we made our way to the stone gazebo nestled in the blossoms of blooming flowers underneath the moonlight.
"Woah," he breathed. "This is beautiful."
"It is." I smiled as we went inside.
The gazebo was dimly lit by the soft glow of the moon, glow wisps, and stars. I couldn't help but admire how beautiful it was inside--old stone walls stood strong, and the roof gave us an intimate feeling of privacy.
I loved the moonflowers that grew all around it, blooming underneath the moonlight.
Bastian pulled me into a sudden embrace and nuzzled my neck. "I hoped I would never run into him again."
My body tingled with anticipation as his breath fanned over my neck, his hands resting on my hips. "Who was he exactly? I know he was part of the group that killed your fathers, but..."
"He was the leader of the mercenaries that attacked and killed my fathers. They--the mercenaries--specifically the leader...hewas the one who burned my hands after my dads were dead. He figured taking away the potion mage's ease to brew would prove enough for him to carry out his orders. I was just their kid." Bastian's shoulders trembled, and my hands smoothed up and down his back in an attempt to provide him some comfort. "Someone from our village hired them because of the shop we owned. It was a competitor potion shop owner who just wanted the competition out of the equation. After I killed the mercenary group, save for their leader who got away, I got the intel ofwhohired them and killed that man and his wife the same way my dads were killed."
"I'm so sorry, Bastian." My throat swelled with emotion.I hatedthat he went through that. "You and your dads didn't deserve that."
He pulled away, cupping my face in his hands and staring at me with a mixture of solace and desire. "One of my dads was a shop owner, but the other was an adventurer."
"I remember you telling me that." I slid my hands up his arms and curled them around his wrists as I leaned into him.
"My father met you before." His voice cracked, and my eyes widened.
"When?"
"He was out searching for herbs for my dad to use in a potion batch, and he wandered too close to Hex's Pass. He didn't even realize he'd traveled into the Allura Empire's territory until it was too late." His gaze flicked to my lips before meeting my eyes again. "A vulathan found him. He never told me that entire story, but the way he idolized you made me so thankful to you. I was only three when it happened."
I knew exactly who his father was at that moment. That man had the same pink eyes as Bastian, and my heart ached thinking of finding his father crouched down in the fetal position that day. He tightly clutched a basket of herbs against his chest. I knew he was a tamer mage by my spirit power, but he was so worried about the herbs he'd collected that he didn't even think about his own life being at stake.
"I wasn't actually on a mission that day," I murmured. "But I came across your father when I was swimming in the river. The vulathan nearly ate him, but I intervened in time."
"Why didn't he tell me the full story?" His rough thumbs swept over my cheekbones.
"Probably because when I intervened and killed the vulathan who went after your dad, a second vulathan appeared." I bit down on my lip, wondering if it was actually okay to tell him what had happened if his father hadn't. "I was caught off guard, Bastian. Your father watched that monster tear me apart. I can imagine how traumatic it must've been for him."
His lips parted. "What happened?"
"Your dad killed that vulathan. I don't even know how, but he had powerful taming magic. He knew who and what I was, thankfully, so he helped piece my body back together so the magic could take over. He was there when I woke up, and I helped him collect all the herbs again." I tightened my grip on his wrists. "Your father told me about you. They tried for years to conceive you magically, you know. He was so proud."
Tears streamed down Bastian's face, and he slipped one hand to the back of my neck and the other to the lower part of my back before leaning down and sealing his lips over mine.
