“Careful.” Katherine cautioned as she helped me into our apartment.

“I’m bruised, not broken.” I retorted.

“The doctor said to take it easy. Your ribs are still healing. You shouldn’t do anything strenuous for the next three to four weeks.”

“Then an X-ray to see how well I’ve healed.” I rolled my eyes. “I was there when the doctor explained everything before signing off on my discharge papers.”

A meow caught our attention. Heli sat on the kitchen island, watching us. I frowned at the creature.

“This is a surprise.” Katherine went over to Heli.

“What is?”

“For the two weeks you were in the hospital, Heli wasn’t around. I thought he had gone back to his owner since my flyers didn’t work.”

I manoeuvred myself into a living room chair, slowly. “If no one has claimed him, that makes him ours to keep.”

“Really?” She asked hopefully.

Heli hopped off the island and came to me. He meowed at my feet, but my ribs are too bruised to bend over. I patted my lap, and Heli jumped up. Katherine deserves a pet who’ll show her this much attention.

“Let’s go to the shelter tomorrow.” I declared. “We’ll find you a pet that’s as attracted to you as Heli is to me.”

Katherine smiled. “I’d love that.”

“Can you get me some water? After all those stairs, I’m down for the count.”

She laughed and obliged my request. Katherine didn’t stay. She had permission from the doctor to bring me home, but she had to get back to work. The hospital gave me one last dose of painkillers before I was discharged. Settled in my apartment, I let my eyes close for the medication to take hold.

A forest formed around me, and a Grim Reaper faced me. The hood fell to reveal Damien’s handsome face. In a few long strides, he was able to cup my face and kiss me. Despite this connection in the dream world, I haven’t seen much of him.

“I missed you.” He said, resting his forehead on mine.

“Where have you been?”

“My actions have been under review.”

“Actions?” I stepped back a half step to look him in the face. “You mean what you did to save me?”

“Yes.”

The scene around us changed. A calm lake stretched out before me, the sun’s rays warmed my skin, and birds chirped somewhere in the distance. Damien, out of his cloak and now in his usual slacks and dress shirt, tugged me to a two-person bench swing. I sat beside him but didn’t snuggle into his arms. We are having a serious conversation, and any intimacy will be a distraction.

“Well?” I prodded. “What are the results of the review? And why didn’t you come see me in person while I was in the hospital?”

“With all the cops visiting you, I didn’t think you’d want to have me around.” Damien brushed his fingers along my face, as if he were tucking loose strands of hair behind my ear. “Do you want your co-workers to know that you’re dating a so-called criminal?”

I winced. “Chief Shields told me that whatever position I’ve placed myself with you will remain between him, me, and Captain Ruggle.”

“Meaning he doesn’t want anyone else to know that you’re mine.” He paused. “But, how do you feel about that?”

“I’m not sure.” I reached up, running my thumb soothingly over the scythe charm around my neck. “I haven’t really thought about it.”

“In this, I will follow your lead. Though you should know that I’m more than happy to scream it from the rooftops. Or make a billboard announcing to all of Richlim that you are mine, Sky.”

I kissed him. “Please don’t. Katherine and Marianne know. If you come as my plus one to the wedding, the rest of my family will know.”

“You have a deal.” He chuckled. “No billboard.”

“Now, tell me about your review.”

Damien sighed heavily. “Select Scythe Reapers from around the world got together to discuss my actions. Remember, I broke the law by reaping souls before their time.”

“And in human terms, that’s like shooting someone?”

“Yes. Our laws are based on human laws, but they are not an exact match.”

“Okay, so a jury got together to deliberate.” I purposefully reworded his explanation to better understand it.

Damien nodded. “I was banned from entering the dream world until they made a decision. They determined that all the souls I reaped, except the driver, would have died when the police raided the shipping yard.”

“But the driver would have survived without your interference.”

“He and Tim would have also stolen you away to someplace I may not have been able to find.”

I shivered at the memory. Damien pulled me into his arms, his hand running up and down my back. None of my past undercover assignments has ever placed me in such a dangerous situation. Jax is the one who willingly takes on the more dangerous assignments. She’s tougher than I am. Now I have a better understanding of what horrors she could face if I’m not there for her. Thinking of my partner, I remembered that I haven’t touched base with her in two weeks. As soon as I wake up, Jax will be my priority.

“Skylar?” Damien pushed me back to search my face. “You know I won’t let anything like that happen to you again, right?”

“I know.” I smiled at him. “You’re in the dream world, so does that mean your review ended on a positive note?”

“Scythe Reapers are few. We can’t afford to diminish our numbers. So, for now, I’m on probation. I will be given assignments, and I must reap the souls — one for every unsanctioned soul.” He caressed my cheek. “Because I was saving my soul mate, the Scythe Reapers chose a more lenient punishment.”

I wormed myself back into Damien’s embrace. Our time in the dream world is far more intimate than anything I’ve experienced with my past relationships. He repositioned me so I lay more on top of him rather than sitting beside him. Then he began moving the swing, and we rocked soothingly back and forth. Between the motion and being with Damien, I fell asleep. Though the painkillers could have had something to do with it, too.