Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

| run the water in the huge bathtub. Kas comes in with a sachet full of fragrant herbs and spreads them in the water. As they touch the surface, they sizzle and disappear, turning the water a deep aqua green. | step in first, then help her in.

Kas sits behind me and gently pours water down my back, being careful not to touch my wounds with her hands. The initial sting gives way to a cooling feeling. My skin immediately feels relief causing me to audibly groan.

"Now this is some magic | can get into," | sigh. ;

Kas giggles behind me, "These witches know a thing or two about healing, huh?"

We adjust our positions so she is sitting in front of me. | move her braided hair out of the way and use the cup to pour the water over her back. The sight of her wounds makes my heart clench.

"Oh, Baby, this is terrible," | don't even realize | say it out loud.

"It was worth it, Bronx. It isn't any worse than what | have experienced before," she turns her head slightly back toward me and says with a slight hitch in her voice.

"Never again," | don't know if | am saying it to her, to myself, or to her mother the Moon Goddess herself, but | mean it.

Kas sighs with relief as the water cascades down her back. | watch as the redness recedes into her skin and the swelling visibly wanes.

She finally turns around to face me, resting her forehead on mine and intertwining our fingers. The sparks of our mate bond were weaker without Saint and Lex but the welcoming glow of our connection gently shines from where our hands touch.

She leans back slightly and looks me in the eye. She seems to stumble over her words a little, not sure where to begin, "You know how | told you that when we're together, our spirits become more and more connected?” “Yeah, | remember, Baby," | caress my fingers against her cheek as | admire her beautiful face.

“Well, what | didn't get to tell you is that Lady Camille believes this is something new. We probably weren't able to connect like this in our past lives. Think of it as...h>mmm... evolution? | guess?" the look on her face is complicated, like she isn't sure if she's explaining it right.

okay. So every time we have sex, our spirits become a little closer to being one spirit?"

giggles and shakes her

two," she explains pointing back and forth between us. A little smirk comes

But in all seriousness, it's like when we first introduced you to the pack and our hands started to glow

moment helped us get that much closer, "she confirms pinching her finger and thumb almost together in front of

out to me for help because of the connection. | felt there was something wrong, but since the connection iS$ new; it's not that strong yet. The sensation it creates

think to do was to figure out where you were and see if you were okay. | had to send my spirit out of my body. I've never sent it that far before to connect with you like that. Not on purpose,

on the cusp of death, Bronx. You were in the place between life and death that my spirit shouldn't have tried to go. It goes against nature. | got to a point where | couldn't

physical body was injured too. As | got weaker, | was losing my anchor to this world. Then, | saw the image of

gentle kiss. Holding her head in my hands. |

Shit.

you?" | feel my brow knit as the

"What?"

hurt because | got hurt. | promised you no one would ever hurt you again, Kas but it was me. You got hurt because of me,” Anger washes over me like

without knowing what | was doing. You're not allowed

With everything | have, Kas Latmus, | love you,” | look into her eyes. | meant every syllable of what | just said. | never thought | would say it to anyone. She has changed my

is no doubt in her eyes. | lean forward and give her full lips a gentle

She starts to cry silent tears again, "Bronx, w-we need to get Lex and Saint back. | can't stand this

do whatever you tell me to, Kas. | need them back just as

we heal and get stronger. Our connection to each other helps us heal just like our wolves do. The closer we are, the faster our physical bodies heal, and | think it will help bring them back from

to Blood River, and get to healing. We'll figure out how to get our