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.

have sex, our spirits become a little closer to being one spirit?" |

shakes her head at

spirits where the edges are blurred and you can't tell where one ends and the other begins, but when you stand back, you can see there are actually two," she explains pointing back and forth between us. A little smirk comes to her face as she continues, "And | told you before, deepening our connection doesn't always have to be when we're having sex. Just when things are emotionally charged, good or

when we first introduced you to the pack and our hands started to glow or when you have a premonition," | nod in understanding. | think |

closer, "she confirms pinching her finger and

there was something wrong, but since the connection iS$ new; it's not that strong yet. The sensation it creates

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, anyway," she shrugs. | think she is referring to

that my spirit shouldn't have tried to go. It goes against nature. | got to a point where | couldn't go anymore, so | had to

you, the more your injuries were passed to me. It completely drained me because my physical body was injured too. As | got weaker, | was losing my anchor to this world. Then, | saw the image of the church and came back

her a gentle kiss. Holding her head in my hands. | look into her beautiful eyes when

Shit.

| feel my brow knit as

"What?"

You got hurt because of me,” Anger washes over me like acid. | have nowhere to direct it to but myself. If Saint

| got hurt because | did something stupid. | extended myself too far without knowing what | was doing. You're not allowed to

Thank you. | don't know what to say other than | love you. 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

eyes. | lean

"Bronx, w-we need to get Lex and Saint back. | can't stand this

tell me to, Kas. | need them back just as badly

just like our

with determination, "Okay. Let's get home to Blood River, and get to healing. We'll figure