Dark Fates (A Paranormal Anthology)(37)

After a moment, she realized what he meant. “Oh no. No. You can’t mean…”

“Yes, dearest. My heart has always beaten for you, but now it beats in you.” He smiled. “We are truly one.”





Chapter Six


“I have your heart in me?” she whispered, in shock. No wonder she’d felt so connected to him. Relieved the closeness made sense, she was also saddened to know their relationship had been created by magic, not any real feeling.

“Yes.” Tariq didn’t seem upset at all.

“Why aren’t you trying to dig it back out? Can I give you your heart back?”

He shook his head. “The Ib is not the actual organ. My physical heart beats. Feel.” He held her hand to his chest, where she felt his heart beat. “The Ib is my heart’s essence. And it has been yours since the day we first met.”

“Yesterday?”

“No. You don’t remember, but you will. I fear Set had a hold on you as well, and he’s been keeping you in hand for some reason. Perhaps to create the Elixir he wants.”

“I’m still not sure where it is.” She put her hands over her chest, wanting to feel him there. “Why did you call me Rehema?”

He pulled her close and kissed her, and she felt tears stream down her cheeks. Grief, triumph, fear, joy. All of his emotions surged through her, and she felt their hearts beat as one inside her.

“Set has much to answer for, making me forget so much. But now, looking at you, I see. I remember.”

Strangely, she was starting to as well.

“You were a young girl of just sixteen cycles when we met over a common well in Asyut. Your eyes were like rich pools of honey, and I offered to carry your water for you back to your family. We fell in love. You had such wonderful dreams of what our life would be. Of strange and wonderful things like boxes that talked, travel by winged construct, knowledge at the touch of a button.”

Her eyes widened.

“Yes, even then you were a dreamer.”

“Set calls me halimah. That means dreamer.” It all made a weird kind of sense.

“Yes. When I say you had my heart, I meant it. I love you, have always loved you.”

She blinked. “What?”

“Your true name is Rehema. The name of your first birth. Your memories of the past are gone but for dreams, yet the love we shared is there. I remember you.”

“I…remember you too. Meeting by the well. You tricking me into walking back with you. You always were a schemer.” She’d loved him so much once, and even now felt a pull toward him. But loving someone she didn’t know…knew…think she knew? “This is so confusing.”

“I know.” He stroked her cheek. “But the truth is Set took my Ib and hid it in you, knowing I would never do anything to harm you to get it back. I will always be less than truly whole without you.”

She felt terrible “I’m so sorry, Tariq.”

He laughed, surprising her. “Sorry? For what? For bringing me to life again? Rehema, I—”

“My name is Eden,” she said softly, and his smile faded. “I know I was once Rehema. But now… I’m not that girl anymore. I haven’t been for a very long time.”

“Yes, you are right, but—” Tariq paused and scowled.

“Tariq?”

“I have thought of something. Wait here.” He rushed from the room and returned with two of his men. “This is Mbizi, and this is Asim. Mbizi, look at her.”

She felt on display but didn’t shy away when the large Mbizi drew her to her feet and stared into her eyes.

“I begin to understand. The Elixir… It makes sense now.”

“Asim?” Tariq asked.

Asim moved to her and put his head to her chest. “Ah, I hear your Ib, Tariq. And something else.” He stared at Tariq with an odd look Eden didn’t understand.

Apparently Tariq did, for he paled. “Something else?”

Asim straightened and gave her an apologetic nod. “Yes.” Then he shocked her by going to one knee. Mbizi did the same.

“Um, Tariq?”

He looked strained but pleased. “They show you their respect.”

“And obedience to the mate of our leader.”

She watched them get to their feet, smile, and speak to Tariq in another language then leave with another bow in her direction.

Then what they’d said hit her. “Wait. What’s this about being your mate?”



Poor Rehema—Eden. His mate had been taking the news of so much change so well. Explaining to her right now that not only had they mated, he’d impregnated her, would not help her remain calm.

A child.

He quivered with joy, his jackal beyond thrilled to have found not only the rest of his soul, but the perfect companion for all eternity. One doomed by ties to a brutal god, a curse, and a lifetime of penance, but hey, at least they’d connected.

He led her to the bed and sat next to her, keeping a hand on her knee because he was unable to stop touching her. “Eden, we have little time before Set returns. I would that you know the truth.” Or as much of it as you can handle right now.

She nodded, looking so lost and vulnerable his heart melted inside her. “I have been empty without you these many years. Though you are Eden Dixon, a mortal woman of this plane, you are also the soul I cannot do without. I pledge myself to you. For always. You do not know me, and I do not know you as Eden, but we are meant to be together.”