The Reaver Chronicles: Raphael (Book 2)

Chapter 1

Dedication

Thank you

Raphael, for being an awesome character to write a story about.

And Thank you

To my best friend Mike, for still being there even though this is crazy!

For letting me bounce ideas off you once again.

And for supporting my crazy adventure writing this series.

Here's to book 3!

Chapter 1

I could tell you the exact moment my entire life took quite the turn for the worse. It was January 13th, 1920. She was 92 years old. I held her frail body in my arms and rocked her gently, running my fingers through her now silver and gray hair.

I let my fingers gently trace the Silver glittery infinity symbol etched on the side of her face and down her neck. Her body shuddered at my touch, courtesy of the mark.

I knew it was getting close to the end. As much as I wanted to deny it, she had been sick for a while now and refused to let me heal her. 76 years together, and it was all about to be gone. I contemplated just changing her anyways, right now, before the world took her from me forever.

I could change her into a Wolf, or a Vampire. Hell I would have changed her into a filthy damn Necromancer if she would have agreed. But I just couldn't bring myself to go against her wishes.

This very conversation we have had many times before. It always ended with the same outcome. She didn't want to live a cursed life. She was Human, and she planned to die Human. I had tried to talk her out of it more times than I could count. Silly Humans, they were such a strange species.

I had agreed to her tems when I met her, and honestly I thought she would change her mind as the years went on... But she never did.

She was so strong and so beautiful with her brown curly hair, olive skin, curvy body, and light brown eyes. She was the most amazing woman I had ever, in my lifetime, had the pleasure of knowing... Let alone being mated to... By choice of course.

It was my luck she chose me all those years ago. She didn't know, but she saved me from a lot more than just myself. I was torn from my thoughts when she started to rustle in my arms.

"Thank you for giving me such a wonderful life. I will always love you." She said softly as she stared deep into my silver eyes. Her gaze burned a hole straight into my soul. Then she closed her eyes, and exhaled her last breath.

I had to stay strong, for her... But it felt as if my entire being was ripped into a million pieces. I had to push Axel, my Wolf, who was howling in pain at losing our mate, from my mind in order to keep my composure.

The call to the coroner was short and to the point. They were there within an hour to pick up her body and take it to the mortuary.

She didn't want a funeral, she didn't want anything fancy. No big group of people mourning over her, or talking about how great she was. She never cared for any of that. "Cremate me and keep me with you always." She used to say. I planned on it.

I was standing at the mortuary, silver and black urn in hand. The sunlight was glinting off the urn casting a sparkle around the entire room. My face was solemn and void of emotion. I couldn't breathe, let alone speak to anyone.

I materialized at home in front of the mantle and had just enough time to set the urn down before I lost it. I fell to the floor in a crumpled mess. The tears streamed down my face for what seemed like an eternity.

Every emotion I had been holding in since she passed just released into the open. It was as if every molecule of air was sucked from my lungs. It was all I had to suck air in so I could keep shedding tears like a waterfall. My heart was completely shattered, my every being was torn into pieces.

I wasn't even sure how I could ever live on without her.

I don't even know how long I layed there on the floor at the mantle before I fell into a deep, and thankfully, dreamless sleep.

After I woke, I swore I would never show outward emotion again. The urn remained on the mantle in the exact spot I left it before my breakdown.