The Reaper's Wicked Obsession-Chapter 171: The Disguise (1)

Isadora stared at him with trembling eyes. It was hard not to miss the glimpse of an unfamiliar emotion, a mix of raw need that blended with his thirst.

It was unusual, both scary and fascinating. She was more eager to know now... how he planned for her to greet the god of death.

Isadora opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t get the words out as his came sharper.

"Don’t," Kraven warned in a low, lethal tone. "Your curiosity will get you in trouble, love."

His grip tightened against her delicate jaw, the strong urge to rip it off and smash his lips down on her parted ones conflicted him to the bone.

How dare she ask such a question? She was a brave little thing who knew nothing of how his mind worked. How deep he was drowned in insanity—the depths of his mind were far beyond anything she could understand.

His insanity was his only.

Isadora swallowed a lump in her throat; whatever words she was about to conjure were gone.

"Never ask a madman such a question..." He leaned until their noses touched. "Especially when it comes from his obsession. Don’t play with fire." He pulled away and turned his back, walking on ahead.

Isadora released a sharp breath, keeping her eyes on Kraven’s back. ’What in Alda’s name is wrong with me?’

Did she really ask such a question? Regret gnawed at her. He was already dealing with his self-control, and yet she had to poke the sleeping beast.

’Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, Isa!’

~♧~

Logi crouched atop a tree branch, squinting his green eyes to zoom into the distance.

There was a view of a village just far ahead, nestled in the valley and blending with the environment, surrounded by tall snow-covered trees.

Logi half expected it to be abandoned if not for the soft trail of smoke coming from the chimneys and the warm lights glowing from the windows.

A smile found his lips. "The gods know I never make a mistake." He chuckled. "The distance was just not accurate."

His smile grew wider when he saw a mark on a tree. He narrowed his eyes more just to confirm what he needed.

"Did you find anything?"

The sound of Isadora’s voice pulled his focus. He turned and sat on the branch, staring down at the two.

"I did," he replied. "But I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is... I made no mistake in my godly craft. We’re safely further away from the Grim Isle, stuck in the middle of nowhere."

"The bad news," Kraven said.

"Relax, Kraven... I’m not done with the good news." He ran a hand through his inky, dark hair. "There’s a rune in the village, I think there’s an old tunnel somewhere around here. The gods are in our favor."

"What rune?" Isadora asked, confused.

"There are natural runes embedded in trees or the earth. A letter for gateway, when you see this, it means an old tunnel is nearby," Kraven replied.

"Exactly as he said," Logi mused. "I’m yet to figure out the tunnel’s location, but I’m sure the villagers know. If I find the old tunnel, I can alter it to take us to the Grim Isle, even better, straight to Brookcrest without any stops."

Isadora found relief at his words, but almost got nervous at the thought of going back to Brookcrest; she hadn’t put much thought into it until now.

Going back to the place that had been her cage for fourteen winters... was disturbing. However, the thought of seeing Serena broke that feeling.

"Now the bad news."

Logi words snap Isadora back to reality.

Logi jumped from the tree and landed on his feet, flapping off the snow that got on his cloak before saying. "We can’t blend in; small villages like this will only draw too much attention. I’ve an idea."

~♧~

Isadora couldn’t believe they had to go into the village in a disguise. It seemed like the only option.

Logi’s grand plan, as he called it.

However, wearing this clothing aside from leather became slightly uncomfortable. Moons with them had made anything else odd for Isadora.

It was a drastic change for her because she could remember how unbefitting it was to wear pants and now it was the complete opposite.

Logi had stolen some clothes for them, much to Isadora’s disagreement; he called it an art of necessity. She couldn’t question it then, she preferred this to letting the villagers grow suspicious of them at first glimpse.

Isadora’s attire was a long woolen dress with a sturdy bodice, layered with a brown winter coat.

Her twin daggers were safely tucked in her coat, a belt holding them firmly in place. Her small dagger was strapped around her thigh under her skirt.

Her weapons were safely hidden, just as told. She looked no different from a harmless woman wandering the area.

Isadora placed her leathers in the hole and dragged a small boulder to cover them up. It was already marked to make it easier to find when they were done scouting the village.

She rose to her feet and made it back to them.

"Took some time," Logi mused, adjusting his knitted cap. He was dressed in a loose tunic and trousers, paired with a high-collared coat.

"A woman needs her time." Isadora tried to keep the skirt right. "How long do we’ve to do this?"

"What? A disguise is always the best part of a silent mission. Just look at you... You look..." His amused gaze skimmed her up and down. "Like a sweet, innocent girl who wouldn’t hurt a fly."

Isadora rolled her eyes.

"Now let’s make sure we’re on track. We’re simple travelers moving across the continent in a peaceful harmony."

"Is that the story you’re going for?"

"What else? Small villages are usually known to be on tourist noses. We need something they won’t question if given the chance."

"Okay then," Isadora folded her arms. "We travel together as a merry group, so what’s our relationship?"

Logi grinned widely like he had been waiting for that exact question. "I’m your brother."

"Brother?" she grimaced.

"Come on! Am I not good enough to be? I’m handsome, aren’t I?"

Isadora scoffed. "We look nothing alike."

"You’re adopted."

Isadora opened her mouth to throw words at him, but Logi’s next words stopped her.

"And you’re Kraven’s wife."

Her blood ran cold at his declaration. "W-W-What?"

Logi shrugged. "Either that or you’re our little sister, I thought through it and considered it a bad idea."

Isadora swallowed a lump in her throat. "W-Wife?"

"Or lovers, whatever suits you. Come on, Kraven’s waiting, he’s already more irritated about this, I think he doesn’t like the village even though he hasn’t stepped a foot there," Logi ranted on as he walked away.

Isadora’s hands fidgeted together, her mind still trying to wrap around Logi’s words.

’His wife?’

Goosebumps rose from her skin, but not from the cold—just a feeling overtaking her insides, pooling deep in her lower stomach.

She shook her head to get rid of the swirl of butterflies fluttering. ’It’s just a disguise, that’s all. Get a grip on yourself, Isa!’

Isadora followed Logi behind as they walked up the hill to find Kraven waiting, but he remained focused on the village, eyes scrutinizing the denizens.

He wore a loose tunic, leather trousers, and a sturdy brown coat with a high collar, reaching his knees.

Isadora had always seen him in black attire, seeing the little color gave him an outlook she hadn’t seen before.

The gods knew he looked more handsome in casual clothing, no one would tell that he was a murderous mad Fae. Only if he kept his occasional bloodlust hidden.

’Why do I get the feeling this is a bad idea?’

"We’re ready!" Logi announced, more lively than usual.

Isadora had a strong feeling that he enjoyed her distress. The gods had damned her again, she was on a mission with Faes who shared the same twisted amusement.

Isadora’s nerves spiked when Kraven veered his gaze away from the view. His silver eyes pinned down on her, skimming from head to toe like she was a new specimen he was trying to figure out.

’Do I look funny?’ she thought as her breathing hitched. Maybe the dress looked ugly.

"Go ahead, Logi. We’ll catch up," Kraven said, not taking her eyes off her.

Isadora tensed at his words and silently prayed Logi wouldn’t leave, but that was too much to ask; his boots were already crunching against the snow as he descended the hill, his whistle echoing through the air.

Isadora licked her lips, breaking eye contact because it felt like the intensity would bury her alive.

’What now?’

"What’s wrong, love?" Kraven asked, amused and intrigued by her conflict. He clearly knew why, but wanted to drag it out of her.

Isadora cleared her throat. "N-Nothing."

’Stubborn little bunny.’

"Logi has briefed you already, hasn’t he?" he drawled. "Our disguise."