The Reaper's Wicked Obsession-Chapter 175: Do You Care For Me?

"There’s something off about this place, I can feel it," Logi said, rubbing his palms together, eyes briefly skimming through the others in the tavern.

"What do you mean, Logi?" Isadora asked, doing the same thing.

Nothing looked off to her—just welcoming people seated as they enjoyed their evening drinks.

It was livelier at night, with the upbeat instrumental tunes filling the air and the children dancing to the rhythm as they giggled and laughed.

"That caretaker, Solin, bothers me too. He’s strange."

"Typical," Kraven mused, bringing the wooden cup to his lips. "Certainly not strange enough for a man who flirts with others’ wives."

Isadora rolled her eyes. ’He won’t let this go, will he?’

"Not that... look at this place, Kraven, what do you think? Doesn’t this strike you as odd?"

Kraven frowned. "If you’re asking my opinion, you’re on the wrong track."

"Fair point." Logi turned to Isadora.

She stiffened at his intense gaze. "What do you want me to say? I don’t feel anything strange."

Logi shrugged. "Maybe I’m just being paranoid then."

"Have you found the location of the old tunnel?" Kraven asked.

"According to Solin, the rune we saw was a child’s play."

Kraven narrowed his eyes. "That’s not possible. That thing was ingrained on the earth like a master craftsman did it."

"Glad to see I’m not the only one who thinks something is wrong."

"Do you think Solin’s lying?" Isadora asked.

"Yes," Logi replied with certainty. "Their resources are clearly obtained using the old tunnels. How else would they have survived deep in the wild? Hard work?" He scoffed. "Then the gods should strike me dead."

Kraven dropped the cup on the table. "Scout the area at night. This is a peaceful village, no one will see you move."

"You didn’t even have to ask," Logi smirked. "It was already on my top list."

~♧~

Isadora stood in front of her room door. She released a sharp exhale before turning to Kraven.

"Married couples should share a room," she voiced, trying to hide the shaky undertone, crumbling her words.

Kraven tilted his head, a grin on his lips. "Hmm... how odd of you to finally keep the act. Color me surprised."

She cleared her throat. "You’re the one who said we should act the part."

Kraven rested his palm against the door above her head. He leaned closer until she could feel his warm breath flushing her cheeks.

"Indeed, I did."

Isadora licked her dry lips, shifting her gaze to his other hand before taking it and turning his palm.

A red cut marked his skin, and from the look of it, it had been a while.

"You cut yourself just to walk through the village."

"I cut myself so that I wouldn’t kill that Solin for sweet-talking you. Against my better judgment, I don’t want to make a scene... yet."

Isadora huffed at his response. The silence stretched between them as she moved her fingers and weaves emerged, slipping into the cut and closing up the red line.

"Are you going to threaten me now by putting a dagger to your throat?"

"What’s the use? You’ll do it again." She held his hand tightly, a worried expression etched on her face. "Your aura is dull."

"That doesn’t mean I’m vulnerable, love. Don’t forget that."

"But you’re weakening yourself!"

"Keep saying words like that, then I might think you actually care about me," he mused.

"Does that scare you?"

"It intrigues me. Everything about you does." Kraven brought her hand to his cheek, eyes closed briefly, relishing the feeling of her soft palm against his skin.

Isadora’s breath shuddered at the sight.

"My little bunny cares for me."

’I do?’ she thought, but it was a stupid mental question. There was no need to hide from it. It was the truth.

Then why does she feel scared of it?

"Go to bed, love."

His words pulled her attention. "You’re not coming in?"

"We’re married in disguise... there’s no need to put up the act at night when half the village is asleep," Kraven said, but internally, he knew why he couldn’t.

Isadora was becoming an addiction he couldn’t handle. His thirst will strive at the chance. That was the last thing he wanted.

As much as he could love to indulge his dark desires... This was not the right time.

However, Isadora saw this differently. "Yes.. you’re right. Good night, Kraven." She turned, opened the door, and slammed it right into his face.

Isadora leaned against the door, waiting... for what? She couldn’t tell, but when she heard his retreating footsteps, a sharp pain found her chest.

~♧~

’There was no reason for him to stay.’

Those words became a mantra imprinted deep in Isadora’s mind, but the more she said them mentally, the more her heart ached.

Did he only kiss her in those woods to work the disguise? Did he only hold her hand because of it?

She was confused and, most importantly, bothered. Their relationship had been complicated so far, twisted from all angles. But never once had it been truly defined.

Isadora cared for him and wanted him in ways she couldn’t understand. She had mentally decided to stay by his side, yet why does it feel so unfulfilling?

’Have you truly become selfish, Isa? Kraven is really rubbing off on you,’ she thought, turning to her side, eyes sad, and her mind succumbing to intense thoughts.

She knew he had his burden, she knew the internal battles he fought, yet...

"I can’t help it," she mumbled, her fist clenching against the sheets.

She wanted more of him.

Suddenly, a scraping sound came from the ceiling. Isadora rolled onto her back, keeping her narrowed gaze on it.

What was that sound?

This was the top floor—squirrels could be rattling around at this random hour.

Just the thing she needed to keep her from sleeping. However, Isadora was determined to get some shut-eye.

Isadora squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to fall asleep. But the scraping came again, repeating, growing louder and louder.

She blinked her eyes open, her gaze fixed on the wooden ceiling.

Scuttle. Scuttle. Scuttle.

Just when she thought the squirrel’s disturbance would continue, the sound shifted to a slow, eerie creak.

Isadora pressed her hand to her sides and pushed her body to sit.

Something was up there.