Dark Alpha's Caress Read online

  “I’ve got some things to do before we can. First, I need to relinquish everything my father gave me. Then, I need to speak to Rhona.”

  Cathal bowed his head, a smile still in place. “All right.”

  “Will you come with me?”

  “I always want to be with you.”

  It didn’t take long for Sorcha to find Eddie and tell him that she needed to relinquish her inheritance. There were questions in her uncle’s eyes, but after he glanced at Cathal, it seemed he decided to keep them to himself. In less than two hours, everything that Sorcha had gained through her father had been divided up between the rest of her relatives—which were numerous.

  It felt good—and right—to hand it all back. Not that she didn’t want any of it. She very much did. But she couldn’t see herself living in Ireland, even though her father had done everything in his power to keep her safe. She would love him forever for that. She didn’t need the material possessions to remember him.

  As she walked out of the manor holding Cathal’s hand, she glanced over her shoulder at it one more time. “I wonder what my life would’ve been like had my mother been able to marry my father.”

  “I think you would’ve been loved, just as you were.”

  She smiled at him. “You’re right.”

  “Ready to go to Skye?”

  She swallowed and gave him a nod. In the next instant, they were at her cottage. It felt as if she had been gone for years, not days. Sorcha used her mobile and called Rhona to ask her cousin to come and visit. While she waited, Sorcha walked through the house, letting the memories fill her—and taking the bad with the good.

  “We don’t have to do this now,” Cathal said.

  She turned around as she stood in her bedroom and found him leaning against the doorframe. “It’s time. I think I realized I needed to move on when Rhona sent me to Ireland to spy for her. I tried to deny it, but it was there all along.”

  Cathal’s head jerked around at the sound of a car door.

  “Don’t veil yourself,” Sorcha said as she grabbed his hand on her way to the front of the house.

  She opened the door before Rhona could reach it. Her cousin’s green eyes went straight to Cathal.

  “Hello,” Rhona said hesitantly.

  Sorcha stepped aside to let her cousin enter. “Thanks for coming. There are some things you need to know.”

  Rhona said nothing as she walked into the house and turned to face them. “You mean that you’re half-Fae.”

  “What?” Sorcha asked in surprise.

  Rhona shrugged, her lips twisting as she cut her eyes to Cathal. “Sorry. I saw him and realized that you must know the truth now.”

  “How long have you known?” Cathal asked Rhona.

  Her cousin pressed her lips together. “My mum told me before she died. She made it sound as if you already knew, so I didn’t bring it up.”

  “I don’t understand.” Sorcha moved to the chair so she could hold onto it. “How did you know? I just learned of it a few days ago from Cathal. Mum didn’t even tell me.”

  “Your mum and mine had lunch together about a week before the accident,” Rhona said. “Apparently, your mum told mine everything about your father and how he was Light Fae.”

  Sorcha blinked rapidly to keep the tears from spilling over her eyes. “I got to meet him before he died. It’s a long story, but he had a wife that he wanted to divorce for mum, but the woman wouldn’t let him. She was the one who killed Mum and Molly.”

  Rhona rushed to her and enveloped Sorcha in a hug. “I’m so sorry. But you have to know, none of us ever blamed you.”

  “I know.” Sorcha sniffed and dashed the tears away before she pulled back. “And thank you for that.”

  “So,” Rhona said as she looked between Sorcha and Cathal. “I’m guessing this means you’re leaving.”

  Sorcha smiled and took Cathal’s hand. “Rhona, this is Cathal. And, yes. I am leaving with him to start a new life. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Cathal,” Rhona said with a smile. “If you hurt my cousin, I’ll find you and cut out your heart.”

  There was a wide smile on Cathal’s face when he said, “You won’t ever have to do that, but I respect you more because you said it.”

  “And this house will always be yours,” Rhona told Sorcha. “We’ll keep it up in case you ever need a place to go.”

  Sorcha hugged Rhona again. “I love you, and I’m going to miss you.”

  “Same.” Rhona sniffed and quickly turned her head away to hide the tears. When she had herself under control, she looked back at them. “So, is this farewell?”

  “For now,” Cathal said.

  Sorcha suddenly looked at Cathal. “Before the Others were defeated, Rhona and many Druids here fought Moreann.”

  “Just proves how powerful all of you are,” Cathal said to Rhona. Then he blinked. “Wait. You’re the Druids who found Moreann?”

  Rhona nodded with a smile. “That was us, yes. Thanks to Corann leading us to her.”

  “That means you know where Usaeil was.”

  Sorcha felt the tension vibrating off Cathal. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but whatever it was, it was important.

  Rhona was more hesitant now as she said, “We did.”

  Cathal took a step toward her, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “Did you find a Fae there named Xaneth? He’s Usaeil’s nephew. She captured him months ago. We’ve been looking for him ever since.”

  “We looked through the entire estate. We didn’t find any Light Fae there. Only Usaeil’s Trackers,” Rhona told him.

  Cathal sighed heavily. “It was worth a shot to think that Xaneth might be there.”

  Sorcha frowned as she looked at her cousin. “Can you give us the location? Perhaps it’ll be good for Cathal and his friends to walk around the place.”

  “That’s a great idea,” he said.

  Rhona flashed them a smile and told them where she’d found Usaeil.

  Epilogue

  Cathal had never been so nervous as he was to take Sorcha to Death’s realm. He couldn’t take his eyes from her as they walked through the doorway into the new world. Sorcha’s eyes widened as her mouth dropped open. She hurried from plant to plant, touching the leaves and inhaling the fragrance of the flowers.

  He simply stood back with a smile on his face.

  “Well, that’s not something I thought I’d ever see,” Eoghan said as he walked up. “A genuine smile.”

  Cathal nodded as he glanced at the leader before he jerked his chin to Sorcha. “It’s all because of her.”

  “We’re all very eager to meet her. Especially Erith.”

  Cathal didn’t want to spoil Sorcha’s fun, but they did have years for her to enjoy the flowers. He called out to her, and she turned to him with a smile. As she approached, she shot Cathal a bright smile. “There is heather by the water. I can’t believe it.” Then she held out her hand to Eoghan and said, “Hi. I’m Sorcha.”

  “Hello, Sorcha. I’m Eoghan.”

  Cathal leaned down and whispered, “My boss.”

  Sorcha’s emerald eyes widened. “Ah. I see. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Come,” Eoghan told them. “The others are waiting for you.”

  Cathal felt the faint tremor in Sorcha’s hand, but she eagerly walked with him. As they approached the white tower, she began to relax. It had been the same for him the first time he’d seen the structure. There was just something about it.

  Sorcha was in awe. Everywhere she looked was a beauty so glorious she couldn’t find words. The moment they reached the tower and walked inside, a petite woman with long, blue-black hair stepped forward. She was clothed in a gown of all black, and her lavender eyes were framed by long, thick lashes. She had to be the most stunning creature Sorcha had ever seen. Without a doubt, Sorcha knew this was Death.

  “It’s nice to have you here with us, Sorcha. I hope you like your new home. I’m Er
ith, but outside of this realm, you will refer to me as Death,” she said. Then she motioned to a Light Fae with purple eyes. “And this is my husband and mate, Cael.”

  Sorcha swallowed, nodding. “Thank you for allowing me here. I’ll love Cathal with all my heart for the rest of my days.”

  “We know,” Eoghan said. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here.”

  Then, one by one, she was introduced to the rest of Cathal’s team and their mates before the first team of Reapers came forward. There was no way she would remember everyone’s name, but that didn’t matter. She knew she’d found her home here with Cathal and the Reapers.

  A day later…

  * * *

  Cathal stood with Sorcha and the rest of his team of Reapers in what was left of Usaeil’s home, where she had taken Moreann, Corann, and the other Druids. But Xaneth wasn’t here. It wasn’t until Sorcha nudged him and pointed to Aisling, who stood near a doorway looking into a room, that they walked to her. Cathal looked over Aisling to find a bed and the impression of a body on the mattress, as well as a headprint on the pillow.

  “He was here,” Aisling said softly.

  Eoghan pushed past her and walked into the room. After just a few seconds, he called Death’s name. Erith and Cael immediately appeared.

  Death’s lavender gaze locked on the bed before she nodded. “Xaneth was here,” she confirmed.

  “Then where the hell is he now?” Rordan asked.

  Torin crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged. “He must have been held here. It makes sense since no one could locate Usaeil when she was here.”

  “And what?” Bradach asked. “Usaeil’s magic faded upon her death, and he was able to leave?”

  Cael walked to the bed and put his hand upon it. He jerked back almost immediately as his gaze snapped to Erith. She joined him. Together, they put their hands on the mattress. Death hissed in a breath, but she didn’t pull back. It was Cael who took hold of her and physically moved her away from the bed.

  He held her silently for a moment before he looked at each of them. “Usaeil’s magic held Xaneth. She had him trapped in his own mind.”

  Aisling turned her back to the room. Then, with a shuddering breath, she walked away without a word. Cathal watched her go before he turned his attention to Cael.

  “Xaneth got free on his own,” Erith told the room.

  Rordan winced. “Fek me.”

  “We need to find him soon,” Dubhan stated.

  Eoghan nodded. “It’s time to get back to our realm and start planning.”

  Death gave a nod. “Unfortunately, now that the Druids of Ireland have decided to create their own group of Others, things may go the same on Skye.”

  “My cousin doesn’t want that,” Sorcha said. “But it may be out of her hands.”

  Torin blew out a breath. “Just when we thought things with the Others was over.”

  “We’ll get a handle on it,” Cael said.

  Someone was going to die. It was the only way Xaneth could stop this hell he was living in. He just needed to find the right person.

  * * *

  Continue reading for a sneak peek at Dark Alpha’s Obsession, the next book in the Reapers series.

  Excerpt of DARK ALPHA’S OBSESSION

  Reapers Series, Book 11

  Achill Island, Ireland

  End of July

  * * *

  Tonight was no different than the others. Same speech given by her brother. Same curious faces watching him. Same security in place.

  But something was off.

  Fianna couldn’t put her finger on it no matter how many times she scanned the faces in the room. No one appeared out of place. Then again, few rarely did during the first meetings. Because that’s what this was. The first of three before Dorcha chose which ones would be welcomed into their community.

  She remained in the shadows, her eyes stopping to inspect each face of the thirty gathered. It was her duty to spot any trouble. And she was damned good at it. While her brother had been gifted a silver tongue that could enrapture a room with just a few words, her skills ran to battle, weapons, and magic. Since she detested being the center of attention, she was quite happy being head of security and staying in the background.

  Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. She turned her head and spotted her brother making his way from a back room to the makeshift stage that had been put in place just for him. Their gazes briefly met. Dorcha shot her a wink before he put a huge smile on his face and waved to the gathered crowd.

  She had no idea how he did this night after night. He thrived on it, while the very thought of repeating the speeches made her want to gauge her eyes out. Then again, Dorcha couldn’t understand why she loved to train daily or got such a thrill out of maintaining his security. They were, as their father often said, as different as night and day.

  Fianna looked to the door to see a few late stragglers entering the manor just as her brother’s voice filled the room. She paid no attention to her brother. Her job was on keeping an eye on those who attended. There were few who truly understood how important Dorcha was. But they would soon enough.

  Hers and Dorcha’s entire lives had led up to what was building. Fianna had trained tirelessly, became proficient at old magic that had been forgotten, and learned to fight with a unique set of weapons while Dorcha had absorbed knowledge from ancient scrolls and perfected his speaking voice.

  She waited until the door closed behind the last individual before she made her way around the perimeter of the room. Their meeting place was in none other than Moorehall. It was a striking edifice with dark gray stone against the vibrant green surroundings. There were times, like now, when she looked upon the splendor of the manor that she felt sorry humans couldn’t witness such breathtaking grandeur. Thanks to Fae magic, the mortals believed the manor was haunted and nothing but a crumbling house which had been neglected and forgotten.

  Fianna moved slowly, keeping as far from the guests. Her security team was set up throughout the manor, hidden so as not to draw attention to themselves – or the fact that Dorcha even had security.

  Once she made it all the way back to the other side of the stage, she set up in her usual spot and set about watching the crowd. With her brother’s voice in the background, she noticed that nearly everyone laughed at his jokes, nodded their heads in agreement, or clapped with enthusiasm. Her attention locked on the three who did neither of those things.

  Two males stood at the back with their arms crossed over their chests with a look of discontent on their faces. Their heads were tilted towards each other and they spoke in whispers, alerting her that they had most likely come together. She gave a nod to two of her men near her and jerked her chin to the pair she had observed. Her men would station themselves near the two individuals to intervene should it become necessary.

  And sometimes, it was necessary.

  People didn’t always like what Dorcha had to say. But it needed said, and if he was the only one strong enough and brave enough to say it, then it fell to him.

  Her gaze slid to the other guest who made no motion of agreement. The male Fae stood tall, his gaze direct as he watched Dorcha. Fianna leaned to the side to get a better view of the male. He wore a leather jacket over a black tee which prohibited her from seeing his physique. His thick black hair was trimmed short, the kind of cut a man wore when he didn’t want to be bothered with styling his hair. He had a strong jawline, regal nose, and wide lips that were a full and utterly sexy.

  Handsome? He was definitely that. But there was something else about him as well. A hint of danger, maybe? The fact she couldn’t figure him out as she did others intrigued her.

  He shifted slightly, taking a deep breath that lifted his shoulders as he stuffed his fingers into the front pockets of his jeans. She noticed his gaze moving about, as if he were sizing up those around him. Fianna was instantly on alert, though she had to remind herself that this meeting was one that led to som
ething very secret. Perhaps this man suspected that and was just looking out for himself.

  Her stomach fluttered when the Fae’s lips suddenly turned up slightly in the corners. Fianna instinctively took a step back. She wanted to run to her room and put as much distance between them as she could, but that wasn’t an option. Not now, at least.

  She forced herself to hold her ground and look anywhere but his face. Little by little, she gained control of herself. It had been a long time since she had been so…overcome. And she was grateful that neither Dorcha nor her father had witnessed the episode. Yet, even when she had control of herself, she still didn’t look at the Fae’s face again. That would be idiotic, and she was anything but.

  Continue Dark Alpha’s Obsession, order today!

  Thank You!

  Thank you for reading DARK ALPHA’S CARESS. I hope you enjoyed it! If you liked this book – or any of my other releases – please consider rating the book at the online retailer of your choice. Your ratings and reviews help other readers find new favorites, and of course there is no better or more appreciated support for an author than word of mouth recommendations from happy readers. Thanks again for your interest in my books!

  Donna Grant

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