Dark Alpha's Demand: A Reaper Novel (Reapers) Page 9

  “The boys made her life difficult. And the girl, she came to me crying, saying I had deceived her. I tried to tell her that there was nothing between her and I, but she wouldn’t listen. The next day, the boys told their parents that Corla used magic to punish them.”

  Talin paused as he pulled out of her and released her legs so she was standing. He took a step back, but he held on to Neve’s hand. “Corla feared she would be let go, but the parents simply reprimanded her after hearing she hadn’t done anything to the kids. The children were outraged. For several days, they refused to allow Corla near them. And then, she was found in her room with a knife through her heart.”

  Neve covered her mouth with her free hand in shock. Her hand dropped to her side as she realized who was at fault. “It was the kids, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, though I couldn’t prove it. The parents didn’t believe their children could do any wrong. The girl’s affections grew bolder, and I knew I was going to have to leave. I told the parents, but asked that they not tell anyone else until I’d departed.”

  “The kids found out, didn’t they?”

  “The girl came into my room while I slept. When I refused to have sex with her, she ran out crying. I thought that was the last of it, but I was wrong. It was my last day at the estate when one of the boys told me his sister had walked through a Fae doorway. I immediately ran to find her. Only there was no doorway.”

  Neve held his hand tighter, waiting helplessly for the rest of the story.

  “It was a trick to get me in place. The girl lay upon the ground, and I was shoved from behind. I landed on her. I tried to roll away, but the boys used magic to keep me in place. I was so shocked that I stilled for a moment. It was during that time the parents walked out. The girl began screaming that I’d raped her. I threw off the magic and got to my feet. That’s when both brothers stabbed me, one from behind and one from the front.”

  “Betrayed by those you were supposed to protect.” Neve swallowed, anger for what had happened consuming her. “I’m so sorry, Talin.”

  “It’s been difficult keeping things from you. I wanted to tell you everything about me.”

  “But you were protecting me.”

  “I wish—”

  “I know,” she said over him with a smile. “I wish it, too.”

  His gaze slid away. “I suppose we should get back.”

  Neve was ashamed of herself for taking time for her and Talin when she should be fighting for her family. With her dress back in place, she turned to Talin. He stood tall and formidable in his jeans and T-shirt.

  “Ready?” he asked as he held out his hand

  She put on a smile, took his hand, and lied through her teeth. “Yes.”

  In the next second, they were once more standing in the corridor. Talin gave her a nod.

  Neve looked around to find the other Reapers veiled as planned. For the next thirty minutes, she paced, stared out the window, and paced some more. She and Talin didn’t speak as each thought over what was to come.

  Then her patience ran out. “Searlas! I want to see my parents!”

  “Perhaps he didn’t hear you,” Talin said.

  She looked at him and frowned. “I can’t wait any longer.”

  “You’ll wait as long as we want you to,” Searlas said from behind her.

  Neve spun around to see the Dark smirking at her. How she’d love to wipe that sneer off his face. “You told me to find someone to help me negotiate. I’ve done that.”

  “Why him?” Searlas asked without looking at Talin.

  She raised a brow. “Because he’s the only one willing to come here with me. The other Light are too frightened of the Reapers.”

  Searlas laughed loudly. “What if I told you Talin is a Reaper?”

  “I’d call you a liar,” she replied easily.

  “You think you know him so well, aye?”

  She stared into the red eyes of the Dark and said without hesitation, “Yes.”

  “He’ll do,” Searlas said angrily.

  “Good. Let’s start negotiating. What do you want?”

  But Searlas no longer looked at her. His attention was over her right shoulder where Talin stood. “Where are they?”

  Talin shrugged as he came to stand beside Neve. “Who?”

  “Don’t play dumb, Reaper. Where are the others?” Searlas demanded.

  Neve kept her gaze on Searlas, whose bitterness showed in every facet of his face from his pinched lips to his narrowed eyes and frown.

  “It’s just me,” Talin said. “I knew you’d want them, so I made sure they wouldn’t know what happened here.”

  Searlas barked with laughter. “You think to protect them?”

  “It’s what I do.”

  Neve’s heart swelled with pride at the man beside her. All he wanted to do was protect those he cared about, and in the end, it had cost him his life. Yet he was protecting once more—her.

  “Once Bran has you, Cael will come,” Searlas stated confidently.

  Talin lifted one shoulder. “Not if he thinks it’s a trap.”

  “We both know that’s a lie. Cael would never leave one of his men behind.”

  Neve shifted her feet. “I don’t know who this Cael is or why he matters. I just want my family. I’ve done as you asked and brought Talin. Let me see my parents and brother.”

  Searlas’s red gaze moved to her as he grinned. “The rest of the negotiations will conclude with Bran.” He held out his hand. “Come, Light. It’s time to see your family.”

  “She’s not going anywhere without me,” Talin declared.

  “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  Neve suppressed a shudder as she and Talin walked to Searlas and took his hands.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Death stood before a window in her tower, looking out over the many shades of flowers surrounding the area but she didn’t see them. Her thoughts were on Talin’s mission.

  There was a sound behind her. She waited for Seamus to speak. Though he was still her prisoner, she allowed him to wander a few places throughout the tower.

  “You look troubled,” Seamus said as he walked to stand beside her.

  “Cael is going after Bran with his men.”

  “There’s something else.”

  She sighed and turned her head to look at him. “I like my privacy. Perhaps it was a mistake to allow you to roam.”

  Seamus threw up his hands and took a step back. “I thought you might want to talk. My mistake.”

  When he turned and began to leave, Erith discovered she didn’t want to be alone. How odd, since she’d always been alone. And liked it that way. “I should be with them.”

  “No, you shouldn’t,” Seamus said as he faced her. “I still agree with Cael, you should remain here.”

  “I don’t hide.”

  “No one said you were.”

  Erith held out her arms. “That’s exactly what I’m doing. I don’t fear Bran.”

  Seamus lifted a brow, silently questioning her outburst.

  Fine. Maybe she did fear him. A little. But she was Death! She’d never feared anything before.

  “We need to know how Bran is getting his power and passing it on to his army,” Seamus said into the silence.

  Erith wearily shook her head. “I’ve tried.”

  “While doing a million other things. Let me,” Seamus urged. “It’s what I do, Erith. I solve puzzles.”

  He’d solved how to free Bran from the Netherworld. If anyone could figure this out, it was Seamus. It was too bad he couldn’t determine why her magic seemed to be fading.

  “Yes. My library is yours to search,” she told him.

  But Seamus didn’t leave. “I shouldn’t have been able to find the doorway leading to the Netherworld.”

  “That’s right.” Her magic had hidden it for millions of years.

  “If the doorway became visible that means—”

  “Something is happening to my magic,” she interrupt
ed him, her tone terse. He was putting it together anyway. The Puzzle Solver.

  Erith sighed and turned her head away. Her magic had never failed her. Never. Why now? Why, when she needed it the most?

  The only thing she could be thankful for was that Bran had been the only one to escape the Netherworld. She’d since moved the doorway from Ireland to her own realm, but that didn’t alleviate her worry.

  “If I may be so bold,” Seamus said. “How long have you noticed?”

  “I didn’t. Not until we discovered that Bran escaped, and I learned how you helped him.” That had been a vicious blow. If she’d known the particulars, she never would’ve allowed Cael to be in the room as she questioned Seamus.

  As it was, Cael also knew something was off with her magic. It’s why he didn’t want her involved with catching Bran. It didn’t feel right to have anyone—especially Cael—trying to shield her.

  Erith had never needed anyone.

  It stung that she did now. Seamus was right, she couldn’t focus all her energy on finding out how Bran was growing his magic because she had other duties.

  “There might be a connection,” Seamus said, tapping his chin with his forefinger.

  Erith watched him with his brow furrowed and his face deep in thought. His silver—laced black hair became unruly as he raked his hands through it again and again. A habit when he was deep in thought. She could practically see him turning everything over in his mind.

  “Yes. A connection,” he murmured to himself, his wide—set eyes looking about the room but seeing what was in his mind instead of what was actually there.

  Without another word, he walked from the chamber. She watched him before turning back to the window and the sun sinking into the horizon.

  The sky was a vivid pink and orange. It was a stunning sight she enjoyed immensely. Each sunrise and sunset was different. She never knew what colors would appear until it happened.

  It was one of the few surprises that she actually enjoyed.

  When the sun sank below the skyline, she turned away from the window and thought about Talin. And how he’d fallen in love with a Fae.

  She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t killed Neve yet. Maybe it was because Neve’s family had been taken by Bran. Perhaps it was because Neve had pieced Talin’s identity together on her own without Talin letting anything slip.

  It might even be because Neve knew what she’d risked by alerting Talin and the others to her knowledge of them being Reapers.

  Erith also knew that Talin was furious with the entire situation. It wasn’t like she took pleasure in killing those who learned of the Reapers.

  None would ever know how it took a piece of her soul each time she had to do it. But rules were rules. If only Neve were half—Fae and knew nothing of the Fae like Jordyn and River, then things would be different.

  But Neve was from a large family with ties to the Light court and society. One small slip and everything could be ruined for the Reapers.

  It wasn’t a chance Erith was willing to take. Above all else, the Reapers’ identities must be protected and kept secret.

  * * *

  Daire watched as Balladyn kissed Rhi. He wanted to gag. The Dark shouldn’t be anywhere near Rhi, but it wasn’t as if he’d say anything.

  His mission to watch and follow Rhi while remaining veiled—and silent—had shown him a lot about the infamous Light Fae. Rhi had a thing for driving her Lamborghini around Austin, Texas.

  She shopped endlessly for anything, but mostly shoes. It was like she couldn’t get enough. And the more unusual or beautiful, the more she had to have them.

  Rhi loved to surprise the Dragon Kings—especially Con. She went out of her way to rile the King of Kings. And did it effortlessly. With style.

  She had an obsession with nail polish, but not just any polish. It had to be OPI. Her collection rivaled that of her shoes and contained every color. When OPI came out with a new set of colors, Rhi was the first in line to get them.

  And she didn’t just look at the polish. She used them. Rhi had her nails done constantly. A favorite nail tech named Jesse was the only one who ever touched her nails and painted the special designs.

  What he learned most, however, was that she loved her people. Rhi looked out for the Light continuously. They had no idea how many times she’d put her life on the line for them.

  Then there were the Dragon Kings. There were a few of the Kings she considered friends. She’d helped save their arses more times than he could count, and she had no intention of stopping.

  Rhi was loyal beyond measure, exceedingly focused, and decidedly motivated. Right now, all of that was geared toward reminding the queen, Usaeil, that their people were more important than some movie.

  At least, he wished she were focused on that instead of wrapping her arms around Balladyn’s neck.

  Rhi was a gem of the Light, and Balladyn—regardless of the hero he’d been while he was a Light—was going to be king of the Darks one day.

  Despite Balladyn capturing Rhi and attempting to turn her Dark, she’d forgiven him and taken him as a lover.

  On one hand, Daire could understand. Rhi had been alone for so very long. She had no idea why the affair with her Dragon King ended or why her love went unanswered. She needed someone, and Balladyn had been relentless as he pursued her.

  On the other hand, if Rhi still loved her Dragon King, she shouldn’t be with anyone. Much less the Dark who’d tortured her and tried to turn her.

  Sometimes it was difficult for Daire to remain silent as he watched Rhi make decisions he could see were impacting her future. Yet they were her decisions to make.

  “What is it?” Balladyn asked her.

  Rhi pulled out of his arms and looked at the tropical isle she’d claimed as her own. “Did you find out any more on the Reapers?”

  “Isn’t what we learned enough?” he asked, his face scrunched.

  Rhi shrugged and kicked at the sand. “Are the Dark still talking about them?”

  Balladyn’s lips compressed briefly. “More so now than ever. Stop looking, Rhi. You keep looking, and you’re bound to gain their attention.”

  It’s what she wanted. Daire knew that, but Balladyn didn’t. She kept things from Balladyn, like her desire to talk to a Reaper—and the magazine that showed Usaeil with a blonde man.

  Daire knew it all. Mostly because he followed her, but Rhi knew he was there. She spoke to him, not that he could answer. She let him see her sadness, her pain, and her heartache as no one else had witnessed.

  It’s why Daire knew Balladyn wasn’t for her. Many times, he’d been tempted to answer when she spoke. There had even been one occasion recently where he’d almost told her he was a Reaper.

  But he knew the rules.

  Though none of the Reapers knew Death’s interest in Rhi, the fact was there was one. If he told Rhi who he was, she would have to die.

  Daire agreed with Death—Rhi was important to the future of all the races on Earth—human, Fae, and Dragon King.

  To what capacity, though?

  Balladyn sighed loudly. “I must return. Taraeth is calling for me.”

  After a quick kiss, he teleported away. Daire remained next to the palm tree, waiting to see what Rhi would do next. She spent a lot of time at the isle. When she wasn’t there she also liked to know what was going on with the Dragon Kings and their fight with one of their own—Ulrik.

  “Your disapproval is like a cloud,” Rhi said as she turned to face Daire.

  She couldn’t see him. She wasn’t even supposed to know he was there, but from the very first, she’d sensed him.

  He crossed his arms over his chest. Damn right, he disapproved.

  “I deserve some happiness,” she stated.

  Everyone did. But most especially her. Rhi had hurt for so very long.

  She faced the ocean. The wind blew the long, black strands of her hair about her. “I’ve seen Balladyn’s eyes turn silver.”

  Now that truly shock
ed Daire. He moved to stand beside her, coming as close as he dared.

  She bent and picked up a seashell. “He loves me, and I think there might be a chance to change him back to Light.”

  The chance was slim, but Daire couldn’t argue that there was a possibility. It had been done before. Most recently with a female Dark who’d fallen in love with a Dragon King. But Shara had wanted to become Light.

  Balladyn wanted to be king of the Darks. He couldn’t do that as a Light.

  “He’s what the Light needs,” Rhi murmured, turning the seashell in her fingers.

  Now that, he’d argue with. What the Light needed was their queen to remember her role, but that was unlikely to happen anytime soon. In the meantime, what the Light needed was Rhi.

  Daire felt a disturbance he’d never felt before, like a shockwave went around the world. He waited to hear one of the Reaper’s voices, but there was only silence.

  Unease shifted through him. His gaze jerked to Rhi.

  A frown suddenly creased her forehead. She lifted her beautiful face to the sun. “Something has happened at court.”

  In a blink, she was gone. Daire had no trouble following her. He appeared beside her in the hallowed halls of Usaeil’s castle.

  It had been so long since he’d stepped foot in the castle, that he had the sudden urge to leave. But Rhi—and whatever had drawn her—held him there.

  The quiet sent a chill of foreboding down his spine. There wasn’t a Fae in sight. It was as if everyone had vanished. Or fled.

  As a Reaper, he wasn’t surprised to register that something had happened with the Fae. It wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last. But Rhi? He was curious as to how she’d found out that something was wrong.

  Always more questions where the Light Fae was concerned. And he suspected he’d never learn the answers to any of them.

  Daire was surprised when Rhi veiled herself as if she too sensed the lingering danger. Where were the Reapers? Daire held off calling to them until he learned what was going on.

  He glanced over at Rhi. His Reaper magic allowed him to continue to see her, even veiled, but the same didn’t apply to her.

  Her ability to remain veiled far longer than other Fae was something that confounded him. It was another reason he suspected Death was curious about the Fae.