Braden snickered. “She takes after her mother.”
I had no doubt that Lily Taylor indeed took after her mother, Aisling Grimlock-Taylor. That didn’t change the fact that a six-week-old infant was ruling the roost at Grimlock Manor, a house that had more in common with a castle than a two-story colonial. That also didn’t change the fact that the baby was turning into a terror.
“You guys are spoiling her,” I pointed out. “The only reason she cries at bedtime is because you all rush to hold her. I doubt she’s even spent more than an hour in that crib your father probably spent more money on than I did on my first car. She’s figured out that her uncles and grandfather will rock her all night if she plays it right.”
“She is a genius,” Braden agreed, smiling. “She’s cute, too. She looks like me.”
I had to laugh. Sure, we were in the middle of an inspection — the head of the reaper council, Renley Hatfield, was touring the renovation of a private library that had been hidden behind a wall for decades — but the statement was too funny to keep a straight face.
“She looks like her mother,” I corrected. “The fact that all five of you guys look exactly alike is just a fluke of genetics.”
“No, she looks like me.” Braden had made the statement more than once and it was obvious he truly believed it. He was the sort of man who puffed out his chest when it came to sparring with his brothers. He was also the sort of man who turned into a big puddle of goo when his niece batted her eyelashes. I thought it was a little early for Lily to be as manipulative as she plainly was, but the kid had obviously inherited the Grimlock charm and wasn’t afraid to use it. She knew exactly which relative was most likely to coddle her, too.
All of them.
I grew up in Detroit. Er, well, I spent the first few years of my life in the city. My parents served as gatekeepers until an accident claimed their lives. I was present for the event. Something came through the gate to kill them. I remembered nothing about that night, though. It was all a blank.
After their deaths, I moved to New Orleans to live with my grandfather. A powerful brujo, the man knew his trade and peddled it to those who needed magical help. I was born into magic and with him as my teacher I thrived. Sure, I missed my parents, but I wanted for nothing. That didn’t mean I wasn’t anxious to return home and unlock the mystery of my parents’ deaths. I needed to know ... mostly because I was convinced I was somehow to blame.
Shortly after graduating from high school, I joined the reaper ranks. I worked my way up quickly, although I was never interested in being one of the people on the front lines of soul collection. Braden did that for a living and seemed to enjoy it. He’d been born into a reaper family and knew no other way of life. I wanted something different. Not more, just different.
When the gate position in Detroit opened up I volunteered right away. I wanted to be in the place my parents took their last breaths. I wanted to capture the memories that remained just out of reach. I wanted revenge on whatever creature took them from me. All my wants and needs shifted once I actually got the job.
Braden was one of the first people I’d met. I was determined to keep my heart closed to him despite the pull I felt toward him. It worked for a grand total of five minutes. Obviously there was no denying him. Oddly enough, I found I didn’t want to after I got to know him. He was a good man ... who had a few immature tendencies. I had no doubt he would grow out of those ... just as soon as he stopped living in his father’s house.
Speaking of his father, Cormack Grimlock was also present. He was high in the reaper council and he’d shown an inordinate interest in making sure I was safe and tended at the gate. It was located on Belle Isle, which was technically in the city but located in one of the prettier places the sprawling metropolis had to offer. The island was my sanctuary, my new home, and things were starting to slip into place in a manner I never thought possible.
Sure, I was still determined to find out what happened to my family. But I was no longer alone. I had a whole family of reapers volunteering their help to give me what I needed. I’d always wondered what it would feel like to be part of a big family. Now I knew.
“Knock it off, Braden,” Cormack warned as he slid around the side of the desk and flicked his son’s ear. He was an engaged father. All his children were now adults — he was a grandfather, after all — but he once told me that making his children behave was like herding cats after a big bout of catnip play. The visual stuck and always made me chuckle.
Braden shot his father a dirty look. All the Grimlock children were the spitting image of their father. They boasted his black hair and purple eyes. They were beautiful specimens, each and every one. They also inherited his temper, and there was a lot of strife under Cormack’s roof. His children seemed to thrive on it.
“I’m not doing anything,” Braden complained. “Izzy and I were just discussing her new co-worker, who is supposed to arrive today for a tour.” He was smooth as he delivered the lie. I had to give him credit. If I didn’t know him as well as I did, I would’ve believed him. “I don’t know why you always assume that I’m up to something, but it’s not fair. I’m your good child.”
Cormack rolled his eyes, something he had down pat. All of his children were mouthy — something they got from him — and he wasn’t dumb enough to fall for a single thing they said when they were trying to snow him.
“I heard you beg Izzy for a kiss,” he countered. “Don’t bother denying it. I might be getting older — although I’m still in my prime — but there’s nothing wrong with my hearing.”
Braden balked. “I didn’t beg. It’s horrible that you would even insinuate anything of the sort. I’m a Grimlock. I don’t beg.”
“You do when Izzy is around.” Cormack shot me a fond smile. He was a warm man, inviting. Sure, he had a short fuse. Given the way his children acted, however, it was warranted. A few times I wanted to point out that he was the reason they acted the way they did, but it seemed unnecessary. It wasn’t as if he didn’t know that he spoiled them rotten. Aisling especially, as the only girl, was something of a terror. She was the mother of his only grandchild, so he spoiled her more than the rest. I had a feeling it had been that way since her birth thanks to her position as the only girl in an army of rambunctious boys. Cormack didn’t believe that boys were stronger than girls. He did believe that his daughter was to be treasured and protected. His form of protection was gratuitous enough that Aisling was even more of a terror than her brothers, which was something to behold when a family dinner got out of control.
“He begs all the time,” I offered, ignoring the dark look Braden shot me. “I think it’s kind of cute.”
“It’s not cute on the job.” Cormack was firm as he inclined his head toward Renley. “You might not think it’s necessary to be professional, Braden, but this is important to Izzy ... so stop being an idiot.”
Braden scowled, but climbed off my desk. He knew it was unprofessional to carry on in front of Renley, a man he considered more of an uncle than a boss. He didn’t want to bring shame to me, and I appreciated his effort ... even if it was a little pouty.
“Fine.” He let loose a prolonged sigh. “I guess I can behave. As soon as Renley is gone, though, I’m going nuts. You’ve been warned.”
“Thank you for the heads-up,” Cormack said dryly, shaking his head. “I’ll be fleeing as soon as Renley completes his tour.”
Because I was legitimately interested, I craned my neck to see around Cormack. The spot where Renley had been standing only moments before was empty. “Where did he go?”
“He’s in the library,” Cormack replied. “They’re going to use that space as a classroom for future reapers at some point. They’ve already brought over a bunch of books, which I assume you’ve noticed. I hope you’re prepared for the influx of bodies down here.”
“It’s fine.”
“You might not say that when you have students traipsing in and out of here. It won’t be for newbies. That
’s all I can promise. It will be for those who have advanced through the ranks and are getting ready to hit the streets.”
That reminded me of a question I’d been longing to ask. “I thought reapers were born. Reaping families are dynasties of sorts, right? If that’s the case, why are they starting these new classes? I didn’t think the reaper council was the recruiting sort.”
“It’s a difficult time,” he explained. “It used to be that reaper families could keep up with the demands of the dying. Before the families took over, we recruited quite regularly. We trained reapers in classrooms ... and for multiple jobs. When cadets entered the academy, they had no idea where they would end up.
“It could be on the streets collecting souls, depending on their aptitude,” he continued. “Other positions were clerical. Up until about thirty years ago, the gatekeepers were selected from the cadet classes, which were much smaller then.”
“Did my parents attend classes?” The question was out of my mouth before I thought better of it. Talk of my dead parents was often depressing. Cormack never shied from the topic, though. He was always open with me. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that his children had lost their mother in a terrible accident — and then watched a monster return wearing her face ten years later — but he showed infinite patience whenever I asked questions, even if they were invasive.
“Not really. I mean ... all reapers, even those born into the business, attend classes. Your parents both had specific knowledge that helped prepare them for their jobs at the gate. I believe Oliver attended classes, though.”
I looked to my co-worker. He seemed engrossed in whatever he was doing, his gaze fixed on his computer screen. He was a vampire. I knew that. He’d been present when my parents died. Well, he wasn’t there when the monster came for them, but he did dig me out of the rubble and save my life. I didn’t exactly remember him from my childhood, but he gave me a warm feeling. The same went for his boyfriend, Brett Soloman. They both lived on the island and they’d quickly become members of my extended family.
“He’s not even listening to us,” Braden snarked. “He’s tuning us out. That’s what he does whenever I visit Izzy.”
“I don’t tune you out,” Oliver countered, his eyes never moving from the monitor as his fingers flew over the keyboard. “I simply pretend I can’t see the filthy thoughts written all over your face when you look at her. It’s better if I pretend not to see you. Otherwise, I might have to kill you.”
Cormack chuckled, the sound warm and inviting. “See, Braden. I told you that trying to romance Izzy in front of her pseudo-godfather was a bad idea. He could rip you limb from limb if he loses his temper.”
“I could,” Oliver agreed without hesitation. He seemed intent on what he was doing. “There’s nothing pseudo about my godfather status, though. I’ve always been a part of Izzy’s life. She might’ve been separated from me for most of her childhood, but that doesn’t mean I don’t take my position as her caretaker seriously.”
I had to laugh at the statement. “I’m an adult,” I reminded him. “I can take care of myself.”
“You’re still a child to me. Besides, it doesn’t matter how old you get, I’ll always be your godfather.” His gaze was pointed when he finally looked in my direction, although I didn’t miss the way his lips quirked. “As for your friend, if his hands continue to wander I will have to break them. He really should be more professional when you’re at work.”
Instead of being apologetic — which would’ve been smart under the circumstances — Braden opted to be offended. “I’m a total professional. Just ask my father. He gives me the important assignments because I’m never distracted on the job.”
“I give you the important jobs because Redmond has his head in the clouds these days, Aidan is planning a wedding, Cillian is angling for a spot in the research department and your sister just created human life,” Cormack countered. “It’s not a commentary on your abilities.”
Braden’s expression darkened, which I wasn’t sure was even possible. “Well, thanks for that.”
Cormack grinned. “Don’t give me that look. You know your sister is my favorite right now.” Most fathers deny having favorites, especially if they had five children close in age vying for attention. Cormack was not most fathers. He openly pitted his children against one another and picked a favorite to spoil daily. Aisling had garnered the top spot more often than most the past few months. The reason was obvious.
“And how long is Aisling going to keep being number one?” Braden queried.
“Until one of you gives me another grandchild.” Cormack’s expression was light when he glanced at me. “I’m thinking another little girl with Izzy’s looks and grace would be a welcome addition.”
Even though I knew he was teasing, my cheeks flooded with color. “Oh, I ... um ... .”
“Stop that,” Braden ordered, his eyes flashing. “You’re freaking her out. I don’t want you scaring her away. We’ve been dating only a month. You don’t need to pressure her.”
“I agree,” Oliver offered. He was back to focusing on his computer. “It’s far too soon to talk about anything of the sort. Yes, Brett and I would love to play grandfather to a new life, but they need to be married first.”
The simple comment made things worse.
“My sister got pregnant before she was married,” Braden argued. “It wasn’t the end of the world.”
“If I remember correctly, your sister found out she was pregnant as she was getting married. Also, your father is more indulgent than I am. If you knock up Izzy before you marry her, I’ll make sure you never procreate again.” He delivered the threat with grace and an easy smile, which made Braden swallow hard.
“Nobody is getting pregnant,” I interjected quickly. I wanted this conversation to disappear just as quickly as it appeared. “Stop talking about stupid stuff. It’s way too early to even be thinking about stuff like that.”
“Human life happens in the blink of an eye for me,” Oliver countered. “It will happen before I’m ready. I guarantee that.” His stare was grave as he glanced away from his computer and focused on Braden. “It will be very difficult for you to have more than one child if I tie it in a knot.”
Braden shifted uncomfortably, increasing the distance between us. I would’ve found his reaction amusing under different circumstances. But I felt under the microscope so I wanted to change the subject as quickly as possible.
“What are you looking at?” I moved from my station to Oliver’s so I could look over his shoulder, frowning when I caught sight of the energy spikes that had his attention. “What is that?”
“It’s the energy pattern from the gate. It is ... off.”
That was a gentle word for what I was seeing. The line, usually soft and rolling, was hopping up and down with wild swings. “What would cause that?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
Curious, I shifted away from his desk and moved in the direction of the gate. I’d almost gotten used to it now, the way it shimmered. It felt like it was alive.
As if on cue, the whispering began. I’d been hearing whispers from the gate since I was a child. Oliver reminded me of that. I was barely back at the gate when the murmuring began in earnest. It wasn’t constant, and I could discern no pattern when the whispering kicked into overdrive. I was beginning to believe it started whenever someone was close to the threshold on the other side. Of course, I had no way to prove my hunch. That didn’t stop me from speculating.
“Do you hear that?” The question escaped before I remembered there was no way they could hear it. I was the only one who heard the voices.
“Hear what?” Alarmed, Braden stepped in my direction. “Do you hear something beyond the gate?” He’d been present a previous time when I’d heard the whispers and I was convinced he was still edgy about what happened in the aftermath.
“I hear them.” I extended my fi
ngers toward the rippling surface, my eyes going wide when the normally small waves turned choppy. “What’s happening?”
Seconds after the question was out of my mouth a buzzing filled the room. It was loud, almost overpowering. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Oliver hop to his feet. He looked paler than normal, which was saying something, because he hadn’t seen the sun for the entirety of his life.
“Izzy, get away from that gate,” he ordered.
Braden, perhaps sensing that Oliver meant business, took another step in my direction. “He’s right, Izzy. Get away from the gate. I think something is about to happen.”
I was positive something was about to happen. That didn’t mean I could turn away. “I just want to see.” I knew better than to touch the surface, but something inside the gate — more likely on the other side — was calling to me. “It will just take a second.”
The noise level ratcheted up until the buzzing became excruciating. It was so painful I had to cover my ears. Even then, I couldn’t stay on my feet.
The human brain is equipped to acknowledge noise only to a certain decibel level. The buzzing went beyond that. The next thing I knew, a black curtain was falling over my eyes. I fell backward, away from the gate.
By the time I hit the ground, I was already out.
Two
I was in another time.
Heck, I was in another world.
When I managed to open my eyes, the gray pall was gloomy enough that I had to blink several times to make certain of what I was really seeing. I still wasn’t convinced, even when I pressed my hands to the ground and felt jagged rock edges poking into my palms.
“Where is this place?” I meant to say the words out loud. They only found form in my head, though. I tried again. No sound came out. Was I mute? What was happening? I rubbed my forehead as I struggled to a sitting position and frowned when I realized I wasn’t alone.
Only the Lost Page 2