by R. L. Perez
I didn’t want my Reaper powers back. I wanted to stay like this.
Gwen shook her head quickly as if waking from a stupor. “It doesn’t matter how impressive his skills are. Right now, we need to get every Reaper in here so we can move forward with this before Quentin—”
A deep rumbling shook the floor. The windows rattled. My world tilted until I fell against the wall, struggling to remain upright.
When I felt queasy enough to puke, the trembling stopped. The room righted itself, and we all stared at each other in confusion and horror.
Jocelyn hurried to the window and peered through the blinds. She sucked in a sharp gasp. Her hands trembled as she turned to face us.
“What is it?” Gwen and I said together.
“It—it’s Quentin. With an army.”
32
Cora
I sensed his magic before I saw him. I wasn’t sure how. A presence shifted in the air around me, thickening and swarming like an invisible hive of bees.
The hairs on my arm stood up, and my skin prickled. Magic churned through the air, sweeping through me like my body was transparent—like there was nothing keeping me between me and him.
My father was here. And he wasn’t alone.
Benny was by my side in an instant as we hurried out the office and flung open the front door.
Sure enough, there stood Quentin. Behind him was an entire pack of wolves, baring their fangs at me.
Benny gasped, his body going rigid. “Trent . . . Michael, what’re you—”
“They work for me now,” Quentin said with a wide grin.
My fingers curled into tight fists at my side. “What is this, a power play?” I demanded. “Congratulations, you’ve proven you’re so terrifying you can coerce other demons to work for you. Great job.”
Quentin cocked his head at me, his eyes narrowing. “You really don’t get it, do you?”
I scowled at him, but my blood raced as if warning me. Something big was coming. Staring me in the face.
“What do you think I was doing while Piper stole from you?” Quentin asked, stepping closer. “You think I was just hiding in Hinport, biding my time?” He chuckled and shook his head. “I knew it would be a battle to take you down. No one had ever managed it before, and you had quite the reputation.” He stopped when he was five feet in front of me, his smile feral. “So, I was busy recruiting.”
“You mean blackmailing,” Benny hissed, his body quivering with rage. “These wolves were my friends. They never would’ve joined you unless they had no choice.”
My gut twisted at his words. I didn’t doubt him. My mind circled through the different horrifying things Quentin could’ve threatened them with—like slaughtering their families.
Quentin only shrugged. “It doesn’t matter how I recruit them. All that matters is they belong to me.”
Like they were nothing more than possessions. Objects to be tossed around.
“You had your chance,” Quentin said. “You gambled your coven’s safety so you could trap me. Consider this my retaliation: a declaration of war. Surrender yourself to me, or I will rain hellfire down on you and your puny coven. You have one hour.” He offered a jovial wave before turning on his heel and disappearing down the street. The pack trotted after him, though a few wolves lingered to stare at Benny before they followed.
Benny exhaled a low hiss through his teeth. “He’s baiting you.”
“And it’s working,” I snapped. “I can’t keep my coven safe if he has every demon in the city under his thumb.”
Benny turned to face me, his expression hard. “What’re you saying, Cora?”
“I’m saying I need to surrender.”
His eyes flashed with anger. “You can’t.”
“I’m just one person, Benny. If he brings a war, there will be casualties. People will die.”
“And what will happen when you surrender?” Benny drew closer to me, his expression taut with fury. “Quentin will sacrifice you. He’ll gain more power. And then he’ll rule all the demons of Hinport. If you think the killing will stop with you, then you’re more naïve than I thought.”
“I can’t have their blood on my hands!” I cried, waving my hand toward the neighborhood behind us.
“You are the only thing standing in the way of Quentin taking over our coven. If you give up, their blood is on your hands anyway.”
My head reared back at the bite in his words, the harshness of his tone.
“You are a fighter, Cora,” he growled. “So pick a damn fight with him.”
Fire burned in his eyes so intensely I thought it would melt my skin. And something roared within my chest at his words as if he’d awakened a beast.
The beast craved blood. Quentin’s blood. The beast wanted to bleed him dry, to cut him apart . . .
I sucked in a trembling breath. I hadn’t unleashed that beast in a long time.
“We need the Blade of Hinport,” Benny whispered. “Bring her back.”
My eyes felt moist, and I blinked rapidly to clear them. My chest swelled. My stomach churned. My legs itched to run, but that itch intensified until it spread through my entire body.
I needed to fight. To strain, to grit my teeth, to look death in the face once more.
I was coven leader, yes. But Benny was right: I was a fighter. Quentin knew it too. He expected it.
“He wants a war?” I said, my voice low and dangerous. “Let’s give him one.”
Clarity coursed through me, swift and powerful as I gave orders, never stopping to breathe or think. I sent Dex to gather as many vampires as he could, though I doubted there were any still on our side. Benny went to find Luke so they could mentally seek out any demons in the city who hadn’t been taken in by Quentin.
We needed every ally we could find.
Piper rounded up those in our coven who couldn’t fight—those who were too old or injured—and sent them to the bunker we never used. I’d called Damien paranoid for building it. But here we were, in desperate need of a shelter to keep our people safe.
I was busy rounding up soldiers and weapons. My people were trained in basic combat, but none of them were fighters like me. My whole purpose had been to do the dirty work so no one else would have to.
But we didn’t have time to train. War was on our doorstep now.
I didn’t know where Vince or the other Reapers were, but I had to trust they were keeping their heads down. Last I’d heard, Gwen was busy preparing the spell to bind their magic so Cecile could take it with her into Benny’s mind.
The thought sent a jolt of realization through me. Relief and agony crushed my chest, making it hard to breathe.
Benny could not fight in this war. There was too much at stake. With Cecile in his mind, he needed to be protected.
If he died, so would she. Along with all the Reapers’ magic.
I’d just gathered my most vital elixirs when I sought Benny out to warn him to stay hidden. But he was already waiting in front of my apartment, pacing anxiously. I froze, the glass vials clinking in my arms.
Benny stopped when he saw me, his eyes burning bright and clear. “We’re ready.”
“How many?” I asked, fearing his response.
“Fifty. Twenty wolves, fourteen witches and warlocks, plus fifteen vampires with Dex.”
I swallowed and nodded. Fifty was a lot—certainly more than our original coven—but if there were only fifty demons we could rely on in the city, that meant Quentin had hundreds on his side. Maybe more.
“You can’t fight,” I said.
Benny’s eyebrows lifted, his mouth hanging open. “What? Why not?”
“You need to work with Cecile. Get her hidden and keep yourself safe.”
Benny shook his head. “It’s not me. It’s Luke.”
I frowned. “Luke? Is he strong enough?”
Benny stared at me for a long moment. Then, comprehension dawned, and a mixture of emotions filled his gaze. “You haven’t heard.”<
br />
“Heard what?” Impatience gnawed at my insides.
“Vince is going in instead.”
My brows knitted together, and it took me a full minute to process what he’d said.
Vince.
Was going into Luke’s mind.
To be trapped.
A hard lump formed in my throat. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.
I had to go to him. Now. Convince him not to do it.
He’d be chaining himself for who knows how long . . .
“It was his choice, Cora,” Benny said quietly. “Quentin knows him and how valuable he is. To the Reapers and . . . to you.” His voice tightened at the last word, and he dropped his gaze.
Guilt wriggled through the mess of emotions circling through me. It was too much. Too much—
A deafening boom shook the ground. Benny and I teetered, bumping into each other as we struggled to regain balance.
This tremor didn’t last as long as the first one, but I knew what it meant.
Time was up. Quentin was ready to attack.
I inhaled a shuddering breath. My instincts were failing me. Internally, I was at war with myself—go to Vince, or save my people. Normally, I thrived on conflict. My body knew just what to do.
But not now. I stood there, frozen, while Benny watched me and waited.
It was his choice, Cora.
Vince had made his choice. Now, I had to make mine.
My breathing steadied, and resolve coursed through me. I handed three vials of potion to Benny.
“Healing elixirs,” I said. “Give one to each division. Tell them to use it sparingly—it’s all I’ve got.”
Benny nodded, but he still watched me expectantly. “And what about you?”
The earth rumbled again in response. I gritted my teeth and barely managed to keep on my feet before the ground settled again. “I’m going to the front lines,” I said, “to face Quentin.”
Benny’s eyes blazed with pride and determination. “I’ll be there with you.”
“No,” I said quickly. “I need you to oversee the werewolves. Rally them to the north side of town. That’s where we’re weakest.”
“Cora, Quentin wants you. If you go to the front lines—”
“I’m not putting my people in the line of fire,” I growled. “Not without me. I won’t give in to him, Benny. I swear it.”
Benny held my gaze for a long moment. Fire burned between us, and for one terrifying moment, I worried we would never see each other again.
Benny exhaled and dropped his gaze, then took my hand in both of his. “Be safe, Cora.”
And then he was gone.
Finding Quentin and his army wasn’t hard. The earthquakes intensified as I moved deeper into the city.
About a mile away from the ruins of our old office buildings, I saw a horde of demons, all wielding weapons.
And in front of them was Quentin.
As I’d instructed, my strongest men were waiting for me, led by Kent, a beefy dark warlock with tattoos all over his face. He straightened when he saw me.
“Is this everyone?” I asked, my gaze raking over the crowd. Something in my chest deflated. We had less than twenty. Across the street, Quentin had more than twice those numbers.
This would be over before it began.
Kent nodded, his bald head gleaming in the fading sunlight. “With nightfall, we’ll have more. Dex is waiting in the complex for the vampires to emerge.”
I wasn’t sure we’d make it to nightfall.
“What’s the plan?” Kent asked, crossing his arms.
I swallowed, feeling out of my element. I wasn’t a soldier. Or even a strategist.
I was a cold-blooded killer. If this were a one-on-one combat, I would know exactly what to do.
You can do this, I told myself. Just think of this as another assignment. Another mark. What would you do if your mark was surrounded by allies? How would you get to him?
I took a deep breath. “We need to lure Quentin away from his men.”
“How do we do that?”
I smiled. “Take something he wants.”
33
Vince
Despite the frequent earthquakes and whatever turmoil was happening outside, Gwen managed to get the amulet in the hands of every Reaper.
And I was suddenly reconsidering my offer to hide away while my people fought—and most likely died.
Even with their magic, they were no match for Quentin and his army.
I should be fighting alongside Cora, I thought, gritting my teeth. But then my gaze shifted to my mom, who wrung her hands together with worry. Dad sat next to her, his face pale and drawn. He kept glancing at me, his eyes stirring as if he wanted to say something.
I couldn’t leave without talking to him. In all the chaos that had been going on, I’d barely shared two words with him.
While we waited for Gwen to return, I strode toward Dad. He instantly rose to his feet as if he expected my approach.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. My eyes burned with the threat of tears.
Dad stepped around the table and grabbed me in a tight embrace. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“You must be so disappointed in me. I’ve made so many poor choices.”
Dad drew back to look at me, his eyes shining. “I’m not disappointed. You’re taking things into your own hands. You’re keeping your people safe.”
“I have no choice. I have to do this.”
Dad smiled. “That’s where you’re wrong, Vince. There is always a choice. It’s something you’ve struggled to come to terms with. But I think you’re finally understanding.”
I nodded slowly. He was right. Just like what Cora, Jocelyn, and Luke had told me. I had to make the best of my situation. Accept the consequences of my choices. And make a difference wherever I could.
I’d made the choice to become a Reaper. It was time to stop complaining and start working.
My gaze slid to my mom, whose eyes glistened with tears. I could give my parents what I’d failed to give them before: a life together.
The door opened, and Gwen strode in, her cheeks pink and her eyes wide. Her hands grasped a large piece of cloth. I knew the amulet was nestled inside. Gwen said it was dangerous to touch with your skin after your magic was gone. You risked losing your entire soul.
The thought made me shudder.
“The spell is complete,” Gwen said quietly, approaching me. “The Reaper magic has been sealed. As soon as you put this on, you will feel the weight of the magic. Don’t put it on until you’re inside your friend’s mind. The mind will provide a stasis, keeping you safe from the burden of the magic.”
The burden of the magic. I swallowed hard. “What would happen if I put it on now?”
Gwen fixed a hard stare on me. “The force of the magic would likely kill you.”
I flinched. I’d expected something like that.
Quentin’s magic hadn’t killed me, a small voice inside me said.
But I shoved the thought away. Perhaps that had just been a fluke. Or perhaps Quentin hadn’t possessed enough magic to do me any harm.
A soft knock sounded at the door. Mom opened it, and there was Jocelyn with Luke behind her. Both their expressions were drawn with worry. Shouts and gunfire echoed in the distance, and the ground rumbled again. More fear and guilt wriggled through me. Was Cora okay?
This is the best thing you can do for her, I reminded myself. You’re a liability, Vince. Quentin would use you against her. He saw her almost give herself up.
I nodded to myself as the door closed behind Luke and Jocelyn.
“Are you ready?” Gwen asked me.
I met her gaze, my insides quivering from the severity in her eyes. To be honest, I wasn’t ready. I hadn’t fully accepted what this meant—what I’d be giving up.
And I hadn’t gotten to say goodbye to Cora.
I closed my eyes, allowing regret to consume me for a moment. Reveling in that pa
in. Embracing it.
Because it served as a reminder for why I was doing this.
I opened my eyes and looked at Mom. Her face crumpled as if she were about to burst into tears. And next to her, Dad’s face was ashen. But he offered a weak smile.
He’d already said goodbye to me once. This wasn’t much different. I knew he could handle it.
“Tell her I love her,” I said to Dad. “More than anything.”
Dad nodded. He knew who I was talking about.
Mom sucked in a shuddering breath. Surprise and alarm flickered in her face before sorrow took over once more. I stepped toward her and embraced her. She clutched at me tightly as if she could ground me here by force.
It was different for her than for Dad. We’d finally been reunited after a decade apart. When I’d pledged my vow as a Reaper, she’d thought we’d be together forever.
We both had thought that.
“You’ll get through this,” I whispered. “You’ll take him down in no time, and then I’ll come back. This isn’t goodbye.”
Mom wept into my shoulder, the sobs so intense I knew she couldn’t form words. Feeling her trembling as she cried made my own eyes sting with tears. I closed them, determined to keep it together. I would have plenty of time to break down inside Luke’s mind—once I was alone.
When I drew away, I wiped the tears off Mom’s face, and she gave me a wobbly smile.
“I’m so—so sorry,” she breathed. “For everything.”
A knot formed in my throat. “I’ve already forgiven you.” And it was true. Whatever bitter feelings she had about Cora, whatever she believed about Reapers being the most important creatures in the world—I could forgive her all that. Because she was my mother. We didn’t have to agree on everything.
I turned away as a tear trickled down my cheek. My lips trembled, and I couldn’t look at my parents anymore. Not if I wanted to keep my composure.
Jocelyn flew into my arms and pressed a kiss to my cheek. Before I could react, she’d withdrawn, rubbing her arms and avoiding my gaze.