by Donna Grant
“But,” he said with a sigh, “we still have to leave the tower.”
“The others are waiting for us.”
Cael grinned as he shook his head. “Trust me, all of my Reapers are in bed with their women. Same with Eoghan. As for the others, I’m sure they’re off having fun. Downtime is good.”
“I know that,” Erith said, taking offense that he thought she didn’t. But then she had to admit, she hadn’t been thinking about any of them—only her duty.
He raised a brow, and she rolled her eyes. “Fine. I concede that I was thinking they were waiting for me to get back to work.”
“After all we’ve been through, I think everyone deserves a holiday.”
She alone knew just how perilously close they had come to being destroyed by Bran. She would share those facts with Cael soon, but not now. Now was for their newfound love and the future ahead of them. But there would be no secrets between them. That was a surefire way to a division so deep that no couple could come back from it. She’d seen it countless times before.
Erith pulled Cael down for a kiss, but he drew back, his brow furrowed. “What is it?”
His lips flattened. “Xaneth.”
Her heart stopped in her chest as shame fell over her. “I’ve been so wrapped up in you, in us, that I forgot about him.”
“We both did.” Cael jumped up and held out his hand for her, pulling her up beside him. “We can’t leave him to Usaeil—if the queen does have him.”
“It has to be Usaeil. Xaneth was intent on joining us. He wouldn’t desert us,” Erith said.
“Agreed.”
Together, they walked from the tower. Once she had opened her realm to the Reapers, they had spread out, exploring the world to find places to erect their homes.
She and Cael found Eoghan and Thea first, simply because they heard Thea playing her violin. Erith wasn’t surprised that the couple sat atop a bluff with a grand view of the mountains.
“I didn’t expect to see either of you so soon,” Eoghan said when he saw them.
Thea set aside her violin as Erith and Cael approached. “This place is so. . . .” She smiled at Erith. “I have no words to describe the beauty.”
Erith tried to return the woman’s smile, but her stomach was knotted at the thought of Xaneth suffering at Usaeil’s hands. The more she thought about the time she’d wasted in not looking for him, the more horrible she felt.
It was Cael who said, “We’re here because we’re going to begin looking for Xaneth.”
“My group is already on that,” Eoghan said. “They wanted something to do, so I sent them out, hoping they could pick up some kind of trail.”
That made Erith feel a little better. “I’d still like to start searching myself. Can you alert the others, Eoghan? I’m going to return to the tower and see if I can find him.”
“I’ll do that,” Cael said. “I need to see just how powerful my magic is.”
This time, the smile came easily to Erith.
Cael frowned suddenly. “Kyran just called for me.”
“And me,” Eoghan added.
Together, the four of them teleported to Kyran to find him hovering over River, who sat on the ground. Kyran tried to get her to stand, and she slapped his hand away.
“What is it?” Cael asked.
Kyran looked up, relief on his face. “The baby is coming.”
River leaned back on one hand, the other resting on her swollen belly. “I’ve been in labor for the last three hours.”
“What?” Kyran yelled, running a hand nervously through his long hair. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because these things take time,” Erith said, stepping in. She squatted down beside River as she noticed the lines of strain around the Halfling’s mouth. “Cael, take Kyran back to the tower and set up the room on the second floor for River.”
“Wait,” Kyran said. “I want to be with my wife.”
Erith looked at Kyran. “We’re counting on you to get the room set up for her and the babe.”
“Right,” he murmured and looked helplessly at Cael and Eoghan. “How do I do that?”
“We’ll help,” Eoghan said.
Cael winked at Erith before they left.
With the men gone, Erith turned to River. “How bad is the pain?”
“It’s been uncomfortable, but I had a bad contraction and couldn’t stop the moan,” River admitted with a twist of her lips.
Thea moved to River’s other side to help support her. “You were going to have to let Kyran know sooner or later.”
“He’s been a nervous wreck ever since the baby grew so rapidly after we came through the doorway. It’s gotten worse over the last few days, as if he’s kn—” Her words halted as a contraction hit. River pressed her lips together and moaned low through the pain. “As if he’s known,” she finished a few moments later.
Erith nodded to Thea to hold onto River, and then she teleported all of them to the tower. Kyran was instantly by River’s side. He lifted his wife gently into his arms and carried her to the bed.
“I’ve got you, my love,” Kyran whispered as he laid her down and kissed her forehead. “I’ll be right here beside you.”
River’s pale blue eyes met his as she smiled. “I know.”
There was a sound behind them. Erith turned and found the others behind her. She didn’t ask how they knew what was going on. Their little family was a constant surprise.
“I’ve got this,” Neve said as she shouldered through them. She stopped beside Erith. “Unless you want to deliver the baby?”
Erith moved aside. “I don’t know the first thing about it. Please.”
Neve walked to the bed and began to talk in low tones to River and Kyran. Erith turned and walked from the tower to give them some privacy. Everyone followed except for Talin, who remained to lend Neve a hand.
“You know, I was thinking just the other day how quiet everything was,” Erith said, reaching for Cael’s hand.
Fintan laughed. “It’s about to be anything but.”
“I can’t wait to hold the babe,” Cat said wistfully.
Jordyn nodded eagerly. “And go shopping for clothes.”
Everyone seemed to realize at once that there was nothing in the realm for either mother or babe.
“They don’t have a house,” Baylon stated.
Erith waved away his words. “They can remain here until they’ve decided on the right place.”
“What all does a baby need?” Daire asked worriedly.
Ettie grinned. “That, I know.”
It took less than thirty minutes going through Ettie’s list for Erith, Cael, Cat, and the Reapers to conjure with magic everything that was needed.
Then they waited. Hours stretched as River’s labor continued. It was well into the night before they finally heard the loud, shaky wail of the infant.
Everyone rushed into the tower, but Erith hung back. Cael paused and looked at her.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I’ve never held a baby before.”
He looked at her askance. “Never?”
“I don’t think I’ve been around many children.”
Cael chuckled as he drew her into his arms. “All that’s about to change.”
“I like that.”
“Come on. Let’s go see the newest addition to our family,” he urged and took her hand.
Erith let him lead her into the tower and through the doorway into the bedroom. She felt like an intruder as she spied River staring down at the newborn, her love shining like a beacon, her hair stuck to her sweat-soaked face, while Kyran had a smile so bright, it could rival the sun as he sat beside River on the bed.
As one, the group slowly crossed the room to gaze with helpless reverence at the tiny life nestled in River’s arms.
“It’s a boy,” Kyran said proudly, tears in his red eyes.
The joy, love, and happiness that filled the room choked Erith. She hadn’t realized until tha
t moment that she had needed the Reapers more than they ever needed her. She’d tried to keep her distance from them, but it had all been because she was afraid that if they knew how much she wanted to be with them, they’d leave.
Erith slowly backed out of the room and returned outside to walk among her plants. A bat flew through the trees, gobbling up insects, while a wolf howled in the distance.
“You left,” Cael said as he came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her.
“I never had a family,” she said, looking up at the night sky. “I was just born. I never had anyone to hold me or teach me as I grew. I learned from watching other beings.”
Cael walked around her, cupping her face in his hands. “I can’t imagine how utterly alone you were, but somehow, you were brought to me. And I’ll be forever grateful for that.”
“Did you ever want children or a family?”
“I didn’t really think about it,” he said with a shrug. “I was a soldier. I assumed I’d get to that someday, but not until the war was finished. What about you?”
She licked her lips. “I never thought I deserved one after everything that I’ve done. So, I hand-picked my family from each of you.”
“Who says Death can’t have children?” he asked with a grin.
Erith smiled, her heart fuller than it had ever been. “No one.”
“Then I guess we’ll find out.”
He leaned down and took her mouth in a long, slow kiss.
Epilogue
A month later . . .
Cael walked beside Erith as they made their way down the streets of Belfast. For weeks, they had searched for any sign of Usaeil or Xaneth, without any luck.
Somehow, the Light Queen was masking herself from Death, and that was a very bad thing. Erith might not be too upset by it, but Cael was furious. After everything they had just gone through with Bran, to now have Usaeil using magic that far surpassed her own? It was upsetting, to say the least.
“Stop worrying,” Erith told him.
He glanced her way, shooting her a dubious look. Both were using glamour to hide their eyes. To any human looking their way, he and Erith were no different than anyone else on the street.
“I wish you’d be a little more worried,” he said.
Death chuckled and leaned her shoulder against him. “Are you concerned for me?”
Her teasing tone brought a smile to his face, even though he was very worried. He lifted their joined hands and kissed the back of hers. “You know I am.”
“I’m not.”
The previous night, Erith had told him all she knew about Usaeil—including what she suspected was about to happen between the queen and Rhi. He’d been adamant about going after Usaeil themselves, but listening to Erith speak, he knew that the coming confrontation between Rhi and Usaeil was one they couldn’t interfere in.
No matter how much he might wish it were not so.
There had been no word or sign of Xaneth, which only made things worse. All of the Reapers felt some measure of guilt for not being able to locate the Fae.
The only way for Erith to do it was to judge him and send a Reaper for his soul. Since she didn’t want to do that, they had turned to Cael. While he felt the potent energy of his magic, learning all he could do with it was an agonizingly slow process.
Still, he had managed to find a location at least—Belfast.
“You’re gloating again,” Erith said without looking at him.
He grinned. “Perhaps, a little.”
“A lot. Conceited, I believe is what Daire called you.”
Cael turned down a narrow alley and had Erith up against a building in a heartbeat, his body pressed against hers as he looked down at her, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Conceited, aye?”
Her hands caressed up his sides before moving to his chest. “Hmm.”
“Well, I suppose I have been.” He wasn’t too worried about it. While he’d promised Erith that she would never need to turn into the Mistress of War again, she had vowed to help him learn to control his newfound magic.
Suddenly, she sighed and rested her head against his chest. Frowning, he gently grasped her face with his hands and tilted her head back so he could look into her eyes.
“What is it?”
“The longer we go without finding Xaneth, the more worried I become. I should’ve been looking for Usaeil when we attacked Bran.”
Cael kissed her forehead and pulled her into his arms. “You can’t be everywhere or think of everything. Xaneth is strong and smart.”
“But he doesn’t know we’re looking for him.”
They clasped hands again and moved back onto the street. They hadn’t gone even two blocks when they turned the corner and came face-to-face with none other than the King of the Dark.
Balladyn quickly hid the surprise on his face. “Have you finally come for me?”
Erith’s brows snapped together. “I have meant to come and speak with you, but we’ve been looking for Xaneth.”
Cael studied the Dark. “You think Death is here to judge you.”
Balladyn’s eyes slid from Erith to Cael. “Aye.”
“I came to you,” Erith said. “I told you who we were. I did that not just because we needed your help, but because I believe you’ll keep our secret.”
The king frowned. “So . . . you’re allowing me to live?”
By his tone, Cael suspected that Balladyn didn’t want to be given such a reprieve.
Erith released Cael’s hand and walked to Balladyn. She stared up at him for a long moment. “You are the best thing for the Dark. Lead them like you used to lead your Light army.”
Balladyn looked away, obviously uncomfortable.
“What are you doing here?” Cael asked him.
Balladyn’s head snapped to him. “Looking for Xaneth.”
“Why?” Erith asked him.
“I felt as if I should,” the king said with a shrug.
Erith smiled. “And that’s why I’ve let you live.”
“Besides,” Cael said, “we know where to find you if any secrets do get out.”
Balladyn held his gaze, not backing down. The king removed his glamour for just a second, letting his red eyes flash. Cael grinned, liking the audacity that was inherently Balladyn. The king didn’t know that it was that boldness, that fearlessness that had made him such a brave Light—or such a powerful Dark.
“Have you seen Usaeil?” Erith asked Balladyn.
The Dark shook his head. “I found a post on Twitter from someone thinking they saw her here. I suppose we should thank Usaeil for pretending to be a movie star. Otherwise, no one would know what she looked like.”
“We didn’t think to look for that,” Cael admitted.
Erith moved out of the way for others to pass and returned to Cael’s side. “She knows we’re coming for her.”
“Rhi will be pissed she’s not getting a piece of Usaeil,” Balladyn said.
“Oh, she will,” Erith said and looked over her shoulder.
Cael shrugged when Balladyn raised a brow and turned his attention to him, hoping Cael might elaborate. If Erith wanted Balladyn to know, she’d tell him. It wasn’t Cael’s place.
“I suppose I should leave you to it,” Balladyn said and began to turn away.
“If you hear anything about Xaneth or Usaeil, will you let us know?” Erith asked.
The king looked at her and bowed his head. “You have my word.”
They watched Balladyn walk away. Once the Dark turned the corner, Cael looked at Erith and asked, “Was it wise to allow him his life?”
“You think he’ll betray us? He’s had a month to do it.”
Cael shook his head in disbelief. “You gave him this time to see what he’d do.”
She smiled and lifted one shoulder. “He proved his worth. It’s also nice to have an ally if we ever need one again. Besides, Rhi knows of us and also hasn’t said anything—not even to Balladyn.”
They continued walking. Each
of the Reapers had a grid of the city to search for any sign of Usaeil, but so far, no one had found anything.
“She wouldn’t be out in the open,” Cael said.
Erith snorted. “It’s Usaeil. She’ll believe she’s safe.”
“We better find her soon. I don’t have a good feeling about Xaneth’s survival.”
“Me either,” Erith whispered.
* * *
No matter how fast he ran, he wasn’t quick enough. Xaneth jumped over a log as the sounds of approaching Trackers reached him. His lungs burned, and sweat dripped into his eyes. He didn’t know what Usaeil had done to him—or even where he was—but the one thing he did know was that his magic was gone.
If he still had it, he’d be facing the Trackers head-on instead of running for his life.
He tripped on a hidden root and went face-first to the ground. Dazed, he tried to get to his feet by pushing up on his hands. The leaves beneath his palms slipped on the ground, and the next thing he knew, he was rolling downhill, slamming into various items before he finally crashed to a halt.
Xaneth didn’t move. His entire body ached, and he was fairly certain that several bones were broken. Was this how he would die?
The one thing he’d vowed was that his life wouldn’t end with him cowering. Whether he faced a Tracker, Usaeil, or Death herself, Xaneth would do it with his chin held high.
All that hiding, all the deals made between the Light and Dark, straddling both worlds had gotten him exactly nothing. He’d done the right thing and had gone to Death with what Bran was using to drain her powers. He’d expected to die on the battlefield with the Reapers—not be taken by Usaeil.
His bitch of an aunt had been waiting for him. She’d somehow known that he would be at the mansion. The moment he lowered his veil, she was there.
He hadn’t even had time to call out to any of the Reapers. Not that he expected them to do anything. They all despised him—especially Aisling.
Xaneth closed his eyes. He was tired of running, tired of hiding. With no magic or weapons to fight the Trackers, he didn’t stand a chance in Hell. But he was part of a royal line of great Fae, and he would do them proud.
He struggled to get to his feet, ignoring the pain that ran through him. Then he waited for the Trackers to find him. The minutes ticked by with nothing.