Dark Alpha's Embrace

by Donna Grant

  “If you do know our history, then you must’ve read about the existence of Reapers.”

  River lifted one shoulder in a careless shrug. “Maybe.”

  “That’s what I am, River. A Reaper.”

  There was a beat of silence before she slowly turned her head to him. “The Reapers are nothing more than a Fae folktale.”

  “We’re very real. There are seven of us who do Death’s bidding. We’re a mix of both Light and Dark Fae. It’s why I’m not like other Dark you’ve seen. Becoming a Reaper shifts a Fae’s focus. We bind ourselves to Death and the group.”

  Her interest was evident in the way her pale blue eyes glittered in the firelight. “How does Death choose you? Or do you volunteer?”

  “Each of us suffered a betrayal of some sort that resulted in our deaths. Before our soul left us, Death was there to offer us an opportunity to keep the balance of good and evil.”

  River looked down at her hands. “I’m sorry you were betrayed.”

  “I am too. However, it brought me to the Reapers. Those men—and now Jordyn—are my family.”

  Her gaze returned to him as her head leaned to the side. “How is Jordyn a part of this?”

  “The Dark who attacked us tonight are led by a Fae named Bran. He was part of the first group of Reapers. Death had rules. A Reaper was never to tell a Fae who they were. If a Fae discovered it, that Fae must be killed immediately.”

  “Wow,” River murmured.

  “A Reaper could never have any relationship with any species.”

  River fiddled with the edge of one of the quilts. “Meaning you could never have a family.”

  “Right. Our focus needs to be entirely on the Reapers and what Death asks of us. But Bran fell in love. When Death ordered him to kill the woman, he refused and turned half of the Reapers to his side. He then killed the original leader, Theo, and attempted to kill Cael and Eoghan. They survived.”

  River gave him a baleful look. “You can’t stop there. I know there’s more.”

  “Death took Bran. Cael and Eoghan thought Bran was killed, but Death instead took him to the Netherworld.”

  “A place he should still be in,” River said.

  Kyran nodded. “Aye. He should. He had help escaping.”

  “Now he seeks vengeance on the Reapers, right?”

  “And Death.”

  River rolled her eyes. “He sounds idiotic to be going after Death.”

  Kyran couldn’t help but grin. “That he is.” The smile died though. “He attempted to trick us into killing the half-Fae by making Cael believe the order came from Death. When we didn’t carry out the plan, he and his men began their annihilation of all half-Fae on this realm.”

  “How does Jordyn fit into this?”

  “Baylon found her when the Dark attacked. He saved her. We ended up telling her everything, and in exchange, she offered to use herself as bait.”

  River flattened her lips. “That’s never a good idea.”

  “It was the only one we had at the time.”

  “Did it work?”

  Kyran gave a single shake of his head. “It led us to figure out it was Bran, but in the end he cornered us and killed Jordyn.”

  “She looked very much alive a few minutes ago.”

  “Death offered her a position with the Reapers. She doesn’t execute as we do.”

  River’s exasperated look told him exactly what she thought of Jordyn. “So she’s a Reaper now?”

  “In a manner.”

  “She and Baylon fell in love, didn’t they?”

  Kyran sat back, surprised at her assessment. “How did you know?”

  “A good guess. So Death changed the rules.”

  “Aye. Death realized if the rules didn’t shift then history would repeat itself.”

  River folded her hands in the quilt. “Too bad Death didn’t figure that out to begin with.”

  “Everyone makes mistakes. Even Death.”

  River returned her look to the fire. “Now you must find a way to rid yourself of Bran.”

  “When we become Reapers, Death gives us more magic and power. Somehow Bran has passed that on to other Dark and increased his own in the process.”

  She shook her head and swung her gaze to him. “No. Bran wouldn’t be able to do such a thing. It has to be either a person or item that is giving him that extra boost of power and allowing other Dark to have it as well.”

  “How do you know this? We don’t know this.”

  “I read a lot,” was her response.

  Kyran rubbed his hands together. “You’ve obviously had some bad encounters with the Fae, and I’m sorry for that. We need your help, River. I know you can read the books.”

  She smiled then, though it held a wealth of irritation. “Yes, I can.”

  “How?”

  “One member of my family every few generations has the gift. Those who couldn’t read the books were told the stories to pass them down through the family until the next one of us who could read them came along.”

  Kyran blew out a breath. The answer to their problems sat right in front of him. “Will you read them to us? Will you help us?”

  “Where were you or Death when my family was being summarily slaughtered? Every generation. I’m the last of my line. As soon as I have a child and it’s old enough to know our secrets, I’ll be killed.”

  Kyran frowned, thoroughly confused. “I don’t understand. Are you sure it’s the Fae doing this to your family?”

  “Oh yes. I saw them tear my aunt apart.”

  “Your parents?”

  “They were killed while I was away. That’s how they found Maureen. They tracked me to her. They hadn’t known of her until then. The Dark wanted to be sure there was no one left but me.”

  Kyran couldn’t imagine such suffering. No wonder she had problems with the Fae, especially the Dark. “You said you’ve been tracking the books. Were they at your aunt’s?”

  “Yes. The Dark took great enjoyment out of stealing everything from me.”

  “None of this makes sense. It had to be a Light Fae who gave your family the Fae blood.”

  River remained silent, her gaze lowering.

  Kyran closed his eyes and sighed. A Dark. When had there ever been a Dark who left a human alive? He lifted his lids and stared at River, seeing her with new eyes.

  “I don’t want your pity,” she stated and once more looked at the fire.

  “I’m not giving it.”

  “Good.”

  Kyran stretched his legs out and crossed them at the ankles. “You’re needed, River. It’s not by accident that you know what you do about the Fae and were put in our path. You’re destined to aid us in this.”

  When she didn’t respond, he tried again. “Think of all the innocents, like your family and Jordyn’s, who were killed. You have a chance to help us put an end to such things for everyone. The half-Fae will no longer need to fear for their lives. And I promise you I’ll figure out who has hunted your family and end it.”

  Her resigned look cut through him. “You can’t do that. You work for Death. I doubt you’ll be given leave to help me.”

  “Let me deal with that. Whether you help me or not, I’m going to find out why the Dark are hunting your family. And then I’m going to make sure it never happens again.”

  River swung her gaze to him. She tucked a long length of hair behind her ear. “Do I have your word you’ll stop whoever is after me?”

  “Aye.” Kyran held out his hand.

  River stared at it a moment before she leaned up and took it. They shook, her small hand in his. “Then I’ll help you.”

  “Good. You need to get somewhere warm.”

  He didn’t give her any time to change her mind. Kyran kept hold of her hand and teleported them to the caves.

  She weaved on her feet. Instantly, his arms were around her. “A little warning would’ve been nice,” she said.

  It took Kyran a minute to respond. Being close to he
r again was playing havoc with his body. She felt good in his arms, her softness against him. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

  Her eyes opened and clashed with his. Kyran had the insane urge to lean down and kiss her. Twice in a matter of hours. If he were smart, he’d put some distance between them.

  Then again, only a fool would walk away from someone like her.

  And Kyran wasn’t a fool.

  Chapter Six

  “He did it!” shouted a male voice close to River.

  She jerked, suddenly realizing she was standing in Kyran’s arms and looking into his red eyes. River stepped away from him and took a look around.

  The cave might be rough looking, but it was warmer than her flat. Fae magic was visible from the barrier that kept the harsh winter weather out to the hundreds of candles that hung midair casting everything in a warm glow.

  Talin came up to her with a smile. “We’re glad you’re helping.”

  Jordyn walked up with a Light Fae beside her, who River deduced was Baylon. Behind them stood two men, one with long white hair and red-rimmed white eyes. He bowed his head at her, but didn’t come closer.

  The Fae who obviously led the Reapers strode to her from a connecting room, a smile in place. “We’re glad to have you, River. I’m Cael.”

  “I’ll do what I can.”

  “Of course.” Cael looked around the room and motioned to Jordyn and her man. “That’s Baylon. The white one in the back is Fintan. And next to him is Eoghan.”

  Eoghan didn’t even acknowledge her.

  “He doesn’t talk,” Kyran whispered in her ear from behind.

  Cael spread his arms wide. “It’s not much, but it’s our base for now. We’ll be here until Bran ferrets us out.”

  “Or we find him first,” Fintan stated.

  There was a half-smile on Cael’s lips as he said, “Aye.”

  River smothered a yawn. She was sure she got only a half-hour of sleep before Kyran and the others arrived at her flat. They were in a hurry for information, but she was dead on her feet.

  “Let’s get started,” Jordyn said and marched to the right.

  River leaned to the side and saw a short tunnel that diverted to several openings.

  “She’s very excited,” Baylon said. He ran a hand through his short black hair and smiled after her. “Jordyn hates that she can’t read the books.”

  Fintan pivoted and went back the same way he’d come. Talin clapped his hands together and winked at her before he followed Jordyn, with Baylon on his heels.

  “If you’re not up to this—” Kyran began.

  But River interrupted him. “I’m fine. Let’s begin.”

  She felt Eoghan’s gaze on her as she trailed after the others. River looked into each entrance as she walked past. One looked like an office, another looked like a social room with sofas and chairs.

  It was the third opening she came to that she found Jordyn standing in front of a large table with River’s books. River walked inside, and even she was impressed with the number of books lining the shelves that took up all the wall space in the cavern.

  As River moved further into the room, she looked at the books. Every one of them was about the Fae in some fashion.

  “They’re my collection,” Jordyn said proudly.

  River turned to her. “How many are stolen from libraries?”

  Jordyn’s smile slipped. “Only about four.”

  “Do you have any idea the funding libraries have to go through to get books? Most times books that don’t get returned aren’t purchased again. That means you’ve taken away someone else’s privilege to read it.”

  Jordyn put her hands on the table and scowled. “Tell me, how many times was my book checked out in the last year?”

  “That’s not the point. You wanted it. There could be someone else who does as well.”

  “If that’s the case, then we need to be worried,” Jordyn said.

  River nodded, the full impact of what she was involved in hitting her. “You’re right.”

  “Now that that’s taken care of,” Baylon said. “Where do we start?” He reached for one of the books.

  River reacted on instinct from years of handling ancient texts. “Don’t!” she yelled, her hands outstretched to snatch the book from him.

  “It’s all right,” Kyran said as he walked up beside her. “I protected them with magic. I saw what you did for them at the library. They’ll not be harmed.”

  Baylon smiled as he opened the book and flipped through the pages. “It’s like each page has its own protection spell. It can’t be ripped, burned, or soaked.”

  “That’s good,” she said and dropped her arms to her sides.

  Kyran walked to the table, his long black and silver hair shoved away from his face. “The books are important to us as well.”

  “Which one do we start with?” Jordyn asked excitedly.

  River looked for the book that began it all. “It’s not here.”

  “Looks like we’ve got eighteen books to find, lads,” Talin said.

  Kyran tapped the book nearest him. “Do they go in order?”

  “In a manner. That’s how I read them, but with our timing, I don’t have to start there.”

  Talin turned and walked from the cavern as he said, “I’ll tell Cael we need to find those other books immediately.”

  “I’ll go help them,” Kyran said.

  River nodded, unsure of why he was telling her. After a few whispered words, Baylon left as well. Leaving her alone with Jordyn.

  It wasn’t that River hated people, she just liked being alone. Others always disappointed her. Besides, she’d spent her life hiding from the Dark. Making friends wasn’t part of the package.

  “I’m really glad you’re here,” Jordyn said.

  River looked to find Jordyn’s turquoise eyes trained on her. Jordyn’s blond locks were cut short, the pixie cut showcasing her narrow face and high cheekbones.

  “Yeah.” She removed her coat and walked around the table until she came to The Hidden. She took it and moved to one of the Chesterfield chairs where she curled up.

  Jordyn had a laptop in hand when she took the chair next to her. “Were these really your books?”

  “My family’s, yes.” River ran her hand over the cover. “I used to read them in front of my aunt’s hearth. I knew they were old, but I had no idea I shouldn’t have held them or read while eating.”

  “They’ve aged well.”

  “Aunt Maureen always cleaned them after I handled each book.” Holding it again as she had so many years ago brought back a torrent of emotions.

  River opened the book and the antiquated Fae dialect was as easy to read as English.

  “What are the books about?”

  She shrugged and glanced at Jordyn. “The Fae. It’s the accounting of each family. Some knew more than others, but they all had knowledge, that when combined is important.”

  “How did your family come to have the books?”

  River felt eyes on her and looked up to find Eoghan leaning a shoulder against the entrance, watching them.

  “He’s not being rude,” Jordyn said. “He doesn’t talk.”

  River kept eye contact with him as she told Jordyn, “I never thought he was being rude.”

  She recognized another soul who preferred solitude to the company of others. That wasn’t the reason Eoghan didn’t speak. If River had to guess, it had something to do with Bran’s betrayal, or even something farther back.

  His lips softened just a fraction as he nodded at her and walked away.

  “You never said how your family came to have all thirty books,” Jordyn prompted.

  River shrugged and went back to looking at the pages. “I don’t know. They were always there. I never thought to ask how we had them until it was too late, and I couldn’t get answers.”

  * * *

  Kyran returned with three of the books. He was surprised to find he was the first one back. When he walked into the li
brary, as Jordyn had dubbed the cavern, he found River asleep, a book opened on her lap.

  Jordyn smiled at him. “I didn’t want to wake her.”

  “It’s fine, lass,” Kyran told her as he set the books on the table.

  While he walked to River, Jordyn was busy crossing off the books on her list. Kyran took the book from River’s hands and closed it to set it with the others. Then he lifted her in his arms and strode from the library.

  He took her to a room Cael had set up for her. The chamber wasn’t large, but the bed was soft and warm. Kyran laid her down and removed her boots before covering her.

  River immediately rolled onto her side and sighed. He touched her face before letting a long strand of her dark brown hair slide through his fingers.

  What was it about her that pulled at him? It couldn’t be her strength, because Jordyn had that as well. It wasn’t just her beauty, though River was striking.

  Perhaps it was the sadness she tried so desperately to hide. There was a wealth of hurt and anger there as well. Kyran still couldn’t believe she agreed to help them.

  “Do you trust her?” Fintan asked from the doorway.

  Kyran looked over his shoulder at his friend. He glanced down at River before he walked to the door. “Aye,” he told Fintan before he moved around him.

  Fintan followed him down the corridor to the library. “No one else can read those words but her. How do you know she won’t lie to us?”

  “What would she gain?” Talin asked as he set his books down and faced them.

  Jordyn nodded. “Exactly. Why lie?”

  “She didn’t want to help. Listening to Kyran and Talin, she was ready to kill them at the library to keep them from taking the books.”

  Kyran folded his arms over his chest as Cael and Baylon appeared in the room with the last of the books. “What are you getting at?”

  “I’m saying she agreed too easily,” Fintan said.

  Cael leaned his hands on the table. “She doesn’t trust Fae.”

  “It could be a ruse.” Fintan lifted a shoulder.

  Kyran shifted his feet wider. “I get your point, brother, but I don’t think that’s our problem.”

  “You’ve already considered that?” Cael asked.

  Kyran rubbed his jaw as he tried to put his thoughts into words. “Not until Fintan said something. Talin and I spent the most time with her. There is a lot of rage there. It’s in her eyes, in her voice, in her very breath. She’s not a decoy of Bran’s.”