by Donna Grant
“You’re assuming a lot from talking to her only a little,” Fintan stated.
“Kyran’s right,” Talin said. “All she thought about tonight was protecting those books. She wanted us gone.”
Cael jutted his chin toward Kyran. “There’s something that concerns you. What is it?”
“If anything, River won’t tell us everything. As Fintan pointed out, she’s the only one who can read the books.”
Baylon blew out a breath. “We need to earn her trust.”
“That’s not going to happen overnight,” Jordyn added.
Fintan motioned to the thirty books on the table. “We’ve no choice but to take her word for it.”
“She’s here of her own free will,” Kyran pointed out. “I promised I’d find out who is hunting her family. I need to discover who it is, and stop them.”
“That’ll go a long way in the trust department,” Cael said. “What did she tell you about them?”
Kyran dropped his arms, unease running through him. Ever since he’d learned it was a Dark family, he’d had a bad feeling that churned in his gut.
“It’s obviously the Dark killing off her family,” Fintan said.
Cael’s forehead puckered. “Kyran?”
“Aye, it’s the Dark,” he said.
Baylon said, “Then our next step would be to find which of the Light fathered the first of her line and their connection to the Dark hunting her.”
“That’s where we’ll hit a snag.” When every eye was on him, Kyran said, “It was a Dark who gave her family the Fae blood.”
Chapter Seven
“A Dark?” Fintan asked in shock.
Kyran ran a hand through his hair. “I’m fairly certain I wore that exact same expression when she told me.”
Talin shook his head in confusion. “Since when does a Dark leave a human after one coupling?”
“Never,” Fintan and Kyran answered in unison.
A muscle in Cael’s temple jumped. “We need to find the answer. I agree with Kyran, there’s something going on here.”
“How does River know it’s a Dark?” Jordyn asked.
Kyran lifted a shoulder. “I didn’t ask specifics.”
“Let’s find who is targeting her first,” Cael said.
Baylon asked, “Can’t we get that information from Death?”
Kyran shifted his gaze to Cael. As leader, it was Cael who ventured into Death’s domain on occasion. Each time he went, Kyran noticed he was different when he returned. Cael was wound as tight as a bowstring and on edge. He hid it well—but not nearly well enough.
“We’re Reapers. We’ll take care of this,” Cael stated.
Baylon gave a nod of acceptance. “Fair enough.”
“I want to help,” Jordyn said. She looked around at her books helplessly. “It doesn’t state in any of my books about a mortal family being hunted by Fae.”
Fintan’s face twisted with anger. “The Dark do much worse for less. Can you trace her family, Jordyn?”
“Sure. River White, yes?” Jordyn asked as she punched in the name on her laptop.
As they waited for the results, Kyran thought over everything River told him. How she’d hidden in plain sight, how her great-aunt had taken extreme precautions.
“The list is pulling up,” Jordyn told them.
Kyran grinned as he realized what River had done. “Don’t bother looking. You won’t find River on that list.”
“She changed her surname,” Talin said, coming to the same conclusion.
Cael said, “That would be the smart move if the Dark are looking for a certain name.”
“Nay.” Kyran frowned as he recalled her story. “She was at her great-aunt’s in Ireland.”
Talin’s eyes widened. “Ireland?”
Kyran nodded to him and continued. “That’s who taught her all she knows. Maureen had the books. From what River said, Maureen lived in secret for most of her life. Yet the Dark tracked River there and killed Maureen in front of her.”
“Where in Ireland?” Jordyn asked as she began to punch keys on her laptop.
“Dublin. River would’ve been a child.”
While Jordyn did her search, Cael looked at each of them. “We need to know what it is about River’s family that has them being hunted.”
“And why haven’t they killed her?” Fintan asked.
Kyran swallowed. “River said the Dark allow one of her family to live. She said once she has a child and that child is old enough to know about its heritage, the Dark will come and kill her.”
“Shite,” Talin murmured.
Cael pointed to Kyran and Fintan. “Go to the Dark. See what you can find. Talin—” he began.
“I know,” Talin interrupted. “I’ll go to the Light court and see if anyone knows anything.”
Behind them Eoghan clapped his hands and pointed to Talin. Kyran had forgotten he was even in the room. Eoghan was always there, watching and listening. It made Kyran wonder just what the silent Reaper saw that they didn’t.
“All right,” Cael said. “Eoghan will go with Talin. Baylon, stay with the women.”
Baylon winked at Jordyn. “Fine with me.”
“And you?” Fintan asked Cael.
Cael hesitated for a moment. “I’ve got a visit to make.”
“Is this when you tell us about catching the one responsible for letting Bran out?” Kyran asked.
Cael shook his head and pivoted. As he walked away he said, “Not now.”
“When?” Talin asked as he frowned after their leader.
Fintan slapped Talin on the back. “He’ll tell us when he wants to.”
“Which isn’t right,” Baylon said. “Not after what we went through.”
Kyran had to agree. He walked into the corridor and looked down the tunnel to River’s chamber. While she slept, he was going to find answers.
“Ready?” Fintan asked.
Kyran was anything but ready to return to the world of the Dark. “Aye.”
Both used glamour to alter their appearance, Fintan so he wouldn’t stand out with his white hair and eyes. Kyran did it because of his family. Even though it had been over six thousand years since he was betrayed, he wasn’t going to take a chance of anyone recognizing him.
With a nod, he and Fintan teleported to the Fae doorway on the edge of the cliffs in the city of Portpatrick. Across the Irish Sea, Kyran could see Northern Ireland.
Fintan didn’t falter before he walked through the doorway, which would lead them to the Dark world. Kyran took a deep breath and followed him.
As soon as Kyran entered the Fae doorway, he was surrounded by Dark. At one time, this had been everything to him. He’d put aside his own wants and needs for those of his family. The ever dutiful son.
And look where that had gotten him.
“You good?” Fintan asked.
Kyran was in the heart of the Dark—Taraeth’s palace. He was far from good. It was a place he hated almost as much as his family home. “Nay.”
“Me either. Let’s get this done and return to the others.”
“Agreed.”
They proceeded along the extensive hallway, passing dozens of Dark. Kyran spotted Balladyn talking to the Dark king, Taraeth, and halted. Balladyn was a legend among the Fae. He’d once been the Light queen’s most trusted and lethal warrior in her Queen’s Guard—until the Dark captured him and turned him.
What made him of even more interest to the Reapers had to do with Rhi, the Light Fae Daire was following. Balladyn had been in love with her for ages. And he was endeavoring to win her love.
But it was Balladyn who had ambushed and killed Kyran.
Fintan blew out a breath as he too saw Balladyn. “I wonder how long it’s going to take the Dragon Kings to discover Balladyn is in pursuit of Rhi?”
“Who says they don’t already know?” Kyran glanced at Fintan. “Daire would know, but we’ve not seen him for weeks.”
“And likely won’t until Death has al
l that’s needed of Rhi.”
Kyran stared at Balladyn and Taraeth. “Do you think either of them are involved with Bran?”
“If Taraeth knew how strong Bran was, the king would have killed him already. Taraeth knows nothing.”
“And Balladyn?”
Fintan crossed his arms over his chest. “He could go either way in this. Balladyn could’ve helped Bran, but to what end?”
Kyran cut a dry look to Fintan. “You know as well as I it’s only a matter of time before Balladyn takes over. I’m surprised Taraeth hasn’t killed him yet.”
“Aye. Then again, Balladyn is the kind of Fae who does things himself. He wouldn’t rely on others to help him steal the throne.”
Kyran nodded slowly. “Balladyn wouldn’t want to be indebted to anyone.”
“Then there’s no reason for Balladyn to help Bran.”
“How long until Bran focuses his intent right here?”
Fintan released a long breath. “I’d rather like to believe we’ll kill his stupid arse before then.”
“Aye.”
They continued walking, neither speaking. Being back at the Dark Palace was like opening doorways to his past that Kyran would rather have kept boarded and locked forever.
It never entered his mind to tell Cael another Reaper should be sent. He and Fintan were the only two Dark Fae. They knew how the Dark acted, how they thought. None of the other Reapers could learn to interpret the nuances of their behavior as he and Fintan could.
In all the years Kyran had been away, he found it humorous that nothing had changed. There were still the immense areas where humans were caged, moaning and begging the Dark to take them.
Even more mortals were on the floor, writhing in pleasure as Dark after Dark took them—killing them slowly. It disgusted Kyran.
“Don’t look,” Fintan said.
As if Kyran could ignore it. It had been part of his life once. Not looking at it wouldn’t change any of that.
When Fintan stopped at the second of such areas, Kyran knew he was going in.
“This is where the information flows,” Fintan said in a low voice.
Kyran nodded. “Right.”
Fintan went in first, walking among the Dark and the mortals as if he was still very much a part of the world. Kyran remained at the doorway. He leaned his shoulder against it and merely watched Fintan.
A female Dark rose from her stack of pillows on the floor and approached him, a goblet in hand. Kyran took in every detail about her from her average height, her straight black hair that just touched the tops of her shoulders.
The silver streaking her hair was abundant, the strips thick and wide. She wore a silver bracelet on her left wrist with a chain that connected to the ring on her middle finger.
Her red silk dress stopped mid-thigh and was of the highest quality. She showed just enough cleavage to bring a man’s attention to her breasts, but she didn’t bare herself like some of the lower-class Dark had a habit of doing.
She stopped before him and smiled seductively. “See something that catches your eye?” she asked in a husky voice.
Kyran looked down into her large red eyes. “Maybe.”
Her smile widened at his words. For long minutes she stared at him as she drank from her goblet.
“Finish your inspection?” he asked after her gazed raked him from head to toe twice.
“Maybe.”
He chuckled and glanced to where Fintan was talking with a group of Dark. “What does your family think of you being here alone?”
Her smile dropped instantly. “Excuse me?”
Kyran nodded to her bracelet. “No one here must know you’re part of the Nighttail family or else they wouldn’t talk to you. They aren’t exactly a family who’d allow a female to venture to the palace unescorted.”
“I don’t need anyone following me or telling me what to do,” she said tightly. “Is that why you’re here? To take me back?”
“I don’t care what you do. I’m here for information.”
As soon as she realized Kyran wouldn’t return her home, she relaxed. “Information I have loads of. I’ll get you anything you want to know as long as you don’t tell anyone I’m here.”
“Sounds fair. Though you should hide that bracelet.”
She rolled her eyes. “Already did that. My father made sure that it isn’t just permanently on my wrist, it’s now unable to be touched by magic.”
That meant her father was mostly likely the head of the Nighttail family.
“What do you want to know?” she asked.
“I hear there is a group of Dark who hunts a mortal family. They leave one in each generation to continue the line, but then hunt and kill them.”
“Why do you want to know this?” she asked, skeptically.
Kyran smiled. “So I can join them, of course.”
Chapter Eight
“That doesn’t sound like your speed.”
Kyran pushed away from the doorway and smiled down at the female. “I’m in need of fun.”
She hesitated. “This crowd I’m talking about doesn’t allow just anyone in. And once in, they’ll never let you out.”
“Thanks for the warning.” Kyran watched as she nervously glanced around. “What are you afraid of?”
Her red gaze jerked to him, becoming hard. “You’re a male. You wouldn’t understand.”
He understood perfectly because he’d had a sister. Kyran remembered how she suffered, how she’d borne the weight of her obligations in silence and sadness.
“This is a bad idea,” the female said and began to turn away.
Kyran reached out and snagged the wrist bound with the bracelet and chain, stopping her. When she didn’t jerk out of his grip, he asked, “If you had a choice, if you were free, what would you do?”
“I don’t know.”
He smiled sadly. “You’re lying. You’ve thought of it a hundred times or more and planned every detail.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Who are you?”
“No one.”
“Now who’s lying?” she asked with a raised black brow. Her red eyes narrowed as her head straightened. “My father sent you, didn’t he?”
Kyran released her hand. “No. I recognize the bracelet.”
“And only those close to my family know what it means.”
“Those in the nobility know it.”
Her eyes widened as her lips parted. “So one of the other families have decided to help my father curb my … activities.”
“Nay,” Kyran said and shook his head. “At least not that I know of.”
She swallowed and turned her face away, looking into the room. “I’d go somewhere no one knew me. I’d remove this bracelet and any connection to my family. I’d make my own decisions. I’d be the one to decide who I married.”
“Removing the bracelet will give you freedom, but if you ever need your family, that link will be severed.”
“I know.” Her chest expanded as she took a deep breath. “I also comprehend I’ll have no one to protect me.”
Kyran spotted Fintan ending his conversation. “And if I could help you with that?”
“Why would you do that?”
“An exchange,” Kyran told her. “I get you free, and you tell me who is hunting the mortal family.”
The female closed her eyes.
Kyran gave a small shake of his head to Fintan as he approached. Without missing a beat, Fintan changed course and walked to a group of females.
“I’m Maiti.” Her eyes opened, and she met Kyran’s gaze squarely. “Don’t make me regret trusting you.”
He bowed his head. “Kyran.”
“How soon can you get me out of here?”
Kyran nodded his head toward Fintan. “I’ve come with a friend. He’ll help. First, we need to remove the bracelet. If not, your family will only track you.”
Maiti rolled her eyes. “Did you not hear me? My father made sure no magic can touch this.”
/>
“Trust me,” Kyran told her. He motioned Fintan over.
Fintan studied Maiti before he looked at Kyran. “I guess this means you found what you were looking for?”
“This is Maiti,” Kyran said. “Maiti, this is Fintan.”
Fintan took one look at her bracelet and said, “Nighttail.”
“She knows the group hunting the mortals,” Kyran said.
Fintan’s gaze slid from the bracelet to Kyran. “And I suppose we’re to help her somehow.”
“To escape my family,” Maiti said.
Fintan let out a string of curses beneath his breath. He then put his hands on his hips and stared in a mixture of shock and anger at Kyran. “Have you lost your damn mind?”
“I’m helping her,” Kyran stated.
“This isn’t wise.”
Maiti moved closer to them. “The family hunting the mortals is the Lightslayers. Does that ease your mind? Now, will you please help me?”
The room began to swim around Kyran. He couldn’t catch his breath. Sound rushed like a waterfall in his ears. Suddenly, Fintan’s face appeared in Kyran’s line of vision. Fintan’s lips were moving, but Kyran couldn’t hear anything.
This couldn’t be happening. The name couldn’t be right.
But he knew it was.
As awful as the truth was, Kyran couldn’t deny it.
“Kyran,” Fintan called.
He blinked and was able to focus his gaze on his friend’s concerned face.
Fintan’s frown was deep. “You all right?”
“Aye.” How could he be? Kyran was going to have to tell River that it was his family killing hers.
“We need to get moving,” Maiti said.
Kyran followed her, his mind still reeling.
“How do you know it’s the Lightslayers?” Fintan demanded.
Maiti shrugged and glanced over her shoulder at them. “I overheard my father and the head of the Lightslayer clan once. Another time when I was sneaking back into my house, I saw a group of Lightslayer men arrive, rejoicing at another kill. Rarely do Dark have blood on them when they take a mortal soul.”
After she led them to a small corner in the palace, Kyran braced his hand on the stone wall and hung his head. Of course it would be his family. His father always had to prove to everyone they were the most evil, the most bloodthirsty.