‘Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?’ Sam looked over at Chris, back rigid.
‘Tyler refuses to accept she has a right to live, because the body her soul currently inhabits isn’t the one she was born with. She’s planning on skipping out, letting Emily’s body die and remaining in astral form until she’s filled her soul quota.’ He fixed me with a hard blue stare. ‘That is your plan, right?’
I stood, hating to see the dawning pain in Sam’s eyes, but refusing to shy away from this. ‘I can’t live in this body. I won’t. I love you, Sam, more than I ever thought possible to love someone, but I can’t live a lie. This is not my body and I would destroy myself with hate and guilt if I were to stay in it.’
Sam’s jaw clenched and he shook his head. ‘I’m not ready to lose you. Not by a long shot.’
‘You don’t have to. I hope,’ said a new voice.
Killian entered the room carrying a body wrapped in a heavy sheet. ‘If Chris is right, Tyler can have her old body back.’
‘What?’ My head spun as I looked from Chris and back to the wrapped body in Killian’s arms. My body. Tiny electric shocks ran through me as I stared at it, throat working hard to produce saliva as I remembered the condition it had been in when I’d left it.
Broken, charred, disfigured.
Hope warred with fear inside me. Could this really work?
‘It’s worth a try,’ said Chris, answering my unspoken thought. ‘You were planning on skipping out on us anyway. What have you got to lose?
Hands shaking, trembling all over, I sat back in the chair. Sam resumed his position in front of me. ‘Bradbury’s right. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.’
I smiled at him and caressed his cheeks with both hands, wiping away the tears that he shed unashamedly. I nodded once. Without taking my eyes off him, I slipped out of Emily’s body for the last time.
The energy that had been coursing through my physical body with the nearness of my remains hit me tenfold now I was in astral form. My silver wings shimmered with it. I gasped, back arching as I hovered in the air.
Gradually the sensation subsided enough for me to be able to move and carefully manoeuvre myself until I hovered directly above my shrouded remains. I reached out and touched it just below the head, closing my eyes as I waited to be drawn back into my body.
Power thrummed through me and I cried out as the whirlwind swept me along, slamming me back into my body. I screamed, heels drumming the carpet as the pain of my injuries tore through me. Endless torment followed as every limb felt like it was being shredded, skin tearing, blood gushing from the wounds. Then a wave of pure light washed over me, bringing peace in its wake.
I tried to open my eyes, blinking in confusion when they were barred by cloth.
Hands touched me, gently peeling back the sheet to clear my face and I looked into Sam’s beautiful eyes.
His tears wet my cheeks when he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.
‘Oh my God, it really worked,’ I heard Rhonda gasp. I turned my head and saw she was also crying, the back of one hand pressed to her mouth. Connor stood beside her, half holding her up, cheeks also wet.
My eyes found Chris. He wasn’t crying. He looked pleased, though sad, and at first I couldn’t understand why. Then it hit me.
He’d given me a second chance, allowing me to live my life. With Sam.
Sam unwound the sheet and helped me stand, wrapping his arm around my waist and holding me close. Together we faced Chris.
‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘This means everything to me.’ I wanted to go to him, hug him, but was scared it would only make things worse. He was hurting, and I wasn’t the only one to see it.
‘Bradbury … Chris. You did good,’ said Sam, his hold on me tightening. I got the feeling it would be a long time coming before he would let go of me, and I didn’t mind one bit.
‘What now?’ Connor asked, wiping at his eyes.
I smiled at him, amazed at how easily it came despite the tears filling my eyes. ‘Now we take Emily home.’
Cade and Killian could sort out the mess here at the compound, but my cousin deserved better. So did her parents. They would finally be able to say goodbye to their beloved daughter. I would forever miss Emily’s bubbly spirit, and regret the part I had played in her death, but knowing she had been giving a chance to live again eased the pain somewhat.
As for me, I was still a reaper.
With the size of my soul quota that wouldn’t change for a long time to come, maybe not even in this lifetime, but I truly didn’t mind. I had a job to do, and I would take pride in easing the passing of those who died, ushering them on to their next life.
Everyone deserved a second chance.
Even me.
THE END
Acknowledgments – with thanks:
Writing Winged Reaper and getting it published has been a roller coaster of a ride, and it would never have happened without the support of my family and friends.
Hugs and kisses to Mum, Grant and my beautiful children, for always being my number one support team. I am also grateful to Donna, Jennifer and Jael, who have assured me that no matter what I write, it is going to be an awesome read. A writer can never have enough people who believe in them so strongly.
Benaraby author, Sue-Ellen Pashley, is not only a fabulous writer, she is a wonderful friend who is always ready to beta read for me and gives valuable insight that helps my stories shine. Kris Sheather, at Two Decade Designs, went above and beyond to find Winged Reaper a home, and created yet another fantastic cover. You ladies rock!
Thank you to all the readers who have embraced Tyler and have been eagerly waiting to find out what happens to her next. I also would like to give a shout out to my fellow Year of the Edit Online participants for helping me recraft the opening. Your assistance was invaluable.
Finally, I would like to thank Helen Goltz, at Atlas Productions, for taking a chance on my Reaper series and for making sure that this book is the best it could possibly be.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shelley Russell Nolan is an avid reader who began writing her own stories at sixteen. Her first completed manuscript featured brain eating aliens and a butt-kicking teenage heroine. Since then she has spent her time creating fantasy worlds where death is only the beginning and even freaks can fall in love. With books for both young adults and adults in the works, Shelley plans on writing for as longs as she has the power to type, and looks forward to when all her stories will be published.
Connect with Shelley:
Website: https://shelleyrussellnolan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShelleyRussellNolan/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@ShelleyRNolan/
ALSO BY SHELLEY RUSSELL NOLAN:
Lost Reaper (out now)
The first dead body I ever saw was my own.
For twenty-five-year-old Tyler Morgan, being murdered was easy. Easy in comparison with working for the Grim Reaper.
Jonathon Grimm may have brought her back from the dead in exchange for working as a reaper for her hometown, Easton, but she has to find his lost reaper before she can enjoy her second chance at life. Only … the lost reaper isn’t actually lost. He has a new body and a new life and no intention of turning himself in, even if it means giving Tyler her life back.
Tyler begins the grisly task of reaping the souls of Easton’s dead while searching for the reaper. He could be anyone – the intriguing detective, Sam Lockwood; the handsome, wealthy Chris Bradbury; or the serial killer stalking the women of Easton. Women who bear an uncanny resemblance to Tyler.
But what is the ancient secret, hidden from mankind, that has motivated Grimm to chose Tyler for the morbid task?
As the killer closes in and Grimm’s deadline draws closer, Tyler discovers she is fighting a much bigger threat than the Grim Reaper and time is running out for everyone.
Out now!
A fabulous start to a new serie
s. Keri Arthur
Great debut novel. Original storyline, romance, mystery and the Grimm Reaper – what more could you want! Sue-ellen Pashley
The pace was tight and suspenseful, making me turn the page and wanting to know what happened next. A.K. Leigh
Tyler evolves into a woman of strength and conviction ... I cheered for her, I became teary in parts, and I rallied in her ability to rebuild herself each time fate dealt her an unfair hand. Danni L.
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