by Donna Grant
Baylon glanced at the floor. “It used to mean nothing. There were added benefits to mortals that had Fae blood. Beauty, talent, and sometimes unexplained abilities could occur.”
“Used to,” she repeated in a strangled voice. “Why do I get the feeling that I’m not going to like your next explanation?”
“Because it isn’t good.”
She sat her wine glass down. “That isn’t comforting me.”
“Any humans with Fae blood are being hunted.”
“What?” she said with a choked gasp. “Why? What did we do?”
Baylon lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I wish I knew.”
“Is there a way for me to stay hidden?”
“Perhaps for a time, but not forever.”
She walked to the table and pulled out a seat, visibly shaken. Jordyn sank into the chair before propping her elbow on the table and dropping her head in her hands. “This can’t be happening.” Her head lifted and she speared him with her turquoise eyes. “How do you know we’re being hunted?”
Baylon had never been in a position where he told someone he was a Reaper. They weren’t forbidden from telling humans, because there had never been an instance to interact with a human.
The Fae, on the other hand, they were barred from telling. Part of the fear and dread surrounding the Reapers was that no one knew who they were.
He’d never had an encounter with a half-Fae before, so he wasn’t sure what side of the fence Death might consider her. So Baylon decided to think of her as human, because it was easier for him. She hadn’t been a part of the Fae world before, so she wouldn’t know anyone.
“Your silence is frightening,” Jordyn said.
Baylon walked to his right slowly. “I’m part of an elite group of Fae who are judge, jury, and executioner for our people who have done wrong.”
“So you were sent to kill me?” she asked, her voice rising. She got to her feet. “You should’ve just done it instead of kissing me! That was plain wrong.”
“I didn’t mean to kiss you!” he yelled in exasperation.
“Stop talking. I can’t sit around waiting to be killed. If you’re going to do it, just do it!”
Baylon stared at her standing tall and proud, her beautiful eyes filled with anger. “My orders are to kill any half-Fae I came across. But I never intended to carry through with them.”
Chapter Five
Jordyn could only stare at Baylon. She wasn’t sure whether to believe him or not. Why would he kill the Dark and tell her everything only to then take her life himself? Then again, it could all be a ploy.
As if her silence hurt him, Baylon said, “You must believe me.”
“This has all been some kind of horrible mistake. I’m not Fae. Sure, my family is wacky enough to say it as a jest, but I’ve no special qualities or abilities. I’m as plain as the next woman on the street.”
Baylon raised a black brow and snorted. “You’re far from plain, and you’re certainly not anything like any other woman. You’re not just amazingly beautiful, Jordyn, but everyone likes you.”
“I’m nice to people,” she said with a shrug.
“Others are nice, too, and yet everyone has enemies. Except a Fae among humans. Even one drop of Fae blood can change a mortal.”
“Oh.” Could he be right? It’s not like she looked around for enemies, but not everyone liked everyone. That was just a fact of life. Yet Baylon made it sound as if she were something special.
Could she be? What if all the stories she heard from her grandmother were true? What if she really was half-Fae?
Her knees threatened to give out. What if she really did have Fae blood? Could that be why she was so intent on finding the Fae? Did she somehow know? Was it some instinct to find those like herself?
Jordyn drew in a deep breath. A part of her was excited to not only have found Baylon, a real Fae, but to also learn she was half-Fae. That thrill was quickly joined by dread and terror at the thought of being hunted.
By Baylon and others like him.
“Do you have a list with names on it?” she asked.
“No. A Fae knows another Fae.”
Jordyn couldn’t handle any more. To be told she was Fae, and that because of it she was being hunted, pushed her over the proverbial edge.
She pointed to the door. “You need to leave. Now.”
Baylon frowned and took a step toward her. “Jordyn, you’re not safe.”
“It appears it’s you I should be worried about, since you’re the one with orders to kill me.”
“There are others in my group. If they find you, they’ll kill you.”
She swallowed, her thoughts going back to the mind-blowing kiss they shared. Jordyn hated being this confused. She didn’t know what to do. “What are you proposing? That you’ll protect me?”
“Yes.”
Jordyn blinked, surprised at his instant response. “Why?”
“Because it’s not your fault you have Fae blood. We’ve never harmed one of you before. I’m not going to start now.”
“What happens if your friends discover you’ve not followed orders?”
He turned his head away, which was answer enough.
“You just met me,” she said. “Why would you risk so much to keep me alive?”
His gaze swiveled to hers, burning with a silver light that mesmerized her. “Do you really need to ask?”
“Yes.”
Suddenly he was standing before her, his arms tight as he held her securely. From shoulder to hip their bodies were pressed together. She felt the heat and hard muscles of him through her clothes as her hands came up automatically to grasp his arms.
His face loomed above her. Desire smoldered, passion burned. Her lips parted of their own accord as she waited for him to kiss her once more.
She couldn’t draw enough air into her lungs. Her body was on fire, aching for him. A rush of air passed through her lips when his gaze dropped to her mouth.
Baylon was wreaking havoc on her senses so that she was left adrift and drowning with yearning. Every fiber of her pulsed in expectation, burned in need.
His head lowered so that his cheek softly brushed against hers. With his mouth near her ear, he whispered, “I can’t keep my hands from you.”
If Jordyn thought to hold back, those seven words would’ve shattered any reservations.
To her surprise, he pulled her against him in an embrace. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. It felt good to be in his arms.
It felt even better to have him holding her so securely.
Which seemed wrong knowing he was sent to kill her, but she couldn’t change how she felt.
“I intended to stay away from any half-Fae,” Baylon said. “Then I saw you on the library steps. You were so engrossed in the book that I had to know what you were reading.”
Jordyn smiled. “I’m glad you did.”
“I knew as soon as I saw you that you were half-Fae. I followed you the rest of the day.”
As disturbing as that was, Jordyn didn’t pull away. “How did I not see you?”
“I can veil myself so that no one can see me.”
She was impressed at his ability. “You went to the station?”
“I did. I saw you with your co-workers and how they look at you. You’ve no idea how much they want you, do you?”
“No.”
There was a beat of silence before he said, “You are one special half-Fae, Jordyn Patterson.”
She sighed against him. She hadn’t realized just how much she needed to be held in such a way until then. Not quite ready to give it up, she remained where she was.
Jordyn leaned back to look at him, but didn’t step away. “How long can you remain veiled?”
“As long as I needed. I had to know how much you knew of the Fae,” he continued. “I hadn’t intended to make myself known to you tonight. Then the Dark approached.” Baylon lightly touched her face. “I should’ve veiled myself after.”
“Why didn’t you?” she asked breathlessly.
“The way you looked at me.”
So he felt it to, whatever it was between them. Jordyn had felt desire and lust before, but whatever the emotion was now was a hundred times more forceful.
“The way you’re looking at me now,” he said in a husky voice pitched low.
“I thought you said I wouldn’t feel your appeal.”
There was a slight smile to his lips as he said, “You aren’t.”
“Then what’s happening?”
Baylon’s head lowered once more. “I wish I knew.”
Jordyn lifted her face as his lips pressed against hers. She moaned as his tongue slipped into her mouth.
This kiss wasn’t slow and sensual as it had been below. This one sizzled in its intensity, blazed with its potency.
Singed with its fervor.
She never stood a chance at resisting Baylon, not that the thought ever crossed her mind. Jordyn slid her arms up his neck and held tight.
The world, the Fae, and everything else simply disappeared as they gave into their passion that refused to be denied.
* * *
Cael stood with Eoghan on the walls of Edinburgh Castle. They remained in the shadows staring over the city. Cael had followed Eoghan from the pub, waiting for the time when he might be able to talk.
Eoghan’s past was one he refused to speak of, but it was one that drastically shaped the Fae into who he was now.
As leader, Cael knew the pasts of his men. He never mentioned them—none of them did. Death felt that he should know to better understand his men and gain their trust.
That was the only reason he had such information.
“I don’t make the orders,” Cael said.
Eoghan continued to stare straight ahead.
Cael drew in a deep breath and released it. “We don’t have a choice. You know that. We all knew that when we became Reapers. I’m not any happier about this than you.”
“Then you should’ve told Death that.”
It took Cael a moment to process what he said since Eoghan so rarely spoke. “I didn’t see Death this time. A message arrived.”
Death normally liked to meet with Cael and give the orders, but on rare occasions Death sent a message. Though with something as big as this assignment, Cael expected a face-to-face meeting.
“You don’t think the others will follow the order, do you?” Cael asked.
Eoghan cut his eyes to him and simply glowered.
“I didn’t think so.” Cael grasped his hands behind his back. The truth was, he didn’t want to kill any half-Fae either.
But it wasn’t as if they had a choice.
“You know what happens if we don’t follow Death’s orders,” Cael said.
Eoghan turned his head forward. “I’m prepared.”
Cael jerked his head to Eoghan in shock and disbelief. He wasn’t sure what to say to his friend. Eoghan was prickly at the best of times. He carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, which was slowly crushing him.
Cael couldn’t remember the last time he saw Eoghan smile. He was part of the group, but he kept himself separate at all times. Despite that, Eoghan never let the group down. He was always there when needed.
“Cael!”
He gritted his teeth when he heard Kyran’s voice in his head. Cael wasn’t ready to leave Eoghan after his admission, but he had to get to Kyran and find out what he needed.
“We’ll finish this talk later,” Cael said.
He waited for Eoghan to acknowledge his words, but the Light Fae merely stood as silent as a statue. Cael gave a shake of his head and teleported to Kyran.
He found the Dark Fae with Talin in the same warehouse the Dragon Kings Thorn and Darius had used to burn the bodies of the Dark they killed.
Kyran was pacing, his red eyes filled with uncertainty. Talin sat on a table and looked as if he were preparing to face Death.
Cael worried his men would have this reaction. Hell, he’d had the same reaction. But they were Reapers. They didn’t get to choose how they felt about their orders. Nor did they get to choose who they killed.
The problem was, none of them had ever felt this way before. There was something inherently wrong with killing the half-Fae.
“I can’t,” Kyran said as he glanced at Cael. “I can’t do this. I realize by disobeying Death’s orders that I forfeit my life. These are mortals, Cael. We’ve never gone after them before.”
Talin lifted his silver eyes to Cael. “I tried to do as ordered. I found a half-Fae in Norway, but I couldn’t kill him.”
That was three of the six on this mission. With Daire watching Rhi, perhaps it was time Cael checked in on Baylon and Fintan. He suspected the only one who would follow Death’s command was Fintan.
Not because the Dark Fae liked to kill, but because Fintan was able to close off any and all emotions to carry out his duty. It made him a cold bastard, but that’s what a Reaper was.
“Why is Death after the half-Fae?” Kyran asked. He raked a hand through his black and silver hair. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“I didn’t get to talk to Death.”
That brought Kyran up short. He stopped and gawked at Cael. “Death didn’t summon you?”
“Not this time,” Cael admitted.
Talin slid off the table, his brow furrowed. “I think we should request a meeting.”
Cael held up his hand to stop Talin from speaking further. “I’ve already decided to see Death. Eoghan is at the castle. I’m going to find Baylon and Fintan. There will be no killing of the half-Fae until I get some answers.”
“You know Death may strike you down for issuing such a command,” Talin said.
Cael shot them a smile. “Then one of you could be in charge next.”
Chapter Six
Baylon couldn’t stop kissing Jordyn. Her taste was incredible, but with the wine on her tongue, it left him heady.
And wanting more.
He lifted her to sit on the table. Her hands roamed his back as he stood between her legs. His cock twitched and swelled even more.
His chest heaved as he deepened the kiss and she responded with a moan. She was driven mad with longing. He wanted to remove her clothes, to have her bared so he could see every wonderful inch of her.
Baylon laid her back on the table. Her legs came around him and she locked her ankles behind him. Unable to help himself, he rocked against her. Jordyn groaned and tightened her legs.
He wanted her, needed her with a desperation that shook him. Each kiss only inflamed the desire spreading through him like wildfire. Every fiber demanded that he take her. He didn’t understand the hurry that clawed at him, or why there was a part of him that craved to make sure that everyone knew she was his.
“Baylon.”
He wanted to ignore Cael’s call, but if he didn’t respond, Cael would find him. The last thing Baylon wanted was for Cael to know he was hiding a half-Fae.
Baylon ended the kiss and looked down at Jordyn. Her eyes were glazed, her lips swollen. She was so beautiful it hurt to look at her.
“What’s wrong?” she murmured huskily.
“I have to go.” Baylon straightened and pulled her up with him. “I’ll be back soon.”
She tilted her head to the side, her eyes questioning. “You’re leaving?”
“Cael is calling for me. If I don’t go, he’ll come here.”
That seemed to snap Jordyn out of her daze. “What if another Fae comes?”
“They shouldn’t. They haven’t seen you. Just don’t leave the flat until I return.”
“All right.”
Baylon touched her face and teleported to Cael. All he had to do was follow the sound of Cael’s voice that brought him to the underground city beneath Edinburgh.
He saw Cael leaning against a section of an entrance that arched overhead. It was a segment that had yet to be unearthed by the mortals, so there was no electricity. Cael had an
orb of magic over him shedding a pale blue light.
As soon as Baylon appeared, Cael pushed away from the wall. “Where have you been?”
“Around the city.”
“Hm,” Cael said. “I’ve already spoken to the others. I’m going to talk to Death. Until I return, don’t kill any mortals with Fae blood.”
Baylon was happy to hear Cael’s words, but he knew what Cael proposed wasn’t without retribution. “I gather you didn’t talk to Death when you got the order.”
“No, and I’m going to rectify that now. The order never sat well with me, but after listening to all of you, I have to see Death.”
“I know you,” Baylon said. “You have a suspicion.”
Cael looked away for a moment. “The humans have never done anything to the Fae. Why would Death suddenly decide to wipe out all of them who have any Fae blood? Death never has cared about them before.”
“So why now?” Baylon asked.
Cael nodded firmly. “Exactly. Something isn’t right. I thought it was just me, but the rest of you felt the same way.”
“Are you sure about this, Cael? If Death does want us to kill the half-Fae, we’re disobeying orders. You know what that means for you.”
“Keep killing the Dark about the city. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Cael stated and vanished.
Baylon immediately returned to Jordyn.
* * *
Each Reaper knew of the Fae doorway that only a Reaper could see. Cael looked through the doorway. The meeting could go one of two ways.
He’d never worried about his own neck, which was what led him to become a Reaper in the first place. He’d never expected to lead them, but here he was. It was a position he accepted with pride, because he knew what it meant for Death to choose him.
Cael stepped through the door and paused. No matter how many times he visited Death’s realm, he was never prepared.
It wasn’t Hell. There was no fire or damnation. It wasn’t desolate either.
There was green everywhere. Lush plants, vibrant flowers.
Life.
It surrounded him, besieged him.
Cael walked through the immaculate garden to the large white stone tower. No one visited Death. Only animals occupied the realm. Death was feared by every Fae —and human.