Dark Alpha's Claim

by Donna Grant

  Surely he didn’t think her mortal half made her weak and a coward.

  “Baylon,” Cael said.

  Baylon lifted his head and looked directly at Jordyn. “I’d have preferred to keep you out of this, but in order to find the truth, we need you.”

  Jordyn relaxed as she realized he didn’t think her weak. He just hadn’t wanted her involved. He was protecting her.

  “Don’t be too hasty,” Baylon cautioned. “It’ll mean walking away from all of this,” he said, motioning to her flat.

  She looked at her bookshelves and all the books on the Fae. For decades she’d been soaking up any and all information about them. Now there were two standing in front of her. Whether she learned everything or only a little, it was much more than she had before last night.

  Then there were the Dark. Without Baylon, she didn’t stand a chance against them. She might have Fae in her blood, but she had no magic, or anything that might be used to fight the Dark.

  But it wasn’t just the place she lived that she’d be walking away from. It was her friends. Her family.

  Cael stode to her. “It’s a lot that we ask of you.”

  “But my other option is death,” she finished for him. “I get it. I’m just thinking of my family.”

  “The less they know, the better,” Baylon said.

  Jordyn looked from him to Cael. “If the Dark know I have Fae blood, can they find my family?”

  When Cael gave a single, curt nod, the room began to spin. She had to warn them, to let them know they were in danger.

  Jordyn hurried to her purse and rummaged in it looking for her mobile. Her hands shook as she searched for her parents’ number. Right as she was about to press dial, a hand covered the phone.

  “Where are they?” Baylon asked.

  She gazed into his silver eyes. “Stonehaven.”

  In a blink he was gone. Jordyn lowered her hand and looked to Cael who stood with a frown marring his face. He wasn’t happy, but she didn’t care. This was her family.

  Cael’s eyes hardened a fraction. “How much has Baylon told you?”

  “He told me of the Fae, of who I am. He also mentioned there was a war started by the Dark. If you’re wondering if he told me who he is, let me set your mind at ease. I know whatever he’s doing is important. I know that he’s not supposed to have any relationships, and I know he’ll disappear out of my life soon.”

  For long moments, Cael watched her. “You’ve had one night with him, and yet you look at him as if you’ve known him for centuries.”

  “Because that’s what it feels like.” She pulled out a chair at the table and sat as she drew in a shaky breath. Worry settled like lead in her stomach. “I expected to find him gone when I woke this morning. I’m thankful that he was here, but I know the longer I’m near him, the harder it’s going to be to let him go.”

  Cael moved to the opposite side of the table and rested his hands on the back of the chair. “You’re going to have to let him go. If he stays with you, he’ll be executed.”

  “I won’t let that happen,” she said and lifted her chin. She was putting on a valiant face that she didn’t feel. It was a mask she was going to have to wear from now on. For herself.

  For Baylon.

  “He told you something else,” Cael said suddenly.

  Jordyn looked away. She couldn’t stand to have Cael’s silver eyes, so similar to Baylon’s, watching her. “He told me about the Fae.”

  “What, specifically?”

  She rubbed her temple as her leg began to bounce. Her mind was on her family, not on the conversation the night before. “He told me some differences in my world and his.”

  “Like?” Cael pressed.

  Jordyn slammed her hand on the table and swung her head to him. “He didn’t tell me!”

  “But you figured it out.” Cael snorted and shook his head. “What did he say that had you piecing it together?”

  “Does it matter? The only thing you need to know is that he didn’t tell me. And I didn’t tell him that I pieced it together.”

  Cael clenched his teeth, a muscle jumping in his jaw. “There’s a reason we never share our secret with other Fae, Jordyn. It’s to keep ourselves safe. Now you’ve put Baylon and yourself in danger.”

  “I’m already in danger,” she said and leaned back in the chair.

  “The Dark don’t stand a chance against Death, because that’s who we answer to.”

  Jordyn slumped in the chair. She should’ve kept her mouth shut. “None of this is Baylon’s fault. It’s mine. He was very careful about not divulging anything. I wanted to know differences in our cultures. He told me about Reapers. I began to suspect last night that he might be one.”

  “What confirmed it?”

  She gave a half-hearted shrug. “Nothing specific. Just the way he acted, the things he knew. I would never have come out and asked him. If Death wants to punish anyone, let it be me. Baylon is innocent.”

  “He’s hardly innocent,” Cael said and ran a hand down his face as he turned away. “He knew not to stay the night with you.”

  “So none of you can … be … with another?”

  Silence dragged on, making Jordyn wonder if Cael was going to answer her.

  Then he said, “We can, but some of us choose not to. The risks are too great.”

  “You mean like if one of you developed feelings for someone.”

  “Exactly. That’s why we get one time with a female.”

  Not a night? But a single time? Interesting. “Has it happened before?”

  Cael turned back to her. “Yes. And the end result was horrific. Should I be concerned about you and Baylon?”

  Jordyn thought about Baylon, about how she needed his touch, how she longed to have him near. Were there feelings? Oh, yes. Would she tell Cael? Hell no.

  “The sex was good, but that’s all it was,” Jordyn lied.

  Cael started to say something when Baylon appeared next to him. Jordyn met Baylon’s gaze, waiting for him to tell her that her family was all right.

  But his expression of regret said it all.

  Baylon was at Jordyn’s side in an instant as she began to hyperventilate. He kneeled in front of her and took her face in his hands. “Jordyn, look at me. Look at me. That’s it. Focus on me.”

  He used just enough magic to help her get her bearings. Though he was tempted, Baylon didn’t take away her pain. She needed to cope with what life had given her. That was true of all beings—mortal or immortal.

  “How?” she asked as tears gathered and spilled down her cheeks.

  Baylon would never tell her the hideous way the Dark killed her family. He might not be able to save her from the pain of losing them, but he could spare her the details.

  “Baylon?”

  He looked into her turquoise eyes filled with agony and remorse. Baylon used his thumb to wipe away a trail of tears that did nothing to stop her crying. “It was the Dark.”

  “Did they suffer?” she asked.

  Cael blew out a harsh breath. “It was the Dark, Jordyn. They don’t do anything gently.”

  When her face dropped into her hands as she cried silent tears with her shoulders shaking, Baylon released her and stood.

  He looked at Cael and shook his head to let Cael know it had been a vicious scene. That was the Dark’s answer for their stopping the attack this morning.

  “We need to get her away and form a plan with the others,” Cael said as he glanced around. “We’ve got this one shot at discovering who is after us. We need to do it right.”

  Baylon heard his name being said in his mind. “Kyran is calling for me.”

  “Don’t tell him to come here,” Cael said hastily. He hurried to Jordyn and grabbed her arm to pull her to her feet. “We go to Edinburgh Castle.”

  Baylon met Jordyn’s gaze and gave her a smile he hoped comforted her. As soon as she and Cael disappeared, Baylon heard movement outside her door. Dark Fae.

  How he wanted to
stand and fight them. But it wasn’t the time. Baylon teleported to the castle as the door was blasted off the hinges.

  * * *

  Bran stared into the flat, his gaze roaming the area. The half-Fae female had been there. Of that he was sure. She had no magic, which meant one of the Reapers helped her get away.

  “Keep running, Cael. I’ll catch you soon enough,” he whispered.

  Bran motioned to the Dark behind him. They filed into the flat as they began searching for anything about her. Bran strode slowly to the bookshelves. A smile formed and grew when he saw that all of the half-Fae’s books were on the Fae.

  Which one of the Reapers had found her? It wasn’t Cael. The bastard didn’t have a shred of feeling within him. It’s what made him a perfect Reaper.

  Bran hoped that Erith enjoyed having Cael as leader of the Reapers, because when he was finished with Cael, there would be nothing left.

  “Here, Bran,” one of his men called.

  Bran pivoted and walked into the bedroom that smelled of sex. How … interesting. A Reaper had taken the half-Fae. Bran suspected that Cael was anything but happy about that. What a predicament that was for Cael and all the Reapers.

  Did they tell the female who they were since she was human? Or did they keep it a secret because of her Fae blood? That would tie Cael up in knots for a while.

  “Look,” the Dark said and pointed to the bed.

  Bran leaned close and saw that part of the iron scrollwork of the headboard was bent. “The sex must have been very good.”

  “Magic lingers there.”

  He shrugged and turned on his heel. “We’ll never figure out which of the Reapers was in bed with the half-Fae. Not from that, at least.”

  “I thought she’d be here,” another Dark said angrily.

  Bran halted and leisurely turned to look at the Dark in question. He smiled. “You wiped out her entire family a moment ago. As for the female, we’ll find her soon enough.”

  “But you said she’d be here,” the Dark argued.

  He wouldn’t have anyone question him ever again. Bran lifted his hand and sent a blast of magic that evaporated the Dark were he stood.

  Bran looked around at the other Dark. “Anyone else want to bitch about the female not being here?”

  Chapter Twelve

  One minute Jordyn was in her apartment, and the next she was in a castle—Edinburgh Castle if she heard Cael correctly.

  She sniffed through her tears and turned around the room looking for a window so she could see out, but there was no window. Jordyn wrapped her arms around herself as the coldness of reality sank into her bones.

  There would come a time for her to mourn her family properly, but now wasn’t the time. Now she had to concentrate on the task at hand and remain alive with the only people - or Fae- that could help her.

  With great amount of effort, she forced her attention away from the ancient stones of the castle to the room. It was a good-sized room with an arched ceiling.

  Rugs that looked as ancient as the room itself lined the floor in haphazard fashion that she found appealing. At odds with the chamber itself were the two leather Chesterfield sofas and three chairs, all of which looked worn and completely comfortable.

  She noticed that the light came from dozens upon dozens of candles of all sizes. Some were lined up along the walls. Others were atop shelves and on the mantle of the massive fireplace. But it was the ones that hung seemingly midair that made her do a double take.

  That’s when she had to remind herself that she was with Fae.

  “Um … Cael?” said a male voice behind her.

  Jordyn whirled around and found four men behind her. As soon as she saw the one with black and silver hair and red eyes, she took a step back. Right into Baylon’s arms.

  “It’s all right,” he reassured her in a warm, soft tone. “That’s Kyran. He’s Dark, but he’s a friend.”

  “Uh, huh. Sure,” she mumbled. Then her gaze took in the man with long white hair staring at her. His eyes were silver, but rimmed in red. It was beyond eerie.

  Cael motioned to her. “This is Jordyn. As I’m sure you’ve deduced, she has Fae blood. The Dark are after her, which is why she’s here. She’s going to act as bait to help us determine who we’re up against.”

  “Death isn’t going to be happy about this,” said a main with shoulder-length black hair and light silver eyes.

  Cael’s nostrils flared. He then turned his head to her. “These are the men that are going to help protect you. There’s Kyran, who Baylon already pointed out. Next to him is Talin who doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut.”

  Jordyn pressed her lips together to keep from laughing when Talin looked at Cael as if had lost his mind. Behind her, Baylon chuckled.

  “Going down the line we have Fintan. If you haven’t guessed by his red-rimmed eyes, he’s Dark as well.”

  Fintan turned his unusual eyes on her. “We all have our pasts.”

  Cael ignored him and pointed to the last man who stood slightly apart. “The silent one is Eoghan. Don’t get upset if he doesn’t talk, because he doesn’t talk to any of us.”

  Eoghan watched her curiously. She shot him a smile, and to her shock, his lips lifted in what must be his idea of a grin.

  “The only one missing is Daire,” Baylon said as he came around her. “He’s on another assignment.”

  Jordyn found it more than a little uncomfortable to have six pairs of eyes focused entirely on her. She cleared her throat and rocked back on her heels. “So. What do I do?”

  “Nothing.” Cael sank into one of the Chesterfield chairs, and rested his arms on the rounded arms.

  Baylon motioned her to follow him to a sofa. Jordyn tentatively tracked him, his path taking her between Talin and Fintan.

  Baylon sat on the edge of the sofa, his arms lying on his knees. “Dark arrived as we were leaving.”

  “I know,” Cael said. “I also thought about putting our plan into action right then, but we weren’t ready. We need all six of us on this, not just you and me, if there’s even a small chance of Jordyn coming out of this with her life.”

  She raised her brows at Cael’s choice of words. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t known the danger, but he said it as if it were an everyday occurrence. And perhaps for them it was.

  Jordyn sat next to Baylon. A moment later, Eoghan sank onto the other side of her. She glanced at the silent Reaper to find him looking at her.

  Fintan reclined on the other sofa while Talin and Kyran sat in the remaining chairs. They all seemed as disturbed by her appearance as she was to be there.

  “They came for Jordyn this morning,” Baylon explained. “Cael and I were able to dispatch them.”

  Fintan eyed her as he cocked his head to the side. “Why didn’t they teleport her away?”

  “I made sure they couldn’t.”

  Baylon’s words made the others look at him with mixtures of disbelief and alarm. All except for Talin, whose gaze was on the floor.

  Kyran crossed his ankle over his knee. “How much does she know?”

  “Nothing,” Baylon replied.

  It was Cael who then said, “That’s not true.”

  Jordyn shifted when Baylon’s gaze slid to her. She glanced at him and shrugged. “I pieced it together.”

  Baylon’s face fell. He rose to his feet and ran both hands through his hair. “Shite.”

  “I’m not going to tell anyone,” she assured him as she stood. “I wasn’t even going to let you know that I figured it out. I swear.”

  Fintan laughed then. “I’ll be damned. Now we know why Baylon missed out on our meeting last night.”

  “The fact is,” Cael’s voice rang out through the chamber, “we have an enemy. We need to know who it is and what they’re after exactly. The Fae blood within Jordyn makes her a priority since the Dark have singled her out.”

  Talin pointed to Jordyn and said, “Is she Fae or human? Because a Fae can’t know of us.”

>   Jordyn plopped down on the couch and blew out a breath. She was a part of both worlds, but which one dictated her life? If she was Fae, the Reapers could protect her. But if she was Fae, she couldn’t know of them.

  “No one told her,” Cael said. “She guessed. Because she’s human, I confirmed her suspicion.”

  Baylon’s eyes were troubled. “And when this is over? Say we win and discover who is after us and take them out. We’ve saved Jordyn. What then? She’s left behind her world, Cael. She can’t just show up.”

  “That will be dealt with later.”

  Jordyn didn’t like Cael’s answer. She cut her eyes to him, letting him see her displeasure. “If that reply means that you’ll kill me later, I’d rather you do it now.”

  Cael’s eyes went cold. “Are you telling me you wouldn’t remain and help possibly save Baylon’s life?”

  “Cael,” Baylon said in a dangerous voice.

  Neither she nor Cael paid attention to anyone else in the room. She knew what Cael was asking, and she hated him for it. Because there was only one answer.

  The thought that she might spend days, weeks, or even months with the group while putting herself out as bait and being that close to Baylon was exciting and scary. But mostly exhilarating because she would be with Baylon.

  Yet it wasn’t fair to be able to get to know Baylon on such a level, only to realize that she might be killed for discovering all their secrets.

  The room was utterly silent. She couldn’t hear anyone breathing as she and Cael stared at each other. Beside her, Jordyn could feel Baylon’s eyes on her.

  She wanted to throw her arms around Baylon and have him hold her. Tears threatened again as she recalled that she was now totally alone. All of her family was dead, slaughtered by the Dark.

  “You know I will,” she answered Cael.

  All the tension in the room immediately eased as Cael relaxed once more. “There is no Fae who know what I’m about to tell you. We keep it from all Fae because no one can know our names or our faces. We’re a tale told to frighten.”

  Jordyn felt the sofa next to her sink as Baylon took his seat. He hadn’t stopped staring at her yet, and she was afraid to look at him. Afraid that she would tell him that she couldn’t face the next day without him by her side.