by Donna Grant
He had to stop thinking about the Halfling. She was a distraction he could ill afford, especially now. He struggled under the weight of leadership. His life and all he had done no longer mattered to him after his betrayal and death.
When Erith came to him with an offer to become a Reaper, Eoghan had almost refused her. What his wife had done had broken him. He’d welcomed the blissful darkness of death that would end the ache of watching his son die.
But Death hadn’t given up on him. She didn’t promise retribution for what was done. Instead, she’d offered him a way to channel the storm of anger and misery inside him.
The Reapers were just what he needed. He’d forged a strong friendship with all of them, but he and Cael had gotten the closest. When Bran betrayed them, he and Cael had immediately stood together against Bran.
So many times, the two of them stood shoulder-to-shoulder and fought. It felt odd not to be with his brethren now. Eoghan wanted nothing more than to refuse the new rank Death had given him and return to the others. But he couldn’t. Neve had taken his place, rounding out the group to seven once more.
There had always been seven Reapers. It wasn’t as if Eoghan could tell Talin that the love of his life couldn’t be in their group anymore because he wanted his place back.
But his group of Reapers now looked to him as he often had with Cael. Against everything, Cael had stood tall and forged a way for them.
Eoghan now had to remember what it was like to lead. He no longer had thousands of men. Instead, he had the bravest, heartiest Fae warriors to stand with him.
Perhaps it was time to shake off the old mantle and step into his new role with excitement instead of trepidation. Bran was still a target, but while his attention was on Cael and the others, Eoghan’s band of Reapers could carry out Death’s orders and reap the souls of the Fae.
Until it was time to attack Bran.
Eoghan’s search for the perfect base took him all over Dublin. He found exactly what he was looking for in the Old City district. The area dated back to medieval times. There were remnants of Dublin’s original city walls as well as cobblestone roads.
The Old City district was popular with tourists because of Dublin Castle, as well as St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Along with the old, were boutique shops that brought in the new.
As with many ancient structures, the builders sometimes put in hidden areas below ground. Eoghan found such a place in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It was an area locked away that no one had seen in hundreds of years.
It was exactly what his Reapers needed.
The area wasn’t large. It consisted of eight empty rooms, all of which branched off from a circular central chamber. He rid each area of decades of spider webs and dirt with his magic.
In the rotunda, he brought in two sofas and four chairs. This was the place where they would gather and talk. The others could choose what rooms they wanted.
With everything taken care of, he called out to each of his team and gave them the location of their base. Once that was done, he walked the rooms while attempting not to think of Thea.
And failing miserably.
Eoghan had assumed it would take him much longer to scout out a place for his team. He’d hoped for hours with his mind occupied. Instead, he was now free to think of things he shouldn’t, to yearn for someone he shouldn’t.
He stopped beside a thick pillar that held up the weight of the cathedral above him and dropped his head back. He blew out a harsh breath and tried in vain to put Thea from his mind.
But the hunger within him for her was too overwhelming. It clawed at him, slithering through him like a living, breathing entity. He adjusted his hard cock, but it did no good. He craved her with a fervor that was quickly becoming an obsession.
Eoghan closed his eyes and lowered his head. He spread his fingers as he recalled holding her against him. She had instinctively wrapped her arms around him when he turned her away from the Dark.
And when she had made to kiss him—fek! It had taken everything he had not to give in. She had no idea that if she had tried again, he would’ve caved.
He finally grew tired of thinking about Thea and teleported to the pub. He needed to see her. The mortals were going about their mornings, making their way to jobs. He hadn’t asked Thea where she lived, but he could still find her.
Eoghan closed his eyes and sought out her magic. Usually, with Halflings, their Fae blood was so faint that it took a long while to find it. That wasn’t the case with Thea.
His eyes snapped open in surprise when he felt the strength of her magic. He let it wrap around him, sinking into his skin. Then he followed the trail to her flat.
She walked the same path almost every day, so her route was easy to find. It wasn’t long before he stood before her building. He walked to the door and used magic to bypass the lock. Then he was inside.
Eoghan briefly hesitated in going to see her. Perhaps it would be better if he veiled himself and popped into her home. No, he knew that wouldn’t work. He would wish to talk to her.
That in itself would make Cael laugh. There was nothing any of his brethren had tried over the vast millennia that ever got him to utter even one sound. And now, he wanted to have a conversation with a Halfling.
Yes, his world had certainly changed. Maybe it was being thrown into that other realm and continually chased by that beast that did it. Or maybe it was just time.
He walked up the three flights of stairs to her flat, but once he stood before her door, he found he couldn’t raise his hand to knock. So many emotions ran through him, the first of which was a loud voice cautioning him about proceeding.
All he needed to do was think of her blue hair and brown eyes for him to know that there was no other way for him. No matter what he tried, he knew he would return to this exact spot time and again.
How then would he ever be able to bid her farewell? While Bran might not know that he was back, it wouldn’t take his nemesis long to figure it out. And then, Bran would likely target Thea because Bran did petty, ridiculous things like that.
Mostly because they hurt the Reapers, and Bran wanted nothing more than for them to feel vast amounts of pain. Especially Eoghan and Cael since they had stood up to Bran when the others wouldn’t.
Eoghan was turning away from the door when he heard quick footsteps running up the stairs. He quickly called forth a pair of shades and slipped them on his face before the woman appeared.
He recognized her from the pub. She had some sort of job with Thea’s band. The woman shoved her strawberry blond curls from her face and came to a halt when she spotted him.
“Who are you?” she demanded.
“A friend of Thea’s,” he replied.
A thin brow arched in her forehead. “I’m her best friend, and she’s never mentioned you. And trust me when I say, we girls always talk about men like you.”
Eoghan wasn’t sure if he should take that as a compliment or not. “I’m a new friend.”
“Then maybe you can tell me where she is.”
“I assumed here.”
The woman sighed loudly, her face lined with frustration and anxiety. “I’ve been calling and texting her since she left the pub last night. Thea likes to be alone, but she always responds to me. Always.”
Dread filled Eoghan. He turned and knocked. When there was no answer, he grasped the door to Thea’s flat. With a bolt of magic from his hand, he unlocked the entry and strode into the flat.
He took no notice of the surroundings as he and the woman rushed through the two-room apartment, calling her name. But Thea was nowhere to be found.
The woman walked from Thea’s bedroom and swallowed heavily. “I think something has happened.”
“It had to have been after I left her last night.”
“What?” she demanded, her brow furrowing. “You were with her?”
Eoghan nodded once. “For a short while.”
“How do I know you’re not the one who absconded with her?
Maybe you’re a serial killer.”
He needed to calm her quickly. “Why would I return if I harmed Thea?”
“To throw off the authorities,” she replied tartly. “Killers do that.”
“That implies that I knew you would come when you did. I had no such knowledge.”
That stumped her. She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head as she briefly closed her eyes. “I know something has happened to her.”
“I can find Thea,” he heard himself say.
The woman dropped her arms, hope filling her blue eyes. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, thank the Lord,” she said and looked up at the ceiling. Then she walked toward him and held out her hand. “I’m Annie Higgins. I manage the band.”
Eoghan hesitated in taking her outstretched hand. “A moment ago, you called me a serial killer. And now you trust me?”
“I’ve not slept all night. I’ve had more coffee in the last six hours than I drink in two days, and I’m worried sick for my friend.”
He took her hand then. “You raised valid concerns.”
“And you had good points.”
He grinned at her. “You still don’t trust me, do you?”
“Not at all,” she retorted with a wide smile.
Eoghan liked her immediately. He released her hand. “I would expect nothing less. I’m Eoghan.”
“Thea never spoke of you. She would have, you know.”
“We met briefly a couple of nights ago. I sought her out last night because I wanted to get to know her better.”
Annie tucked her curls behind an ear. “Where did you take her?”
Eoghan didn’t want to tell the truth, but if he didn’t, then Annie would know he lied—which left him no choice. “Egypt.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m being serious.”
“So am I.”
Her mouth fell open. “Oh my God. You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“When we returned, I left her in front of the pub.”
Annie grunted and raised a brow as she shot him a hard look. “Why didn’t you walk her home?”
“Because if I did, I knew I wouldn’t leave.”
“Oh,” Annie said with a slow smile. “So you like her that way, do you?”
Eoghan pursed his lips, refusing to answer.
Which had Annie giving him a knowing wink.
Chapter Eight
She was going to be sick. The abject terror and anxiety mixed with the distress of her kidnapping left Thea shaking. And nauseous.
The Dark had taken her before she knew what he’d been about. Then, it was too late. She stood in the corner of the small cottage with her arms wrapped around herself.
There was a roaring fire in the hearth, and plenty of food in the kitchen, but she didn’t touch any of it. What she had done was try to leave. But the door and windows wouldn’t budge. She even attempted to break the glass, to no avail.
Thankfully, the Dark hadn’t made an appearance since depositing her in the croft. Or, at least, she assumed he was the one who’d brought her.
That left her only one option. She drew in a deep breath and said, “Eoghan.”
As the seconds turned into minutes, she grew more concerned. He’d promised to come if she called. But the lack of his presence was all the answer she needed.
Thea moved to the bed and curled up on her side. Her lack of knowledge when it came to the Fae prevented her from understanding what was going on. What she did know was that the Dark had been searching for her. He’d said as much.
The biggest mystery was why? Before Eoghan, there had been no contact between her and the Fae—that she knew of anyway. She kept mostly to herself, but there was a chance she had passed a Fae on the street. Other than that, she couldn’t think of any reason the Fae, especially the Dark, would want her for anything.
Unless they knew she was a Halfling.
She rolled onto her back and looked at the ceiling. Was it mere coincidence that Eoghan told her about her Fae blood and then a Dark took her? She didn’t think Eoghan would’ve taken the injury from their encounter with the Dark if the two were working together.
There was a small section of her mind which cautioned that Eoghan and the Dark could have set everything up. Then she remembered pulling Eoghan from the portal stones and the way he had gripped her as if he were dying, as if he were escaping Hell.
As if he wanted to live.
No, she didn’t believe Eoghan was working with the Dark. And since the Fae hadn’t shown his face since dropping her at the cottage, it looked as though she would have to wait to find out why she had been taken and who wanted her.
“Eoghan,” she said again, hoping that he heard her this time.
Once her stomach settled, she rose and walked the inside perimeter of the cottage. It was small but had everything she needed. She even found a closet with clothes in her exact size.
“So bizarre,” she murmured and closed the door.
Who kidnapped someone and gave them clothes? Something wasn’t adding up, and she didn’t like the anticipation of learning the truth.
“Hello!” she called out. “Anyone there? Hey! The Dark who took me! You around? I’ve got some questions.”
She sighed loudly when there was no reply. Not that she’d actually thought she would get one. Not one willing to give up so easily, she went back to the door and tried to open it again. She yanked on the handle, shoved her shoulder against it, and even pounded on the wood, but it didn’t so much as creak.
Thea was becoming frantic. She put her hands in her hair and dropped to her knees in the middle of the cottage. Squeezing her eyes shut, she fought to remain calm, but it stayed just out of reach.
She dropped her hands to her sides and opened her eyes. A smile pulled at her lips when she spotted her violin case beside the sofa. She quickly crawled to it and rested the container on its side before opening it.
Thea softly slid her fingers over the polished wood of the instrument. If there was one thing that could bring her peace and help her get control of things to face whatever was coming, it was playing.
She lifted the violin to her shoulder and rested her chin in the groove. Her fingers found the neck as her other hand gripped the bow. After a deep breath, she put the bow to the strings and began to play.
The music instantly soothed her, relaxing her tense muscles and easing her cramped stomach. She lost track of time, which allowed her to forget where she was—and why. It was in the notes that drifted through her that she was able to escape, if only mentally.
She wasn’t sure when she became aware of someone in the cottage with her. One moment she was alone, and the next, she wasn’t. Thea kept her eyes locked on the floor while using her peripheral vision to try and see something. Anything.
Finally, she lowered the violin and turned to look behind her. But there was nothing. Nothing she could see anyway. Someone had been there, though. She’d stake her life on it. Her gaze moved slowly around the cottage. While her sight picked up nothing, her other senses screamed in warning.
“What do you want with me?” Thea asked. When there was no response, she climbed to her feet. “You have no right to hold me here. I demand to be released.”
Not that she expected any kind of response, but it still irked her when nothing happened. Anger started to burn where fear once nestled, like a cold pit in her stomach. She was going to find who was responsible for holding her, and Thea would make them pay.
* * *
“Did you hear that?” Eoghan asked Annie.
She raised her brows and gave him a strange look. “You mean the cars outside? The honking horns, and the people talking?”
“I heard music.” Matter of fact, he was sure it had been Thea.
“Well, yeah,” Annie said with a chuckle. “People play their music loud sometimes.”
“No, I heard Thea.”
Annie’s face lost the sarcasm as she took a step closer. “Do you stil
l hear her?”
He gave a shake of his head. “No.”
“You must have really good hearing if you could detect anything over the noise of the city.”
Eoghan met the mortal’s probing, blue gaze. “I’m attuned to Thea’s music.”
“If you heard her, then she’s not far, right?” Annie asked hopefully.
He strode to the window and looked out. “I’ve no clue where she is.”
“I’m going to call her again.”
Annie then took out her mobile and punched a number before bringing it to her ear. Eoghan glanced at her as she tapped her toe impatiently.
After a few seconds, she lowered the phone. “Voicemail.”
“She’ll play again,” Eoghan declared. “I’ll find her when she does.”
“I want to go with you.”
He turned to Annie. “There may not be time for that.”
“She’s my best friend.”
“I will bring her back to you.”
Annie put her purse on her shoulder and gave him a sad smile. “You know, for some inexplicable reason, I believe you.”
“Good.”
“How do I get ahold of you?”
He hesitated, unsure what to tell her. Finally, he said, “Just say my name.”
She gave a loud, disbelieving snort. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am.”
“Is this your way of making sure you don’t have to talk to me?”
He walked to her. “I’ve no device that you can call. But I will hear you say my name.”
“Your hearing, huh?” She studied him a moment. “Take off your sunglasses.”
Eoghan inhaled deeply. He briefly thought of using glamour to hide his eyes before he removed the shades but decided against it. Her face went slack when she met his gaze.
“Who are you?” Annie demanded.
“Someone who can find Thea.”
She glanced away, but her gaze was drawn back to his face. “You’re asking me to take a lot on faith.”
“I never break my word.”
“That may mean a lot for those who know you, but I just met you.”
He knew she was right. “Even if I had a mobile, I could give you the wrong number or never answer.”