by Donna Grant
“That’s it? No spells, no magic?”
“Blood is needed to find someone. I don’t use blood magic,” she said, offended that he would even suggest that. It didn’t matter that he didn’t know her. His mind had immediately gone to taboo magic.
He held up his hands briefly. “My apologies. It’s just . . . you shouldn’t have been able to locate me.”
She told herself to keep quiet, and yet her lips parted, and she said, “I actually found you four different times. The last one was this morning.”
He closed his eyes and sighed.
Apprehension filled her at the pained look on his face. She had just made her plight worse. She didn’t know how she knew that, but she did. Was she going to disappear like her aunt? Maybe that’s exactly what had happened to Eva.
That thought didn’t help Kyra’s anxiety. Her mind raced to think of something—anything—that could keep her from harm.
“I can’t explain why I’m drawn to you,” she admitted. “It’s inexplicable, but it’s the truth. I’ve tried to leave, I’ve attempted to forget you, but I can’t.”
“Fate.” His eyes opened and met hers. His glamour was gone, and his dark red gaze held hers captive. “It’s Fate.”
“And what does that mean for me?”
“I honestly don’t know.”
Chapter Four
Dubhan had never been in this position before. He didn’t know whether to contact Eoghan, his leader or even Death herself, to let them know what he’d learned about Kyra seeing him and the others at the Light Castle.
The fact that Kyra knew that he was a Reaper was enough to cause worry. It was the first rule of being a Reaper. No Fae could know who they were.
The rules weren’t so cut and dried for a Halfling. Apparently, being part human helped in that situation. But Kyra was full Fae. Which led to other concerns. Some Fae knew who the Reapers were. Balladyn had, Rhi did, and so did Xaneth. Not to mention the Fae who were now lovers and wives of the current Reapers.
So, Dubhan honestly didn’t know where the line was drawn anymore. It would most likely be Erith’s decision, but he didn’t want to call on Death yet. There was something about Kyra that made him instantly like her. And believe her.
She wasn’t lying to him. Of that, he was sure. He would stake his very life on it. That in and of itself brought another question. He didn’t know Kyra, so why was he willing to bet on her?
He didn’t have an answer, and yet he was prepared to do just that.
“Dubhan?”
He loved the sound of his name on her lips. Dubhan inwardly shook himself and focused on the problem. Kyra looked at him with large, bright blue eyes. They weren’t her natural color, nor was the pink hair hers. He wanted to see her for who she really was, not what glamour she chose to use that day.
But he didn’t ask her to show him.
“You don’t know what to do with me, do you?” she asked.
Her lips were turned up in a rueful smile as if she’d accepted her fate. And, somehow, that pissed him off.
“There has only ever been one other that I know of who could track one of us.” He didn’t say “Reapers,” because he didn’t want to confirm anything, although his admission was just that if anyone looked hard enough.
Kyra’s interest appeared piqued. “Can you tell me who?”
Dubhan shook his head. “The thing is, no one should be able to.”
“How did the other person do it?” she asked.
“I don’t know for sure.” It was something he would have to ask Cael the next time he saw him. No one had expected anyone other than Rhi to be able to pull off such a feat, and yet, here Kyra stood.
She licked her lips and eyed him. “Would it help if I tried to find out how I did it?”
Dubhan shook his head. “It’s enough that you’ve done it. No need to do it again.”
“It’s not all of you,” she said. “Just you.”
He wasn’t sure how to react to her statement. On the one hand, her admission made him happy for reasons he couldn’t quite determine. On the other, he knew that no good could come of any of this.
Perhaps he needed to approach this another way. “You wanted to get to know me. Why?”
“You’re a Reaper.”
As if that said it all. Dubhan drew in a deep breath. “Did you have questions? Things you wanted to say?”
“I’m right, aren’t I? You are a Reaper.”
He tried to think of a way to answer her without actually answering her, but unfortunately, there wasn’t such a reply.
“Why can’t I know?” she asked. “I won’t tell anyone.”
Dubhan ran a hand down his face. Give him a battle facing hundreds of his enemies, and he could handle it. Give him a female with questions he couldn’t answer, and he was out of his depth.
“I see,” she said, her face crestfallen.
“Kyra,” he said and briefly closed his eyes. “You weren’t supposed to see anything at the Light Castle.”
She cocked a brow. “Maybe not, but I did.”
“Be that as it may, it doesn’t change the fact that you can’t keep following me.”
“You’re looking for something or someone, though. Maybe I can help.”
He shook his head. “You can’t. The best thing for you to do is to get far away from me and forget we ever spoke.”
“I can’t.”
Those two words were all it took to seal her fate.
He hung his head. “Kyra, please.”
She took a step closer. “I may not know much about Reapers, but I’ve seen you, Dubhan. I’ve watched you for days. You’re a good man. You’re kind.”
“I’m not remotely kind,” he said as he lifted his head. “I’m far, far from that. And for all you know, the man I’ve shown you these past few days could be nothing more than an act to draw you out.”
She seemed to think about that for a moment and shrugged. “It could have been, and if that’s the case, then you fooled me. But it doesn’t change the fact that I still want to know you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re a Reaper,” she said with a smile. “You’re one who is feared and respected above all but Death. Fae actually tremble when the Reapers are mentioned.”
He fisted his hands, not liking where this conversation was going. “And you want to use me now that you think you know who I am?”
She jerked back as if struck, her face scrunched in a frown. “No. Never.”
“That’s the only reason you could want to know me.”
“There are other reasons. Like the fact that I think you’re amazing. I know what I saw. All of you can do some serious damage in battle, but you”—she paused, smiling—“you, Dubhan, are exceptional. I’ve never seen anyone move like you do.”
He didn’t like how her praise made him want to stand up straighter. “And you’ve seen many battles?”
The smile died on her lips. “I’ve seen a couple, yes. And before you ask, I’m not a warrior. I have a few moves if I’m attacked, but my skills lie elsewhere.”
“What skills are those?”
Her face suddenly split into a smile. “I’m really good with magic. I know spells most Fae don’t.”
“How is that?”
“My aunt had a spell book that came from the Fae Realm. It’s incredibly old.”
Now, he was intrigued. Spells like that weren’t easy to come by. “Where did she get it?”
“She returned to the Fae Realm to retrieve some family things and went looking around. She said she found it in the rubble.”
Dubhan wasn’t so sure about how her aunt had found the book, but he’d question her more about that later. Perhaps he’d even have a talk with her aunt to find out who the book really belonged to. “Did you use one of those spells to find me?”
Kyra rolled her eyes. “I told you that I didn’t.”
“No, you said you just thought of me.”
“Exactly. I’m not lying.�
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“I have no reason to believe you.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You have no reason not to believe me.”
“Actually, I’ve several.” The minute the words were out of his mouth, he wanted to take them back—even though they were the truth.
Kyra dropped her arms and took a step back. “I see this is getting us nowhere. You don’t believe me, and I have no way to prove anything to you. So, call whoever you need to.”
“What?” he asked, confused.
“I get the idea that you don’t want to deal with me. Which means, you’ll be letting someone else know about me and what I’ve seen.”
He wanted to tell her that she was wrong, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, he asked, “Have you noticed anything different about the village?”
“Drumshanbo? I wasn’t really looking at the town. Did you find something? Is that why you’ve remained?”
He glanced around the forest and blew out a breath. “I’m looking for someone, but there is something about the village that has kept me here. I did find something.”
“What?”
“A building. It’s a bookstore run by a mortal.”
Kyra shrugged, her lips twisting. “Nothing out of the ordinary there.”
“Except there are two markings on the doorway. One is to keep Fae out.”
“And the other?” she asked when he paused.
“It’s a symbol I’ve seen one other time in my life. I don’t know what it means, and I’d like to find out.”
Kyra’s brow furrowed as she stared at him. “Can’t you ask the other Reapers?”
“I’d like to keep this to myself for now.” Dubhan was aware that every time he answered in such a way, he was confirming without actually stating it that he was a Reaper.
“Show me,” she urged him, holding out her hand.
Dubhan didn’t immediately reach for her. He had brought it up to change the subject, but as soon as he did, a part of him hoped that she might know what the symbol was.
“I won’t bite,” she said, straight-faced. Then she grinned wickedly. “Much.”
He couldn’t stop the smile that pulled at his lips. He grasped her hand and took them to the alley across from the bookstore in Drumshanbo.
“Oh, I’ve seen this place,” Kyra said as she studied the building. “You’ve walked past this several times.”
“Yeah. I couldn’t figure out why until recently.”
She stared up at him. “I’d be happy to go look at it if you’d release me.”
“The thing is, you shouldn’t just walk up there.”
Her gaze darted to the store before returning to him. “Why?”
“I don’t know. A feeling.”
“Was magic used?”
“Other than the symbol to keep Fae out? I don’t think so.”
She nodded and looked back at the building for a quiet moment. Then she faced him. “I can veil myself long enough to rush up there and get a look at things.”
Fek. Dubhan couldn’t believe he was going to do this, but he laced his fingers with hers. This could go wrong, so very wrong. But not even that thought could stop him from veiling them both. “Don’t let go of me,” he told her.
Then he started walking.
Halfway across the street, she gaped at him. “We’re veiled, aren’t we? You can hold a veil this long? Not just for you, but for another, as well? That’s incredible.”
Again, he didn’t answer. What could he say?
“I won’t tell anyone,” she replied in a much more sedate tone.
They made it to the bookstore’s door, and she grew quiet. They both studied the symbols for several tense moments, then she gave him a nod. They turned as one and retraced their steps. It wasn’t until they were back in the alley and out of sight that he released her.
The moment their hands disconnected, he wanted to reach for her again. It was almost like he’d found some sort of comfort holding onto her, and having her hold onto him. It was . . . odd. And very enjoyable.
And something he wasn’t interested in delving deeper into. Kyra was beautiful, and he was attracted to her. That was enough for him to send her away. The fact that he was feeling . . . things . . . didn’t bode well.
At all.
“I’ve never seen that marking before,” Kyra told him.
Damn. He’d really hoped she might know what it was because returning to his family to get answers wasn’t an option. “Thanks for looking.”
“I said I didn’t know. That doesn’t mean I can’t ask around or even do some research myself.” She suddenly frowned. “Come to think of it, there is something that might help. Come,” she said.
No sooner did the word fall from her lips than she grabbed his hand and teleported them. Dubhan found himself inside her cottage. She released him and made a beeline for the coffee table where a large book rested.
She sat and patted the sofa next to her. “This is the spell book I told you about. There’s a section in here that I skimmed through but didn’t really read. It has symbols that could be used by the humans against us.”
He made his way to her and sat on the edge of the cushion. “Who told the humans how to stand against us?”
“I don’t know,” Kyra said with a shrug as she flipped through the book. Finally, she found the page and pointed. “There.”
Sure enough, there were well over four dozen different symbols that could do all manner of things to Fae, from keeping them from entering a building, to removing their glamour.
“I’ve only ever seen the one to keep the Fae out,” he said.
“Uh, hm. And I don’t see your other symbol here. Odd that the humans would forget all these other markings.”
He looked through the list again, hoping he might have overlooked what he was searching for, but it wasn’t there.
“Where else have you seen the symbol?” she asked.
Dubhan turned his head to her and said, “On the door of my parents’ home.”
Chapter Five
Dubhan’s admission rocked Kyra. “Your parents?”
He gave a slight nod of his head as if he didn’t want to admit it a second time.
“They never told you what it was?”
His red gaze slid away from her. She liked that he hadn’t used glamour again. There was something about gazing into his crimson orbs that hypnotized her.
“Asking questions wasn’t done in that house.”
She noted that he didn’t say “my home” or even “my house.” It was the house. And that was very telling. She almost asked him what type of childhood he’d had, but if he didn’t want to discuss a symbol, he certainly wasn’t going to tell her about his past.
And since she hadn’t brought up her family, she wasn’t going to push.
“How did you learn anything if you couldn’t ask questions?” she asked.
Dubhan shrugged and got to his feet. He walked a few paces before he turned to look at her. “My father’s philosophy was that he showed us what needed to be done, and we followed suit. We didn’t ask why or how. We simply did it.”
We. That meant Dubhan had at least one other sibling. They had that in common, at least. His words, however, spoke volumes, but maybe that was because she was listening harder than most others would.
Kyra quietly closed the book and folded her hands in her lap. “I can’t imagine that was an easy way to grow up.”
“There was nothing about my life that was easy.”
His gaze slid away, which firmly shut the door on his past. Kyra didn’t dare ask more about it, no matter how desperately she wanted to know. It wasn’t as if she could heal his wounds, mainly because there were none. There were only scars.
And they went soul-deep.
“There are a couple of people I can ask about the marking,” she told him. “They might not know anything, but it’s the only place I know to start if you don’t want to ask your friends or family.”
Red eyes cu
t back to her. “You would do that for me?”
“Why not?” she asked with a shrug. “It’s not like I’m doing anything grand or noble. I’m just asking some people a question.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “My instinct tells me that whatever the symbol is, you need to tread carefully.”
“I always do.”
“Kyra,” he began, then stopped. After a moment, he said, “I’m not sure you should ask about it.”
She got to her feet. “I may not be a warrior, but I know how to take care of myself. Besides, something has continued to draw you to that bookstore. You were meant to find that symbol, and you need to know what it is.”
“I don’t need to know. I want to know.”
She rolled her eyes. “Trust me, you need to know. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be digging at you like a bird pecking at an insect.”
For a fraction of an instant, his lips tipped into a grin. “You do have a way with words.”
“It doesn’t matter what I say around my mother, she’s always offended by it. I’m not the daughter she wanted, but I am who I am.”
His head leaned to the side. “Why isn’t she happy with who you are?”
“Because I’m not the lady she, my sister, or all the other women of the family are. I don’t want to wear heels and dresses and spend time at court, looking for a husband. I would rather be in my boots, riding my motorbike around, doing whatever makes me happy.”
Dubhan blinked. “And you did what you wanted?”
She laughed, thinking back to that difficult time. “I did, because I knew it was my life, and I had to be the one to live it, not my mother or anyone else. It put a huge rift between my family and me. My aunt, Eva, who had been through the same thing as me, stepped in and helped me find a path that made me happy but didn’t alienate me from the family.”
“The same aunt who found the spell book?”
“Yes. She didn’t want me to make the same mistakes she did. After she’d made her choice, she never spoke to anyone in the family again. I knew about her because she found me when I was just a child. I saw her every few centuries or so. It wasn’t until I was forging my own path that she told me she had seen the same qualities in me that she’d discovered in herself and wanted to help.”