by Donna Grant
“You would have us join the Kings?” Erith asked him. “All of us?”
Dubhan quickly interjected, “No. I would use our skills to everyone’s advantage.”
Death’s gaze narrowed on him for a moment before she smiled. “Now that is something I hadn’t considered. We can stay hidden until we’re needed.”
“Not until we’re needed,” Cael said. “We remain hidden to get the advantage.”
Dubhan grinned, his excitement growing. “Like coming up behind them.”
“Oh, that’s good,” Kyra said to him.
They shared a quick smile.
Death, however, didn’t seem convinced. “We have no idea how long it’ll be before the battle comes.”
“It’ll be quicker than you think,” Cael said.
Her lips twisted. “You’re probably right. Now that Usaeil has been defeated, the Kings can focus solely on the Others.”
“That’s not all they have to worry about,” Cael said cryptically.
Dubhan had no idea what Cael was speaking of, but Dubhan wasn’t worried. The Dragon Kings were the ultimate warriors. He’d seen them fighting together during the Fae Wars. He’d been terrified of them—and with good reason.
“What about Rhi?” Kyra said.
Dubhan’s gaze immediately went to Erith, but she didn’t look his way. In fact, she kept her eyes lowered.
“That’s . . . a difficult situation,” Cael finally answered.
Kyra snorted. “It’s not. Rhi is one of the best fighters we have. She’s still out there, and we’re going to need her.”
Cael grinned at Kyra. “You certainly don’t hesitate to speak your mind.”
“I say what needs to be said.”
Dubhan lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “First, we need to deal with those coming after you.”
“After us,” she corrected.
He conceded that. “Us.”
“That’s why we’re here,” Erith said. “I might have thought to let the Kings deal with the Others themselves, but there is no way I’ll allow that group anywhere near my Reapers. Or those they’ve chosen. I had another mission for you, Dubhan, but I think you and Kyra need to stay on your present course.”
Dubhan bowed his head at Death because he knew she had just given her blessing for him and Kyra to be together. Which was a good thing, because he wasn’t sure what he would’ve done had she not. That’s how much he loved Kyra.
Not even thinking that frightened him. Because Kyra gave him the courage to hold onto things he hadn’t believed he was good enough for.
Chapter Sixteen
“I’m a little gobsmacked,” Kyra said when she was alone with Dubhan once more.
He cocked a brow. “You didn’t appear it.”
She looked around. “Are they really gone?”
“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug of his broad shoulders. “They could still be here.”
Kyra blew out a breath. “Holy smokes. I just spoke with Death.”
Dubhan’s lips curved into a smile.
She laughed and faced him. “Death. I actually spoke with Death. And she’s gorgeous. I didn’t know a creature could be so stunning. How were you not falling all over yourself to get her into your bed?”
“She’s beautiful, yes, but she’s not my type.”
“Now, that’s the perfect answer.”
Dubhan dragged her to him and wrapped his arms around her. “You’ve not said anything about what Erith told us regarding how you found me.”
“I haven’t really had much time to think about it.”
“And now?”
She chuckled. “You don’t give a girl much time, do you?”
“I want to know your thoughts.”
She ran her hands over his chest as she looked at the collar of his shirt. “I think I knew in the back of my mind that in order for me to find you the way I did, it had to be for a special reason.”
Her gaze lifted to meet his crimson orbs. “It was like a switch flipped inside me when I saw you fighting those Trackers. I couldn’t take my eyes from you.”
“You didn’t know me,” he said softly.
She brushed her fingers over the hard edge of his jaw. “My soul did. It’s the only way I can explain it. I recognized you, and I could think of nothing else but getting close to you.”
“I can’t tell you how glad I am that you did find me.”
“But,” she said, swallowing. “You don’t believe in soulmates, do you?”
A small frown furrowed his brow. “I didn’t say that.”
She gave him a pointed look.
It was his turn to look away. “Up until I became a Reaper, I didn’t think love really existed. Then, I saw it firsthand when Eoghan—the one who leads my group—fell in love with Thea. Even then, I believed it was some fluke. It didn’t matter that other Reapers had fallen in love. I hadn’t seen it. Then, I witnessed Death and Cael finally admitting their love for each other. That love saved both of them.” He drew in a breath and looked at her. “I like the person I am when I’m with you. You make me see everything in a different light.”
She smiled at his words.
His gaze became heated. “And then there’s the fact that I can’t keep my hands off you.”
“Which I really like, by the way,” she interjected.
He gave her a quick kiss. “I don’t know much about love, but I know what I feel for you. It’s deep and strong, and without a doubt, I know I’ve fallen for you.”
Euphoria burst through Kyra. She threw her arms around Dubhan’s neck as their lips met. The kiss he gave her was full of raw hunger and primal longing—and she felt the same inside herself. She hadn’t known what to expect by following a Reaper, but she certainly hadn’t counted on falling in love or learning more about her family than she’d ever known.
It was Dubhan who ended the kiss. He was breathing loudly, his chest rising and falling quickly as he looked at her. “You’re the only thing that could make me forget about my duties or going into battle.”
“Really?” she asked with a grin. “I like that I can do that.”
“Woman, you do so much more.”
“Tell me we’ll survive this thing with the Others,” she said worriedly.
He smoothed back her hair and looked deep into her eyes. “I give you my vow that, as long as I’m alive, I will fight them with everything I have to keep you safe. Because I love you.”
Knowing how he felt and hearing the words were two different things. Warmth spread through her at his declaration. “I love you,” she told him.
They stood in silence for a moment before she asked, “What do we do now?”
“I don’t know,” he replied with a bark of laughter. “I don’t like waiting around for my enemies to find me, but at the same time, I don’t want to go looking for them with you near either.”
“I won’t be left behind,” she told him.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
She nodded. “As long as we have that cleared up.”
“But I won’t have you in danger.”
His serious tone reminded her of their situation. “Because I don’t know how to fight?”
“That is part of it. The fact that you’re willing to go into a fight if you have to makes the entire situation volatile. Anything could happen. You could win.”
“Or I could lose,” she said with a nod. “I know. What is the other part?”
He flattened his lips for a moment. “I can’t lose you.”
“Now you understand how I feel at the thought of you facing the Others.”
Dubhan nodded slowly. “I do, indeed.”
Kyra stepped out of his arms and took his hand to lead him to the window to look out over the valley. “Like you, I don’t particularly want to wait around for our enemies to find us. We could continue our search for Xaneth.”
“He isn’t here, and as much as I hoped to be the one to find him, I think that will fall to another of us.
”
“I took you away from the search.” Kyra didn’t like that.
He shook his head. “No, you helped me find myself. And you. Not to mention, you said everything I wanted to say about the Others to Death, when I couldn’t find the words.”
“Even if you had the words, I don’t think you would’ve told her.”
“You’re probably right, but I think, in the end, I would have. We shouldn’t be sitting around watching as the Dragon Kings get hit on all sides by this group.”
Kyra turned to face him. “Dubhan, if that symbol on the bookstore actually means the Druids are part of the Others, or even some other group like the Others, then—”
“So is my family most likely.” He nodded. “I’ve accepted that.”
“Did you hear or see anything before you were a Reaper that might help?”
He squeezed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “I can’t say that I did, but I could have and not realized it. We didn’t have visitors at the house. Ever. Not even family came. We went to everyone. I always wondered why that was.”
“Do you recall that same mark being on the houses of your other family members?”
Dubhan’s gaze went far-off as his thoughts turned to the past. “I can’t remember.” He gave a shake of his head and returned his gaze to her. “It’s enough that my family is involved in such a group.”
“You aren’t.”
“I was. Without even knowing it.”
“You can’t hold onto those kinds of thoughts. You didn’t know any differently.”
He snorted and faced the window. “I did. I might not have known what my parents were involved in, but I knew it was something that would make our family stronger in the end. I was fine with that. For a while.”
“You chose a different path. Remember that.”
“I wouldn’t change any of it,” he said as he turned his head to her. “All of it made me who I am today. It led me to become a Reaper, which then brought me to you.”
“Actually, I found you,” she said with a smile.
He grinned and took her hand. “That’s right. You did find me.”
They turned back to the window in unison as they held hands, each lost in thought. Kyra knew there was a very good chance that Dubhan would have to fight his family if Death decided that the Reapers would join forces with the Dragon Kings to battle the Others.
Kyra wasn’t sure she could do that if the positions were reversed. Then again, she might not get along with her family, but they hadn’t betrayed her and killed her either. That would certainly change her thinking.
“We’ll join the Kings,” Dubhan said into the silence.
Kyra glanced his way. “You think Erith will allow that?”
“Allow?” He flashed a quick grin. “You made her see another side that she hadn’t considered. But, yes, I do think she will join with the Kings, and then she will let us make our own decision.”
Now that wasn’t something Kyra had expected to hear. “Let you make your own decision? I thought you served her and did as she demanded.”
Dubhan’s face swung toward her. “We do, but this isn’t just any battle. This is one that could wipe out an entire race.”
“Do the Others actually have that kind of power?”
“Actually, they do.”
He pulled her to the couch and tugged her down beside him as he began telling her one tale after another of how the Others had set traps millions of years ago for the Dragon Kings. Kyra was in turns stunned and shaken at the lengths the Others had gone to in order to get what they wanted.
“And Usaeil was part of it?” Kyra asked.
Dubhan nodded slowly. “She was, but despite that, she wanted Con for her own.”
“To give the Kings babies?” she asked in disbelief.
“They are unable to have children with mortals.”
Kyra wrinkled her nose. “But Usaeil’s plan didn’t come to fruition. She failed. And now she’s dead.”
“Is she?”
“Her body is gone. I figured Death took it.”
Dubhan didn’t say anything.
Kyra looked pointedly at him. “Did she?”
“I don’t know every move Erith makes. For all I know, she did indeed take Usaeil’s body. I know Death said that Rhi needed to be the one to kill the queen.”
“Interesting.” Kyra had only met the famed Fae once, but she had instantly liked Rhi. The Light just had that kind of personality.
Dubhan frowned. “What?”
“Nothing. I was just thinking. I wasn’t there to see the battle, but I heard enough Fae talking about it. Both the Light and the Dark are in disarray. Neither have leaders, and it’s going to take a toll.”
“There will be infighting as those eying the thrones try to take them.”
Kyra sighed heavily. “One of the many reasons I never liked court. No doubt someone there is already searching for Usaeil’s descendent to take the throne.”
“That would be Xaneth. Or. . . .”
He trailed off, making Kyra more interested than ever. “I’m guessing you know of another?”
“I do. So did Usaeil, but I think she forgot him in her madness. Or perhaps she didn’t think he was a threat. Regardless, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want the throne.”
“Which leaves us with Xaneth.”
Dubhan made a sound in the back of his throat. “Which will do us no good if we can’t find him.”
“Would he take over as king?”
“I don’t know him well enough to be able to answer that. He’s certainly intelligent and shrewd enough to make a good leader.”
“But if he doesn’t want it, we’re right back to square one,” Kyra said with a frown.
“The Dark are different.”
She winced at the thought. “They’ve never used bloodlines to determine who will lead. It’s always been the strongest, right?”
“It has.”
“Anyone come to mind?”
Dubhan slowly shook his head. “I was actually hoping Balladyn would remain king for some time. I liked him.”
“His body disappeared as well, from what I hear.” Kyra stared at Dubhan, waiting for some sign that would indicate that he knew something, but all she got was a shrug.
Was it coincidence that both Balladyn’s and Usaeil’s bodies had vanished after their deaths? Did Death take them? And if not, then who did?
And more importantly, why?
Chapter Seventeen
Sitting still was something Dubhan had mastered long ago, but that day, he found it impossible to wait. He’d always been a man of action, not someone who bided his time, waiting for things to come to him.
His eyes landed on Kyra, who walked around the cottage. She had come to him, but he hadn’t been waiting for her. Or had he?
Ever since Eoghan had fallen in love with Thea, Dubhan had wondered if he was capable of such an emotion. Now, he knew the truth. For someone who hadn’t known what love was, he was surprised that he recognized it. Then again, something that profound wasn’t easily overlooked.
“I need to keep myself occupied,” Kyra said as she came out from her room with an armful of items. This time, her hair bangs were orange, the rest of her locks red, and her eyes green. She halted when she saw him staring. “What?”
“Do you not like your natural coloring?” he asked.
She shrugged. “It’s a habit now. I don’t even realize I’m doing it half the time. Do you not like it?”
“I like it fine. I also really enjoy your natural hair and eyes.”
A heartbeat later, her eyes returned to silver, and her hair to the wavy, black strands that fell to her shoulders.
He smiled at her. “You can wear your hair and eyes any color you want. I will think you’re beautiful in all of it.”
Kyra was smiling when she joined him on the sofa. “Let’s try this out for a bit.”
“Sounds good. Now, what were you saying? You need to keep occupied
?”
She nodded and placed the items on the coffee table. She opened the map of the world and then set a vial of small pins with colored ends on them near her. There were markers of various colors, as well as pencils, and some sticky tabs.
“Oh,” she said and jumped up to go into the kitchen.
Dubhan watched as she opened a bottle of wine and poured two glasses. And all of it had been done without any magic. He found it endearing that she went about life in such a way. He wouldn’t have done that, but that’s what made her so special.
She looked up and grinned. “Still getting used to me not using magic, huh?”
“Something like that.”
“Here,” she said and handed him his glass of wine. “There are times when using magic is easier.”
“Like all the time?” he asked with a raised brow.
She chuckled before she took a drink. “True, but I like doing things like this.”
She might not be a warrior, but she was strong-willed and didn’t hesitate to follow her heart. Dubhan hadn’t met many women like that. In truth, Aisling had been the first. Well, besides Death.
Aisling might be the only female Reaper, but she was a force to be reckoned with. He’d heard her some nights, gripped in the claws of her nightmares. She trusted no one but her fellow Reapers, and even then, Dubhan suspected that Aisling believed her time could end at any second.
She lived life to the fullest. Everything she did, she did with all her might and passion. There were no half measures with the female. And he’d rarely seen anyone as adept on the battlefield as Aisling.
He’d liked her instantly, even though she kept him at arm’s length. She didn’t need his protection, but Dubhan couldn’t help feeling protective of her. Almost as if she were his younger sister. He’d never told her any of that, and she’d likely give him a black eye for it, but there was no denying that the kinship he felt for Aisling is what helped him trust the other Reapers.
“You’re deep in thought.”
He blinked and focused on Kyra. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be,” she told him and put a hand on his knee. “You all right?”
“I’m perfect. Show me what you have here.”
She smiled excitedly. “Use these pins and show me everywhere you’ve looked for Xaneth. If you know where others have looked, mark those, as well.”