by Donna Grant
She looked around. “Where are we?”
“Scotland,” he answered. “I’ll show you how to get here, but for now, I want you safe.”
“The Others aren’t around.”
He raised a black brow. “How do you know?”
“I’m guessing by the tight way you’re holding onto my hand that we’re veiled.”
Dubhan nodded once.
“No one can see us,” she said.
He glanced out over the dark blue waters, and angry clouds gathered overhead, heavy with an approaching storm. “I just found you. I won’t lose you so soon. I might be overreacting, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
“You’re right. We don’t know the extent of the Others’ power. So, why test it?”
He gave her a brief smile, worry still in his crimson eyes as he scanned the area around them. “This isle is cloaked now. I’m guessing Erith or Cael added it so that only the Reapers can find it.”
A wise precaution, Kyra realized. “So, the isle is veiled. Do we need to be?”
He didn’t release her hand, which was her answer. Dubhan closed his eyes, his brow furrowed. “There are also several layers of spells and wards. Certain names have been added to allow entry on the isle now.” His red eyes opened, and he looked at her.
“I know very little about Erith, but she doesn’t seem the kind that does anything by half-measures. She’ll protect her Reapers at all costs.”
Dubhan loosened his grip and gave her a side-eye while grinning. “Your name is added with the others.”
It was just another way the Reapers and Death were letting her know that she was one of them. Her side might not win in the coming battle, but there was no other place she’d rather be. Not just because she knew it was the correct side to take a stand with, but because of the love she’d found with Dubhan.
“Ready?” he asked as he faced the doorway.
Kyra gazed at the Fae doorway and then looked at him. “Yes.”
With one step, she was transported to another world. It was so beautiful that she was at a loss for words. Her senses were assaulted by flowers of all sizes and colors, the birds singing around her, and the light perfume of the flora.
She didn’t have time to investigate the area because Dubhan was pulling her after him. They weaved through the various flowers and plants while she smiled as a dragonfly zipped around her, the buzzing of its wings causing her hair to move as it got close.
The world smelled so fresh, so clean that she couldn’t stop taking in deep breaths. Then they were out of the garden, and she spotted the white tower gleaming in the cloudless sky.
“Welcome to Death’s realm,” Dubhan said proudly.
He was staring at the tower, but Kyra was looking at him. “Isn’t it your world now, too?”
“I suppose.” He looked at her then. “But in my mind, this will always be Death’s.”
Kyra jerked her head toward the tower. “I’m guessing that’s where Erith and Cael live.”
“It is. She opened up the entire realm to us Reapers and has allowed us to find whatever spot we want to build our homes.”
The idea excited Kyra. “We can choose any place on the realm?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Have you explored it all?”
He shook his head, a grin pulling at his lips.
She looked around in the distance at the mountains on one side and a thick forest on the other. “In which direction do we look first?”
“Whichever one pleases you.”
Her head swung back to him and then she faced him, moving her arms up his chest and then around his neck. “I want us to choose the place together.”
“We will.”
She narrowed her eyes and cocked her head to the side. “Will you really tell me what you like? Or will you wait for me to say I really like something and then choose that?”
“Possibly the second option. I’m happy if you’re happy.”
How could she be irritated with that logic? “I accept that, but if there’s a place you really don’t like, or one that you do, will you tell me?”
“I promise.”
“Then that’s all I need to know.”
His lips flattened as regret pulled at his face. “I wish we had time to explore the realm at our leisure.”
“Don’t,” she told him. “It’s something we can look forward to after this business with the Others is taken care of. Until then, wherever we are together is home for me.”
“You are quite something, Kyra Kavanaugh.”
She rose up on her tiptoes and lifted her face for a kiss. He had just barely touched his lips to hers when he sighed. Kyra opened her eyes and then looked behind her to see a row of Light and Dark Fae as well as several Halflings staring at them. Off to the side, Eoghan stood with a woman who bore a faint resemblance to Usaeil.
They were surrounded immediately. Kyra listened as some of the Reapers teased Dubhan about his smile since it wasn’t something they were used to seeing. Then, all eyes turned to her.
Kyra tried to remember all the names of the Reapers in Dubhan’s team as well as those that Cael led. Then there were the women with the Reapers. One by one, they came and spoke until only Eoghan, his woman, and Aisling remained.
Eoghan and the Halfling approached first. “Kyra, I’d like for you to meet Thea. She is Usaeil’s only surviving child.”
“Not for dear old Mum’s lack of trying to kill me,” Thea said with a laugh. “It’s good to meet you, Kyra. I’ve heard a lot about you the last few days.”
Kyra nodded, her mind still absorbing the fact that Usaeil had a child, which meant that Thea had a claim to the throne. “It’s good to meet you, as well.”
“I see the wheels turning in your head,” Eoghan told Kyra. “Trust me, Thea wants no part of the throne.”
“Heavens, no,” Thea said with a shake of her head.
There were another few minutes of pleasantries where Kyra noticed several characteristics of Usaeil in Thea. Kyra wasn’t sure the Halfling knew, so she wasn’t going to point it out. Kyra wouldn’t want to know such a thing, especially if her mother had tried to kill her.
But wait, Eva had. That was something she and Thea had in common. No doubt they’d talk about that at length later. Maybe then, Kyra would get to hear the whole story about how Usaeil had tried and failed to kill her own daughter.
Once Eoghan and Thea walked away, a petite Reaper with blood-red nails and her black and silver hair in various braids walked up.
“Dubhan,” she said.
“Aisling,” he replied.
Aisling then turned her deep red eyes to Kyra. “If you ever want to talk about what happened yesterday with your mum, I’ll be around.”
And with that, she walked away.
Kyra turned to Dubhan. “What was that about?”
“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug as he watched Aisling. “We’re all private about our pasts. Death was there with all of us, and she made sure that Eoghan knew so he could help his group if we needed it, but we’ve not shared among ourselves.” He slid his gaze to Kyra. “I can tell you that Aisling doesn’t offer up things like that. Ever.”
Kyra turned to look at Aisling’s retreating back. “That was her way of welcoming me. She wouldn’t have said that if she didn’t know exactly what I was going through.”
“That’s what I think, as well.” Dubhan’s arm went around her.
Kyra couldn’t wait to get to know Aisling better. There was something in the female Dark’s eyes that spoke of intense pain, well hidden. Kyra recognized it because that had been her at one time. Maybe it was again after Eva, but she had Dubhan now. And an extended family that no one in their right mind would ever cross.
“I don’t know how much time we have before Death and Cael return,” Dubhan said. “We can start investigating the realm.”
“Or?” she asked when he trailed off.
He shrugged and smiled down at her. “I was just thinking we
might finish what Eoghan interrupted this morning.”
Kyra looked at the sky and thought about that for half a second. “I’m going with option two.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Mountains or the beach?” he asked.
She shrugged, her blood heating as desire surged. “I don’t care as long as we aren’t interrupted for at least an hour.”
He said nothing as he smiled and teleported them away. Kyra suddenly found herself next to a river deep in the woods. There was a large cave that Dubhan turned toward. He led her to it, and as they approached, a huge bed appeared. This time, Kyra didn’t hesitate to use her magic to remove their clothes.
Dubhan looked down at his naked body and then smiled at her. He lifted her in his arms and stalked to the bed. Their lips were locked by the time he laid her on the thick mattress.
She sighed as his hands roamed over her before moving between her legs and stroking her sex. The world fell away as Kyra succumbed to the expert touch of Dubhan’s hands, lips, and tongue.
This was the start of her new life.
This was the beginning of a future with her Reaper, her love.
Her Dubhan.
Epilogue
Death stared out over her realm. Cael came up beside her. She’d never thought much about the things she’d had to do as either Death or the Mistress of War. But with Cael beside her helping her, there was no denying the weight he’d taken from her, allowing her to breathe easier.
“You made the right call,” he said.
She leaned her head against his arm. “You knew all along we’d be joining the fight against the Others, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” he said without hesitation. He moved his arm, wrapping it around her. “I was waiting for you to come to that realization yourself. And I knew you would.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
He chuckled. “You weren’t ready to hear it.”
“I still wasn’t ready to hear it, especially from Kyra.” Erith blew out a breath. “But I’m glad it was said. It gives us some time to prepare.”
“So it begins,” he said.
She lifted her chin. “So it begins.”
* * *
Cathal sat before a fire, sharpening the blade of his sword. He liked the open plains so he could see in all directions around him. No enemy could sneak up on him out here. It was nothing but an endless sea of grass swaying in the breeze with the sky meeting it on the horizon.
Every Reaper was made for war. Some might not admit it, but he knew what he was. It was time the Others discovered that, as well.
He didn’t care who made up the secret group, or if they were one or many factions. The fact that they were rising up against the Dragon Kings and the Reapers was enough for him. Had the Others not turned their sights on the Reapers, he still would’ve gladly fought with the Kings against them.
Cathal had lost one world. He wasn’t going to lose another.
Read all of the Dark Kings Novels
Darkest Flame (Volume 1)
Fire Rising (Volume 2)
Burning Desire (Volume 3)
Hot Blooded (Volume 4)
Night’s Blaze (Volume 5)
Soul Scorched (Volume 6)
Passion Ignites (Volume 7)
Smoldering Hunger (Volume 8)
Smoke and Fire (Volume 9)
Firestorm (Volume 10)
Blaze (Volume 11)
Heat (Volume 12)
Torched (Volume 13)
Dragonfire (Volume 14)
Ignite (Volume 15)
Fever (Volume 16)
The Dark Warriors Series
Midnight’s Master (Volume 1)
Midnight’s Lover (Volume 2)
Midnight’s Seduction (Volume 3)
Midnight’s Warrior (Volume 4)
Midnight’s Kiss (Volume 5)
Midnight’s Captive (Volume 6)
Midnight’s Temptation (Volume 7)
Midnight’s Promise (Volume 8)
Midnight’s Surrender (Volume 8.5)
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has penned ninety novels, novelettes, novellas, and short stories spanning multiple genres of romance including the exhilarating Dark Kings and Reaper paranormal series, the romantic suspense Sons of Texas series, the historical paranormal Kindred series, and the contemporary Heart of Texas series. She lives with her two children, a dog, and three cats in Texas.
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Epilogue
About the Author
Copyright Page
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
First published in the United States by St. Martin’s Paperbacks, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group.
“Dark Alpha’s Temptation” copyright © 2020 by Donna Grant.
All rights reserved. For information address St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
www.stmartins.com
Cover: Design: Patricia Schmitt; photograph: couple © Gabriel Georgescu/Shutterstock.com
Author photo © Yvette Michelle Portraits LLC
eISBN 9781250204677 (ebook)
First eBook Edition: January 2020
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