Winged Reaper

by Shelley Russell Nolan

  I was going to die.

  ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’ Chris grabbed my arm and swung me around to face him.

  I shook my head, struggling to find my voice as I tore my eyes away from my doomed reflection. ‘Everything. It’s all so screwed up. People are dying. Connor and Rhonda are missing, and we just got attacked by four Tr’lirians.’

  I sucked in a deep breath, fighting to stamp down on my panic. I would not just sit back and wait for death to claim me.

  ‘I want to see Killian.’

  Chris glared at me. ‘You are not going anywhere near him.’

  ‘What if he knows something? He could be my only chance of saving my family.’ And maybe myself.

  ‘No. No way.’

  I put all the conviction I could muster into my voice. ‘Killian has the manpower and resources to find them. We don’t. Besides, you were willing to take me to see him last night.’

  ‘Risking a confrontation with Killian while he was alone in his hotel room would have been bad enough. Walking into his compound, where he’s surrounded by dozens of Tr’lirians, all of them armed. That’s a suicide mission.’

  I shook my head. ‘Not necessarily, not if we play it right.’

  ‘There is no right way to play this, not when it comes to Killian. It’s not happening.’

  I put my hands on my hips and glared at him. ‘I am not asking your permission. I will do this, whether you come with me or not.’

  He stared at me for a long moment, eyes never leaving mine. Then he rubbed the back of his neck. ‘All right, what’s your plan?’

  21

  Mouth dry, pulse racing, I wiped sweaty hands on my jeans as Chris pulled up in front of a large wrought iron gate. An electronic box rested on top of a short pole on the driver’s side. Chris wound down his window, stretched out his arm and depressed a button at the bottom of the speaker.

  Moments later a distorted voice could be heard. ‘State your name and business.’

  ‘I’m Chris Bradbury and I’m here with Tyler Morgan. We want to see Killian.’ No trace of nerves showed in Chris’s deep voice, and his expression was equally cool as he waited for a response.

  ‘Drive straight up to the house, any detours will result in your death.’ A loud click was followed by a buzzing sound as the gate slowly drew open.

  ‘Friendly fellow,’ said Chris, as he navigated his way through the gap.

  I glanced over my shoulder, watching with a fair amount of trepidation as the gate swung closed behind us. Then I sat up straight, conscious of the armed guards who stood beside the driveway and watched us drive by. Men and women, dressed in black combat gear, faces hard, just waiting for us to give them an excuse to pull the trigger.

  ‘I hope you know what you’re doing.’

  ‘So do I,’ I said, earning a faint smile from Chris. But there was no time for further talk. We pulled up in front of the house and four armed men, two with white wings, waited for us to get out of the car.

  None of the men surrounding us spoke as they led us inside the house. I walked with my head held high, eyes fixed on our destination.

  We were marched down a long hall, until a wooden door barred our progress. One of the men without wings slipped through the closed door, and moments later it opened from the inside.

  I stepped forward without being prompted, Chris at my side, and walked over to where Killian stood with his back to an unlit fireplace. He had a sword in his hands and a predatory smile on his face.

  ‘You’re early. I was not expecting you to lose all hope for a few days yet,’ he said with a shark-like grin. ‘Not that I am averse to putting an end to your misery now.’ He hefted the sword and swung it in an arc in front of him.

  ‘We didn’t come here so you could kill us. We need your help.’ I struggled to keep my eyes on him, and not watch the sword as it swung back and forth.

  ‘Then you came on a fool’s mission, one I will not hesitate to take advantage of.’ He nodded at the men standing behind us and hands grabbed my arms, holding me in place as Killian stalked towards me.

  I glanced to my left to where Chris cursed as he struggled to break free of the two men holding him. I faced Killian once more and gambled our lives on a hunch.

  ‘Malia is alive.’

  Killian froze, fist clenching on the hilt of his sword, fury burning in his eyes. ‘What did you say?’

  ‘Malia’s soul has been trapped in the Underworld ever since she died. Last night she had my cousin killed and then stole her body.’

  ‘How is this possible?’

  ‘How it happened doesn’t matter. What matters is the woman who caused a war between your people is roaming free, and she’s planning on using my half-brother’s body to get Almorthanos out of Demania.’

  Killian walked over to a large desk set in the middle of the room, picked up a plain scabbard and sheathed the sword, body tense as he stood with his back to us. He whirled around and barked orders at one of the winged Tr’lirians in their own language. The Tr’lirian winked out of view and I watched Chris’s eyes narrow as he tracked his progress through the astral plane.

  Killian stalked towards me and grabbed my chin in a punishing grip. ‘Tell me everything you know about the treacherous bitch.’

  I shook free of his grip. ‘First we make a deal.’

  ‘Do you really believe me stupid enough to make a deal with one of Malia’s blood? And why would I?’ He grabbed my neck, squeezing just enough to make the threat clear.

  ‘Kill me and the first thing I’ll do will be to tell Grimm that you and Cade are here, waiting to kill Almorthanos the second he’s free. Help me get my cousin back, protect the people I care about, and I will give you everything you want.’

  He squeezed harder and I struggled to breathe, sure he was going to kill me. I’d hoped I’d have more time, not knowing how long before death the portent appeared in the mirror. To die now, with nothing resolved, regret burned in my stomach.

  He abruptly released me. ‘Let her go,’ he said to his men, ‘but not him. Kill him if she tries anything.’

  As soon as my arms were released I massaged my neck.

  Killian stiffened. ‘Touch your necklace and Bradbury dies.’

  I slowly lowered my hand, swallowing several times to lubricate my throat, grimacing at the pain of each movement.

  But Killian did not give me time to recover. ‘Why should I keep you alive and not rip your throat out?’

  Voice croaky, I gave him what he wanted. ‘I will free Almorthanos for you, as long as you give me what I want.’

  ‘Tyler, what are you doing?’

  I refused to look at Chris, blocking out the horror in his deep voice, never taking my eyes off Killian. His eyes narrowed; scepticism in his bearing.

  ‘A moment ago you said you would warn Almorthanos of our presence if I were to kill you. Not that his being aware of us would change the outcome, but losing the element of surprise would prolong the conflict.’

  ‘A quick war or a long one, the choice is yours.’

  ‘What is it you want?’

  ‘Malia out of my cousin’s body, and your assurance my family and those I care about will be safe. Promise you’ll protect them and I will let Almorthanos out of Demania and not reveal your presence to him.’

  ‘Tyler, no, you can’t do this. I won’t let you.’ Chris struggled to break free from his captors, anguish in his voice. ‘There has to be another way.’

  I glanced in his direction and shook my head. ‘This is the only way to make sure you and the others are safe, of getting Emily back and stopping Almorthanos from taking Connor’s body. I don’t have a choice.’ I was going to die anyway. At least this way it would count for something.

  ‘I won’t let you kill yourself.’ Anguish filled his words.

  I turned away from him and faced Killian. ‘Do we have a deal?’

  ‘I will need to discuss your proposal with Cade. In the meantime, the two of you will enjoy our hospitality.’ Hi
s shark grin made another appearance. ‘In case you get cold feet and wish to renege on your promises.’

  I lifted my chin. ‘If you keep us here, Malia will know something is wrong and you will lose your element of surprise.’

  He pursed his lips. ‘Very well, you may leave, but first you will tell me everything.’

  Two hours later, wrung out by Killian’s interrogation, his men led Chris and I back to the car. Chris stalked beside me, the heat of his fury pouring out of him. But he did not speak until we were outside Killian’s compound, heading for home.

  ‘You little fool. Do you really think that I, or Lockwood, would let you sacrifice yourself for us?’

  ‘I don’t want to die, but I have no choice.’ I was reminded of this each time I glanced in the side mirror, a skull looking back at me.

  ‘We keep fighting. We find a way to unlock that god damned necklace of yours and we fight.’

  ‘And in the meantime more people will die. They already have Connor and Rhonda. Emily is dead. I wouldn’t be able to bear it if something happened to you or Sam. I know you think I’m giving up, but I’m being realistic. We can’t win, not on our own.’

  ‘Your dying won’t save anyone.’

  ‘Yes it will. It has too.’

  ‘If Malia already has Connor, Cade and Killian won’t be able to protect him, and there’s no way she’ll give up Emily’s body without a fight.’

  ‘The next time she contacts me, I’ll tell her I will free Almorthanos as long as she gives Emily her body back and finds someone else to be her brother’s host.’

  ‘You’re placing a lot of faith in matters you can’t control.’

  ‘I am not going to sit back and watch Grimm’s Wraiths turn Easton into a graveyard.’ I shuddered, remembering the Wraith attacks I had already been witness to.

  ‘Not all reapers are capable of reanimating a dead body, and with the rate it rots the brains of those that can, Grimm is bound to be running low on troops. You’ve probably taken out over half of his Wraiths as it is.’

  ‘You don’t know that, and Malia said Grimm has Wraiths all over the world. Whether he’s killing people in Easton or somewhere else, people are still going to die.’

  The ring of my mobile phone cut off Chris’s reply and I fished it out of my bag, half-convinced it would be Malia and time to put another nail in my coffin.

  But the caller ID showed Connor’s name.

  22

  ‘Connor, where are you? Are you okay?’

  A long silence set my heart pounding. Then Connor’s voice sounded impossibly loud in my ear.

  ‘I’m fine, but Mum’s ready for the loony bin. She keeps telling me I’m only half-human and that she used to have wings. What the hell did you do to her?’

  Relief made me lightheaded. ‘I didn’t do anything to her, and she’s not crazy.’

  He snorted. ‘Then she’s been smoking something. Why else would she come up with such a ridiculous story?’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘At the League’s Club. I thought a meal might sober her up.’

  ‘But your car is still at the flat,’ I said, an echo of the panic I’d felt at not finding them bubbling in my stomach.

  ‘We caught the courtesy bus. It’s impossible to get a park on a Saturday ‘

  ‘So you’re okay?’

  ‘Why wouldn’t we be?’

  ‘I tried calling you earlier, and neither of you answered the phone.’

  ‘Give me a break. They’ve got a live band playing. We didn’t even hear our phones ring.’

  ‘You’re still there?’

  ‘We’re on the bus again, heading back to the flat.’

  I clutched the phone tight. ‘Don’t go to the flat. It’s not safe. Get the bus driver to take you to Chris’s hotel.’ I gave him the address.

  ‘But my car’s there.’

  ‘You can get it later. Please, Connor, I’ll explain everything when you get here.’

  After I finally got Connor’s agreement, I ended the call and smiled at Chris. ‘Malia didn’t have them after all.

  ‘Meaning you didn’t need to offer yourself to Killian on a platter.’

  I stiffened. ‘Just because Malia didn’t have them this time doesn’t make them safe. They’re still in danger, all of you are.’

  Chris tossed me a knowing smile. ‘Not as much danger as you’ll be in once Lockwood finds out what you’re planning.’

  My heart skipped a beat. ‘Promise me you won’t tell him.’

  ‘He might have better luck than me in talking some sense into you.’

  ‘Give me twenty-four hours and after that I’ll tell Sam myself. Then the two of you can gang up on me as much as you like.’ Not that it would do any good.

  ‘One day, that’s all I ask.’ One day to spend with Sam without the knowledge of my impending doom hanging over our heads, tainting our last moments together.

  Chris frowned, jaw clenching. ‘All right. But make no mistake, I will never let you sacrifice yourself no matter how many lives you think it will save.’

  ‘It will be okay. You’ll see. Everything will work out.’

  Chris steered the car into the hotel car park and switched off the engine. He ruefully shook his head as he cupped my cheek in his hand.

  ‘I’m not an idiot, Tyler. I know you’re just saying whatever you think will get me to back off. But you need to know that I will do whatever it takes to keep you alive. I would throw the entire population of Easton to the wolves if I thought it would save you, and I have a feeling Lockwood would do the same. So whatever plan you’re hatching isn’t going to happen, and I’m giving you twenty-four hours to come to terms with that.’

  His thumb slid across my bottom lip, soft and sensuous. His eyes, filled with love and determination, never left mine as he leaned in close. His hand moved to the back of my neck, pulling me forward as his mouth covered mine. His kiss was sweet, light, and a smile played around his eyes when he let me go.

  ‘Now then, let’s go ruin your half-brother’s day.’

  I followed Chris into the reception area, biting at my bottom lip as I scanned the large space for any sign of Rhonda or Connor while Chris asked the doorman if he had any visitors.

  Expression neutral, Chris returned to my side. ‘They must still be on their way.’

  ‘It would only take five minutes to get here from the League’s Club.’ The hair on the back of my neck stood up. ‘Something’s wrong.’

  ‘You don’t know that. They could be stuck in traffic, and who knows how many stops the driver had to make before this one.’

  I stepped through the sliding doors and out into the undercover area that housed the hotel’s circular driveway. No cars were on it, though a faint trace of petrol fumes and grease lingered. I stared down the road, willing the courtesy bus to appear.

  My phone rang and I whipped it up to my ear. ‘Hello?’

  ‘You need to come to the flat, right away. It is seriously messed up. Mum is freaking out, she’s practically hyperventilating.’

  ‘Connor, I told you not to go there. You need to leave, now.’

  ‘I needed my car. Whoever trashed your flat is damn lucky they didn’t touch it. I’d have found the sons of bitches and smashed them up something shocking.’

  ‘Get Rhonda in the car and get to the hotel. Before they come back.’

  ‘Okay, okay. Don’t get your knickers in a knot. Mum’s just packing her stuff. We’ll head over as soon as she’s done.’

  ‘She doesn’t have time to pack. Drag her to your car and strap her in if you have to.’

  Connor snorted. ‘You know what Mum’s like when she gets an idea in her head. She’s not leaving until she’s good and ready.’

  ‘Connor …,’ my voice broke, but I forced myself to keep going. ‘The people who did this, they killed Logan and they’ve threatened to kill you and Rhonda.’

  I heard Connor grunt, and when he spoke his voice was subdued. ‘We’ll be right there.’


  He hung up and I turned to Chris. ‘How’s that for ruining his day,’ I said, eyes stinging.

  ‘Tyler.’ Chris moved to embrace me, but I held up a hand to ward him off. I didn’t want comfort. I had to be strong, for all our sakes.

  We stood side by side until Connor’s car pulled up in front of us. His face was pale as he got out of the car.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Connor.’ He was still as I hugged him, arms hanging limp at his sides.

  Rhonda got out of the car, glared at me, and pulled Connor out of my arms. ‘Come on, honey, let’s get you inside.’ She took the keys out of his hand and tossed them at Chris. ‘Take care of his car.’

  Without a word, Chris handed me the keys to the penthouse before he climbed into Connor’s car and drove it away. I was left to follow what was left of my family inside. The air-conditioning felt like a slap on my face, cooling the hot tears I hadn’t realised I was shedding.

  I wiped my eyes and strode over to the elevator. None of us spoke on the ride to the top. I looked over at Connor and quickly averted my gaze when I saw the bleak expression on his face. I felt bad for not feeling as wretched as he did over Logan’s death.

  Logan had been my boyfriend for three months before I found him in bed with Sarah. Three months, and until that day I’d never seen him for who he really was. Being a jerk didn’t mean he’d deserved to die but, surrounded by death as I was, I found it hard to summon up an appropriate sense of grief. I had to focus all my care and concern on the living, make sure no one else died because of me.

  I unlocked the door to the penthouse and stood aside so Rhonda and Connor could enter. They went straight to the couch and sank onto it. Connor put his head in his hands, while Rhonda rubbed his back. I remained by the open door, waiting for Chris, not ready to face my family on my own.

  The welcome ding as the elevator arrived lifted my spirits and I greeted Chris with a smile. It might have wobbled, but it was a smile. He assessed the situation in his lounge room.

  ‘I think we all could do with a drink.’