Winged Reaper

by Shelley Russell Nolan

‘This is Chris Bradbury. I want to speak to Detective Lockwood.’ His brow creased as he listened to whoever had answered the phone.

  ‘I see.’ His eyes shot to my face, voice suspiciously bland. ‘Well, when you find him can you please let him know I called and the matter is urgent?’ He hung up the phone and stared at me, expression cautious.

  I wrapped my arms around my middle, a chill sweeping over my body. ‘Who were you talking to? Why didn’t Sam answer his phone?’

  ‘Constable Ward found Lockwood’s phone fifteen minutes ago, on the front lawn outside a crime scene. But she has so far been unable to locate him to return it.’

  I braced myself against the side of the elevator, head shaking from side to side. ‘No. He can’t be missing.’ I still held my phone, from when I’d answered Anne’s call. I dialled Sam’s number, hanging up without saying a word when I heard the constable’s voice.

  ‘We don’t know he’s missing. He probably just dropped his phone. Ward will find him any minute and he’ll ring us back. There’s nothing to worry about.’

  I rubbed my eyes, desperate to believe him. But deep down I knew he was wrong. Constable Ward would have found him by now if he was at the crime scene. And Sam wasn’t the type to lose his phone.

  They’d taken him.

  24

  The elevator doors opened onto the carpark and I rushed over to Chris’s car, waiting impatiently for him to unlock it so I could slide inside.

  He started the engine and looked over at me. ‘Where to?’

  I wanted to say the crime scene, to find Sam, but knew it would do me no good. ‘The Chronicle. Maybe whoever has Anne will know where Sam is.’

  The short drive to the office seemed to take forever and I peered at the front windows as Chris drove passed. The lights were off, making it impossible to see inside.

  Chris parked half a block away and scanned our surroundings. ‘There’s no one here, Tr’lirian or otherwise.’

  I bounded out of the car and ran to the front door, tugging on the handle.

  Locked.

  I banged on it, willing it to open.

  Chris reached my side and put his face against the glass while I continued to bang.

  ‘Tyler. Tyler. Stop. There’s no one here.’

  Chris’s words took a while to sink in. I turned to him, shaking my head. ‘That’s not possible. Anne rang me. Said to come here.’

  ‘Call her. Maybe they’re out the back.’

  I feverishly dialled her number, counting the rings before she picked up.

  ‘Anne Porteous speaking.’ The clipped words struck me silent. She sounded like her usual self, no trace of panic or fear in her voice.

  ‘Hello, is anyone there?’

  ‘It’s Tyler. You rang me, begged me to come to the office. Said you needed my help.’

  ‘I just got out of the shower. I couldn’t possibly have called you.’ Confusion filled her voice.

  ‘So you’re okay? Nothing’s wrong?’

  ‘I’m perfectly fine. I don’t know why you think I called you, but I do appreciate your willingness to help if needed. I’m looking forward to having you back at work in a week’s time, and putting all this unpleasantness behind us.’

  I said goodbye in a daze, head spinning, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

  ‘It was a hoax,’ said Chris. ‘They were messing with your mind.’

  He drove us back to his apartment block to check on Connor and Rhonda. From here on I wanted us all to stick together so they couldn’t pick us off one by one. Worry for Sam ate at me as I tried to call him again, this time getting his message bank. Not knowing where he was or what was happening to him, it made me what to hit something, someone, yell and scream. He had better be okay or I would do whatever it took to make whoever had him pay.

  Thoughts of revenge fled when we arrived back at the penthouse and I spotted Talaom looming in the open doorway.

  Shock leaching my voice, I brushed passed him, running into the lounge and skidding to a halt when I found two black winged Tr’lirians standing over an unconscious Rhonda. I rushed over and knelt beside her, Chris at my side.

  ‘I apologise for our rough handling of Rallani, but as she is full Tr’lirian it was necessary to take her out to maintain our element of surprise,’ said Talaom, his grin showing all of his teeth. ‘Surprise.’

  I scanned the room. ‘Where’s Connor?’ Heart thudding, I gripped my necklace, ready to throw a shield of aether around Rhonda, Chris and I. I couldn’t risk blasting Talaom or his men until I knew where my brother was.

  ‘Your brother will be enjoying our hospitality while we prepare for the arrival of Almorthanos. He will not be harmed, and neither will your detective.’

  Terror sucked strength from my limbs, and I fought not to show how hard it was to stay calm. ‘Give Sam back to me. Now,’ I said, standing and facing Talaom.

  ‘That will not be possible. Consider Detective Lockwood a down payment on your debt to Malia.’

  ‘I don’t owe her anything.’

  ‘You stole her necklace, turned it against her, and she intends to collect payment for it one way or another. But he will not be harmed, I give you my word,’ said Talaom.

  ‘You really think I would trust your word?’

  ‘You don’t have a choice.’ With that parting shot, Talaom and his Tr’lirians vanished.

  I collapsed to my knees, clutching my stomach, unable to move as Chris crouched down beside me. ‘Lockwood is smart, resourceful. He’ll be fine.’

  Desolate, I met his eyes, saw the worry he was desperately trying to mask. I shook my head. ‘They have Sam, and my brother. This is the beginning of the end.’ My time had run out.

  Rhonda groaned, and I dragged my eyes away from Chris as she heaved herself into a sitting position.

  ‘Where is Connor? Where’s my son?’ She scrambled to her feet and swayed, one hand going to the purple bruise on her temple as she scanned the room with desperate eyes.

  ‘I’m sorry, Rhonda, they took him,’ I said as Chris helped me to my feet.

  ‘You promised you’d protect him, that you wouldn’t let them have him.’ Rhonda flew at me, enraged, and only Chris’s quick reflexes stopped her attack.

  He caught her fist as she aimed it at my head and then spun her arm behind her back. ‘This is not helping. You need to calm down.’

  ‘They have my son. They’re going to kill him.’ Rhonda struggled against Chris for a moment, but was unable to break free and her body sagged in his grip, tears streaming down her face.

  ‘There’s still time. They have to keep him alive until Almorthanos is free. If you want to get your son back before that happens, you need to control your emotions. Blaming Tyler won’t get you anywhere, and you have no idea what she is willing to do to save your precious son.’ He let go of her arm and gave her a slight push.

  She straightened up and peered at me, hope blooming in her eyes. ‘What is he talking about? Is there a way to save Connor?’

  ‘We don’t have the resources to go up against Malia and her followers on our own, but I know someone who does.’ I took a deep breath, wondering if I could trust Rhonda with the truth. She had been on Malia and Almorthanos’s side up until they threatened her son, she could easily balk at allying herself with her ancient enemies. Then again, like me, she had nothing left to lose.

  ‘Cade can do what we can’t.’

  ‘Cade.’ Rhonda’s features contorted into one of distaste. ‘He would never lift a finger to help me or my son. He’d be glad to get rid of us.’

  ‘Having met his right hand man, Killian, I don’t doubt he would happily destroy anyone related to Malia and Almorthanos. But we have something he wants. I’m hoping that will be enough to get him to help us.’

  Her eyes narrowed. ‘What could you possibly have that Cade would think is valuable enough to warrant aiding an enemy?’

  ‘If he promises to protect Connor and the rest of you, I will let Almorthanos out of Demani
a so he can kill him once and for all.’

  Rhonda sank down onto the arm of the couch. ‘To do that you would have to die. That’s the only way the key will work.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘And you’d be willing to do that, die, to keep Connor safe?’

  ‘Yes.’

  She pushed herself to her feet. ‘All right then, what are we waiting for?’

  Chris shook his head and grabbed my arm. ‘You do not have to do this, and you don’t even know if Cade has accepted your offer.’

  ‘We’d better go and find out then, because I am not going to leave Sam and Connor in Malia’s hands for a second longer than necessary.’

  His grip on my arm tightened. ‘I am not going to stand by while you offer to die to save everybody else. That is never going to happen, even if I have to tie you down.’

  ‘You can’t stop me.’

  Chris opened his mouth to argue the point, and then his gaze focused on something behind me, eyes wide. ‘You.’

  I spun around, and hurriedly backed up as six men appeared in the middle of the apartment. One of them was Killian. The other five had white wings and swords sheathed at their hips. I recognised four of them from when we’d visited the compound. I had never seen the last man before. Like all the winged male Tr’lirians I had seen so far, he went bare chested, and his tall, muscular build, dark blonde hair and deep blue eyes were so like Chris’s that I knew who he was.

  ‘Cade, I presume.’

  He gave me a sharp nod, shimmering white wings sparkling in the light of the crystal chandelier hanging over the dining table. He took a step forward, bypassing me to confront Chris.

  ‘Hello, son.’

  Rhonda gasped, while Chris glowered at Cade. ‘You are not my father.’

  ‘You are my son, in every way that counts, and as such I have the right to question why you have become entangled with the likes of these.’ With an arrogant flick of his wrist, he pointed at Rhonda and me. ‘They are beneath you, and yet here you are, conspiring with them to stop me from vanquishing our family’s enemy.’

  Cade turned his attention on me, reaching out to grasp my chin. ‘Remarkable, the likeness, and when I first got here and saw Talaom and his rabble entering the hotel I believed you to be just as treacherous as the one whose face you bear.’

  I pulled free of his grip. ‘I’m nothing like her.’

  ‘So Killian has assured me. He advised me to wait, to watch and see what they wanted with you. He was most insistent, and made me curious as to what manner of woman you were that my second in command would place such faith in you, despite your unfortunate lineage.’

  I slid a sideways glance at Killian, whose handsome face remained deadpan. I thought back on all our encounters so far, the demeaning way he’d treated me. He was the last person I would expect to support me.

  Cade smiled; a humourless smirk that carried a hint of menace. ‘Your adamant announcement of your intention to honour the deal you offered me indicates his assessment of your integrity was correct.’

  ‘Do you accept?’

  ‘Tyler, no.’ Chris tugged on my arm. ‘I won’t let you do it.’

  Before I could say anything Cade waved his hand and said, ‘silence him.’

  Two of the Tr’lirians jumped on Chris, pulling him away from me. He fought back, cursing, hitting out at them with his good arm. One of them dug his fingers into Chris’s injured shoulder. He cried out, colour leaching from his face, sagging to his knees. His opponents kept him there as another Tr’lirian moved forward with a gag.

  I dragged my eyes away from Chris and met Cade’s cold gaze. ‘Do we have a deal?’

  ‘Though it pains me to let any of Malia’s tainted clan live, it will be as you wish. I will forgo my desire to scourge this world clean of their ilk. As Rallani is already exiled here in the physical plane, to let her and her half-breed son live out their lives will be of no consequence.’

  Rhonda stepped forward. ‘What about the rest of my clan? Will you still let them live in Angellin.’

  ‘Those who do not wish to join you in exile will be executed. That is the price I demand for saving your son. Will you pay it?’

  Rhonda blanched, but squared her shoulders. ‘Gladly.’

  ‘Then let us begin.’ He pulled his sword out of his sheath and faced me. ‘Time to die.’

  25

  ‘Wait.’ I backed up as Cade stalked towards me.

  ‘I thought you were ready to die?’

  ‘I am, but not like this. It has to be done in front of Malia if we are to save Sam and my brother, and get my cousin back.’

  Cade lowered his sword. ‘What do you propose?’

  I took a deep breath and told him my plan.

  He listened in silence, frown deepening. Then he sheathed his sword. ‘Call her so we can finish this.’

  Rhonda gave me Talaom’s number and I punched it into my phone. With a deep breath, I hit the call button.

  ‘What took you so long?’ Talaom’s gravelly voice sounded in my ear.

  ‘I want to talk to Malia.’

  ‘She’s busy entertaining your detective. She gave instructions that they are not to be disturbed. Once he satisfies her … curiosity, she’ll call you back.’

  Ice settled in the pit of my stomach at the image his words sparked, of Malia and Sam with limbs entwined, bringing back memories of the night I’d found Sarah and Logan in bed together.

  I made my voice harsh. ‘If she wants her brother out of Demania, she’ll talk to me now.’ I hung up the phone, hands shaking.

  I looked over at Chris and had to avert my eyes at the naked despair in his. I focused on my breathing, steadying my hands as I waited for my phone to ring, struggling not to think about what Malia was doing to Sam in the time it took her to call back.

  Cade and Killian conversed in low tones in the corner of the room. Rhonda paced, biting her nails and checking her watch. The other Tr’lirians crowded around Chris, keeping him immobile, though I noticed they kept wary eyes on Rhonda and me.

  Fifteen excruciating minutes later the phone rang, making me jump, and I fumbled to answer it. ‘Hello?’

  ‘I do like your detective,’ said Malia, her voice a sexy purr. ‘He will be the perfect father for my daughters.’

  ‘You are not going to touch him.’

  ‘Oh, Tyler, I already have.’

  She was lying. She had to be. Sam would never do that. I swallowed down my jealousy. ‘I am ready to let your brother out of Demania, after you release Sam, Connor and Emily.’

  ‘You know that isn’t possible. I need this body, and my brother needs Connor’s if he is to be truly free.’

  I fought down my revulsion at what I was about to suggest. ‘Connor is only half-Tr’lirian and Emily has barely any Tr’lirian blood at all. If you switch over to full Tr’lirian bodies you’d be able to enter the astral plane again, no longer chained to the physical world.’

  ‘You expect me to sacrifice two of my people just to save your brother and your cousin?’

  I forced a note of incredulity into my voice. ‘I’d have thought their loyalty to you would have them volunteering. I’m willing to die for the good of my family. Are you telling me no one in your family is ready to die for you?’ I held my breath, willing her ego to bite.

  After a long silence she said, ‘very well. Your life in return for theirs. I’ll be in touch with the details of the trade.’ The line went dead and I grasped the nearest chair to stop myself from toppling over.

  I forced my head up and met Cade’s eyes. ‘You better hold up on your end of this deal or I swear I will haunt you for an eternity.’

  He sneered at me. ‘Watch your mouth, little girl. I could snap you in two any time I want.’

  ‘And Almorthanos would remain beyond your reach. I don’t trust Malia, and I have no choice when it comes to trusting you. You hold yourself as better than her, better than all of her clan. Prove it. Keep my family safe and show me your high opinion of you
rself is warranted.’ I turned away before he could reply and went over to the Tr’lirians holding Chris.

  ‘Let him go.’

  They looked to Cade and when he nodded they released their hold on Chris. He ripped off his gag and launched himself to his feet. He clutched me to him, fingers digging into the flesh of my upper arm.

  ‘Don’t do this. Please, Tyler. I can’t bear to lose you.’

  ‘Control yourself. You are acting the fool, and over a woman from Clan Davila. No son of Clan Godden has even fallen so low.’

  Chris ignored Cade’s outburst. Eyes locked onto mine, he knelt at my feet. ‘I’m begging you, do not throw your life away like this.’

  A watery smile on my lips, I sank to my knees. ‘I’m sorry,’ I said, my words little more than a whisper. ‘It’s the only way.’

  His chest rumbled with the force of the denial that burst from his lips. ‘No. I will not let you die.’ He crushed me to him and then stood, pulling me along as he strode for the front door.

  Cade’s men appeared in front of us, blocking the door.

  ‘Get out of my way,’ said Chris. Fury radiated out of him, but it had no effect on the four stone-faced Tr’lirians baring his path.

  Cade appeared on our left, while Killian positioned himself on our right. ‘Do not make me regret releasing you, son.’

  ‘I am not your son.’ Chris shot Cade a black glare, chest heaving, a snarl on his lips.

  Cade’s form blurred and he reappeared with his sword in his hand, the tip pointed at Chris. Killian latched on to my arm, pulling me away from Chris. He swung me around so my back was against his chest, one arm clamped around my waist, the other holding his sword against my throat.

  ‘He’ll kill her now, and any hope her family has will die with her,’ said Cade.

  ‘No.’ The denial came from Rhonda. She hurried to Chris’s side, taking hold of his arm and tugging him around to face her. ‘You have to let her go. My son will die if you don’t.’

  ‘I don’t care about your son.’

  ‘I do,’ I said, drawing Chris’s eyes back to me.

  Emotional pain poured out of him, to be overtaken by a steely determination. ‘If I can’t be with you in this life, then I’ll join you in the Underworld. I’ll become a reaper again.’