Reaper (Dragon Prophecies Book 1)

by Hickory Mack

  Elsie smirked. They were adorable.

  She set the trays down and crawled into the bed, laying on her side so she could observe as she woke the spirit. Pulling the hair out of her mouth, Elsie laughed at the line of drool stretched across her lover’s cheek.

  “Wren, wake up. Come have breakfast with me,” she said. Nothing. The spirit didn’t even twitch. Elsie set her chin in her palm and grinned in amusement. Maybe it was a habit Wren had picked up from the months she spent as a man each year? Saint had always tried to sleep in too.

  Elsie ran a finger across the spirit’s waist, her soft curves accentuated by the contorted position she slept in. That got a reaction when Wren curled in on herself, and Elsie laughed in surprise. The Earth element was ticklish!

  “I’m warning you; if you don’t start to show signs of life, I’ll tickle you awake,” Elsie threatened. Wren mumbled incoherently and grabbed her, pulling her down onto the mattress, trying to tuck her in so she could sleep longer. “The hunters are going to be here soon, so we need to get ready.”

  “Mmm.”

  That was it, Wren’s only response. “Why are you sleeping so hard? You didn’t have this much trouble while we were out in the woods,” Elsie reminded her, brushing light fluttering touches across the spirit’s midriff.

  “Mmm,” Wren said again, her face scrunching up as she pushed Elsie away. She sat up and rubbed her eyes with a perfect, dainty little yawn. “What?” she asked moodily, noticing that Elsie was staring at her.

  “Even when you’re a mess, you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” she answered. Wren snorted at her. “Why are you so tired?”

  “We spent all night inside.” Wren yawned again, causing Elsie to frown. “I’m an element, lovie, and I’m not connected to the Earth here. I’ll wake up after some coffee and a trip outside.”

  “Even with the hardwood floors and the window, it bothers you so much?” the reaper asked.

  “The wood is dead, and the light from the window is filtered,” Wren answered, as though it should be obvious.

  “Where do you live?” Elsie asked, remembering their previous conversation about Wren’s preference to travel rather than staying in one place. How was she supposed to provide a home for a creature who couldn’t spend time indoors?

  Wren shrugged. “I live wherever I am. I spend my days under the canopy and my nights under the stars.” She saw the look on the reaper’s face and softened. “It doesn’t matter, though. From now on, I live wherever you are. I’ll still need to roam and take care of my planet, but once, a very long time ago, I had a home.”

  Elsie’s pale eyes lit up. “What was it like?”

  “We lived in the deepest reaches of Lanadua, the forest of the red moon elves. They constructed a home for us much like their own. There were no roofs above our heads, only open sky, with a clever barrier to keep the wind and rain from coming inside. My rooms were cushioned by the softest, prettiest mosses you could imagine. The walls were like the roof. Though you could see outside, a concealing spell offered complete privacy and climate control.” Wren described it like she could still see the place in front of her. A small smile tugged at her lips as she thought about it.

  “My bath was a running stream with a waterfall. There were lotus flowers, and otters would play along the shore. I used to lay in the water at night, floating in the center of the pool, listening to the wind in my trees and watching the stars. It was the kind of place only the elves could create.”

  “It sounds beautiful,” Elsie said, trying to imagine it. “I’ve never heard of Lanadua before.”

  “Only the ancients remember it, so I’m not surprised you haven’t heard its name. Lanadua was beautiful, but it no longer exists,” Wren told her, then looked away, signaling that she didn’t want to go any further into the conversation. “What did you bring to eat?”

  When they finished their cold oatmeal and sliced bananas, Wren put a new dress on. This one was pale blue and gauzy, trailing behind her on the ground as she walked. It looked amazing with the gold adornments in her antlers and hair. There were even golden flecks splashed across her cheeks, and for some reason, her bright blue eyes were brown today.

  “I swear, I could stare at you all day,” Elsie said, and Wren laughed at her.

  “Why don’t you spend more time falling in love with your own image? You’re stunning,” the spirit returned. She touched Elsie’s lips and her jawline before tracing her high cheekbones. “I could only ever pretend to be as perfect as you are to me. Sit in that chair. Let me do your hair.”

  Elsie hesitated, but Wren gave her a gentle shove. Taking the brush from her bag, Wren took the binder out of the bottom of Elsie’s braid and released her blue locks. She was gentle, sectioning out pieces of hair then starting at the tips and working her way up.

  “Your hair is so deliciously thick,” Wren complimented. “You have to let me take care of it from now on. No more plain, boring braids. Promise me.”

  “Alright,” Elsie allowed. The braids were only a means of convenience to keep all that hair out of the way while she was trying to live her life.

  “Yay!” Wren cheered, leaning over her shoulder to plant a victory kiss on her cheek. She brushed Elsie’s hair until it shone, then tamed it with a french braid that wound around her head like a crown before curling into a bun on top. It was heavy and a little awkward, but there was no way it would get caught on anything this way.

  Wren showed her in the mirror, and Elsie gave her a big smile. No one had ever taken the time to do her hair before. “See how fine your jawline looks when that big thick rope of hair gets out of the way? You’re beautiful.”

  “It’s so pretty, Wren. I love it, thank you.” A knock came at the door, and Frost growled, pressing his nose against the crack between the floor and the bottom of the door. “What is it?” Elsie called.

  “It’s me, Commander Chantraine,” Shepherd called. “Your transportation escort has arrived.”

  “It’s time to play the part,” Elsie sighed, rising to her full height, her back straight and head high. Without one of their pompous uniforms, she didn’t look like an officer in the hunters’ ranks, but she never had. Elsie had never worn the uniform because it didn’t matter. These people respected confidence and power, and she exuded both. Wren picked up Frida and the cat chirped, curling up in her arms.

  They filed out and followed Shepherd outside, where a line of five strangers waited. Elsie surveyed them as she walked up, noting that none of them were ranked higher than captain. Cornick must have sent whomever was closest to him at the time rather than finding a team to impress her with.

  As she approached, their hands snapped to their brows in salute. Elsie stood in front of them, looking down the line, then returned the salute, a frown on her face. It wouldn’t do to make them think she was going to be friendly with them. She had no intention of making friends among the Hunter Clans. There was no point.

  Wren stood at her side, and Frost glowered at them over her shoulder. They were nervous, she could smell the pungent scent of their fear, but one of them stepped forward with a black case. Opening the clips, he held it out, looking at Elsie’s chin.

  She lifted the lid and removed one of the eight vials inside, handing it to Wren and receiving a nod after the spirit opened the cork and sniffed it. Elsie took it back and drank the contents of the first vial, then took the case, immediately feeling a sense of security and relief. She wouldn’t have to worry about enduring her organs failing and dying anymore. At least, not so long as the elixir kept coming. She opened the pocket dimension where she kept her valuables and slid the case inside for safe keeping.

  “First Field Commander Chantraine, we are ordered to take you to Commander Grant immediately,” the youngest among them said, staring straight ahead. Elsie shared a look with Wren.

  “Take us to him.”

  Chapter 21

  The first thing Elsie saw when they arrived were the medical ranks. The hunters ha
d set up camp, and there were at least a dozen medical tents. It seemed they expected to find the worst when they made it through the gate.

  Interspersed between the tents were supply trucks laden down with food, medical gear, blankets, and fresh water. The cynical side of her wanted to believe Cornick and Grant were putting on a show, but a camp this large didn’t appear overnight, and the worn out trails leading in and out proved it had been there for a while.

  Wren grabbed her hand before they got too close, pulling her to a stop. Elsie wanted so badly to pull back, make her lover come with her, but she knew it was impossible. She couldn’t risk forcing Wren to lose her connection to the Earth. She was the Earth Spirit, after all.

  Frost automatically turned his body sideways, so he was between Elsie and the five hunters they were traveling with. He scanned those around them as if daring them to approach. A scary wolfie barrier to give them some measure of privacy. There was something to be said for having Frost as her personal bodyguard. The hunters they’d traveled with didn’t even attempt to hurry them along.

  Something materialized between them, glinting green in the air, and Wren reached up to grab it. She flipped Elsie’s hand palm up and pressed a heavy pendant into her hand.

  “It will alert me when you return, and it will guide me to wherever you are,” Wren said as Elsie looked at the gift she’d been given.

  It was a large circle of dark gray metal, and in its center was an oval of highly shined jade. Carved in the jade was the symbol of the horned god, Cernunnos. It was old and held a lot of magic. Wren plucked it back out of Elsie’s hand and walked behind her, fiddling with the clasp to secure the pendant around her mate’s neck. She returned and ran her fingers over it.

  “This will help keep you safe,” she promised.

  “Thank you, Wren,” Elsie said, drinking in her lover’s face, wishing she could etch it perfectly into her memory. “I’ll come back to you as soon as I can. Try not to cause too much trouble while I’m gone.”

  “No promises. Don’t tell me you’re going to miss me. My heart can’t take it,” Wren claimed. “Don’t just return soon, return often.”

  “I’ll be at your side so often you’re going to get sick of me.” Elsie tried to laugh but barely managed a smile. Wren was the only distraction she’d had from the pain burrowed into her chest from the bond demanding she go find Saint, and now she’d have neither of them.

  “I expect you to be with me on the equinox,” Wren said, and Elsie leaned in for a kiss. She took her time, impressing the feeling of those soft, delicious lips in her mind. The spirit kissed her back, holding onto her as though it were the last time they were going to see each other.

  “I promise,” Elsie whispered, kissing her lover again. “I expect you to take care of yourself until I come back.”

  Wren scowled, but she nodded. Her eyes shone with emotion that threatened to spill out onto her cheeks. “Go and do what you must. I’ll keep an eye out for your demon in case he comes back this way.”

  “Thank you,” Elsie said, taking one last kiss, her heart hurting. This shouldn’t be so damned hard. She was used to being alone, but the past week had shown her how lonely she’d been, even when she was with Mara. She’d needed to be with her own kind—magical creatures she could be open and honest with, people who could know the reality of who and what she was.

  Wren let her go and stepped into the trees. Elsie looked back several times as she walked among the tents until she couldn’t see the spirit any longer and was forced to pay attention to the hunters around her. She had to make her hands hang loose at her side rather than defensively balling up into fists. She didn’t want to be here, and she was irritated that she’d allowed herself to be talked into this.

  Frost walked stiffly by her side, his hackles raised. “Easy, Precious,” Elsie soothed. “You’ll be getting what you want in a little while. They’re cutting you loose, and I’ll make good on my promise. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

  A heavy feeling of disbelief pressed on her, and she made a face at him. “You don’t believe me? Still?”

  He tossed his head in the direction they were walking. It wasn’t her he didn’t trust, and she couldn’t blame him. The hunters hadn’t done anything to earn the wolf’s trust after they’d captured him. She set her hand on the wolf’s shoulder, a twinge of sadness drawing the corners of her mouth downward. Once he was set free, it would be just her and Frida again. And as entertaining as the alebrije was, Frida couldn’t talk. Elsie would be truly alone.

  Her escort stopped to talk with a woman who stared at Elsie and the wolf next to her with cold eyes then pointed them to a large tent further into the encampment. Following her instructions, they walked over and stopped just outside.

  “This is where the officers have been holding meetings,” her escort supplied. The woman cleared her throat and raised her voice. “Security Chief Rand?”

  “Yes, what is it?” The man’s voice came from inside. He sounded a lot surlier when he was talking to one of his underlings, but that was nothing new. Elsie had seen it hundreds of times. You never could trust someone to be themselves when they were speaking to a person ranked above them.

  “We’re back from our mission, and we have Commander Chantraine with us.”

  Seconds later, the flap of the tent flew open and Rand stood before them. He immediately looked over the shoulders of the squad they’d sent to get her, straight at Elsie, his eyes glittering with excitement.

  “So glad you could make it,” he said quickly, stepping aside and gesturing her in. Elsie stood her ground and shook her head.

  “I’d be more comfortable out here,” she replied, though she wasn’t thinking of herself. It was Frost on her mind. The wolf didn’t do well in small spaces, and she couldn’t imagine him having an easy time controlling his temper among those who had ordered his capture.

  “Very well,” Rand said, looking at the woman who’d captained the mission. “Go inside and alert Commander Grant and Mister Cornick of our guest’s arrival.” He glanced at the other members of Elsie’s escort impatiently. “The rest of you are dismissed!”

  They scattered as Rand took a moment to appreciate Frost. “This is the first I’m seeing of him in person. He’s every bit as impressive as I’ve heard,” he said, a smile plastered over his face. Frost’s growl was low and menacing, perfectly mirroring the expression on Elsie’s face.

  “Have a care for how you speak about him. He can understand you, and he’s not a fan of the hunters, as I’m sure you can imagine,” she warned. “Your Clan made themselves more than one enemy when they decided to mess with this guy.”

  “Oh? I’m told the beast cannot speak or even shift, that he’s too dimwitted to be of much use at all. He couldn’t even keep you in line, and that’s all we required of him. Let me tell you, several bets were lost when that bit of news got around. He did not live up to his reputation,” Rand continued. Frost’s lips curled up, and he took a step closer to the security chief. Elsie sighed; she wouldn’t step in to save the idiot if he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.

  “The inability to speak says nothing of his intelligence. The fact that he was willing to work with me instead of against me speaks volumes, however,” Elsie said tersely, raising an eyebrow.

  Little had changed in her time away from the hunters. Those at the top had very little applicable knowledge of demons, and Security Chief Rand was merely one example of that. She’d often wondered if these men had ever spent any actual time in the field, or if they’d simply been promoted from within because of who they knew. Either way, they weren’t positive representatives of the Clan.

  “His intelligence was never studied. We did not have him in our possession for very long,” said a familiar voice, making Elsie’s skin crawl. “We required his vicious reputation rather than his brains. It’s lovely to see you again, Miss Chantraine.”

  He’d called her that since she was a child. When Santisima had brought her to live
with the hunters, he’d taken to spending time at her compound simply to spend time studying her. Cornick had showered her with gifts she never wanted, including Saint, all in an effort to win her over. It hadn’t worked.

  “I wish I could say the same, Cornick.”

  The smile he gave her was filled with enough venom to burn through glass, but he quickly wiped it away. He gave way to the next man coming out. A few inches shorter than the scientist, he looked every bit as mean.

  “This is Commander Grant. He is second in command to General Mark, the man who runs our little compound,” Cornick said in a saccharine tone. Nobody commented on the fact that the man in charge of the compound was not inside of it.

  “Pleasure. Is Perrie here? I’m told she was working closely with you,” Elsie asked, and Cornick gave her a sly smile.

  “When it was confirmed that you would be coming here, she was relocated to another facility. For her safety.”

  “That’s too bad. I was looking forward to having a private discussion with her,” she muttered, but she wasn’t surprised. They wouldn’t want their little spellcaster to fall into the hands of the reaper she’d cursed. Elsie had loved Perrie like a sister, and now she’d love the chance to send the witch a gift of her own. How hard could it be to cast a curse? Her mother did it all the time.

  “Perhaps at a later date,” Cornick laughed.

  “Not likely,” Grant put in, sounding entirely unimpressed. “Now that you’re here, let’s have a demonstration of that power. Open the gate for us. We need to find out who and what have survived there.”

  Elsie narrowed her eyes at him. She didn’t do well with being ordered around, especially by mean little men below her in rank. Crossing her arms over her chest, she leaned against Frost, letting him hold her weight, to remind these men of what a powerful ally they’d given her.