by Donna Grant
He strode across the room as he called his clothes to him. By the time he opened the door, he was fully dressed. Eoghan quietly shut it behind him and made his way to the center room.
Rordan was flipping one of his many knives in the air. He caught the blade and grinned. “All I’ll say is that it’s about time. The sexual tension between the two of you was difficult to miss.”
“I know I said I was keeping to my vows,” Eoghan began.
Rordan held up a hand to stop him. “Take whatever happiness you can when you find it.”
“Wise words.”
Rordan shrugged and glanced at the ground. “My mother was a wise woman.”
“She passed it on to you.”
He sheathed the knife at his hip as he stood. “I may not have told you, but I’m glad you’re the one leading us.”
“That means a lot. Thank you.”
“You know our pasts, don’t you?”
Eoghan nodded slowly.
Rordan let out a sigh. “That’s what I thought.”
“I may know what happened, but I’m not judging you on it.”
“You should,” he replied.
Eoghan frowned. “You’ve proven who you really are. Otherwise, Erith never would have chosen you to be a Reaper.”
“I’m the Fae I am now because she saw something in me that I never saw in myself.”
“Whatever the reason, I’m glad you’re with us.”
Rordan bowed his head. “I waited for you because I had an idea.”
“About?” Eoghan pressed.
“The Seeker. When we found him, he looked like he was after something.”
“You mean he was on another job?”
“Maybe,” Rordan said with a shrug of his shoulders. “Or he wanted something.”
Eoghan clenched his fists as it dawned on him. “He knows us. Specifically me. There is one who would give anything to know where I am.”
“Bran,” Rordan said. “Do you really believe the Seeker was trying to find him?”
“We know Bran has been taking Dark.”
Rordan jerked his chin to Thea’s door. “Shall I guard her?”
Eoghan wanted to be the one to take down Bran, but he also knew that wouldn’t be today. And there were things he needed to tell Thea. “Take two of the others and see if you can find Bran. No doubt our Seeker will be there. Call to me when you find them.”
Rordan nodded and vanished to carry out Eoghan’s orders. Eoghan then teleported into Thea’s room. He wanted to let her sleep, but there was no telling when Rordan might return—or when Eoghan would have to leave.
He sat on the edge of the bed and lifted one of the pale blue locks of her hair to twirl around his finger. After he’d let the strand fall from his fingers, he stroked her face.
Thea’s forehead furrowed as she rolled away from him with a grunt. He smiled and leaned over to brush his lips against her ear.
“Five more minutes,” she murmured.
“I’d give it to you if I had it.”
She rolled onto her back and opened her eyes. She yawned sleepily. “What is it?”
Eoghan started to tell her about the news about Bran, but then he realized she knew nothing of him. In fact, Eoghan hadn’t told her anything about himself.
“You’re frowning,” Thea said as she tucked the covers under her arms and pushed up so that her shoulders rested against the headboard. “I don’t like when you do that.”
“I told you I was once commander of the Fae army. What I didn’t tell you was that I had a family. A wife and a beautiful son.”
Thea put her hand on his arm. “You don’t have to do this. I can see how painful it is.”
“I will carry the pain of losing my child for eternity, but more than that, I want you to know.”
“Good.”
He drew in a deep breath. “As an orphan, I craved family. I dreamed of being a father. I wanted dozens of children. I wanted the noise and chaos and clutter. I didn’t care if the woman I loved was lowborn or not. You see, in Fae culture, we’re still divided into nobility, royalty, and commoners.”
“You were a commoner.”
“I was, but I didn’t care. I worked hard because I had ambition. My fighting skills came naturally, so I joined the army. It wasn’t long before I moved up the ranks, not because of my skills, but because I was driven to succeed. And the higher my rank, the more I was in contact with the nobility.”
Thea nodded. “That sounds about right.”
“It was during one of the balls that I first saw Tiann. She was beautiful, yes, but out of my league. I knew it and didn’t try to pursue her.”
“I’m guessing she didn’t feel the same?”
Eoghan shook his head. “Like so many women, she kept apprised of who garnered new rank and how quickly. Apparently, she had been following my career. When I didn’t go to her, she came to me. We danced the entire night and were together every chance we got after that. Six months later, we were married. And a year later, she was pregnant with our first child.”
“Sounds like a happy ending.”
“It should’ve been.” He leaned his head back on the headboard. “I learned by chance that she had been preventing herself from getting with child and that she became pregnant by accident. If I hadn’t discovered she was carrying my son, I think she might have gotten rid of him.”
Thea wrinkled her nose. “I’m not liking her at all.”
He smiled at her candor. “She didn’t have an easy pregnancy. Her family wasn’t too happy about our marriage, but they accepted it. They helped Tiann while I was away. I made it back in time to see my son born. He was the most precious thing I’d ever held.”
“What did you name him?”
“Eachann.”
“I like it,” Thea said.
Eoghan turned his head to her and smiled. “He was the light of my life. He always had a smile on his face. Such a happy baby. But while I was delighted with him, Tiann was not. She didn’t enjoy that Eachann took up the time she used to spend with her friends, and she began leaving him with her parents.”
“You didn’t like that, did you?”
“No.” Eoghan remembered the anger that had swept through him when he discovered what Tiann had been doing. “I’d already missed the first two years of my son’s life being called away on missions, so I decided to withdraw from the army and raise my child. I believed it was the perfect solution, but Tiann didn’t see it that way. In her eyes, without my rank, I was just another commoner, and she couldn’t stand that.”
Thea’s eyes widened in surprise. “I’ve known bitches like that.”
“I refused to let her dissuade me from my decision. We argued an entire evening about it, and I went to bed. I don’t know what woke me. Maybe the silence. I went to check on Eachann and found blood everywhere. I picked up his lifeless body and saw Tiann walk from a corner. Her eyes were red now that she had murdered our son. She smiled at me before teleporting behind me and shoving the blade into my back.”
Thea shifted to face him and put her hand atop his. “You died with your son in your arms.”
“Losing him was so great that it consumed me.”
“And why you took a vow of silence.”
He nodded. “I’ve never told another that story.”
“What was done to you is so horrible that I have no words.”
He lifted her hand and entwined his fingers with hers. “It’s enough that you listened.”
“There’s more you want to tell me, isn’t there?”
Eoghan briefly looked away. “There’s Bran.”
“Ah. Bran,” she said with a twist of her lips. “I’ve heard you and the others say his name.”
“He was one of the first seven Reapers. He fell in love with a Light Fae and told her what he was.”
Thea’s face creased as she winced. “And Death killed her because of the rule.”
“Yes. Bran went crazy and divided the other six of us. He and the one
s who followed him killed our leader, while Cael and I battled them. We slew the other three, leaving just Cael, Bran, and myself. Cael managed to get the upper hand, but before he could kill Bran, Death arrived and tossed Bran into a prison world she’d created just for him.”
“I would say good, but I gather he got out.”
“He did, and he’s trying to kill Death and us. I believe the Seeker intends to tell Bran that I’ve returned.”
Thea sat up. “What can we do to prevent that?”
“Nothing until Rordan finds Bran and the Seeker.”
Thea gaped at him. “Why aren’t you looking? Tell me you didn’t stay behind because you feared I’d get pissed that you weren’t here when I woke.”
“That might have been one of the reasons,” he replied.
Thea let the covers drop as she moved to her knees and cupped his face with her hands. “You know Bran better than the others. You and Cael. Go to your friend. Together, you will find Bran and stop the Seeker.”
“And then make the Seeker give us the answers about you that he evaded the last time.”
She waved away his words. “Yes, I want to know, but that can wait. I can’t imagine what will happen if Bran kills all of you and Death.”
“He’s taking Death’s magic and power already. If he kills her, he’ll take her place.”
“Then you must stop him.”
He gazed into her brown eyes in wonderment. With her by his side, he believed he could do anything. “I won’t leave you unguarded.”
“I’ll be fine. Go.”
He glanced down at her naked body, remembering their lovemaking. “I’ll be back as quick as I can.”
“And I’ll be waiting,” she promised with a smile.
Eoghan pulled her close for a kiss before he stood and went to find Cael.
Chapter Nineteen
Knowing the power and authority Eoghan held made Thea all tingly inside. She hugged her knees to her chest and smiled. She didn’t have a doubt in her mind that Eoghan would find Bran.
It was the Seeker that caused her worry.
There was something unsettling about him. He’d been kind—well, as nice as a kidnapper could be. But he’d still taken her. On whose orders, was the real question.
Thea recalled the feeling of someone being in the cottage with her. The presence hadn’t felt exactly threatening, but she hadn’t gotten that warm, fuzzy feeling either.
For all the questions plaguing her, she knew that, somehow, Eoghan would sort it all out—despite having worries of his own.
Thea turned her head to the pillows. There was no way she could sleep now with her mind filled with so many thoughts and concerns about Eoghan and the Reapers.
She threw off the covers and rose from the bed to dress. After running her fingers through her hair, she swept it up into a messy bun and walked from her room.
Only to come to a halt at the sight of a woman lounging in one of the chairs with one long leg crossed over the other. The woman’s swirling silver eyes were piercing and deadly.
With one look, Thea knew that whoever the woman was, she was a major player, someone with not only power but also clout.
And someone not to be taken lightly.
Thea didn’t need to ask if the woman was Fae. The designation dripped from every inch of her—as did a regal flare that only someone who lived the life could pull off.
The woman uncrossed her legs and stood. She wore all white from the white-on-white-striped shirt that dipped low enough to show ample cleavage to the pants that skimmed her legs to the slinky stilettos.
“I’m not a fan of the blue hair,” the woman stated. Her condemning gaze raked up and down Thea’s black attire. “Or the clothes.”
“I don’t care. I dress to please myself.”
“That’s shite,” she replied and then waved her hand.
The next thing Thea knew, her hair was down and she was in a short, yellow dress with black over-the-knee stiletto boots. She lifted a lock of hair that hung over her shoulder and spotted the light brown tresses that she hadn’t seen in years.
She glared at the woman. “I don’t give a damn who you are, you had no right to do that.”
“I have every right.”
Thea opened her mouth to reply, but the woman strode to her and grabbed her wrist before teleporting them away.
* * *
While Eoghan knew calling to Cael in order to find Bran was the right thing to do, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he should have left someone with Thea.
The wards and spells he and his Reapers had put up were strong enough to keep others out—well, all but the most powerful Fae like Death.
“I know that look.”
Eoghan’s gaze snapped up to find Cael standing before him. “Thank you for coming.”
“Tell me what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Eoghan said with a shake of his head.
Cael lifted a brow and waited.
Eoghan let out a long sigh. “I have a feeling I shouldn’t have left Thea.”
“Thea?” Cael asked with raised brows.
Eoghan ran a hand over his face and quickly filled Cael in on how Thea had saved him. With every word, he wanted to return to her or send one of the others to check on her.
“Any particular reason you have that feeling?” Cael asked.
Eoghan looked at Edinburgh Castle to his left before glancing down the cliff below. “She was taken by a Fae a few days ago. I only found her because he allowed it.”
“Who is this Fae?”
“I don’t know. Rordan calls him the Seeker because, apparently, he can get anything you want. He also works for both the Light and the Dark.”
Cael nodded slowly. “So, he’s someone who knows his way around.”
“Aye. He also knows who I am. By name.”
“Dammit,” Cael mumbled.
“My Reapers and I tracked him to the Dark Palace and tried to find out who wanted him to kidnap Thea, but he wouldn’t tell us.”
“But you figured out what he’s up to.”
Eoghan shrugged. “It’s a hunch, but I kept coming back to how he knew my name and that I was a Reaper. I don’t think he’s working with Bran. Yet.”
“You think he’s going to use the information about you to get in with Bran.”
“I do,” Eoghan said. “Whoever wanted Thea is powerful, and the Seeker is afraid of them.”
Cael crossed his arms over his chest. “Why not go to Balladyn or Usaeil then? Why Bran?”
“Because he either doesn’t or can’t trust Balladyn or Usaeil. Which leads me back to Bran. My team is searching for Bran, but I realized that you might know where he is.”
Cael smiled. “That I do. The last mission we had was in Killarney.”
“With the black sword,” Eoghan said, recalling the story.
“Bran is obsessed with getting the weapon. He’s been at the property ever since.”
Impatience pushed Eoghan. “Take me there.”
Without another word, Cael touched Eoghan’s arm and brought them to Ettie O’Byrne’s property. Both were veiled before they arrived. And just as Cael said, Bran was there with his men, tearing up the land in search of the sword.
Eoghan sent out a call to his Reapers. Within minutes, all six of them arrived. His team looked at Cael with awe as he greeted each of them.
It was then that Eoghan felt his old friend’s gaze on him. When he looked over, Cael was grinning.
“You’ve changed,” Cael said.
Eoghan gave a shake of his head while trying to hide his grin. “If the Seeker is here, which I know he is, he’ll be veiled until he can get close to Bran.”
“What are we waiting for then?” Dubhan asked.
Cathal smiled in anticipation and pulled his sword from the scabbard at his back. “No matter what, the Seeker isn’t getting away this time.”
Eoghan nodded to them. “Fan out, but don’t get close to Bran. It’s not our time for him yet.”<
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“But soon,” Aisling said before teleporting away.
When Eoghan’s Reapers had spread out, Cael turned to him. “You have a good team.”
“I do.”
“And you’ve accepted your role, I see.”
Eoghan felt his lips curve when he thought of Thea and how she had opened his eyes to a great many things. “I have.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“I’ll be happy when I find out who’s after Thea and why.”
Cael’s head swung in Bran’s direction. “You really don’t believe it’s Bran?”
“He would’ve had her killed. The person who wants Thea has other plans. The Seeker didn’t harm a hair on her head.”
“There are powerful Fae, both Dark and Light.”
“Aye, but the Seeker is one who could get away from a Reaper while we were questioning him. That means whoever he works for has to be of considerable power.”
Cael’s brows snapped together. “Shite.”
“Exactly.”
“The list narrows considerably.”
Eoghan nodded as he flattened his lips. “I know.”
“Who is Thea? What makes her so important?”
“I don’t know. She’s a Halfling orphan without knowledge of either of her parents. Her only ability is her music, but it is a considerable one.”
“It has to be in order for it to have pulled you from that other realm,” Cael said.
Eoghan swung his gaze to Bran. For so many months he’d been consumed with finding the ex-Reaper, but now, all Eoghan wanted to do was locate the Seeker and get the information they needed.
Yet, Bran was a reminder of his old life and the betrayal that had made Cael leader. All because Bran had fallen in love and shared their secret.
“How long have you been in love with Thea?” Cael asked.
Eoghan’s gaze snapped to him. “What gave it away?”
“You look at Bran with understanding now.”
Eoghan rubbed the back of his neck. “I tried not to feel anything for her. I wanted to keep to the vow I made to Erith when I became a Reaper.”
“But the heart won out.”
