by Donna Grant
“It resulted in her death,” Ettie surmised.
Daire bowed his head in acknowledgement. “Bran went crazy afterward. He divided the Reapers and attacked, killing the leader. By the time the fighting ended, there were only three left of the seven. Bran, Cael, and Eoghan.”
“Why didn’t Death step in?” Carrie inquired.
“Death did. Cael and Eoghan wanted Bran dead, but Death created a prison realm called the Netherworld and threw Bran there. And that’s where he remained for eons until he managed to escape.”
It didn’t take a lot for Ettie to realize what Bran wanted. “He’s motivated by revenge.”
Daire glanced out the window. “He began his plan by slaughtering thousands of Halflings all over the world. Then he attacked any of them that we managed to save.”
“What for?” Ettie asked. “If most Halflings don’t know what they are, how can they pose a threat to him?”
Daire leaned back on the sofa, his lips flattening briefly. “We’re still working that out. But we have learned that, somehow, Bran is stealing Death’s magic.”
“What a slime,” Jamie muttered in disgust.
Daire gave her a half-smile. “He’s linked to Death because of it, which prevents him from finding Death, and Death from locating him. It’s also why none of the Reapers can kill anyone in his army.”
“He has an army?” Ettie asked, a sinking feeling pressing against her chest.
“He’s recruiting from within the Dark Fae.”
Ettie nodded in shock. “Oh.”
What else did one say to such a statement?
“We found there’s a loophole, however,” Daire said.
Carrie eagerly sat forward. “What? What did you discover?”
“There is a family in Galway who have had not one, but three different Fae impregnate women over the generations. They are the most powerful Halflings in the realm. Bran tried to recruit one of the last remaining members of the family—Catriona. But Cat fought him. You see, her powers give her the ability to call anyone or anything to her. Bran wanted her to bring him Death. Then, he wanted Cat to kill Death.”
Jamie propped her elbow on the chair before dropping her head into her hand. “How did Cat stop him?”
“Because the Reapers were part of Death’s army, we couldn’t harm him. But that didn’t apply to Cat. She wounded him but, unfortunately, Bran got away before Cat could end this chaos he began.”
Ettie uncrossed her legs and fought the need to pace. After all the years of not seeing a Fae, she was getting information overload, and it was freaking her out. “That brought you to us.”
Daire ran a hand down his face. “That it did. But I need to backtrack some. When the Halflings were attacked, and we stepped in, Baylon, one of my fellow Reapers, fell in love with Jordyn, one of those we were sent to protect. Death could see that history was repeating itself, so adjustments were made to the rules. No Fae can know about us, that didn’t change, but Jordyn risked her very life to save Death. That allowed Jordyn and Baylon to be together.”
“Please tell me there’s more,” Jamie said with a grin.
He chuckled and nodded his head of dark hair. “There’s River, another Halfling. She has the power to read and understand all Fae dialects. Most importantly, ones that have been dead for eons. She was collecting a set of texts that were of Fae origin, and she kept them locked away in the Edinburgh library where she worked. We managed to convince her to help us right before Bran tried to steal the books from her. In the process, she and Kyran fell in love. She’s now expecting his child.”
“Death allowed her to live because of the child?” Ettie asked.
“Actually, Death allowed River to live because she translates the texts we need,” Daire explained.
Carrie shot her a dark look before grinning at Daire. “Any more?”
Ettie sighed loudly. Both of her sisters were hopeless romantics who let the world know it. She was one, as well, but she kept it to herself. No need to make herself worse off than she already was.
“There are Talin and Neve,” Daire said. “Talin was sent to spy on the Light Court, but he fell for Neve. Neve is full Fae. Bran knew of Talin and Neve’s connection and killed Neve’s parents, then turned her brother Dark.”
Ettie’s stomach plummeted to her feet. She looked at her sisters, her mind rioting at the thought of losing them in such a way.
“Neve’s life was ended by her brother,” Daire continued.
Ettie wasn’t sure how much more she could take. She tore her gaze away from Daire, wishing she could stop his words, as well. Yet, she wouldn’t. As hard as they were to hear, she wanted to know them.
The silence that stretched pulled her eyes back to Daire. Only when their gazes met did he continue.
“I told you each Reaper died, but I didn’t say that we were all betrayed in some way. When Neve’s brother deceived and killed her, Death gave Neve a choice. Neve became a Reaper that day. But we lost Eoghan, another of us. In the battle with Bran, a Light Fae named Rhi stepped in to help us. The mix of magic created a storm that Bran directed at Cael.”
Jamie lifted her head, a frown furrowing her brow. “Cael? Why him?”
“He’s our leader. He and Eoghan were the two left from the original Reapers, and Bran wants nothing more than to kill them. He tried to take out Cael, but Eoghan pushed him out of the way and was swallowed by the magic instead.”
Ettie curled her fingers into a fist at the strong urge to reach out to Daire and comfort him. “I’m sorry.”
“Eoghan isn’t dead,” Daire stated. “We just have to find him. He could be on any of the numerous realms.”
Carrie whistled, her eyebrows raised. “You’re looking for Eoghan and fighting Bran.”
“That’s quite a load,” Jamie said.
Daire ran a hand along his jaw. “Cat is with the Reapers now because she stood with us and Death, which is good because she and Fintan are together. Needless to say, when Bran learned that some of the Reapers had lovers, his anger ballooned.”
“You still haven’t said how we fit in,” Jamie stated.
“I was getting to that.”
Once more, his silver eyes returned to Ettie. It made her feel as if it were just the two of them in the room. She didn’t know how long they stared at each other. Time ceased to exist. It was just her and the enigmatic Fae with the mouth-watering face and eyes that could make her melt.
Daire scooted to the edge of the cushion and leaned forward, bracing his arms on his legs. “It was by happenstance that River found something in one of the ancient Fae texts. It was a mention of a family, Ó Broin, which means descendants of Bran.”
“So?” Carrie asked.
But Ettie understood. Only because she’d done research on her family for a project in school. “O’Byrne is the Anglicized spelling of Ó Broin,” she told her sisters. To Daire, she asked, “You’re telling us we’re descended from him?”
Daire’s head moved up and down in affirmation.
Ettie jumped to her feet, no longer able to control her need to move. She paced the area, inwardly screaming. She didn’t know what it meant, but it couldn’t be good.
She turned, and Daire was before her. He put his hands on her arms to keep her still. When he did, something warm and thrilling charged through her.
“Bran had three children with his Fae wife before he became a Reaper,” Daire said after a moment. Then he reluctantly released her. “He also had two offspring with mortals. I traced one of those lines to you.”
Jamie got to her feet and came to stand with them. “We can’t be his only descendants who are alive.”
“You aren’t,” Daire said, glancing at her. “My brethren are checking the others.”
Carrie pulled her knees up to her chest while still on the sofa. “But Bran is here.”
“Which means, he wants us,” Ettie said and looked at Daire.
His arm reached out for her, but before he made contact, Daire let i
t drop to his side. “I think so, but I don’t know why. It can’t be good, whatever the reason.”
“He asked if I owned the land today,” she said. Ettie ignored her sisters’ chagrined looks and focused instead on Daire. “I lied and told him it was split between all three of us. He then asked me if I was sure.”
“Then it must have something to do with this cottage or the land,” Carrie said.
Daire asked, “Why did you lie to him?”
Ettie shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know. It was just a feeling I got.”
“I’m glad you listened to your instincts.”
So was she. Ettie grew uncomfortable and looked away, only to find her gaze clashing with Jamie, who was grinning at her.
“I know what I want to cook tonight,” Carrie said as she jumped up. “I’m going to head into town to get supplies.”
Ettie immediately said, “Not on your own, you’re not.”
“I got this,” Jamie said, still grinning.
It wasn’t until the two exchanged a conspiratorial look and walked from the house that Ettie realized she was now alone with Daire. Her eyes swiveled to his to find him staring at her.
No words were spoken as the engine roared to life and Jamie and Carrie drove away. Ettie knew the best thing to do would be to put some distance between her and Daire. Being so close to him was making her feel . . . all sorts of wanton, lustful things.
But her feet wouldn’t move.
“Bran will be back for you,” he said.
She nodded slowly. “I’ll send him away.”
“It’s going to take a lot more than that. You’re going to need me.”
Why did those words cause an image of her bed to flash in her head? Tangled limbs, heavy breathing, sweat-slicked skin.
“That is, if you want my help,” Daire added, jerking her out of her thoughts.
“I’d be a fool to turn you away.”
His smile was slow, and entirely too sexy. “And you certainly aren’t a fool.”
That was debatable. She had fallen for Bran’s charm at first, after all. Thankfully, it hadn’t lasted.
She knew that there were no guarantees in life, and with Bran’s attention on them, anything could happen. All the years of filling the role of mother as well as sister had her thoughts turning to her siblings.
“I want a promise from you,” she told Daire.
The smile was gone, his expression intense. “What would that be?”
“Eventually, Bran will realize I lied about the land being mine. I’ll fight him—”
“And I’ll be beside you,” Daire interrupted.
She shook her head and moved closer to him. He had to understand how important this was to her. “I want you to take Jamie and Carrie. Take them somewhere far away, where Bran can never find them. Promise me,” she insisted.
He searched her gaze before he tucked her hair behind her ear and whispered, “I promise, Ettie.”
Chapter Nine
The vow was sealed with his words. Daire couldn’t go back on it, and he knew that would come back to haunt him. He remained still when Ettie walked around him.
His head followed her progress, his senses drinking in the smell of clover and wind that was her scent. Though he saw the trepidation in her eyes, she hid it from her sisters well.
It was easy to see that as the eldest, she carried the burden of most everything. Jamie and Carrie had become so accustomed to it that they didn’t realize they put added stress on Ettie by not picking up the slack.
“I wonder if this is what my father wanted me to be ready for,” Ettie said as she opened the fridge. After glancing inside, she shut it and looked around as if trying to find something to do.
Daire turned her way and leaned a shoulder against the wall. “You say you know how to fight.”
“It’s the one thing I’m good at.”
He could argue the point that she was good at other things like managing her sisters and the estate, but he didn’t. “Care to show me?”
“You just want to take my mind off things.”
“Maybe. Or maybe I want to see what you can do.”
Deep blue eyes narrowed on him. Without another word, she walked to him and threw a punch.
Daire leaned to the side and raised his arms to block her. He then grabbed her wrist, turning so that he had her back against him. She elbowed him and twisted, sliding out of his hold.
She was quick, agile, and slippery as an eel. What began as an exercise, soon turned into a battle of wills as they moved from room to room.
He didn’t use his full strength—yet. They would build up to that, but he was impressed with her skills, just the same. If she had a Fae weapon, she could inflict untold damage on Bran—or any Fae for that matter.
They were both breathing hard, a sheen of sweat glistening on Ettie’s face when Daire spun her and pinned her between a wall and his body.
Their eyes clashed.
And desire swelled.
Just as he was about to release her, Ettie briefly looked at his mouth. That’s all it took for his control to snap.
He gazed at her. The need he saw in her expression made blood rush to his cock. He flattened his hand on the wall near her face and leaned closer.
She released his shirt and put her palms on his chest. Her breathing grew ragged for an entirely different reason.
With her lips parted, she lifted her face to his. It was wrong to mix pleasure with business, but Daire didn’t care. He wanted Ettie. Craved her, actually. It wasn’t one-sided either. And that’s what ultimately made his decision.
He lowered his head, their lips briefly meeting. Heat sizzled between them. He dropped an arm to her hips and gripped her as he pressed his body close.
Her quick intake of breath told him she felt his arousal. Then she sighed and planted her hands on either side of his head as if to make sure he didn’t stop kissing her. He began to deepen the kiss when he heard a car door.
Ettie’s head jerked to the side as she peered out the window. Daire saw that it was Bran the same time she did.
“What the hell?” she murmured.
He grabbed her shoulders and made her look at him. “Don’t tell him I’m here, and don’t let on that you know who he is.”
“Why?” she whispered.
Daire gave her a quick kiss. “Later. I’ll be here the entire time.”
Then he stepped back and veiled himself.
“Daire?” she called.
He touched her arm. “I’m here. Just veiled.”
She relaxed before straightening her clothes and smoothing back her hair. A moment later, Bran knocked on the door. After counting to ten, she walked to the entrance and opened it.
“Hi,” Bran said with a bright smile.
She returned it. “Hi.”
“I wanted to see how things went with your sisters.”
“We’ve only begun our discussion. Nothing has been determined yet,” Ettie told him.
Daire saw how Bran looked around. No doubt the bastard was trying to determine if any Reapers were there. Daire wouldn’t leave her, but by remaining, he was taking a chance that Bran would find him.
Lowering himself to the ground might work, but it might not. He could go to the roof, but there was a chance that would fail, as well. The only place he knew would work was right next to Ettie.
He teleported right behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist as he leaned his mouth close to her ear and whispered, “Act natural.”
Bran motioned inside with his hand. “May I come in?”
“It really isn’t a good time,” she said.
“The car is gone. I gather your sisters are, as well.”
Ettie stared at him for a long moment. “They went to pick up some things for dinner so we could finish our talk.”
“Then we have a few minutes. I won’t stay long.”
She moved so he could enter.
It rankled Daire that Bran was inside the cottage, but Da
ire asked her not to let Bran know anything. Ettie had no choice but to allow him entrance.
Bran bent at the kitchen table and smelled some of the treats Carrie had left out. Then he looked at Ettie. “Are you all right?”
“I’m not, actually.”
“So things aren’t going well with your sisters?”
She leaned back against Daire. He held her tightly, felt her pulse racing.
Ettie shrugged one shoulder. “It’s not something that will be sorted out quickly. This could take days.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Bran said as he clasped his hands behind his back. “I don’t understand why they can’t allow you to have some happiness.”
She held his gaze. “I don’t know.”
“You said they’re almost ready to leave. Perhaps it’s time they did.”
Ettie gaped at him. “You can’t be serious? They’re my sisters, my family.”
“Who are holding you back,” Bran argued. “Do they help you around the house? You do everything for them. You’ve given up so much to raise them and be a surrogate mother when you were just a child yourself.”
Daire bit back a growl. Bran was right on all accounts, but it galled him that Bran said it. It was obvious that Bran wanted something at the cottage, but Daire had yet to figure out what it was. Ettie, however, was merely a means to an end for Bran.
That, in turn, pleased Daire and infuriated him. Because that meant that as soon as Ettie became irrelevant, Bran would likely kill her.
Daire wasn’t surprised when Bran lifted his hand and swung it away around him, magic filling the air as he searched for Reapers.
“A man begins to court you, and where are your sisters when you try to talk? Gone. I knew I should’ve stayed,” Bran said.
“This is our business. Not yours,” Ettie replied tightly.
Bran’s face crumpled in fake hurt. “You wound me. I thought we had something special.”
“I’m not saying we don’t,” she argued. “What I’m saying is that even if you were my husband, this is something between my sisters and me and no one else.”
He bowed his head and gave her a small smile. “I just don’t want them taking advantage of you. They’ve done enough.”
