Dark Alpha's Demand: A Reaper Novel (Reapers)

by Donna Grant

  Rhi took a deep breath and lifted her chin. The warrior rising to the surface in a rush. Her silver eyes stared straight ahead as if attempting to see through walls.

  She cast a glance in his direction and gave a nod. Daire flexed his fingers as she called to her sword. It appeared in her hand as she took the first step.

  They walked through the hallways and tall corridors, each on edge, waiting to find the source of what drew them.

  They turned a corner, and Daire saw the other Reapers. That’s when he knew—this was about Bran.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The moment Talin and Neve arrived at the manor with Searlas, he was prepared for anything. Beside him, Neve held her head high, ready to face whatever came.

  She was strong, but was she resilient enough for whatever Bran had in store for them? Because Talin could only imagine what the ex—Reaper planned.

  There was laughter behind them. Talin whirled around to find Bran standing next to an enormous granite hearth with intricately carved details of cherubs and flowers.

  Bran’s silver eyes crinkled at the corners as he looked at them. “I knew you’d come,” he told Talin.

  The urge to move closer to Neve was great, but Talin held himself in check. The more he showed his feelings for her, the worse Bran would do to her and her family. “You requested someone to help negotiate.”

  “Enough,” Bran stated harshly. Gone was all trace of mirth as he now glared. “We both know you came with the beautiful Neve because you’ve been wooing her.”

  “So I have.” There was no need for Talin to deny it. Bran already knew. But just how much did Bran really know? That’s what Talin would have to determine while talking to a psychopath who sought everyone’s destruction.

  Bran’s gaze moved to Neve. He took two steps toward her, appreciation filling his expression. “I’ve watched you for some time now. You’re amazing.”

  “I’d thank you for such a compliment, if you hadn’t kidnapped my family,” she replied coolly.

  Bran’s smile grew. “Ah, I do love that pluck. I’d caution you, however, because it could get your family killed.”

  She held his gaze for a long minute. “What do you want from me?”

  “It’s simple, really,” Bran said. He turned and clasped his hands behind his back as he stared at the fire, his head bent forward. “You have a choice to make.”

  “What choice?”

  “We’ll get to that in a moment.”

  Talin had a sick feeling in his gut. Whatever Bran planned was far from good. The air was heavy with Dark magic, and he had no idea where the rest of Bran’s army was.

  He could take out Searlas, but that would be too . . . easy. In the times Talin had battled Bran, he’d discovered that Bran liked to come at the Reapers with a move they weren’t expecting.

  Talin had to make a quick decision. Go for Searlas, leaving Neve to defend against Bran. Or wait.

  As difficult as it was, Talin waited. He clenched his hands at his sides, the need to go after Bran overwhelming as it mixed with his fury.

  Bran’s head turned, his gaze locking with Talin’s. A small smile lifted one side of Bran’s lips as if he knew exactly the struggle within Talin.

  “I want to see my family,” Neve said into the silence.

  Talin glanced at her, silently urging her to remain quiet. But it was her family at stake. How could he expect her to stand there, waiting for the maniac to make a move?

  Ignoring Talin, Neve said, “I’ve done what you asked of me.”

  “Not all.” Bran’s gaze returned to the fire as if he were bored with them.

  Talin looked behind him. The capacious room was filled with furniture from the human world, the opulence dripping from every piece staggering. In the far corner, dozens of steps away, was Searlas, wordlessly watching the entire scene.

  As Talin turned back to Bran, he let his gaze wander the room, but he saw no sign of any Reapers, veiled or not. The situation was going from bad to worse.

  They’d all assumed Kyran would be able to follow them to wherever Searlas had taken them, but what if he hadn’t. Talin would have to assume he’d fight Bran alone.

  He wasn’t afraid to face Bran, but it wasn’t just Bran. It was Searlas and an entire Dark army as well. Talin was good, but not nearly good enough to defeat all of them and keep Neve safe.

  His other option was to attempt to leave with Neve. She’d never forgive him for abandoning her family, but at least she’d be safe.

  For how long, though? Bran would continue coming after her. Talin wanted to bellow his frustration.

  “How much do you love your family, Neve?” Bran asked.

  She briefly met Talin’s gaze. “Deeply.”

  “I was so hoping you’d say that.”

  * * *

  Rhi looked around the corridor that stood as empty as every other room in Usaeil’s castle. Yet she knew she wasn’t alone.

  It wasn’t just her watcher either. There were others there. Veiled. Watching.

  Waiting.

  The fact that they could see her when she was veiled—same as her watcher—was like a kick in the pants. Had she been right all along in thinking her watcher was a Reaper? Were those surrounding her also Reapers?

  Rhi wanted to demand an answer, but she held back the words before they passed her lips. If her watcher had told her nothing, what made her think these others would?

  She looked to where her watcher stood on her right. For all these many weeks he’d followed her, veiled. Not once had he spoken or shown himself.

  He had touched her—briefly.

  Though she didn’t know her watcher, she felt safe with him. Perhaps she was going mad. And perhaps she didn’t care anymore.

  She lowered her sword and looked first one way down the hall and then the other. When no other Fae appeared, she dropped her veil and glanced out the windows as thick raindrops began to hit the glass.

  Then she turned and saw the symbol painted with blood on the wall. For several seconds, she couldn’t move as she imagined all sorts of things that had happened at the castle.

  “I don’t know who you are,” she said aloud to those watching her. “I don’t care. But if you had anything to do with what happened to my people, I will hunt you down and kill you myself.”

  She faced her watcher. Then, deliberately, she turned to where she sensed each of the other three. Seconds stretched to minutes. Rhi wasn’t the most patient of individuals, and she was about to make a demand when a deep, rich voice filled the space.

  “It wasn’t us.”

  She turned to her right where she detected the owner of the voice stood next to the window. “You expect me to believe that when you won’t show yourselves? I was born in the morning, but not this morning, sugar.”

  Was that a snort of laughter she heard behind her? Rhi didn’t turn to find out. She waited for her watcher to say something, anything. But he remained silent, as usual.

  “The Light are safe,” the voice said. “They ran.”

  Well, that was good news. “And Usaeil? Was she here?”

  Silence.

  As if she expected a different answer. Rhi rolled her eyes. She drew in a deep breath and glanced at the symbol in blood. “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing.”

  It was her turn to snort—loudly. And loaded with sarcasm. “I’m going to find answers. I’m going to get the truth. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. I won’t stop looking.”

  “A family was kidnapped,” the voice replied, choosing to ignore her threats.

  Rhi didn’t like being ignored. Obviously this individual had no idea who she was.

  Worse, maybe he did. And didn’t care.

  Now that was a new feeling for her. Her reputation gave her enough respect, admiration, and even fear that others didn’t bother her.

  This group could give a rat’s ass.

  She grimaced when an image of Con flashed in her mind. Ugh. She did not want to be thin
king of that jackass right now.

  “What family?” Rhi asked.

  “The Everwoods.”

  “Well, hell,” she mumbled. She liked the Everwoods. “All four?”

  “All but Neve.”

  Rhi turned her back to the windows and leaned against the glass. Why would they leave Neve? Unless she hadn’t been around when the rest were taken. She needed to find Neve immediately.

  Just as Rhi was about to leave, she drew up short and turned to glare at the spot where the disembodied voice had been coming from. “Neve already knows, doesn’t she?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes,” she mimicked in a mocking voice. “You might’ve told me.”

  “I wanted to see how quickly you’d figure it out.”

  “I’m really not liking you,” Rhi said with a shake of her head. “Where is Neve?”

  “Why?”

  She threw up her hands in exasperation. “So I can sing her a song. Why do you think?”

  This time, she was sure she heard a bark of laughter that was quickly covered up.

  She couldn’t stop her own smile as she raised a brow at the voice. “How are you liking my quick wit, sweetcheeks?”

  “I’m not,” he said tightly.

  “It takes a certain kind to get me,” she said with a shrug.

  There was a loud sigh. “If I tell you where Neve is, what will you do?”

  “Help her if she needs it.” Rhi pushed away from the window, her mind racing. “You know who kidnapped the family?”

  “I do.”

  “Why aren’t you going after them?”

  “We were about to.”

  It had been a while since she’d been in a good battle. “Can I join you? I’m wicked good with a blade,” she said, swinging her sword around her in a dancing arc.

  The silence was deafening. Though she couldn’t see them, Rhi could imagine they were debating whether to include her or not. She lowered her sword, waiting.

  “Not this time.”

  And then they were gone. All but her watcher.

  Rhi couldn’t believe they’d left her behind. But she wasn’t going to give up that easily. If Usaeil wasn’t there to protect the Light, then Rhi would do it.

  She strode to the symbol. If the man she’d just spoken with hadn’t made the mark, then the one who took the Everwoods had.

  And that meant Rhi could find them.

  Her fingertips tingled with magic as she raised her hand. Her watcher rushed to her side as if to halt her, but he stopped just short of touching her. Again.

  Just once, she wanted him to put his hand against her, to feel her. He never allowed himself to get that close, and it was really beginning to frustrate her.

  Rhi put her hand in the blood and pushed her magic into it. She’d never had to use her magic like this before, but she knew it could be done.

  Gossamer visions of Fae passed around—and through—her, moving quickly as if on rewind. She saw Neve, but couldn’t clearly make out the man beside her. Or those around her. There was an awesome amount of magic being used to prevent her from seeing faces.

  Rhi used more magic in an attempt to get a better view, but her focus changed when a Dark arrived. She gasped at the intrusion, but the Dark teleported Neve and the man with her.

  The black trail of the Dark’s magic was faint. Rhi turned to see it floating through the air, leaving a winding path and telling her exactly where she needed to go.

  She dropped her hands and looked at her watcher. “Don’t you dare try to stop me,” she said before following the black trail.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Neve stood her ground. She didn’t have another choice. The man standing before the fire was clearly deranged. But the fact that he was also clearly brilliant was what scared the hell out of her.

  Every time she asked about her family, they seemed further and further out of reach. The idea that she might never see them again made tears sting her eyes.

  Bran ran a hand through his jaw—length black hair before he turned to her. Silver eyes bored into hers. It was all she could do not to take a step back. While the outside of him was as beautiful as any Fae, she could see the anger and evil twisting him on the inside.

  It showed in his words and his eyes.

  “You don’t like me,” he stated.

  Neve kept control of the many vile things she wanted to spew at him. Instead, she said, “What do you expect? You took my parents.”

  “Because of Talin.”

  At his name, Talin took a step toward Bran. “Your fight is with me.”

  Bran dragged his eyes from her and looked at Talin. “Do you love her?”

  “I’m not going to stand by while you continue to kill innocents, whether they’re half—Fae or someone I happen to look at.”

  “Oh, you’ve done more than look,” Bran said with a knowing smile. “I’d say you . . . explored . . . Neve, inside and out, thoroughly. Many times.”

  Neve nearly gagged at the thought of Bran watching them make love. Beside her, Talin didn’t so much as bat an eye.

  “I was spying on the castle,” Talin said. “I took what information I could get. Anywhere I could get it.”

  If Neve hadn’t spoken to Talin earlier, she might actually think he’d exploited her. Then she realized she could use his words to her advantage.

  She gasped and moved away from him. “You . . . used me?” she asked, affronted.

  Talin didn’t even look her way when he said, “I had my orders.”

  “Bravo,” Bran said as he clapped loudly. Then he threw back his head and laughed. “Nice try, you two.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Neve said. “I trusted Talin. Look where that’s gotten me. You think I mean something to him, so you take my family? Obviously, we were both wrong.”

  Bran never quit smiling. His eyes swung to Talin, his brows raised expectantly.

  Talin merely released a long breath.

  Bran chuckled as he grinned at Talin. “How did you miss that I was there?”

  A muscle ticked in Talin’s jaw, but he said nothing. Neve wanted to take his hand to offer him—and her—comfort.

  “I saw you watching her,” Bran continued as he walked around Talin slowly. “The hunger that burned in your gaze each time you saw Neve. And the obsessive way you kept her all to yourself.”

  Neve tried to swallow, but her mouth was too dry. Had Talin really looked at her like that?

  Bran stopped between them. “You glanced at no other women. Because you wanted only one. Her,” Bran said and pointed at Neve.

  She lowered her gaze to the floor, unsure of what Bran’s intentions were. Neve was ill—prepared for any of this, and she didn’t want to do or say anything that would impede Talin’s attack.

  “And you,” Bran said as he faced her. “Your father pushed male after male before you. You ignored all of them until Talin. You took one look at him and were his.”

  Her head jerked up. “How long have you been at court?”

  Bran merely smiled. “You wanted him, and you went after him. How far were you prepared to go to get him, dear Neve?”

  “As far as I needed. So I feel for him? What of it?”

  “You admit your love?”

  Somehow, Neve realized too late that she’d misstepped. Royally. There was no way she could backtrack or attempt to say something else. Her feelings were out there for any and all to see.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Talin staring at her. There was no turning back now.

  “I do,” she answered, her voice coming out hoarse and wispy.

  Bran’s smile was wide. “This makes up for discovering that Jordyn didn’t die, or that I couldn’t get my hands on River.”

  Neve had no idea who those women were. She glanced at Talin, but he was scowling intently at Bran. Neve returned her gaze to Bran to watch as he spun around and looked at each of them.

  “You’re going to know how I felt,” he said.

>   His eyes were too bright for Neve’s liking. He’d just stepped onto the crazy train, and she was about to get pulled onto it, as well.

  Bran raised a brow at Talin. “What? No cutting remark?”

  “There’s nothing to say,” Talin replied.

  Neve wanted to get things back on track. “Please. My family.”

  “Family,” Bran murmured as if recalling a memory. His eyes went soft for a moment before anger once more filled his gaze. He glared at Talin. “That’s what Cael and the others were to me.”

  “You made your choices,” Talin said. “You knew the rules.”

  “Rules Death is now changing. Why now?”

  Neve covertly looked around the expansive room but she didn’t see the grand decor, antique tables, or the fine furniture. She was looking for any hint of her family or the rest of the Reapers.

  But there was nothing.

  Panic began to set in. This wasn’t the plan.

  She tried to pull her magic to her to use it against Bran, but it took massive amounts of effort to call even a thimbleful.

  Bran must’ve done something. The bastard.

  Neve understood what hate was. He was the cause of all of this. And she was nearly fed up, playing along with whatever psycho scenario Bran had in mind.

  “You didn’t give Death a choice,” Talin said, pulling Neve’s mind back to the conversation.

  A large bubble of magic the size of a bowling ball appeared in Bran’s hand. Iridescent streams of power swirled within. He looked down at the orb before slowly lifting silver eyes filled with hatred to Talin. “Not true. I was in love. Why should we have to choose?”

  Choose? What was this? Neve’s throat felt like it was closing up as she searched Talin’s face for a hint that Bran was out of his mind.

  Bran barked out a dry laugh. “Ah, Neve. There is so much you don’t know about Talin. For instance, he’s a Reaper.”

  Neve shook her head, unable to voice the words that would keep Bran thinking she didn’t know the truth.

  “Oh, yes. He’s the very thing everyone fears. He’s not allowed to tell you, because if he does, he’ll have to kill you.”

  Neve turned her head away. Not because Bran was saying things she already knew, but because Talin refused to look at her. It was almost as if he were preparing himself for some secret about to be exposed. But she knew everything.