by Donna Grant
The entire day, Neve was never far from him. She noticed how he made sure not to reveal anything about himself. All the while, she thought she was being careful while she stalked him.
He let her know how wrong she was when he came up behind her and asked her to dance in that deep, spine—tingling seductive voice of his.
In his arms, Neve felt like they were the only two in the entire castle. She forgot everyone and everything. They didn’t speak, merely looked into each other’s eyes. From that moment on, he was hers.
And she was his.
Suddenly, he turned his head to her. She knew that look. He was leaving again. Neve smiled, pushing aside the disappointment.
“Nice try,” he said as he faced her. He brought her into his arms and caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers. “But I know I’ve upset you.”
There was no sense in denying it. Neve gave him a quick kiss. “Go do what you need.”
But he didn’t move. Talin remained with his arms locked around her. “Only once have you asked where I go.”
“Is there a question in there somewhere?” she asked with a quirk of a brow.
Talin chuckled, but the smile quickly faded as he searched her gaze. “There’s something wrong.”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” Neve stepped back, missing his touch instantly. “Do whatever it is you do.”
He kissed her cheek. “I’ll return shortly.”
She wrapped her arms around herself as he disappeared. He always said the same thing. Most times, he did return quickly. But there were other times, like this last trip, where he was gone much longer.
Neve wanted to bolt back to the castle but she made herself remain still. Even though she felt someone watching her. She thought of the black roses that had been placed on her bed and barely held back a shiver.
“Neve.”
She turned at the sound of her brother’s voice. Atris strode through the mist, a frown in place. She walked toward him, thankful to no longer be alone.
When she reached him, Atris held out his arm for her. She looped her arm through his as they started back to the castle. The feeling of being watched didn’t diminish.
“Did you tell him?”
She shook her head. “Talin had to leave.”
“Dammit, Neve.”
She knew Atris wanted to stop and speak his mind, but he continued on, his muscles tightening beneath her hand. “When he gets back I will.”
“You wouldn’t have told me had I not found the roses.”
“I think it’s a prank.”
“That’s shite,” he mumbled.
She thought so too, but Neve didn’t want anyone worried. The fact was, she’d begun to suspect that someone wanted to scare her. Yet she couldn’t prove it. That was the only reason she had waited so long to speak to Talin about it.
“I don’t want you alone,” Atris said.
Neve nodded as they entered the castle. “Whoever it is, is here.”
Atris let out a string of curses that would’ve made their mother blush. “It could be anyone. Da has a fair amount of enemies.”
“Everyone at court does,” she reminded him.
“I still don’t know why they’d target you. Why not me?”
Neve shrugged, wishing Talin were with her. He always made everything better.
“Could it be about a suitor?”
She cut her brother a dark look. “You know I’ve not led anyone on. The ones who were interested, I’m friends with.”
“After turning them down,” Atris pointed out. “All except Talin.”
Shock reverberated through Neve. Until she recalled how well liked Talin was. “No. It can’t be about Talin.”
“Perhaps a woman who wanted him, wants you to pay?”
Now that she could see. “Let’s see what we can find.”
“I think we should tell Mum and Da.”
Neve held him in place, forcing him to look at her. “No. I’ll not involve them until there’s a need.”
“All right.” Atris blew out a frustrated breath. “But I want it on record that I argued for telling them.”
She smiled up at her brother. “Consider it done.”
“Good. Now let’s go find this bitch.”
* * *
Talin arrived on the small isle of Inchmickery that the Reapers had claimed as their own. It was close enough to the east coast of Scotland that they could see Edinburgh.
He strode through the main corridors of the concrete building. Though the Reapers hadn’t touched the outside of the buildings once used for battle, the insides were another matter entirely. Magic transformed the cold look of the concrete to one of charm and warmth.
Talin found Eoghan first. Eoghan and the Reaper’s leader, Cael, were the only two left of the first group of Reapers. Eoghan stood in one of the corridors alone.
He was always alone. Eoghan chose not to speak. Talin wasn’t sure what had happened in Eoghan’s past to make it so he didn’t talk, but Eoghan communicated in other ways.
Eoghan raised a brow when he saw Talin.
“Everything good here?” Talin asked.
Eoghan gave a slow nod.
“Cael return yet?”
Eoghan blew out a loud breath.
“Damn.” Talin ran a hand through his hair.
There was the sound of soft footsteps before Kyran appeared. “What’s going on?”
“A lot.” Talin met Kyran’s red eyes and quickly filled the two of them in on what he’d learned at court.
“Shit,” Kyran murmured. He then glanced over his shoulder into the library where his woman, River, sat amid a pile of books.
Eoghan crossed his arms over his chest, his lips twisted. It was Eoghan’s version of “shit.”
“Do you think it was Rhi?” Kyran asked.
Talin shook his head. “If Rhi knows Usaeil is seeing a Dragon King, she’ll do a lot more than simply put up a copy of the picture.”
Eoghan snorted as he nodded.
“Perhaps it’s time we talk to the Dragon Kings,” Kyran suggested.
Talin was beginning to think it might be. “That’s ultimately Cael’s decision, but I’m in agreement. I’ve got to return to court.”
“You mean Neve.”
Talin paused and slowly turned his head to Kyran. He knew Kyran was worried about his growing feelings for Neve, as if Kyran had any right since he’d recently fallen in love. At least both Kyran and Baylon were allowed to have their women with them.
He would never have that option. River and Jordyn were both half—Fae. It was their human half that had prevented them from being killed the moment they discovered who the Reapers were.
That wouldn’t be the same for Neve. If any Fae learned who a Reaper was, they were to be killed immediately. It didn’t matter how Talin felt about Neve because he could never have her.
Eoghan touched his shoulder. Talin swung his head to Eoghan, who gave him a reassuring nod. Thinking it better to not respond to Kyran, Talin teleported back to Ireland.
“He’s in love with her,” Kyran stated when Talin was gone.
Eoghan slowly released a breath and faced Kyran. Then he shrugged before pointing to River in the library.
Kyran’s jaw clenched. “That’s different.”
Eoghan just stared at Kyran. No words were needed.
Finally, Kyran blew out a harsh breath and hung his head. “Neve is a Light Fae. You know what Death will make Talin do to her.”
Eoghan nodded.
Kyran ran a hand through his black and silver hair. The Reapers were made up of both Light and Dark Fae, and though it went against a Light Fae’s instincts, Eoghan trusted both Kyran and Fintan with his life—despite both being Dark.
“Talin can’t kill her,” Kyran stated. “I won’t let my friend go through that.”
Eoghan hadn’t planned to allow that to happen. If Neve had to die, then he would be the one to do the deed. Talin wouldn’t carry the weight of that.
He exchanged a look with Kyran, a silent promise made between the two of them.
Chapter Three
Talin returned to court, his gaze immediately searching for Neve. He began to get worried when he couldn’t find her.
That’s when he noticed something was definitely off within the castle. There was an undercurrent of widespread alarm. The fear was palpable, the terror tangible.
Talin kept to the fringes of the massive chamber, picking through pieces of conversations. And they all said the same thing—a Reaper was at court.
Who the hell knew he was there? No one but the other Reapers and Death. No one could know it was him. No one.
But it wasn’t just coincidence that a rumor had been put in circulation about a Reaper. That could only mean that somehow Bran was at court.
Talin nearly sent up a call to Cael and the other Reapers, but he stopped. It would be just what Bran wanted. Since Bran managed to escape the Netherworld, his goal had been to kill the Reapers and Death.
He’d failed twice. Talin never thought Bran would actually show himself at the Light court, but then again, Bran wasn’t exactly sane.
In all the times Talin had been at court, not once had he spotted Bran. He knew what that son of a bitch looked like. There was no forgetting that face. Ever.
Then again, Bran seemed to hold on to the same powerful magic given to Reapers. Which meant he could remain veiled as long as he wanted.
But Talin should be able to see him, even veiled. At the very least, sense him. All Reapers could. Something definitely wasn’t right.
And Talin began to fear that it was all going to blow up at court.
The longer Talin went without finding Neve, the more he worried that Bran had already gotten to her. Talin then began to search for Atris and the few females Neve normally spoke with.
Talin found one of the females and hurried to her. “Have you seen Neve?” he asked.
She blinked up at him. “Have you heard? There’s a Reaper at court. So that must mean they’re real. What do they want, do you think?”
“Where’s Neve?”
“Reapers,” she repeated and put a hand to her throat, her eyes wide with shock.
Talin drew in a deep breath for patience and calm. “Neve. Have you seen her?”
“Not in a while. Who do you think the Reaper is?”
Talin didn’t respond as he turned on his heel and began to search the parts of the castle he and Neve had been to together. His heart was thumping wildly in his chest. The last time he’d felt such distress was the night he was killed.
He refused to think about it, preferring to concentrate on Neve. She was strong and sharp. There wasn’t a situation the woman couldn’t talk her way out of, but she had a rebellious streak that was the bane of her family’s existence.
The sound of footsteps behind him caught Talin’s attention. Someone was following him. He turned the corner and flattened his back against the wall. A bubble of magic formed in his hand as he waited.
He drew his arm back, prepared to throw the magic as the footsteps drew closer. Then the person turned the corner. Talin recognized Neve’s face and managed to toss the magic aside.
Her silver eyes were wide as she met his gaze. “Talin?”
Without a word, he drew her against him and simply held her. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. What was that about?”
“I thought someone was following me.”
“Me,” she said and held him tighter.
Talin felt her shaking. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“There’s something wrong here.”
He leaned back to look her in the face. “The rumor about the Reaper?”
“If the Reapers are real, it wouldn’t surprise me to find one among us.”
Now that shocked him. She’d said it calmly, the exact opposite reaction of everyone else at court. A thread of worry wound through him that she’d figured out his secret somehow. “Why do you say that?”
“No one knows for sure if the Reapers are real or what they do.”
“But you have a theory?”
She shot him a quick smile. “Since we were children, we’re taught to fear the Reapers. I’m not so sure that’s how we should see them.”
“Interesting. But that’s not what’s bothering you. Tell me.”
The confident woman suddenly became cautious and wary. She lowered her gaze, hesitating too long for Talin’s comfort.
“Has someone bothered you?” he asked. “Did someone threaten you in some way?”
Her gaze jerked to Talin. “What?”
“Tell me, Neve. Now. Tell me everything.”
She pulled out of his arms. “How did you know something is wrong?”
He shook his head, unable to fathom why she was upset. “It was just a guess.”
“Stop,” she stated, her eyes blazing with anger. “Stop the lies right now.”
Talin drew up short. Not once had she questioned him about any of his responses. Had she known all along? If so, then why not call him on it before? “Why the sudden change?”
“Don’t you dare deflect.”
He was at a loss because he couldn’t tell Neve the truth, but he couldn’t lie to her anymore either. “I’m not deflecting. I’m wondering why you’re questioning me. I’m trying to help you.”
“Is it you?”
“What do you think is me?”
Her face crumpled. “If it’s you, just make it stop. I won’t say anything.”
He’d had enough. “Neve, what the hell are you talking about?”
“You. Trying to scare me.”
Talin felt as if he’d had the rug pulled from underneath him. He stared at Neve. How long had this been going on? Why hadn’t she come to him before? Did she honestly think he was doing this to her?
“It’s not me,” he said around the emotion choking him.
She threw herself into his arms. “I didn’t think so until I saw the magic. I thought you were trying to kill me.”
“Never,” he murmured, burying his face in her neck.
“But you thought someone was following you. You were worried enough to protect yourself.”
Talin squeezed his eyes closed. He was tired of the lies so he gave her the closest thing to the truth he could. “It’s court. We all have enemies.”
“What aren’t you telling me, Talin?”
“If I could tell you, I would. Please believe that.”
Her hands delved into his hair. Then she turned her head and whispered in his ear, “I do.”
Talin clutched her tighter before he let her go. “I think it’s time you tell me what’s been happening.”
He held out his hand, waiting for her to slide her palm against his. With their fingers entwined, they slowly walked back toward the ballroom.
“It’s just little pranks.”
Talin could tell she was trying to make light of the situation, but she was scared enough to consider even him. No way was he going to let her get away with saying it was nothing.
“What kind of pranks?”
She looked straight ahead. “Things left in my room and such.”
Talin halted and faced her. He took Neve by the shoulders. “You’re scared.”
“I’m not anymore. Not with you here.”
He searched her gaze until he was satisfied that she told the truth. “If anything else happens, will you let me know immediately?”
“I promise.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
She laughed then. “I overreacted. It’s easy to do with the scheming that goes on in court. This kind of thing happens all the time to others. It’s just the first for me. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“Have you told your family?”
“Atris knows. I feel like such an idiot now.”
Talin pulled her after him and into one of the many rooms. He closed the door. “Are you sure about it being a joke?”
“It
’s probably meant to get my father’s attention. I’ll be sure to tell him tonight.”
He was glad she planned to inform her parents. Prank or not, it needed to stop. The fear was gone from her eyes, which eased the band around his chest.
Talin slid his hand around to the back of her neck and drug her against him for a kiss. Her hands rested on his waist before caressing up his chest.
He moaned at the sensual taste of her that set his blood on fire. The attraction he felt for Neve went beyond anything he could comprehend. He’d noticed her the moment he entered court the first time.
When she’d followed him, listening and watching, he’d grown more intrigued. There had been no question of him having her. The fact that she felt the same attraction only heated his blood more.
Neve’s passion spurred his own. The hunger, the yearning to be inside her drove out all thoughts but that. He walked her backward until they reached the plush chair.
Talin spun her around so her back was pressed against his front. He clasped one hand around her throat while the other fondled her breast.
Her lips were parted, her breathing ragged as she turned her head to the side and closed her eyes. Talin didn’t worry about undressing her. With a snap of his fingers, her gown was gone.
He cupped a breast and rolled a nipple between his fingers. She groaned and reached behind her to find his arousal. Her hand ran up and down his length beneath his pants.
Talin turned her around before pushing her into the chair. She was smiling as she reclined in the large seat. He knelt before her, placing a leg over each arm of the chair and exposing her sex to him.
Having her bared made him smile. She was unabashed in her passion. Most Fae were, but with Neve, it was different. She was different. He couldn’t put a finger on what exactly made her so, only that she stood out radiantly in a crowd.
He ran his hands up from her ankles to her thighs, stopping just short of touching her swollen sex. Her eyes glittered with desire and need, causing his balls to tighten.
Talin held her gaze as he leaned forward and tasted her. Her fingers dug into the arms of the chair. His tongue licked and laved over her sensitive clit until she was panting with need.
Only then did he delve a finger inside her. She moaned as he thrust in time with his tongue. Her cries grew louder. He added a second finger and pumped faster.
