Dark Alpha's Embrace (18 page)

Authors: Donna Grant

Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Paranormal, #General, #Gothic, #Fantasy, #Urban, #Sagas

“He got away,” Cael told her.

Erith nodded and took two steps that put her in the moonlight that poured through a window. “I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry. I had him, Erith. I was about to kill him.”

“And what happened?” she asked.

Cael shook his head as he shrugged. “A Dark came out of nowhere, coming right for me. I had my hands on Bran. I saw the others about to react, but River was quicker. She threw her dagger and killed the Dark.”

“Bran used your break of focus to get away.”

“He did.” Cael wasn’t going to tell her how close Bran came to killing him. It wasn’t sitting well with him, and he didn’t want anyone to discuss it.

Erith looked around. “I like this place.”

“Eoghan found it.”

“It’s been one of his spots he comes to in order to be alone.”

Cael’s gaze jerked to her. “I didn’t know.”

“Eoghan wouldn’t want you to know. Keep it safe for him.”

He bowed his head in a silent promise.

She then drew in a long breath and released it. “None of the Reapers or River died tonight.”

“I claim it as a win, but it feels like a loss.”

“What do you think of River?”

Since when did she want his thoughts on the Reapers’ lovers? Cael shifted uncomfortably. “She’s more than capable as a warrior. She was an asset tonight.”

“She saved your life.”

“I know. She was the only one who could read those books, and she helped us when we asked.”

Erith lifted her brows. “I know her qualities, Cael. I want to know what you think of her personally.”

“I’ve not been around her much.” He swallowed and thought about the times he’d watched Kyran and River. “I believe Kyran is in love with her, and I think she is falling for him, if she hasn’t already. She’s … calmed him. And he’s shown her her purpose.”

“They’re a good match.”

“They are. Why are you telling me this?”

Erith’s head tilted slightly to the side. “Because in a few days or weeks they’re going to announce some grand news. River is pregnant.”

Cael was so shocked he could only stare at Erith. He heard her laughter as if from far away. When he finally blinked, he found himself alone.

Things were definitely changing.

Chapter Twenty-two

For two glorious days River had been in Kyran’s arms. They had talked about a great many things except for love and the baby.

River walked along the beach of their new home. It was a small island off the east coast of Scotland. She could see Edinburgh from where she stood.

If the concrete buildings were any indication, they were on the island of Inchmickery. It was used as a gun emplacement during both World Wars.

The noise of different gulls rivaled that of the waves. So far River had seen nesting pairs of common eider and Sandwich terns.

“What do you think?” Kyran asked as he appeared beside her and fell in step.

She lifted her face to the breeze and smiled. “I like it.”

He put his hand on her to halt her. River turned and looked at him. Kyran swallowed and dropped his hand, as if he didn’t know what to do with it.

“Whatever it is, just tell me. Remember, we promised honesty.”

“I remember.” He looked over her shoulder for a moment before he met her gaze. “There’s something I should’ve told you as soon as I found out, but I was embarrassed and furious. Then the longer I held off, the harder it became to say.”

“It’s best to just say it.” Her stomach turned into a ball of twisting worry and anxiety. Was he going to tell her it was over?

Kyran’s shoulders lifted as he took a deep breath. “The Lightslayers were the ones who hunted your family.”

“I know.” She folded her arms across her chest. It must be really bad for him to take so long to tell her.

“I’m so sorry, River, but the Lightslayers are my family.”

She waited for more, and when there was nothing, she realized he’d been worried about telling her it was his family. River put her hands on either side of his face and made him look at her.

“I’ll say this as much as it needs to be heard. Those people might be your blood, but they’re not your family. They turned their backs on you and betrayed you. Family doesn’t do that. The Reapers are your family.”

“And you?” he asked softly. “Are you my family?”

She glanced at his mouth that had done wonderfully wicked things to her body. She felt his hands on her, hands that had caressed her to the point of exhaustion, then held her tenderly.

“Yes, Kyran, I’m your family.” She brought his head down and kissed his lips.

“I wanted to give you time to take everything in,” Kyran said. “I didn’t bring up the bairn because of it.”

She grinned as he smoothed the hair back that had blown across her face from the breeze. “What you said at the lodge. Did you mean it?”

“With every ounce of my being.”

“And you’re sure?”

His red eyes crinkled at the corners. “You and my feelings for you are the one thing I am sure of, River.”

“I love you, Kyran. I love you deeper than I thought possible. You hold my heart in your hands.”

“And you hold mine, my love,” he whispered right before he kissed her.

River melted against him, winding her arms around his neck and basking in the love that surrounded them.

Someone cleared their throat next to them. They looked to the side to find Cael.

“I do hate to interrupt, but since this mission includes the both of you, I thought you might want to be involved,” Cael said.

Kyran’s body grew still. “Now?”

“Now,” Cael confirmed.

River dropped her arms and stepped back from Kyran. “Would someone like to fill me in?”

Suddenly Erith appeared next to Cael. “We’re going to pay the Lightslayers a visit,” Death said. She looked at River. “A promise is owed.”

River was still digesting the thought of meeting Kyran’s family when she found herself not only wearing black pants and a red shirt that showed nearly all of her breasts, but she was no longer on the beach.

“You’re on the Fae realm,” Kyran whispered as they began walking.

She looked at him to see his eyes, but a different face. River turned her head to find Cael and Erith had also changed their looks. It made her curious to see what she looked like, then she thought better of it.

“Whatever happens,” Erith told her. “Stay quiet.”

They began walking down a driveway toward an imposing house in the distance. No one said a word as they approached the massive gates.

Death stood before the black iron and waited. Kyran positioned River to stand behind and to the side of Erith while he and Cael flanked them.

They didn’t have to wait long for the gates to open. Erith strode forward as if she’d been there before. The closer River got to the house, the more she wanted to turn and run away.

She didn’t want to see the people who had hurt Kyran. His hand brushed hers, as if he knew what she was thinking. She inwardly berated herself. Here she was worried about how she was going to act when it was
his
family,
his
house.
His
feelings.

By the time they reached the front door, two tall Dark Fae stood blocking their entrance.

“Move,” Death said. When they didn’t budge, she lifted a brow. “They opened the gates for us, so what does that tell you?”

The two Dark looked at each other, and then stepped to the side. Death walked forward, opening the door as she did. River suppressed a shiver as she stepped inside the house of evil.

Kyran frowned as he watched Death walk through his house as though she knew it as well as he. Her strides were long and purposeful as she made her way to his father’s study at the back of the house.

They passed the parlor where his mother was taking tea with his aunts. His mother rushed to the doorway and started to talk, but Erith simply lifted her hand, halting his mother’s ability to speak.

Kyran had to bite the inside of his mouth to keep from laughing at the surprised look on his mother’s face. That was almost worth being back in the house.

In minutes they were standing inside his father’s study. It was the first time he’d ever seen Alor intimidated by anyone, but that’s exactly the expression his father wore as he looked at Death.

Erith simply stared silently at Alor, causing him to fidget in his chair. Finally, he got to his feet and took a step back.

“Do you remember me?” Death asked.

Alor nodded. “I’ll never forget your face.”

“Good, because you know how serious I am.”

“Aye,” Alor said, not taking his eyes from her. “I’ll do whatever you want.”

Death walked to the front of the desk and rested her hands upon the wood. “Your family has been hunting and killing a mortal family for hundreds of years. It stops now.”

“Some other Dark family will take over. The Nighttails will see to that,” Alor said.

“No, they won’t.” Death lifted her chin. “Your hunting ceases now. If I have to return, I’ll annihilate your entire lineage.”

“They’re just mortals,” he argued.

Erith narrowed her eyes to glare at him. “You know as well as I that they were half-Fae.”

Alor swallowed. “It stops immediately.”

With that, Death turned on her heel and marched out. No sooner had they departed the house than they were all teleported back to the beach, the glamour to alter their appearance gone.

Erith turned to River. “Your family line will never have to worry again.”

“Who did my father think you were?” Kyran asked.

Death smiled. “The first time I met him I led him to believe I was one of Taraeth’s assassins.”

Kyran began to laugh as he looked down at River. “It’s over, love.”

“It’s about to be,” Erith said. “I’m going to pay a visit to the Nighttails to ensure it is.”

Cael faced her. “I’ll come with you.”

Kyran watched them as Death stared at Cael for a long, silent moment before she inclined her head. Then they were both gone.

“Is it really over?” River asked.

Kyran put his hands around her waist and lifted her over his head. “Aye. There’s just one more thing I need to ask you.”

“Ask,” she urged when her feet were back on the sand.

“Will you be mine? I want you by my side and in my bed forever. I want you as my wife.”

Her eyes glistened as she threw her arms around his neck as she shouted, “Yes!”

Kyran spun around, more happy than he thought possible. Nothing was going to dim the light that surrounded them.

Epilogue

Bran rose from the sofa and walked to Alor Lightslayer. “I never thought I’d see you back down.”

“You don’t want to know who that was.”

But he did know. It was Death, and it appeared as if she were giving her blessing to the Reapers finding love. Which only increased his fury tenfold.

“I know who she is,” Bran said. “I also know the group working with her. If she’s not around, she can’t dictate what you can and can’t do.”

Alor smiled slowly. “I like the sound of that.”

“I know just how to get to them.”

“Do you now?” Alor asked, intrigued. “Tell me.”

Bran laughed and walked to the door. “Don’t worry, Alor. You’ll know everything soon enough. I’ll be in touch.”

Bran waited until he was away from the Fae realm before he removed the glamour. Then he teleported to Ireland. He looked up at the palace of the Light queen. It was time he paid Usaeil a visit.

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