Read Dark Alpha's Demand: A Reaper Novel (Reapers) for Free Online Page A

into his thoughts.
    Cael turned his head to her at her statement. “I worry about all my men.”
    “They’re not Bran.”
    “I didn’t think Bran was capable of killing us, but I was wrong.”
    Erith arched a black brow. “So you question your judgment?”
    “You choose the Fae to be Reapers.”
    Erith’s eyes widened before she looked at him with something akin to admiration. “So you question
my
judgment.”
    Cael squeezed his eyes shut a moment. It hadn’t been a question. “You chose each of us because we were betrayed in some way that brought about our deaths. We’re all fighters.”
    “But?”
    “There is no but. It’s a simple fact. We fight for justice, for you, and for the continuation of things as they should be.”
    She tilted her head to the side and regarded him, her black locks moving with her. “You’ve always had a higher sense of right and wrong than most. You aren’t hasty in your decisions, and you weigh all your options. It’s why you’re a leader. You should’ve been leader of the first group.”
    “I was the newest. Theo did a good job.”
    “He wasn’t you.”
    Cael had never heard such praise from Death before.
    She drew in a deep breath. “You knew what Bran was going to do.”
    He lowered his gaze, not wanting to think about that time. Theo had had his hands full with the Reapers splitting apart.
    “You told Eoghan,” Erith continued as she moved closer to him. “You tried to tell Theo.”
    “I was too late.”
    “It was your observations that saved both you and Eoghan.”
    Cael slid his eyes back to her. “That’s not true. Bran and the others were winning. They would’ve killed Eoghan and me had you not arrived.”
    “I think your memories of that night are clouded with yet another betrayal, as well as the magic Bran aimed at your head. When I arrived, all that was left was Bran. I had to pull you off him.”
    Cael shook his head. “That’s not how I remember it.”
    “Eoghan had been knocked out with a blast of magic. The same one that Bran aimed at your head. It bounced off you and hit Eoghan so you weren’t unconscious as Bran wanted when he attacked.”
    Cael searched his memories, but just as Erith said, they were clouded.
    “As good as every Reaper now is, I chose the right one to lead.”
    He rubbed his chin. “Then hear me when I say we could have a problem with Talin.”
    “Because he’s in love with Neve?”
    “You know?” Cael asked with a frown.
    Erith lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “It was fairly easy to deduce after his blowup earlier.”
    “You changed the rules for Baylon and Kyran.”
    Death hastily looked away. “I did it because neither of those half—Fae had connections to the Fae. River knew of her heritage, but she’d never interacted with a Fae.”
    Cael hung his head, furious and sad for Talin at the same time. It was going to devastate Talin, who’d watched his best friend fall in love and get the girl.
    “Talin chose one of the most connected families to get involved with,” Erith continued. “Neve is an Everwood. That family has always been a part of court. They’re respected. There’s no way Neve could know who he is and not let it slip eventually.”
    “I know.” Cael’s heart broke for Talin.
    “I’ve watched Neve.”
    Cael’s head jerked up. “You’ve watched her?”
    “I wanted to see who Talin managed to connect with. I was thrilled to discover it was the Everwoods, and that it happened by accident.”
    “Talin is charming and likable.”
    Erith bowed her head. “It’s why I chose him for this assignment. His interaction with Neve hinted at something deeper, something more profound. I never expected him to fall in love.”
    “But he has.”
    She met his gaze. “If he tells Neve–”
    “He won’t,” Cael spoke over her before she could finish the sentence.

Chapter Six
    For two days, Talin walked the castle, listening to the inane talk of those at court. The longer he went without seeing Neve,