Read Unreap My Heart (The Reaper Series) for Free Online Page B

bravery. Foolish since she should be afraid of him. “For my protection and the use of all my resources in the search of the Redeemer, my bargain is with the girl.”
    “Arianne,” she said. “My name’s Arianne.”
    “All right.” Balthazar raised an eyebrow at her. “My bargain is with you, Arianne, if you want my protection and help.”
    Arianne looked to D then to Tomas, who said, “He is the only one who can get through the lockdown, Ari. We’re all tied here until we remove the dagger. I have to maintain order while the Master is incapacitated.”
    “No one else can come with me?”
    Balthazar almost laughed at the hope in her voice. None of the Reapers would be powerful enough to face anything beyond the Crossroads. In the Underverse only he had the kind of strength she’d need to stay alive. D knew this, as did Tomas, who shook his head at her.
    Arianne grew quiet again. A knot formed on her brow. She seemed to be considering all her options. Balthazar was sure she was thinking about what she was getting herself into. She had just negated her bargain with D and now she was about to get into another one with someone she’d just met. The girl couldn’t catch a break today. Balthazar thought of giving her some slack. Briefly. Damn his sense of mercy. He wouldn’t budge for her knowing what lay ahead—facing the Voyeur would already be deadly enough, not to mention the journey to get to her domain.
    Arianne swallowed and leveled an unyielding stare at him.
    For a human, she had a pretty good stare.
    “What do you want?” she said with only a slight quiver in her voice.
    He reached out and took a lock of her hair between his fingers. She didn’t flinch or pull away. Tomas growled, but Balthazar ignored the old Reaper. There was nothing he could do if he wanted his Master free of Brianne’s Bitterness.
    Balthazar twirled the red lock between his fingers and said, “For my protection and help, I ask for a year out of your life.”
    She gasped. Yes, she should be afraid now. He wouldn’t have it any other way because he got a kick out of people being afraid of him. Plus, her fear would keep her safe from what they were to face out there. He waited.
    “Balthazar, you ask a steep price,” D said.
    He looked at the being he once served without letting go of Arianne’s hair and bared his teeth. “I only ask one year. She looks young and healthy. One year means nothing in the span of her human lifetime. Most take a year for granted. It’s a good bargain for bringing her back alive.”
    “And in one piece?” she asked, bringing his attention back to her.
    He shook his head. “That is all up to you, little girl. I can keep you safe, but I cannot account for acts of stupidity. If you don’t listen to me, for instance.”
    “I’ll listen.”
    “I admire your indignation, but you’ll have to prove your word.” He pulled on the lock of hair. “And, just so you know, I trust no one.”
    She didn’t even yelp at the tug. He’d put enough force into it to let her know he was serious. She merely stared up at him with those blue eyes, the black dot at the center dilating slightly.
    “Arianne,” D said. She turned to him. “I wish I could tell you not to take Balthazar’s bargain. I know I am asking much from you, but he is right. For his protection and resources, it is a bargain you must make. I cannot pay it for you.”
    She returned her intelligent eyes to Balthazar and held his gaze without blinking. She licked her lips then swallowed. Only a quick dart of the tip of her tongue wet her bottom lip, but Balthazar caught it without completely breaking eye contact. He knew her response even before she voiced it.
    “A year of my life.” She shrugged. “The price for keeping me safe and helping me find the Redeemer?”
    Balthazar nodded once.
    “All right.”
    “Say it,” he said the same way she had with D.
    Again her tongue darted across her lower lip. She swiped away the sweat dotting her upper