Cael had once led the first group of Reapers. He’d been powerful in his own right, but when all the Reapers went up against an old enemy of Erith’s, Cael had been caught in the crossfire. Instead of dying, Cael actually acquired additional powers. In fact, he was now a god. Fitting since Death was a goddess.
The moment the three of them walked into the tower, Death appeared with Cael by her side. Erith’s long, blue-black hair was pulled over one shoulder, and her lavender eyes were locked on Cathal. He wasn’t surprised. There were few things she didn’t know.
“Well?” Cael asked them.
Cathal remained silent as Aisling and Rordan gave the detailed report of everything that had happened, including him talking to the Halfling. Not once did Erith’s gaze leave his.
“And?” Death asked.
Cathal shrugged. “I have nothing to add.”
Erith quirked a black brow. “You followed her because you had a gut feeling.”
“I did. Something wasn’t right. It was as Aisling and Rordan said. She’s Scottish and a Halfling. And she was there to spy. I thought it odd and wanted to know who she was spying for.”
Cael crossed his arms over his chest. “I would’ve done the same.”
“Me, as well,” Eoghan said as he walked into the tower.
Cathal turned his head to the leader of their group of Reapers. Eoghan had been one of the original Reapers before he was promoted to lead his own group and found a way to unite those under him. Each group had seven Reapers, including the leader. They were a ragtag bunch with issues a mile-long. It spoke to Eoghan’s strength of will and determination that he had found a way to reach each of them so they worked as a fluid team.
“There’s something about the Halfling,” Aisling said into the silence. “I can’t pinpoint it, but she’s different. Aloof and cautious.”
Erith nodded as she looked at Aisling. “Like someone who is used to spying?”
“Like someone who is doing it because they must,” Cathal replied.
Aisling glanced at him before she nodded. “Exactly.”
“I second both of them,” Rordan said.
Eoghan considered that for a moment. His quicksilver eyes studied each of them. “Do you think she knows she’s a Halfling?”
“Debatable,” Rordan answered. “None of us could decide one way or another.”
Death drew in a breath and released it. “Only one way to find out.”
Cathal held his breath, hoping that Erith would send him after the Halfling. He didn’t understand his need to go, only knew that he had to. And if he weren’t sent, he’d find a way to go anyway.
“Aisling, you and Cathal will find the Halfling. If she’s working with the Fae, I want to know,” Erith ordered.
Cathal released a breath and tried not to let it show that he was pleased with his new mission. But he was ready to go now. Waiting around made him anxious, something he wasn’t used to feeling. He shifted uncomfortably, noting how Eoghan watched him closely.
“And me?” Rordan asked.
Erith’s gaze dropped to the floor for a heartbeat. “You will join the other Reapers in looking for Xaneth.”
“You know how to look for the Halfling,” Cael told them.
Cathal nodded, holding Cael’s purple gaze before he bowed his head to Erith and then looked at Eoghan.
“Come,” Eoghan told the three Reapers.
Aisling and Rordan walked together while Cathal found himself alongside Eoghan. Eoghan had not spoken for thousands of years. He only began talking again right before he became leader of their group. Even now, he was a man of few words. Normally, it was something Cathal appreciated, but not so much today.
Once the four of them were outside the tower, Eoghan stopped. They looked at him, waiting for whatever it was he had to say. He didn’t make them wait for long.
“If the Halfling is working with the Fae, she’ll have to be stopped.”
Aisling gave a nod.
Cathal wasn’t so quick to agree. “Any Fae? Or the ones who are trying to fill the role of the Others?”
“The ones you and Dubhan ran into not so long ago,” Eoghan said, a slight grin on his lips.
Aisling flicked back her long hair in its many small braids. “I can’t imagine those Fae would bring in a Halfling.”
“One that’s Scottish?” Rordan said with a shrug. “What if there’s a connection between her and the Dragon Kings?”
Cathal snorted. “No Fae would be that stupid.”
“We don’t know anything,” Eoghan said, interrupting them. “This is the time for us to gather information. Any of it. All of it. I don’t care how small you think it is, we need to know. That group of Fae could disrupt things.”
Eoghan referred to how the infamous Light Fae, Rhi—daughter to the now-deceased ex-Queen of the Light, and newly mated to the King of Dragon Kings, Constantine—were trying to unite the two factions of Fae under one council with the help of a Dark Fae named Noreen. Things weren’t going exactly to plan. Some Fae were completely against it.
The Others had remained hidden for a long time. At least they had been hidden from the Reapers and Dragon Kings. Apparently, they had been recruiting both Fae and Druids behind the scenes to get the most powerful of both to join. The Others, however, had only been comprised of six people. A Dark and Light Fae, a mie and drough Druid from this planet, and a mie and drough Druid from another realm where the humans had originated. The combination of the magic of those six individuals was powerful enough to go against the Dragon Kings. Before the Others, nothing and no one had magic more powerful than the Kings.
That’s what shocked Cathal. Because no matter how powerful the Fae were, no matter how many of them joined forces, it wouldn’t be enough to take down the Dragon Kings.
If that was even their end goal.
Chapter Three
It was good to be home. Sorcha was never happier than when she arrived back on the Isle of Skye. She wanted to go straight to her house, but instead, she went to see Rhona since she knew her cousin would want a report immediately. Sorcha hadn’t slept at all the night before. And not just because of climbing after not doing it for so long or because she had been spying. No, it was mostly because of the man who had helped her. She couldn’t stop thinking about him.
An hour before dawn, she’d left the B&B and turned in the rental car before climbing back into her trusty ancient Range Rover and driving onto the ferry that would start her return trip to Scotland. All the while, she looked around, hoping that no one followed her. She was new to the spy business, and she wasn’t sure if she could even get herself out of a jamb. Her goal was to make sure she didn’t find herself in one.
It took over nine hours from the time she left Ireland until she arrived home. She was exhausted both mentally and physically. She hoped that what she had done was enough for Rhona because Sorcha wasn’t sure she could survive another night like the one she’d just had. All she wanted was to climb into her bed and sleep for the next few days. Yet she rubbed her tired eyes and stifled a yawn after she pulled up in front of her cousin’s house, knowing that wouldn’t happen quite yet.
Rhona’s bright green eyes held a smile when she opened the front door. “Good to have you home, cousin.”