Chapter 2
Eva knelt on the grass and looked down at the man who was going to kill her.
A reaper.
The paranormals in the other realms might not know who they were, or perhaps they were only the bogeymen of the stories that they told children or ones who were doing bad things. But Eva knew who they were. All the banshees did.
After all, her kind knew when death was coming. So, of course, they knew who death was behind the mask.
However, in all of her time in this realm and on Earth, she had never thought the man who would one day be her mate would also be a reaper.
She swallowed hard, trying to understand exactly what was happening.
He looked…sad. Even unconscious as he was. She didn’t know why she had never thought about what a reaper might look like. He was big and built, though he looked as if he could stand to have a few more pounds on his bones. It looked as if he were tired, as if he couldn’t sleep.
There were dark circles under his eyes, and his cheeks were sunken in.
She felt sorry for him, wanted to make sure he was okay. Only she didn’t have answers for how to do that. It wasn’t her place to save a reaper, even if he was her mate.
He wore a long, black cloak, the cowl that had once been covering his face pulled back now as he lay passed out before her.
She wasn’t sure if she should move him. She wasn’t sure what she should do at all.
His scythe had fallen when he had, and she supposed she was lucky that he hadn’t used the thing on her—or accidentally cut himself when he lost consciousness.
The blade looked sharp, that wicked curve familiar and devastating.
She didn’t know exactly how reapers worked, mostly because she had never met one before. For it was said that if you were to meet a reaper, that was your end. They lived amid the shadows. Although she knew some lived within all the realms, hiding amongst the realm’s people as if they belonged there.
Only she had never seen this man before.
Hesitantly, she reached out and traced her fingers along his strong brow. He didn’t move, didn’t flinch as she touched him, but she could feel his breath on her skin.
He was alive, merely passed out.
Was the thought of being her mate so overwhelming that he would lose consciousness?
She didn’t know if she should find comfort in that thought, or be a little insulted.
After all, she hadn’t passed out after discovering that the man who was going to kill her was also her mate.
Wasn’t that a bit of irony, considering she spoke of death and he was death itself?
“Eva!”
Eva looked over her shoulder as her sister ran towards her, her long skirts billowing around her ankles.
Her sister Jasmine loved wearing long skirts and dresses, even though Eva was more a fan of jeans or leather pants.
Jasmine was softer and sweeter and a mother to four lovely children. She was the picture of maternal perfection, and though she screamed of death if she was near those who were slated to die, she did it with grace and dignity. Eva was a little jealous.
Eva herself tended to scream, her eyes wide, her cheeks turning red, and her sclera getting bloodshot.
She wasn’t a pretty crier, and she was an even worse screamer.
And yet, she had sung for her mate…her reaper.
The other banshees used to make fun of her when she was younger, trying to control her power. But she was finding her place. Or, at least, she had been until she realized that the man that lay in front of her was her end and her future.
No, that wasn’t correct. He couldn’t be her future, not if this was her end.
And that meant there would be no mating for her.
“I’m fine, Jasmine,” Eva said, keeping her hands on the man. She should probably let go of him, but she didn’t want to. She liked touching him. Her soul reached out to him.
Well, she didn’t want it to reach out too far, or he would just take it, and then she would be dead, wouldn’t she?
“A reaper?” Jasmine said, her hands at her mouth.
“He’s just passed out. I didn’t kill him. Though I don’t know if you can actually kill a reaper. Can you?”
“I heard your song of death, and now a reaper’s in front of you. My God, sister, what happened? You didn’t scream. You sang… How is that possible? That only happens in cases of immense change.”
“I don’t really know. He just showed up, stepped out of the shadows, and looked at me.” She wasn’t sure if she should tell Jasmine the rest, but this was her big sister. She knew every one of Eva’s secrets—not that she had many. “I fell to my knees and sang because I sensed death. But I don’t know whose it was. Mine? Perhaps because he is a reaper, and he came for me.”
“We will not let this happen. He does not get to have you.”
She shook her head. “You know there’s no running from the yell, let alone the song of a banshee. Just like there’s no running from the scythe of a reaper.”
“There’s always a first for everything. Why are you touching him?”
Jasmine tugged at Eva’s arms, trying to get her to stand up, but Eva didn’t budge. She was afraid for this man, not of him. How wondrous.
“That’s not all, Jasmine.”
“What do you mean, that’s not all? He is your death. There’s more to it?”
“He’s my mate, Jasmine. Just like you are to Desmond. He’s mine.” She let her fingers trail along his forehead, hoping he would wake up soon. Because if she were going to find a way to protect herself and not die, she really wanted to see his face. And make sure that she didn’t accidentally kill him in the process.
“How? What? That doesn’t make any sense. Reapers don’t get mates. They’re already dead.”
“Well, apparently, we were wrong about that bit of the legend. It’s not like we actually know what happens to reapers. They don’t come out into society and let everybody know what’s going on.”
“Perhaps not. But, darling, he can’t be your mate. He’s here to kill you.”
“Well, he didn’t. Instead, he found out he was my mate, said the word mate at the same time I did, and then passed out.” Eva frowned. “I don’t really know why he passed out.”
“Well, let’s go get some chains. We’ll secure him, and then we’ll figure out what to do next.”
Eva just blinked at her sister. “The first thing you think of is chains? Do I really want to know what you and Desmond do when alone?”
Jasmine turned pink and shook her head. “Don’t even start with the sass. We are going to figure out exactly what’s going on.”
“No, you are going back to your family to make sure they’re safe. What if I’m wrong about death. Maybe he’s not here for me?”
Jasmine’s eyes widened. “Eva.”
“I’ll be fine. He’s my mate. I guess we’ll have to figure out exactly what that means, right?”
“Maybe. But, Eva, let us help.”
“No, keep the family safe. I’ll figure this out. I’m strong, Jasmine. You know this.”
“I do, darling. I’m still allowed to be scared for you, though. With Mama and Papa gone, we’re all we have left.”