Every word felt like a punch to Viri’s stomach, even as confusion floodedher.
“What do you mean?” she rasped, feeling Braedan’s fingers tighten around hers, while Reeve vibrated with rising anger at her side. “What magic?”
“Nine and a half years ago, your parents made a choice.” The figurestepped closer, his physique hidden by his voluminous dark cloak and the shadows that seemed to follow his every move. Even his hands were concealed by black gloves, covering every trace of skin. “They did something they shouldn’t have, took something that didn’t belong to them, awoke magic that was best left undisturbed. Their actions had consequences, and today, they foolishly paid the price.”
Reeve made a growling sound, but Braedan spoke before he could say whatever furious thing he was about to hurl at the man.
“How dare you!” Brae snarled, his eyes puffy from crying. “Our parents justdiedand you’re calling them fools?” He turned to Viri and Reeve. “Ignore this creep. We need to go and summon the Nox. We need to—” His voice broke. “We need to find out what to do next.”
Before they could move a single step, the man raised his hand to fiddle with his glove, the edge of his cloak sliding up along his forearm, revealing a sliver of pale skin.
But that wasn’t all it revealed.
Viri gasped and lurched backward, tugging Braedan and Reeve with her. They resisted, having not seen what she had.Sheshouldn’t have been able to see it either, but maybe the magic of the obelisk had done something to her, changed something inside her. Whatever the reason, there was no denying the black veins she saw vanishing beneath the man’s sleeve.
“Y-You’re a reaper,” she stammered, fear making her voice tremble. A murderer stood before them, someone who had no qualms about killing children. Someone whoenjoyedit.
“Not just any reaper, Viridia Solace,” the man said, amusement threading his voice. “I’m the leader of all reapers—the Reaper Lord.” His shadowed head swiveled to Braedan. “And you’re not going anywhere.”
Viri’s body began quaking, and she felt the same terror emanating from her brother and Reeve. The feeling only grew when the Reaper Lord waved a hand and her skin prickled with ellixen before her feet suddenly became rootedto the scorched grass. She tried to move but was trapped in place, with Reeve and Braedan just as stuck as she was.
“You can do magic,” Reeve breathed, staring at the Reaper Lord in shock.
“That was barely a party trick,” he said dismissively, lowering his hands so that his sleeves concealed his veins once more. “I suggest you don’t anger me enough to show you what I canreallydo.”
A shiver traveled down Viri’s spine.
The Reaper Lord’s tone lightened, turning almost pleasant. “Now, I’m here to offer you a deal.” He brushed invisible dust from his cloak. “I need something from you, and one way or another, you’re going to give it to me. Only, I won’t need it for another few years. I do, however, need to make sure I have it when that time comes.”
Viri shared a puzzled look with her brother. Braedan’s face was alarmingly white, his grip near bruising.
“We’re not giving you anything,” he said, trembling as much as Viri.
“I wasn’t talking to you, Braedan Solace,” the Reaper Lord said. That sense of amusement returned. “Though something tells me you’ll be the one who ensures I get what I want.”
Braedan squared his shoulders, looking more like their father than ever—something that caused a stabbing pain to ripple through Viri’s chest. “I’ll never help you.”
“You have two choices,” the Reaper Lord went on, as if Braedan hadn’t spoken. He raised a gloved finger. “One. Viridia comes with me and, in a few years, after she’s done what I need, she’ll be free to leave—assuming there’s anything left of her.”
Viri swallowed back a whimper.
“Or two…” The Reaper Lord’s attention returned to Braedan. “It’s your sister who I want, but until I need her, I have no use for her. You, on the other hand, are old enough to be of value. So she can be my prisoner whileshe waits…or you can take her place. A safeguard, so to speak. She can grow up and live her life, and you…” A dark chuckle. “You’ll serve another purpose, while relaxing in the knowledge that she’s protected and content as the years pass by.”
“No,” Viri said sharply, not letting her brother consider it. “You can’t have either of us.”
“Take me,” Reeve offered.
“NO!” Viri and Braedan shouted in unison, both glaring at Reeve, with Viri digging her fingernails into his forearm to keep him from doing or saying anything else stupid.
“I don’t want you.” The Reaper Lord sniffed. “I don’t even know who you are.”
“I’m Reeve Ashton,” Reeve said, standing taller. “And if you want my friends, you’ll have to go through me.”
The Reaper Lord stilled, his attention wholly focused on Reeve now, almost as if he’d been taken by surprise. But then he shook off whatever had gripped him and repeated, “I don’t want you.” He turned to Braedan. “I can take your sister, or I can take you. It’s your choice.”
Viri tried to move again, but she was still trapped in place. “You’re crazy if you think either of us are going anywhere with you,” she spat.
The Reaper Lord’s head tilted to the side. “It seems you need some…motivation.”
