With a flick of his gloved finger, she flew backward, hitting the ground hard. But it wasn’t the impact that ripped a scream from her—it was the pain that erupted beneath her skin, like she was being stung by a thousand firewasps all at once. It was a different kind of burning from what the obelisk had caused, but no less excruciating, causing her to writhe and shriek on the charred grass, the agony growing with every second that passed.
“STOP IT!” Braedan yelled.
“LEAVE HER ALONE!” Reeve bellowed.
Through teary eyes, she saw them straining against their invisible bonds, but they had no defense against the magic holding them in place.
“This is merely a taste of what she’ll experience as my prisoner,” the Reaper Lord said, another flick of his finger causing the pain to increase so much that Viri rolled over and retched. “Every day, I’ll find some new way to torment her. But you, Braedan—if you come with me, I won’t hurt you, not like this. You’ll be revered among reapers, given a place of honor as their next Reaper Priest. You won’t even want your freedom by the time I’m ready for your sister—you’ll be begging to keep the power I give you.”
“N-N-No,” Viri moaned.
The Reaper Lord’s voice became so soft that she barely heard him continue, “After everything that happened today, are you really going to let your sister keep paying for the mistake you made nine and a half years ago? There’s only one ending for her, but if you do as I say, she’ll be able to enjoy a normal life before that time comes. So make your choice, or I’ll take her with me rightnow.”
Viri retched again, the stinging turning to blades piercing her nerve endings. “D-D-Don’t do it, B-Braed—”
She didn’t even finish saying his name before he shouted, “I’ll go with you! Just stop hurting her!”
A wave of the Reaper Lord’s hand, and Viri’s pain vanished, leaving her curled in a ball, trembling and weeping. She cried out when gentle fingers touched her, only to find Braedan and Reeve had been freed from their magical bonds and were crouching beside her.
“Y-You can’t go with him,” Viri pleaded with her brother, shaking violently. “I n-need you.”
“And I need you to be safe.” Braedan’s face was still pale, but his eyes were resolute. “If this is the only way to ensure that, then so be it.”
“We can f-fight him.” Viri looked toward where her parents lay, trying to see their daggers or the magical fillium they shared when hunting, but there were no weapons in sight.
“You saw what he can do with his magic.” Braedan shook his head. “I won’t risk him hurting you like that again.”
“I can t-t-take it.”
“Don’t you understand, Viri?” Braedan ran his hands through his auburn hair. “Ican’ttake it. I can’t watch that again, not after what happened with the obelisk, not after you—” He broke off, his voice cracking. “Mom and Dad are dead. I can’t lose you, too.”
Fresh tears streamed down Viri’s cheeks as she realized her brother’s mind was made up. She inhaled deeply, steadying her voice enough to argue, “But if you do this, youwilllose me. He said—He said it’ll be years. Anything could happen in that time. What if I never see you again?”
Braedan pulled her in for a kneeling hug, his arms tight around her as he whispered into her ear, “I swear, Viri, we’ll be together again one day. I’m going to figure out what he wants from you, and I’m going to find a way to stop him. As soon as you’re safe, I’m coming back to you.” He drew away to look into her eyes, his own watery. “Do you trust me?”
Viri’s lip wobbled. “Always, Brae.”
“Then trust me to do what I must to protect you. I’ve already let you down once, and I promised myself I’d never do it again.”
Her brow furrowed. “You’ve never let me down.”
Braedan closed his eyes. “I wish that were true. If it were, today never would have—”
“As touching as this is,” the Reaper Lord interrupted in a drawl, “I’d prefer to leave before any hunters or Nox arrive. Braedan, it’s time to seal our deal in a way you can’t return from.”
Braedan helped Viri rise weakly to her feet, but then he handed her off to Reeve, who wrapped his arm around her in support.
“What do I need to do?” Braedan asked, his expression grim but determined.
The Reaper Lord waved lazily toward Amity and Jorth. “Siphon from them.”
Braedan jerked backward. “What?”
“Ellixen lives on after death,” the Reaper Lord said, “and while they won’t have much of it, a taste of stolen magic is all you need to become a reaper. Prove your loyalty to me, become my Reaper Priest, and your sister will be safe for as long as I can give her.”
Braedan looked as if he were going to be sick. “You want me to—to—”
“Siphon from your dead parents, yes,” the Reaper Lord said heartlessly. “Do it now, or I’ll rescind my offer.”
