Dark Alpha's Demand: A Reaper Novel (Reapers) by Donna Grant Read Free Book Online Page B

if he had such feelings for Neve.
    “Should you return to court alone?” Kyran asked.
    Talin knew it was a risk he had to take. “I’ve no choice. I’ve always been alone.”
    “I don’t think that’s wise this time.”
    Talin shifted his gaze to Eoghan and shot him a questioning look. Eoghan looked to Kyran and nodded.
    “All right,” Talin said. “Kyran will come with me. Where are you taking Neve?”
    Eoghan shrugged and strode into the bedroom. He gathered Neve in his arms before returning to the living area. Eoghan pointedly looked at the wine glass.
    Talin placed it on its side on Neve’s chest, the liquid still pooled within. Then Eoghan was gone. Talin didn’t like not knowing where he was taking Neve, but he trusted Eoghan to keep her safe.
    “Ready?” Kyran asked.
    He looked into his friend’s red eyes. “You’re going to need glamour to hide your hair and eyes.”
    With a snap of his fingers, the silver in Kyran’s hair was gone, and his red eyes were replaced with silver. He smiled at Talin. “Satisfied?”
    “Yeah. Let’s go.”
    They arrived outside of the castle with the snow falling heavily. Talin looked at everyone around them. The Light were grouped in small numbers and talking quietly amongst themselves.
    “The Dark court is loud,” Kyran leaned over and whispered.
    “So is the Light normally.”
    Talin made his way to the doors and entered the castle. There was an unusual and odd hush over the entire castle that prickled his skin with warning.
    “Talin,” Kyran said.
    He nodded as they proceeded further. “I know.”
    They both walked cautiously through the main corridor. There were few Fae about. The ones they did see were gathered together, whispering.
    Neither Reaper said a word. Talin couldn’t shake the feeling that somehow this involved Neve or her family.
    Their boots didn’t make a sound as they strode into the main chamber. Of all the times Talin had been at court, he’d never heard the ballroom quiet. It was disconcerting.
    He motioned for Kyran to follow him as he moved to the fringes. Talin didn’t trust anyone at court, so he wasn’t going to just walk up to anyone.
    But it was easy to overhear things.
    Just as Talin expected, it didn’t take long for him to discover what was going on. He came to a group of females huddled tightly together.
    “The Reapers are real,” one said.
    He and Kyran halted immediately. Kyran backed behind a pillar so he couldn’t be seen while Talin leaned against the wall.
    “Does anyone know who it is?”
    “No.”
    “You’d think Usaeil would return after this.”
    “Where is she anyway?”
    “You mean with who?”
    “Reapers. I just can’t believe it.”
    “The Everwoods were taken so violently. Why do the Reapers want them?”
    “Can’t be for good.”
    “Perhaps we should leave court?”
    “You can’t be serious? Where else would we get firsthand knowledge like this?”
    “I don’t want any part of the Reapers.”
    “Honey, if the legends are true, the Reapers will find you wherever you are.”
    “Does anyone know if Neve was taken, as well?”
    “Surely she was.”
    “I haven’t seen her for a few days.”
    “What if the Reapers took her first?”
    “By all that’s magical, that must be what happened!”
    Talin didn’t need to hear more. He pivoted and walked out of the ballroom. Neve’s brother and parents had been taken. He knew the Reapers hadn’t been part of it, but someone sure wanted the rest of the Light to think otherwise.
    Bran.
    “We don’t know where they were taken,” Kyran said as he caught up with Talin.
    “It doesn’t matter.”
    “It does. And you know it.”
    Talin halted and faced Kyran. He lowered his voice and said, “It’s somewhere in this damn castle. How else would everyone know?”
    “We’ll learn a lot if we find the place.”
    He knew Kyran was right, but Talin needed to get back to Neve. She had no idea about her family, and he wasn’t sure how much longer she