Reaper's Vow by Sarah McCarty Read Free Book Online

order.”
    â€œBut they still have value,” Jones reminded her.
    Addy snorted and reached into her pocket. Cole knew what she was reaching for. He’d seen that same move too many times to have a doubt. She wanted her worry stone. Cole reached into his own pocket. Before he could hand it to her, Jones reached over and gave her his hand, and damn if she didn’t rub his fingers the way she used to rub her stone. Just . . . well, damn.
    â€œJust because we don’t have a finished house doesn’t mean we can’t be hospitable,” Addy said.
    Cole shrugged, watching Miranda make her escape out of the corner of his eyes. “I’m not really a guest.”
    â€œWell, you’re certainly not a prisoner! You’re family.”
    â€œIf Jones had his way, I’d be dead family.”
    â€œThat’s not true. Is it?” Addy looked over at Isaiah.
    Jones shrugged. “There was a time when I would have wished it.”
    Addy elbowed him in the side. He obliged by grunting. Against Cole’s will he had to like the man for indulging his cousin.
    â€œBut not now?” she asked.
    â€œHe’s got some skills with a gun and a knife. It’s always helpful to have somebody like that around during trouble.”
    Cole looked around the little valley with its idyllic setting and feeling of bustling hope. “What kind of trouble could you have here?”
    Addy licked her lips. The hold on her energy slipped. The hairs on the back of Cole’s neck stirred at the touch of apprehension that stole from her to him. Was she the one doing the shielding? “You’d be surprised.”
    Jones cut in. “We can talk about it after dinner.”
    â€œOh my God! Dinner!” Addy spun on her heel.
    â€œWhat about it?”
    â€œIt’s burning!” she gasped and bolted.
    Cole frowned. “It’s not like Addy to burn a meal.”
    â€œShe’s having a harder time than expected building rituals here.” Jones sighed. “Nothing’s familiar. Her rhythm’s off.”
    â€œIf she was home, she wouldn’t have any trouble.”
    â€œIf she was home,” Gaelen retorted, coming up with Cole’s saddlebags draped over his shoulder, “she’d be dead.”
    Cole snapped, “What the hell does that mean?”
    At the same time, Isaiah growled, “Not now, Gaelen.”
    Cole turned to Jones. “Somebody better tell me something fast. That’s my cousin.”
    â€œAnd my mate.”
    â€œWhat the hell happened to wife?”
    â€œThere’s a lot you don’t understand,” Gaelen interjected.
    â€œI thought you had work to do,” Jones snapped.
    Gaelen patted Cole’s saddlebags, smiling and revealing slightly longer side teeth that looked remarkably like canines. “I’m doing it.”
    Cole couldn’t look away from those teeth. “Just what the hell are you?” Cole asked, his senses jangling all over again.
    Gaelen’s smile faded. He tossed Cole’s bags at his feet. “Don’t you remember? We’re Reapers.”
    He couldn’t forget. Cole picked the bags up in his good arm. While it felt like most of his stuff was in there, he was sure the more pertinent items like weapons were not. “And what exactly is a Reaper?”
    â€œYou know as well as anybody else.”
    That wasn’t saying much. “I know what I’ve seen.”
    And didn’t want to believe.
    He looked at Jones. “Let’s talk now.”
    Jones’s expression went to that carefully blank state that, Cole knew from their first encounters, meant he was planting his feet. Shit.
    Someone hollered to Isaiah from across the compound.
    â€œLater,” Isaiah repeated quietly.
    Cole wanted to grab Isaiah’s arm and yank him back as he turned to answer the call.
    â€œWon’t do you any good, human,” Gaelen said. “There isn’t a soul