Page 57 of TBR: Dead But Well Read

She wanted me.

My cock strained against my slacks, eager to do her bidding.

Sagging back against the booth, my vision flicked back and forth at a rapid-fire pace. My control was hanging on by a thread. Not wanting anyone to see my unusual cat-like pupils, I pulled my sunglasses from my pocket and slipped them on. Axelle and my brother were the only two I’d allowed to see my eyes in their natural form.

Grabbing my drink from the black cloth-covered table, I focused on not-so-Tiny Tank and tried not to think about the gorgeous ghost sitting on my lap.

“I’ve had my ear to the ground, but no one has tried to pawn it or sell it in the Dark Faire.” Tiny Tank took a long drink of his foamy beer. When he finished, he used the back of his hand to wipe across his mouth.

The mention of Philetus’ missing scythe stabbed through my heart like the blade of a knife. When a reaper passed, their scythe absorbed their energy. The scythe then passed to an heir, or the next in the bloodline.

It should’ve been mine.

If it hadn’t been stolen, the moment I touched it, I would have been recognized as the scythe’s new vessel. The energy stored inside it would’ve poured into me, and our reaper magic would have merged my brother’s scythe with mine, forging a new weapon that combined our unique abilities and the intricate art that adorned each curved blade.

I didn’t care about the power. As far as I was concerned, I already possessed more power than the reaper court was aware of, and far more than I was permitted to use. But I would’veloved to hold my brother’s scythe one final time, and have its markings on my blade to honor Philetus’ life.

In the recorded history of scythes, this was the only one to have been stolen. Reapers’ blades stayed in the reaper plane after death and remained untouched until the nearest family member arrived to claim it.

Only a reaper could have seen his fallen weapon and taken it. And the court was shielding them.

Without realizing it, I’d rested my hand on Axelle’s thigh, unconsciously seeking comfort.

“The moment you hear even a whisper, I want to know.” I sipped my drink, studying the shady warlock. “Find the scythe and I will pay ten times your normal fee.”

The warlock’s eyes gleamed. “Of course, Reaper.”

“If I find out you have lied to me, I will take your soul and wipe all evidence of your existence from the face of the Earth.” I delivered the promise of reward and the threat in the same bored tone, wanting him to think I didn’t care which option he picked.

“Ignore his rudeness. Saul’s been on edge lately, but he’s a good guy.” As always, Zacharias hurried to apologize for my behavior.

It was an odd habit he’d picked up in the last few years. I was blunt, but Zacharias was only charming in person. Behind closed doors, he had a harsh sense of humor and was far more vindictive than me. Yet, he enjoyed playing good cop to my bad cop.

I zoned out as Zacharias pulled out the grocery list of potions he needed to restock his shelf. Magic was finicky, and I wasn’t interested in touching anything this warlock had cooked up.

Unable to resist, I cupped Axelle’s face and brushed my thumb across her bottom lip. She sucked the digit into her mouth and her tongue swirled over my skin. Her eyes glitteredand her fingers brushed featherlight along my pants, making sure I knew what other part of my body she was imagining was in her mouth.

She was chaos on a level I hadn’t encountered before, an anomaly that didn’t fit in with anyone, but stood out as her own unique being. How would I do my work as a reaper and keep her out of mischief? Perhaps I could lock her inside a room filled with books and that rodent she spoke to as though it were a friend. Yes, that plan had potential.

A bartender walked up and held out a tray with a drink on it. “Miss, this is for you, from the gentleman in black at the end of the bar.”

“She doesn’t drink anything unless I buy it and watch you make it.” I waved him away, scowling at the man who dared to make a move on my woman.

Couldn’t the fool see she was sitting on my lap? I didn’t recognize his face, but power leaked from him despite his efforts to hide it. He was powerful by paranormal standards, but if he decided to make a move on Axelle, he’d find himself seriously outmatched.

“I can answer for myself, Saul. And I can buy my own drinks.” She looked up at the waiter and with a sweet smile. “Tell the gentleman I said thank you, but I’m not interested.”

“Yes, miss.” The waiter’s face had taken on a starstruck look and he grinned goofily back at her.

He had five seconds to walk away, or I was going to make it so he couldn’t walk away without help. Finally, the server made his way back to the bar, carrying the drink back with him.

“Stop acting like an insecure manbaby. Imagine if your face gets stuck like that.” Axelle rearranged her face, trying to mimic me. It didn’t last long before she burst into laughter.

“Saul! We are trying to work here. If your hooker is going to keep getting gifts from her clients and interrupting us, maybeshe needs to leave until we’re finished.” Zacharias glared at her back with far more anger than the situation warranted.

Axelle bristled, and before I could stop her, she shot back, “So what if he is a client? It sounds like you’re just jealous no one likes your bedside manner enough to use your services a second time.”

“I’m a reaper! People only die once, so they can’t use me again!” Zacharias snapped. “First a drunk one, now a stupid one. I’m going to help you pick your next date.”

---