Page 46 of TBR: Dead But Well Read

I was saved from any further awkwardness by the front door swinging opening. To my relief, Rhodes strode in with Evander behind him.

“Axelle!” the pair shouted in unison.

The relief and joy on their faces had bats banging around in my stomach. I’d convinced myself they were just having some fun with me while in town, and I’d come to their house fully prepared to treat this as a cold, hard fact-finding mission. But seeing the affection shining in their eyes, I questioned if I’d been wrong.

Lochlan had looked like a kicked puppy when I stepped away from him, and now Rhodes and Evander were looking at me as though they’d just been handed the lottery. Unsure of how to react, I remained frozen in the middle of the room, like a terrified rabbit that didn’t know whether to run or hide.

In two long strides, Rhodes closed the gap between us. Gathering me in his arms, he held me against his chest as though he thought he’d never see me again.

“We were so worried about you.” My hair muffled Rhodes’ words. “Is everything okay?”

“I… I’m fine.” My voice wobbled, but I held it together.

Lochlan gave a harsh bark of laughter. “That’s a lie. She’s nervous and practically shaking with anxiety. She’s acting like I’m going to eat her, but not in the fun way this time.”

“What happened? Did someone hurt you? Threaten you?” Rhodes’ voice vibrated with the type of growl I didn’t think humans were supposed to make.

In my romance books, I’d always questioned how I’d react if a man growled at me. It was a tossup between squirting him with a water bottle until he stopped acting like a naughty dog, or throwing myself at him and begging him to mark me as his mate.

It turned out both were the wrong answer, and I was the one who ended up getting a little wet.

“Yes, please,” I whispered, then realizing I’d spoken out loud, I added, “No one has threatened me.”

Unless you count Saul threatening me with a good time.

“You disappeared. We searched the library and the tunnels, but couldn’t find a trace of you.” Evander stepped close, brushing the back of his fingers along my cheek. “Are you up to telling us what happened? Was it something we did to scare you?”

If he’d ordered me to tell him, I would’ve shown him my shiny new spine and my two middle fingers. It was his gentle touch and willingness to let me decide that was nearly my undoing.

Nope, I’m definitely not going to break down into tears. Why? Because I’m a monster-freaking bad-apparition on a mission.

I had a catch phrase, now all I needed was a theme song, and I could have my own TV show.

Bad ghouls, bad ghouls, whatcha gonna do?

Whatcha gonna do when they exorcize you?

Hmm. I’d need to circle back to the song later. Right now, my priority was getting control of my tumultuous emotions. Knowing I couldn’t concentrate as long as he was holding me, I pushed away from Rhodes’ chest and moved to sit on the couch.

Not quite trusting myself with small talk, I got straight to the reason I’d come. “Do you guys know someone named Philetus?”

Rhodes’ eyes widened slightly. “Yes, I do. All the collectors know the names of the reapers.”

It was my turn to be surprised. “You know the name of every single reaper?”

Lochlan chuckled. “Don’t look impressed. They are a dying species, so it isn’t like we have to memorize thousands, or even millions, of names.”

Leaning back against the sofa cushion, I stared at the three men. “I don’t understand. Aren’t reapers immortal?”

“They are immortal, but not invincible,” Evander explained, moving to sit beside me. “Over the centuries, there have been accidents where reapers have died. This, and the last female reaper dying, has caused their numbers to dwindle.”

Lochlan scoffed. “Maybe if the reapers weren’t so stuck up about the purity of their bloodlines and took a partner from another species, they could turn things around. But that isn’t going to happen.”

“Lochlan, show some compassion,” Rhodes snapped. “Not all reapers are arrogant pricks. Many are simply solitary by nature and prefer to avoid interacting, even with their own kind.”

“Well, introvert or not, if my species was about to go extinct, I think I’d get out and do some mingling.” My stomach churned at the disdain for reapers that was etched across Loch’s face.

He wasn’t going to like it if he found out I’d spent the night in a reaper’s bed.

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