Page 69 of TBR: Dead But Well Read

Not everyone seemed ready to embrace what had just happened. Zacharias and two other reapers disappeared, and a handful of club patrons made their escape. Several reapers moved to stand behind Rip.

Saul sighed. “It doesn’t have to be like that.”

The reapers raised their scythes and ran at Saul.

Terror clawed at my throat and I tried to get to him, but Loch held me back. “You can’t help him! He’s got this.”

Glancing over his shoulder at me, Saul winked. “Lochlan, keep her safe. I’ll be home soon.”

With a snap of his fingers, the floor dropped out from beneath our feet, sending Lochlan and me plunging into absolute darkness.

As we fell through the darkness, I held Axelle against me, waiting to see where the reaper was sending us. To my surprise, we were vomited out onto the living room floor of the house Rhodes had rented for our stay here.

How did the reaper know where we lived? And how long had he been stalking her like some kind of creeper reaper?

“Ugh!” Axelle was on her hands and knees on the floor beside me, her body trembling as she dry heaved and tried not to be sick. “It’s never like this when I teleport.”

“I bet it has something to do with the fact normal reapers can’t teleport someone without physically going with them, and your boy-toy just did the impossible. It’s a miracle we aren’t lost and tumbling in the darkness for the rest of eternity.” I rubbed gentle circles on her back, wanting to soothe her, but also wanting to demand answers about everything she’d been hiding.

Evander appeared on her other side. “What is going on? Where did you two come from? What do you meanwhen you teleport?”

“Give me a minute. The room won’t stop spinning,” Axelle groaned.

“Where is Rhodes?” I asked Evander. “We need to have a family meeting. Now.”

Evander’s glasses kept slipping forward as he bent over Axelle, so he pulled them off and tossed them on the side table. “Chatter came through the collector network that something huge was going down at the UG and it was likely there would be mass casualties. I was supposed to make sure Axelle was safe and then find you so we could join him there.”

“I have to go back,” Axelle choked on a sob, and although I knew she was likely the catalyst for changing the balance of the entire paranormal world, my heart ached to see her in distress.

“Hey, it will be okay,” I assured her, reaching out to pull her onto my lap, only to have her scoot away from me, her red-rimmed eyes flashing with hurt.

“You cannot be serious right now,” I snarled, shoving to my feet.

“Calm down. There’s no reason to get angry.” Evander held out a hand in a gesture that reminded me of the one humans used when trapped with a wild animal that was about to attack.

“No reason to get angry?” My laugh was harsh and bitter. “Dearest brother, let me count the reasons I have to be furious.”

Inwardly, I hated myself for the flash of hurt that crossed Evander’s face, and I watched as he immediately retreated into his protective shell. But then he looked down at Axelle and a change came over him.

Evander stood tall, squaring his shoulders as he stepped in front of Axelle. “Loose the attitude or walk away until you can find a new one.”

I was lost for words as I took in his blazing eyes and newfound confidence. Rhodes and I had waited years to watch him bloom into the beautiful flower we knew he could be. But why did Evander have to pick today of all days?

“I think I’m entitled to throw a bit of a tantrum after everything she’s put me through,” I vented, with more whine than rage. “I also think I deserve a drink.”

Evander crossed his arms. “Since you’re pitching a fit like a toddler, you obviously aren’t old enough to drink. Sit down so we can talk like adults.”

My jaw went slack. “Who are you?”

He didn’t answer and simply waited for me to take a seat.

Which I did… but only because my muscles ached and I was exhausted thanks to the massive amounts of adrenaline that had pumped through my veins for the past two hours.

“Good.” Evander tilted his head in approval, as though I were a naughty student who’d been put in time out.

I really couldn’t wait to see him pull this bossy crap on Rhodes.

“Let me help you, Axe.” Evander bent, helped her to her feet, then guided her to the sofa across from me.

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