Page 84 of Reaper's Ruin
I let out a rushed sigh.
“Well, well, well,” he drawled, his eyes sweeping over Rhyker’s formal attire. “Don’t you clean up nice, Death? Almost didn’t recognize you without all the brooding and leather.”
Rhyker glared at him with enough intensity to wither an oak. “What are you doing here, Taelon?”
“Saving your undead ass, as usual,” Taelon replied cheerfully, then his eyes found Elira. His expression shifted, becoming more serious. “So, this is my assignment, huh? Pretty girl. Hate to reap the pretty ones.”
Elira looked at us, fear widening her eyes. “What’s happening? Why are you talking to no one?”
I remembered then that it had been odd I’d been able to see into the Shadowveil. I realized Elira had no idea Taelon was here.
“There’s a Reaper here,” I explained quickly. “Like I told you about. You can’t see him though.”
She flew backwards, rushing behind me.
“Taelon,” I warned, blocking the terrified girl. “You’d better not be coming to do what I think you’re coming to do.”
“Hey, I’m just a guy doing his job. Nothing personal,” Taelon said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. “And just feel lucky it’s me who came to reap her or this could have gone very badly for you both.”
I was glad Elira couldn’t hear him talking about reaping her.
“I heard a soul from the Storm Court was getting assigned,” Taelon explained. “I knew you two were heading this way, so I volunteered for the job. Thought it might be better if a friendly face showed up rather than one of the others. Shadow Watchers have been active lately, by the way. Veil Lords must be getting suspicious about something.”
Fear bloomed in my chest at the mention of the Veil Lords. Rhyker had spoken of them in hushed tones, like they were demons from the deepest hell.
“Thank you,” Rhyker said, the words seemingly difficult for him to speak. “But I need to ask for another favor.”
Taelon raised an eyebrow. “Oh? The mighty Death needs my help again? This is becoming a habit.”
“We need more time with her,” Rhyker said, nodding toward Elira. “She has information that could help Soraya find her peace.”
Taelon’s amusement faded. “You know I can’t do that. I have a duty—”
“Please,” I stepped forward, meeting his eyes directly. “Just give us a little time. Forty-eight hours. That’s all we’re asking.”
Taelon looked from me to Rhyker, conflict clear on his face. “You know what the Veil Lords would do if they found out.”
“I do,” Rhyker said grimly. “But I’m asking anyway.”
Taelon sighed dramatically. “The things I do for you, Death.” He pointed a finger at Rhyker. “Forty-eight hours. Not a minutemore. I’ll stay scarce. I’m not really on their radar so hopefully they won’t notice. But if things go sideways in here, I’m not taking the fall. I’m coming back to finish this job.”
“Understood,” Rhyker nodded.
Taelon turned to me with a wink. “Keep him in line, will you? He’s been much less grumpy since he met you. It’s an improvement.”
Before I could respond, he stepped back into the shadows, which swirled around him like liquid smoke before closing completely, leaving no trace that he had ever been there.
“Well,” I said into the silence that followed. “That was close.”
“Too close,” Rhyker agreed. “We need to be careful. There’s only so much Taelon can do to cover for us.”
“Is he gone? Is he going to reap me?” Elira looked between us.
“He’s giving you forty-eight hours to find your peace,” I said to her. “We have to get to work.”
Her earlier fear transformed into resolve as she took a deep breath. “Then we’d better make these forty-eight hours count. Tell me what you need me to find out, and I’ll get started right away.”
As we outlined our plan, I couldn’t help but feel we were getting closer to the truth—to understanding why Lord Cassius had traveled between realms specifically to kill me. It wasn’t just about finding my door anymore. Now it was about justice—for me, for my mother, and for Elira.
