Reaper Unhinged

The waitress tears her gaze from me and focuses on Bobby with a grin. “Oh, yes, I remember him. Sweet guy.”

Sweet?

“He sat in booth four. He tipped well. He had three teens with him.” She winces. “They looked rough, like they’d been sleeping on the streets. He bought them breakfast, and I heard him call a shelter on their behalf.”

“Do you know which one?” Bobby asks.

She looks sheepish. “I think I may have heard him say Finley Street. It’s a couple of blocks from here.”

Thank goodness for nosy waitstaff. “Did he leave with the teens?”

“No, he left first. The teens left afterward, but they spent a while reading the posters on the window. I had to ask them to move on, they were blocking the door, you know.”

I nod. “Thank you.”

“Can I get you some coffee?” She beams up at me. “I’m on break in five minutes…”

It’s an invitation, and I allow my smile to drop. “No, thank you.”

“But thanks for the help,” Bobby says as I head for the exit.

“Excuse me,” the woman behind the counter says.

I look over my shoulder.

She smiles tentatively, her gaze flicking to the waitress before coming back to me as if she’s nervous about speaking.

“Yes?”

“They did leave with your friend. The teens did.”

“No, they didn’t, Mimi. He left first.” The waitress rolls her eyes.

Mimi ignores her, in what I sense is a small act of defiance, and focuses on me. “Your friend left first, but he was by his car across the street on his phone, and when Lisa asked the teens to move, they wandered over to him. They talked, and then he let them get in his car, and they left.”

“Thank you.” I smile at her, and she ducks her head, blushing.

“No problem. Glad to help.”

Back at the van, Bobby runs a search for the shelter’s contact details. I tap my fingers on the steering wheel as he dials. Agitation runs through my limbs. The search for my twin and the absence of Fee, both grate on me.

She’s back.

She came back yesterday, but she’s with them.

I close my eyes and exhale. No, I won’t let the jealousy, the possessive urge take control. She doesn’t belong to me. She doesn’t belong to anyone. Her heart is free to give to whomever she wishes. It’s what Az, Mal, and I agreed, and I need to remember that.

Fuck, why didn’t she come home?

“Thank you.” Bobby hangs up the phone.

I realize that he’s been having a conversation with the shelter that I’ve completely missed. “What did they say?”

“The guy who runs the shelter knows Hunter. He said he spoke to Hunter, who told him three teens would be dropping in. He made space for them, but they never showed.”

“And Hunter?”

“He hasn’t seen him.”

This is the last spot Hunter was seen, and he left with the teens. Teens who may also be missing.

It has to be more than a coincidence.

It’s also the end of our breadcrumb trail.

What the fuck do we do now?

Chapter Nineteen

I was insatiable when it came to Azazel. His touch evoked a hungry fire in my blood, the rumble of his voice teased a storm of emotions to life in my chest—longing, desire, and the undeniable urge to become lost in him, to become one with him. He made love to me like it was our first time, exploratory and deliciously slow, but also like it was our last time, with a searing passion that spoke of no tomorrow.

When we were alone together like this, limbs entwined, bodies slick with perspiration as we moved together, it was as if we’d been born for each other. Our soul bond flared and consumed us, pulling us into each other’s heads, shattering the shields and melding our minds so that his emotions washed over me, his craven hunger became mine, and my desperate need to crawl under his skin became his. The connection throbbed and ached between us, heightening every sensation so I was putty in his hands.

His mouth slanted over mine, hips thrusting to meet mine over and over, slow, leisurely, and delicious. He swallowed my moans, one hand on my hip to hold me steady as he picked up the tempo, angling me so he was hitting the spot that undid me. I clung to him, desperate for more, for everything, for every inch, and when the world shattered we coasted the stars together, mouths inches apart, breath mingling.

We lay tangled together afterward, pulses thudding hard as the world melted back into place.

I stroked his chest, lingering over his abs and down to the V that held so much promise. He sucked in a breath and laughed.

“You are insatiable.”

“You love it.”

“I do.” He pulled me close. “I love you.”

I would never tire of hearing him say those words. I propped myself up and looked down into his face. “I love you more.” I would never tire of saying them either.

“How was your day with Mal?” he asked.

I grinned at him. “Oh, now you ask?”

He gave me his upside-down smile. “I’m feeling magnanimous now.”

I traced patterns on his chest. “It was good. We went ice skating, and we got some food, and then we came home.”

I left out the part about the shower sex. That part of our relationships remained private to each guy. They were happy to share me, but we had our own individual dynamic.

There was a knock at the door, and Azazel frowned. “What the fuck?”

“Are you decent?” Mal called out.

Azazel, bless his heart, pulled the covers up over me even though there was nothing on display that Mal hadn’t seen.

I clutched the sheet to my chest and bit back a smile as he called out for Mal to come in.

Mal entered the room, his nostrils flaring, attention zeroing in on me.

“Hey,” Azazel said. “Eyes on me.”

Mal gave him a look that said, seriously?

“What is it?” Azazel snapped.

My soulmate didn’t like his Fee time being interrupted. I gave Mal an apologetic look.

“We have to go,” Mal said. “Phoenix just arrived. Two troops close to Imperium have been attacked. Minuel is holding shit together by a thread.”

“Fuck.” Azazel shoved off the covers and started to dress.

“Conah’s coming too.” Mal looked at me. “And Keon.”

Azazel pulled on his shirt. “Keon? He’s supposed to keep Fee safe.”

“My first duty is to the queen,” Keon said from the doorway. I tensed, but he didn’t even look my way. “Keeping Fee safe is keeping Lilith safe. Now retrieving the herb is the main way to save Lilith. I’m the only one who can do that.”

He strolled into the room and leaned against the armoire by the door.

What the fuck? Was everyone going to come in and stare at my naked ass covered only by a thin sheet? Not that Keon was staring, in fact, he was actively not looking at me, which would be slightly insulting if I didn’t get where he was coming from. Wait, that made me sound like I wanted him to ogle me.

Conah appeared behind Keon.

Mother of pink frosted donuts.

“The herb is in old daemon territory,” Conah said. His gaze flicked my way, and then he turned his back to the room. “We have no right of access. Lilith was unable to conquer the land there.”

“No,” Keon said. “She could have conquered it, but she chose to leave it.”

“And now you all need to leave my chambers,” Azazel said.

They trooped out of the room, and Azazel closed the door, shaking his head. “I’m sorry. That was…weird.”

My heart sank as I realized they’d all be leaving me. “Be safe out there, please.”

He sat on the bed by my hip and brushed my hair off my cheek. “Will you be all right by yourself?”

“I’ll be fine. I’m going to sleep, and then I’ll head to Necro.”

He nodded. “Good. Stay with the pack. With Grayson.”

He kissed me lightly on the mouth. “I’ll see you soon.”

I curled back up in his bed and crushed the sheets to my nose, inhaling his scent. It wasn’t long until sleep took me.

“Fee!” My teeth rattled as someone shook me.

My eyes snapped open and chill registered, seeping into my bones. Uri’s amber eyes blazed bright as they peered at me. My attention slipped over his shoulder, stunned by the huge silver-white wings cutting a silhouette against the night sky.

His wings.

He had them back.

“Fee, can you hear me?” Uri demanded.

What was this? How was he here? Where was I? Reality filtered through the haze clouding my mind.

I was outside…I was standing on the edge of the pinnacle, barefoot and in my underwear.

What the actual fuck?

Uri scooped me up and carried me toward the open doors into the quarters.

I found my voice. “What happened?”

His jaw was steely as he walked me down the corridor and into the kitchen, and the part of me wondering how the hell he knew where to go was squashed by the bigger part that was still reeling over the fact that I’d been outside in my knickers and bra.

He set me in a seat and busied himself at the stove.

I was suddenly conscious of how naked I was.

As if reading my thoughts, he pulled his shirt over his head and handed it to me, keeping his gaze averted.

I slipped it on gratefully. It was warm from his body heat and smelled of magnolia; it also covered my ass, so that was good.

“What happened? How did I get outside?”

He put the kettle on, then pulled up a chair to sit in front of me. “I don’t know,” he said. “I flew here, and I saw you on the pinnacle…Fee, you walked straight off the edge.” He scanned my face. “I caught you and flew you back up.”

I’d stepped off… “Oh, my God.”

“Fee…What were you thinking?”

Wait…He thought I’d done it on purpose? “No. Fuck, no. I was sleeping. I…I don’t know…” My head felt heavy and strange. “Uri…”