and devastation. The only way she could face what was to come was because of Talin.
“Each Reaper is betrayed, which brings about our death,” Talin murmured into the silence. “I was employed by a very powerful family in Belfast to watch over their children. I’d done it with my own siblings, so it seemed a natural fit. And so it was for several years. There were two boys with the youngest being a girl.”
Neve leaned back to look at him, unsurprised that he’d always been a protector. She was grateful he was sharing part of his history, and she wanted to see his face as he did.
“They grew up, as kids do,” he continued. “The girl believed she’d fallen in love with me. I did nothing to encourage her. In fact, I informed her parents as soon as I found out.”
“And?” Neve asked.
“They laughed and said she’d get over it. I went about my job as always. There was another employed by the family that caught my eye. Corla was in charge of teaching the children spells. We began to see each other privately.”
Neve didn’t like the sudden flare of jealousy that reared its head.
“The boys made her life difficult. And the girl, she came to me crying, saying I had deceived her. I tried to tell her that there was nothing between her and I, but she wouldn’t listen. The next day, the boys told their parents that Corla used magic to punish them.”
Talin paused as he pulled out of her and released her legs so she was standing. He took a step back, but he held on to Neve’s hand. “Corla feared she would be let go, but the parents simply reprimanded her after hearing she hadn’t done anything to the kids. The children were outraged. For several days, they refused to allow Corla near them. And then, she was found in her room with a knife through her heart.”
Neve covered her mouth with her free hand in shock. Her hand dropped to her side as she realized who was at fault. “It was the kids, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, though I couldn’t prove it. The parents didn’t believe their children could do any wrong. The girl’s affections grew bolder, and I knew I was going to have to leave. I told the parents, but asked that they not tell anyone else until I’d departed.”
“The kids found out, didn’t they?”
“The girl came into my room while I slept. When I refused to have sex with her, she ran out crying. I thought that was the last of it, but I was wrong. It was my last day at the estate when one of the boys told me his sister had walked through a Fae doorway. I immediately ran to find her. Only there was no doorway.”
Neve held his hand tighter, waiting helplessly for the rest of the story.
“It was a trick to get me in place. The girl lay upon the ground, and I was shoved from behind. I landed on her. I tried to roll away, but the boys used magic to keep me in place. I was so shocked that I stilled for a moment. It was during that time the parents walked out. The girl began screaming that I’d raped her. I threw off the magic and got to my feet. That’s when both brothers stabbed me, one from behind and one from the front.”
“Betrayed by those you were supposed to protect.” Neve swallowed, anger for what had happened consuming her. “I’m so sorry, Talin.”
“It’s been difficult keeping things from you. I wanted to tell you everything about me.”
“But you were protecting me.”
“I wish—”
“I know,” she said over him with a smile. “I wish it, too.”
His gaze slid away. “I suppose we should get back.”
Neve was ashamed of herself for taking time for her and Talin when she should be fighting for her family. With her dress back in place, she turned to Talin. He stood tall and formidable in his jeans and T-shirt.
“Ready?” he asked as he held out his hand
She put on a smile, took his hand, and lied through her teeth. “Yes.”
In the next second, they were once more standing in the corridor. Talin gave her a nod.
Neve looked around to find the other
“Each Reaper is betrayed, which brings about our death,” Talin murmured into the silence. “I was employed by a very powerful family in Belfast to watch over their children. I’d done it with my own siblings, so it seemed a natural fit. And so it was for several years. There were two boys with the youngest being a girl.”
Neve leaned back to look at him, unsurprised that he’d always been a protector. She was grateful he was sharing part of his history, and she wanted to see his face as he did.
“They grew up, as kids do,” he continued. “The girl believed she’d fallen in love with me. I did nothing to encourage her. In fact, I informed her parents as soon as I found out.”
“And?” Neve asked.
“They laughed and said she’d get over it. I went about my job as always. There was another employed by the family that caught my eye. Corla was in charge of teaching the children spells. We began to see each other privately.”
Neve didn’t like the sudden flare of jealousy that reared its head.
“The boys made her life difficult. And the girl, she came to me crying, saying I had deceived her. I tried to tell her that there was nothing between her and I, but she wouldn’t listen. The next day, the boys told their parents that Corla used magic to punish them.”
Talin paused as he pulled out of her and released her legs so she was standing. He took a step back, but he held on to Neve’s hand. “Corla feared she would be let go, but the parents simply reprimanded her after hearing she hadn’t done anything to the kids. The children were outraged. For several days, they refused to allow Corla near them. And then, she was found in her room with a knife through her heart.”
Neve covered her mouth with her free hand in shock. Her hand dropped to her side as she realized who was at fault. “It was the kids, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, though I couldn’t prove it. The parents didn’t believe their children could do any wrong. The girl’s affections grew bolder, and I knew I was going to have to leave. I told the parents, but asked that they not tell anyone else until I’d departed.”
“The kids found out, didn’t they?”
“The girl came into my room while I slept. When I refused to have sex with her, she ran out crying. I thought that was the last of it, but I was wrong. It was my last day at the estate when one of the boys told me his sister had walked through a Fae doorway. I immediately ran to find her. Only there was no doorway.”
Neve held his hand tighter, waiting helplessly for the rest of the story.
“It was a trick to get me in place. The girl lay upon the ground, and I was shoved from behind. I landed on her. I tried to roll away, but the boys used magic to keep me in place. I was so shocked that I stilled for a moment. It was during that time the parents walked out. The girl began screaming that I’d raped her. I threw off the magic and got to my feet. That’s when both brothers stabbed me, one from behind and one from the front.”
“Betrayed by those you were supposed to protect.” Neve swallowed, anger for what had happened consuming her. “I’m so sorry, Talin.”
“It’s been difficult keeping things from you. I wanted to tell you everything about me.”
“But you were protecting me.”
“I wish—”
“I know,” she said over him with a smile. “I wish it, too.”
His gaze slid away. “I suppose we should get back.”
Neve was ashamed of herself for taking time for her and Talin when she should be fighting for her family. With her dress back in place, she turned to Talin. He stood tall and formidable in his jeans and T-shirt.
“Ready?” he asked as he held out his hand
She put on a smile, took his hand, and lied through her teeth. “Yes.”
In the next second, they were once more standing in the corridor. Talin gave her a nod.
Neve looked around to find the other
Similar Books
