Dark Alpha's Embrace by Donna Grant

mirror. And the hate for my family consumed me. I vowed then that I’d bring down Dark Fae like my father.”
    River fisted her hands to keep from touching Kyran. He obviously wanted distance since he turned away from her. But she wanted to be near him, to help him bear some of the weight he carried with him.
    Kyran blew out a breath. “I began with those closest to my father. I looked into their dealings and associates. It didn’t take me long to discover their treachery against their own kin. And I killed them. One by one. I should’ve been more observant, however. My aunt had been watching me. She alerted my father, who then went to Taraeth.”
    The king of the Dark. River shivered at the thought of him.
    “Taraeth sent his best weapon—Balladyn. I didn’t know I was being trailed until I walked into the ambush and felt the blade in my back. Balladyn didn’t confront me. He simply killed me. As I’d done my sister.”
    River could no longer stand it. She closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around Kyran from behind as she lay her head on his back. “I’m so sorry you endured all of that.”
    He covered one of her hands with his. “Dark Fae are evil. They do evil things to each other, but there is an unspoken rule that you never harm family.”
    She held him tighter, wishing she could take away his pain with a hug. “Families hurt each other all the time.”
    “They don’t kill their daughters because they don’t like their choices.”
    “Unfortunately, some do. I hate that you had to suffer such things, but look at the man you are now. You wouldn’t be here doing the things for the Reapers without it.”
    He turned and wound his arms around her. “You really feel that way?”
    “We said honesty, and that’s what I’m giving you.”
    “Do you still want me?”
    River rose up on her toes and placed her lips on his for a hard kiss. “Now more than ever. You were faced with difficult choices and made the right ones.”
    “It doesn’t absolve me for my sins.”
    “You must learn to forgive yourself.”
    He kissed her deeply, fiercely. It was a lengthy, carnal kiss that made her wish they had more time alone, because she wasn’t ready for any of this to end.
    When he tried to end the kiss, River refused to let him. He spun her, pushing her back against a wall of granite. His thick arousal pressed into her stomach.
    “I burn for you,” he rasped between fiery kisses.
    She moaned in response. His words sent chills racing over her skin.
    There was a soft gasp behind them before Jordyn said, “Oh. Sorry.”
    Kyran ended the kisses and rested his forehead against hers as Jordyn’s footsteps hurried away. They looked at each other and began to smile, which soon turned into laughter.
    River couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed in such a fashion. There hadn’t been anything in her life to cause such a reaction. It certainly wasn’t something she expected being with the Reapers or Kyran since he was such a somber Fae. And now she knew why.
    His smile faded. “My eyes will always be red. My hair will always have silver.”
    Not to be outdone, River lifted her chin. “My eyes will always be blue. My hair will always be brown. Neither of us look like a Light Fae. And I’m okay with that.”
    He stepped aside, his smile back in place. They walked from his chamber together. River glanced at him often. To her surprise, his smile didn’t waiver. It was one of those half-smiles, the kind that people didn’t even know they wore.
    And she loved it.
    She’d given him that. River was proud of herself. Kyran deserved to smile. They all did.
    When they walked into the library, River looked at each of the Reapers, wondering about their stories. Her gaze landed on Fintan, and she imagined his story was even worse than Kyran’s—if that were possible.
    But no one was looking at her. They all stared at Kyran. River moved to her chair and sat. She went to the first book in the thirty