look. “What’s wrong?” Aingeal questioned. Danielle’s blue eyes touched the three of them for only a second or two before she glanced past them to where Lord Kheelan was making his way toward her, his face mirroring his concern. “Do not speak of it,” she said. “Do not think of it.”
58
Prime Reaper
“What?” Bevyn asked but Danielle was already falling.
“Catch her, Coure!” the High Lord bellowed.
* * * * *
Arawn felt a strange sensation pass over him and he shifted his broad shoulders beneath its weight. He frowned.
“Did you forget something?” Cynyr asked him.
The Prime Reaper shook his head. “Not that I know of,” he muttered.
“You took blood from your lady, didn’t you?” Cynyr inquired. A confused look came over Arawn’s face as he pondered the question and then he nodded. “I believe so.”
Cynyr snorted. “Either you did or you didn’t.”
“I did,” Arawn said, nodding emphatically. “I remember doing so.”
Jaborn sat across from Arawn Gehdrin. He was an outsider despite the black uniform he wore and of which he was immensely proud. The others didn’t even look his way nor, as they spoke amongst themselves, include him in the conversation. His curiosity however, got the best of him. “Why would you need to take blood from your woman?” he asked.
The other Reapers looked at him but said nothing, leaving the answer to come from the one to whom the question had been directed.
“So I will be able to touch her with my mind,” Arawn explained. “Should the need arise, I would be able to find her no matter where she went.” He rubbed a fleck of lint from his pants. “It is a safety measure and it also allows those of us with mates to know how they are doing.”
“I see,” Jaborn said. “Did you give her yours?”
Arawn frowned. “No,” he answered, and settled back in the seat, pulling his hat down over his eye, effectively ending the conversation.
Cynyr’s attention was riveted on the Akhkharulian. “Why would you ask that?” he demanded.
Jaborn shrugged. “It seems to me it would be warranted if he took her blood that he would make an exchange with her. Could he not speak with her in her mind then?
Would not that link them together as it does with us?”
Cynyr pursed his lips at the reminder that each of them had been ordered to down a portion of the Akhkharulian’s blood just as Jaborn had been ordered to partake of theirs.
Arawn—sensing Cynyr wasn’t going to answer—tipped his hat back and eyed the man across from him. “Aye, that would be the best thing to do, Jaborn, but if your lady has a great fear of your hellion, it is best not to make an exchange.”
“Ah, I see,” Jaborn said. “Thank you, milord, for explaining.”
59
Charlotte Boyett-Compo
“ Fàilte oirbh ,” Arawn mumbled, lowering his hat again. The Akhkharulian’s brows drew together.
“He said you’re welcome,” Cynyr provided.
Jaborn nodded politely. Their eyes met for a moment then both men looked away.
* * * * *
Lord Kheelan began another circuit of the infirmary visitors’ room. It was unlike him to show such nervousness in the presence of others and his fellow Shadowlords were keeping quiet, more loath than was normal to intrude on the High Lord’s preferred solitude.
When Healer Dresden came from the exam room wiping his hands on a towel, he went straight to Lord Kheelan. “Do you wish privacy for our talk, Your Grace?” he asked.
The High Lord glanced around at Lords Naois and Dunham, at Bevyn, Aingeal and Lea then shook his head. “Just tell us what’s wrong with her.”
“Did she tell any of you she was ill?” Dresden asked.
“No,” Lord Kheelan snapped, “and don’t make me have to ask you again what ails her, healer!”
“She is dying,” Dresden said.
“What?” Bevyn yelped, coming to his feet in a bound. “How can that be?”
Aingeal and Lea took hold of each other’s hands as tears filled their eyes.
“I am very sorry to
58
Prime Reaper
“What?” Bevyn asked but Danielle was already falling.
“Catch her, Coure!” the High Lord bellowed.
* * * * *
Arawn felt a strange sensation pass over him and he shifted his broad shoulders beneath its weight. He frowned.
“Did you forget something?” Cynyr asked him.
The Prime Reaper shook his head. “Not that I know of,” he muttered.
“You took blood from your lady, didn’t you?” Cynyr inquired. A confused look came over Arawn’s face as he pondered the question and then he nodded. “I believe so.”
Cynyr snorted. “Either you did or you didn’t.”
“I did,” Arawn said, nodding emphatically. “I remember doing so.”
Jaborn sat across from Arawn Gehdrin. He was an outsider despite the black uniform he wore and of which he was immensely proud. The others didn’t even look his way nor, as they spoke amongst themselves, include him in the conversation. His curiosity however, got the best of him. “Why would you need to take blood from your woman?” he asked.
The other Reapers looked at him but said nothing, leaving the answer to come from the one to whom the question had been directed.
“So I will be able to touch her with my mind,” Arawn explained. “Should the need arise, I would be able to find her no matter where she went.” He rubbed a fleck of lint from his pants. “It is a safety measure and it also allows those of us with mates to know how they are doing.”
“I see,” Jaborn said. “Did you give her yours?”
Arawn frowned. “No,” he answered, and settled back in the seat, pulling his hat down over his eye, effectively ending the conversation.
Cynyr’s attention was riveted on the Akhkharulian. “Why would you ask that?” he demanded.
Jaborn shrugged. “It seems to me it would be warranted if he took her blood that he would make an exchange with her. Could he not speak with her in her mind then?
Would not that link them together as it does with us?”
Cynyr pursed his lips at the reminder that each of them had been ordered to down a portion of the Akhkharulian’s blood just as Jaborn had been ordered to partake of theirs.
Arawn—sensing Cynyr wasn’t going to answer—tipped his hat back and eyed the man across from him. “Aye, that would be the best thing to do, Jaborn, but if your lady has a great fear of your hellion, it is best not to make an exchange.”
“Ah, I see,” Jaborn said. “Thank you, milord, for explaining.”
59
Charlotte Boyett-Compo
“ Fàilte oirbh ,” Arawn mumbled, lowering his hat again. The Akhkharulian’s brows drew together.
“He said you’re welcome,” Cynyr provided.
Jaborn nodded politely. Their eyes met for a moment then both men looked away.
* * * * *
Lord Kheelan began another circuit of the infirmary visitors’ room. It was unlike him to show such nervousness in the presence of others and his fellow Shadowlords were keeping quiet, more loath than was normal to intrude on the High Lord’s preferred solitude.
When Healer Dresden came from the exam room wiping his hands on a towel, he went straight to Lord Kheelan. “Do you wish privacy for our talk, Your Grace?” he asked.
The High Lord glanced around at Lords Naois and Dunham, at Bevyn, Aingeal and Lea then shook his head. “Just tell us what’s wrong with her.”
“Did she tell any of you she was ill?” Dresden asked.
“No,” Lord Kheelan snapped, “and don’t make me have to ask you again what ails her, healer!”
“She is dying,” Dresden said.
“What?” Bevyn yelped, coming to his feet in a bound. “How can that be?”
Aingeal and Lea took hold of each other’s hands as tears filled their eyes.
“I am very sorry to
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