BlackMoon Reaper (26 page)

“From left to right,” Danielle said, “are the Gatekeepers of the Citadel—Argent,

Corallin and Aureolin, wives of Eanan. Beside them is Aingeal, wife of Cynyr; Lea,

mate of Bevyn; Rachel, wife of Owen; Mystery, wife of Glyn and I am Danni, wife of

Arawn.”

Lucy was nervous as she greeted each of the women in turn. Her hands were

trembling, her mouth dry, but she held her head high even though every instinct told

her to slink away.

“Welcome, Lucy,” the woman identified as Aingeal said. “We are happy to have

you as one of us.”

“I wasn’t sure you would accept me,” Lucy said. She didn’t want to start her

association with these women on a false note, with a lie. It was important to her that

they accept her for who she was, not what she had been.

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone,” the one called Rachel said.

“You’ll find no woman here who was without sin before she became a Reaper’s

mate,” Lea said.

“It matters not what went on before you took his hand as mate,” the one called

Mystery said. “Each of us brings our own trials and tribulations to this room, but when

we leave it, those issues remain behind.”

“Has he spoken to you of taking one of his hellions?” Lea inquired. She looked to

the other women but no one shushed her. “It is your choice, you know.”

“It can not be one of the new hellions,” Aingeal said. “But there is the one from his

first hellion that is stored in the lab.”

“There are advantages to being a Lady Reaper,” Rachel said. “I would gladly go

through it again if it was required of me, but you must make the decision for yourself.”

“True,” Danielle said. “Some of us would not have taken the hellion had it not been

thrust upon us.”

“She means me,” Lea said. “I fought it tooth and nail, but like the parasite it is, it is

beginning to grow on me.” She smiled. “Would I allow it if I had it to do over?” She

shrugged. “I honestly can’t say.”

“I would,” Aingeal said. “In a heartbeat. I love being a Lady Reaper.”

“I have asked my husband for one of his fledglings and he’s agreed,” Mystery said.

“I’m scared, but my daughter is a Lady Reaper and I know it would please Glyn.”

“His pleasure shouldn’t be the criteria,” Lea stated. “You and you alone should

make the decision, Lucy. If you want it, that’s fine. If you do not, tell him now. He will

130

BlackMoon Reaper

not force it upon you.” She looked down at her hands. “I can’t say the same for the

goddess.”

“I do want it,” Lucy said. “I believe it would make Phelan happy but we haven’t

discussed it. We haven’t had time.”

“It hurts,” Lea said. “I won’t lie to you about that. It is an ungodly pain that will

make you think you are being ripped apart. Your flesh stretches. Your bones pop and

break. The organs inside you shift and change. Fur sprouts all over you.”

“Lea,” Danielle said.

“There is no use in sugar-coating it for her, Danni,” Lea protested. “She needs to

know. The more she knows the better prepared she will be.”

“Aye, it hurts,” Aingeal said, “but think of the rewards.” She held up her hand,

doubled her fist and raised her thumb. “You have the strength of ten women.” Her

index finger came up. “You will live ten years to every one a normal person lives.” Her

middle finger popped up. “You can shapeshift to a creature that can run the fields

alongside her mate and believe me when I tell you there is no freedom quite like that.”

“You can talk to your mate even when he is thousands of miles away from you,”

Rachel said. “Your thoughts and his are always together.”

“He will be able to find you wherever you go,” Mystery said, “although that would

sometimes be a nuisance when you don’t wish to be found!”

The other women laughed, nodded at her words.

“Weigh the pros and cons then make your decision,” Danielle said. “Nothing needs

be settled today. He’s still in quarantine anyway and would want to be the one to give

you the hellion if that is what you decide you want.”

“I believe it is,” Lucy said. She looked from one face to another. “Will you walk me

through exactly what happens so I’ll be prepared?”

“If that’s what you want,” Aingeal said.

Lucy nodded. “It is. I want to be as much to Phelan as I can and as close to him as I

can.”

“There’s nothing closer than a Lady Reaper to her mate,” Rachel agreed.

“We’d like to hear too,” the beautiful silver-haired woman who was one of Lord

Eanan’s wives said. “Not that we are entertaining the notion, but it is always a

consideration.”

“Aye,” her sister Corallin agreed. “We would like to know what it is like.”

Danielle looked to Aingeal. “Aingeal, since you were the first to be given a hellion,

why don’t you start?” she asked.

“Well, it was like this…” Aingeal began.

131

Charlotte Boyett-Compo

Two days later Fontabeau and Lucy were allowed to go down to Level One where

the medical facilities were located. It was the first time anyone other than the healers,

their staff and the Shadowlords had ventured to the room where Phelan Kiel was being

treated.

Getting into the quarantine facility proved to be more complex than either realized.

After entering one thick door into a small vestibule with well-sealed interlocking doors

so that no two could be open at the same time. Once the entry door was locked behind

them, they were shown into a second vestibule. There were told to disrobe and to drop

their clothing into a slot on the wall. Though surprised at the command, they did as

they were ordered, feeling self-conscious as they stood waiting for their guide to take

them deeper into the facility. Both were shocked when a fine mist wafted down on

them from the ceiling. While the mist was warm, it had a very unpleasant smell to it

and it coated their bodies like a fine sheen of oil.

Upon being disinfected, they were shown to still another vestibule where they were

instructed to clothe themselves in soft white gowns that covered them neck to wrist to

toe and to don strange-looking hats that molded to their heads to conceal their hair.

“This is all so strange,” Lucy said. “Unsettling too.”

“I’ve been through a quarantine process before a long time ago,” Fontabeau told

her. “I’d forgotten how depersonalized it can be.”

“But is all this necessary?” she asked.

“Apparently so. I imagine Phe is so weak they don’t dare risk him catching

something we might bring in.”

A healer opened the vestibule door and ushered them into the quarantine facility

proper. Soaring glass walls enclosed several rooms while others were shuttered with

strange-looking overlapping plates. It was to a glass-enclosed room they were shown.

Phelan was sitting up in bed though it appeared he might be sleeping. His head

was on his chest, his hands in his lap. The white cloth pajamas he wore made his flesh

look washed out.

“Phe?” Lucy questioned, and was rewarded with her mate lifting his head.

He looked so weak, so tired, his eyes bloodshot with black streaks. His hair was

tousled, but that did not detract from the handsomeness of his face. If anything it added

a boyish look that endeared him all the more to his lover.

“Hey,” he said, his voice sounding strained. He swung his legs from the bed and

padded barefoot to the glass wall. He put the palm of his hand against the glass and

Lucy placed her smaller hand over his.

132

BlackMoon Reaper

“You look tired,” she told him.

He shrugged. “I’ve been better, but at least I can get up now and walk. I was going

stir crazy in that bed. They’re keeping me here until they’re satisfied I’m completely

well and pose no danger to anyone.”

“How do you feel?” the gunman asked. His eyes were filled with worry. “You look

like you’ve lost weight.”

“I probably have. I haven’t been able to eat anything since they brought me in. I’ve

been living off Sustenance and tenerse.”

“How’s your back?” Fontabeau asked.

“Healed. The hellion has hatched enough fledglings that they are combating the

residual stuff floating around in my bloodstream. They still wear the protective suits

around me though. One drop of that shit could kill ten healers.”

“We were told we couldn’t stay long but we wanted to see you,” Fontabeau said for

them both. “Lucy was worried.”

“And you weren’t?” she countered, looking up at him.

“Not in the least,” he replied. “Phe’s a Reaper. He’s indestructible.”

“I sure as hell didn’t feel indestructible,” Phelan told him. “I wasn’t so sure I’d get

through it. That’s something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.”

“It’s over and done with,” Fontabeau stated. “They said you should be out of here

by the end of the week. We’ll let you rest and come back tomorrow.”

“I miss you,” Lucy said, her lips trembling. “So much.”

“I miss you too,
mo shearc
,” Phelan replied. He flexed his hand on the glass as

though he could touch her. He wavered a bit then pressed his forehead to the glass.

“Go lie down before someone has to come in there and pick your sorry ass up off

the floor,” Fontabeau said in a stern tone. “Now, Kiel. Go lie down!”

Phelan nodded. He pushed away from the glass, walking with difficulty. By the

time he reached the bed, his visitors were gone.

“Beau?”
he mentally called out to his friend.

“Aye?”

“She looks so worried,”
he said.
“Get her mind off me.”

“You rest. I’ll see to your lady.”

No sooner was he stretched out on the bed with an arm flung over his aching eyes

than he heard tapping on the glass. He opened his eyes to peer beneath his arm. He

grinned.

“You look silly, Cree,” he said. The white gown and hat looked comical on the

muscular Reaper.

“You look like shit, Kiel,” Cynyr replied.

“I feel like shit.”

133

Charlotte Boyett-Compo

“That’s a pretty mate you chose.”

“She is, isn’t she?” Phelan queried.

“Thought sure you’d bring us a male mate. You lost me money in the pool, you

know that?” Cynyr quipped.

Phelan laughed then coughed, annoyed when he hacked up specks of black blood.

He wiped his hand on the sheet.

“How are you really doing?”

“Tired and my head feels like it’s in a vise.”

“I remember the feeling all too well,” Cynyr said, having been a victim of ghoret

poisoning himself.

“I didn’t want Lucy to know how bad it is.”

Cynyr held his hand to his heart. “She won’t hear it from this wolf.”

“Any word on Iden?”

Cynyr cocked a shoulder. “Morrigunia says not to worry about him. He’s being

held prisoner.”

“By who? Or should I say by what?”

“Something or someone She’s not too concerned about, but She wants him here

before She sends the Ridge Lord after the
Nikkeson
.”

Phelan flinched, his face turning paler. “By the gods, Cyn. Is that what we’re up

against now?”

“Aye, it is,” Cynyr said. “We’re in lockdown here until Brell can send the bastard

back to Prysson. She says we’re not capable of fighting the water demon.”

“I doubt we are,” Phelan replied. “I know I’m not right now.”

Cynyr tucked his bottom lip between his teeth, nibbled on it.

“What’s stuck in your craw, Cyn?” Phelan asked.

“I was told I couldn’t stay long but I need to talk to you, Phe.”

“Then talk. I’ll tell the healers to take a flying leap if they come in to run you out.”

Still Cynyr hesitated.

“Out with it. What’s bothering you, brother?”

The Reaper took a deep breath, speaking as it left his lungs.

“You recall awhile back when we were debating about who the greatest warriors of

all time were?”

“Aye.”

“Lesh Spiosyn was mentioned. Do you remember?”

“I remember.”

“We couldn’t remember the other man’s name but we agreed that until Spiosyn

went demonoid he and Lesh were the fiercest, most powerful warriors ever to have

drawn breath.”

134

BlackMoon Reaper

“I think I recall that, aye.”

“Do you also recall us discussing the reason a respected, revered warrior would

turn on his own people and set into motion events that would demolish his

homeworld?”

“I do remember that. Didn’t we decide he must have fallen under the spell of

something evil to…?” Phelan’s eyes widened. “The
Nikkeson
?”

“
Yn Drogh Spyrryd
,” Cynyr corrected. “The demon who unleashed the
Nikkeson

from beneath the Abyss in the first place.”

“I’ve heard of that demon. How did He manage to take Spiosyn’s soul?”

Cynyr lowered his head, looked down at his bare feet beneath the hem of the white

cotton gown. “Spiosyn bartered his soul to the demon for revenge,” he said.

“Revenge?” Phelan questioned. “For what?”

Cree was silent for a moment then raised his head, his eyes boring into Kiel’s. “The

other warrior was a boyhood friend of Spiosyn’s. They were closer than brothers. After

the Battle of Asaraba, they were given brides—the most beautiful to be found—for their

meritorious service. This other man whose name we couldn’t remember wasn’t satisfied

with the bride he was given and decided to take Spiosyn’s instead. He made her his