Chapter Nineteen

“Noooo,” she screamed, her heart rending in half. “I won’t let you do this.” She yanked the sickle from his chest and rammed it into her own, hoping to reverse whatever had been done. “Don’t leave me.”

But it was too late. He was gone.

Eyes blinded by tears, her grief overflowed, followed by an all-encompassing anger so dark, so deep, she feared it could engulf the world.

Armed, she slowly stood. She hated that her wound was already healing. “Fix this,” she demanded.

Death simply shook his head. “No.”

Thought was beyond her. Acting on primal instincts, she attacked. She didn’t yell a warning but simply jumped forward, aiming for his neck. Maybe she could decapitate him.

It might not kill him, but it was worth a shot.

He simply waved his hand in the air and she went flying, her body crashing into the stone wall of the cave. A bone in her arm snapped. Just as quickly it healed.

“You need to accept what is done.”

“Never. I’ll spend the rest of my life hunting you. I’ll never reap a soul again.” Whatever it took, she’d find a way to make him pay. Or he’d end her. Either way, this nightmare would be over.

“Not even his?” He pointed at Alexei. “Even now, it waits.”

Horrified at the thought of him being lost, she focused all her concentration on the in-between and saw…nothing. “Where is he?”

Death strolled toward Alexei. “Interesting. Neither afterlife will claim him. Not unless I make them. He’s too…different for their liking.”

She was there in a flash, standing over her man, shielding him in death in a way she hadn’t been able to do in life. “Stay away from him. You’ve done enough.”

“Believe it or not, I did this to save you from more pain and suffering.” He was so calm. She wanted to shake him until his teeth rattled.

“How is taking the life of the man I love saving me from suffering?” That wasn’t love by any stretch of the word.

The weapon in her hand was familiar—the weight, the size, and the power.

Something isn’t right. Why aren’t I dead?

“Why am I still alive?” Alexei’s blood dripped slowly from the blade onto her wrist and arm. She’d bled blood, but not energy like Egan had when struck.

“Because you’re not just a reaper. You’re more.”

…

Alexei heard voices. They seemed far away, but they were there. Why wouldn’t they shut up and let him sleep?

Being the curious type, he had to check them out. He couldn’t move but found by focusing his attention he could hear them more easily.

The woman’s voice drew him. She sounded agitated. Something dark and dangerous stirred inside him. The woman was bound to him in some way.

Who was she?

A picture popped into his mind of a tall woman with mind-blowing curves, midnight hair, and green eyes. And those lips, that lush, kissable mouth.

His Cassie.

What the hell had happened? The pain in his chest increased. That’s right, he’d traded his life for hers, bargained with Death himself to save her.

So why was he still here? And why was the smell of flowers even stronger?

“I don’t understand. I’m not a reaper?” Her voice was sharp with anger. “Then what have I been doing since the dawn of time? I was the first one. I was by your side for eons before you created more.”

Her age and what she’d seen were incredible. She should have been jaded, disinterested in life. But he’d never encountered a woman more engaged in living, one who enjoyed the simple things so much.

“No, Cassandra, you were never merely a reaper.” Maybe he was hallucinating, maybe he was mistaken, but Death sounded almost gentle.

He wanted to open his eyes, to see what was going on. His heart was barely beating. His breathing almost nonexistent.

“Then what am I?” He was unable to see, but it was easy to picture her going toe to toe with Death. That terrified him. He didn’t want the big guy to change his mind and end her. He managed to pry his eyes open a slit, just enough to see the two of them.

Cassie was concentrating solely on Death, but Alexei had a sense the male was aware he wasn’t quite dead yet. Maybe it was because she’d removed the blade from his chest before he’d expired.

Whatever the reason, he was still clinging to the land of the living.

“I didn’t want you to feel emotion. Love is crushing.”

“I don’t understand.” She slowly lowered the blade until it hung by her side. “Reapers don’t feel emotion.” She licked her lips. “No, that’s not quite true. They’re detached. Cold. Disinterested. And sometimes jealous. Competitive.”

“Yes.”

“Then why can I still feel? Why am I in so much pain, even though I’m back to normal?” she whispered. There was so much fear and confusion in her voice. He wished he could comfort her, but he was barely hanging on. Everything was beginning to get fuzzy around the edges.

“I fell in love once.” Death dropped that bombshell into the mix. “The emotion burned brighter than the sun, branding my heart. But you’d understand that, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

Alexei’s chest ached with love for her. After a lifetime of betrayal, that she’d loved him enough to give her own life… It was everything.

“But there’s a flip side to love. Like everything else, it dies and leaves destruction in its wake. I never wanted that for you.”

“I’m sorry you went through that,” Cassie told him. “But all Alexei ever did was try to protect me.”

“What if that changed?”

He wanted to shout “never,” but talking was beyond him. He was clinging to life by sheer willpower.

“If it did, I’d still be grateful for the gift he’d given me. To love someone is to care about them, even when they stop loving you.”

“You’d cling to him if he walked away from you?” Death demanded.

She shook her head. “No. I deserve to be loved, but I’d want him to be happy. I’d appreciate what we’d shared, even if it was only for a short time. I learned that from humans. Their lifetime is but a brief second of time. All their emotions burn brighter and harder because of that. It’s beautiful and scary. But it’s exhilarating and well worth the price.”

“Then you’re braver than I am.”

Wow, that was quite a confession from one of the most powerful creatures in existence.

“What am I?” she asked.

Alexei didn’t want to know. He feared whatever was coming would destroy her in some way. He was as defenseless as a newborn babe, unable to do more than just lie there. Hell, a newborn could at least cry and move. He couldn’t even do that.

Death cupped his hand against her cheek. Alexei tried to scream a warning, but was unable to even whisper. She reached up and circled her fingers around his wrist.

“You’re not only a reaper, Cassandra. You’re my daughter.”

Holy fuck!

All color leached from her face. She swayed, as though her legs were weak. Her eyes widened, reflecting pure shock.

But she should be safe. Surely Death wouldn’t harm his own daughter. Only he had. Alexei desperately tried to summon his strength.

…

Shock ricocheted through her. “How is that possible?” Had she slipped into an alternate dimension? Everything she’d ever believed was a lie.

I’m Death’s daughter.

“I told you. I fell in love once.”

“Who was she?” I have a mother. “Why can’t I remember her?” Death seemed even more remote than ever. He was her father?

How do I feel about that?

Death’s daughter. It made her emotions more understandable. It could have been a time of self-discovery, even joy, except it was tainted by what her father had done.

“I didn’t want you to remember.”

So many emotions pummeled her at once, threatening to destroy her. “You kill the man I love, and then tell me you’re my father. How could you do this to me?”

“Your mother betrayed me. Conspired with a primordial god to try to end me. I thought we were in love, but she was simply afraid to die. Attaching herself to me, she assumed she’d have immortality.”

“You killed her.” The confession left her reeling.

“When she tried to use my scythe to destroy me, yes. She thought with me out of the way, her child, our child, would take my place. She’d control you and ensure her own survival.”

Her own mother had tried to murder her father, but he’d taken her out first. Her stomach churned and she swallowed heavily.

“Cassandra, my beautiful child, I didn’t want that for you, so I walled off your emotions, making you cold, logical. The flip side was I lost the chance to love you the way a father loves his daughter. By the time I understood, it was too late. We were both set in our ways and on our path.”

“Why tell me? Why now?” She threw down the weapon. There was no way she’d use it, even if she had the chance. She sat beside Alexei and lifted his head onto her lap. His body was still warm. He’d always generated such body heat, warming her when she was cold. She’d never have that again. “I hate you for what you’ve done.”

“I know. But it’s an honest emotion. And I want no more secrets between us going forward.”

“How can we go forward?” She brushed a thick lock of Alexei’s unusual brown and white hair away from his face before running her fingers through his beard. It was so thick and soft. “I love you,” she whispered, uncaring that Death, no, her father, was watching.

It didn’t seem real. There’d been one too many life-changing things thrown at her all at once. She’d simply reached her limit, was hollow inside, not caring what happened next or what she would do. The only certainty was that she loved Alexei. That was real. That was true.

“You didn’t have to hurt him.” Her voice was toneless, emotionless. Maybe she was more reaper than either of them realized. But no. That would be an insult to Alexei. On the surface, he’d seemed austere, but the real man had been loving and caring, even funny at times. She wouldn’t allow herself to crawl back into her former persona. It had never truly fit her. Now she understood why.

“I wanted to test him, to see if there really was such a thing as love.”

A single tear rolled down her cheek and fell onto his face. “He was willing to die for me. That should have been proof enough.”

“It’s easy to say things. The only way to be sure is to follow through.”

The laugh she gave was tinged with hopelessness. “What should I say? Thanks, Dad? You proved to yourself and to me that he loved me. Well, fuck you. I didn’t need that kind of proof.”

“I did.” Death walked over to stand beside them. She wanted to shield Alexei from her father, but it was too late to do that. She’d tried and failed.

“Please leave me. Leave us.”

He shook his head. “Others will come for you.”

“It doesn’t matter.” A radical idea came to her. It was a long shot, but it was all she had. “Kill me.”

“What?” His scowl had been known to send gods fleeing in terror. She refused to back down.

“If I’m your daughter, there’s a chance I can find Alexei. I’ll look for him in the in-between. Maybe we can be together there.” It was a slim hope, but it was better than none. She’d take the risk. He was worth it. Their love might be new but she had faith in it.

“You love him that much?”

“I was willing to die for him,” she cried. “I tried.”

“You did.” He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair in an uncharacteristic show of agitation. “You want him that badly?”

“I do.” She’d never been so sure of anything.

“I hope neither of us regrets this,” he muttered.

She wanted to close her eyes but refused to be a coward. Instead of looking at Death—it was still too weird to think of him as her father, especially right now—she turned all her attention to the man she loved. “I’ll find you,” she promised.

Then she waited. And waited.

Finally, she tilted her head back. Death was watching her, an odd expression on his usually expressionless face. Was it regret? Envy? Maybe even love? Or was that only wishful thinking on her part?

“Why are you waiting?” She was completely bewildered. He’d always struck quickly and decisively. Never once had she seen him hesitate.

“You want to be reunited with him.”

She nodded, still baffled by the delay.

“You don’t have to die to do that.”

“But he’s dead.” She’d heard him gasp his last breath.

“Neither afterlife will claim him. He’s more than the sum of his two parts.”

“You could make one of them take him.” He might give the gods some leeway, but his word was ultimately law when it came to dealing with the afterlife of every creature but angels and demons. And she was no longer even sure about that, no matter what she’d been told. It was why he personally dealt with the unusual creatures of the universe.

“I could, but I won’t.”

“What are you saying?” Hope quivered in her heart.

“His spirit left, but it came back. It had nowhere to go. He also has some of your blood in him, reaper blood. His will is strong. His pull to you is stronger.” He nodded down at Alexei. “Call to him.”

Was it possible? Could he come back to her?

“Alexei.” She yelled his name and shook him. “Come back. I need you.” Blood. Maybe her blood could pull him back. She shoved up the sleeve of her shirt and tried to score her skin with her fingernail. It wasn’t sharp enough.

The sickle. She grabbed it long enough to drag the blade across her arm. Blood bubbled up. Placing the open wound against his mouth, she waited. Some of it trickled down his throat, but most of it was simply flowing down his face and neck.

“Come on.” She tilted his head back and allowed more of her blood to slip inside his mouth. “Please come back to me. I need you. I love you.”

Alexei’s eyes popped open. They were blazing red, not the familiar icy-blue she loved so dearly. But if being half vampire was what brought him back to her, she’d celebrate that part of his heritage for the rest of their lives.

His primal and powerful roar shook the room. A crack ran up one of the rock walls from floor to ceiling.

He leaped to his feet and shoved her aside.

Did he not want her anymore? Maybe after facing his own death he’d decided she wasn’t worth the effort. Her heart ached but she had to accept the possibility. Still, she couldn’t regret saving him. He was worth it.

Standing in front of her, he growled at Death. “Stay the fuck away from her.”

She was grinning like an idiot and didn’t care. He wasn’t turning away from her. He was once again putting himself between her and danger. He had to still love her. Right?

Death stood his ground. He ignored Alexei and looked at her. “This is what you want?”

She stepped up beside her man and took his large hand in hers. “Yes. It’s what I want. That is, if he still wants me.”

Something flickered in her peripheral vision. Alexei shoved her to the side and extended his claws. She bounced off the edge of the sofa and landed on the floor with a heavy thump.

Egan was suddenly standing above her, the sickle she’d discarded earlier clutched in his hand. “No,” he yelled. “I won’t let her live.” His arm swung down, the bloody blade heading toward her neck.

Death moved so quickly it was impossible to track. Light exploded, momentarily blinding her. Egan screamed in terror, and his body just disintegrated. The weapon clattered to the ground.

Her father lowered the long-handled scythe, the one he always carried on his back. Even when it wasn’t visible, it was there. The wood was aged to a fine patina and the blade was matte black, as though it had absorbed the blood of billions. And maybe it had. Cassie really had no idea what he did when she was on an assignment.

It was strange to think that no matter how long she’d known him and had worked beside him, she didn’t really know him. Case in point…he was her father.

That’s gonna take a while to sink in.

He stood silently with his head bowed, pain radiating from him. Whatever people thought of him, whatever he thought of himself, he wasn’t as unfeeling as he pretended.

Alexei grabbed her by the shoulders and yanked her into his arms. “You’re okay?”

“And so are you.” She launched herself at him, laughing and crying as she hugged him. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“I came back.” He held her so tight her bones ached. It was the best feeling ever.

She wasn’t sure how long they stood in each other’s arms, savoring simply being together before she recalled they weren’t alone.

Death was waiting.

When she started to pull away from Alexei, he turned her so she faced away from him but kept his arms around her waist. He didn’t seem to want to let her go. That was fine with her.

Maybe in a year or two she’d be able to let him out of her sight, but even that was iffy at this point.

Clothed all in black, her father almost faded into the shadows. He held his scythe in one hand, the base of the wooden handle resting against the floor, the curved blade up by his face.

“I’m sorry you had to do that.” She should have seen what was happening with Egan but had been too caught up in what had been going on with herself, her dissatisfaction with the job.

“That should not have happened.” He spoke slowly, as though deep in thought.

“What about Felicia?” Cassie asked. The female reaper had also come after her.

He shook his head. “I told them all not to harm you.” She’d signed her death warrant by going against his wishes. “I’ll tell them all what I should have all those years ago. You’re not merely one of them. You’re my daughter. You have privileges they will never have.”

Crap, does Alexei know that? She had no idea what he’d heard from the in-between. When he didn’t even flinch, she screwed up her courage and tilted her head back to study his reaction.

“I was able to hear a little, even when I couldn’t move,” he told her.

“I see.” What did he think of her being Death’s daughter?

“You have much to talk about.” Death slipped his scythe into the holder on his back and it vanished from sight. “But we have to discuss your future. You are not only my daughter but also my heir.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “What exactly are you saying?”

His smile was grim. “When my time ends, you’ll have to pick up my scythe and fill my position.”

She shook her head. “I can’t.” The mere thought made her sick to her stomach.

“Would you allow all those souls to be lost?” When he put it that way, it sounded selfish.

A new realization jolted her. “You never had a choice, did you?”

Death shrugged one broad shoulder. “I am what I am.”

“My father.” As messed up as it was, she wanted to try to salvage some kind of relationship with him. What if she and Alexei had children? Was it even possible? Even if it wasn’t, she didn’t want to spend eternity ignoring the only real relative she had.

One corner of his mouth kicked up. “And what about you, Alexei?”

“Do I call you Dad or Death?” His dry tone made her grin. The look on her father’s face made her start to laugh.

“Death…please.” When his gaze landed on her, it softened. “I’ll be in touch. And don’t worry. I have no plans to die anytime soon. If you ever have to replace me, it will be eons in the future.” He placed a kiss on her forehead.

A shiver ran down her spine, and she prayed he was right.

“Take good care of her.” There was an edge of warning in his voice.

“I will,” Alexei promised.

Then Death was gone, leaving them alone.

Alexei tugged her around until she was facing him once more. “You’re Death’s daughter.”

“And you’re virtually immortal?” she shot back. They’d both learned a lot about themselves today.

He frowned. “Maybe. I’m not sure I’d have come back if it weren’t for your blood.”

“I am.”

“How can you be so certain?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” She rubbed the spot on her forehead where her father had kissed her. “I’m different, somehow. I know more than I did. At least I think I do. It’s hard to explain, but I think when I drove my blade into my chest something opened up inside me.”

He lifted her off her feet. “We have all the time in the world to figure it out.” He started down the hallway to the bedroom.

“We’ll need to be cautious,” she warned. “Once word gets out about my true identity, I may have a bigger target on my back than before.”

What a pleasant thought.

Alexei rubbed his nose against hers. “Lucky for you, you have your own private assassin.”