Page 8 of After Midnight (Skye Druids #7)

Chapter Six

Kurt opened his eyes to find himself looking up at a ceiling once more.

Though a different one this time. It took him a moment to remember that he had driven to Skye and revealed his identity to the Knights .

As the rest came rushing back, he gazed around the library.

He didn’t remember how he’d gotten on the sofa.

His feet dangled over the arm, but at least his eyes no longer felt as if they were made of sand.

He curled his toes, surprised to discover someone had removed his shoes.

They had also covered him with one of the throws.

The fire popped, bringing his attention to it.

He debated whether to roll onto his side and go back to sleep, but as lovely as that sounded, he needed to finish explaining things to the Knights .

Kurt lifted the blanket and swung his legs over the side of the sofa as he sat up.

He bit back a groan at the stiffness in his body.

He rolled his neck to stretch the muscles and then rotated his arms. His right shoulder popped painfully from an old cricket injury from university.

After stretching his arms, he turned his attention to his back, but nothing he did relieved the pain there.

Getting older was bloody hard. He used to be able to sit or sleep anywhere.

Now , he had to use an ergonomic setup to stave off the inevitable aches.

But he hadn’t had any of that the past few days and compounded by a lack of sleep, loads of coffee, and very little food, it was no wonder he felt as if he had been run over a few times.

He put his hands on his lower back and arched it.

When he still couldn’t get it to crack, he twisted from one side to the other, generating several pops that instantly relieved some of the discomfort.

A glance out the window showed it was dark.

He was surprised they’d allowed him to sleep so long.

He scrubbed his hands down his face, and just as he was about to stand, his neck prickled with awareness.

He wasn’t alone. Kurt lifted his head and scanned the room.

No one was in either chair or behind him, and the doors were closed.

He stilled before turning his head to the left.

Standing in the corner, hidden by shadows, stood an imposing figure.

Kurt had seen pictures and videos, but nothing could compare to being in the presence of a Fae .

Or a Reaper . A Fae Reaper ? A Reaper Fae ?

Kurt wasn’t sure what to call Balladyn .

He had once been a general in the Light Fae Army before he was betrayed.

Then , he’d killed the Dark King and took over the throne before being betrayed again.

That’s when Death approached him to become a Reaper .

Included in that impressive resume was that Balladyn was now the Warden of Skye and deeply in love with Rhona , the Skye Druids ’ leader.

Balladyn stood as still as a statue, his red-ringed silver eyes locked on Kurt . Tall and foreboding, Balladyn’s command and authority seemed ingrained in his DNA . All someone had to do was look at him to know not to fuck with him.

How long had he been there? Did the others believe Kurt needed someone to watch over him? By the flat stare the Fae gave him, it was obvious Balladyn had been told everything.

Kurt swallowed and scrunched up his face at the taste in his mouth. He spotted a glass of water on the coffee table and drained it. After he’d set it back down, he put his hands on his thighs and stood.

“ I’m ready,” he stated.

“ Ready ?” Balladyn repeated, his Irish accent both thick and refined. “ For what?”

Kurt glanced at the door. “ To answer more questions.”

Balladyn stepped from the shadows. Kurt tensed as he eyed the towering Dark .

The light hit on Balladyn’s straight, mid-back-length black hair streaked with silver.

He wore dark jeans and a chambray button-down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

He dressed like any ordinary bloke on the street, but nothing about the Reaper was average.

“ Your deceit hasn’t been received well,” the Reaper said.

Kurt held his gaze. “ I’m aware.”

“ I double-checked your story. Everything is as you said,” Balladyn continued. “ There’s nothing left of the warehouse.”

“ I made sure there was nothing left to find. I may have withheld my identity, but I was always fully onboard and aligned with what the Knights were doing.”

“ They invited you into their group. Embraced you.”

Pain lanced through Kurt’s chest. “ I was proud to be included.”

“ Yet you didn’t tell them who you were.”

“ I couldn’t. I knew they would cut off all ties the moment I did.”

Balladyn raised a black brow. “ They ? Or Sabryn ?”

Fuck . It was like being interrogated by Professor Brown at uni. As uncomfortable as it was, it was time for the truth. All of it. “ Sabryn . I suppose she told you about our history?”

“ She has not.”

Kurt was taken aback. “ She didn’t?”

“ That surprises you?”

He nodded, ignoring the queasiness that suddenly developed. “ I assumed she had told the lads. Is that why you’re here, then? You want me to tell you?”

“ It’s none of my business. That’s between you and Sabryn . I’m here to get information on your brother.”

“ Of course,” Kurt said with an inward shake of his head at his idiocy. “ You’re trying to find him. Let me get my laptop.”

Balladyn held up a hand to halt him. “ We can handle it.”

So , this was how it would be. Kurt hadn’t let himself think past Sabryn’s anger to what might happen—not just with the Knights but with the other Skye Druids .

They had leaned heavily on him—all of them.

He had taken great pride in being able to lend his expertise in getting them out of jams as well as to keep them safe.

That was likely all over now. He didn’t want to walk away, but he would, knowing they were all safe.

“ Right ,” Kurt murmured as the impact of his actions began to crash down on him.

He cleared his throat and tried to focus, but the dark feeling swelling in his chest made it difficult to breathe.

“ Ah … Parker’s being driven around in a racing-green Jaguar F - Pace . He’ll stay somewhere expensive.”

“ Thank you.”

“ Diana won’t stop sending others for me,” Kurt said as Balladyn headed for the door.

The Reaper halted and swung his head to Kurt . “ Our concern is the London Druids on the isle. If more come, we’ll take care of it.”

“ I can make it all go away.”

Balladyn turned to him. “ By turning yourself over to your brother, I suppose?”

“ It’s why he’s here.”

“ Do you wish to return to your family?”

Kurt rubbed his forehead as he snorted. “ If you checked my story, then you saw the lengths I went to in order to stay ahead of Parker and away from them. That should be answer enough.”

“ Yet you’re willing to give yourself up now.”

“ If I had been thinking clearly, I would’ve reached out to Parker the moment I knew he was headed to Skye . I wouldn’t have come here. I would’ve gone directly to him.”

Balladyn briefly twisted his lips. “ You say you weren’t thinking clearly.”

“ I wasn’t. That’s what days without sleep will do. I even left my mobile at the last safe house.”

“ Did you ever stop to think that maybe you came here not only to warn us but also to reveal your identity? And maybe redeem yourself?”

Kurt glanced away. “ I hadn’t.”

Balladyn grunted and continued toward the door. Kurt opened his mouth to stop him, but no words came out. He watched the Reaper walk out and leave the door open. He looked out into the foyer, but no one else entered the room. He picked up the faint sounds of music drifting through the house.

Another spike of nausea made him wince. The amount of caffeine he had put into his body had done a number on his stomach. He was hungry, but the idea of eating anything made him queasier. The only way to stop the cycle was to make himself eat.

Kurt raked his fingers through his hair and walked around the couch to the open door.

Once in the foyer, he looked left to where a large, round table sat atop a circular rug.

A vase full of flowers rested in the middle.

Beyond that was the front door. Finally , he was inside the manor instead of looking at it through pictures the other Knights had sent.

He gazed across the foyer to another set of double doors that led into the front sitting room, where Elias had brought him last night. He turned his head to the right and spotted the stairs. Farther down the hall was the dining room and then the kitchen.

Kurt headed in that direction. As he reached the stairs, he paused and lifted his gaze.

Sabryn’s room was on the third floor. Was she there?

Maybe they were in the war room they’d set up on the second floor.

Or she might have left the manor, not wanting to be near him.

He’d made a right muck of things and wasn’t sure he could get himself out of it.

It had become increasingly difficult to stay behind the screens and watch his friends battle evil over the last year. Sure , he had his part to play, but he would’ve rather done it beside them. He might have very well blown that chance, and he only had himself to blame.

No amount of reasoning excused his dishonesty. While he had helped the Knights over the years, he was doing nothing but damage to them now. And Diana would see that continued. Unless he struck another deal with her. It was the only way they’d leave the Knights —especially Sabryn —alone.

Kurt needed to sit with that idea and work out all the possible outcomes and consequences to be sure Sabryn , the Knights , and the Skye Druids were left alone. Diana would expect him to counter her demands, meaning he had to think of her retaliation. Because there would be retribution.

He continued toward the kitchen. The music grew louder as he did, and delicious smells filled the air.

Carlyle’s voice rose above the lyrics as he sang along to Michael Bublé .

Kurt stopped outside the door and listened, a smile forming.

He’d gotten videos of the Knights playing around with Carlyle singing and cooking as Finn , Elias , and Sabryn teased him.

It was nice to hear it for himself. Kurt wanted to step inside the kitchen and watch Carlyle , but he feared he wouldn’t be welcome.

“ It’s hard to get food while standing out here.”

He jerked around at the sound of Song’s voice. Kurt stepped aside and motioned to the door. “ Go ahead.”

“ You have to face the music eventually. Take my word for it. The longer you put it off, the worse it will be.”

“ I know that for a fact.”

She glanced at the door as Carlyle’s voice rose. “ I imagine it’s been difficult being a Knight but not actually with them.”

“ They shared videos and pictures.”

“ That isn’t the same, though, is it?”

He glanced down and realized he hadn’t put on his shoes. He should’ve put on his shoes. “ No , it isn’t.”

“ Look , I could be subtle and try to lead you to things, but it’s much easier if I’m frank.

Carlyle told me how you’ve gotten them out of tricky situations.

You had their backs, and while you kept your identity a secret, it didn’t stop you from joining them.

I’m not saying I agree with what you did, but I’ve had many identities over the years and did some terrible things. ”

“ You were forced.”

One side of her mouth lifted in a smile. “ My point is that you’re here now. If they can forgive me, they will forgive you. Now , come on. I’m starving.”

Song took his arm and led him into the kitchen. The moment they were inside, she released him and headed to Carlyle , who grabbed her and danced her around the room before dipping her and giving her a long kiss. He straightened them, then spun Song into a chair to dance back to the stove.

Kurt smiled as he watched them. But it faded when he found Sabryn at the table on her phone.