Page 4

Wraith

M y eyes are on Audrey—as they often are—when I see her and Brenden share a look I don’t understand.

“What are you thinking, trouble?” I ask, already knowing I’m not going to like what comes out of her mouth.

When she lifts her head to meet my gaze, she straightens her shoulders and lifts her chin.

Oh, I’m really not going to like what she has to say, am I?

“I’m going to kill Michael. He killed me and my sister, and he deserves to be dead.” She pauses. “He could go after Mom next, and I’m not going to let that happen.”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. I was right. I don’t like that at all.

Seeking vengeance isn’t going to change anything. She and Wren will still be dead, both becoming reapers.

Do I think this Michael needs to die? Absolutely, but I don’t think Audrey is the one who needs to do it. In fact, I want to keep her far away from him.

“I understand why you’re upset and why you want him dead, Audrey. I really do.” Shaking my head, I glance at Donovan. His face is blank, and I have no idea what he’s thinking. He’s blocking our connection, purposefully keeping me out. “But this isn’t what being a reaper is about. Reapers cannot seek out their murderers to kill them. It would be chaos if I allowed that to happen.”

She lifts her eyebrows as she shrugs. “Then I quit. I don’t want to be a reaper if it’s going to stop me from seeking vengeance for us.”

After knowing my mate for a few months, one would think I would expect the things that she says, but I don’t.

“That’s not how it works, trouble. You can’t just stop being a reaper.” I say it softly, knowing she will not like what I have to say, but she has to understand. This isn’t the path she needs to be on, and I can’t allow her to travel it.

Not that I’m going to tell her that. If I order her not to do something, it’ll only make her want it more.

Audrey pushes to her feet and turns until she’s fully facing me. “I’m doing this, Wraith—whether you like it or not. There’s nothing you can say that will change my mind. Either get on board or I’ll do it by my damn self.”

Fates. Why does she have to be so stubborn?

“I’m in,” Donovan tells her. I try to catch his eye, but he’s ignoring me—his focus completely on our mate. “If killing him will help you move on so we can enjoy the rest of eternity together, then that’s what we’ll do. I support you in everything you do.”

Wow. He’s putting it on thick, isn’t he? Making me sound like I’m the unreasonable one.

I realize her attention is still solely on me, causing me to glance at Brenden, who still hasn’t said anything.

“Why aren’t you asking Brenden?” I spit out, unable to hide my annoyance—with both her and the situation we’ve found ourselves in.

Brenden chuckles, leaning back as he catches my eye.

“Because this has been my plan from the moment I remembered who killed me, Wraith. Brenden’s been on board since day one. I don’t have to ask him for his support—he gives it to me without hesitation.” Audrey isn’t going to back down from this—at least not from my words alone.

Hurt shoots through me as I realize she’s questioning my belief in her. She’s putting my loyalty as her mate into question, and I don’t like it one bit.

“Audrey, I support you in most things. But in this? I can’t. This is asking for trouble. You’re smarter than this. You know it will fix nothing—you’ll both be dead, and you’ll still be angry.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I regret them—even before I see the anger flash across her face.

Audrey scoffs. “I am smart, you’re right. That’s why I waited to finish at the academy. That’s why I promised Brenden I would tell you and Donovan. I know this isn’t something I should do on my own. I thought I’d be able to rely on my mates to help me—to help me work out a plan, so it’s not as dangerous. I’ve told you once, and I’ll tell you again—you’re not going to change my mind about this, Wraith.”

“Audrey,” Wren calls softly, and my mate spins to face her. “Maybe Wraith is right. Maybe this isn’t the way to handle it. I know it’s hard for you to let go of the anger you feel at him, but it’s not worth something happening to you.”

Audrey softens as she reaches for her sister, and I wonder if Wren will be able to change her mind since she isn’t listening to me.

“He killed us, Wren. He murdered us in cold blood for something we don’t understand. That can’t go unpunished. I’m sorry, but I can’t let this go. I love you, but you won’t be able to change my mind, either.”

Well, there went that plan.

My eyes turn to Donovan and Brenden, but Donovan still won’t meet my eyes. He knows I don’t like that he’s opposing me on this. I can’t even be mad at him. All he’s doing is supporting our mate—even if I disagree with her choices.

I can’t just give in to her on this. It’s going to bring literal hell raining down on us. I might be Death, one of the four horsemen, the person who runs Scythe Academy, but I still have a boss I answer to.

How would Lucifer react to this? It’s not like I’ll be able to hide it from him—the planning, sure. But once one of my reapers kills someone, he’ll know, and he’ll want answers—from me.

He could take Audrey from us—lock her in a cell for the rest of eternity. Hell, he could even destroy her soul.

She doesn’t understand I’m trying to protect her from this, but maybe I can make her understand.

“Trouble, I want to give you everything you desire—I really do. But this is about more than just you. This could affect the balance between good and evil that Lucifer has barely been able to keep since the gates to heaven closed—Mount Olympus, whatever you want to call it.” I reach for her, trying not to let it bother me when she steps away. “If you kill a living person, Lucifer will know. He’ll know, and he’ll want answers. He’ll come to me wanting to know why I allowed this to happen.”

If I thought my words were going to sway my mate, I’m severely disappointed when all it does is make her lift her chin.

“I’m not scared of Lucifer. If he comes looking for answers, I’ll explain it to him. I’ll make him see why it needed to be done. You don’t need to worry about me, Wraith.”

But I do worry about her, and I always will. That’s what it means to be her mate.

Scrubbing my hands over my face, I sigh. “Lucifer could rip apart your soul, Audrey. He could torture you for all of eternity. He could take you from us, and we’d never see you again. Don’t you understand? I’m trying to protect us all.”

Her face softens. “I understand what you’re trying to do, but I’ll deal with whatever consequences come from my actions. I won’t let what he might do stop me. I need you to accept that.”

“I don’t think I can.” Anger rushes through me as I stalk across the room, grabbing the first bottle of liquor I can find and throwing it at the wall. A growl spills from me at the thought of losing my mate forever. I’ve just found her—I can’t lose her yet.

No, that’s not right. I don’t want to lose her ever. We’re meant to spend eternity together, and that’s what I want. An eternity with my fated mate and my chosen mate at my side.

If Lucifer comes for her, I’ll fight him with everything I have, and that’s not what I want.

Lucifer is one of my oldest friends—even if we’d both gone by different names then. We’ve been through so much—Lucifer, me, and the other three horsemen. We watched the world form and change over millennia. The five of us might not spend as much time together as we once did, but we share a bond that I don’t want to destroy.

But I would for my mate. For Audrey or for Donovan.

There has to be another way. I just have to figure it out—which I can’t do while losing my shit.

“You should be scared of the consequences, trouble. But you don’t have to take my word for it.” I turn back to her, phone already in my hand. “I’ll let someone else explain what happens when you seek vengeance above all else. How it breaks you before Lucifer gets a chance to. Maybe you’ll listen to someone who stood in your shoes and made the wrong choice, since you won’t listen to me.”

Audrey opens her mouth—probably to argue with me—but I can’t listen to her repeat the same words over and over again. I stalk out of the room and up the stairs as I dial the familiar number.

“What’s up, boss?”

The corner of my mouth quirks up at his use of boss. Sure, I’m his boss, but on top of that, we’re friends. I might not have known him as long as Lucifer, Gael, Octavius, and Riggs—or even Donovan—but there are some people you just know you can count on, and he’s one of them.

“My mate is set on seeking vengeance against the man who killed her and her twin—”

“Her twin’s dead? And here? When did that happen?” he asks, shock tingeing his words.

I shake my head, wondering how he even knew she had a twin, but it’s not important. “Focus, please. She’s not listening to me. I need someone who’s been through this to explain it to her. Will you please come over and talk to her? I know you don’t like talking about that part of your life, but it could make a difference.”

He scoffs. “You really think she’s going to listen to me?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. But I have to try. Donovan took her side, and I’m sure it’s no surprise that the vampire did, too.”

“Yeah, no surprise there. Fine. I’ll be over soon.”

“Thank you—”

“Yeah, don’t thank me for this. See you soon.”

He hangs up before I can say anything else, and I sigh in relief. If there’s anyone who can understand what she’s feeling, it’s him. Maybe he can get through to her where her sister and I failed.

I sit down on my bed, having come to mine and Donovan’s room unconsciously. I guess it’s not really just our room anymore, is it? All four of us sleep in here most nights because none of us wants to be away from Audrey.

Now that she graduated, I was planning to spend the next week with her in bed with me and Donovan while Brenden was working. I was going to let him join us when he wasn’t, but if this is the path she chooses to take, there won’t be a week of sex in my future.

With me not supporting her on this, I might not be having sex with her for a long while.

That’s a punishment I’m willing to take if it keeps her safe, but if she doesn’t give up her quest for vengeance, then I can’t guarantee her safety. I can’t guarantee a damn thing, and I think that’s what’s bothering me the most.

I’m used to being the one in control. I’m used to everything running just the way I like it to, but since mating with Audrey, everything has changed.

I’m not saying that’s a bad thing—it’s not. Change is good, but change is hard for me when it doesn’t happen often in my world. Or it’s small changes over a long period of time so I don’t notice them.

Audrey appearing in my life hadn’t been gradual. She’d crashed into it on the night of her arrival—questioning me after I gave my welcome speech.

She’s good at questioning me, and I love that about her—except in this case.

Fuck. I really hope he can convince her to veer off this path because if she’s set on it, I know I’ll need to support her—no matter how much I don’t want to.