Page 134 of Reaper's Ruin
My mind raced, searching for a solution, for any way out of this trap. The Umbral Keep was impenetrable, its magic ancient and absolute. No Realm Walking in or out. No slicing through the veil from within its walls. The only exit was through those massive gates, always heavily guarded.
It seemed hopeless. But I refused to accept that. There had to be a way. I would not let them take her. I would not watch as they erased the only thing in any lifetime that had made me feel alive.
I would find a way, or I would die trying.
I was so lost in my desperate thoughts that I nearly collided with a figure stepping out from an alcove. I snarled, my scythe forming in an instant and materializing in my hand. But then instead of a look of terror staring back at me, I just saw a flashy white grin.
Taelon.
“Whoa there,” he said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. “Just me. Not looking for a scythe to the face today.”
“What do you want?” I growled, my scythe dissipating back beneath my skin.
He glanced around to ensure we were alone, then stepped closer. “I heard they brought you in. You and the girl.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “What the hell are you going to do, Rhyker?”
I studied him for a moment, weighing my options. Taelon had helped us once before, had bought us time when he could have reaped Elira. But this was different. This was direct defiance of the Veil Lords themselves.
Something in my expression must have given me away, because his eyes widened slightly. “You’re going to try to save her.”
It wasn’t a question.
I grabbed him by the throat, shoving him against the wall with enough force to crack the stone. “If you breathe a word of this to anyone,” I hissed, “I will end you.”
To my surprise, he didn’t struggle. Didn’t fight back. He just looked at me with an understanding that was somehow worse than fear.
“You love her,” he said softly when I loosened my grip enough for him to speak. “Don’t you?”
I released him, stepping back. There was no point in denying it. “Yes.”
“Shit,” he breathed, rubbing his throat. “Death himself, in love with a soul he was sent to reap. That’s... that’s something.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said bitterly. “We’re trapped here. She can’t Realm Walk out, and I can’t slice through from within the Keep. The Veil Lords are expecting me to reap her immediately. I’m out of options.”
Taelon was quiet for a moment, his expression unusually serious. “Maybe not,” he said finally. “Maybe there’s a way.”
Hope, dangerous and fragile, stirred within me. “What do you mean?”
“The barrier’s magic only extends to the walls of the Keep,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “If you can get her past the gates, you’re free. You can use your wings to slice away from there, take her anywhere in Faelora.”
“The gates are heavily guarded,” I pointed out. “And the moment I try to leave with her instead of reaping her, every Reaper in the Umbral Keep will be on us.”
“That’s why you need a distraction,” Taelon said. “Something big enough to draw attention away from the gates long enough for you to slip through.”
I searched his face, wary of a trap but desperate for hope. “What kind of distraction could possibly be big enough for that?”
A slow grin spread across Taelon’s face. “I know a couple guys who might be willing to help.”
“No,” I said immediately, understanding who he meant. “We can’t involve more people in this. It’s too dangerous. The Veil Lords—”
“Skorn and Lorien can be trusted,” Taelon insisted. “Even if they don’t want to help, they’ll keep the secret. But I think they’ll want to help. They’re as bored as me, and I’m sure they’d love to get a little excitement.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Are you seriously suggesting a rebellion? Against the Veil Lords? That’s suicide.”
“Not a full-scale rebellion. Just enough chaos to get you and your girl out. They won’t even know we had anything to do with it. We’ll make a distraction, you’ll take advantage of it. A happy coincidence.” His eyes gleamed with reckless excitement. “Besides, what’s the alternative? You try to sneak out alone, get caught, and both get erased? At least this way, you have a fighting chance.”
I ran a hand through my hair, the weight of the decision crushing down on me. To involve others was to risk their existence as well. But to go alone was to almost certainly fail.
“How do you know they’ll help?” I asked finally. “Why would they risk everything for me? For her?”
