Page 21 of Mortal Reaper (Shadow Shifter)

Her lips pursed. “He won’t be a mate. He won’t be a friend. I want to be clear—I’m only doing this to save Raine.”

She focused her eyes on her would-be mate, making him aware he had a fight on his hands.

Zade nodded. “I understand. I will treat you with respect and vow my protection from this day forward.”

Raine snarled at Zade. “You’re a dead man.”

Julius punched Raine in the mouth. His knuckles were coated in Raine’s blood when he dropped his hand.

Zade growled at Killian. “Beating the man she loves in front of her is not helping her accept me.”

Killian took a deep breath. “Put Raine back in the cage.” He focused on Zade. “If I didn’t need you, I would kill you myself.”

Zade’s eyes flickered. “I am aware.”

Dannika turned to her new mate. “Why would he choose you if he wants you dead?”

CHAPTER10

Dannika’s eyes remained on Raine as Zade led her away from the cage to a small table with a black covering. A single white candle sat atop the silk beside a silver dagger. Zade had ignored her question, but shot her a warning look. One that implied he would tell her later.

“What is this?”

Zade glanced at Killian. “Your father requires you to make a blood oath. It will bind you to me until one of us dies.”

Dannika had no intention of telling them they’d forgotten the matches to light the candle. She knew which one of them would die first.

“Just get on with it.” Though she couldn’t blame the situation on Zade, she couldn’t keep the disgust from her voice.

Zade held out his hand before fire ignited in the palm. He lit the candle before closing his fingers to extinguish the flames.

Killian materialized behind the makeshift altar. He held his hands out in a divine gesture, a pastor in front of his flock. “Today, we witness the binding of Zade and Dannika. This union sparks the beginning of a new era. One where I am the king of the shadow clans. Of humanity. My daughter will bring about a new era for the reapers. She will provide us with children. Daughters for you to mate. Sons to join our ranks.”

He grabbed the dagger and held out his hand.

Zade placed his hand on Killian’s with his palm up. Killian cut into the perfect flesh. Black blood welled up in Zade’s hand.

Killian grabbed Dannika’s hand when she refused to offer it. Crimson blood welled in her hand as Killian made an identical cut. He placed her hand on Zade’s. The sting as their blood mixed was nothing compared to the agony in her heart.

Her shadow reached out, connecting with Raine’s.

His wolf’s anger was barely leashed. While the man understood one wrong move would end in his death, his animal was in pain. His failure to protect his mate was a mortal blow upon his soul. A pain that cut deeper than any reaper blade.

She sent waves of reassurance, trying to tell him without words that this was her choice. Her life. She would sacrifice it for him.

While he believed he was at fault, she knew the truth. This was all about her. Her past was a precursor to her future. She’d always brought pain and death to her family, and while she’d hoped this time would be different, the reality was much darker. She would embrace the curse that was her legacy and bring it to Killian. Her father would reap what he had sown. She would become the monster her father wanted her to be, so she could kill him.

Raine’s shadow wailed in her heart, as it acknowledged the sacrifice she would make. Killian thought he could connect her to Zade, and while she could feel the reaper’s blood inside her, a soul couldn’t be re-gifted. Ceremony or not, that belonged to Raine. She would play along. Get as much information as possible for the wolves and the other shadow warriors before her time expired.

Killian smiled, dropping his hands. “Zade and Dannika are mated. Their connection can only be broken in death.”

Zade appeared to kiss her cheek, but he whispered against her ear, “I will answer your questions, but we need a more private location.”

Dannika nodded, but she couldn’t pretend an ounce of compassion for her new mate.

Zade led her through the maze of crushed cars. The middle aisle exited to a tall chain-link fence. Someone had set up a travel trailer with patio lights and deck chairs.

She stopped on the green Astroturf carpet laid before the door. “What is this?”

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