Page 38 of Mortal Reaper (Shadow Shifter)

“You’re despicable and I won’t help you become king of the reapers.”

“I won’t just be the reaper king. I will rule the shadows and all living things.”

Her face hardened. “I won’t help you.”

He stepped towards her and ran his hand over her hair. “Dannika, surely you know by now you don’t have a choice.”

Her eyes met his. She let him see her hatred, her anger, and her ambition. “You took my blood because I let you. I won’t let it happen again. Your hold on me will wear off, and then you will pay the consequences.”

Killian leaned towards her. “You are talented and strong for a fledgling, but you are no match for me.”

She glanced away, trying to curb her anger. She needed the cold calm of her shadow to carry out her plan. “Prove to me that you can control me. Show me the child.”

Killian pointed to the cage previously belonging to the teenager. Sammy huddled in the corner with his arms wrapped around his knees.

Dannika rushed over and knelt before the door. She unlocked it and pulled Sam into her arms. “I’m so sorry. Killian was controlling me.”

Sammy shivered in her arms. “When we left the sanctuary, your eyes turned red. I knew it wasn’t you.”

Her thumb moved over the smudges on his cheek. “I know, baby. I’ll find a way to get you free.”

Tears streaked down Sammy’s pale face. “Maverick will be so mad. I broke the rules. We never leave sanctuary unless it’s with Maverick, and he proves to us it’s him.”

She wiped the tear away with her thumb. “This is not your fault. Killian is powerful. He tricked me too.”

Killian approached the cage. “How sweet. Perhaps it’s time for you to learn the true extent of my power.”

Dannika looked up at her deranged father. “Let him go. You have already proved your point. I thought you left children alone.”

Pain seared her mind. She grabbed her ears and screamed Against her will, she reached out and wrapped her hand around Sammy’s throat, squeezing as he hit her arm.

“Stop it, Killian!” She’d thought that him controlling her while she wasn’t aware was bad. Sammy’s tortured face as she strangled him was much worse. “Please.”

She formed an image in her mind of her mustering her strength and sinking her reaper blade into her heart. Killian couldn’t control her forever, and death was preferable to this.

Killian released her with a hiss. “Don’t even think about it. I still need you.”

She felt Killian move within her body, oily fingers that traced her skin in a reminder. She was a tool, and she was his.

Killian glanced toward the office. “We have much work to do.”

His tone was conversational, as if he hadn’t just traumatized her and Sammy.

Sammy had his head between his knees, rocking back and forth as he sobbed.

“What are your plans for Sammy?” she asked.

Killian glanced at the child as if he were a bug. “He is too young for his shadow to emerge.”

She pursed her lips. “What are you going to do with him?”

Killian shrugged. “Nothing now. He is the same age as Raine when he transitioned. You will drink Sammy and see if he survives. If he does, he will be your first soldier.”

Dannika stood up. “I don’t need any soldiers.”

Her desire to attack Killian was becoming harder to control. The urge to sink her blade into his chest fueled her demon. She understood what fed a demon soul: pain, revenge, and blood. She was in trouble. If she continued on his path, she would turn reaper and give Killian what he wanted.

The snarls from the shadow had her turning.

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