Page 4 of Mortal Guardian (Shadow Shifter)

“Don’t give me that ‘my queen’ bullshit, Irdane. You have ten seconds to tell me why I shouldn’t kill you,” Dannika hissed.

Raine growled. “You’re not getting into a fight. If he has to die, Colton or I will kill him.”

Dannika rolled her eyes. “Let me rephrase. I don’t have the balls to make him suffer enough, and I promised Ferguson I would let him explain to the reapers who betrayed the clan the error of their ways. He has some very eccentric ideas and I like to encourage his creativity.”

Colton cleared his throat as Riley stifled a laugh. She’d always admired Dannika’s wit, but the frightened reaper wasn’t used to her charm. He shuddered every time she mentioned Ferguson’s name.

Irdane rubbed his throat as if there were invisible hands clasped around it. “I swear to you, Dannika, I mean no harm.”

She casually brushed an errant strand of hair from her eyes. “Remind me again why I should trust you.”

“Breck has lost control of the reaper clan. He doesn’t see it, but he has. Deruthel is leading the reaper separatists. We are fodder for the war.”

Dannika’s eyes narrowed on Irdane. “Why would Breck allow this?”

“Deruthel has promised Breck he will rule the reapers after the demons have dominion over this world. He will be second to the King and Deruthel only. My demon detects the lie when Deruthel speaks to Breck. I don’t know why he is so taken with the demon. He worships that demon and obeys every command.”

The flash of black shadow was so quick, barely a heartbeat passed, and Ferguson stood beside Irdane. “I’ve been looking for you.”

Irdane visibly shivered when Ferguson put his hand loosely on the man’s shoulder. “Don’t hurt me.”

Dannika flicked her hand. “He won’t hurt you... yet. Tell us more about Breck and Deruthel. You make it sound like Breck is enamored with the demon general.”

Irdane nodded quickly. “That’s what it looks like. Deruthel speaks to him and he looks like he is in some sort of rapture. It’s unnatural.”

Ferguson dropped his hand from the reaper shoulder. “Deruthel possesses a rare power. A dark gift that creates a bond with his underlings. A sense of euphoria that is highly addictive and deadly. I’ve seen it, but I don’t understand how it works. He doesn’t seem to bother with those who have a lower station, so perhaps there are limits to this ability.”

Dannika rubbed her forehead. “That doesn’t explain why he would ensnare Breck. Do the reapers really give him much more power?”

Irdane glanced at Ferguson. “It isn’t about power or numbers. Deruthel is doing some kind of experiment. They are turning humans using priestess and demon blood.”

Colton put his arm out when Riley attempted to step toward Irdane. She had no doubt Ferguson would remove the man’s head before she got near him. He wouldn’t take that chance with his mate.

“What did you see?” Riley asked.

“I was part of the reaper clan under Killian and Julius. I have seen transitions go wrong in so many ways. Both men and women, screaming in pain as their bones break and their flesh is consumed by the shadows. What the demons are doing is an atrocity in every way. It’s truly sickening and difficult to watch.”

“Explain the demon experiments. How are these transitions different from ours?” Ferguson asked.

Irdane shivered, and it wasn’t from fear of the elder reaper. “At first, Deruthel was grabbing humans indiscriminately. Men, women and children; just to see the effects of his blood elixirs. Those were the worst. Their bodies broke down into black lumps of flesh with human eyes and distorted faces. The screaming, and crying... the begging to be killed, was horrid. It’s an excruciating way to die.”

“None of them transitioned successfully?” Dannika asked.

“Not exactly, but Deruthel is working on his elixir with Breck and the King. They will perfect it eventually. I believe they have done this in the past.”

“What does ‘not exactly’ mean?” Colton asked.

“He has had several women close to completing the transition to a demon form, but they ultimately died. It’s my understanding that those near successes were of a certain bloodline.”

Colton’s heart fluttered. “What bloodline?”

Irdane’s gaze fell on Riley. “Hers.”

Colton glanced at Riley’s shocked face. “How does Deruthel know who Riley’s related to?”

“You misunderstand. He is using his own blood mixed with Riley’s. That concoction has created the intern transitions,” Irdane said.

Dannika’s eyebrows arched. “Riley, how did he get your blood?”

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