My Tethered Soul: Volume 2 (Reaper's Rite) Read Free Page A

swallowed and waited for him to say something. It felt like forever, standing in the hall and holding out for some words of wisdom.
    “Do you think it means something?” I finally asked.
    “No.”
    “But it’s my birthday. I’m seventeen now.”
    Chase’s eyes lowered to my necklace. He touched the stone with his fingers for a second. When his eyes came back up to meet mine, he dropped his hand.
    “Don’t worry, Zadie. As long as I’m around, you’re safe.”

Chapter Three
     
    I heard Sable meowing before I saw her. The black cat sat staring out from behind the screen door of Lilura’s house. I hopped onto the porch and squinted, trying to see inside. It was still cloudy out, allowing very little light into the house, but I could just make out the silhouettes of furniture inside. I knocked on the frame of the screen door, making Sable jump back.
    “Lilura? Lilura, it’s me. Are you there?”
    No answer. I pushed down on the handle and let myself in. It was Monday, and I hadn’t seen her all weekend, but I came to her house practically every day after school, so I didn’t feel entirely odd walking in uninvited. Besides, we’d joined forces and made it through an extraordinary circumstance together; it was almost like we were family.
    The living room was drenched in shadow. The only noise I heard was the ticking of a clock. “Lilura?”
    Sable meowed and ran into the kitchen. Was Lilura in there? I didn’t know why I felt frightened. It was just like Lilura to be strange and silent. I headed to the kitchen to check. Everything was still, not a soul to be seen. I decided to take out a pair of teacups and wait at the dining room table for her to show up.
    A scraping noise made me freeze as I reached for the cups.
    “Hello? Who’s there?”
    Silence. I quietly placed the cups on the counter and closed the cabinet door. I had no reason to be afraid. If I felt safe anywhere in the world, it was in Lilura’s house. She probably had a protection spell covering every inch of the place.
    My breath hitched when a figure stepped out from the darkness of the dining room. He was alarmingly tall, dark blond hair slicked back on his head and stubble dotting his chin.
    I took a step back.
    His thick brows came down, and when he rubbed the back of his neck, I spotted a leather-studded band around his wrist.
    “Who—” My voice hitched. I tried again, pushing the fear out of my words. “Who are you?”
    It was probably a stupid question. Would an intruder really answer?
    The stranger smirked. I stood taller and straightened my shoulders. I defeated a Reaper, for God’s sake. This guy shouldn’t have frightened me.
    “Hunter, I asked you to put the kettle on. Stop messing around.” Lilura pushed past the man and hobbled toward me. I gaped at her in surprise, unsettled at her casual response to this man in her kitchen. The old woman grabbed the cups I’d taken out and walked back out of the kitchen without greeting me. The stranger watched her leave, then looked back at me, sticking his hands in his jeans pockets. His stoic expression reminded me of someone.
    “Wait. Who are you?” I asked again.
    He smirked. “I’m Hunter. Chase’s older and much more attractive brother.”
    Still a little put off by his appearance and boastful mannerisms, I took another step back as he reached for the teakettle. I let the information sink in while he filled it with water and set it on the stove.
    “Chase’s brother? I thought you were in Europe.”
    He turned toward me and leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms over a black Harley Davidson T-shirt. His biceps stretched out his short sleeves.
    “Was in Europe. Lilura actually called me out here months ago. I would have been here sooner, but I was finishing up a job, if you know what I mean. And I think you do, since Lilura hasn’t shot your head off for trespassing.” His hand imitated a gun and aimed at me on the word “shot.” A tattoo of a flaming pair of