Reapers of the Dark (Cora Roberts #4)

Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

In a baked goods competition, cookies reign supreme.

M y aunt had regular creepy insights sent to her by a higher power, but the fact she’d spoken the exact words Hudson had once uttered to me in a dream was a whole new level of freaky. When two separate people experienced something, it was no longer random, especially when the idea of it wasn’t so farfetched, since I was the embodiment of death. It seemed someone wanted to tell me something, but who? I doubted God used such vague messaging. Wait, no, that’s exactly what he did. In fact, he was notorious for it. Is that what this was? Couldn’t he just send a message through my father? It seemed overkill to come at me through dreams and my aunt’s random predictions.

No. I was missing something—again.

Hudson pulled up to the entrance of Summer Grove House, and the rear car doors opened and closed, leaving us alone. I just needed a minute to collect my thoughts.

Hudson’s hand threaded into my hair, and he twisted my head to face him. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Nothing good. “I feel like we are missing puzzle pieces,” I told him honestly.

“Is that why you went white as a sheet when Dayna declared something utterly random, which, while oddly terrifying, really meant nothing?”

He caught that? Of course he did. In for a penny, in for a pound. “It’s not the first time I’ve heard those specific words.”

His gaze narrowed. “Explain.”

I gazed into those hazel eyes, full of acceptance, love, and respect. It was terrifying how they’d come to represent home in such a short span of time. “You said them once,” I started.

“I would have remembered saying that.”

I tapped my temple. “In my dreams.”

He glanced at my forehead like he could see inside to the inner workings of my mind. “In what context?”

“We were on a burning field, and you warned me of what was coming.” He squinted at me, and something passed over his gaze. What are you hiding, Principal?

I opened my mouth just as my car door flung open, and Sebastian stuck his head inside. “Dave says you can give us the power to see the dead.”

I twisted my head to look at my best friend over my shoulder. “Timing.”

“I agree. It’s a great time to see the shit you can.”

I huffed. Guess we were tabling this conversation for later. But we would be having it. I released my seat belt and stalked after Sebastian, who was skipping up the stairs. Harry floated next to me, twisting his hands in front of himself.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“What if they don’t like me?”

Oh, Harry. This kind bright soul was nervous the cool kids wouldn’t like him. Except we weren’t the cool kids—we were at best a collection of weirdos.

“You have nothing to worry about,” I stated, trying to reassure him as I entered the house and turned into the parlor. Oh, look. Everyone was here.

“I can’t do everyone,” Indigo said with a hint of amusement. “Unless you want to feed me souls to power it?” She was a hopeful creature. Pity I was a realist.

“Not happening. How many can you do?”

“Souls? About a hundred an hour if pushed. But I wouldn’t recommend gorging after being practically starved.”

“How many people can you gift the sight of the dead to?”

She snickered in my mind. Everyone was a comedian lately. “Three. But only if one is Hudson. He’s our mate, so the power to lift the veil for him is minimal. The rest will take a little more effort.”

I folded myself on the sofa, and Hudson joined me as my family and friends arranged themselves around the room to stare at me in anticipation. Did they all want it?

“So I can only give three of you this gift, but one of them would need to be Hudson.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Bonus of sleeping with our girl is first dibs on her power.”

“Mine, not yours,” Hudson growled. I didn’t have it in me to negotiate a supernatural showdown right now.

“Pick, and do it quickly. I’m tired.”

They bickered among themselves as Maggie brought me a lemonade and cookies. I gave her a grateful smile. “You don’t want in on this?” I whispered to her.

She frowned. “Goodness, no. I have enough to be scared about without welcoming ghosts into my mental headspace. I think you need to be fully healthy and sane to master it.” We glanced around the room to take in the sniping supernaturals, and Maggie’s wide eyes met mine. “They are at least healthy,” she decided. I snorted, and she ran off back to the kitchen.

I rested my head on Hudson’s shoulder and stifled a yawn. When I couldn’t take any more of their bickering, I wearily pushed myself to my feet and clapped my hands to get their attention. “I have things to do that don’t involve listening to why you should have access to my power. So you have thirty seconds, then I will give Hudson access and leave the rest of you out of it.”

“Each faction should have a representative,” Sebastian declared. Seemed logical.

“You’re just saying that because your competition is a precious princess who seems unbothered,” Dave argued.

Sebastian shrugged. “It’s a good and fair plan.”

Rebecca’s lips twitch. “I am bothered, but since Cora’s the death expert, I trust her to tell me if I’m the right person to carry this burden.”

“Why would it be a burden?” Dave asked.

Rebecca twisted a lock of her blonde hair between her fingers. “Think about it. Since Harry passed, his only interactions have been through Cora. That’s a lot to put on one person. So this isn’t about having the power to see the dead; it’s about the responsibility needed to shoulder the burden with Cora to help those who need guidance, and to have patience with the spirits who choose to stay behind. They’ll be all up in your business morning, noon, and night.”

And that was why Rebecca was the perfect choice. Sebastian blinked like he hadn’t thought of the negative consequences. Men were idiots.

Bella padded into the room and sat in the center of the coffee table, giving herself a bath like she’d been waiting for spectators.

“I don’t have time for that,” Sebastian said as he plonked his ass in a chair.

Rebecca smirked. “I could represent the vampires in this situation.”

“I do like her,” Harry declared. Awesome.

“One more?” I pushed. Logically, it was going to be one of my aunts, but none of them lived here permanently. Aunt Liz was probably the most present, given her relationship with the incensed shifter.

“I’ll do it,” Liz stated. Nobody disagreed, and why would they? My aunt might have an air of primness about her, but she was terrifying if you crossed her.

“What now?” I asked Indigo.

She lurched forward and took over my body without fanfare or permission. She was getting stronger. “Those chosen need to retrieve a baked good from the kitchen.” The three of them frowned but shuffled off to retrieve an item. Bread, cookies, and a blueberry muffin. Not bad.

“Now, lift your left leg while balancing on the right.”

Aunt Liz glowered. “Why?”

“Because you need to have one foot in this dimension and the other with the dead.” It sounded plausible. Hudson, Liz, and Rebecca did as she bade.

Indigo glanced at Dave. “You know something, wolf? I think I can extend myself to include you.”

He grinned before running off and coming back with a box of breadsticks. Ugh. I awarded him with a C minus for his baked good choice. He lifted his left leg and waited expectantly.

“Tilt your heads like this.” She moved it to the right, and they all followed.

“Indigo,” I warned.

“Shush, this is fun.”

Oh boy. Sure it was… until they realized.

“With your right hand placed over your heart, repeat after me,” she instructed.

Rebecca’s lips twitched. My vampire girly had figured it out, but was having too much fun to stop it.

“I, state your name,” Indigo said in a deadly serious tone. They did as she asked. “Promise to uphold the ideals of the deceased.”

Aunt Liz narrowed her gaze as they repeated it. The deceased had no ideals. They were dead.

“Now that I have the honor of witnessing the afterlife, I will not break the three cardinal rules. One: always listen to the dead’s demands.” Harry bellowed a laugh. “Two: at the witching hour, pay homage to the dead by singing their song of choice. They will inform you of it on a weekly basis.”

“What the fuck?” Hudson muttered.

“And three: never ever cross the streams.”

Rebecca lost her balance and fell to the ground, laughing her ass off. Liz rolled her eyes and put her foot back on the ground while Hudson’s lips twitched. My mate found amusement in the fact my monster was a cult film fan.

Dave scowled. “Why is everyone laughing? Can you all see the dead?”

Indigo waved her hand in the air and Hudson, Dave, Liz, and Rebecca’s eyes zeroed in on Harry, who froze.

“That’s a ghost,” Dave whispered.

“An A plus for wolfie.” Indigo snickered. “Don’t forget your rules.” Then she sunk beneath my skin and let me come forward.

Harry straightened his tie at the attention. “I am Harry Forte,” he declared.

Rebecca snorted. “What song should we sing tonight?” she asked.

Hudson went to explain the joke to Dave, but I shot him a dirty look. Don’t you dare. Your chief of security could do with being shown up once in a while.

Harry pursed his lips. “You Put a Spell On Me.”

“Which version?” Dave asked.

“I’m partial to Nina Simone’s, but it’s your choice.”

I leaned into Hudson’s ear. “We’ll tell him tomorrow. Don’t spoil this for me.”

He nodded with a twinkle in his eye. “Your beastie has a mean streak.”

“Don’t I know it.” A long sigh escaped my lips. I wanted a bath and to fall into bed wrapped in his arms. But there was something I needed to start. “I’ll meet you in our rooms in ten minutes,” I told him with a quick peck on the lips. He frowned as I left the parlor and went downstairs, through my office, and into the Roberts’ family vaults. I opened my personal one and retrieved the scrolls. I unrolled them, glancing at what I already knew. Lenson and Rockhard were correct. Our family tree included every single female, with only the occasional male added. Was it on purpose to conceal their identity? Or were they omitted through my family’s arrogance, believing they were inconsequential past their genetic contribution?

Time to find out.