Jack A Grim Reaper Romance (27 page)

“You worry too much.” Mason drank his brandy, desperate for a bit of fortification, for he knew Pierce had every reason to worry about him. “As for Lilly and this marriage, she’ll come around.”

Pierce let out a ragged sigh, and sat back against the sofa, his head cocked to the side. “You know, that bloody Viking still loves her, aye?”

“And Lilly still loves him.” He shrugged and pretended it didn’t bother him even though it stuck in his side like a splintered arrow. “I’m not blind, nor am I stupid, Pierce.”

Pierce’s eyebrows shot up in question. “You may not be blind or stupid, but I’d question just how sane you currently are. You’ve lost your head over her, and the Elders will make you pay for it.”

“Speaking of which, I need to go while Lilly’s still distracted. She’ll make an even bigger fuss than you once she finds out.” Mason finished his drink in one large gulp, and then got up to leave.

Pierce also stood and grabbed his hand. “Don’t go, Mason. I’m begging you.”

“You’re to keep Lilly safe while I’m gone, and she’s not to leave this house. Can you promise me that?”

“Curse you to hell, Mason.” Pierce kissed him hard on the lips, and then stepped away, worry in his eyes. “You have my word.”

***

Mason debated which of the Elders he should go see, but in the end, knew he was closest to Damon, even if it was likely Nelson had already spoken to him. Hopefully, by addressing the issue instead of running away from it, he could negate some of the consequences.

The ride was a short one. Before he’d even gathered his thoughts properly, he was shown into Damon’s sitting room where the Elder waited for him. “I was hoping you’d come and see me. Drink?” He poured himself a glass from the tray on the end table, and then without waiting for Mason’s response, poured him one also.

“Thank you.” Mason took the drink, and then sat across from the Elder. “I want to file a formal complaint against Nelson.”

Damon barked out a laugh and shook his head. “You’re so cocksure. I’ve always admired that about you, Mason.” He tilted his drink towards him with a nod. “It’s why you’re so good at your job.”

“Am I?” Mason knew he was playing a dangerous game, yet he could see no other way of approaching the situation.

“You’d not be chancellor if it weren’t the case.” Damon’s gaze bore through him like the heat of a thousand suns. “I’ll admit, putting Nelson in charge of your case may have been a bit hasty, however it does not dismiss you from your current behavior. You disobeyed our given orders.”

“I did not think your orders included the torture of an innocent reaper.” He sat forward closing the distance between them. “She was willing to help, and had done all he’d asked up until that point. But I’d be damned if I was going to let him go through two year’s worth of memories. She’d not have been able to endure it, Damon.”

Damon didn’t look concerned as he sipped his port. “Perhaps not, but there were alternatives to you undermining my orders.” He shook his head, and plunked his glass down on the end table. “Do you understand the position you’ve now put me in? You leave me no alternative, Mason. You’ll need to be punished for your disobedience, for I cannot have my chancellors disrespecting the authority of the Elders.”

Mason felt a cold sweat break out across his neck, though he was careful to not change his expression. “Promise me Lilly will not be harmed.”

“Mason… you’re in no position to be asking such favors.” He shook his head in annoyance. “Honestly, man.”

“None of this was her doing. If you’re to blame someone, blame me and that bastard, Nelson.” He sat back annoyed. “And what will his punishment be in this affair?”

“He’ll get his due for the part he played in the death of that man—the one that’s your new reaper. But as for this incident?” Damon sighed and shook his head. “If you had let him go through with interrogating her, it’d be easier to make a case against him. But now? It’s your word against his, and he’s the one sharing Amara’s bed.”

Mason’s head lolled around as he groaned to himself. It all made sense now. Of course. Here he’d thought Nelson had been whispering in Damon’s ear, when instead it’d been Amara. “That fucking bastard.”

Damon pursed his lips, his eyes locked on Mason’s. “You’ll need to hold onto that anger if you’re to get through your punishment. There’s nothing to be done for it, I’m afraid.”

“And what of Lilly?” He couldn’t let anything happen to her.

Damon said nothing for a long while, but finally gave him the answer he needed. “I’ll be sure she remains safe.” He stood and Mason followed suit. “I must say, you’re the last one I expected to get married.”

Mason’s lips curled into a warm smile. “Can’t say I expected it either.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

“How could you let him go?” Fear and panic swallowed Lilly whole as she tried to break free of Corwin’s grasp so she could strangle Pierce.

Pierce glanced at Corwin in a way that got his meaning across without any words. When Corwin let her go, Pierce pulled her close and held her to him until her struggles ceased and the tears came.

“He left me no choice, Lilly. You know I’d do everything in my power to keep him here, but there was no alternative. Matters would only be worse if he avoided the matter.”

Her mind raced through all they could do to him, and having experienced some of the punishments first hand, she could only imagine what he’d have to endure. She looked up into his eyes and pleaded with him. “We need to go find him. Please, Pierce. He’ll not survive it.”

He shook his head, and she could see her despair and worry reflected in his eyes. “I’m afraid, my dear, that death will not be a mercy he’ll be afforded.”

His words left her choking on a sob.

“What are ye trying to do to her, aye?” Corwin pulled her back into his arms protectively, but she shrugged him off, not wanting to be coddled by either of them.

“I’m going to the Elders.” She’d be damned if she was going to sit idly by while Mason was punished and tortured. “He only wanted to protect me. He did nothing wrong, Pierce.”

“I know, but there’s nothing to be done for it, and I gave him my word that you’ll not leave this house. Do I make myself clear? He did this to protect you, and I’ll be damned if I’ll have his sacrifice go to waste by having you get yourself in trouble.” He ignored her cries of frustration and looked past her to Corwin. “Can you take her to her room and make her see sense?”

“Aye.”

“He’ll do nothing of the sort.” She glared at the two of them. How could they just stand here and do nothing to help Mason?

“Lilly, come, love.” Corwin gently took her by the elbow to try and guide her out of the room. “Pierce will go and see what can be done for Mason.”

She turned to Pierce, hopeful, her heart in knots. It was likely the best she could hope for. “Will you?”

He nodded. “If you promise to not leave the house, I’ll go and find Mason. I don’t know that there will be any way to stop his punishment, but at least he won’t be alone.”

When she nodded, Corwin pulled her close and led her away.

***

Lilly paced the floor of her bedroom—the one she’d stayed in when she first came to live at Mason’s home. It hadn’t seemed right to bring Corwin into Mason’s private quarters, even if she’d been sharing Mason’s room as of late.

“What’s taking them so long?” Hours had passed since Pierce left, and Lilly’s mind kept thinking the worse, the steady stream of whiskey doing little to calm her. “He should never have done it. He should have let me go with Nelson. And Jack, curse him, should have turned himself in to the Elders.”

Corwin took her hand and forced her to sit by the fire, taking the seat next to her. Even though she remained there by his side, her body was coiled tight with tension, her muscles in knots. At least he didn’t start questioning her about Jack.

“If Mason had allowed ye to come to harm, what sort of man would he be?” Corwin shook his head. “No, love. I may not be happy about ye marrying him, but at least he’s proven worthy of yer affections.”

“The pain’s excruciating. Nothing from the land of the living even comes close.” A tear escaped and slid down her cheek. “And to endure hours of it?” She shook her head, for words escaped her.

Corwin’s brow furrowed in question, while she saw the comprehension and horror dawn upon him. “Lilly… please tell me ye didna experience it firsthand.”

She shrugged and took his hand into her lap. “I’d have done it all again given the chance… though now I don’t have to.”

“I dinna understand, love.” He searched her face. “What did ye do to warrant such punishment?”

Some of the tension slipped free as she smiled at the memory. It had kept her going for years, and she had not an ounce of remorse. She cupped his face, his stubble rough against her palm. “I kissed you.”

His eyes went wide as realization and guilt set in. “The dance? Lilly, ye shouldna have done it.” He grabbed her arms and all but shook her. “Why would you do such a thing? What were you thinking?”

“I’d do it all again, love. My only regret is that I did not have the chance to tell you of Emma. I just wasn’t sure how to broach the subject when you did not know my true identity.” She let him pull her into his embrace, and leaned her head against chest. The strong beat of his heart lulled her, took the edge off her nerves unlike the drink had been able to do.

“I thought of that kiss often.” He ran a soothing hand down her back. “There was something about ye that seemed so familiar. When ye disappeared that night, I was beside myself, though to be honest, I knew not why. Tried to find ye even, but no one there seemed to know much about ye.”

“I didn’t want to leave like I had, but Mason found me. It’s strictly forbidden to pursue any relations with the living, and even worse to contact those from your past.”

“Is Mason the one that punished ye?” Corwin pulled back to look at her, anger creasing his brow and lining his face.

“The Elders were already aware of what I’d done. He had no choice but to bring me to them.” She fought off a cold shiver that travelled down her spine. “But what I went through is nothing compared to what he’s now enduring.”

She fought back tears that once again threatened. He held her until she quieted, her lids now heavy from all her worrying.

“Perhaps ye should try and get some rest, love. Staying up all night, tormenting yerself will do ye no good. He’ll need ye at yer best when he gets back.”

When he lifted her off the sofa and headed towards the bed, she did not protest. The stress of the day and the whiskey had her head spinning.

“I’ll stay in a spare room.” Corwin turned to go, even though she saw his hesitation.

All Lilly wanted was for Mason to come back to her safe and sound, but she knew the reality would be a far different matter. Not wanting Corwin to see her distressed, she rolled over and turned her back on him, burying her head in the pillow, hoping he’d leave.

“Och, love. I canna leave ye when ye’re so upset.” He laid down by her side and pulled her into his arms, ignoring her struggles to push him away.

“Leave me be, Corwin. Just go.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” He cradled her against him and held onto her until she finally quieted down, her mind now numb. “Mason will be all right, love. He’ll be back to ye before ye know it. Now try and get some rest. He’d not want ye worrying.”

She knew he was right, and with her head swimming in drink, it was too easy to just listen to Corwin’s heartbeat once more and close her eyes. He stroked her hair while he muttered to her in Gaelic, the soft words soothing her further even though she knew not their meaning.

However, every time she drifted off, images of her ordeal mixed with images of Mason, jolting her awake. She was finally so on edge, sleep would not come despite the exhaustion that left her head spinning with images of Mason’s pain.

Corwin kissed the top of her head. “Ye remember that home ye liked so much? The one that sat at the top of the hill up by Morenish.”

She let out a ragged sigh. “Of course.” Though it’d been just over ten years ago, it felt like an entire lifetime. She went back through her memories, happy for the distraction. “It’d been lovely.”

They’d found the large stone house while on a walk through the woods. It’d sat high enough to overlook the forest, with glimpses of the loch and glens below. Such a view—unlike anything she’d ever seen before.

She had met Corwin only months before, the son of her father’s business partner, and had fallen for him from the very start. She’d jumped at the chance when he invited her and her aunt, to visit for the summer, her father too busy with work and her mother not wanting to venture into the Scottish wilds. A few weeks later, at the end of her stay, he’d proposed just before he’d set off to sea for the year. Soon after his proposal and with his impending departure, they’d found themselves in a naked tangle of limbs, succumbing to their passions.

“I bought the house, love.” He brushed a stray lock from her eyes, his touch lingering. “It was meant to be a surprise for ye on our wedding day.”

“Oh, Corwin.” She didn’t know what to say, the revelation taking her completely by surprise.