The Raven Series 2 (21 page)

She shrugged her dainty shoulders. “The usual. My dad slept with another woman. A human. Zane is only half reaper.”

The bombshells just kept on rolling, and I was beginning to understand the jerk’s thought process, but I didn’t want to believe it. Because believing Zane wasn’t pure crushed all my dreams. It destroyed my future, what
I
wanted. “If he is only part reaper, how is he so powerful?” He might be a d-bag, but he was a douchebag who could kick some serious ass.

“By thinking he has something to prove. He works twice as hard as the rest of us, pushing himself past feasible limits. Zane doesn’t just
want
to be the best; he
is
the best.”

Just like him to see being half human as a shortcoming. My shoulders slumped. “So if your dad had an affair with a human, and you, Zach, and Zander are pure, who is your mom?”

Confusion etched her willowy brows. “What do you mean? You know my mum.”

I bit my chipped fingernails, thinking. “I thought your mom was human.”

A light dawned in her eyes. “Mum is human now, but she wasn’t always.”

The webs kept spinning. I was going to need her to draw me a family tree. “If she used to be a reaper, what happened?”

“You’re going to love this. She was a hawk, until Rose stripped her of her powers.”

I choked.
And the plot thickens
. “Why would Rose do that?”

“She was the White Raven. Rose didn’t need a reason, but in this particular situation, she did have one.”

My mind immediately jumped to the conclusion that it had something to do with her soul symmetry with Death. Had Rose gotten jealous and, in her rage, stripped Ivy of her reaper wings? I could see myself doing something like that, but not Rose. She had too much decorum and rigidness.

“I don’t know all the deets, as Zach and I were babies,” she continued. I was on the edge of my seat. “But word around town is my mum killed Zane’s mum.”

I gasped and almost fell over the edge of the couch. “Without an order?” I guessed.

She nodded. “Rose took her powers but spared her soul.”

I wrapped my arms around my waist to try to suppress the shudder. “And yet your mom raised Zane as one of her own?”

“It might seem unconventional and a bit unethical, but I think once the guilt at what she had done finally set in, she had hoped in some small way to make amends. Truthfully, he was impossible to not love. He was only two at the time and a perfect little boy. Never has Mum treated him differently. None of us have. Zane has only been but a brother to me.”

I couldn’t help but feel for him. For his loss. The last thing I wanted was to empathize with the jerk. I was still hurting. Why hadn’t he told me? It might have saved me some tears. “That is some heavy shit, Zoe.” My fingers dashed through my hair as I swallowed the reality.

Zane wasn’t a pureblood.

And that meant I couldn’t marry him. Why did I have to fall in love with someone I could never have?

With a snap of a finger, the pain made way for anger.

I was pissed.

At Zane. At my mom. At Rose. At Death. At the universe.

Chapter 23

Death paid me a visit.

For anyone else, it would be a grave sign to see Death at your doorstep. For me, it was a reminder of my responsibilities.

The last few weeks I hadn’t been expected to do anything more than train and learn the ways of being a reaper, but now with my coronation right around the corner, the day was coming when I was going to have to step into my birthright.

Ready or not.

Death was not what you’d picture. His face wasn’t pale and sunken. He didn’t have wrinkles around his eyes or wear a black cloak. Parker would be disappointed, but Death looked like an Irish mountain man. Big. Burly. Gruff. And handsome as hell. For an old dude.

And he was old. Prehistoric.

Unsure what to do or say, I shifted my weight, shoved my hands in my back pockets, and met his gaze. “Is this where you check up on me? Make sure I stay in line?”

He crowded the circular entry hall with his presence. “The wife worries about you alone in this house,” he said breezily.

I tried to keep a straight face when he mentioned Ivy. It was hard to not look upon him in a different light, knowing his dirty little secrets. We all had them. “And do you worry? About me?”

“Why wouldn’t I? You’re virtually family. And not to mention a crucial part to the universe’s balance.”

“There’s no need. I’m a big girl now.”

“I’d ask you how you are, but something tells me you’d tell me you’re just fine. And we both know that’s not true.”

Sighing, I admitted, “I’ve had better days. Better years actually.”

“Hmm. Haven’t we all. And your training is going well? My hoodlum child is behaving?” It was said with affection.

“Which one? Zach or Zoe?” I said, although we both knew he hadn’t been referring to either of them.

Roarke’s lips twitched. I always seemed to amuse him. “Walk with me.” It wasn’t precisely a request. I doubt he would have taken no for an answer.

A walk with Death…sounded ominous.

After Zoe left yesterday, I made a discovery about myself. I’d been too shocked to consider what she was telling me, but once my blood pressure leveled, I unearthed my own mystery. Everyone was telling me I was a pureblood reaper, that my lineage wasn’t tainted, but how could that be? My father was human.

Parker and I had spent more than half the night and into the wee hours of the morning discussing the possibilities. He hadn’t been as stunned as I’d been to learn about Zane’s biology. Then again, Parker wasn’t Zane’s biggest fan.

I stepped outside and waited for the right opportunity to broach the subject of my lineage. Something was amiss, and I was afraid of the answers.

The day was sunny and mild, all blue skies and soothing breezes. It was meant to be enjoyed. So much for that summer tan I’d promised myself I would get before senior year.

“It’s come to my attention you’ve had a few…hiccups lately,” he said as we walked toward the first tangle of hedges.

I was taking a stab in the dark here, assuming he was talking about Estelle. “If you call killing another reaper a hiccup, then yes.”

The edge of his mouth twitched. “Reapers are to be feared, but we aren’t evil. We’re a necessary part of life and death. And it’s important we preserve our legacy. We’ve been able to coexist with humans mainly because they can’t see us for who we really are until that pivotal moment in their lives.”

My stomach knotted. I had known it was only a matter of time before word got out about what I’d done to save Parker. It looked like my time was up. “I know I crossed a line, and I’d like to tell you I wouldn’t do it again. But, I can’t.”

“Good.”

My mouth dropped open.
Good?
He wasn’t upset?

“I appreciate your honesty,” he added. “It takes that and much more to govern a bunch of impulsive reapers.”

Feeling clumsy and foolish, I followed him into the garden paved with stepping-stones. A lazy black cat sunned itself on a wooden bench and blinked open one luminous green eye. Since I didn’t own a cat, I could only assume it was a Red Hawk, planted to keep a watchful eye on me. “So, you’re saying I have my work cut out for me?”

“Your grandmother was the Raven for a very long time, more decades than I can recall. She was set in her ways. I firmly believe that change is inevitable. Many of the elders won’t be so open to your ideas, but change is necessary. Something needs to be done to control the rogue reapers and the power they gain from aligning themselves with the hallows. If we aren’t careful, it will be only a matter of time before they outnumber us.”

If Death was truly concerned, then I knew the situation was getting worse. In a way, I’d been sheltered and protected from mounting trouble. Everyone was concerned with my safety. “What do you suggest I do?”

His long strides carried him over the manicured lawn. “You sent a clear message by eliminating Estelle.”

“That hadn’t been my intent.”

“Maybe so, but the message was still received and will travel through the ranks. Your no BS attitude will serve you well. Being the Raven requires a backbone.”

I snorted. The whole thing with Estelle had been more of an accident than a master plan to make other reapers fear me—that was more Zane’s style. “I hope I don’t disappoint.”

The garden smelled lovely and the wind brought traces of the sea. Roarke should have looked out of place among petunias, cosmos, and hollyhocks, but he didn’t. “My sons think highly of you, Piper. As do I.”

I wasn’t sure I deserved such respect, but it made me want to make them proud. “I don’t know what I would have done without them.”

“I know this is difficult, throwing away your old life and having your future carved out for you. Rose believed she was helping you, setting you up to be a strong leader.”

“And what about you?” He’d also signed off on the unbreakable treaty. The sector overlords each put their supernatural stamp on the document that held me to marrying Death’s heir.

His polar eyes were serious. “You understand why Zane was not chosen. The elders would never have allowed it. The longevity of our lives can be lonely. Think about that before you make a decision that can’t be undone.”

Was he telling me to follow my heart or to honor the treaty? I was confused. Couldn’t he be less Yoda-like and just break it down for me? Simple terms.
Piper, the world will implode if you marry Zane. Or, love is a powerful thing and can overcome anything.
But no, I got nothing, except the reminder of how long a journey my life would be. Reapers could live centuries.

I scuffed my shoe on the ground. “Maybe you can answer something for me. There’s this question that’s been nagging at me.”

“What’s on your mind?”

“If I am supposed to marry a pureblood, how am I able to be Rose’s successor? My father was human.”

There was a long pregnant pause. “You and Zane have many things in common, but your legitimacy is not one of them. I think you’ve already figured it out, as hard as it might be to come to terms with.”

I shook my head. “It’s not possible.” I
refused
to believe it.

He arched a brow. “And why is that?”

“I would know something like that. If my dad wasn’t my…dad!” I insisted, my voice rising. What he was suggesting was ludicrous.

“You’re a hundred percent positive?” he prodded, putting uncertainty into my already doubtful mind.

I’d heard the stories of my birth countless times. How my parents drove through one of the worst storms in Chicago to make it to the hospital mere minutes before I was born. “Maybe I’m not a pureblood,” I theorized.

The look in his eyes cracked my heart into a million pieces. “I’m sorry, Piper. If your blood was tainted, you would not have been able to absorb Rose’s powers. You would not have been able to save your friend from death.”

“I… Oh, God—” I thought I was going to hyperventilate.

My face must have gone white, because Roarke put a sturdy hand on my shoulder, and his blue eyes softened. “From someone who has been in a sticky situation, there is no easy way to break news of that magnitude. James is not your biological father.”

Holy banana pants.

Regardless of that pit in my stomach, I was fully convinced he was telling me everything I didn’t want to believe. I had thought my life was a lie before, but now I was sure of it. Was anything real? What next? Was I going to find out TJ wasn’t my brother, or Parker was an alien (which might have explained a few things). “How can you be so sure?” I whispered.

“Your mom was in love before she met James. She was pregnant with you when she left Raven Hallow, never to return. It was in Chicago that she met James. Your mom was in a dark place, and James helped her appreciate the importance of life. They agreed to raise you away from her world, and your mom renounced her birthright.”

My head was spinning, ears buzzing. I sunk into the wooden bench. “My whole childhood was a lie.”

He sat down beside me, his presence a surprising comfort. “I know this hasn’t been a simple transition for you, but I’ve seen you flourish. You’ve accomplished so much in such a short time. Your mom and Rose would be proud of you.”

My lip trembled. “Do you know who he is? My real father?” I had to know who he was, yet I wasn’t necessarily looking for an emotional reunion. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for or if I wanted anything from him.

Roarke nodded. “I did. He was a Blue Sparrow—a soul reaper.”

“Where is he? Can I find him?” I wasn’t even sure I wanted to see him, but I needed to know where he was…in case.

The compassion in his eyes faded. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but its part of the job. He’s dead, Piper. He died shortly after your mom found out she was pregnant.”

So, I was still an orphan. I nodded, feeling nothing but hollow. “How did it happen?”

“The details won’t bring you any peace. I know you want to avenge your mother’s death. Don’t let your pain and anger blind you. Don’t let me them make you careless. Rogue reapers are ferrying out souls from the afterlife, hallows, for the purpose of personal gain. They are looking to use these ferried souls to overturn your reign.”

Isn’t that just dandy. “One day at a time.”

I wanted to ask him about Zane, if he was okay, but I let him go without saying a thing. And I sat by myself, on the bench in the garden, until night descended. A pearl-white light of a three-quarter moon shone over my face. The scent of flowers seemed to rise up and surround me. Drawn to it, I rose and the breeze fluttered my hair. The heartbeat of the sea was fast and my own raced to keep pace.

“Mom!” I yelled.

She appeared in the garden, walking, almost gliding through the silvery light. Her hair was loose, sprinkling gold dust down her back and over her sheer shoulders. “Why are you screaming?”

“It’s kind of my thing.” Sarcasm was evident.

“Well, you got my attention. It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”

Duh
. “Why didn’t you ever tell me that
Dad
is not my father—my biological father?” I clarified, seeing her eyes cloud with confusion.

Understanding dawned. “You know why, Piper. For the same reason I kept you away from Raven Hallow. I didn’t want this world for you. It’s a sad story with a tragic end. I never wanted to relive that pain.”

“It’s inevitable. Don’t you see that?”

“At the time, no. My only concern was keeping you as far from Raven Hallow as I could. What was the point of hurting you? I always assumed there would be time. Never did I imagine time would slip away from me, but I should have known I wouldn’t be able to slip through death’s grasp.”

“How many more secrets do you have?”

“Piper Brennan,” she said in her watch-your-mouth voice.

I stood, unable to be still. “That’s not even my last name.”

Mom folded her arms. “It’s the name I gave you.” Even as a ghost, she had the ability to make me feel like a little girl who got caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

“I don’t know who you are anymore. Who I am.”

She plucked a flower and positioned it behind my ear. “
I
know you. There is magic in your eyes. In your blood. But no matter how much power you possess, you will always be my daughter.”

“It’s all so overwhelming. I can’t seem to find my footing.”

“You will,” she said.

Here’s to hoping I don’t muck everything in the worst kinds of way
.

Crack
. Something snapped in the distance. A twig or a leg. I bristled, and like a gust of wind, the transparent image of my mom vanished. My head came up quickly, and in the darkness, I swore I saw him, a shadow by the hedge. I sharpened my focus, letting my light fill me, but all it took was a blink for me to think I was going crazy.

There was nothing there but a well-trimmed shrub.