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The smell of blood hit her before she emerged from the metal aisles of crushed cars. Julius stood over Raine. Thick slices of torn flesh hung from Raine’s chest.
Dannika stepped up to Julius, ignoring the blade that dripped blood. “Stop this. You’re my brother.”
Julius’ lip curled, revealing his fangs. “Yes, but I wasn’t raised in a weak environment like you.”
She folded her arms. “I sure got the shit end of the stick in the family department, didn’t I?”
Several reapers, standing guard, laughed.
Julius raised the blade above Dannika’s head. “It is unwise to taunt me.”
She leaned in so her face was right in front of his. “Go ahead. My death will be quick. The things Killian will do are nothing compared to when you turned reaper.”
Julius flinched. While her brother was putting up a magnificent front, he hadn’t forgotten the months of torture after his transition. He lowered the blade to her throat. It bit in, drawing a trickle of blood. “Killing you may be worth it.”
Killian coalesced beside them. He was eerily quiet as his form solidified. “If you don’t remove that blade, I will kill you right now.”
Julius shot his father a threatening glare, but he lowered the blade. “What kind of reaper doesn’t fight?”
Killian hit Julius so hard it flung him backward twenty feet. He crashed into a stack of crushed cars. The metal tower wobbled as Julius got to his feet.
“Never disrespect my rule, or my orders.” Killian turned in a semicircle. “That applies to everyone here. The time of the reapers is upon us. Fighting amongst ourselves will weaken our cause. I will tolerate it from no one.”
Julius smacked the dirt from his clothing. “I didn’t intend to oppose you. I find Dannika’s demeanor aggravating. She is oppositional, but she doesn’t fight.”
Killian looked his daughter over. “I never said she wouldn’t fight. We will not have weak reapers in the clan. She will fight for her right to live, but she’s a fledgling and will fight a reaper of similar stature.”
Julius hissed. “Her fighting a fledgling will not make you look strong.”
Killian walked over to his son and grabbed him by the throat. “If you wish to fight me, then issue a challenge. I am more than willing to accommodate you.”
Julius lowered his gaze. “I don’t wish to challenge you, Father.”
Killian pushed his son away from him, causing Julius to smack the back of his head against the car.
“You are a pathetic excuse for a son.” He turned, motioning to one of the reaper sentries. “Fetch me a fledgling. Get Lincoln.”
The reaper disappeared down one of the metal aisles.
Dannika’s eyes narrowed on her father. “I hate to agree with my deranged brother, but me killing a fledgling is useless. It proves nothing.”
Killian smirked. “It proves you’ll do as you’re told. Besides, you’re not even a reaper yet. A shadow warrior is weaker than us. You will find a fledgling reaper is no easy feat to kill.”
The sentry returned with a man in his late twenties. He had short, dark hair and an athletic build, but looked uncomfortable in Killian’s presence as he approached his leader.
Killian put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “Lincoln, this is my daughter. I wish you to kill her.”
Lincoln glanced at Dannika. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
Lincoln removed his leather jacket. His arms were a kaleidoscope of black and white ink.
Dannika recognized the gang tattoo.
“Sorry, girl.”
“You don’t need to do this,” she said.
