Deidre's Death (#2, Rhyn Eternal) by Lizzy Ford

knew from his history with
Rhyn that there was no love lost between Rhyn and any of his
half-brothers, none of who wanted him alive, aside from Andre.
    At the same time, Rhyn’s undying loyalty to
his family was what made him do everything he could to keep the
Council together. It didn’t matter that he’d been sentenced to Hell
by the very people he was now charged with protecting. Gabriel
assessed the half-demon was conflicted.
    “What message is he sending me?” Rhyn
growled.
    “You think it’s a message?” Gabriel asked.
“Could there be anything Darkyn wanted from Erik?”
    “Damned if I know. He went missing and
refused to come when any of us summoned him. I went looking for him
at one point,” Rhyn said. “I almost assumed he was dead-dead but
thought you’d tell me if so.”
    “I would,” Gabriel agreed. “Darkyn is
already slaughtering kids. I don’t know if this is a message or
something else.”
    Rhyn was quiet. He knelt beside his
brother.
    “His soul is gone,” Gabriel said
quietly.
    “What the fuck would Darkyn want with Erik’s
soul?” Rhyn asked angrily. “He’s not Sasha. Sasha was fucked up.
Erik was just … stubborn.”
    “I don’t know why either.”
    “He took out four demons and still didn’t
summon me before the fifth took off his fucking head.”
    Gabriel said nothing, sensing the
half-demon’s explosive temper was close to the surface. He looked
around to make sure he hadn’t missed anything else that might give
him a sign as to what Darkyn was doing by killing off an Ancient
Immortal.
    “He had to know I’d come!” Rhyn added and
stood.
    “This isn’t your fault, Rhyn. Don’t start
down that path.”
    “Easy to say when you’re not fucking up
everything.”
    “But I am,” Gabriel said, laughing.
    Rhyn snorted.
    “If nothing else, keep an eye on your
brothers, I’d say.”
    “Maybe Darkyn is still pissed at me for
breaking into Hell to rescue our friends a few months ago.”
    “Maybe,” Gabriel said. “There’s no telling
with that sadistic bastard.”
    “I’ve gotta do something about the kids,
Gabe.” Rhyn’s voice was hushed. “We’re tracking the demons now but
not fast enough.”
    “You’re not thinking of a deal with
Darkyn.”
    “I am.”
    “You’re a brother to me, Rhyn, but let Andre
negotiate, if you do that,” Gabriel advised. “I don’t think it’s
wise at all. You’ve got Andre. Let him help you. You’ll catch
up.”
    “How many more die before we stop him?” Rhyn
asked. “Gabe … I’ve got a hatchling on the way. All I can think
about is what I would do if something ever happened to her. Darkyn
tried to grab Katie already to get to her.”
    “Darkyn preys on the desperate, Rhyn.
Remember that,” Gabriel cautioned his friend.
    “I know it. I also know I’m feeling
desperate right about now. Will you let me know if you find Erik’s
soul?” As he spoke, Rhyn fingered the black necklace he wore. On it
was one soul, that of his brother Kris, who had given up his life
to get Katie out of Death’s underworld.
    “Yeah.”
    “I’ll issue an alert to the Immortals.
Except Tamer. Darkyn would be doing me a favor if he took out that
jackass.”
    Gabriel said nothing. Rhyn and Tamer were
similar enough in temperaments that nothing would make them get
along.
    “I’m headed to see him next,” Gabriel said
casually. “I’ll let him know.”
    “Whatever.”
    “You want Erik’s body taken to the basement
at the castle?”
    Rhyn considered. Gabriel knew how sensitive
the crypt in the basement was. It had been where Wynn, the father
of all the Immortals on the Council, had lain for hundreds of years
before being dragged out by Sasha, the son who betrayed them all to
Darkyn.
    “Yeah,” Rhyn said softly. “He’s my brother.
He deserves a burial of some sort.”
    “I’ll have someone bring him over.”
    Rhyn nodded. His gaze lingered on the body
of his half-brother. Gabriel summoned Landon and gave a quick order
for