Love You To Death

By TM Watkins

An eternity roaming the Earth collecting souls has earned the Grim Reaper a special place in the devil's heart. The devil's family see the Reaper as a part of their own, a part of their world that they would do anything for.
Grim asks for one week, a simple request that he be given a body and the opportunity to experience life and love. All Grim wants to do is convince a woman that loving the Reaper won't be as bad as everyone thinks it would be. With Heaven and Hell's blessing, Grim sets out to learn about the woman that has captivated him.
Margo never expected the devil to turn up on her doorstep nor did she expect him to tell her that the Grim Reaper wants to pursue her romantically. Accepting what is in front of her and that her life will never be the same again, Margo lets them into her home and in turn, her life. Grim's innocence extends to all things, Margo soon learns that dating the Reaper was not what she expected it to be.
Everyone deserves to be loved and to love, why would it be any different for the creature known as the Grim Reaper? Join Grim and Margo in the adventure of forming a friendship, teaching Grim about the world that he'd never noticed and with a little luck, falling in love.
Are you ready to fall in love with the Grim Reaper?

• Language: English
• Publisher: TM Watkins
• Release date: Apr 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463513095

TM Watkins

TM Watkins lives in Brisbane, Australia with her family. When she's not working or running around after her family, she spends her days contemplating the next adventure for her characters and her nights writing about them.

Book preview

Love You To Death

A Deadly Beasts World Novel

By TM Watkins

Copyright 2018 TM Watkins

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Copyright © 2018 TM WATKINS SMASHWORDS EDITION

This book is a work of fiction. The names of characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination and are not to be interpreted as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organisations is entirely coincidental. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without the written permission of the author.

If you wish to contact the author, please visit:

http://www.tm-watkins.com

All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 9780463513095

~To my wonderful fans, thank you for your love and support~

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Epilogue

Deadly Beasts

About the Author

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1

It all started with a murder. Well, several actually. It created an addiction in one creature as it sustained the life of another. This was not the average human taking another life, not even a serial killer adding to their collection. This was the work of a vampire.

The Grim Reaper stood at the end of the alley, watching as the last breath was taken. This wasn't the first time that he’d watch this vampire take a life to sustain her own. Grim was sure it wouldn't be the last either. She was intoxicating, she was beautiful. Grim thought that she was many things more than just beautiful. The vampire had a sinful nature, a bright personality and an infectious laugh. Hearing her speak made Grim feel happier.

The young man gasped as the vampire bit deeper, his heart beat hard and then finally gave out. Before the body could even hit the ground, the devil’s reaper crow swooped in and collected the soul.

It could be said that Grim cared, perhaps even hurt that he didn’t do the majority of the devil’s work but somewhere in the soulless void that was the Grim Reaper, there was understanding.

The world had shot up out of nowhere. It was growing by leaps and bounds to the point that Grim could not cope with the constant reaping that needed to happen every single minute of every single day. There was no downtime, no stopping death. So, the devil did what he could to make life easy for Grim.

Because yes, the devil had a soft spot for his beloved reaper. Grim was the first, he’d been by the devil’s side since he’d been given the underworld to rule. Such was the bond that the devil kept only the best for Grim. Dark souls, mass murderers, people of pure evil. On the flip side, Grim also collected those who needed to be cared for. The delicate soul, the young, the frail.

Yes, the devil kept Grim busy. When there was no one of note to reap, Grim roamed the underworld, watching out for lost souls that couldn’t find their way to the main office. Sometimes Cerberus would keep Grim company, sometimes the devil himself would walk beside the reaper.

Grim watched as the vampire covered the body with paper and boxes, then began to walk out of the alley. As she walked past the reaper, Grim turned and watched her. The vampire strutted with a smug attitude, Grim liked that she was confident. She was a modern woman, she was strong yet Grim knew she could be easily broken. There was something hidden behind the deep green eyes, a pain that resonated deeply within her.

Leaning on the scythe, Grim watched the pretty vampire walk away. The long blonde hair seemed to float and bounce with each step. Jeans and a leather jacket with a dark red shirt underneath. Grim floated along the street, following the constant click of her boots on the wet sidewalk.

When she turned the corner to the next street, Grim continued to follow her. The vampire walked into a bookstore, Grim was right beside her. She left the bookstore and then wandered into the grocery store. Aisle after aisle, Grim followed the vampire, watching as she put things into her cart.

It wasn’t until she turned into the toiletries aisle that Grim stopped, faced with an unimpressed devil. The vampire pushed the cart straight through the figure, unaware that he was right in front of her.

The devil, otherwise known as Anton Dremain, glanced at the vampire. His rich, ruby red eyes turned back to Grim, raising an eyebrow.

You’re becoming a stalker.

Anton tried to keep his tone easy, not wanting to say the wrong thing in the wrong way. He wondered if Grim was fascinated and that maybe that fascination would pass soon enough.

Grim’s hood lowered, almost like he was ashamed.

There is nothing wrong with being fascinated in any one person, Grim. Following them around is probably pushing the limits of acceptable though.

As he leaned on his scythe, Grim’s hood turned to the devil.

Have you had enough? There is reaping to be done.

Anton frowned at Grim, hearing an odd thought from him.

No, I don’t think it’s wise that you appear in front of her.

Any number of reactions could happen. She could scream, runaway, pass out from fright, babble like a lunatic. All things that could lower Grim’s mood.

It wasn’t like Grim to have moods, but the devil had seen that his beloved reaper was changing. Like the modern world that had appeared almost out of nowhere, the devil could see that when things weren’t going well for Grim, he’d lower the hood.

You know the reaction that you get when you appear.

Grim turned to leave, stopping when the devil grabbed his scythe. The inky black hood turned, Anton stared into the void.

Promise me that you will not follow her or return after I’ve left.

The hood tilted a slow nod of acceptance, Anton let go of the scythe. As Grim faded into the air, the devil closed his eyes and sighed softly.

That did not go as it should have. He muttered tersely.

Moving through the shelves, the devil found the pretty vampire and wondered what was so fascinating about her. There was something that made Grim follow her, something that was beyond extraordinary.

Grim had seen an eternity of humans and paranormal creatures, and none of them had done this. The devil looked at the woman. She was a sublime creature, a turned vampire that had taken to the blood diet with ease. Anton knew that a turned vampire could struggle with it and often had a mixed diet that consisted of their favourite human foods.

But not this one. She fed once every few days and even though she lived in a city with a vampire feeding club, she opted to live feed on the street. It was a dangerous thing to do, given that the human police were extremely intelligent in solving murder cases. And if that wasn’t enough, vampires had a love-hate relationship with lycans that had been going on for several centuries.

Lycans thought that hunting a lone vampire on the street was fun. They did it for sport, they did it because they hated vampires with a passion but most of all, they did it because they could.

Anton’s eyes narrowed at the woman, searching through her past, trying to find a reason as to why Grim was so fascinated. The devil couldn’t see a single thing about her that made her stand out from the next woman.

With a heavy sigh of defeat, the devil faded into the air, returning to the underworld. Seconds later, Grim reappeared. The reaping had been done as the devil had requested. It was too difficult to stay away; the woman was beauty in flesh form. Grim leaned on the scythe, watching as the vampire read the item in her hand. Curious to the object, Grim moved closer and looked at the tiny tube. The woman shivered, glancing around the empty aisle. Grim stepped back, wary of exposure when it was too early for that.

Grim would not appear for her, not yet. There was so much risk, but Grim knew that she could be worth it. Days would pass, and the knowledge about her would grow. By the time Grim was ready to appear in front of her, a mountain of information would be collected.

It was not stalking. Was it stalking? Grim had no idea, but there was one that might know, and this was a person that could be trusted. As the vampire dumped the tube into her cart, Grim faded through to the underworld and found the only other creature in this place that really understood this frustrating life.

Hey Grim, what’s up? Nick asked.

He was the devil’s right hand, he was the master of the crows. Nick’s sole job was to hand out the tracking pellets to the crows, they’d ingest the pellet which would guide them to the correct soul to reap. Death happened so often that this was a full-time job for Nick.

Nick frowned as Grim approached.

No, I haven’t seen Anton all morning.

He tossed the last pellet out to the bird and then sent the cannister up the pneumatic tube.

He might be at the castle if you need him.

Grim watched as Nick turned back to him, the frown turning into confusion as he listened to him.

Wait a minute.

The frown returned as Nick tried to comprehend it.

You followed a woman tonight? A vampire?

Grim tilted his head, nodding.

She fed, you followed her through a bookstore and then grocery shopping?

Nick huffed a soft laugh.

Yeah, sorry. I think Anton’s right.

He was about to open the door to leave the aviary when Nick turned back to Grim.

Why were you following the woman?

Nick listened and wondered what was so amazing about her. He wanted to see what had the Grim Reaper in such a way that made all of this possible.

Well buddy, she sounds great. Lay off following her around though, that’s kind of creepy and you of all creatures do not need to be seen as any creepier than you already are.

Nick laughed at Grim’s response.

Yeah, she might like creepy guys but don’t be that guy, okay? Stalking a chick is not cool.

Nick looked at Grim, thinking that he could say a whole lot more about stalking, regardless of the person's gender. He knew that Grim didn't know any better and this innocent creature needed to learn the right way. If he continued then, Nick would have a whole lot more to say, but for now, this was enough. Grim had accepted what Nick said and agreed to stop following the woman.

Yes, Grim agreed, but it was only because Nick’s responses were far better than the devil’s.

By the time Nick reached his office, another cannister was waiting at the end of the tube. This was a solitary note rather than a cannister full of tracking pellets. Nick hesitantly turned from the tube to Grim, both of them knew that this was a request for the reaper. And for it to come to Nick’s office, it meant that the devil knew where his reaper was.

Nick sighed, shrugging.

I don’t know. If you’re honest with him, then there won’t be any issues.

As he pulled the cannister from the tube, Nick listened to Grim.

He told you to stay away from her, and you didn’t listen? Smart move.

Grim reluctantly nodded, watching as Nick unfurled the small brown parchment. As Nick’s eyes darted through the note, the frown grew heavier.

It’s a list of souls. Looks like Anton’s trying to keep you busy.

The parchment was held out, Grim pulled it into the void and consumed the list.

Be honest with Anton, that’s all that he will ever want from you. And stop stalking the vampire or any other creature.

Grim nodded, slowly fading out of the underworld.

Nick turned around, yelping in shock when he saw Anton.

Would you not sneak up on me like that! Nick hissed.

Why? It’s so much fun.

Nick scowled but couldn’t remain angry. Anton had become a dear friend and over the years, someone that he could rely on when necessary.

You heard?

I always hear, Anton admitted. You heard the words, you read the thoughts. Tell me what you think will come next.

With a huff, Nick sat on the lounge.

Come on, Anton, why can’t Grim chase a bit vampire love?

"Uh, because Grim is a soulless void. If that vampire gets too close, she’s going to be sucked into the void, and the