Reaper's Promise: Palbert City Underground, #3

By Ryenne Renner

Raven

Life has been rough. I mean, after being alive for two and a half centuries, things are bound to happen, I know that. Having said that, not many vampires are forced to put down their own sire. Not every vampire attracts the attention of a death crazed reaper who gets pleasure from the pain he inflicts. Being rescued by my new family is the best thing that could have happened to me. It's taken almost a hundred years, but I'm finally starting to feel free again. All my pain and terror are manageable... until I see him. They say he's different, that I can trust him. I want to believe that. I start to believe that. Then, he shows me who he really is.

 

Ryne

I wasn't always a good guy. I'm a reaper. We aren't known for our good behavior. I've spent the past nine hundred years taking those ready to leave this existence and sending them to their next one. And some who weren't ready. Alright. Fine. A lot that weren't ready. But a being can change, right? I think so. I hope so. I have a lot of things to make up for and I'm trying my damnedest to right some wrongs. Finding my mate? I never expected that. Not many reapers are blessed with one. Instead of being happy to find me, my mate runs and after hearing why, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to convince her to trust me. Hell, maybe she's right to be scared because the hunters are back and I'm about to unleash the worst version of myself on the world to keep her safe...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ryenne Renner
• Release date: Jan 14, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223889014

Ryenne Renner

Ryenne Renner is a Canadian author who resides in the beautiful province of Saskatchewan. Wife, mother, author, woods sprite, food lover; she has many hats she loves to fill. A trucker’s wife and mom of three, she is grateful to be able to write full time and stay home with her son with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. When not writing, her days are spent hiking, fishing, camping, reading, and watching movies with her family.  Ryenne is a romance author who is a firm believer that love is love.  Follow her at the following links! Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/ryennesromancelovers/  Twitter: www.twitter.com/ryennerenner Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ryennerenner  Newsletter: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/jfqivnv90e (free book) Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ryenne-renner  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ryennerenner    Books by Ryenne Renner Contemporary Romance   Yours Always (Mason, Lukas, Logan, Nyssa, Ray, Jack, Kit, Dean, Morgan) Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy   Palbert City Underground (Fire’s Kiss, Tiger’s Choice, Reaper’s Promise) Books written as Mireille Chester Adult: Fantasy Romance   The Chosen One Trilogy (Crossover, Journey, Destiny)   Sageden Pack (Displaced, Shattered, Strayed)   Holidays in Quelondain (Eggnog Kisses, Candy Hearts)   Ghosts (a Quelondain Short) Apocalypse Romance   Angered Seasons Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy   Crimson Moon Hideaway (Winning Paradise, Feathers Afire, Ocean’s Blood, Sweet as Huney)  *these characters also make appearances in the Palbert City Underground series)    YA :   Tyler’s Story   Chael’s Luck

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Raven

E arth to Raven.

I blinked and turned my attention back to Thomas. My adopted older brother and savior offered me a small smile.

He ran a hand through his light brown hair, his blue eyes worried, then focused on finishing the drink he'd been making. He handed the martini to the waitress and moved on to the next order.

Sorry. There’s a couple of non-humans in the corner. I was just... I shrugged. They’re fine. They’re just here to enjoy themselves.

I took a sip of my water, glancing around the club. It was my night off, but being home alone was putting me on edge tonight. I pulled my black hair off my neck and hung it over my shoulder.

Thomas handed off more drinks before wiping his hands on the towel on the counter.

The music changed tempo and cheers erupted from the dance floor.

Are you worried about going to see Luther by yourself? You’ve done it twice now.

I shook my head. No. I don’t think that’s it.

I took a moment to think about what I was feeling.

Thomas waited patiently.

We’d been together for a hundred and two years now. He was my best friend. My brother. He’d saved my life and simply decided I was his to take care of from that moment on. He knew me better than anyone in our small family of vampires.

I think... I focused on the ache in my chest. It wasn’t painful. It was a hint of a throb. It had started the first time we’d gone to visit Luther and the others in Palbert City. Every time we went, it faded almost to nothing. Every time we came home, it got worse. Before you found Venice... when you were drawn to the ocean. What did that feel like?

His eyes widened. You think... ah, well, it was just a strange lonely feeling, like an ache in my chest, that would get a bit better when I was near the sea.

I nodded. That’s what I was afraid of.

You think you have a mate?

I smirked. Yeah. I don’t know any other explanation for what’s been going on.

Where?

Palbert City.

He cocked his head to the side. But you haven’t met him yet.

I shook my head. It’s just a feeling that I need to be there.

Well, if you keep visiting Luther, you’ll run into him eventually. Palbert City isn’t that big.

He topped up my water and added a lemon. Are you nervous?

He knew better than to ask if I was excited. I’d spent the first fifty years after he’d saved me refusing to leave the house. The following fifty years, I’d done it as little as possible and only if he was with me.

The trauma of being attacked and almost killed... I’d never fully recovered from it.

Then, two years ago, I met Luther who’d noticed I had a small amount of magic. He’d taught me to use it to see if the beings around me were human or paranormal and what their intentions were according to their energy.

I still wasn’t running around enjoying my newfound freedom, but I had a few places I was comfortable going on my own now.

I’ve never wanted a mate, Thom.

I know. He gave my arm a squeeze over the bar. Look. Just because fate gives you a mate, doesn’t mean you have to accept. You can always reject him when you find him.

I took a deep breath. Yeah. It would be for the best, right? I mean... who wants a traumatized, broken vampire for a mate.

His eyes flashed burgundy before he got his glamor back in control. You are not broken. You are healing. You’ve come so far, Raven. Don’t sell yourself short.

I smiled. He was so protective and proud.

That didn’t mean I fully believed him.

Right, well, I don’t need to worry about it unless I happen to find him.

You’re sure you’re alright to go alone? I don’t mind coming.

I shook my head. I’ll be fine. This place would fall apart if we both left.

He grinned. This club was his pet project. Every time we started a new life somewhere, we took turns deciding what business we would run.

A tap on my shoulder had my heart in my throat. I took a deep breath to try and relax. I turned and found myself looking into dark blue eyes. The man ran a hand though shaggy dark blond hair then over his stubbled jaw.

Raven.

I smiled. Brody.

He was a regular here.

Where’s Declan? The husbands were never apart very often.

He should be here shortly. Do you want to dance?

I did a quick scan of the crowd again. Just a lot of half drunk happy beings having a good time.

I nodded. Sure.

I pushed aside all thoughts of would be mates and what I should do about it and spent the rest of the night getting lost in the music.

CHAPTER TWO

Ryne

Ilay in bed, listening to the sound of the fish tank in the living room.

I didn’t want to get up.

I blew a breath out of my nose. I couldn’t remember exactly when it had started, but getting out of bed had started feeling like a chore. Every once in a while, I’d feel better for a few days, but then the feeling was back.

It was like I was sick.

But I was a reaper and reapers didn’t get sick.

I’d managed to keep it from everyone. I mean, it wasn’t too hard. All I had to do was push through those first few minutes when I had to get out of bed. Once that was done, the rest of the day was somewhat easier to manage. I still felt off, but keeping my mind off of it seemed to help.

Sometimes, I wondered if a hunter had managed to slip me one of their magic killing pills, but that didn’t make sense. I could still use my magic and the drugs usually wore off after five days. This had been going on for months.

I took a deep breath.

Alright. I could do this. I just had to sit up and swing my legs over the side of the bed.

Today was Nikki’s sixteenth birthday.

Trey’s foster daughter was one of my favorite people and I refused to let her down. This afternoon was going to be amazing.

I grabbed my phone off the nightstand.

Nine oclock.

I sent her a text. Happy birthday, kid. Good luck on your driver’s test this morning.

Thanks! You’ll be at Ben’s later?

Wouldn’t miss it.

I sat up with a groan. I wasn’t lying. I refused to miss the moment she got her present from Trey. And I absolutely would not miss the moment she gave him a surprise of her own. I’d spent a lot of time getting it ready with her.

Reapers were fairly solitary beings. We didn’t congregate. It was rare for one of us to be given a mate. A lot of reapers spent their entire life chasing the high of reaping. After nine hundred years on this planet, I’d decided to spend this next chapter of my life trying a different approach. It had brought some amazing people into my life. People like Trey who had quickly turned into my best friend. My first best friend. That sounded pitiful when I thought about it.

I’d fully expected the tiger shifter to avoid me at all costs when he’d found out what I was, but to my extreme surprise, he’d taken it all in stride.

Pulling on some gym shorts, I ran my hands over my face.

Maybe I needed to reap someone.

It had been a while.

Taking a soul was two sided for me. Unlike previously, now that I was trying to do it as little as possible, it drained me emotionally. The guilt I felt... On the other hand, the energy boost after the fact... well, that was addictive.

Dark brown eyes glared at me from in the mirror and I ran a hand through my short black hair.

I didn’t reap souls unless it was their time.

It was a rule I didn’t break.

I knew better.

I headed into the living room and fed my goldfish.

The trio slurped the pellets off the surface of the water while I went to make coffee.

I’d never really cared about where I lived, but when I’d come to Palbert City five years ago, I’d decided that if I was going to try out the whole ‘regular guy’ life, I’d need a decent place to live. I also decided that the easiest way to cut down on the temptation to reap was to live away from the majority of people.

This small cabin on forty acres had been perfect.

Travel mug of coffee in hand, I went to sit on the deck and raised an eyebrow as Peach came trotting up the steps and dropped a dead mouse at my feet.

I gave the orange cat a pet. Thanks. You should eat it, though. I’m not really a breakfast kind of guy.

I closed my eyes, enjoying the sun. It was going to be a beautiful day. Perfect for a birthday barbecue.

Finishing my coffee, I went for a run, chopped some wood, showered, then headed to Ben’s.

CHAPTER THREE

Ryne

If Nikki’s smile was priceless when Trey handed her keys to her birthday jeep, then Trey’s shocked and speechless look when she asked him to adopt her was pure gold.

Trey pulled his foster daughter into a hug and I had to swallow a few times.

Those two were the closest thing I had to family. Two years ago, Trey had transferred to the police department and had started fostering Nikki. I’d been in the room with them to transfer Nikki to a rehab center the day it had all happened. I’d quickly become an honorary uncle which I really enjoyed. Maybe it helped that Nikki was a baby reaper. While most reapers just learned by doing, I’d quickly agreed to help her with her skills when she’d asked me. There’d also been no question when she asked if I’d help her get everything ready to ask Trey to adopt her.

Nikki gave me a hug. Thanks for coming.

Wouldn’t have missed it, Kid.

She looked up at me, her green eyes squinted with her smile.

I gave a nod towards the garage. Go try out your jeep. I’ll go grab stuff to help your dad with the barbecue.

Her grin widened. He’s really going to be my dad, isn’t he?

My smile softened. Nikki, if you ask him, he’s been your dad for two years now.

I ruffled her chestnut hair then watched as her and her friends ran to the older model red jeep with a big blue bow on the driver’s side mirror.

Making my way to the barbecue, I took in Trey and his mate, Abby. It had taken two years for him to tell her she was his mate and the change in him was heartwarming. He tucked some of her strawberry blond hair behind her ears and bent from his six foot three inches to place a kiss to the top of her head.

She smiled, her love for him obvious.

He grinned as I joined them.

How long have you been helping her with that? he inquired.

I shrugged. A few months.

Some of the strange pressure in my chest eased and I took a deep breath.

You’re good? Trey frowned.

I nodded. Yep. What do you need from the house? I’ll go grab it.

Condiments, cheese slices, pickles... there’s a whole platter with extras in the fridge.

Okay.

Ryne! Ben, Trey’s partner at the Palbert City Police Service caught my