summoned to the Citadel. She was the reason he would be punished and that bothered
her deeply.
“Looks like you’re going to be treated like royalty,” Penthe grumbled as the coach
jerked forward and left the protection of the canopied platform. The rain hitting the roof
nearly drowned out her next words. “As befitting a Reaper’s mate.”
Lea ignored the words. The glass windows did not allow that much to be seen for
the rain was pounding against the coach, but she strained to see out until the climb
became so steep it made her nervous.
It seemed to take forever for the coach to reach the summit of the manmade
mountain upon which the fortification sat. The imposing sight of the legendary building
caused both women to gape at it as the coach pulled up to the myriad steps leading into
the building. Made of brick and mortar, the huge fortress had been constructed over a
legendary Terran building that had been destroyed during the War. The five sweeping
arms of the Citadel were fashioned along the lines of a flattened star and rose five
stories high and included a huge basement that ran not only under the ten sections of
the ground floor but the huge center courtyard around which each arm had been built.
Covering twenty-nine acres and encompassing six million square feet of floor space, the
Citadel was an impressive, forbidding stronghold.
126
Her Reaper’s Arms
“We’ve nothing like that on Amazeen,” Penthe said.
“I doubt there is anything like it here either,” Lea commented.
“Not even the Bastion?” Penthe said. “The one in the Northlands?”
Lea shrugged. She had no idea what the Bastion was.
A man in a brown uniform came down the steps with a large umbrella as the
guards, who had driven the coach, got down from their seats and flanked the coach
door. After returning the salutes of his men, the newcomer motioned for the door to be
opened.
“Good day, ladies,” the man greeted them. “I am Giles D’Brickashaw, the Primary
Guide. Welcome to the Citadel.” He held his hand out to Lea. “It is an honor, Lady
Lea.”
Lea took Giles’ hand and was helped under the protection of the large umbrella, but
even so, rain cascaded down around them and blew water against her gown. She
glanced back at Penthe and was pleased to see the warrior woman frowning.
“You will grow accustomed to our weather,” Giles said. “It rains very frequently
here and there’s a storm brewing out in the North Sea to collide with the one that
followed on your heels.”
“Has there been word of Lord Bevyn?” she asked as they began the steep climb up
the steps.
“He is already here, milady,” Giles informed her, “and awaiting you.”
Lea breathed a sigh of relief. She had not heard from him since she woke that
morning and had been growing worried.
“He is well, milady,” Giles said with a smile. “His Transition did not last as long as
normal since it was caused out of cycle by the severity of his wounds. He is most
anxious to see you.”
“Are the other Reapers here?” Penthe asked as they neared the top step.
“Just Lord Arawn, the Prime, milady,” Giles answered. “The others are on
assignment.”
Lea reached out to touch Giles’ arm, halting him. “Is he in a lot of trouble because of
me?”
Giles smiled gently. “There is no need to worry, Lady Lea. As I understand it, his
punishment will not be harsh. A week in a containment cell isn’t a cakewalk but neither
is it brutal punishment.”
“Would it help if I went before the Shadowlords and…?”
“Milady, his sentence will be nothing that Lord Bevyn does not expect or for which
he is unprepared. Had he not wanted to spend his life with you, he could merely have
walked away.” D’Brickashaw covered her hand with his. “He chose not to.”
“But…”
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Charlotte Boyett-Compo
“As a Reaper’s mate, you must be strong, milady,” Giles said sternly. “You must
support him for it is his decisions that will direct your lives together. Honor him and
the commitment he has made to you. Show the Shadowlords how you feel about him
but do not grovel before them—they will be annoyed if you do. Do not show them
disrespect by disputing their decisions—your mate will bear the consequences if you
do. Be strong and stand behind Lord Bevyn, give him your support.”
“In other words, don’t let the Shadowlords know how much I hate what they will
be doing to him because of me,” she said.
“Precisely,” Giles declared.
A man in a dark brown uniform came striding toward them. He stopped and
smartly saluted Penthe. “I have been asked to escort you to the Security Section,
Captain.”
Penthe blinked. “You have mistaken me for someone else. I hold no rank among the
Amazeen,” she responded.
“With your permission, ma’am, Lord Kheelan has assigned you rank here. He will
discuss this with you once we have you processed in,” the man replied.
“Processed?” Penthe repeated, her eyes narrowing. “Show me to this section of
yours. We’ll see what the hell is going on!”
Lea breathed a sigh of relief as the Amazeen stormed off. She felt acutely
uncomfortable anywhere near the woman.
Giles led her through the unbelievably beautiful reception area and down a long
hallway until they came to the anteroom of the High Council, stopping now and again
to point out something he considered might be of interest to her.
“Am I taking too much of your time?” she asked, fearful the Shadowlords would
grow irritated and punish Bevyn for her tardiness in meeting with them.
“Not at all,” Giles assured her. “We want you to feel at ease here.”
He opened the door for her, allowing her to precede him, then took her toward a
long desk at which sat three indescribably beautiful women. “Lady Lea, may I
introduce Argent,” he said, indicating the woman in the middle.
“Hello,” Lea said, feeling very insecure in the presence of three such gorgeous
ladies.
“Welcome to the Citadel, Lady Lea,” Argent said with a lovely smile. She had gray
eyes a shade darker than Lea’s and silver hair that fell in soft waves to her shoulders.
“These are my sisters Corallin.” She indicated the woman on her right who had an
abundance of thick red hair and then the stunning blonde on her left. “And Aureolin.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Lea
