Reaper of Flames (The Artifact Reaper Saga Book 3)

Reaper of Flames
The Artifact Reaper Saga


Jen L Grey


Reaper of Flames Copyright © 2019 Jen L. Grey LLC
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
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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
Chapter 24
About the Author
Also by Jen L Grey


1
The door rings as a new customer walks into the diner this late afternoon. I finish wiping down the vinyl table from the older couple that just left, even though I don't see the point. It's just as greasy now as it was before, but it's all about the presentation, I guess.
A breeze hits the back of my arm as someone slides into the booth. The familiar pulse of reaper magic hits me hard.
"Hey there." Soft brown eyes find mine. A lazy grin spreads across his face as he grabs a menu from behind the napkin holder.
Why does he keep coming in here? Okay, I'm being a little self-absorbed here. It's not like this is a huge town, but still, he makes me uncomfortable. "What can I get you?"
"I'll take a waffle, scrambled eggs, and an order of bacon." He places the menu back in the holder and bites his bottom lip. "Oh, and a coffee."
Not wanting to say anything else to him, I turn and head behind the counter and call out the order to the cook. It's almost like living in another world here in Missouri. I hadn't meant to stop here after leaving home, but my car broke down right after I passed by the Ste. Genevieve, Missouri sign and I've been stuck here ever since then. It's been two weeks and I'm beginning to wonder if my transmission is ever going to get fixed.
I grab a cup from the back counter before I reach over for the coffee pot. I carry both to the customer in the booth waiting on me. "Here you go." I sit the mug on the table and fill it.
"Thanks." He grins and tilts his head to the side. "I love breakfast for dinner. Something about it brings me peace."
He always tries to chat with me. I hate it. I want to be left alone. The artifacts inside me begin to spin. I have no idea why, but it must be his magic affecting mine somehow. "That's nice."
"Christina." A loud, brash tone echoes in the restaurant. "Can you come here for a minute?" Jeb's bald head comes into view from the back. His overall strap is falling off his right shoulder and he's picking at the back of something on his thin arm.
Please God, tell me my car is fixed. I head toward the back and follow him down the hall. Shirley walks in through the employee entrance as we reach the back of the building where Jeb’s office is.
She throws her stuff down on the table by the door and ties her black apron on. "I'm so sorry I'm late. The baby sitter ran late." She pulls her blonde hair in a ponytail and puts her keys and phone in her pocket.
She's always running late because of her sitter. It didn't take me long to learn that and I’ve only worked her a little over a week. Shirley works the night shift. I work the swing shift and cover mid-afternoon to after dinner, so I overlap with second and third shift
"Just get out there." Jeb shakes his head and frowns.
"Yeah, okay." She grabs a pad and pen and takes off.
"So, I need you to come in tomorrow after all." He taps his fingers against his pants.
Of course, he does. I've been here a short amount of time and he's already come to rely on me for this, but I need the money. "Yeah, I'll be here."
"Yeah." His eyes meet mine and he purses his lips. "Good. I'm glad I found some good help."
Like I have a freaking a choice. The mechanic keeps finding things wrong with my car. "Of course. I have to pay your brother somehow."
"Okay, good." He sighs and crosses his arms.
"Food’s up, Chris." The cook calls from the front.
Not wanting to hang around any longer, I turn and head back to the kitchen. I grab the plates off the counter and head to the guy. "Here you go." I lay the food in front of him.
"Where are you from?" He grabs his fork and places an elbow on the table. "I've been wondering for a while now."
What is it with him? Yes, I'm not from here, but you'd think I was from another dimension. "I'm from Illinois."
His eyes widen and he takes a bite of egg. "Oh, that's where that reaper town is. Do you live close to there?"
My body tenses and I take a step back. "I have no clue what you're talking about." Why is this dumbass trying to have this conversation with humans nearby?
"Hey." He calls out and bites his bottom lip. "I'm sorry. I just haven't been around someone like me in a while. Ever since my parents died, and you're from that area. Dad always told me stories about that town and how they throw out