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“Shadowshine,” I murmured. He grimaced, which almost got a smile out of me. His exasperation with our couple nickname was just like the good old days.
“This hold is going to kill her if she keeps it up,” Shadow muttered. “How the fuck is she even doing this? I’ve not heard of any able to control creatures like this, except maybe a Danamain, the true Mist Born. Which is a damn myth.”
Shadow’s familiar rumbling growl was actually comforting. It was nice that I didn’t have to murder him when this was all over. Not fighting every battle alone made a big difference, and I wasn’t sure I could ever go back to doing it all by myself.
Shadow leaned right down so he could run his nose along my neck—unsurprisingly, this dude had a lot of shifter tendencies. “You smell delicious, Sunshine.” He could scent my arousal; I didn’t bother to get embarrassed about it.
He reached out and brushed back a lock of my red hair, his hold on the strands almost possessive. “Answer my question, Sunshine.” The low voice vibrated through me, settling somewhere… quite low. “Do you want to leave?” “No.” The absolute truth of that was slamming through me with the force of a bullet. “I have so much more to experience and learn; I’ve only just gotten started.”
I stood and my smoke cloud wrapped around me. Inky did the same to Shadow, and I had to stop and wonder… if they were competing energies, did that mean Shadow and I would be enemies as well? Were our powers set to fight the other’s for eternity?
Shadow Beast is Darkor, the Supreme Being. He has power over the mists, mostly leicher, and can command the creatures and other royals. He was betrayed on the night he was supposed to accept his position. He was young—taken completely by surprise—and only just managed to escape with his life.
The Concordes is the main mass of land. There are five kingdoms of royals sharing its territory. Trinity is Shadow’s, the strongest of the five. Then there is Holister, second in power, followed by Fraple, Glist’n, and Ashan.
Yeah, no way in fuck was I remembering even one of those kingdoms. But maybe I’d learn on the run while there.
she took the words out of my mouth.
I actually loved the color, so rich and vibrant, filled with energy and life. It made the others look positively boring in comparison, and I wondered if it was the “shadow connection” in my soul that drew me to the color, or… I just liked black. Fuck, not everything had to have a deeper psychological meaning, and I had to stop trying to assign one to all aspects of my personality.
i just love her personality 😂
Simone all but launched herself at him. “Are you a vampire?” she asked, exuberant in a way that might get her killed here if she didn’t learn to control it. “Why didn’t you show me those babies when we were in Torma? I’m a massive Twihard. Pretty sure I’m the perfect woman for you.”
the fact that they WILL end up together 🥹🫶🏽
“Shadowshine is exactly how I see us,” he rumbled. “One too dark, the other too light, and nothing but destructive storms between us.”
It was ironic that the beast who had starred in my nightmares for so long was now the one to bring me safety and peace. Life was funny like that.
His fury was spinning out of control, bursting from him in flames and dark mist, breaking this town to rubble. I’d always wanted a mate who would burn the world down for me, and it looked like I’d get to pretend I had one for a few more minutes.
“You, my dear, are a mystery I’d like to unravel.” Flames appeared in Shadow’s eyes, and I wasn’t sure of the reason, but he did shift to block Kristoff’s view of me. “We do need to find out her secrets,” he said, “but she’s mine. You cannot claim her.”
My mouth and throat were dry, unlike other… parts of me. When he went all possessive alpha on me, it fucked me up mentally and physically. Shadow was my trauma and I didn’t even care.
girl,,, i get it.
“What’s your sister’s name?” Up until now, she’d just been referred to as his sister, but honestly, I wanted him to stop claiming that bitch as family. “Cristell,” he said shortly. I wrinkled my nose. “Sounds like a mean girl name.”
true
Right now, his eyes were burning, his brows drawn together. “You’re a mystery I need to unravel,” he told me, and I was surprised when he crouched before me. Shadow never came down to my level, always dragging me to his height. “I’m drawn to your energy. I’m feeling…” He paused. “I’m feeling, Sunshine. It’s an issue because any sort of weakness could stand between me and my need for revenge.”
“Sunshine, I’m going to need you to say the words.” I snarled. “What? Why? You want me on my knees too? Are you training me for my true mate? Because he wanted the same bullshit from me.” Shadow’s expression darkened. “You will get on your knees for no one but me. Ever.”
“We don’t need protection,” he said. “More than sex is required for children here.” One day I’d find out what that more was, but for now, that answer was all I needed.
“How did you think your clothing appeared in your wardrobe in the lair?” “Seriously?” I pressed a hand to my naked chest. “That was you? But I loved my wardrobe; it always has the best clothing selection.” Shadow’s eyes darkened. “It was more enjoyable than I anticipated, dressing you in exactly what I wanted.”
“Who said I don’t belong to you, Mera?”
“We are irrevocably linked, Mera Callahan,” he rumbled against my skin. “A bond built in fire and shadows.”
He growled close to my face. “Never. We don’t kiss any who are not our true mate…. anywhere. I’ve had more sex than you’ll know in ten lifetimes, but never have I used my mouth to fuck a pussy like I did yours. Never have I tasted such sweetness, and I’m starting to think you put a fucking spell on me because I can’t even remember my life before you came into it.”
once. A choked gasp escaped as he thrust up into me, and he was still in his seven-foot height, which meant I was about to get my vagina annihilated. And I couldn’t find it in myself to care. I was a wolf shifter, and it would heal.
how can i take this seriously?
It was my insecurities causing me to act so defensively and childish. And for what? I wouldn’t want a man because I got him through underhanded vindictive means. If Shadow was meant for me, he would be with me.
Sleep claimed me in seconds, but just before I was unconscious, I could have sworn I felt lips press to mine. “Our souls match, Sunshine.”
“It was so clever and adaptive. No matter what I did to try to best it, the power would anticipate my next attack. Cristell was good with spell work, but the illusions it created never felt like her work.” Ixana jumped in quickly. “Cristell is a royal of many hidden strengths.
“Mine,” he rumbled softly. My heart lurched. “Until such a time I say she’s not, Mera Callahan belongs to me.”
“Darkor!” Ixana said. “What are you doing? Why does she have your power?” Her words were angry, but the tone was not. It was odd. But it almost felt like she wasn’t actually surprised by this.
i just know. she is working with cristell
He chuckled. “You can’t escape me for long, Sunshine.” “I don’t want to, Shadow.” Shadowshine. We were going to rock that couple name… if we ever sorted our shit out.
“I have missed you,” she said. Just as I was about to freak the fuck out and start demanding answers, Shadow replied. “I missed you too, Mother. So fucking much.” Mother?
WHAT
Once again, I panicked at the thought that Shadow and I were somehow related, and apparently only one person had the answer to that. The Mother of Creatures.
if this goes in a "the mortal instruments" way, i'm out (i'm already out... the writing is kinda weird)
“You’d burn The Concordes down for me?” I swallowed roughly. “I’d burn the entire world down for you, Sunshine.” It hurt in the best way to hear him say that.
Our eyes met briefly, and I wondered if this was the last time I’d ever look into those red and gold depths, the flames burning deep in his irises a comfort to me now. “I’ll be back soon,” I promised.
“Where is Cristell?” I asked. Ixana laughed. “Dead.” Hmm, okay. “When did she die?” If Shadow was watching this through Inky, then this was important information for him to have. “She died the day I barred Shadow from the realm.” This truth did take me by surprise.
“My first shift,” I breathed. “You rejected me.” Torin, still looking worried, shot me a wonky smile. “You forgave me for that, babe. Remember? I did reject you initially, but I’ve reclaimed you every day since.” Reclaimed.
