Reborn (Shadow Beast Shifter, #3)

by Jaymin Eve

With sex… I want a bond and a connection. I want mutual fucking respect. I really don’t think that’s too much to ask.”

Now he had to earn my body, soul, and love. No woman should settle for less than that.

Just like on a chess board, the queen ruled everything. He’d made a mistake in revoking the rejection because I was the fucking queen here, and I would sacrifice them all to learn my truth.

Sure, we’d just made friends like toddlers in the park, but why did adults have to complicate everything? If you click with someone, be their friend. If they prove they’re not worthy of your friendship, bury their body and start again.

Badass or stupid. Such a fine line.

Women can do anything, especially when we stick together. I truly believe that.”

I was struck by the truth that real friends, as rare as they were, could be recognized in how they encouraged us—either via words or actions—to be the best versions, the strongest versions of ourselves. And when we couldn’t be strong, they were there to pick us up and hold us together.

Funny how dreams could turn to nightmares in a split second.

“Love is a human word,” he rumbled. “A human word they throw around with such careless abandon.”

“I think that’s why I love the stories with villains instead of heroes as the main characters,” I whispered. “Heroes are limited because they always have to do the right thing. But villains aren’t restricted by their moral compasses. They will do literally anything and destroy anyone who tried to hurt those they love.

“Your eyes see what you’re told to see, and it’s only if you look closer that you’ll notice the delicate edges waiting to be peeled away.”

“Nothing can ever be exactly as it was,” he said, looking around, “and it’s going to take some time for the library to find its true power again, but I’ve set it on the path. Sometimes that’s the best you can do.”

It was time for six to become eight.

Okay, yep, it was happening, people. Bring on the dramaaaaa. I turned my wide-eyed gaze to Shadow, lifting my eyebrows to ask him what the fuck was going on, but the bastard just shook his head.

I patted his shoulder to remind him that now was not the time. The drama channel was on.

The Shadow Beast, demon of the darkness, and plunderer of my vagina. Okay, that sounded wrong, but sometimes wrong was the exact kind of right I needed.

“This is why we’re true mates; beyond anything you could have had with Torin. We build each other up, making each other stronger by embracing who we are.

A male of strength will get on his knees for his woman and know that it doesn’t lessen him in any way.

Bastard took too much pleasure in bringing me pleasure… and why was he so damn perfect?

Not even five hundred. Youth? Like that was a damn teenager.

People could hate on the word moist all they wanted, but when it came to cakes, there was no better descriptor.

Womanpower was always the most important.

I’d take the burn any day over the safe, gentle existence. After all, I was built of fire and passion, and I’d never be satisfied with anything less.

Love was ours to claim.

I could do all of that, fight the phoenix and drown in grief, because I was a woman. We multitasked well.

“It hurts,” I choked out. “It’s killing me, Shadow.” He got down with me, wrapping his huge frame over the top of mine as he cradled my body. “I know,” he said huskily. “I feel your pain and my own, but you’re not alone. I will hold you together until such a time you can do it yourself. Fall into me, Sunshine. Fall. Into. Me