by Sara Summers
She led me through the house, all 3000 square feet of it. It had been a wreck a week earlier, but a team of workers and a truckload of money had turned it into our dream home. It was modern and sleek like Quinn, but comfortable and homey like me, the perfect mesh of both of our personalities.
“You’re incredible.” I pulled her close and kissed her again. The smile she gave me was completely genuine, but it faded after a few seconds.
“My dad didn’t like the idea.” She admitted. “I didn’t think he would but I had to try, you know?”
“I know.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead and then leaned away enough that I could see her face. “Are you okay?”
“I’m more okay than I’ve ever been before.” Though she seemed a little sad, I could see in her eyes that it was the truth. “But when I forget that, you’d better kiss me until I remember.”
I grinned.
“I think I can manage that.”
I took her face between my hands and kissed her long and slow, taking my time to relish the feel of our mouths moving as one.
Quinn’s fingers landed on the swollen, sensitive skin underneath my new tattoo, and she pulled away. She gasped when she saw the tattoo, and her eyes filled with tears.
“What did you do?” She demanded, turning my head so she could see it.
“I wanted us to match again.” I shrugged a little, fighting back a smile. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re crazy, mountain man. Crazy, and sweet, and sexy, and I definitely don’t deserve you.” She tangled her fingers in my hair and kissed me. “Maybe we should give our new mattress a test run.”
“Maybe?” I lifted an eyebrow, and she grinned.
Without another word, she pulled me up the stairs and toward the bedroom that I knew was supposed to be ours.
Things between me and Quinn didn’t start out simple, but I was glad that they didn’t. Because we had to fight at the beginning, we were prepared for all of the other fights we’d face in the future, the ones we would fight together.
I knew that day that Quinn was all I needed, and that I was privileged to be the one the Creator chose to love her.
Quinn
After a little kissing and a lot of… something else (wink wink), Cody called his family to come over and help get our furniture put into place. I knew it was his dad’s birthday so I tried to convince him not to call them, but he insisted that they’d rather spend the day moving furniture with us than sitting in their house.
So his whole family and some other guys from both of our packs showed up. Everyone was civil, and I heard Cody and Tanner exchange a few words with their about a possible pack merge. It would be a while before that could happen, but it looked like the pack was starting to come around.
When we were almost done, a few other shifters showed up. They were some of Cody’s old friends I guess, and they weren’t wolf shifters. There were two girls and four guys.
“It’s so good to meet you.” The blonde girl smiled and wrapped her arms around me. She had light blonde hair and pale skin, so we had that in common.
“Um,” I glanced over at Cody, who was heading our way from across the room with a grin on his face. “Who are you?”
“Oh, I’m Lyssie Ellison. We grew up with Cody.” She gestured to the rest of the group, and I noticed the golden cotie that traveled up her entire right arm. “Me and my brother Callum are panthers.”
Callum had jet black hair and blood red markings stretching up and down his right arm, with black tattoos covering his left. With his dark hair and tan skin, the two didn’t look related.
“I’m Jace James.” A guy with crazy, dirty blonde hair lifted his hand. I saw the cotie that circled his wrist before he said added, “I’m a chimp shifter.”
“This guy is the reason I go by Cody.” My soulmate made it over and gave Jace one of those bro-hugs that I couldn’t have mirrored if I tried. “Guys, this is Quinn Longhorn.” He introduced me to his friends, three of whose names I still hadn’t caught.
“Technically she’s a Burgandeau now.” Emma came up and joined the group. Lyssie squealed when she saw her, and they threw their arms around each other.
“And you’re a Lush, which I still can’t believe!” Lyssie exclaimed.
“This is my brother, Layton.” Jace gestured to the guy next to him, and I could definitely see the resemblance in their messy, dirty blonde hair that was sticking up like they hadn’t brushed it in days.
“How are you, Teresa?!” Emma turned to the other girl, whose light brown hair was up in a ponytail on top of her head.
“I’m good. It’s been too long.” She smiled and gave Emma a much more laid-back hug.
“I’m Zane Fulton, Teresa is my sister. We’re grizzlies.” The last guy offered me his hand, which I smiled and shook. It was obvious that the two of them were related, because not only was their hair the same color, but their faces were similarly shaped.
They looked almost as much like twins as Tanner and Cody.
“Okay, can we all just take a second to ask ourselves how all three of the Burgandeaus’ found their soulmates before any of us? Come on, Jace and I have two years on Tanner and Cody.” Lyssie complained, gesturing to my soulmate.
He and Emma both just grinned.
“Luck of the draw, I guess.” Cody offered.
“It has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with being awesome.” Emma countered.
“Sure it does.” Jace rolled his eyes.
“If it was a matter of awesomeness, we would’ve left you in the dust years ago.” Lyssie argued, though she didn’t seem upset.
“Can we help you guys finish moving in?” Teresa checked, pulling the conversation away from their lack of soulmates.
“That would be great. Thanks, guys.” Cody kissed my forehead before he led the group upstairs, to where the rest of the guys were moving stuff. Lyssie stayed behind with me, just for a second.
“Quinn, this place is gorgeous.” She put her hand on my arm. Normally, the random physical contact would’ve felt strange, but she just seemed like the kind of person who loved people. “When I meet my soulmate, I’m definitely going to get your help decorating.”
“I’d love that.” I smiled, though the gears in my mind started turning.
I’d always liked decorating things, making people and spaces look good, and I’d always thought I had a knack for it. Up until Lyssie said she wanted help, I’d never thought about doing it for anyone other than me or my family, though.
“I was just thinking the same thing!” Leah agreed, crossing the room and pulling Lyssie in for a big hug. “It’s good to see you, cutie. How’s your mom?”
“Oh, she’s great. She just published a book about vampires.”
“Well, I’d better go buy a copy.” Leah smiled, but it looked a little wistful. “Tell her I said hi.”
“I will.” Lyssie promised, before heading off in the same direction everyone else had gone.
I’d given them printouts of where I wanted the furniture, but the biggest problem was getting it all into the right rooms. All of the big, strong shifters who’d come to help were making easy work of it.
“What’s the story there?” I checked, eyeing my mother-in-law. She shrugged a little, that same saddish smile on her face.
“We were a group of best friends who wanted to change the world until one of us got hurt. Most of them are still close, but I usually keep to my family and my pack.” Leah admitted.
“I would probably have overdosed on some sketchy drug without my best friend. Maybe you should talk to them.”
“Maybe I should.” Leah nodded slowly, and I noticed the look in her eyes change a little.
“Quinn, when Tanner and I buy a house, I definitely need you to design it.” Hallie joined the conversation, lightening the mood. “This place is perfect.”
“Thanks.” I smiled. “The only thing it’s missing is candles, and a few decorations.”
“Well t
hen let’s go and grab some candles.” Hallie suggested. “They can be a housewarming present from me and Tanner.”
I glanced toward the stairs, where I could hear my soulmate and a bunch of other guys moving things around. Cody had already asked if he could change the position of some of the furniture, deviating from the plan I’d made online. Since I’d given him the go-ahead, I figured he’d take some of the guys from room to room adjusting things.
“Alright, let’s do it.”
“I’ll tell the boys where you went.” Leah promised, giving both of us quick hugs before Hallie and I headed for the door.
Quinn
Just as we stepped outside the front door, a car door shut in front of my driveway. My eyes lit up when I saw who it was.
“Quinnie!” Beth exclaimed, at the same time I called out,
“Bethie!” And we barreled toward each other.
After a big hug I introduced my best friend to Hallie, but Beth seemed distracted. She kept glancing toward the house, scratching her arm.
“Honey, are you on drugs?” I checked, gesturing to the scratches she’d left on her arm.
“Hmm?” She pulled her attention away from the door. “You know how much I hate drugs.” She tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear. “I just feel like I need to go inside, and my arm is crazy itchy.”
“Okay…” I met Hallie’s gaze, and she looked as confused as I did.
“Let’s get you inside, then.” Hallie suggested.
Beth nodded and we all headed back inside, the candle-shopping trip forgotten.
The moment we stepped back through the front door, Callum, the panther shifter with the tattoos, stepped off the last stair. His gaze landed on Beth, the look in his eyes one that I recognized instantly.
It was the same look Cody gave me, the one that said he was looking at the woman he was going to spend his eternity with.
Beth and Callum’s Story,
SOULWAITED
Coming February 1st 2019
Keep reading for a sneak peek!
Sebastian and Lottie’s Story,
SOULBOUND
Coming January 15th 2019
Written by Rebecca Kay
Tanner and Hallie’s Story,
SOULFATED
Is Available Now
Emma and Logan’s Story,
SOULMATED
Is Available Now
Hello, you look lovely today!
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iamsarasummers.blogspot.com
Acknowledgments
The credit for this book goes to whoever invented/discovered the Enneagram.
Thank you for helping me understand both myself and my characters to an entirely new level.
About the Author
I'm married to the greatest guy any girl could ask for, and we have an adorable baby boy with a set of lungs that work a little too well.
When I'm not taking care of my baby I'm usually either writing, cleaning, eating shaved ice, or reading romance books.
I despise jeans and only cook meals that I can stick in my Instant Pot, and despite the fact that I went to hair school, my own hair is typically a mess.
I grew up writing books and dreaming about publishing them, and now I'm lucky enough to live that dream!
Through 2019 I will be releasing a new Mount Edge Shifter Romance book on the 1st of every month, so check back on Amazon soon!
Keep up with me and my characters at my website, iamsarasummers.blogspot.com
Or follow me on Instagram
@sarasummerswriter
Thanks for reading!
-Sara
Also by Sara Summers
Mount Edge Shifter Romances:
SOULMATED
SOULFATED
SOULHATED
SOULWAITED coming February 1st 2019
SOULDATED coming March 1st 2019
SOULBOUND (By Rebecca Kay) coming January 15th 2019
Moon Manor Vampire Romances:
ETERNAL
Modern Paranormal Fairytales:
MIDNIGHT
Shifty Series:
More than a Werewolf
More than a Panther
More than a Grizzly
More than a Mermaid
More than an Otter
More than a Cheetah
More than a Lion
More than a Human
More than an Eagle
More than Me
More than a Monkey
*Finished Series*
Born Protector Series:
Born to be a Shifter
Born to Love a Dragon
Born to be Together
*Finished Series*
Suddenly Mermaids Series:
Suddenly Mermaids
Suddenly Soulmates
*Finished Series*
Accidentally Superheroes Series:
Accidentally Superheroes
Fighting Our Demons
Saving the World
Remembering Love
*Finished Series*
Fighting Fire
ETERNAL
By Sara Summers
Brynn
Being a vampire is exhausting. All of the books and movies I’ve seen and read make it out to be sexy and exciting and dangerous, but after eight years of draining people’s emotions—not blood—the only thing I felt was tired.
Tired of life, and tired of waiting on my eternal.
“I’m a woman, I shouldn’t feel awkward in the tampon aisle.” I muttered into my phone, glancing around to make sure no one heard me. It was 1 AM and there were only two other cars in the Walmart parking lot, so my chances of running into anyone were slim.
“No you shouldn’t. Be proud of your womanhood.” Mallory chastised me. She was the reason I was braving the tampon aisle anyway; I’d never even been in that aisle before. Being a vampire didn’t have many perks, but no periods was one of them.
“If periods make you womanly, I’ve never been a woman and you won’t be one much longer.” I grimaced, scanning the many different feminine hygiene product options. “Which ones did you say you want?”
“I read about a new kind of tampon that’s supposed to reduce period pain. Find that one.” Mallory instructed.
“How am I supposed to know which ones are new?” I looked around again, making sure there was still no one else there.
“When I saw the picture on Pinterest, it was in a light blue box.” Mal offered.
I scanned the aisle, and what do you know, 50% of the boxes were one shade of light blue or another.
“I’m just going to pick one and be done with it.” I finally decided. “Tell Jared to come pick me up, I don’t want to deal with another Uber driver.”
“Okay. Thanks boo.” Mal sang into the phone.
“I got you baby.” I grinned as I hung up. There definitely weren’t any romantic feelings between Me and Mal, but it was fun to have a best friend who was a girl. I’d been close with Jared my whole life, but Mallory was like a breath of fresh air after his intensely introverted ways.
I slipped my phone into my back pocket and pulled my sweater tight around me as I surveyed the shelves again. I’d become a vampire before I’d started my period, so I had never even experienced that aspect of womanhood.
“I think you’re looking for these.” A deep voice said from behind me, reaching past me to grab a tampon box.
I screamed, thrashing out with my elbow as I ducked away. He grabbed my elbow to stop it from slamming into his face and t
hen let me go and held up his hands. My heart jumped in my chest as I realized that I was okay.
If the guy had been a human, I would’ve felt him coming before he even got to the aisle. The fact that he’d made it all the way behind me without me getting any emotions off of him could only mean one of two things:
He was a vampire or an eternal.
Other supernaturals were easy to identify because we could feel their emotions but there was no way to drink them in. Humans were easy to identify because we were black holes that sucked up all their negative emotions.
Vampires and eternals… they were harder because even if the eternal had no idea what they were, we wouldn’t be able to feel anything from them.
“Easy.” He tried to calm me down, but my heart was already slowing itself. Vampirism had perfected my body, and one aspect of that perfection was how quickly it regulated itself.
His dark hair and the stubble on his chin, along with his bright blue eyes, were enough to make a girl’s world spin a little. When you added the white tank top that showed off his sculpted arms and the artfully ripped jeans, there was no doubt that this guy could be a heart breaker.
“Sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.” I apologized, reaching up to rub the back of my neck.
I wasn’t exactly hard on the eyes myself. Being a vampire meant my body was in tiptop shape even though I spent much of my time just sleeping and eating, and I played that to my advantage.
With flawless makeup and tight clothing, I used my look to buffer the emotions pointed at me. I drained negative human emotions automatically and uncontrollably, and the way I looked help reduce the negative emotions which made it easier to go out among humans.