She’d screamed. A reaction. One she quickly came to regret. Her scream had alerted Gage and instead of following the plan, he’d rushed to save her. It had both warmed and terrified her. Especially because she was convinced she’d have to watch him die. In the end she couldn’t simply stand by and do nothing. She had to try to help Gage, and it had turned out to be a terrible mistake. They stood there staring at one another. It seemed as if they were both remembering the events that had led them there.
Davina broke the moment. “I will leave you to talk.” She pulled the leather skirt off as she turned, showing off long legs and a really great ass. So athletic. She shifted. Her plumes were a bright golden color. Dazzling. She was smaller than the males of her species. Also, much sleeker built. Davina screeched once and leapt from the ledge.
"I am glad to see that you are in good health." Cadon fastened a loincloth around his middle. "I was told that humans prefer the sexual organs to be covered."
“Yes, that’s true, thank you.”
“Strange.” He paused, fumbling with the tie for a moment. “We still have so much to learn about your species.”
“Yeah, you really do.” She wasn’t going to lie to him.
“I’m glad you asked to see me.” He shifted from foot to foot, looking down at the golden floor before locking eyes with her. “I’m so terribly sorry for what happened. Leukos wished to speak with you. He said that you were interesting to talk to, that you had enlightened him about a good number of things. We would never have interfered if we knew you had already mated that bear. Or if we had known you would be hurt.”
“So, he thought he’d just abduct me again and at any cost?” She couldn’t keep the sneer from her voice.
“I am so sorry I hurt you.”
She huffed out a breath. “This isn’t going as well as I hoped it would. The reason I called you here was to thank you for saving my life. Yet I find myself getting upset with you at the same time. You were going to hurt my friend.”
“I had my orders to bring you in.”
“At any cost?”
Cadon shook his head. “No, not at any cost. I waited and watched. I planned to pick you up while the bear was gone. He wasn’t supposed to make it back as quickly as he did. Also, the animal shifters are far punier than we had anticipated. One small touch and their bodies tear apart.” He shrugged. “The plan was to knock him out, so that I could bring you to my king as instructed. It did not go as planned. I deeply regret almost killing you.”
“You guys really can’t keep going around abducting people and holding them against their will. You can’t go around hurting and almost killing people either.” She sighed. “Having said that, I accept your apology. I’m grateful to you for using up some of your powers to save me.”
“I would have plucked myself bald to save you.” His brow was creased. He had this whole puppy dog look going on.
Edith bit down on her lower lip to stop herself from laughing. Thing was, Cadon was being completely serious. That and completely sincere. It would be rude of her to laugh.
“I deeply regret what happened. My king was most upset. The Feral will no longer abduct females. What happened to you has changed our minds on that note. Believe me.”
“What about children? Do you plan on kidnapping more innocent children?” She raised her brows, looking at him pointedly.
“We will no longer abduct anyone. A task team has been assembled to infiltrate a major human settlement.”
“Okay.” Edith wasn’t sure she liked this idea of theirs. “To what end?” She could guess.
"Their mission will be to learn as much as possible about humans. Especially the females of the species. I am one of the chosen few who was selected." He beamed, looking pleased with himself.
“Congrats! I think. I still worry that someone might end up hurt. Most probably one of the humans you come into contact with.”
Cadon shook his head. “All of the males who were selected are loners, like me. Males who lost their mates. It is purely a fact-finding mission. We need to learn as much as possible about human females but not with the intention of mounting them.”
“So, no serious mingling with the women?”
“No, not in the way you are thinking. You see, we quite literally cannot go down that path. It is impossible.”
She couldn’t help laughing. “Impossible my ass! You are going to meet and talk with human women. It’s not that far-fetched or impossible.”
“Those of us who lost mates are dead to other females. It is impossible. We will find out as much information as possible and take it back to those who are trying to find a mate.”
“Oh. I see! I’m sorry … I guess.”
Cadon bowed his head.
“That sounds like a better plan. I hope that you will take your time?”
“We will mainly observe. Teach what we learn to the males back here at the nesting grounds.” He was actually quite a sweet guy. Edith felt sorry for him, could sense his deep sadness and loss.
“I am sure you would like to freshen up and to change.” He pointed in the direction of the bathroom. “Soren fashioned some clothing for you out of the pelts.”
“That was sweet of him.” She looked at the tiny skirt and what looked like a fur skin bikini top. “I think,” she added when she actually thought of putting them on and going out in public.
“I will leave you.” Cadon bowed his head for a moment. “Call me when you are ready to leave. I will be at the base of the tower.”
18
Her feet touched the ground and Cadon let go. Two silent flaps later and he was touching down next to her. Within a few seconds, he was in his human form, hand clutched over his junk. Maybe these griffins had a chance at making it work with humans after all.
“Good luck with your mission.” She held out her hand.
Cadon looked at her outstretched arm and frowned.
“It’s a human custom, we shake hands in greeting.”
He gently clasped his fingers over hers. Edith shook once and let go. “That’s it?” he asked.
“Yes, that’s it.” She smiled.
“I’ve already learned something. I am sure that your male will be very happy to see you.”
“Nah,” she snorted, waving her hand. “He’s not mine.”
Cadon cocked his head, it was a gesture that reminded her of a bird. All the griffins did it when they were thinking something through. “You may not think of him as yours, but I think that he thinks of you as his.”
“You think so?” Hope was a terrible thing. She didn’t want to feel it. Gage had been clear but then again, things changed. Didn’t they?
“I do think so, yes. The way he defended you, would die for you, told me otherwise.”
“He was doing his duty.” Not going there. Too dangerous to think along those lines.
“Yes, that also makes sense, although,” he scrunched his forehead up in thought, “I was quite sure. It is what I observed. It’s the little things sometimes, the way one person looks at another, touches another. I guess I was mistaken.”
“How long did you watch us?”
“About an hour.”
Shew, for a second there …
Cadon touched the side of her arm. “I need to go now,” he whispered, almost too softly for her to hear. “All of the best, human.” Then he shifted and was gone. As in, the whole thing happened in about three seconds flat. Those griffins sure were fast. She didn’t have a chance to ask him to point her in the right direction or tell her how far she was from the village.
She walked around in a circle. Not sure which direction to take. Edith could hear the river. Gage had told her on more than one occasion that if she followed it upstream that she would arrive at the shifter village. That theory was about to be tested.
Or not.
A group of four wolves broke from the forest ahead. They were huge. Far bigger than regular wolves, which told her that they were shifters. She looked for a huge bear wi
th golden eyes, for Gage, but he wasn't amongst them. Her heart sank. It looked like she was in deep. Like it or not. A large grey wolf with dark eyes broke from the group, he sprinted to her while the others continued to lope.
Edith looked down, pulling at the tiny skirt, she may as well be naked. Her clothes had been beyond salvageable and the griffins didn't have actual clothing. At least the skirt was something between a skirt and shorts. More like a tiny skirt and underwear. The top was ridiculous; she was spilling out everywhere. She put a hand across her chest, trying to cover up.
The wolf skidded to a halt, its tongue lolling. Its eyes glinting. There was the cracking noise. First the fur receded, together with the claws and jaw. Then everything seemed to tighten and shorten; primarily it's limbs.
Jacob.
Someone she knew. “Edith,” he growled, enveloping her in his arms. “I thought you were dead. Gage told us …” He hugged her tighter. “I’m so glad he was mistaken. I’m so glad to see you.”
“You too.” She meant it, although, not in the same way he did. Edith could barely breathe.
“Are you okay? Did they hurt you?” He pulled back, looking her over.
“I’m fine. A little underdressed but okay.”
“We only just left. The village can’t be more than a fifteen-minute lope from here.” He gave her another quick hug. “Let me change back into my fur and I’ll give you a lift.”
“That would be great.” It was weird to think that she’d been so in lust with Jacob, but that’s all it had been. A crush, an infatuation. Now that she knew what the real thing felt like. At least, something she thought could become real, given time, she felt silly to have ever thought otherwise. Jacob was really nice, but he wasn’t hers. He wasn’t Gage.
She'd made up her mind, Edith was going to tell Gage what she felt for him. If he turned her down, then so be it. At least she would have tried.
“You have to see this.” Ash was out of breath as he rounded the corner, gripping the door jamb as he entered the dining area.
"You told me to eat, and I'm eating," Gage snapped, instantly regretting it. He was acting like an asshole. It wasn't Ash's fault he had fucked up and gotten Edith killed. That was a cross he had to bear all on his own. "I'm—" He was about to apologize when Ash slapped him on the back. Hard. The fork flew from his hand. "The fuck!" he growled.
“Leave it and follow me.” Ash was grinning from ear to ear. It was weird, Gage wasn’t used to seeing him like this. Maybe on the day he mated Alice. Or on the day his cubs were born. Definitely when he was playing catch with Ethan. Having that thousand-watt smile directed at him though, was disconcerting.
“What?” Gage asked as he followed Ash. “Slow down I’m still rec—”
No.
Not a fuck.
"Edith?" He wasn't sure if he was seeing correctly. "Edith?" he repeated louder this time. His voice still laced with a good dose of disbelief.
“Gage!” She shouted as she caught sight of him. She pulled away from Jacob. What? The male had his arm around her. His hackles rose. What the fuck was Jacob doing touching his female?
No!
Shit!
No! What was he thinking? She wasn’t his. His stupid lust-riddled brain had almost got her killed in the first place. He would end up hurting her again if they continued. Not that there was a they because there wasn't. Forget about getting her killed; he'd break her heart like he had Savannah's. He was bad news, unable to commit. She wanted kids and a family. She wanted a family home on the lake. Edith deserved all of that. He wasn't even on the goddamned list. It took years to get to the top of that asshole list. In the meanwhile, she’d have to wait. Long distance relationships didn’t work for shit. Even when they were between two people who could actually commit. No! Fuck! His sweet Curls deserved better.
Then she was throwing herself into his arms. Jacob's scent was all over her. All fucking over. He growled low and deep, his chest rumbling. Everything in him told him to take the male down and then to put his scent back on her and to do a proper job this time.
Edith pulled back, she was frowning heavily. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything is great. I’m shocked to see you.” He reached out to touch a lock of her hair but pulled back at the last moment. “I thought … I thought I got you killed, Curls.” His voice dropped low as he fought to control the emotions welling up in him. His nose itched. His eyes stung.
“I told you not to blame yourself,” she all but whispered. Her green eyes wide, locked with his. Filled with emotions he’d rather not decipher.
“He did blame himself though,” Jacob said as he walked up, standing next to her. “Even I blamed him.”
“I knew you would blame yourself.” She ignored Jacob. Score to him! Not that it mattered. “And, I told you not to.” She was smiling broadly. Looking at him with such expectancy.
“How is it that you survived?” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m so happy to see that you’re okay. I can’t believe it.”
“Someone had better get a fire going because I was right about the griffins having magical powers.”
“No shit! They healed you?”
“Yeah, it’s their feathers. They have healing powers.” She went on to explain how a male called Cadon had saved her and how the magic worked.
She talked and smiled and talked and smiled some more. Gage didn’t want this moment to end. Edith told him all about the griffins’ plans. About how some of their males were loners and that she felt sorry for them. Gage still wanted to hunt the fuckers down and kill them. His Curls was sweet though. Sweet as honey. She forgave so easily. He only hoped she could forgive him too.
The moment came sooner than he wanted. Minutes too soon. Days too soon. A whole lifetime too soon.
"So," she rubbed her toes in the dirt, "I was just on my way to go and see Ana. Figured I'd surprise her since she thinks I died, do you want to come along?" She smiled, but her eyes were sad. Those beautiful green orbs were filled with both hope and sorrow. Like she already knew what his answer would be.
“Thanks, Curls.” He should really stop calling her that. It wasn’t right. “You’re back. No thanks to me, but you’re back safe and sound. It was our deal remember?” It hurt to say the words.
Her eyes widened for a moment. Like she couldn’t quite believe what she had just heard. “Yeah, but …”
“We agreed, Edith.” He had to force out her name.
She cleared her throat and seemed to square her shoulders. Her eyes darted to the side for a moment before returning to his. "Of course." She fake laughed. Others might not realize it was fake but he sure as hell did. That was not her real laugh at all. Then she licked her lips. "I had planned on checking in with Ana and then leaving anyways." She shrugged like it was no biggie. "It's Saturday, right?"
No one answered her.
“Right, Jacob?” She shoulder-tapped him.
“Yep, it sure is.” He smiled at Edith.
"Exactly. I have a show day tomorrow. A house I'm definitely going to sell. I have a job to do. A life to get back to." She looked him straight in the eyes as she said it. Good for her. One part of him felt good that she was going to be fine while another part fucking died inside. "You said you would give me a ride back to Sweetwater." She turned to Jacob, pretty much cutting him off from the conversation.
“Sure, no problem.” Jacob nodded and then nodded some more, reminding Gage of a lovesick puppy. Little ass-wipe obviously didn’t have a clue he was second choice! That wasn’t fair to Jacob. He couldn’t think like that.
The male grinned at Edith. Again, he was tempted to step in and … No! This was for the best. It was!
“Great.” She clapped her hands. “You can come with me to Ana’s then.” She completely ignored Gage.
What else did he expect? He’d hurt her. It was better this way though. He may have hurt her, but she’d be okay. She’d get over it. Jacob would see to that. “Glad you’re okay.” He turned and walked
away before he was tempted to do something stupid.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Ash stepped in next to him. He spoke through clenched teeth.
“Leave me alone.” Gage shrugged out of Ash’s clasp.
“No can do, asshole,” Ash growled beneath his breath. “I was once so in lust with a female that I ignored what was right so that I could have her. I knew you were falling for Savannah. I knew you were making a mistake when you pushed her away. That you would regret it.”
Gage picked up the pace. “I really don’t feel like having this conversation again. Enough already!”
“Oh, we’re going to have this conversation whether you like it or fucking not.”
“Not.” Gage kept walking. He walked right past his house, trying to escape his annoying as fuck brother. “I dumped Savannah because I was no good for her.” Truth. He did care for her and, as it turned out, he did love her, even though he had convinced himself otherwise. It didn’t stop him from getting itchy feet though. It was how he rolled.
“And that’s why you just walked away from Edith? Because you’ve somehow convinced yourself that you’re no good for her?” Ash asked, eyes narrowed.
“Exactly.” Gage pulled in a deep breath. “Only a matter of time before I leave her, so may as well do it now. I guess I’m not much of a shifter in that sense. I can’t mate her. I don’t want to hurt her,” he added the last more to himself.
“I think you’re afraid.”
“Afraid of hurting her?” Gage snarled, coming to a stop so that he could face his brother. “Hell yes!”
Ash’s whole stance softened. “I think you’re afraid that she’ll hurt you. She’s not Savannah.”
“I know that … fuck!”
“It was Savannah who had a problem with commitment. She wasn’t able to commit fully to just one of us. It screwed with your head.”
“Bull!” The word didn’t hold much conviction.
Ash made a growling noise and pursed his lips for a moment. "Hell, it screwed with me just as much. Bottom line, Savannah wanted both of us right from the start, and you knew it. You fell for her long and hard and blindly, and when you realized she still had her sights on me, you dumped her just as hard and fast. Then you jumbled things up in your mind so that you could live with it."
Shifter Night Box Set: Complete Set (Book 1 - 3) Page 50