Wild Things (BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance): Shifter Lovers Romance

by Catherine Vale

  “But the Prime Minister did.” It was not a question. In her heart, she knew exactly how this whole plan had been concocted. “The Prime Minister was the one who brought the Ottway’s plan to my father, was the broker of the deal, in so many words. He traveled back and forth...” It was too much to think about, and she buried her face in his shoulder. The only person left in her family was gone. The last of her family. Except...

  She sat up, grabbing his arm. “Ana? Do you know anything about Ana? Or the rest?”

  He shook his head. “No. Talok only had that news a few hours before he came across us, and only told me after you left. He didn’t want to tell you when they found us. And I didn’t want to tell you, until you had a chance to rest. I’m sorry if that upsets you.”

  It did, in a way. But she wasn’t going to be angry with him, not now. She wiped her face and looked up at him. “I want to go home. I want to find Anacelia. And I want to make the Prime Minister pay for what he has done to me.”

  Gabriel was silent, but finally shook his head. “Yes. I understand. But as I said, the Ottway's men have found our trail. We are hidden here, for now. But it will only be a matter of time before they find us.”

  “And then they will find the village. What do we do?” It broke her heart to think she’d brought trouble to this village, after what had happened, after aliens and that horrible Ottway had driven them from their home. The Ottway was evil, pure and simple. And the Prime Minister as well. They made a terrible pair.

  “Talok and others will come with us, to fight if we need to. To help us escape. Before, we were going to run north, into the barren country and through to the other side.”

  “What’s on the other side?”

  “Another place like this. And then there are stories of a sea, bluer than the sky, stretching to the horizon. And then really nothing. No one has crossed that sea in generations. But we’ll go back, to your city, to the palace. And find Ana.”

  She nodded, and let him take her hand, pulling her to her feet. “Where will your people go?”

  “There are ways through these ravines, hidden passages, and canyons. They’ll disappear into them like shadows.”

  “With the camels?”

  Gabriel nodded. “With the camels. They’ve done it before, and they’ll do it again.” He leaned forward, and kissed her forehead. “We need to go, now. Pack...” His lips curled into a smile. “I guess you don’t have anything to pack, do you?”

  “No. I have what I brought, but I don’t want it. Someone here can have the few things I brought. I’ll take...” The clothes she’d worn were folded on the little stool. “Just these. Except they smell like a camel.”

  “Yes, they do.” He pulled her away from the pile of clothing. “But if you’re going home, you have clothes there, yes?”

  “No. Everything was packed, and left on the train. Everything I owned, except for what I had on, and what I gave Anacelia...” Her voice broke. “There is nothing. But I don’t want that old life. I want a new life with you. And new clothes. Everything new.”

  Her voice had risen, gotten slightly hysterical. Everything inside her felt torn, and broken. The only thing that was solid and real in her life, was Gabriel. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and let him pull him against her. It was easier to cry against him, to just let him absorb her tears and her heartbreak. But she knew she couldn’t stay here, they couldn’t. There were people waiting, and she was going home. Pulling herself away from him, she straightened, sniffed once, and forced herself to smile.

  “We should go. If they’re coming for us, then we should go.”

  Gabriel raised an eyebrow, but kept quiet. He leaned down, kissing her gently. “Then we go. You’ll have to ride a camel again, but with a saddle this time. Slightly more comfortable.”

  She gave him a fragile smile. “Yes. Fine. I’ll be fine.”

  * * *

  Riding a camel with a saddle was more comfortable, but not by much. But she didn’t care. They were headed to the Oasis, and she was determined once they arrived to confront the Prime Minister. Whatever happened to him, she didn’t care, as long as he was out of her way.

  She was riding behind Gabriel, thinking about Anacelia, her father, what to do about the Prime Minister. Riding the camel made it too hard to talk to Gabriel, and it wasn’t the time, yet. They were sticking to the canyons and ravines, as Gabriel said. They twisted and turned, through dark and light, shadows and sunlight, heading toward her home.

  “Oh, for God’s sake.” She sat up straight. Gabriel glanced over his shoulder, frowning at her.

  “What? Is something wrong?”

  “No. I’m not sure. If we...if the Prime Minister is gone, then I’m the...I’m the ruler of the Oasis.”

  He grunted, then nodded. “I guess you will be.”

  Her mind was turning in a thousand directions. She’d never thought...it hadn’t occurred to her that she’d inherit everything, including becoming ruler of the kingdom. It was a terribly huge responsibility for her, young, alone.

  “Oh, yes. Thank the Gods!” She wasn’t alone. “You said you’d make me your wife!”

  “Yes.” Gabriel turned in the saddle, his expression bemused. “Yes. I said that. And I will. But not here, in the middle of the canyons.”

  “Yes. I mean, no. But if we’re married, then I’m not alone. I won’t be alone.”

  “Senna.” Gabriel pulled the reins on the camel, dragging it to a stop. He turned around in the saddle, frowning. “What are you talking about?”

  “If we’re married, I won’t have to rule alone. We can rule together. Don’t you see? This is wonderful.”

  His brow smoothed out, and he managed a smile. “Senna. You are the most amazing woman I have ever met.” Without falling out of the saddle, he managed to kiss her. But then he grew serious. “But first we need to get away from whoever is chasing us, and then we need to deal with whatever the Prime Minister has done. Making you my wife is my greatest wish. After we are safe, not before.”

  “Yes. I know. Then let’s get going.”

  She reached down, smacking the camel on the rump. It jerked, and snorted, and took off at a trot. Gabriel grabbed the reins, getting the beast under control. He looked back at her.

  “And from now on, let me take care of steering the camel, alright?”

  * * *

  They’d gotten out of the ravines and canyons, the camel struggling up the final climb up out of the last ravine. It lurched and groaned, and finally crested the edge with a final snort. Senna released her death grip around Gabriel’s waist.

  The desert stretched out around them, harsh and flat and glaring in the sun. Gabriel pulled the camel to a stop. Ahead of them was another rider on a camel, behind them two more. Gabriel turned to her.

  “We’ll travel during the day. It’ll be very hot, and you’ll be thirsty. There’s water in the packs on the camel, but it won’t be enough. Can you do that?”

  “Yes. I can.”

  “Then find something to wrap around your face. The wind kicks up sand, and it stings.” He pulled up the face covering of his robes. She nodded and dug in the leather bag hanging by her side. There was a long blue scarf, and she swirled it around her head and face as Gabriel kicked the camel and they started through the sand.

  “How long?” Her voice was muffled. Gabriel shook his head, and she leaned forward, her face beside his ear. “I said, how long until...”

  Gabriel jerked the camel’s head around, growling at her over his shoulder. “Be quiet.”

  She looked behind them. A long trail of dust rose in the distance. The riders behind them were lashing their camels, the big animals galloping at surprising speed toward them. But the plumes of dust were gaining. From the sharp glints of light reflecting off metal, she thought they must be the Ottway’s men, riding new machines. For some reason, that seemed the lesser of two evils. These were men, just as vulnerable as she was. Cold comfort, but strangely comforting nonetheless.

&
nbsp; “We can’t outrun them, can we?”

  “No.” Gabriel’s growl was deeper, tinged with anger. “We have to fight.” He turned around. The lone rider in front of them had turned around, and she saw he was headed toward them.

  “Senna. Listen. I dismount, and we fight. You stay on this camel, no matter what. Do not dismount. The rest of the herd will run, and you will go...”

  “No. I will not. I will fight alongside you and the rest.”

  He stared at her, his eyes black above his white robes. With a rough gesture, he pulled aside the robe covering his face. An instant, alarming thrill of fear raced through her as he leaned closer.

  “I love you, Senna. You cannot fight. I will not allow it.”

  Pulling herself up, she glared at him. “I am a Princess, and you cannot tell me what I can or cannot do. I will fight, and you will not forbid me.”

  Behind them, she could hear the thundering of the camels as they approached, and over that the thin scream of the machines.

  “I cannot argue with you. There is no time. Fight then, but stay behind me or one of the other men. Defend yourself, do not attack.” He grabbed her arm, pulling her close. “Do you understand?”

  “Yes.” Her voice was breathless. “I understand.”

  His kiss was hard, searing. “I love you, Senna. More than life. And I will give mine to save yours. But do not even think of doing the same for me.”

  He turned away, saying something in his language, and the camel sunk to the ground. Gabriel jumped off and helped her down. He pulled a sword from his robes, then reached for one of the leather bags. She watched as the other riders reached them, the riders jumping down, the camels snorting, making strange moans and grunts as if they sensed danger and were adding their cry to the mix of men shouting. The final rider dismounted, and the camels ran off together like brothers, disappearing behind a sand dune.

  “But...” She wanted them back, wanted the comfort and security of their big bodies, of a way to escape.

  “They are the least of our worries. They will come when we call.”

  Four men and a woman, their little group, looked far too small to fight whatever was coming toward them. From the size of the dust cloud, Senna thought there must be hundreds of them.

  “Here.” Gabriel thrust something into her hand. It was a dagger, almost a foot long, heavy and deadly-looking. “Hold it like I showed you, with the comb. Out and down, not up. Remember?”

  “I do.” The dagger felt foreign but strangely comforting. She could protect herself; Gabriel would not have to worry about her. And if given the chance, she would kill.

  Talok joined them. “There are less than a dozen. They have seen us, obviously. Shift now, and box the compass, yes?” Talok held a sword as well, and for a moment she was confused. Behind her, she heard a growl and turning found the other two men had shifted. Huge desert wolves growled and paced. Two huge swords lay on the ground at their feet.

  “Yes.” Gabriel threw his sword on the ground at her feet, then shrugged. “I do not like to be without a weapon. Fight with the dagger, but know where these swords lie on the ground.”

  Before Senna had the chance to even nod, the Talok and Gabriel threw off their robes. The shift happened so quickly, so smoothly, that it seemed she only blinked once, and Gabriel had gone through the body-bending process, arms and legs contorting, thick fur growing over his body. Then he was on the ground, his jaws thrust forward, white fangs erupting with a spurt of blood. He wore no body armor and it was strangely beautiful to see his body completely covered with dense black fur.

  Talok was nearby, and shook his big head, throwing it back with a howl toward the sky. He was gray and black, fur grizzled, his body wide and powerful, just as he was as a man. Gabriel joined him, and the transformation complete.

  She learned in seconds what box the compass meant. Gabriel nudged her until she stood in the center of the four wolves. The machines were close now, and there was a moment of terror as she watched them ride toward them. They could, easily, circle them and cut them down with the weapons they held.

  The first rider circled them in a wide arc, screaming at the men a language she didn’t understand but sounded familiar. Then it struck her, like a blow to her chest. These men, these shifters, would have been boys, like Gabriel, living in the desert with their tribe. They might have been neighboring villages to his. And now they were fighting, all because humans had decided to divide the land according to their own desires.

  For a forlorn moment, she wanted to make them all stop, to make them listen. She understood, she thought, what they all must feel, how Gabriel felt when he found his village gone.

  But then the world was a swirling mass of sand, and machines, and screams and growls. She tugged the veil over her robe over her nose, and held the dagger as Gabriel had shown her, and prepared to fight for her life.

  The rider had a long spear, held it out horizontally, the sound of it cutting the air like the sound of a whip before it cracked against its target. The wolves ducked, crouching beneath the blade. As the rider tightened his circle, the wolf behind her jumped, hitting the rider, knocking him to the sand. There was a scream, and then the sand was stained red with blood.

  That seemed absurdly easy. But then she realized the Ottway’s men had sent a sacrifice. The man had distracted them while the others had abandoned their machines and shifted.

  From her left, she heard a deep growl, and she spun around. A yellow wolf, one that looked as wide as a camel, came at her. It held her gaze with yellow eyes, mesmerizing as it stared at her. Then it lunged, straight for her throat.

  A flash of black cut in front of her, Gabriel hitting the wolf in the ribs, knocking it to the sand. She watched as he bit down on the wolf, she thought going for the throat, but biting the wolf in the shoulder instead. Every instinct in her told her to run, to jump on the yellow wolf and kill it. But Gabriel’s words rang in her head. Defend herself only. So she crouched in the center of the three wolves, and waited.

  The Ottway’s wolves attacked, charging in, teeth snapping at the other wolves. But they held their places, backed in so close to Senna she felt their tails brush against her legs.

  With a deep growl, Talok charged forward at one of the yellow wolves, knocking it to the ground. Surprised, Senna jerked around, looking for Gabriel. He had the yellow wolf on its back, tearing at the neck. Blood spurted out, splashing on his black fur. She thought Talok must have known, and waited until Gabriel was free to watch her.

  The yellow wolf beneath Gabriel, gave out one last whimper, and then Gabriel jumped aside, circling it on stiff legs, backing away from it, moving toward Senna.

  But there were too many wolves charging to keep her in the center. The other two black wolves charged an enemy wolf, pinning it between them. There was a violent struggle, sand and fur flying. Then one of the black wolves yelped, and fell to the ground. Senna saw blood on the yellow wolf’s fur, but it still fought, circling the other wolf. The Ottway’s wolf grinnged, blood dripping from its jaws. It looked like it was grinning. It circled slowly, making feints and false starts, until the black wolf jumped onto its back. In a heartbeat, the black wolf bit down, and Senna’s stomach did a slow roll as she heard the sound of bones crunching. The yellow wolf fell to the ground, legs kicking feebly. Then it stopped moving.

  She’d lost track of Gabriel, and she turned in a frantic circle, looking for him. He was behind her, on the ground on his back, a yellow wolf dripping saliva and blood on his chest. Gabriel had all four legs braced against the belly of the other wolf, barely holding it at bay. Any second Gabriel’s strength might give out, or the wolf might over power him. She had to do something.

  The dagger in her hand looked too small, so she dropped it, and reached down and scooped up one of the swords. It weighed more than she thought it would, but it was bigger. She brought it back, then ran forward toward Gabriel and the yellow wolf. Swinging it like a club, she hit the wolf with the flat of the blade. The forc
e of the blow made the sword vibrate in her hand, and she almost dropped it. It did nothing to damage the wolf, except surprise it. The wolf turned its head to her, jaws snapping. She took a stumbling step backward, tripping over her feet, landing on her butt.

  The wolf jumped at her, and behind she saw Gabriel struggling in the sand to get to his feet. But from where she sat, he seemed too far away. And the yellow wolf was right there, almost on top of her.

  She started to bring her hands up to protect herself, and realized she still held the sword. Gripping the handle, she held it up straight in front of her. For a moment the wolf looked confused, and then it tried to backpedal, to get away from her. But its momentum carried it forward and it hit the end of the sword. The weight of the wolf drove the sword into its belly, blood spilling over her. The wolf’s snarl turned to a howl of pain and it sank forward, jaws snapping at her even as the sword sunk deeper into it.

  Then a blur of black shot from the side, and the sword was pulled from her hands as the yellow wolf was pushed away. Gabriel knocked the wolf down, but it didn’t get back up. He turned to her, growling as she slowly got to her feet.

  “My Gods woman, you are either the bravest thing I’ve seen, or the most foolish.”

  She turned to find him behind her, pulling on his robes. The other member of the tribe was dressed, bending down to the other fallen man. He lay naked on the ground. For a moment she looked on in confusion.

  “Sometimes we shift back when we are dead. He did...”

  She looked up at him, tears gathering in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for bringing all this with me.”

  Talok put a big hand on her shoulder. “It was not you. This pain has been with our people longer than you have. But now, maybe you can do something to change that.”

  She watched as Talok and Gabriel wrapped the dead man in his robes. Then he returned to her.

  “We must travel now. There is no time to waste.”