by Renee George
The bear thundered again. The witch might not be able to control him, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t hurt him. Johnny held out a long bladed knife, and fear propelled Solange into action. She rolled to a stand, ran at the female witch, and jumped on the surprised bitch.
“Leave him alone!” she yelled, fisting the woman’s hair and yanking her head back. The woman screeched and redirected her focus on Solange. A searing burn pierced her gut, and Sol doubled over unable to breath.
Ty, in bear form, used the temporary relief to knock the knife from Johnny’s hand, and with a fierce swipe of his claw, he nearly severed the man’s head. The expression on Johnny’s face showed shock, as if dying was the last thing he expected. Blood poured down his chest, staining his white shirt, and he toppled to the ground.
The witch screamed, the sounds filled with anguish and fury. Her hold on Sol lessened. She broke free of the woman’s grasp and ran toward the bear.
Ty changed into his human form. Bloodied and bruised, he collapsed next to his would-be killer.
As she knelt next to her mate, a high-pitched shriek ratcheted Sol’s attention. The witch’s body lit up against the night sky. She whipped her arms around and electricity sizzled on the air.
“Meredith,” Ty said, his breath hard and labored. “Joseph Big Horse’s wife.”
Sol remembered Meredith. She’d been the one to tell Ty that her husband was dead. She had sent him to the parking lot, and Sol, feeling uneasy in the woman’s presence, had bailed and gone after Ty.
“You’ve killed my child,” Meredith cried. “He is pure sorcellarie, not like your half-breed bitch, Wasape.”
“Is that why you killed Joseph?” yelled Ty. “Because he was too human for you?”
“He figured out Johnny was sorcellarie. The one taking the shifter’s powers. I begged him to say nothing. I promised to make Johnny stop, but Joseph refused to keep my secret, even after I admitted Johnny was my son. Humans are betrayers.” Tears streamed her face as she hovered over the mauled body of her son. “You will suffer for what you’ve done. I will make you kill her, and you will be helpless to do anything about it.”
She twisted her fingers, but nothing happened.
“I put the stone inside him,” said Solange defiantly. “He will never be under your control, or any other witch’s ever again.”
Ferocity twisting her features, Meredith brandished a wicked silver blade and flung herself at Ty.
Solange tried to make her magic work again, to erect some kind of protection for her and Ty, but nothing happened. “Damn it.”
Ty rolled himself in front of her, his stomach wounds, already healing, were bleeding less. “I won’t let you harm her.” He began to shift again, his bones moving, fur sprouting.
A car door slammed, and Sol heard feet skittering across the gravel.
“Solange Marie,” a woman yelled.
Oh God, thought Sol when she recognized the voice. “Mom?”
A tall, curvy woman, with beautiful dark skin that glistened in the moonlight ran into the center of the brewing storm of witchcraft. “I am the wind,” she said. She held up her hands and pushed at the air. The wind responded to her touch as her mother used magic against Meredith. Solange saw colors lifting, moving, and flowing. Magic is art, she thought. And then, my mother is a witch.
Meredith rose into the air. She struggled against the current. “Put me down!” Panic diminished her power and soon she had no magic at all.
Genevieve Tremaine pushed the air toward the burning house and threw Meredith into the blaze. When the screams finally died away, she dropped to her knees in front of Sol.
Solange blinked at her mom. “You’re scary.”
“Better believe it.”
“How did you find me?”
“Location service on your phone. I still pay your phone bill, and since you stopped texting me back yesterday and didn’t answer any of my calls…” Her mother let the admonishment hang in the air.
Ty had reverted back to human. “My uncle,” he said hoarsely.
The old man shambled to them then with a barking Spot on his heels. Solange breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’m fine, young bear. Just winded.” He looked back wistfully at his burning home. “I’ll need my sweat lodge back.”
Ty grimaced a smile. “My boss will pay for a new home uncle.”
“Good.” The shaman smiled. “Gray man owes me.”
Ty looked a Sol’s mother. “I’m glad you’re on our side.”
“My daughter’s side,” Genevieve corrected, and Solange winced.
“Mom.” Solange stood. “This is Ty Wasape. We’re…”
“Mated,” Ty said.
“But he’s a…a…Solange, you can’t mate with him.”
“Uhm, he’s a bear shifter.” She blushed thinking about Ty marking her. “And apparently, I can.”
“Oh, no. We have to talk, Solly. I’m afraid I haven’t told you everything.”
“Let me guess. I’m a witch.”
Dead silence hung between them.
Finally her mother said, “Yes, as am I.”
“And dad?”
“He was human. I am sorcellarie.”
That’s what Meredith had meant by half-breed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“When you didn’t develop any abilities at puberty, I didn’t think telling you was necessary. I thought you were human, like your father.” Her voice faltered. “I hoped…”
Solange took pity on her mother. “It doesn’t matter now.”
“Are you coming home?”
She looked at Ty. He nodded. “Yes,” she told her mom. “And I’m bringing my mate.”
“Yes, you are.” He stood and wrapped his arms around her shoulder for support. “I’ll have to introduce you to my boss, so we can make our status as a mated couple official.”
“Your boss?”
“His name is Myron Gray. He’ll like you.” Ty looked at her, his expression serious. “I’m a shadow warrior, Sol, and I owe my allegiance to the other world queen.”
Genevieve nodded. “I’d heard Caledon had a new Triune. Garrick was a piece of crap. It’s good he’s dead.”
Sol shook her head at her mother’s knowledge of Ty’s world. “Obviously, there’s a lot I need to learn.”
“Bears and witches don’t mix,” Genevieve said, her expression not as disappointed as her words. “But there is always a first.”
“I will protect her with my life,” Ty assured her.
“I’m going to go see if the Aural needs my help with anything. I haven’t spoken to one of his kind in years,” Sol’s mother said as an excuse and walked away to give them space.
After her mom joined Red Sun over by his beat up truck, Sol turned in Ty’s arms. “Can this work between us?” It was clear they’d have a few obstacles to overcome.
He leaned down and pressed her with a kiss that made her toes curl. “I will die without you, Solange.” He breathed her name across her skin. “You are my life now.”
“Then I guess we’ll figure out a way to make it work.”
He pressed his forehead to hers and rubbed his thumb against her lower lip. Ty’s dark gaze pierced into her soul. “The moment I laid eyes on you, my heart was yours.”
The weight of his words sent a pulse of happiness through Solange. For the first time in her life, she didn’t feel alone. In his arms, she was exactly where she was meant to be.
“It doesn’t have to make sense in order for it to be true,” said Sol. “I love you, Ty.”
So he was a bear, and she was a witch. They would face any obstacle as a team, and together they would overcome anything—seen or unseen.
The End
Author’s Note
If you enjoyed The Bear Witch Project, please consider leaving a review or a rating on the site where you purchased the copy. Reader reviews help the author and the author’s books to remain valued
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If you do leave a review, please email, I’d love to thank you personally!
Hugs, Renee
About Renee George
Renee George is a USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, erotic romance, contemporary romance, and romantic comedies that highlight varying themes including traditional, ménage, gay and bisexual relationships. A published author since 2005, she has written and published over 30 books in the past decade. Accolades include: EcataRomance Award for Best Paranormal Erotic Romance and Best Gay Erotic Romance and a Literary Nymph Blush Award for Best Paranormal Romance.
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Other Titles by Renee George
Midnight Shifters Series
Midnight Shift
The Bear Witch Project
Lion Kings Series
The Lion Kings
Peculiar Mysteries Series
You’ve Got Tail
The Cocktails Series
The Wallbanger
The Hot Toddy
The Gin Rickey
The Dirty Martini
The Old Fashioned – Wallbanger 2
The Hurricane – Hot Toddy 2
The Sparkler – Gin Rickey 2
The Cull Series
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