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ISAAC
Teaser of Erik – Band of Bears
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Spoil the Shifter in you…
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Copyright 2017 by J. S. Striker - All rights reserved.
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Isaac
The Clan Legacy Series
By: J. S. Striker
Tables of Contents
Keep in touch!
THANK YOU!!
ISAAC
Teaser of Erik – Band of Bears
More Steamy Not So Shifter Stuff Right Here
Check out my other books!
Spoil the Shifter in you…
Keep in touch!
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ISAAC
CHAPTER ONE
“As it stands, I don’t have a head guard at the moment, and it’s a very important job. I want to offer it to you and give you a test run for the next few weeks to come.”
It was the same speech Isaac Hart had given to the other guy he was considering for the job—and unfortunately, it didn’t last long. Lance Peyton had been one of his most loyal panther shifters, with shifting abilities and sword skills that were above average—until yesterday. He’d gotten drunk and caused a ruckus by sleeping with another panther shifter’s wife, which had then caused the husband to challenge him to a duel. Said duel led to Lance’s early demise, having stumbled on his feet and straight towards the pointed end of the sword, where he lost his head in the process.
It had been messy business, one Isaac had to clean up well until dawn. Now, with only three hours sleep, he wasn’t in the mood for niceties but had to do his best when it came to screening the men who were to take Lance’s place.
Particularly this one.
Urban Nole was the best candidate for the job next to Lance. His shifting abilities were impressive, and his fighting skills weren’t something to be scoffed at, either. But the guy was pretty young in terms of shifter years, and he had one of those faces that didn’t hold eagerness at bay.
“Thank you for the opportunity,” Urban said earnestly. “I won’t let you regret this. I’ll make you proud, sir.”
“Isaac,” Isaac corrected.
Urban saluted, and Isaac had to stifle a sigh before he finally dismissed the guy. Urban strode off with a bounce on his gait, and Isaac had to wonder if he had just made the right decision. But then again, what other decision was there? His latest option had gotten himself killed, and his longest head guard, Clay…well, that guy had been more involved in the slavery business than he’d let on, and had ended up needing to be killed.
Yeah. Along with your brother.
Almost immediately, his younger brother’s face flashed in his mind, and grief prickled at his heart. It wasn’t the intense slash it was before, as he’d already come to terms with what Jason had done: namely, betray their family’s trust by being the ringleader of an awful slavery business for shifter children. Still, it was hard to take, particularly since he and his sister, Isabella, had done their best to protect their brother from any danger the outside world provided.
And look where that got them.
Now, he’d lost a brother. Jason’s betrayal meant he wasn’t allowed to be buried on sacred ground, nor was his body allowed to be burned and turned to ashes. So, he’d been thrown into the sea to rot away, as was tradition.
And as was tradition, it was Isaac’s role now to pretend that everything was alright and be the cool, calm shifter leader that the panther clan needed.
As he passed the hallways of the cave he had turned into his home over the years, Isaac tried to recall in his mind all the things that needed immediate attention. Clay had been with him for so long that he already depended too much on the guy to automatically do many things for him, and that was a mistake. Isabella had been the other half who often brought up many clan issues with him—and now Isabella had gone, too, having mated with the ultimate leader of all other shifter clans, Dylan Masters. That pretty much made her one of the most powerful women in the supernatural world now, though he knew it didn’t matter to her that much, anyway, since she married for love.
Love was a weakness, and that was just a lesson for Isaac not to rely too much on other people from now on. He had himself, and he had to depend on no one else. Still, even he couldn’t deny that his strong force was crippled for the moment due to lack of several bodies, and he was going to have to do his best not to make anyone aware of it.
Had he been anyone else, he’d have considered traveling somewhere there was a trusted witch and asking for her help with some spells and such to secure his clan boundary’s protection. But as it was, two things stopped him: first was that he didn’t trust witches with his life, and second was that he couldn’t exactly travel.
No—he literally couldn’t travel.
He knew he should be used to that damn curse by now, having been trapped in it for ten years already. But it was such an inconvenience that he couldn’t help being angry every now and then for such a rash decision of his turning into a lifetime punishment. Isabella had been the one who handled outside matters since then—and the only person who knew about said curse—and her leaving only emphasized the fact that he had no one trusted enough to tell his secret to and make new deals with.
A headache was forming as Isaac entered the main hall, where he sat on his throne. He tried not to dwell on the matter as he remembered that he still had to check with the infirmary head on the slave children’s conditions. He, Isabella, and Dylan Masters had done their best to save all that they could and spread the children among foster homes and their designated clans—but for now, it was the healing first before anything. Despite Isaac’s dislike for modern gadgets, Dylan had given him a phone for emergency calls, and Isabella had promised that she would visit in a month or two to check up on the progress.
This back and forth business was another thing that he wasn’t comfortable with, considering the panther clan had isolated themselves for a reason: to avoid the politics that were rampant in Dylan’s world in New York, where al
l the other shifter clans were mostly situated. Isaac had a lot of things to adjust to, and so far, he was doing it fine.
It didn’t mean that he liked it, though.
And it didn’t mean that he was going to give up his power here that easily, even with Dylan shifting from his tentative enemy to his tentative acquaintance.
The panther clan’s safety came first and foremost, no matter what.
*****
“Sir? We found an intruder in the area.”
Half an hour later in the infirmary, Urban’s cheerful voice penetrated Isaac’s thoughts as he reviewed the charts the infirmary head had provided. Most of the children were still in need of care, but there were some older ones that had already recovered enough to give a helping hand.
“Isaac,” he corrected his head guard again. Then his mind absorbed the words said, and Isaac went on alert immediately. “Who?”
“A woman.”
Isaac frowned. Then he nodded at Urban and silently went out, with the guard following him. They walked the halls and left the infirmary, using the forest shortcut to go back to the cave, where Isaac glanced at Urban.
“Details?”
Urban straightened. “She was found sneaking around the edges of our boundary, then climbing a tree when we went to check it out. We had to persuade her down, and she asked to speak with you.”
“Hmm. My name specifically?”
“Yes. She knows your name and your title, and said it’s something important.”
“Did she say who she was?”
“No. But she looks…very odd.”
Isaac raised a brow. “Odd?”
“Doesn’t smell like a human. Doesn’t smell like a shifter, either. She has…a vibrating presence about her. I’m thinking she’s a witch concealing herself, so we’ve already set up precautions around her in the main hall.”
“Good.” Urban’s initiative reminded Isaac why he made him one of his guards in the first place a few years ago.
Urban went inside the hall first to check that things were still good, then gave a subtle nod. Isaac entered without preamble, taking in the guards making a circle around someone in the middle. They weren’t the only ones making a circle, because there was an electric charge circling the person, too.
The clan leader circled the area calmly, standing in front of his throne and turning to finally face them. The guards had stepped back to the sides, and Isaac studied the intruder quietly.
She was tiny—tinier than most women, with a slight body and a face to match. Her hair was a mess of reddish-gold curls, and her pale skin made one think she didn’t get any sun at all. Urban was right. She didn’t smell like human or shifter, or any of the familiar creatures in their world. He took in the pert nose, the full lips with a mole on the side, and the eyes tilted upwards, the color of gold.
No, not pure gold. They were rose gold.
She could pass for a witch, sure. But Isaac’s blood surged as he knew she was no witch, and under that innocent façade was someone who had nails that could grow as sharp as talons and a mouth made to utter curses that could torture one for life. Her kind was far worse than all other creatures that resided this world, save for maybe demons and those damn rogue vampires.
He was staring at a fairy.
CHAPTER TWO
This was a bad idea.
Roxie tried not to squirm under the stare of the man standing in front of her—well, not man, but more like ruthless, coldblooded panther. His reputation preceded him, but it didn’t look like it was an exaggeration, either.
She’d anticipated the shifters who’d come to get her, had braced herself for the power they exuded and the eeriness of the place she was entering here in this area of what they called Brazil. It was generally just a big forest with fields and cliffs overlooking an ominous-looking ocean, whose waves looked like they could swallow one whole. Then there was the cave, which was so large that it left her pretty impressed, as the outside turned off anyone from entering, but the inside…well, the inside was basically a castle filled with all kinds of things that looked expensive and aesthetic at the same time. There was no denying that it was more masculine than she would have liked, but she couldn’t help being in awe, anyway.
The awe left her once she was taken to the main hall and surrounded by a powerful surge of electricity. She wasn’t stupid and knew that it was used to control whatever powers she had. Guards surrounded her, too, and she had to scoff at the precaution put on her. If only they knew the extent—or rather, the lack—of her powers, they’d laugh.
And then he came in, and whatever amusement she felt fled instantly.
Their powerful aura? It was nothing compared to the aura he exuded. It came out of him in waves, and she could feel him sensing her out as he studied her under hooded eyes. She did some studying of her own, noting down the long, graceful lines of his lightly bronzed body. He was tall, but not so outrageously tall that she’d have a crick in her neck from craning too much. He was also muscled, though they were subtle and hidden very well by dark clothes from neck to foot. He was more sprinter than brawler in looks, and perhaps that was what panthers were all about.
His black hair rested comfortably on his head, not too long but not too short either. It fell in soft waves that looked soft to the touch, except no woman in their right mind would do so without permission. His mouth was firm and full, and she had a feeling he didn’t smile often. But that wasn’t the most intimidating part of him.
It had to be his eyes. They were the lightest of blue—like summer clouds, she realized, except there was nothing summery about him at all. Those eyes were cold and calculating, and it felt like they were looking into her soul.
Her heart beat fast, and Roxie willed it to calm down. She had a disliking for this man already, and he hadn’t even spoken a word yet.
“Speak,” he clipped out.
Well, okay. Now the dislike only increased.
She forced herself to smile. He didn’t return it. Biting back her pride, she bowed. “My name is Roxie K'Lashtama. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the name, but I have reason to believe you are.”
He didn’t speak. In fact, he just stood there like some kind of lazy predator waiting out his prey, and she tried to get the image of herself being ripped to pieces out of her mind. Of course, he was familiar with the name and was just being an ass about it.
So she kept on.
“My mother is Pine K'Lashtama, Queen of the Autumn Court. I’m sure you’ve heard of her.”
And slept with her, and got cursed by her. But she didn’t get into that, expecting at least some kind of reaction now.
Nothing.
In fact, Isaac Hart’s expression showed more blankness than ever, his eyes remaining on hers. She was so tempted to look down but didn’t want to give in to her own intimidation. She had experience dealing with men like him in her court—bullish, alpha men who were cold and heartless and wanting nothing more than power. She could deal with him.
The silence in the hall turned ominous, and she watched in fascination as the panther clan leader indicated with his hand once. The young guard who’d taken her there and brought him straightened, then nodded and left. To her surprise, all the other guards followed, leaving her alone with a quiet click of the huge door. Now it was just her and Isaac. A few seconds later, the electric charge around her also disappeared.
“Make one wrong move, and you’ll be dead before you hit the floor.” His voice was low and all kinds of smooth, the threat coming out of his mouth casual. It had her shivering before she made her body go still, lifting her chin up at him.
“I’m not here to threaten you and kill you.”
“You couldn’t even if you tried,” he said. A smirk formed on his face.
Roxie tamped down her temper and stifled muttering some insults out loud. She pretended she didn’t hear him. “I’m here because I need to talk to you.”
“Roxie, right?”
“Right.”
> “Save that speech and get to the point. I don’t have all day.”
Why, what a rude, arrogant, self-serving basta—
“I need your help to save my mother.”
And there she went blurting out everything before she could even assess the situation.
She made her bed and had to lie in it, so Roxie didn’t bother dwelling on the matter and simply waited for the verdict. Isaac turned around and sat down in his chair, which was elevated and looked very similar to her mother’s throne back home. It was no wonder her mother cursed this kind of man, but she had to wonder what exactly Isaac had done to make her mother use her powers like that. Pine K'Lashtama was careful with doling out said curses, considering how much magic they used up, so it must have been something severe.
“And why, pray tell, are you asking me for help? Don’t you have men who could do that?”
Because you’re the only one who could save her specifically. He didn’t even ask what happened to her mother, indicating his lack of care.
“She’s been kidnapped by the Winter Court, and as the acting queen, I’m trying my best to keep the information at a minimal and therefore not involve anyone connected in our world—both my court and the other courts.” The lie came out smoothly, almost perfectly. “You’re the only one I could think of, as she once mentioned you were one of the most powerful beings in this world. Was she mistaken?”
Silence.
Roxie silently congratulated herself for making the smirk disappear from his mouth.
“No,” he responded coolly. “She wasn’t mistaken.”
Oh, goodie.
“And no, I’m not helping you. You can leave now.”
She blinked. She stared. Isaac hadn’t moved at all, and he looked serious.
He was serious.
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