First Shift

by J. L. Weil

  I closed my eyes, afraid to move. The danger was gone, but unfortunately the nightmare persisted. Starbursts danced behind my eyelids, and the world spun in dizzying loops, rocking my center of gravity.

  Don’t pass out. Don’t pass out.

  Sensations led the way. Pain radiated everywhere—the first indication something was very wrong with me. Each breath I took only intensified the agony.

  I whimpered.

  “Don’t move.” Devyn’s blurry, but still damn gorgeous, face came into view. “I told you to run, Kitten.” Sorrow cloaked his voice, and I thought I heard him suck in a sharp breath of pain just as one sliced through me.

  “Devyn?” I croaked.

  “Shh. Don’t talk. But this time when I give an order, you better damn well follow it.” He brushed the slick and crusted hair from my face. It was drenched in my own blood. “Shift,” he ordered me.

  Really? I could barely get air into my lungs. How did he expect me to turn into a fox? “I-I can’t.”

  “Yes, you can,” he urged me, fierce determination lining his face. “If you want to survive, you must. I swear it will ease your pain.” His words implored me to live, to find the strength to do as he asked.

  “I hurt so much.” Tears tracked down my cheeks, mixing with blood and soot.

  With the pad of his thumb, he caught the tears as they fell. “I know, love. Have I ever lied to you?”

  “No,” I wheezed. “Not that I know of.”

  He chuckled. “You trust me. I can sense it. Then do this one thing for me. It won’t be easy, but it will save you. I can’t lose you.”

  “Because it’s your job?”

  “You’re way more than a job, Kitten.” Devyn slipped his hand into mine.

  I clung onto his fingers as if he were my lifeline and squeezed my eyes shut, concentrating on the feeling inside me that prompted the change. My body jerked as the transformation began, and I almost lost control of the shift but somehow managed to hang on by a thread.

  It was by far the most agonizing shift to date. Normally I marveled at the change my body underwent, but this time, I could feel each bone, muscle, and tissue mend as it morphed. My body contorted, and I threw my head back, my mouth dropping open as a cry wrenched from my hoarse throat. It ended on a howl.

  Then, silence.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I woke up alone in Devyn’s apartment with the sun seeping into the room, bold and bright, casting streams of pink and gold across the dark gray floors. From the moment my eyes opened, I knew I lay in his bed. The sheets, the room, everything smelled like Devyn—like a fresh, cool rainfall.

  Twisting in the bed, I buried my face into the pillow and inhaled. My heart rate picked up. I spent the night in Devyn’s bed.

  And I couldn’t remember a thing except for blacking out on the street after I’d shifted into a fox. Everything after that seemed like a black hole, including how I got into his bed.

  My cheeks flamed. Had he undressed me?

  I whipped the blankets aside and released a breath. The tattered clothes I’d been wearing yesterday were still on my body, minus the shoes. There was a God. I didn’t think I’d be able to live down the embarrassment if he had stripped me.

  Tugging on my bottom lip, I wrestled with the decision to get out of bed or stay here all day. Something about being at Devyn’s place made me feel as if it was the safest place on earth. It was the utter quiet that finally made me roll out of bed. After a quick tour through the one-bedroom apartment, I realized he was gone. So I made quick use of the bathroom. I wanted nothing more than to shower and scrub the dirt and blood off me.

  I didn’t think Devyn would mind, and if he did, then he shouldn’t have left me alone in his apartment. There were all the things you’d expect in a guy’s bathroom. The bare necessities: toothbrush, comb, and a shampoo/conditioner combo. My hair was going to hate me, but it was going to have to do without a leave-in conditioner.

  I loved each second of the glorious shower, and I didn’t care that I was going to smell like I just took a bath at the Abercrombie & Fitch store.

  Tucking my dark, damp strands of hair into a messy bun, I slipped into one of Devyn’s T-shirts. The material felt like butter on my raw and bruised skin and smelled like heaven. He had been right: shifting had mended the majority of my battered body—the important stuff. What was left behind would heal on its own in time.

  Standing in front of his misty bathroom mirror, I stared at my reflection. I had thought my first attack was horrendous, but it had been a piece of cake compared to last night. Tears pricked my eyes as I released a breath. I’m okay. Devyn’s okay.

  Padding out into the main room, I went in search of my phone. I was hopeful Devyn had managed to take the time to search for my belongings after the attack. I was learning he was a guy of many talents. A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips when I noticed my phone sitting on the kitchen counter.

  “Nice shirt.” The soft click of the door sounded behind me.

  I spun around and grinned, my fingers fumbling with the hem of the material. It reached to just above my knees. “You might not get it back.”

  Devyn moved into the room, his eyes never leaving mine. “Keep it. Looks better on you anyway. How do you feel?”

  A little underdressed, and if he kept looking at me like he was curious what I wore under his shirt, I was going to pull my old clothes out of the garbage. “Better. I used your shower. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “No, why would I?” He set a little white bag on the counter. “I brought breakfast. One strawberry frosted donut.”

  My favorite. “Coffee?” I asked.

  “Like I would forget your caffeine addiction. There are those little coffee cups in the cupboard above the coffeemaker. Help yourself.”

  Dear God. Devyn might just be the perfect guy. He knew everything about me all right, even my breakfast choices. The only guy besides my dad who brought me breakfast was Jesse, and half the time he couldn’t remember if I liked cream or sugar in my coffee. It was both.

  A stretch of silence ensued as we stared at each other, and I toyed with my necklace. The events of last night sunk in, hitting me like an unexpected snowstorm. Devyn had risked his life to protect me, and I didn’t know how to repay him. It became very clear to me that everything he’d ever said to me was the truth, and that scared me almost as much as losing him. I threw myself into his arms. “Thank you for saving me,” I whispered near his ear. Later, I would be embarrassed by my actions, but for now, it felt wonderful to be wrapped in his warmth.

  “Always,” he murmured, his arms settling at the small of my back. He pressed a kiss to my temple in what I was sure was supposed to be a brotherly gesture, but something happened the moment his lips touched my skin.

  My chest spasmed, and I found I couldn’t step out of his embrace. I pulled back to glance up into his face, curious to see if he felt what I did. So much emotion churned in his eyes, my knees nearly buckled.

  “What you did last night … coming back was reckless. You could have gotten yourself killed. Don’t ever do that again. I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to you.” Devyn’s gaze landed on my mouth, and I felt his chest rise in time with mine.

  My body had a mind of its own, curving into his and willing him to touch me. “I couldn’t leave you.”

  “That’s exactly what you should have done.” He lowered his head, pressing his forehead to mine, and I knew he was going to kiss me. Our bodies were flush, fitting together with my fingers secured around his neck. The intensity in his green eyes glowed, promising things I probably couldn’t even begin to comprehend. “Kitten …”

  The low growl in his voice sent a stream of heat through me. I didn’t think about Devyn being able to sense what was happening inside me, what he was making me feel, what he could see in my eyes, because it was only a reflection of what I saw and felt in him.

  This was dangerous.

  And then he kissed me. Feather
soft at first, as if he was memorizing the shape of my lips with his. My eyes fluttered shut. He left me temporarily dazed. And then a moan escaped me, and he swept his tongue inside my parted lips, kissing me so deeply I got lightheaded.

  My body sparked to life, sending a rush of blissful sensations across my body. His fingers skimmed down the dip of my waist to the flare of my hips, pulling me closer. I’d been kissed before, but nothing compared to what Devyn could do with this tongue.

  His lips swept over my cheek, tasting my skin with such appreciation as his tongue traced the outline of my ear, nipping at the lobe. A soft shudder rolled through him. “You taste good. Like a strawberry lollipop.”

  A streak of possessiveness stirred within me. It came out of nowhere, taking ahold of my heart. I didn’t want to talk. Lifting up on my toes, I nuzzled a path of kisses directly to his lips for another searing kiss. He brushed the back of his knuckles over my cheek with a tenderness that reached my soul.

  And then Devyn stepped backward, shoving an unsteady hand into his disheveled hair. His expression changed, and a look of determination replaced the passion. “We can’t do this. I shouldn’t have kissed you.”

  Several moments passed as I tried to get my heart under control and make sense of the disappointment. I angled my head, letting my hands fall to my sides. I didn’t know what else to do with them. “And why is that?”

  “For a number of reasons, but mostly because I’m here to protect you, not seduce you. Rule number one of being a Shaman: never get emotionally involved. Feelings are messy, and there is no room for error when I’m expected to keep you alive.”

  With a mixture of anger and euphoria, I made myself take a breath. My cheeks were flushed from his kisses. “And you’re a stickler for rules.”

  “What’s wrong with law and order?” His expression turned into a grin.

  “Besides being boring,” I grumbled, annoyed that I couldn’t stay irritated with him.

  “Eat your breakfast. And put some more clothes on,” he added.

  I grinned and turned around, walking into the kitchen. After brewing a cup of coffee, I took a bite out of the strawberry frosted donut and knew that Devyn had ruined my favorite donut in the world. It was always going to remind me of him, remind me of that damn kiss.

  “Why the frown? I thought strawberry frosted was your one true love?” He watched me from the other room.

  “It was … it is,” I corrected myself. “I was just thinking.”

  “Emotions I can read, but your mind, sadly I cannot.” He strode toward me in the kitchen. “What are you thinking about, Kitten?”

  Well, if he stopped talking to me in that sexy, deep voice, I wouldn’t be thinking about him. “I think I’m ready now to accept my fate.”

  “Good. I was getting tired of waiting.” A teasing, sexy undercurrent ran in his voice.

  I backhanded his shoulder. “You’re still a jerk.”

  “Maybe, but you can’t help but like me,” he said, his lips turning into a smirk.

  Wasn’t that the truth? Lord help me. “One tail down, only eight to go.”

  His eyes flashed into brilliant jewels. “If anyone can do it, Kitten, it’s you.”

  “I don’t have much of a choice, do I?” But with Devyn by my side, I stood a much better chance.

  I walked through the front door and realized I was going to have to explain to my parents why I hadn’t come home last night. I was surprised there wasn’t an APB out on my disappearance, but knowing how distracted they’d been since Mom got sick, they might not have noticed I wasn’t in my room sleeping. It would be better if they hadn’t, and I could just slip inside. I contemplated using the tree to get into my room like Jesse did but didn’t want to risk my neck a second time in twenty-four hours. There had been enough broken bones, cuts, and bruises for one day.

  The house was quiet. Too quiet. For a Sunday morning, there should have been some activity. Breakfast being made. Laundry being done. TV in the background. It was like no one was home. I tiptoed down the hallway toward the stairs, careful to avoid the creaky floorboards. My hand wrapped around the banister when I heard my name.

  “Karina.” Mom’s voice filtered in from the kitchen. “Is that you?”

  So much for a clean getaway. I exhaled and turned to face the consequences. There were rules in the Lang household, and not letting my parents know where I was at all times broke one of those rules.

  Mom sat at the kitchen table, and her head lifted as I entered the room. “Karina, we need to talk. There’s something I need to tell you.”

  NINE TAILS WILL CONTINUE IN STORM SHIFT, BOOK TWO

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  About the Author

  USA TODAY bestselling author J. L. Weil lives in Illinois where she writes teen and new adult paranormal romances about spunky, smart-mouthed girls who always wind up in dire situations. For every sassy girl, there is an equally mouthwatering, overprotective guy. Of course, there is also lots of kissing. And stuff.

  An admitted addict to Love Pink clothes, raspberry mochas from Starbucks, and Jensen Ackles, she loves gushing about books and Supernatural with her readers.

  She is the author of the international bestselling Raven and Divisa series.

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