Shifters After Dark Box Set

by S M Reine et al.

  And with those words she rolled her wheels back toward the front of the bar.

  “How in the world did a centaur enter into Earth? Could you imagine the sight of him amongst the mortals?” Lilith turned to Giles, forgetting for a moment the attraction she fought so hard when she was near him. “And that Kym would willingly leave with him?”

  He shrugged, but his lips twitched. “The universe is a strange place.”

  “No stranger than a shifter and a demone working together, I’d imagine.”

  His gaze was soft as his eyes looked upon her. And though she knew she looked nothing like she normally did, for a moment her wolf reveled in the exotic beauty of the man looking at her as though he saw not the crone but the woman.

  It was the first time in days he’d not looked at her with scorn or censure and though she hated to admit that it made her weak in the knees to see it, it was the absolute truth. And on the heel of that thought came another…

  For two weeks she’d clammed up around him, hoping their minimal interaction would lessen her awareness of him, but it hadn’t. In fact, it had seemed to have the opposite effect. So maybe if she just relaxed a little and opened up, maybe then she could get to know him and perhaps then she could see that they were better suited to being friends than lovers.

  Nibbling on the corner of her lip as she decided to give it a go, she gave him a soft smile. The moment she did it she could have sworn his irises dilated and he inhaled a sharp breath, but rather than lean away from her, it seemed to her that he drew just a little bit closer.

  “Bloody hell,” he murmured a second later and then tapped his fingers on the table. A vein on the side of his neck throbbed.

  And Lilith couldn’t understand whether he referred to Kym or their situation, but suddenly it all seemed so ridiculous and yet at the same time not at all, and the only thing left to do was laugh about it.

  Which they did, and that more than anything broke the ice of the past two weeks.

  For a while they talked of random nonsense like the weather and what their favorite colors were. It came as no surprise to Lilith that Giles enjoyed the darker tones. And he’d chuckled when she’d told him pink was her color of choice.

  “Pink?” He snorted. “I don’t believe it. You’re teasing me.”

  She gave a short burst of laughter. “No, I’m not. And the pinker the better. You may not believe it, knight, but I am a total girly-girl.”

  His soft gaze roamed the length of her face. “Maybe you are, little wolf.”

  The endearment slid off his tongue so easily that for a moment she lost her words and could only swallow back at him. He cleared his throat as her cheeks blossomed with heat.

  Shifting uncomfortably, she quickly changed subjects. “But honestly,” she said, shaking her head, “don’t you ever get bored living in the clouds?”

  His smile was broad and caused her heart to thump so loudly she was surprised he couldn’t hear it. She clutched her cold apple ale and chugged it down just to give herself the pretense of doing something.

  “No, it’s lovely up there. The sky can become whatever you want it to be.”

  “Whatever you want it to be?” She narrowed her eyes, tapping her long nail on the rim of her mug. “So if I asked that it transform into a den of fiery opals?”

  “It would.” He lifted his palm and made an arching motion, mimicking the size of a massive jewel. “And it would be the most brilliant opal that you’d ever seen, enough to make even a dragon jealous.”

  She almost laughed until she realized he’d grown completely quiet. She quickly changed the subject, but the ease of their conversation after that definitely changed.

  A mincemeat pie, cheese, bread, and four tankards of ale later, Lilith and Giles were officially spent. Shoulder-bumping Giles, she jerked her head in the direction of the exit. “You ready?”

  Brushing fingers through his thick, wavy hair, he nodded. “If you are.”

  Wishing things could go back to the casual ease of earlier, she sighed and nodded. But now she was more determined than ever that they get over whatever issues he was having. They still had weeks together and she’d rather it not be tense the whole time. Also, the entire time they’d been chatting, she’d not once thought of her attraction to him.

  Okay, well maybe once or twice.

  Or three times.

  Oh, whatever…

  Scratching her arm, she grimaced as her entire body suddenly flared with a driving wave of madness.

  “You okay?” his voice whispered in her ear.

  Pinching her lips shut, she inhaled two quick breaths before turning to him and giving a slight nod. “Yup, tomorrow’s the full moon and it’s annoying me. I’m okay now, let’s go.”

  The sudden rush of itchiness abated somewhat, but her head still felt woozy. Maybe the drink had been a bad idea. Wanting to put on a good face for him, she gave him a weak grin as he continued to stare at her with worry in his burning coal-red eyes.

  Hopping out of her seat, she recalled that she should be shuffling as a crone and not moving with the spryness of youth. Grabbing her back, she clutched Giles’s forearm.

  He looked down at her hand with a question mark on his brow.

  “It’s just for show.” She scratched at her arm.

  His hawk-like gaze zoomed in on her movement.

  A little too tipsy on cider ale, Lilith bumped into one of the humans wearing green, causing him to splash most of the contents of his tankard onto the front of his shirt. Slamming his fist down on the table, he stood with a growl, glaring at Lilith with hard brown eyes.

  He was a mountain of a man. Thick and barrel-chested with a broad waistline.

  If he’d been a dragon, he’d have been smoking from the nostrils and ears right about then. Holding up gnarled hands, she gave a pitiful laugh.

  “Forgive me, kind sir. I’m a doddering old fool and did not see you there.”

  “Witch,” the man spat, lifting a hammy fist as though to strike her.

  She’d take the blow to keep her form, but she’d hunt him down and slaughter him later for it.

  A growl threatened to emanate from her and she bowed her head to make sure she kept her slitted eyes hidden while she awaited the strike.

  “That you would dare,” Giles thundered.

  She glanced up just in time to see him rear back and punch the man who was easily half a foot taller than him in the nose, causing it to open up with a spurt of blood.

  Her heart fluttered at the violence of it, but not because she was scared.

  “Demon spawn,” someone else yelled.

  Remembering Kym’s words and knowing they were two against many, Lilith grabbed his arm. “Giles, no.”

  He glared at her, the fury of the fight burning in his fiery, coal-rimmed gaze.

  Immediately Kym was there, holding her dirk before her like a shield. Chest was just behind her.

  “Now, now.” The blond-haired man Lilith had noticed earlier smiled at them both, lifting his hands. “I’m sure Little John would never have dared to hit your grandmother.” With the way he said it and how he glanced at her, Lilith suspected he knew exactly what she really was. “We meant no offense to either you, or you.” He turned and bowed in Kym’s direction. “We shall leave now.”

  “Good,” she spat. “See that you do, and make sure that door don’t hit you in the ass—it’s got quite a kick.”

  Chestnut crossed his tree trunk-like arms across his chest and snorted. The centaur was truly a magnificent specimen of man and beast. With his long, wavy brown hair and the bronze wrist cuffs, he looked a fierce warrior. Lilith could see the appeal, she supposed.

  Kym narrowed her eyes before glancing back at Lilith. “We don’t tolerate the beating of women here, ‘specially not the elderly.”

  Feeling slightly bad because she was probably more dangerous than Little John could ever be, Lilith gave her a weak smile. “Thank you.”

  As the band of men headed out, their lead
er leaned in to whisper in Lilith’s ear. “For shame, little wolf, baiting us that way.” His full lips twitched. “Good thing you’re so damn sexy, but I can’t promise you that I’ll be able to stave off Little John’s temper should our paths ever cross again. Though next time I think I should prefer you to look as you really are.”

  Then leaning back he gave her a cocky grin before sliding his finger along the line of her jaw, and for a split second his blue eyes gleamed like unholy blue flame.

  Giles growled, slapping his hand away, looking like he wished to slay the hunter for daring to touch her in that manner.

  Stomach twisted up in knots at his proprietary gesture, she placed her palm against her belly, trying to ease the riotous mass of razor-tipped butterflies running rampant within.

  Chuckling, the blond jerked his head. “Let us go, brothers. Adieu, kind Kym, we shall grace your doors no more.”

  And with that, they were gone.

  “Come.” Giles grabbed hold of her wrist gently and led her out in the opposite direction of where the men headed off.

  On their way out, a white mouse scampered off into the woods.

  Chapter Six

  Giles snapped several dry twigs apart with angry, jerky movements. Tonight they’d be sleeping under the stars. Out in the open, it wasn’t ideal. But Lilith swore there were no towns close, and now that the pub wouldn’t rent out a room, they had no choice.

  He wasn’t happy about it, not with her in heat as she was. The way the man in green had touched her, that caress…

  Giles spat by his foot, snapping yet more twigs and tossing them into the fire pit he’d dug out. He was angry with her and the worst part was he wasn’t even sure why anymore.

  His emotions confused him.

  “What’s the matter?” she asked a moment later.

  She’d still not switched forms, which was preferable to the other one. Her true one. One look at her and the man—Little John—who’d been ready to strike her would have had much different thoughts on his mind.

  Clenching his jaw, Giles shook his head. “I do not enjoy being exposed. Not with you this way.”

  “Unfortunately we’ve got no choice tonight, knight. I’ve got great hearing, so if something comes within our camp, I’ll—”

  “Did you know that man back there?”

  She frowned. “I know of him. Though I don’t know him personally. He means us no harm.”

  “How do you know? His man meant to strike you—”

  Grabbing his flailing hand, Lilith tugged on it gently. “That was the Prince of Thieves. Robin Hood and those men were his merry band.”

  Thinning his lips, Giles glanced around the wooded area. The trees sheltered them well, and with the canopy of leaves he’d spread above it they should be able to contain the glow of flame enough from alerting others to their presence in the woods.

  “They didn’t appear so merry, and I do not trust them, Lilith. Every instinct inside me says we should push on.”

  “And go where?” She tossed up her hands. “There is nothing but woods for miles in any direction. We have no choice. I need sleep, as I’m sure you do. You’re worrying too much.”

  “And you do not worry enough.”

  Plopping her hands on her hips, she glared at him. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “The dragon.”

  Damn it, he hadn’t meant to say it. He wasn’t even angry about the incident anymore, but the girl unnerved him in a way no one had for some time. Lately his thoughts had been far from honorable while in her presence and it angered him that he seemed to have no control over his thoughts when she was around.

  “Oh.” She rolled her eyes. “I wondered when you’d bring that up. Look, I saved us both, didn’t I?”

  He clenched his jaw, chanting to himself not to take the bait. But he was angry and the fury of the fight still rode him. For reasons he couldn’t fathom, Robin Hood had been able to see beyond her veil of illusions and the evidence of the lust burning in his blue eyes had snapped something almost violent inside of Giles.

  “Yes, and you were reckless. That would have been the right moment to use the wish. You should not have toyed with the beast as you did.”

  Why was he carrying on this way? He grabbed his head, wanting to take it all back, but feeling too much of a fool to do it now.

  Clenching her fist, she growled. “No, I would not waste the wish on that, it was nothing. I saved us. Right? Why argue about this?”

  “Lilith,” he pinched his brow and willed himself to calm, “do you understand that you are in my keep? I have every intention of returning you safely to your family when this is said and done. But I can only do that if you cooperate and listen.”

  And that at least was true. Once he returned her, these thoughts he kept having about her would cease. Thoughts like touching her soft skin, tracing the curves of her new svelte form, revealing her breasts and flicking the tips of her nipples with his tongue.

  Growling beneath his breath as blood surged, he shifted and tried to ease the strain between his pants. He’d thought his preoccupation with her the past few days was merely a result of her heat, but when those men had laid their hands on her…

  “Listen to what?” she snapped. “You were trapped. I rescued you. The least you could say is thank you. Are you embarrassed? Is that it?” She laughed. “That I, a girl,” she tapped her chest, “was able to—”

  “Come on,” he scoffed, “I’m not a sexist. I know what a shifter is capable of, but my word is my bond. It is who I am. I swore to your family that you would return unscathed, that was reckless.”

  “Oh, puulease.” She whirled as if to get away from him.

  “Stop.” He grabbed her by the elbow. “I am telling you that this place feels wrong and you should not wander, Lilith. We are stronger together.”

  Lifting a brow, she glanced down at his hand until he released her. “I’m going to the river to bathe. Do not follow me, demone, or attempt to spy on me in any way, for I swear, the way I feel right now, I’d do you bodily harm.”

  His nostrils flared as he watched her walk away.

  Back in the pub he’d felt hope that perhaps they could find common footing, but her wolf was youthful and wild, she did not understand the dangers of the world as she thought she did.

  The entire time at the pub he’d had a feeling that they’d been spied on. He’d not been able to ascertain by whom, but the sense of unease had only grown the more distance they put between themselves and the pub.

  The woods were alive and full of creatures both good and devious.

  Gazing into the shadow, he lit the fire and awaited her return.

  ~ ~ ~

  Lilith stomped back to the water’s edge, casting off her robes the moment she spied the water.

  “That vile, awful, misogynistic man!” she spat, splashing into the near-arctic waters of the rushing river. She’d hoped their chat in the pub would have made things better between them, but suddenly it seemed so much worse and she hated that she felt a lump in her throat and tears burning her eyes.

  It didn’t matter to her what that man thought.

  Sniffing, she wiped at the betraying tear in her eye and determined herself to put him out of her mind.

  Allowing her magic to waver long enough for her to bathe the dust and grime of their journey off, she stepped into the goosebump-inducing waters.

  That he would dare criticize her for doing what needed to be done. And not even a thank you to be had. She should have left him there to rot. He’d been snared by the dragon’s spell, sure, there’d been the wish. Using it would have been infinitely less stressful than the route she’d chosen, but she’d gotten the job done, hadn’t she? And they hadn’t had to waste the magic of the godmother’s wish so soon into their journey.

  She clutched the glass pendant in her hand.

  It’d all worked out in the end.

  Sighing, Lilith grabbed some smooth soapstone off the bottom and rubbed it down her
body, causing the water to burst with shiny bubbles. She should have known that a little bit of food and music and a couple days of near silence wouldn’t have been enough to make him let it go.

  “Stubborn man.” She scrubbed her leg vehemently.

  The demone made her think so much of her father and their old-world mentality about what a woman could and couldn’t do and his constant need to stress that he meant to see her safe. She might be young compared to him, but she was no fool. She rolled her eyes. She was an equal and he needed to realize that.

  “That demone could vex even a saint,” she spat and then stilled as she finally noticed what her anger had shrouded from her.

  The woods were quiet.

  Unnaturally so.

  The sudden stillness of sound wormed its way through her brain, causing her to twirl in the water. Where were the croaking frogs, the humming cicadas? It wasn’t that she sensed anyone present—more that there was such an obvious void of noise that it caused the fine hairs on her arms to stand on end.

  A stiff northern breeze brushed against her nipples, causing her to shiver as the leaves rattled in the trees. And then there were eyes. Hundreds and hundreds of red beady, glowing eyes that seemed to come out of nowhere, appearing like a field of ghosts come to life.

  A flash of white fur scampered off and the feeling that those mice at the pub hadn’t been just some strange fluke after all gripped her by the throat.

  And then the mice began jumping into the water. One dive-bombing in and then another and then another, all swimming toward her.

  Realizing she needed to get back to camp immediately she rushed toward the bank, but a wall of rats appeared and they were clicking their teeth at her, hissing and waving their little rodent palms at her.

  One rat wasn’t a problem; two or three wasn’t even that bad. But when the numbers got into the hundreds, as it now was, they could easily strip the flesh off of someone.

  Jerking away from their sharp teeth, she noticed that if she moved in the opposite direction they grew calm.

  Maybe if she could just maneuver around the wall and backtrack she could get back to camp and tell Giles they needed to leave immediately.