Shifters After Dark Box Set

by S M Reine et al.

  After that there was nothing but darkness.

  ~ ~ ~

  Lilith couldn’t believe what she saw. The land was a charred ruin around the entirety of the shack. Grass completely withered and blackened in a perfect circle. Surrounding the scorched earth was a ring of gray rocks; everything on the other side of it was healthy and green and bursting with the early morning sounds of chirping crickets.

  Glancing over her shoulder back at the cabin, she knew Giles had done it. She wasn’t sure how, but he’d definitely done it.

  Her lips tipped at the corners. She’d had biannual bloomings since going through her reaping two years ago, and always they’d been the same. When the force of the full moon struck she became a raging, mindless beast who remembered nothing the next morning.

  But not so last night.

  She remembered everything from last night. There’d been no windows for her to peek out at him, but she’d heard Giles, felt his presence, and it’d soothed her wolf.

  When the other wolves had come…she’d nearly lost her mind with fear. She’d tried throughout the night to get out to him. But the oddest part was that when she sensed he’d banished the wolves, she’d shifted back to human. She’d never done it before and it’d stumped her. Her only concern, her only desire had been to get to him, to ensure with her own eyes that he was well. But he hadn’t opened the door.

  And that was when she knew she’d been fighting a losing battle of wills. She wanted the knight, desperately, and she’d take him in any way she could. Even though the thought of it brought tears to her eyes because it was never supposed to be this way.

  Closing her eyes, she set the memories aside. The night was over; she would not relive the horrible sounds any longer. It was over and he’d survived it.

  It was time for food. Time for her to take care of him. Though he fought her, she knew he couldn’t move without at least a little rest. He might be angry, but he’d get over it eventually.

  Shedding her form, she called her wolf to her and shifted seamlessly. Shifting was painless when not gripped by moon madness. Tipping her nose in the air she scented rabbit, and somewhere off in the distance the crispness of sweet, wild crabapples.

  That would make a substantial breakfast.

  She ran into the woods, lost in the joy of hunting. Her senses were keen, her vision sharp. There were times when she enjoyed being a wolf more than a human—this was one of those times.

  Easily dispatching four rabbits, she dug a hole for the carcasses so that no other creature would come by and steal her kills, then headed toward the apples. Finding them several minutes later. The tree was small and didn’t hold many ripe ones, but there were five, which was more than plenty between the two of them.

  Becoming a woman again, she quickly plucked them down and cradled them in her arm as she ran back to her kills. Pulling the animals out, she snapped off several sapling branches and quickly wove them into a net she could place her food into and cart with her as the wolf.

  Dumping everything into it, she shifted back to her wolf and in no time was trotting back up the trail to the shack. Lilith wasn’t as skilled at building a fire from wood the way her brothers could, but given enough time she could manage it.

  An hour and a half later she had two pounds’ worth of roasted rabbit. Smiling proudly, she flicked the meat onto a broad leaf that would serve as a makeshift plate and jogged up to the door, unlocking the chains.

  Opening her mouth, ready to yell, “Surprise!” she quickly clamped it shut when he snored loudly.

  A region of her heart trembled at the sight of it. Giles was passed out, slumbering like an old wolf. His body was completely relaxed into the bed, one of his arms was tossed over his eyes, and the other was dangling off the edge of the bed.

  His lips were slightly parted, and if he didn’t watch it there’d be drool staining the pillow soon.

  “And he said he wasn’t tired,” she whispered, smiling broadly.

  The beauty of the shack was that it could redesign its interior to service whatever purpose the she-wolf inside needed it to be. Her magic couldn’t produce the bed; the magic itself was embedded into the very wood. But her desire could alter her surroundings.

  Wishing for a nightstand to set their food upon and a larger bed, she stood back as the inner dimensions shifted yet again. A forest-green Victorian-style dresser now stood beside the bed that had stretched to accommodate not just one, but two.

  Setting their food down, she tiptoed quietly over and sat beside him.

  Picking up the hand that’d been dangling down, she winced as she noticed the raw and angry burns along his wrist.

  Snorting with anger, she wanted to kill the wolf that’d done this to him.

  Instead she ran her fingers lovingly along it, wishing she had enough magic within her to heal him.

  “Why did you stay last night?” she whispered beneath her breath, knowing a reply wouldn’t be forthcoming.

  He was gone to the world, lost in his dreams.

  Honored, touched by his willingness to stay and defend her even though she’d told him he’d not needed to, she planted a tender kiss against his wrist.

  Even as dark as her skin now was, he was so much darker. Just like ebony that’d been mined directly from rock. Wanting to touch him and knowing he could not object, she traced the contours of his face with her finger.

  His jaw was bearded, his nose sharp and strong. When she ran her finger along his upper lip he moaned and shook his head.

  Heart pounding in her throat, she snatched her hand back, not wishing to be caught. When his breathing returned to normal, she resumed her exploration, but refrained from touching any more sensitive areas. His forehead was broad, but smooth like polished glass.

  Nibbling on the corner of her lip, she traced a lock of his hair. It was so soft, almost like touching velvet.

  “Giles,” she whispered his name, and when he didn’t answer she leaned in close and whispered it again.

  Her lips were no more than a feather’s width away from his as he mumbled back to her incoherently.

  Smiling, she cocked her head. “Why did you stay?” she asked again.

  There was no understanding his drunken murmurings, but her heart felt unbelievably full all the same.

  “I’m so scared,” she whispered into his ear, telling him in his sleep what she wasn’t brave enough to say to his face while awake, “I think I’m falling in love with you, knight, and that love just might kill me.”

  Her entire body trembled at the admission, needing to feel his warmth, his touch, she leaned in and kissed his cheek, then nuzzled hers to his just long enough to get his scent on her.

  “Can I lay with you?”

  This time when he mumbled, she took it as a yes and lay down beside him. Pressing her body into his, even going so far as to wrap a leg around him. Laying her head right above the spot of his heart, she listened to the rhythm of its strong beat.

  Not only had her wolf decided Giles was a fit mate, but after last night Lilith felt the exact same way. The only problem was she wasn’t sure her knight shared the sentiment.

  Rubbing a knuckle against her eyelid, she swiped at the single tear and planted a tender kiss on the center of his chest.

  She’d never known that love could hurt so much.

  Chapter Twelve

  Giles awoke to the sensation of heaviness pressing down on him. Blinking his eyes wide open, he stared at the top of Lilith’s head. She’d shifted yet again, but this time she was in true form.

  The long length of her midnight-black hair spilled across his chest, and when he inhaled it was to drag her scent of pine and earth deep into his lungs. What was she doing in this bed?

  And how long had he been asleep? He’d only meant to close his eyes and rest for a second.

  “Lilith?” he asked quickly, sitting up. The cabin was absolutely pitch black, which meant they’d likely slept the entire day away.

  She mumbled cutely, patting hi
s chest. “Mmm?”

  It tugged a quick smile to his lips, but he quickly brushed it off. It was imperative that they reach Fyre Mountain as quickly as possible. Giles felt the winding down of Erualis’s life force like a tangible mantle pressing down on his shoulders with each second that ticked by.

  “Come on.” He shook her gently. “We need to wake. The day is gone. We need to go.”

  Sitting up slowly, she yawned and tossed her arms high above her head. He couldn’t help but admit—even if only within the privacy of his own mind—that tousled as she was, she was the most beautiful sight he’d ever beheld.

  Rubbing her eyes, she shook her head. “Unless it is absolutely dire we travel in darkness, I would advise waiting till morning. Where we will find ourselves next is a dangerous place at night.”

  He frowned. “The dark forest? It’s not so scary. I fended off three wolves last night, so together we can certainly handle—”

  “A clan of flesh-eating dwarves?” She lifted a brow. “I think not. They’re merciless and have an unbelievable sense of smell. Not to mention their night vision is even better than mine in wolf form.”

  “How is that possible?” He cocked his head, wondering if she were trying to stall on purpose. Granted, so far Lilith had not led them astray, and Rumpel had clearly sent Giles to retrieve her as his guide because it was clear she knew the lay of the land intimately.

  But she’d also been trying to force rest upon him, going so far as to lock him into this enchanted shack to ensure he would.

  “Because they were bred for it. They’re cave dwarves. They blind as moles during the day, but in the dark they are formidable. And it hurts nothing to wait one more night. Besides,” her lips twitched, “it seems you needed the rest after all.”

  Rock dwarves.

  Everyone within Kingdom had heard of them. In fact, the entirety of Rumpel’s castle was fashioned from stone the dwarves had mined themselves. A rock dwarf’s wares were as desirable as the rock dwarf himself was feared.

  Even a demone in physical form would struggle against an entire clan of the beasties.

  “I could shift us as shadow.”

  She shook her head. “I cannot handle that form of travel for long. The little time I’ve been in shadow when you snatched us out of the dragon’s lair very nearly did me in. If you must go, then go. I cannot stop you, knight. But I will not follow until daylight.”

  Clenching his jaw, realizing he either had to stay or leave her behind—which was not an option—he sat back down slowly and rubbed his brow. Heart hammering with the enormity of their task. Already they’d taken two weeks just to get to the halfway point. In another two weeks Erualis could be dead and Giles would never forgive himself for failing at his task.

  Alone, he would have been there by now. Then again, he knew so little of the land he may have been lost and even farther away. Humbling though it was to admit, he needed Lilith as his guide.

  “I made food,” she said softly.

  Looking up, he glanced to where she pointed. The meat was a dingy brown color, but the apples looked bright red and tempting. Grabbing one of the large leaves full of meat, he nodded his thanks. “You made this?”

  For the first time since he could remember she looked bashful, glancing down at her legs that she’d curled beneath her body. “Aye. It would have tasted much better earlier but you were fast asleep and I didn’t wish to wake you.”

  Plucking at a stringy bit of meat, he brought it his lips. It tasted like roasted rabbit, a little cold and slightly overcooked, but it touched him that she’d gone to the trouble. “You should not have locked me away this morning.”

  She frowned and he regretted his words instantly. Lilith had gone to such trouble for him, the least he could have done was appear grateful, but the urgency of Erualis ate at him.

  Swallowing his bite, he nodded his thanks before plucking up the crabapple and taking a large bite. It was slightly sour and bitter, and it was all he could do to swallow his bite instead of spitting it back out.

  He was sad to note that the sparkle in her eye from before was now gone. Slipping off the bed, she glanced at the door. “I feel like a run. Not far. Just around our shack to scope out the perimeter for any beasties. Though I doubt they’ll come this night, as I’m no longer in heat.”

  Giles flinched as she called her amber-hued light. Not from the heat, which felt nice, but from the intensity of it. A moment later the large red wolf padded out the door silently.

  “Bloody hell, you’ve muddled that one up.” The high-pitched voice caused Giles to jump off the bed, glaring hotly at the miniature fairy with overly large mother-of-pearl dragonfly wings floating beside him.

  “Danika,” he snapped, “you gave me a fright. What are you doing here?” He looked around, confused as to why the fairy godmother to villains and miscreants was gracing his doorway.

  She rolled her eyes. “You think Rumpel is the only one with anything at stake in this journey, butler? Indeed.” She scoffed, wrinkling her nose with disdain. “I was here long before that devil came along to muck things up.”

  Fluffing out her dress of baby’s breath, she ruffled the ends of her chestnut-brown hair, causing golden fairy dust to dance gracefully to the floor. “The girl cooked you dinner. She licked your bloody finger, which I find repulsive, but yeah, apparently it is all the rage within wolfy circles.”

  “What are you talking about?” He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “And again, why are you even here? This quest has nothing to do with you. We are journeying to find the cure for Erualis, not seeking some fairies’ favor.”

  Clapping her tiny hands to her trim hips, her frosty blue eyes glared at him. “I will pretend you didn’t just group me into the category of some fairy,” she sneered, “and if you believe for a moment that it was mere happenstance that led you to Lilith, you couldn’t be more dead wrong, you imbecilic baboon.”

  Not sure whether to laugh or be offended, Giles simply dropped his brows. “Come again?”

  “Aye, you heard me,” she said in an exasperated tone. “It wasn’t Rumpel’s idea to bring the two of you lovebirds together—he’d have sent you off to the wolves to fend for yourself alone. The man thinks like a man, after all. It took much convincing on mine and Shayera’s part to get him to see that you might actually need a guide to traverse the wilds of the mostly unexplored regions you’ll be soon entering.”

  “I have done just fine.”

  “Good grief,” she said with a disbelieving chortle. “Was it not my girl who saw you safely through the dragon’s lair? I believe it was, and a damn fine job of it she did, too.”

  “She put herself in harm’s way. She only needed to use the charm and we could have—”

  “Ha!” she screeched and before he knew what she was about, she flew up to him and rapped on the back of his skull twice and with vigor. “Anybody home?”

  Swatting her away, he glowered at her. “You deny that she put herself in danger, mucking around with a dragon’s opal? Everyone knows their life force is tied to that stone.”

  “Precisely, which meant”— she shook her head for emphasis, bucketfuls of fairy dust dropping onto his pants—“the dragon could posture all it wanted, but it would have never done a thing to hurt her. Not so long as she held tight to its precious. And by the way, have you seen the movie about the golem? Betty showed it to Jericho and me just last eve and that thing is quite hideous.” She shuddered and then proceeded to chuckle, her eyes going far away as she whispered “my precious” in a high-pitched voice over and over again.

  Giles snapped his fingers, causing her to jerk and cease her laughter. “I know nothing of movies and please, I’ve not time for tangents. Erualis could even now be—”

  Finally she sighed, turning fully serious. “Indeed, the boy is not well. It is partly why I’ve come. Rumpel bid I ask you to hurry.”

  Giles gave her an incredulous stare, because he was fairly certain that’s what he’d been getting at all alo
ng.

  “No.” She wagged a finger in his face. “It is not the same thing. You are impatient, and you are also blind and stupid.”

  “Excuse me?”

  She blinked prettily. “I’m sorry, Giles, did I stutter? Let me say that again. You are b-l-i-n-d and s-t-u-p—”

  “I know what you said,” he snapped. “You make absolutely no sense, fairy. Tell Rumpel that we will soon be there. That I will return with the chalice and that Erualis will be fine. I vow it upon my darkened soul.”

  “Oh, good grief. Why are all demone sooo melodramatic?” She smacked her forehead, glancing up at the roof, and muttered beneath her breath, “Jericho, darling, would it be too much to ask that they’d just listen for once?”

  Giles knew little of this fairy other than she had a penchant for being a godmother to the ill-bred and crazy cast of characters inhabiting Kingdom. Rumpel had spoken of the fairy a time or two, especially during Shayera’s trial. Calling her as mad as the heathens she cared for. And seeing her now, talking to the air, he could almost believe it.

  A lavender beam of moonlight bolted through a small hole in the room, haloing and framing her so that she appeared to glow the ghostly mirage of the undead. Her flesh radiated with the light and she gave a happy little smile. “Love you too, darling,” she whispered and then blinked back at Giles. “That was my husband, and he told me that perhaps I should tone it down a wee bit. But I do get excited, especially when I sense a viable love match, and you are. Can’t you see it?”

  “What? A love match? Between Lilith and me?” He chuckled. “We can barely tolerate one another.”

  Not entirely true, but the fairy didn’t need to know that.

  Her head cocked as though she were listening to something far off in the distance. Shaking her head, she held up a hand. “I’m okay, Jericho. I shall not turn him into a toad, I vow it.” Turning her eyes back to Giles her smile grew broader. “My husband is so good for my temper. Now,” she inhaled deeply, “one more time, and this time I shall endeavor to be kinder in my delivery.” The light around her pulsed brightly.