Reborn (Shadow Beast Shifter, #3)(50)

The others saluted to confirm before they faded out of the library as stealthily as they’d arrived. Leaning back against Shadow, I forced my breathing to calm, hoping that the power and strength I felt in our pack would be enough to beat the ultimate goddess.

“You feel stronger,” I said, shifting to see him a little better. “What should we do to prepare while they’re gone? Oh, and when is the official ceremony to induct me into the group? Because I think we’re all in agreement that I’m basically the leader now.”

Shadow’s hands, which had been on my waist, slowly slid up my body, over my breasts, leaving behind aching nipples. He closed those long fingers around my throat to tilt my head back. “Mine, Sunshine. You belong to none of them, no matter how badly you love the pack life. Do you need a lesson in remembering?”

I wanted to moan, but this was not the time or place. “Promises, promises,” I whispered, lifting myself so my lips could reach his. “Always with the promises, beast.”

His chest rumbled, hands moving back to my tits, but before he could drive me completely crazy, I all but threw myself out of his lap.

Ignoring the dark flames in his eyes, I straightened my clothing. “We have no time for that,” I reminded him, wishing I didn’t sound like I was panting. “We need to do our part in this war.”

The flames around him grew, but he didn’t argue with me. “I’ll have Gaster organize from this end,” he said with a nod, on his feet in the next instant. “While he’s doing that, we should head to the Honor Meadows and see if we can track Angel down.”

I wasn’t sure I could have loved him more until he’d said that. Until he’d made my needs a priority, even with all the other bullshit we had going on.

“What can we do to help?” Simone piped up, reminding me that we weren’t alone. Damn Shadow and his ability to eclipse everything else in the room, even my best friends.

“Yes, I want to help!” Sam added, leaning forward. “I’m too far into this journey to stop now.”

Giving them my full attention, because they deserved nothing less, I focused on Simone first because she looked upset.

“Are you okay?” I asked her, ignoring her previous question.

Her jaw was rigid, but she managed a smile. “Just a stupid vampire, nothing to worry about.”

Ah, Lucien. My friend was feeling all the things about his sudden departure, especially since he hadn’t acknowledged her before he left.

“Talk to me,” I said.

She shook her head. “Girl, there’s nothing to talk about; it’s not even worth our next breath. Let’s discuss how Sam and I can help you.”

Sam nodded, looking far too relaxed for someone who’d just stumbled into this insane fantasy world mere days ago.

Before I could figure out what their role would be, Shadow cleared his throat. “You both need to go back to Torma,” he said bluntly. “War is about to go down, and neither of you is equipped to fight in it. Mera would be devastated to lose a friend, and in that regard, I want to send you where you’re safest.”

The moment he said that, I knew it was the right decision.

Simone disagreed. “Yeah, nope.”

Shadow stared down at her, and I almost laughed. My poor beast was so unused to being defied that it took him by surprise when it happened. Unlike when I did it, though, he might kill Simone.

I stepped between them. “Simone,” I said softly, “I can’t have you in danger. Seriously, I would lose my brains. And while I know you’re a total badass, you can’t bring claws to a god fight—it just won’t work.” Her lips trembled, and I reached out to take her hand. “I promise I’ll come to Earth as soon as we handle Dannie.”

“What if you don’t?” she whispered. “What if I never see any of you again and I just have to assume the damn worst happened? Again, Mera! I’ve already done that once this year.”

“I agree,” Sam added. “You’re already important to me, Mera. I’m going to be worried as hell if I don’t hear anything.”

Shadow laughed dryly. “If we fail, the worlds will fall. Even Earth.” The Shadow Bastard was nothing if not blunt. “So I wouldn’t worry too much. We’re the only chance anyone has, and we can’t effectively do our jobs when we’re worrying about those weak and vulnerable.”

Both of the ladies were offended by that, and I couldn’t blame them. Weak and vulnerable were not admirable shifter traits, but in this sort of “god fight,” Shadow wasn’t wrong.

“I concede to this with one stipulation,” Simone finally said. “That if you get a chance to send me and Sam a message or smoke signal or misty communication, you do it. Let us know you’re okay.”

Shadow paused, and it was clear he was thinking about the best way to grant this request. “I have an idea,” he finally said. “I’ll be right back.”

He strode off into the library, and all of us watched silently until he disappeared from sight.

“Phew,” Sam said, letting out a long breath. “He’s intense.”

Simone snorted. “Mera doesn’t seem to mind.”

“Yeah, not even a little,” I said with a laugh, shaking my head at my obsession with that beast. “I keep having to pinch myself to believe this is even real. Just wish there wasn’t war hanging over our heads.”