Reclaimed (Shadow Beast Shifters, #2)(17)

He actually laughed, chest rumbling beside me. “Yes, something like that. But rest assured, Sunshine’s friend, you’ll be safe here. I’m having Lucien stay in the room beside yours to keep an eye on you.”

Simone’s lips twitched. “The fact that you haven’t bothered to learn my name doesn’t even bother me because your nickname for Mera is just too damn cute.” Her voice went to a much higher pitch at the end.

Shadow got to his feet, his face set in resigned lines. “I’m going to leave now before the girly screaming starts. I’ll meet you in the library in five minutes, Mera.”

“Yes, sir.” I saluted him.

A flicker of his fire ran along my skin, but it didn’t burn. It sunk into my body, heating me through to my core, and I was literally panting as he walked away. Definitely a bastard.

Simone nudged me. “You okay? Your face is a little flushed.” She shot me a knowing look, and I had to sigh.

“I’m good.” I fanned my cheeks to try to cool my libido down. “Just Shadow playing hardball and reminding me who has the most power.”

If I had a spontaneous orgasm right here in the dining hall, I was going to fucking kill him. Right after I thanked him.

Simone grabbed my arm, her fingers digging in, and for the first time, I felt nails. I blinked. Simone always had the weakest nails, breaking before she could get any length on them—a pain she had more than once complained about. “Do you actually have long nails right now?”

She snorted. “Seriously? You want to talk about the fact that since my change I can’t keep my nails down, those bastards growing like weeds? Or should we discuss the beyond-this-world gorgeous, sexy, sexy god who was eye-fucking you the entire time he stood in the room?”

“There’s nothing to discuss,” I said to her, pushing my tray away—it was swept up by a robot server in seconds. “Shadow and I have to work together until the Shadow Realm situation is under control. There’s nothing else to it, really.”

She was the one to fan her face now. “I can’t tell if you’re lying to me or yourself. The heat between you two could set this hall on fire, and I’m not even talking about the fact you can literally burst into flames.” Her eyes narrowed on me. “We should add that to the list of things to discuss as well.”

“I’m so happy you’re here,” I said, hugging her as I got to my feet and pulled her up with me. “It’s been really hard navigating this new world without my BFF.”

She hugged me back just as fiercely. “You’ll never have to do that again. We are lifers, babe. For. Fucking. Life.”

My tears, once again hovering way too close to the surface, had to be forced down so I could get on with my day. There was no time for waterworks.

I reluctantly pulled away. “Can’t believe we have to be separated again,” I said sadly.

Her petite face screwed up, the brown in her eyes deeper than ever. Maybe it was the lighting here, or the release of her shifter side, but I was sure she’d never looked as beautiful or regal as she did now. “I think I should come with you. It doesn’t sit right that once again you’re off to dangerous lands without me.”

“I wish you could,” I told her truthfully. “But Shadow won’t even consider it, and no one goes against him here.”

Hence the reason I’d lost our bet. I’d been determined to lose my virginity to someone in the library; Shadow had been determined to stop me. One guess who came out on top in that situation. I was sure he’d inform me of my punishment for that soon enough. No doubt he was ready for me to fall on my knees and worship him as the god he was. Probably wanted me to call him master or lord…

“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?” Simone both looked and sounded amused. “Girl, you got it bad. Thank fuck I’m here now to keep you from making any stupid decisions.”

I snorted. “Are you telling me you’d warn me off Shadow?”

Her laughter didn’t arrive as expected. “I’d warn you to not get your heart involved. He’s the perfect being to give your body to because girrllll, we know he has some skills. Did you see the size of his hands?” She bit her knuckle and I almost lost my shit right there in the dining hall, barely holding my laughter back.

She sobered. “Despite his many, many positives, I can tell he has the power to destroy you, Mera. I don’t trust he wouldn’t do just that.”

I didn’t argue with her because she wasn’t wrong. I’d already suffered a fissuring of my soul when Torin, my asshole of a true mate, had rejected me, and I wasn’t sure I’d survive another loss like that.

Maybe with Shadow, it would be even worse.





9





Despite a few more arguments, Simone decided not to push her luck, and with reluctance, followed me into the library, knowing we were about to be parted again. Shadow and Lucien were waiting near the realm entrance, and once I’d moved past them, the black door drew all of my attention.

I actually loved the color, so rich and vibrant, filled with energy and life. It made the others look positively boring in comparison, and I wondered if it was the “shadow connection” in my soul that drew me to the color, or… I just liked black. Fuck, not everything had to have a deeper psychological meaning, and I had to stop trying to assign one to all aspects of my personality.