Reclaimed (Shadow Beast Shifters, #2)(57)

Inhabitants soon started to make themselves known, appearing on the street and peeking out of their snowflakes, and every single one of them was like Cat-man. Well, not a cat, exactly, but some sort of animal-humanoid hybrid, a near seamless blend of the two.

Cats, wolves, lots of reptiles, a few birdy sorts with unusual beak-mouths, and many others who had absolutely zero comparison to Earth’s animals.

“Did you know this village existed?”

The vibe he’d always given about The Grey Lands was a desolate place, dystopian even, where creatures roamed, and there was nothing but war and fighting. Not a fairytale city with perfect snowflake houses.

“I was only in the realm for twenty-two years,” he said, leaning toward me while his eyes took stock of every being surrounding us, “and while I did venture through many lands, I didn’t make it here. But none of my research ever indicated a village like this existed within The Grey Lands.”

Seemed it was a mystery we would unravel together.

When we were quite deep in the city, many gazes were focused on us. Their animalistic features scrunched in what I could only assume was suspicion. I mean, who could blame them?

Shadow was a huge man, and he was a royal. I had a feeling they didn’t like those here, since there was no sign of anyone else like the beast man beside me. It was eerily quiet as well, not a word spoken to us, or even amongst themselves.

Just a tingle of unease floating on the breeze that sent my senses into high alert.

Cat-man continued to lead us along snow-covered, rocky streets, and I was just wondering at the end destination, when we turned a corner to face the “castle.” Like the other buildings, it was made of snowflakes—a ton of them. I actually paused to take in the true artistic beauty of it, with “falling flakes” starting high in the sky and cascading down to form the front of the building.

Cat-man spoke up, saying something to Shadow.

“This is where their queen lives,” he passed on to me. “She’s the one who wants to see us and is guaranteeing our safety for the day.”

I nodded. “Okay, not like we have much choice. I just wish I could understand the language.”

Shadow looked at me thoughtfully. “I might be able to help with that. I’ve never tried it on a shifter before, but there’s a chance the same energy that I used on the universal translator in the library, would work on you as well.”

I almost jumped on Shadow in my enthusiasm, throwing my arms around him, which startled Cat-man, who stumbled back with a hiss and scowl. Way to be a cat cliché.

“Yes, thank you so much, dude!” I gushed at Shadow. “I’ve been so worried that we’d get separated, and I’d be completely fucked without anyone to translate. I know Midnight is on its way, but until then…”

Shadow rumbled, his hands wrapping around me with just enough bite that I felt other parts of my body respond. Damn him and his too-sexy-for-his-own-good nature.

“Firstly, don’t call me ‘dude,’ Sunshine. I am not your dude.”

I swallowed roughly, trying hard to bring my temperature back to regular levels. “As I’ve told you, everything is a dude.”

His arms wrapped around me tighter, and I realized just how often he did this now. He used to push, push, push, always keeping me away from him, but now… He drew me closer to his heat. It was freezing deep in snow town, but standing in Shadow’s embrace, I could have closed my eyes and fallen asleep, warm and secure.

“This is an experiment,” he rumbled, his breath washing over my skin—goosebumps following the sensation. Shadow’s hands came up to cup my cheeks, trapping me in place so he could inflict his torture on me. The pain was sharp and immediate, clawing through my skin and into my brain. I fought back a scream, not wanting to alert everyone in the vicinity, and have a bunch of furry beings rushing into our personal space.

“Hold on, Mera,” he said, his eyes locked on mine, no doubt seeing the pain reflected there. “I’m rearranging some of your brain chemistry and it’s not without its challenges.”

He was doing what the fuck now?

Gritting my teeth, I glared murder at him, and while I tried to cuss him out because rearranging someone’s brain chemistry was sort of an act you asked permission for, I couldn’t get the words to emerge through the searing brand of pain.

Cat-man, looking curious and worried, moved forward. He said something in his musical language that I couldn’t understand, and Shadow snapped something back at him, and then…

“Our most supreme leader… be kept waiting!”

Holy fuck, it was… working! The words were fuzzy, but I understood Cat-man for the first time. The pain faded in the same instant, and as Shadow stepped away, I shook off the last lingering sensation of being violated.

The disorientation remained, so I closed my eyes and shook my head again.

“Mera, look at me,” Shadow commanded.

My eyes shot open, and he nodded and smiled. “That wasn’t English, but you understood me?”

Well, fuck me sideways. “I understood you perfectly.”

His eyebrows shot up. “You just replied in Greek.”

I tilted my head, my eyes narrowing. “Are you sure?”

He smirked, but not in humor. “Are you questioning me, Sunshine?”

I knew better than to answer him.