Rejected (Shadow Beast Shifters, #1)(49)

I’m Galleli.

Those two words landed in my head as I looked around frantically, trying to figure out what the hell was happening.

“Galli never speaks out loud,” Len called out, the unofficial MC for this meet and greet. “You’ll get used to him being in your head.”

I gulped. “Can you read my thoughts?”

He shook his head. Not unless you allow me access to your mind. This is simply me sending my words in the manner most comfortable for me.

Not sure if it was comfortable for me, but I wasn’t about to tell him that.

“What’re your special skills in Honor Meadows?”

It seemed all of Shadow’s friends held positions of power and worship in their worlds, and I was sure this dude was no different.

I am one of the Chosen. We are gifted with extra power and skills and are considered to be oracles of a sort. Images from the future and past will come randomly to us.

“Like a psychic?”

Those black eyes bore into me. Nothing at all like a psychic.

Okay, then.

Friend four: Galleli—not a psychic.

He turned abruptly and walked away, and he was now slotted firmly into the spot of reticent talker. In more ways than one.

And as spectacular as he was to look at, he also made me feel uneasy in a way the others who’d come before him hadn’t. There was a repressed fury simmering below the surface that could erupt at any time, and I decided then and there to keep my distance from that one in particular.

The final of the friend group approached, and when he stepped closer, I was surprised to see he was the most classically human in his beauty. Bronze skin, striking green eyes, tousled blond hair shorter on the sides with a little more length on top. But while he looked like a genetically blessed human, his energy was far from normal.

“I’m Lucien.”

The moment he touched my hand, a jolt of icy electricity hit me, and I gasped. This made him smile, and I caught a glimpse of sharp incisors before they disappeared from view again.

“Valdor,” I guessed.

He nodded. “Why, yes. Nice to see you’re both clever and stunningly beautiful.” He leaned in closer. “I’m a vampire master from Valdor, and I think you should ditch the grumpy beast and run away with me. I would shower you with jewels and more treasures than you could ever need.”

Friend five: Lucien, master vampire.

The smooth-talker—I’d been waiting for him.

“Come on,” he said in a charming manner, bringing his face close to mine, bending his head to press a kiss to my hand.

“Enough,” Shadow demanded, interrupting for the first time. “You’re here to help me work out what the fuck she is, not seduce her.”

I snorted. “And I thought it was hard in Torma to lose my virginity. Apparently, it’s going to be even harder here…”

There was dead silence as I trailed off, six sets of eyes locked on me, some wide with shock, others with interest.

“Are you trying to tell me…” Shadow started. “That you’re untouched?”

The laughter burst out of me before I could stop it. “Definitely not. I’ve touched myself more times than I can count.”

More silence, although there were a few smiles around the room now—Len and Lucien in particular.

Shadow leaned closer. “Don’t deliberately misunderstand me. You know what I’m asking…

you’re untouched by another?”

Wow, this was not the sort of conversation I’d expected to be having in a room full of powerful men. Since it was none of their business, I just shoved past Shadow, taking care not to touch him before dropping into a squishy sofa.

“One of you assholes better get me food,” I said grumpily. “Since this is supposed to be a dinner.”

There was laughter, although Reece and Shadow, who were still doing their stoic enforcer thing, remained silent.

“She’s legitimately not afraid of us,” Len said, shaking his head. He leaned forward in his chair.

“Why are you not afraid of us, lamb?”

I mimicked his movements, crossing my legs as I leaned forward, no doubt flashing everyone way more cleavage than they’d expected to see tonight. “I’ve been tortured by powerful men my entire life.

Growing up in my pack as an outcast, there’s very little that wasn’t inflicted on me, outside of rape.

At some point, I had to stop fearing my demise and start living for every day I got to remain on Earth.

I choose to embrace my power and strength—and never show my fear. This is who I am now, and I won’t change for anyone. Not even you six scary motherfuckers.”

Len was no longer smiling. Instead, he was staring at me like I’d just stripped butt naked to wave batons and do a cheer.

Reece took his first step from Shadow’s side, watching me closely in a way he hadn’t until this moment. He didn’t say anything, and while he still looked somewhat pissed, much of the tense anger had left his jaw. My words had thawed a little of his chill. Very little.

“You don’t need to fear us,” Alstair told me quietly, drawing my attention from Reece.

Shadow grumbled. “Speak for yourself. I’m still trying to figure out if my best move is just to kill her and forget about Earth. Would save me a shitload of trouble.”