by Elle Thorne
But it was a shifter thing—she got that.
The room was quiet. Range’s room, in Range’s house. She wasn’t surprised it was quiet. His brothers had already left for their mission—project—operation.
She rose and made her way to the kitchen, passing the sunken game room and all the closed doors that Range had told her led to his brothers’ quarters.
She didn’t quite make it to the kitchen when he appeared—as if from nowhere—with a steaming cup. “Cream, no sugar, right?”
She smiled at him and lifted on her toes to give him a kiss. “Right.” She took the cup from him, noting the cream was foamy.
“You frothed it?”
That crooked smile made an appearance on his freshly shaven face. “I did.”
Going to have to keep this man around.
“So, want a tour?”
“Really? I get to see the secret entrance too?”
“Don’t knock it.” He gave her a mock growl.
Eira followed him down a corridor to a game room, also sunken, not unlike their living area. Wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor bookcases lined two of the walls. In the middle of one of the shelves, she spied a handle.
“I thought you weren’t going to be cliché and all that.”
He mock-frowned at her.
Eira pulled on the handle and the shelf swiveled, turning on an axis. A crevice appeared, almost three-foot-wide, more than six foot tall. “Looks like the entrance.”
“I don’t advise you to go in.”
“Why not? I thought you were going to show me the—”
“That’s a false entrance. A trap, pretty much. You go in, it will lock you inside. Then I’ll have to go through the hassle of releasing you, then re-arming it.”
She turned toward him, backing away from the opening. “Seriously?”
He nodded, flipped a lever under the handle, then led her to another bookshelf and picked up a picture of four teenage boys. It was clear that it was Range and his brothers. Eira frowned in confusion. He turned it over and put pressure on two opposite corners.
The bookshelf in front of them opened up.
“How the hell…”
“Magnetic forces, some kind of mumbo-jumbo scientific magic, I guess. Don’t ask me; I didn’t design it. I don’t know the first thing about some of this stuff.”
She leaned into the darkness the shelf had disclosed.
“Ready for a tour?”
“Yeah!”
Range reached into the abyss before them and pressed on the wall just inside.
A clicking sound was followed by light, revealing a steep stairwell. His foot alit on the first step, then he put his hand out and beckoned for Eira to take it.
* * *
Eira stretched out on the bunk bed in one of the rooms of the underground bunker, her hand on Range’s chest. “I can’t believe this even exists. And the plans you have for it, that’s even harder to believe.”
The room was softly lit with bulbs that he’d told her were designed to be easy on the eyes.
“When do you plan to start raising the fish in the underwater tanks? Growing the vegetables under those lamps?” She’d already forgotten what he’d called the lamps.
“In the next couple months. Jason’s in charge of that part.”
“And who’s in charge of that armory with guns and ammo?” She couldn’t contain the excitement in her voice. Her sisterhood would love the weaponry these guys had and were planning to acquire.
“Asa’s job.” He shrugged. “What’s with all the questions? It almost sounds like you’re excited about being here.”
She raised her head and looked him in the eyes. “Are you kidding? I love this already. It’s…” She bit back what she was going to say. Would he even want to hear her thoughts on it?
“Go on. Don’t hold back now.” He chucked her under the chin.
“I was thinking how cool this would be for my sisterhood. They’d never be found.”
Range nodded. “Yeah, it’s pretty secure. Not perfect, but damned near. And soon it will be self-sustaining.”
“But you guys aren’t like, preparing for a zombie apocalypse or anything like that, right?”
“Nah. But shifters have seen some serious persecutions. Witch hunts, just about. It’s good to have a place to hole up, when needed.”
“What kind of persecutions?”
“Other shifters. Vampires. Witches. Depends. So you gonna tell your sisterhood?”
“No. First off, not fair to you and your brothers. I’m obligated to keep it a secret. Second, they’re not exactly wild about the idea of others knowing about us.”
Especially shifters. But she didn’t add that part.
Truth was she thought this place was perfect for the sisterhood.
There were Hummers set up SWAT-style in an area being converted to a garage. Range had told her there were two other exits being set up with Hummers and garages. The bunkers themselves were plate steel, fortified structures with power systems, water purification systems, air filtration that would be able to deal with bio or chemical warfare. And there were so many plans Range had told her—his eyes gleaming with excitement.
She noticed he’d gone completely silent and ran her fingertip along his jawline, noting a telltale tic. “What’s on your mind?”
“The one that’s hunting you. The guy with the accent. The one that called here. I think we should take the fight to him. Seek him out. Cut it off at the pass. And get some answers. What do you know about them? I mean what else? Where are they headquartered?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“What do you mean no?” The tic became more rapid.
“I can’t put the sisterhood at risk by starting a war with them.”
“Seems to me they already started one with you.”
Eira sighed. “I’m not good with that idea.”
“You can’t keep running and hiding.”
“The way you and your brothers are hiding?” She immediately regretted saying that. It seemed more like an attack.
He scowled. “That’s different.”
“Can we agree to disagree?” She didn’t want to fight this fight. Not today.
“All right.”
“I have an idea. If you’re open to it.” She tried for a smile, anything to keep him from seeing that the idea of hunting the berserkers on their own and not warning the sisterhood didn’t sit well with her.
Range’s brows flew upward in mock surprise. “Do tell.”
“What would you be doing if I wasn’t here? Where would you be?”
His eyes narrowed. “I’d be with my brothers. What’s that got to do with your idea?”
“I was thinking we could go.” After seeing the look in his eyes, she continued, if nothing, to at least get him to quit looking at her with disbelief. “You know. To help them.”
He chuckled.
She took affront. “What?”
His laugh turned into a smile. “Nothing.”
“I can tell you’ve had them on your mind lately.”
“True. But—”
“But nothing.” She put her finger over his lips when he opened his mouth to counter her position. “You’ve had them on your mind. I want you to go there. To be a part of the team that you’re a part of.”
His jaw clenched. “I won’t leave you.”
“I’d be fine if you did.”
“No.”
“I’m not saying you should. I’m going with you.”
“Hmmm.”
Eira swiveled and rose, straddling him. “I can be your muscle.”
Range grabbed her hands, held them above her head. “You think?”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Range didn’t think he could fall in love any more than he already had. But damned if this woman didn’t keep surprising him.
Sexiness didn’t begin to cover it. Her warrior heart and warrior ways, coupled with an ultra-feminine side that came out when he least expected it
and at when he most needed it.
Where the hell had she been all his life?
Doing the same thing I’ve been doing, I suppose. Fighting to stay alive in a world that sometimes seems hell-bent on destruction.
In his pickup’s center console his phone buzzed. Range picked it up. Asa’s name flashed on the screen. He flicked the screen to connect to the call and adjusted his Bluetooth in his ear. “Hey.”
“Got your message. How far are you?”
Range glanced at Eira. “Left Grand Rapids thirty minutes ago.” She held up her phone, showed him the map on the screen. He grinned at her. As if he was going to eyeball that while he was driving. “Not sure how far. I’m on 75. Shouldn’t be much longer.”
“We’re heading back from Mackinac Island. Mae sent Griz with a boat.”
“What do you mean?”
“Job’s done. Got the kids. Three of them. Orphaned now. Griz is taking them to Bear Canyon Valley. No other survivors.”
The line went dead.
“Damn,” Range muttered.
“What is it?”
“I probably should have talked to Asa before we just went on the road. The job’s over. Done. They really don’t need us.”
“I’m sorry.”
He took her hand. “Don’t be. No worries. Want to head back home? Perhaps make the drive last longer? Maybe a fun little road trip on the way back? A detour? Getting married in Vegas?”
She burst into laughter. “You’re kidding, right?”
He winked. “Maybe not, exactly.”
“Let’s go see your brothers. We’ve come this far, and it’s not like it’s a great distance away from us right now.”
He nodded and didn’t share with her that he was actually relieved that she didn’t have to showcase her fighting abilities in front of his brothers. He didn’t want her skills and differences to be the center of attention just yet.
Not until she was accepted.
That wouldn’t be the first challenge they faced, and he knew it wouldn’t be the last. But they’d handle them all.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Eira stared at the man before her. He was huge. A massive scar cut his face in half. Three kids, faces ashen, eyes wide, stood next to him, and on the other side, Range’s three brothers.
There was something about him. Something… it made her radar go off.
“Eira,” Range patted the scarred man on the shoulder. “This is Griz. Griz, meet Eira.” Range glanced at Asa, then continued. “My mate.”
Griz frowned before Eira even had a chance to say it was nice to meet him, though she wasn’t sure that it was. She couldn’t say what about the stranger made the back of her neck prickle, but it was for sure that it did.
She froze, waiting to see how he’d react. What would follow that frown.
Griz stepped forward, leaving the children a pace behind. “I know your kind.”
Eira bit back a gasp.
Griz ran a hand over the side of his face that held the long scar. “Where are they?”
“They?” Right, like she was going to pretend she knew what he was talking about. Or tell him where they were.
“Your kind.” His voice was gruff.
Range stepped closer. “Griz, what’s going on here?”
Griz looked at him. “She’s a Valkyrie.”
“I know.” Range gave no quarter.
Griz turned to Asa, Jason, Davin. “You three knew?”
Eira let out a breath of exasperation. She looked Griz straight in the eye. “I’m here. Quit talking about me as though I’m not.”
“Fair enough.” Griz crossed his arms over a thick chest. “Where is your kind?”
“If you know of my kind, then you know they aren’t interested in giving out their locations.”
“I’m looking for a specific one.”
“I can’t help you. I don’t know you.” Eira studied the man. “You are not a wolf shifter.”
“True. I’m a bear shifter.”
A cold sensation traveled through her body, and suddenly she found herself wishing she hadn’t suggested to Range they come up here.
“Bear shifters are not friends of Valkyrie.”
“I’m not a berserker.” Griz’s voice was a low growl. “I’m not descended from that line of bear shifters.”
“I don’t know you.”
“Maybe one day, you will. And you’ll tell me where I can find her.”
Her?
Curiosity poked at Eira’s mind.
“Who?”
“We’ll leave that until the day you trust me.” Griz stepped back to the children, lowered himself to a squat and put his hands on their shoulders. “Ready to meet Ms. Mae? You’re gonna love her.”
The children nodded solemnly.
Eira gathered their conversation was over.
* * *
“You know,” Range said, as he nosed the car away from his brothers, Griz, and the shifter children, “Griz has a long history with Mae and other friends of ours.”
“You’re asking me to divulge information to him?”
Range shook his head. “Hell no, I wouldn’t put you in that position. I’m just sayin’.”
“I’m sayin’ too.” Eira looked out the window. “No one should know about the sisterhood. Especially not a bear shifter. Even one not hunting us.”
“So you don’t feel he’s hunting Valkyrie, right?” Range gave her a sideways glance.
“I don’t think he’s hunting us. But I’d like to know what he wants. Who he’s looking for.”
“Well, you know, we could always make yet another detour. I wasn’t in a hurry to get back to Alaska.”
“What are you saying?”
“Maybe a honeymoon in Bear Canyon Valley?” His smile was wicked. “Mae has a Bed & Breakfast that’s pretty damned awesome, with an incredible view. And you can see some of the tunnels. I hear there’s been some pretty impressive upgrades put in.”
“Sounds like you’re still thinking Vegas,” she raised a brow at his persistence.
He put a hand on her knee, making those butterflies he gave her go all-a-flutter inside her.
Never would have thought a man could control my body like this.
Then again, he wasn’t just any man, was he. She appraised his profile.
“Not necessarily Vegas. Pretty sure Mae’s got someone who can perform the ceremony.”
“Do I have to decide where the ceremony happens right now?”
“Nope.” That crooked grin found its way to his face. “As long as you don’t forget that no ceremony will be stronger than what we already have.”
The couplebond.
She reached for her neck, not realizing she’d done so until she actually touched the mark. It still tingled, pretty much the same way he made every part of her tingle.
She put her hand on top of his, still on her leg. “Why don’t you pull over at the next scenic overlook.”
“Hell, yeah.”
The butterflies buzzed, as if high on caffeine.
Or something.
Something a whole lot like love.
Keep reading for an excerpt from the next Shifters Forever Worlds story!
Excerpt: Confusion
Once, before Griz was known as Griz, he was Larsen del Cruz. This was before he had a scar that split his face, eyebrow to jaw. When he was one of the Draecenguard. He was also a man who fell in love. Forbidden love.
That love gave him a scar and nearly cost him his life. It definitely cost him more than that. The full effects of that loss lasted years. It’s still lasting.
Allegra Draecen has known only one way of life. Leaving that life behind was not an easy decision. Nor was it one she came to quickly.
She can only hope her choice does not endanger those she loves or those she left behind..
When he was Larsen…
Ages Ago
Chapter One
Larsen del Cruz, who, in future times, would become known as Griz, perc
hed on the stone wall of the monastery, deep in the Pontic Mountains, in northern Anatolia, Turkey. Carved into stone, the monastery cantilevered precariously over a gorge. If the monastery collapsed or if one were to fall from Larsen’s current resting spot, it would mean instant death. He took in the eternal beauty of the evergreens and outcrops of rocks and marveled at how different it was from his home in the U.S. and, yet, how very similar, too.
For three years, he’d trained to be in the Draecenguard, not considering where he would end up. Where his life would take him. Would these Pontic Alps have been his choice as a forever home if he’d known when he signed up for the post? Probably not. But they’d become home now, a place where his heart belonged.
Was it because he’d fallen in love with the landscape? Hardly. Larsen had fallen for something—someone—else rather. He’d not expected this, but the woman he was to protect had somehow become something different.
A soft touch on his shoulder pulled his attention from his thoughts and his gaze from the view. He turned to the source, knowing who it was from the scent his bear had picked up.
“Ilona,” he greeted the other third of the Draecenguard he was a part of.
Draecenguard, three hand-selected and highly trained individuals to protect the dragon shifter they were assigned to. Two bear shifters and one sorceress for each of the dragons.
“It’s Allegra.” Ilona’s face was worried. She was the sorceress part of the Draecenguard.
Larsen raised a brow. “What about her?”
“She’s left the perimeter. I can feel it.”
The perimeter. Set up by Salvatore, the head dragon shifter, and created by the sorceresses’ magic.
Larsen heaved a breath. “I’ll go find her.”
“Alone? Perhaps you should take Krisztián with you.” She shrugged one shoulder, striving for nonchalant, though Larsen knew her better. “To be safe,” she finished with a smile which didn’t quite measure up.
He put an arm around her. “You worry too much. I know exactly where she is. She’s fine.”
