Cimmerian Shade: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Collection

by Kiki Howell

  She heard her co-worker laugh behind her as she rounded the counter to check on the few customers she had in her section. Morrigana pasted her best smile on her face as she spoke with each customer in turn, asking if they needed refills on their drinks or would like anything else to eat. When she had finished her rounds, she made her way to the counter hoping that Carly was taking care of her own section of customers so that she would have a moment’s peace without her colleague trying so hard to act like they were friends.

  Morrigana wasn’t sure why she had told her co-worker about her plans for that evening with Kheelan however now that the cat was out of the bag, there was no going back. The only thing she could think of that had caused her to open up, even if it was to a person like Carly, was that she wanted someone to know that she was going to be with him should things go south. Morrigana wasn’t sure how much of his note she could believe, but she had never been one to back down from anything and she wasn’t going to start that night either.

  .

  Chapter Five

  KHEELAN SHOVED HIS hands into his pockets as he walked down the street, his shoulders hunched as he thought about the conversation he’d had with his father. A small part of him could understand his father’s frustration because he had waited so long to approach Morrigana about who she was, however he couldn’t be sure if that was all there was to the anger coursing through his father’s veins. Kheelan had decided a long time ago that he would never be able to truly please the man who had raised him, yet he always found himself trying.

  As he rounded the corner, he saw the woman in question leaning against the wall behind the diner and stopped short. Kheelan watched as she pulled out a stack of something from her apron and saw her attention slip from that stack to the white paper that had fluttered to the ground. He slipped into the shadows across the street from the diner and continued to watch as Morrigana bent down to retrieve the fallen paper; stood still as she unfolded it and her eyes scanned the words written upon it.

  Kheelan had no doubt that Morrigana was reading the note he had left behind explaining what she was and why she had been so lonely her entire life among the humans. He could tell by her body language that she wasn’t sure if it was a joke at her expense, or the cold truth. Kheelan knew that leaving the note behind had been the right choice when he saw the determined look on Morrigana’s face as she scanned the rear lot. He couldn’t be sure that she would keep their date, except he was counting on that determination to have her at her car, if only to give him an earful about the note she’d just read.

  Kheelan moved further into the shadows, watching as Morrigana stood and shoved the piece of paper into her left apron pocket. He kept his eyes on her back as her shoulders set and her long strides ate up the distance between where she had been lounging with her cigarette and the rear door of the diner, once again showing that determination he was counting on. As she stepped through the door, her head turned and she scanned the lot one more time. It wasn’t until the door closed that he gave a slow blink and turned his attention elsewhere.

  He smiled grimly as he moved out of the shadows, seeming to appear out of nowhere, and almost collided with a human walking along the sidewalk.

  “Watch it, buddy,” grumbled the angry man as he walked around the Fae.

  Kheelan waved and muttered a half-hearted apology, not caring how the human felt. He only knew that he needed to make Morrigana believe that he hadn’t been kidding about the information he had given her about her lineage. Kheelan was sure she would have questions, and he was the only one who could give her any of the answers she had been seeking for so long.

  His smile turned into a grimace as he considered the mission ahead of him, Now that the most difficult part is over and Morrigana is aware of what she is, the only thing left is to let her know about her clan and their welfare; what is expected of her for her coming of age mission, the fact that she should have completed it three years ago, and help her achieve that high goal set before her. Returning her home shouldn’t be much of a problem compared to all of that, as I’m sure she will be anxious to return to her people.

  He tuned out the sights and sounds of the street as he continued to stare at the diner’s rear door where his target had disappeared and his thoughts turned into a different type of frustration; It could be worse, I suppose. My father could have given me an assignment where eye candy wasn’t involved. Though I suppose I shouldn’t think of Morrigana that way. But it is difficult when your target is as good-looking as she is.

  His smile turned wicked as he thought of Morrigana as a woman instead of just his target. She wasn’t very tall, only a little over five feet, which was rare for a Reaper, however her attitude and demeanor more than made up for her size. If Kheelan were a betting Fae, he would lay down money at the amount of men in Faerie who were sure to line up to get the attention of the long-lost female Reaper once she was returned home.

  She had a medium blue hair color he was sure was a dye job. That couldn’t be her true color if she had survived twenty years within human society, and the length came to just below the middle of her back. Morrigana’s build was athletic, with well-toned legs, arms, and abs. Her ass wasn’t so bad either, but Kheelan had always been an ass man. He had certainly enjoyed watching it that afternoon each time she had walked away from his table. Her chest was average size, maybe a C cup, although she knew how to use those assets to ensure she received the most tips throughout her shift.

  Though it was really Morrigana’s eyes that called to Kheelan’s primal instincts. That greenish-blue combination of color; with a hint of gold ringing the outside of her eyes, made him want to see them half-closed in pleasure as she moaned and writhed in passion beneath him. Kheelan shook his head to clear his mind and glanced at his watch. It was almost time to meet with his target and he had an uncomfortable situation he needed to take in hand before he did.

  Stepping back into the shadows he adjusted his hardening cock, trying to give himself a sense of comfort; This assignment might be difficult for more than one reason.

  Kheelan watched the humans as they walked by his position in the shadows, oblivious to the Fae standing so close to them, trying to clear his mind of the sexual images that had started playing like a video when he had begun seeing Morrigana as a woman instead of just a target assigned to him. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to return the woman to the box marked target again. His cell phone vibrated on his hip as he continued to watch the rear lot of the diner.

  Pulling it from its case, Kheelan looked at the bright screen before clicking on the green button shaped as a phone, “Hello?”

  There was a deep breath before he heard an answer, “Kheelan? Is that you?”

  A smile played on Kheelan’s lips as he replied, “Hello, Elektra. How are you?”

  There was a soft feminine giggle on the other end of the phone, “I’m fine, Kheelan. I was just thinking about you and wanted to hear your voice. I miss you terribly. When are you returning home?”

  Kheelan let out a soft groan. Elektra was one of the few lesser Fae he had always enjoyed spending time with. The two had become close friends after his fifteenth birthday and the incident that had led to him knowing his true parentage. However, a few years into their friendship the two had decided they wanted to take it to the next level and things had turned awkward; at least on Kheelan’s end. As much as he enjoyed having sex with Elektra she had begun to want more and it was something he wasn’t ready to give her. Kheelan wasn’t sure if he would ever be ready to give her or anyone else, his heart although he didn’t mind giving her his cock whenever she asked.

  “Kheelan? Are you still there?” Elektra’s slightly panicked voice brought him out of his thoughts.

  He cleared his throat before he answered, his gaze wandering to the diner across the street again, “Yes, my dear, I’m still here. To answer your question, I’m not sure when I will be returning home. I made sure to make you aware of my warrior training and that my father picked out
the assignment with me in mind. The assignment is proving to be a little more difficult than I had originally planned it to be, so I’m not going to be able to give you an answer as to when I will return to the mound. I’m sorry.”

  Elektra sighed, “I know, I know. I’m just so lonely without you here.”

  Kheelan rolled his eyes at her whiny tone, “I know you are, my dear. Why don’t you find a new playmate to hang out with while I am gone?”

  She giggled, “Because the only playmate I want is you, Kheelan. I thought I had made that clear by now.”

  He growled into the mouthpiece, “Damn it, Elektra! I’m trying to steer you away from me! Yes, you’ve made your plans for us extremely clear however I thought I had made myself just as clear with you. I can’t be your only playmate. You deserve someone who is willing to give you more than just sex. There are plenty of Fae who would love to be mated to you for life. I am not one of them.”

  Kheelan heard the sob on the other end of the phone and mentally kicked himself in the ass for it. He hadn’t wanted to hurt Elektra, in any way, except hinting at his emotionally stunted growth didn’t seem to be getting through to her.

  She continued to cry into the phone as he shuffled from foot to foot and finished his thought, “Elektra, calm down. Take some deep breaths. There you go. Now, listen to me; I have never hidden the other women I have been sleeping with from you. You have always known that I’m a player and that I would never change. I never meant to hurt you and perhaps we never should have crossed that line between friends and friends with benefits. Some people just can’t handle that type of relationship.”

  Elektra inhaled quickly before snapping, “You know what, Kheelan? You’re absolutely right. You’ve never hidden the fact that you’re fucking every female Fae that will have you in the mound and I’ve been tolerant. I truly thought going into this arrangement with you would help you finally open your eyes and see me; see that I’m the one for you. Why can’t you see that we’re a perfect fit, Kheelan? What are you waiting for??”

  Kheelan shook his head, knowing that she couldn’t see it, “It’s not you, Elektra. It never was. I’m terribly sorry to throw this curve ball at you now but I think it might be best if we don’t hang out anymore.”

  He hung up the phone without waiting for a response, a single tear sliding down his right cheek at the friend he’d just lost.

  .

  Chapter Six

  MORRIGANA FOUND HERSELF staring once again at the clock above the diner’s front door, willing the minute hand to move faster. The evil orb seemed to be mocking her as the hands on the clock face appeared to be moving at a snail’s pace. She couldn’t understand why she was so anxious for her shift to be over however she would bet money that it had everything to do with her plans for the evening.

  Morrigana couldn’t remember a time where she felt such anxiety so it was a new feeling for her, except as anxious as she was feeling, she was also a bit apprehensive. Most of her evenings were spent the same way; leave work before the dinner shift kicked in and go home to an empty house. On the rare occasion that Morrigana would bring a man home, it would end one of two ways. The man would suddenly become afraid to be with her alone and refuse to cross the threshold, instead rushing off with some excuse or another; or the two would have mediocre sex and she would ask them to lock up on their way out immediately afterwards. But she felt as if that evening, things were going to be different; as if once she met with Kheelan and took him to her place to discuss the note he’d left, her life was going to change. In a major way.

  Morrigana still wasn’t sure how much of the stranger’s note she could believe. However, if he really did have those answers she’d been searching for most of her life, she figured it was worth her time to humor him. As the minute hand ticked closer to seven o’clock Morrigana could feel the butterflies growing restless in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t regret her decision however she wasn’t ready to let her guard down or get her hopes up yet.

  She sighed as she thought about the man she was meeting later. He was over six feet of deliciousness with a swimmer’s build, all tight ass and toned abs. That white t-shirt he had been wearing when he had walked into the diner earlier had clung to him like a second skin, showcasing those abs and his jeans might as well have been painted on cupping his ass like the hands of a lover. Kheelan’s hair was the color of dark auburn, an almost deep purple if the light hit it just right, coming to the bottom of his neck and his eyes were a shade of the most beautiful peridot gems Morrigana had ever seen. It was like looking at a meadow when she gazed into his eyes. She could stare at that meadow all day long and get completely lost. Although it was his voice that made Morrigana’s insides quiver with desire, making her weak in the knees and her panties damp. It was like thunder rumbling just before a great storm, sending shivers of anticipation down her spine every time he spoke. Even though she kept tripping over the pronunciation of his name, she found it to be just as unique as he was. Morrigana knew that she was going to be asking him how to pronounce it before she let it slip passed her lips so she wasn’t embarrassing herself.

  She let her mind wander, imagining what it would be like to have sex with him. Kheelan seemed like a barely contained hurricane ready to erupt and she was dying to help him reach that peak and just let go. She shook her head trying to clear the images she had conjured of a naked Kheelan lying on her bed and looking at her with intense longing. Morrigana knew that she was getting ahead of herself, had told Carly as much when she had been the one jumping to conclusions, however she couldn’t help it. She had longed to have a man look at her the way she had witnessed so many men looking at the other waitresses she worked with. To have a man give her a look that made her heart melt and a secret smile that quickened her blood. Morrigana had been waiting for the feeling she was experiencing deep in her stomach for so long that it had taken her by surprise. She had given up on ever feeling it when Kheelan had walked into her work and had a seat in her section.

  The men who frequented the diner often looked at Morrigana with a hunger in their eyes, but it never made her breath catch or her insides quiver. It was different with Kheelan. There was a connection the instant he said her name. While the whole thing intrigued her, she also found herself a little frightened at all the new possibilities opening before her.

  She sighed again as she made her way around the counter to check on the few customers left in her section. Morrigana cleaned the empty tables and collected tips as she filled coffee cups and chatted with some of her regulars. While she was taking dishes from the last table she’d cleaned into the kitchen, she glanced at the clock and saw that by keeping herself busy the last fifteen minutes of her shift had flown by.

  Morrigana rushed into the staff room to grab her purse and jacket out of her locker.

  Carly came around the corner as Morrigana was closing the locker door, “Did you know that there is a huge slice of yumminess leaning against your car in the rear lot, Morrigana?”

  Morrigana gave the other waitress a wide grin, “Well, I was hoping. I don’t mind telling you that I’m glad that Mr. Waffles-with-a-Side-Order-of-Strawberries showed. He and I are going out on a date, remember?”

  She pulled her car keys out of her purse, slipping her jacket on as she gave Carly a wink before heading toward the rear door.

  “How is it that you get all of the tasty looking ones?” Carly asked with sarcasm as they both headed out the back.

  Morrigana stopped, looking over her shoulder curiously, “You make it sound like all of the men coming into this place just flock to me. However, you and I both know that’s not the case. I’m lucky to get one or two of the guys you let down not-so-easily. Listen, I don’t go out that often so I plan on making this a night to remember. Just wish me luck okay?”

  Carly sighed, “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. This whole being nice thing is really new to me, and it’s not like you’re all that approachable yourself. We already established earlier that
we aren’t friends and have never been, despite the fact that we’ve been working together for two years. But we can hash all that out some other time. Go, have fun on your date. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  Morrigana laughed and turned around to face the hunk standing at her car, “That’s a short list there, Carly.”

  She waved over her shoulder as she walked toward her Camaro, her co-worker’s laughter following her.

  .

  Chapter Seven

  KHEELAN LOOKED UP when he heard the laughter fill the rear lot of the diner and saw that Morrigana was striding towards him with purpose. It wasn’t until she faltered that he realized how nervous she might be. He knew that meeting men after work wasn’t an entirely new thing for her because he had been watching her for months. However, he also knew that she was rather picky about who she met and how those get-togethers often ended. Kheelan could guess she was feeling more apprehensive than excited about seeing him because it was for very different reasons; Morrigana was potentially finding out about her past and family.

  As Morrigana stepped into a pool of light his breath caught, My Gods, she is beautiful! How I missed it until now, I will never know.

  Kheelan shook his head slightly, trying to get his mind back on business and off the many things he wanted to do with his target. Leaving that note to explain to Morrigana why she felt so out of place in her life was only the beginning of his assignment. The hard part was explaining her lineage, the reasoning behind her living with humans for twenty years, and the mission her family expected her to take on. Not to mention, having to inform her that she had powers and trying to help her tap into them. She continued walking toward her car, stopping right in front of him.

  Morrigana leaned against the driver side door next to him, “So you actually showed up.”

  Kheelan smiled, “As did you. I’m glad you chose to keep our appointment. I was worried that you wouldn’t after the note I left. Did you get a chance to read it before the end of your shift?”