Sunshine Mated (Ouachita Mountain Shifters Book 8)

by P. Jameson

  The angry sounds of fighting animals split the night air, piercing the magic that surrounded her and Father Isaac. She opened her eyes just in time to see them striking. The bears lumbered forward even with Nastia and Mirena screaming for them to stop. The panthers, the jags, the cougars. The humans. Each of them took turns breaching the barrier, each one tossed backward with a flick of Father Isaac’s hand as he chanted on.

  And it didn’t stop them. Adira watched in horror as they kept coming, kept getting blasted away, kept rising again. Fighting. For her. Fighting to keep her.

  This wasn’t what she wanted.

  “No.” Adira’s voice was barely heard to her own ears. They were going to get hurt.

  Magic’s words came back to her. This clan is your people, and you are ours.

  You are ours.

  They weren’t going to stop. They would fight until this was over. Until she was gone. And then they’d battle Father Isaac until they were crippled. Until Ouachita was broken again, she realized with a violent sob.

  No.

  A blinding light shot from the sky, turning everything white. The heat of it threatened to turn her to ash. The mystics. The light. The power she was born from. The power she’d return to.

  Burning, burning. Until there was nothing of her left.

  Mason! she screamed, but her voice was gone. It no longer existed.

  Just like she no longer existed.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Mason’s feline vision flickered as the burst of light gradually faded. Blinking rapidly, he willed his eyes to adjust. The magic in the air ruffled his fur, causing his hair to stand on end. He pawed at the ground, itching to kill. Hurt. Maim.

  When he could see clearly again, he spotted his mate lying still on the ground.

  But not dead.

  He could hear her heart beating soundly in her chest and it was the sweetest fucking song. Her lungs rose and fell with life breath. She was down but she wasn’t gone.

  And the light had severed her link to the male Sorcera. The bastard was no longer chanting his treacherous spell. The tornado of power that kept Mason from getting to her was gone.

  Bounding forward, he positioned his body over hers. He snarled a vicious warning at the male while the others circled him. The sounds the animals made promised his death would be slow. And painful. He’d endangered one of their own. It didn’t matter that Adira had wanted him to. That she’d asked him to.

  “Stay calm,” he murmured, his hands raised, ready to send his magic hurling through the air at the first sign of one of them attacking. “She’ll wake in a minute. She might be a little shaky, but you’ll see. She’s fine.”

  Mirena and Nastia pushed past the cats until they stood beside their Father Isaac. Both were wide eyed with disbelief. Mirena shook her head, looking from the male to the sky to Adira on the ground.

  “I don’t understand,” she murmured, ignoring the rumble of warning her bear gave her. “You cast the spell. She should be… she…”

  A moan brought Mason’s attention to his mate. Her long lashes fluttered, trying to open. Keeping one eye on Father Isaac, he lowered his snout to lick carefully at her face.

  Wake up, mate. Need to get you to safety.

  He knew she could hear him. At least some part of his thoughts were open to her. He’d heard her tell Nastia and Father Isaac. Now he wondered how much of his confession she’d heard. Any of it? Had she done this already knowing she was his?

  Her hand came up to brush his face away, but he pushed his nose against her jaw with a soft growl. This did it. Her eyes snapped open and settled on him. But he kept his watch on the tricky Father.

  “Mason?” she whispered, and he snapped his teeth to let her know there was still danger.

  Shooting a glance to Magic, he shifted. The clan would have his back if more shit went down. But he needed to help Sunshine and he couldn’t do it in his cat form.

  Bending, he lifted her to her feet, keeping her body pressed close to his, shielding her from anymore of the father’s magic.

  She blinked, shaking her head. “What happened?”

  Mason scowled, checking her over. Carefully, he ran his hands over her scalp, the back of her neck, her shoulders. She had no wounds to heal. She’d fainted but there wasn’t so much as a bump on her head.

  “The spell,” she murmured. “Why didn’t it work. Why am I still here?”

  It was all he could do to hold in his growl. Thankfully, the others voiced their opinion for him. The clan still hissed and snarled, their animals itching for retaliation.

  Damn it, he’d almost lost her. They’d almost lost her.

  “Why, Sunshine?” he ground out. “Why did you do this?”

  Her face crumpled and a shiver racked her body, shaking her so hard he felt it to his core. “I was protecting the clan!”

  “You think this is protecting the clan? Losing one of our own?”

  “There was young to think of,” she argued, eyes pleading for him to understand. “The darkness is close. I couldn’t risk hurting them, the others.” She hesitated. “You.”

  Goddamn, he was mad at her. But when she said things like that, he wanted to kiss her fucking face off. He knew she meant well. But there was no version of his future or the clan’s where she wasn’t in it. If that meant they had to battle her darkness like they did Nastia’s, then that’s what they’d do. If they had to hide her away in a cave until they could get her right, they would. But this… spell. This… cancelling her out. It wasn’t an option.

  He felt how close his cougar was, and Adira must have felt it too, because her eyes went big at his expression. No way she’d doubt his thoughts on the matter. Even if she couldn’t hear the rancid cursing he was doing in his head.

  “Was close,” Father Isaac said.

  Her gaze slid away and Mason wanted to take her chin and bring it back to him. He had a few things to get through his stubborn mate’s pretty head.

  “What?” she asked the male.

  “The darkness was close. It isn’t anymore.”

  Adira shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

  “My Adira—”

  Aw, hell no.

  Mason let off a warning hiss. He might look human, but he was so close to animal he could feel his claws pricking his fingertips.

  “Mine,” he bit out.

  Shit. He’d never felt this possessive over Deana. Never gone this feral over her. A touch of sadness hit him. He wished she could have found her true male. Maybe things could have been different for her.

  Father Isaac slowly bent his head, lowering his eyes in submission before meeting Mason’s gaze directly. “Understood.”

  Mason glanced at his female to find her staring, a confused look on her face. He narrowed his eyes, daring her to argue his claim. But she only curled her fingers into his bare bicep.

  Holding on tighter.

  It was enough to ease him so he could hear the father’s words.

  “What I mean is,” he continued. “My child, Adira, the darkness you battled, your greatest enemy… was nothing more than your own mind. You believed you were using dark power. You believed you were becoming evil. You believed you were a danger to this clan. You believed it, so you were.”

  “I see…” Nastia murmured, her eyes widening. “You absolutely were a danger to us… not because the darkness had you, but because you believed the darkness had you. Believing made you do dangerous things. Made you choose to return to the mystics. But losing you would have crippled Ouachita as badly as any dark magic could have.”

  Father Isaac nodded at her, looking proud. “Very good.”

  Adira’s brow wrinkled. “But… no. You’re saying I did all this for nothing? That I didn’t need to return to the mystics? That the clan was already safe, and now I’ve just caused all this trouble over… over…” She shook her head hard. “What about the psychic ability? What about my Anchor? The approaching equinox.”

  “It wasn’t for nothing,�
�� Father Isaac said carefully. “It had to happen like this. This was the way. The solution you’ve been searching for. Think about it, Adira. You said to me nothing made sense except ending yourself to ensure the safety of your clan. If darkness had snared you, it wouldn’t have been possible for you to do something so selfless. That kind of sacrifice comes only by love.”

  Nastia nodded, and Mason knew she was remembering her own brush with evil. “Darkness defends itself, even if it has to trick its weapon.”

  “Yes. And your love for your shifters is great. You didn’t hesitate a second when you thought you needed to give your life for them. Adira, they are your Anchor. This clan. These people you have found a home with. Together, they are enough to hold you to your light.”

  Mason smelled his mate’s tears even before he saw the evidence of them filling her eyelids. He crushed her closer to his body.

  “Ouachita is my Anchor?”

  “Yes,” Father Isaac murmured. “I could sense it when you were trying to convince Nastia to let you go. I could feel them in the forest, drawing closer and closer. Feel how fiercely protective they were of you, and you of them.”

  Damn right.

  Several of the cats growled their agreement. A bear chuffed. The humans nodded.

  “Then why attempt the spell at all?” Mason glared at the father, demanding an answer.

  “Because, as I said, her mind needed convincing. I knew the mystics wouldn’t absorb a Sorcera whose power was already secured. Anchored Sorcera are the most important of our kind on earth. Without the Anchored, the Magei would run amuck, and fledgling magic users would have no guidance. They simply wouldn’t accept the spell, which would make it harmless. Yet, a valuable tool for helping Adira see the truth.”

  Well, fuck. That made some sense.

  Mason stared down at Adira. He could see the battle between acceptance and denial raging in her gaze. It was the same too-good-too-be-true thing he’d struggled with since she came into his life. But sometimes… sometimes the shiny gleaming nugget among the dirt is true gold.

  “The sickness?” Adira pushed.

  “That was me.” Mirena lifted one finger in the air looking sheepish. “Well, me and the clan. We’ve been… Cupid-ing with Destiny. She said she couldn’t use Mason to do it this time because he had his own mountains to climb. And also, because you can’t Cupid the Cupid-er when the one being Cupid-ed is Cupid.” She frowned. “Or something like that. In short, I put a spell on you, hoping it would help you two bond.”

  Mason scowled at the animals. Ryan glanced away, looking distracted. He was all but pulling the casual whistle routine. Clara gave him an unrepentant shrug.

  He should be angry at their meddling, but that would be the pot calling the kettle hot. Or… Cupid calling eHarmony a matchmaker.

  Still, Adira shook her head, refusing to believe them. “And the psychic power? How can I hear Mason in my head?”

  Yeah, he wondered about that too.

  Father Isaac looked at him expectantly, as if he had the answer to her question. Mason frowned.

  You do, a voice streaked through his mind.

  Destiny. Fine time for her to show up now.

  Oh, please. You know you had to figure this mating stuff out on your own. You’re a stubborn one, Mason Miller. And besides, I did try to tell you. I helped as much as I could. Now, listen to what the father has to say, will ya?

  Father Isaac looked between Mason and Adira, as if to measure his next words. “I think you heard him because… because he wanted to be heard.”

  Whatever Mason had been expecting to hear, it wasn’t that. In fact, he’d geared up for something big. But instead they got an explanation that didn’t explain anything.

  “What the hell does that mean?” He was asking Destiny as much as he was asking the male. Whoever answered first would be in his good graces.

  Nice try, Destiny piped up. But I think I’ll let Father Isaac explain so the rest of your clan doesn’t want to eat him.

  “I think you were unintentionally impressing certain things upon Adira. Things you wanted her to know, but couldn’t say. And I think you were unaware you were doing it.”

  “Perhaps a result of the mating bond,” Mirena offered, and Nastia agreed.

  Adira shook her head once more. “No, that’s wrong. Because we don’t have a mating bond—”

  Mason cut her off with a sharp growl, and Father Isaac bristled. “We damn well do.”

  Her eyes went wide. “We do?”

  “I healed you. Just before Code Poptart. That means we do. And I intend to make sure you’re solid on that, just as soon as we figure all this shit out.”

  But the mating bond explanation didn’t sit right with him either. He’d never heard of a shifter having the ability to communicate with their mate in that way. And it was true, he hadn’t been trying to talk to her like that. Not until he’d overheard what she said to Father Isaac and Nastia. Then he had pulled one hell of a Destiny on her—

  Shit.

  He only knew of one shifter who could speak to people like that. And she was a fucking Elder. A position that should only belong to wolves, yet she’d been gifted with.

  Or, you know, cursed with, she interrupted. Depends on how you look at it.

  “Wait…” Mason’s word hung on open lips as his mind raced to catch up with this new line of logic.

  He ripped his gaze away from Adira to stare at Father Isaac. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  The male frowned, opening his mouth to answer.

  “Not you,” Mason said quickly, tapping one finger to his temple. “The Elder, in my head.”

  “Destiny?” Nastia asked. “What does she say?”

  Magic shifted, letting his panther fall away and all his naked glory take its place. Fine. As long as he stayed on the other side of the clearing, away from Sunshine.

  Not like she hasn’t seen him before. He could practically feel Destiny’s eyes roll.

  “Yeah, but right now she’s unmarked and my cat doesn’t like it,” he snapped.

  Point taken. Carry on.

  “Mason, what does she say?” Magic urged.

  But he didn’t answer. Not yet.

  If he was able to do what Destiny could do… did that mean he too was an Elder?

  He squinted at Magic, and tried to communicate with him. Can you hear this?

  That won’t work on him. You can only communicate with other Elders.

  “But I can communicate with Sunshine. Does that mean…”

  You know you look completely crazy, right? Father Isaac is questioning whether or not Adira will be safe with you.

  “He is not.” Mason glanced at the male. He was frowning hard.

  Okay, maybe he’s not. But you should definitely get your head wrapped around this fast before things get even more awkward.

  He found Adira’s still watery gaze, focusing there as he tried again. If this worked, he’d know for sure. Father Isaac said he’d been speaking to her accidentally. This would tell them if Adira’s psychic abilities were caused by the darkness like she’d convinced herself, or if it was much simpler.

  If you can you hear this, Sunshine, answer me.

  A crease formed between her eyes. “I hear you,” she whispered.

  No, answer me with your mind.

  Delicate blond brows came together in concentration. I hear you. Her tentative words were soft in his mind. Not bold and powerful like Destiny’s. Not loud. Just… there. They were there.

  Heyyyyy, Destiny cooed. Look at that. It’s like a conference call up in here.

  “What is this?” Adira asked.

  Mason answered her without speaking. It takes some getting used to, I know, but try to answer with your mind not your words.

  Yeah, Destiny agreed. What he said. Of course, as you can see, he still hasn’t mastered that little bit of advice either. And… secret confession: I still struggle with it too. But people just learn to ignore it when you appear to be
talking to yourself. It’s not so bad.

  Adira nodded and Mason heard a small, “okay” sound off in his head.

  “Hey,” Magic barked. “What the hell is happening? The faster you clue me in, the better. Just sayin’.”

  Not letting go of his hold on Adira, Mason twisted to look between Magic and Father Isaac.

  “It seems… the magic user is right. I must have been speaking in Adira’s mind. Just like Destiny does to me, except I didn’t realize I was doing it. And she…” He turned to eye Sunshine. “She can also speak into my mind.”

  Magic tilted his head, narrowing his gaze on the two of them. “You’re telling me you two can talk without talking? You just think something and it flutters into her head, and she can flutter right back?”

  “Yes.”

  “And this isn’t dark magic.”

  “No,” Father Isaac confirmed. “Nor is it light magic. Well… not in the sense that it came from the mystics. But neither is your shifter magic, and it’s still quite magical.”

  “Bullshit, though. Shifters can’t rock the telepathy. And it isn’t caused by a mating bond either. Bonds don’t work like that. They’re based on feelings, not actual mind reading mumbo jumbo.”

  “But,” Nastia interjected. “There is a shifter who can, as you put it, rock the telepathy. We know her well.”

  Magic frowned. “Destiny?”

  Nastia nodded.

  “The Elder,” he murmured, reaching for the same conclusions Mason had. His gaze clashed with Mason’s. “What is she saying right now?”

  Mason waited for her words, but they never came. In fact, she’d poofed right out of his mind completely.

  “Nothing,” he answered, to Magic’s dismay.

  “Nothing? Why nothing?”

  Mason shrugged, just as baffled as his leader. “She’s gone.”

  “Gone?”

  “Gone. Out of my head.”

  “Why? She had somewhere to be, or what? Damn bobcat. Always cutting out at the most inopportune times. You’d think she ran off a fucking mobile tower the way she glitches.”

  “Not glitching,” Adira said quickly. “She says… she says to tell you she’ll be using the phone from now on, if she needs to speak to anyone from Lake Haven. She says… we can handle it from here. She says…” She stared at Mason, eyes wide as the last puzzle piece fell into place for her. “We will make good Elders for the clan.”