Cursed in Love: A Zodiac Shifters Paranormal Romance: Cancer

by Bethany Shaw

  Slowly, he pushed to his feet. He looked up to find Aric in front of a sobbing Elena. Ethney stood a few feet behind him, a single tear trickling down her cheek, pooling on her upper lip. He was changed now—a lycanthrope, her sworn enemy. She’d have to kill him; well, Aric would, assuming he kept his word.

  He closed his eyes and sat down waiting for them to strike. When no one did, he opened his eyes again. Why weren’t they attacking him yet? Shouldn’t they be by now? If he was going to die he wanted to get it over with. Unless...they weren’t doing anything because...he didn’t feel like a bloodthirsty psychopath, maybe the medicine was working just not in the way they’d anticipated.

  Aric took a step forward and knelt down so he could meet Noah’s eyes. “Noah, can you hear me?”

  Noah whined, unsure how else he was supposed to communicate in this form.

  “Are you in control?” Ethney asked. She took a step forward, but still kept herself between him and Elena.

  Noah lowered his head and then bobbed it back up again.

  “You don’t feel like a crazy psycho who wants to bite anyone?” Aric asked, lifting his brows expectantly as he studied him.

  Noah shook his head as best he could in this form.

  “It worked,” Ethney breathed. She covered her mouth with her hands and giggled.

  “It worked?” Elena asked with a frown, “but he’s...he’s a...a wolf. I don’t understand.”

  “It worked, but with some...side effects,” Aric said. He turned his attention back to Noah. “Can you change back?”

  That was a good question. He didn’t know if he could or not. It was worth a shot. Where did he start? He frowned, or at least he tried to. It was kind of hard to frown when you were a wolf.

  Aric moved back to where Elena was and put a hand on her elbow; again with the touching, Noah thought.

  “Elena, why don’t you go get a pair of clothes from my room,” Aric suggested.

  Elena looked to the floor and Noah followed her gaze. His clothes, or what was left of them, lay tattered and ripped.

  “Try to picture yourself,” Ethney stated, moving so she was kneeling in front of him. “Start with your toes and then slowly work to your ankles, then your knees, you get the idea.”

  Sound advice. He closed his eyes and pictured his toes first as she instructed. A jarring pain raced through him and he whimpered, but continued to picture himself. Once again, his bones broke and realigned, this time lengthening. The process didn’t hurt as much the second time around and it seemed to go faster. Before he knew it, he was curled in a ball on the chilly tile once more.

  He grunted and rolled to his belly before pushing up to his hands and knees. The pain ebbed and he blew out a breath, determined to stand on his feet. He grabbed ahold of the counter to use as leverage to pull up as his knees wobbled, but he managed.

  “Are you still you?” Ethney asked. She took a step forward, but seemed to hesitate for a moment before closing the distance and throwing herself against him. He lost his balance and stumbled backwards, but was able to catch himself before they both toppled over.

  “I’m still me,” he said clutching her to him. He didn’t ever want to let her go.

  “Thank the gods,” Ethney said.

  “I don’t understand what happened,” Noah said as he pulled back. “How...I thought I could only change at the full moon?”

  Elena cleared her throat causing them both to turn to where she stood in the doorway. She shifted on her feet holding a handful of clothes in her arms. “It could be a side effect, I suppose. Like I said, the serum was untested. Did it work? I mean, are you safe?”

  That was the million-dollar question. It had worked this time, but would it work on the full moon? Could he still end up losing control and trying to kill everyone?

  “I’m not sure,” Ethney said quietly. “I think it’s best if we keep you away from the others for a few days until we find out what is going on.”

  He didn’t like the idea, but he knew it would be safest for everyone.

  * * *

  Five days. It had been a long five days in solitary confinement and he was going crazy. Stir crazy, not psycho-I-want-to-bite-you-and-turn-you-into-a-monster crazy. Ethney and Elena visited periodically. Elena always had Aric with her. It seemed the guardian became her own personal bodyguard. He was glad to know someone was watching out for his sister. If things didn’t work out with his diagnosis, she would need support. He hoped the guardian would help her.

  As things were though, there were no new changes since the initial injection. His blood had transformed into a new specimen Elena never saw before. It allowed him to randomly turn into a wolf and back into a human. It looked like he was stuck like this, but at least he was in control.

  The door at the end of the hallway creaked open and soft footsteps thudded toward him. He recognized Ethney’s foot falls instantly. Something jingled as she walked and once she came into view he saw she carried a key ring in her hands.

  “Are you springing me?” he asked.

  “I don’t see any reason not to,” Ethney said with a smile. “You seem to be stable.” She paused, her hand on the key to the lock just a few inches from sliding it in. “You still feel normal, right?”

  “I’m not sure I’d call it normal, but I don’t feel homicidal.” He wasn’t anywhere close to normal. His strength was intensified and his appetite was salacious; nothing seemed to fill him for very long.

  “You know what I mean,” she said with a shake of her head.

  “As normal as I can be.”

  “Good.” She slipped the key in to the lock and turned it until it clicked and then she swung the door open.

  He took a few steps forward, leaving only a foot between them. “I’ve missed you.” He held his hands out to her. She fell against him, engulfing him in a tight hug.

  “Me, too.” She tensed and then pulled back.

  “What is it?”

  “You’re still a lycanthrope, Noah.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what Astraea will want us to do with you.”

  He inhaled a deep breath and let it out. That did present a problem. He was at the goddess’s mercy. She could be the end of him and there was nothing he could do to stop her.

  “Let’s not worry about things out of our control,” he said, forcing a smile. “Why don’t you tell me about Elena’s work? Has she come up with a new vaccine?”

  “Obviously, the vaccine she gave you didn’t exactly have the desired effect we wanted and there is no way of telling if it will affect everyone the same. Elena’s developed two more. Unfortunately, both of them had negative consequences and the test subject had to be put down.”

  “Oh.” That wasn’t good at all.

  “She’s still working, but we are running out of time.”

  “What happens if she can’t develop something in time?” Noah asked. “Will you give everyone the same cocktail I got?” What would happen to Claire? He wasn’t going to let her die.

  “I don’t know. It’s not entirely my choice. Even if Astraea approves, there are still other things to consider,” Ethney said.

  “Like what?”

  Ethney shoved a lock of hair behind her ear. “Well, the government is on their radar. Knowing a lycanthrope can turn at will and the possibility you are essentially immortal since the lycanthrope gene is still very active in you, the government can, and will, throw a wrench into the plan.”

  “Immortal?”

  “You aren’t completely impervious to attacks—you still can die, but you might not age anymore, plus there is the extra strength and healing capabilities. You’re something more. If there is one thing I do know about people, it’s that they fear what they don’t understand.”

  She was right about that. “I hope Elena can figure something else out.”

  Ethney offered him a small smile. “Me, too.”

  He wanted to ask her what might happen if Elena was unsuccessful, but he didn’t. He wasn’t ready to go
down that road—not yet. Elena had to find a cure. Claire and everyone else’s lives depended on it.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Ethney nibbled on her lip as Elena prepared her injection needle. Noah grasped her hand in his and held it tight, whether to reassure her or both of them she was unsure. Aric stood right next to the woman on the stool, ready to jump into action to protect Elena should things go awry. Her newest volunteer sat on the stool next to her workstation. The young woman tapped her foot incessantly on the floor and seemed to be holding her breath—not that Ethney could blame her.

  This was Elena’s eleventh trial. Noah had been the lucky one out of all of them. He was the only one still alive. Everyone else had to be put down, as the drug seemed to accelerate their change and make them even more rabid than usual.

  “All right, here goes,” Elena said. She swiped the woman’s skin with an alcohol wipe and then picked up the needle.

  “How long will it take to know if it’s going to work or not?” the woman asked.

  “Based on what we’ve seen previously, the drug should start to take effect immediately,” Elena said.

  “Great.” She blew out a breath and gave a nervous chuckle. “Let’s get this over with then.”

  Noah gave Ethney’s hand a squeeze. This was it. The full moon was tomorrow night. Elena might not have time to make up a new drug, test it out, and inoculate everyone at this point. This vaccine had to work.

  “All done,” Elena said setting the syringe on the counter and taking a few steps back from the woman.

  Aric put himself between them, but Elena peeked around him after a moment when nothing seemed to be happening. “How are you feeling?”

  The woman shrugged. “I feel okay.”

  “Huh,” Elena said. She put a hand on her chin and studied her.

  “Is that a good or a bad thing?” the woman asked.

  “It’s better than everyone else,” Noah said under his breath.

  Ethney murmured her agreement. It was better than everyone else, but they weren’t out of the woods by a long shot. Things could still go horribly wrong. Perhaps the drug was just taking longer.

  “I want to take a sample of her blood,” Elena said. She went to move around Aric, but he put a hand out to stop her.

  “Are you sure that is wise?” he asked. “She could still turn.”

  Elena clicked her tongue like she was thinking. “The only way to know for sure is to draw blood. Everyone else was already losing it by now. That has to be a sign.”

  Aric leaned in and sniffed the girl. “She smells a little different. I hope you’re right. I hope this worked,” Aric said dropping his hand so she could pass.

  Suddenly, the air around them shimmered and Astraea appeared in the middle of the room. She turned to where the woman, Aric, and Elena stood. “Your vaccine has worked. I can sense it. The lycanthrope gene has been rendered inert.”

  The woman spun around, her eyes wide. “So it worked? I’m cured?”

  Astraea nodded. “You are. Good work, doctor. Prepare enough vaccines for the rest of the people here and I’ll see to it the government no longer has any information on them and they can go back to leading their normal lives as they were a month ago.”

  “Yes. Of course.” Elena beamed. “I did it. I really did it!” She jumped up and down in her spot before giving Aric a hug that seemed to last just a hair too long in Ethney’s opinion. “I saved them!”

  “You did.” Aric smoothed his hand over her back.

  “Claire’s going to be okay,” Noah said with a grin. He pecked Ethney on the cheek before hugging her. “Thank you for helping us. I knew we could figure it out.”

  “I’m glad we could help Claire and the others.” She pulled away from him and met Astraea’s eyes.

  The goddess cocked her head to the side and then took a few steps toward them. “Come. Let the three of us talk.” She walked past them, leaving no room for argument.

  She and Noah followed her out of the room, down the hall, and then out onto the back porch. The sun was high in the sky and beat down on her instantly. Ethney wished she could melt away in it. Her gut twisted.

  What would become of Noah? He was still a lycanthrope—the enemy. Would Astraea ask her to do the one thing she didn’t want to. Noah was fine—sane. Could she kill him if she was instructed? She didn’t want to find out.

  Astraea stared up at the sun for a long moment before she spun back around to face them. She leveled them with a gaze and then crossed her arms over her chest in a gesture unbecoming of her.

  “Noah Hawthorne, you have left me in a difficult predicament,” Astraea said.

  Noah cleared his throat, but didn’t say anything. He clasped his hands behind his back and jutted his chin out ready to listen to her.

  “Astraea, he’s in complete control of himself and I believe—”

  “I know,” Astraea cut her off, “it’s a predicament for sure, but it doesn’t have to end badly.”

  Ethney gulped. “It doesn’t?”

  “Of course not.” She smiled and shook her head while reaching out to take Ethney’s hand. “Fate works in mysterious ways. I promised myself when my guardians found their true love—their soulmate, they would be free. However, Noah is no longer human. The two of you can never live a customary, mundane life. There is nothing my powers can do to change his condition.”

  Tears pricked Ethney’s eyes and she looked down at the wooden deck. What was the goddess saying?

  “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be allowed to be together.”

  Ethney glanced up and met Astraea’s smiling face. She reached out to touch Ethney’s hand. “You have suffered so much, my sweet mermaid. Everyone deserves a bit of happiness, yes?”

  Ethney nodded, speechless due to the ever-growing lump in her throat.

  “What are you saying?” Noah spoke up and took Ethney’s free hand in his.

  “I can’t make you a guardian, Noah. The magic that made you prevents me from interfering, especially now with Pan’s blood, too. However, you are immortal like Ethney, not entirely as durable, but with her to watch your back I’m sure you’ll be just fine.” Astraea let go of Ethney’s hand and reached out to touch Noah’s forehead. “The lycanthrope threat is growing larger by the day. I need more good warriors and I would be honored to have you join us in the fight. You and Ethney would be partners, working together to bring down the threat.” She took a step back. “Is that something you would both be interested in?”

  “Yes.” They said in unison.

  “Good. Then it is settled,” Astraea said with a nod. “Now, for your first assignment, Ethney, I want you to take Mick and Noah to rescue Ryssa and Naveen. I can give you their last known coordinates and if you need my help I’m only a call away, but I must warn you, be careful. Vlad has found a way to block me. I’m not sure if he is working with another god, but he’s doing something, which is why I was not immediately aware he went rogue. These lycanthropes are even worse than Brockwell and his cohorts. Watch out for each other. You have a flight to leave first thing tomorrow morning. In the meantime, enjoy your evening.”

  “We will,” Ethney said letting out the breath she’d been holding.

  Astraea went back to the sliding door, but stopped when Noah spoke up, “What about my niece and sister?”

  She turned to face them and met Noah’s gaze. “Aric will stay behind to make sure Elena and Claire are safe. I fear when the lycanthropes learn of the new drug she will become a target. I intend to have her work on a cure for those who have already completed a shift, but I’m not hopeful it will work as well. However, we will see.” Astraea bowed her head before speaking again, “Take care of each other.”

  “Thank you,” Ethney breathed out loud.

  “Any time, my dear. It’s only once in a lifetime we find our true soulmate. Hold onto each other and don’t ever let go.” With that, the goddess disappeared back inside the house.

  Noah turned to her. “So, we are so
ulmates?”

  Ethney smiled and nodded her head. It did explain a few things. “Sounds like that.”

  “And we get to live together and keep our cool job protecting the world? What could be better than that?” Noah asked.

  She couldn’t think of anything, actually. Being human again didn’t really appeal to her and overall she did like the job when she was winning, which, with Noah by her side, she had a feeling the tides were going to be turning for the better.

  “I love you, Ethney. Happy birthday. I hope you’re getting everything you’ve ever wanted because I can’t wait to spend eternity with you.” Noah nuzzled her check before finding her lips.

  “I’m getting more than I could have ever wish for. I love you, too.” Eternity together—that sounded perfect. She couldn’t ask for a better birthday gift. Tonight they would celebrate in each others arms and tomorrow they were off to go kick some lycanthrope ass—together.

  She couldn’t ask for anything more.

  Thank you for reading this Zodiac Shifters romance. A shifter’s mate is always in the stars... We invite you to fall in love over and over again. Visit http://zodiacshifters.com/ to learn more.

  Welcome to Zodiac Shifters, a series of books with an astrological spin on love. From Aries to Virgo... discover all-new tales of paranormal romance and urban fantasy.

  Zodiac Shifters features New York Times, USA Today, and other bestselling authors. Each month expect new releases based upon the twelve astrology signs.

  Passionate Roar by Solease M. Barner is coming 7/25/17.

  He is confident, energetic, loyal, strong, and a powerful ruler... He’s Landon King, a LEO!

  Landon King works hard, never makes mistakes, prides himself on always being fair, is honest to a fault, and owns one of the most successful companies in the world. After receiving a message stating he must return to the pride and take a mate to retain his title as King, Landon is, understandably, upset. How dare they send such a preposterous edict to him, their King. Landon feels disrespected and has no intention of being forced to take a mate. Yet, he decides to make the journey so he can inform his people in person of his refusal, letting them know exactly where he stands. He, simply, will not be forced into a mating – by anyone. During his trip, he meets Davina Golden, a rogue lioness with no respect for the laws of the pride and even less for him, a lion-shifter king who is obviously superior to her. Landon King takes this as a personal challenge to bring this rogue lioness to heel and force her to join his pride.