by A. C. Arthur
“You mean shapeshifter things?” Jewel asked.
“I mean supernatural things,” Theo replied and once again, the room went quiet.
“I’ll wait for you, Shya baby. I’m gonna sit right here and wait for you.” No matter how much he hated the sound, sight and smell of hospitals. Keller had sworn to her he wouldn’t leave and since someone had obviously convinced Nick that it wasn’t a good idea to try and physically remove him from the room, Keller had kept his word and sat right there in the chair next to her bed.
She wasn’t in a coma as Cole had been but was simply sleeping Ary had said.
“That blast from Jacques seared right through her shoulder, slicing some tendons on the way. While shifters can heal on their own, some injuries require a little assistance and a lot of rest. I’m not worried about her at all now,” she’d told him and surprised Keller by placing a hand on his shoulder. “Especially not now that I know you’re here for her.”
That had been over a week ago and Keller still hadn’t figured out how to adjust to having Ary’s blessing over his mating with Shya.
It was around seven in the evening on the fifteenth night of her stay in the medical center and he’d stood to stretch and get a drink of water from the mini-refrigerator Ary had one of the attendants bring in for him. He was standing at the refrigerator staring at one of the pictures that Nisa had insisted be taped on the wall—a scene from one of Shya’s favorite old books, Wuthering Heights. It was a dour scene painted in grayscale but Nisa had assured him that Shya loved it and had spent many days dreaming of different ways that story could have ended. Keller wasn’t much of a reader and he didn’t know as much personal stuff about Shya as he wanted to, so he’d taken Nisa’s word for it. He tilted his head and thought for an instant that he could picture him and Shya walking along that dirt road in the painting, heading toward the cliff with the rolling waves below.
The sound of the locks on the door being disengaged pulled his attention away and he turned to see Ary step inside the room.
“Rome wants to speak with you,” she said. “I’ll stay with her until you return.”
“I’m not leaving her. I told her I wouldn’t leave.” He’d repeated those words to her every day since she’d been in here.
“And you’re not going far, Rome is right out in the hallway. If she wakes, I’ll come and get you.”
He still didn’t want to leave, especially not at the behest of the Assembly Leader, but he moved toward the door anyway. When he stepped out into the hallway Keller was shocked to see not only Rome, but Nick as well. His cat immediately rose, ready for whatever was about to go down.
“Ary says Shya is doing well. There was no infection from the wound, and she seems to be resting comfortably,” Rome stated the moment the door closed behind Keller.
The Assembly Leader wore a charcoal gray suit, his white shirt was unbuttoned at the collar and he’d ditched the tie. Dinner would have stopped being served at the dining hall right at seven, but if Rome was dressed this way, he hadn’t been in there eating. A glance at Nick who was also wearing a dark suit said they’d both just come from above ground, probably at one of the many meetings they’d been having with the world leaders concerning the continued roll-out of the Oasis Treaty.
“Yes. She’s healing.” Keller wasn’t sure what else he was expected to say, he hadn’t spoken to Rome or Nick since he’d insisted on traveling with Shya back to Oasis. Nick hadn’t liked it, but Ary had been the one to tell him to stand down.
“Good,” Rome told him. “What’s not good is that this is the second time you’ve been coordinating something behind my back. I’m sure you know how problematic that is.”
Everything Keller had done was undoubtedly disrespectful to Rome and the Assembly leadership, but Keller wasn’t sorry for doing any of it.
“I can see your position in the matter,” he replied, because he could. Kyss, whom they still had not seen or heard from, had gone against his command and killed Mackey. While there was no love lost at having a known shifter killer now dead, Keller had still felt the anger that she’d done so without consulting or after the fact, confiding in him.
“You took my daughter away from her home,” Nick chimed in and Keller turned his attention to the other shifter.
“I asked an adult to come with me,” he replied. “And she agreed.”
Nick’s hands fisted, his lips going into a tight line.
“Out of respect for Shya and for your position, I won’t tell you how to be a father. But as her mate, I feel obliged to say that your plan to hold her as close to you as you could forever failed, and it was hurtful to her.” Keller stopped because Nick looked like he was ready to pounce on him at any moment.
But he didn’t. Instead, he nodded at Keller. “Parents do what they think is best at the time. It doesn’t always work out the way they want.”
“And that, clears the air in the best way that three headstrong, dominating shifters can,” Rome said. “Now, for the next item on our agenda. We want you to know that we haven’t been ignoring your concerns. Or Decan’s and Gold’s. Just like Nick said about parents, we handled the situation with Oasis in the best way we could at the time. We’ve made steps to change things and we want you on board with us instead of working behind our backs to achieve the same goals.”
“How do you suggest we do that? Because I don’t plan on abandoning the safe houses. They’re needed to help ensure the safety and the prosperity of the shifters,” Keller told them.
Nick and Rome nodded. “We agree,” Nick said.
“That’s why I want to make you director of the New World Alliance. You will spearhead all reunification efforts throughout the States and coordinate with the foreign directors so that we’re all working under the same parameters and will hopefully achieve the same measure of success.”
Again, Keller didn’t know what to say. They were offering him one of those fancy Assembly titles and the opportunity to do what he planned while working with the Assembly instead of against them. He thought about Shya’s defense of how Rome had ruled the shifters and knew without a doubt what she would want him to say.
“That sounds like a good plan,” he told Rome and accepted the Assembly Leader’s hand when he extended it for a shake.
Nick took a few extended seconds to step to Keller after Rome had smiled and released his hand. Keller cleared his throat feeling like he should say something nice to Shya’s father but recognizing that he and the guy still had a lot of tension between them.
“You’ll do a good job,” Nick said and extended his hand.
Keller didn’t hesitate to shake the man’s hand. “We’ll do a good job,” he said. “The Shadow Shifter’s Assembly Leadership together as one.”
“She’s awake,” Ary said as she pushed through the door.
Keller turned so fast at the sound of her voice he almost dropped the bottle of water he’d forgotten he still held in one hand. Without another word he pushed into the room, setting the bottle on the nightstand as he approached the bed.
“Hey, little cat.” His voice was husky with emotion as he took her hand. “How’re you feeling?”
Her lips spread in a slow smile as she looked up at him. “Hi, Keller. I feel just fine. I mean, really, I feel better than I have in a very long time.”
“You gave me a little scare taking so long to wake up from your nap.” Those words couldn’t hardly convey how afraid he’d been at the possibility of losing her.
“I feel different now,” she said and squeezed his hand tighter.
He nodded. “Your mom said you would feel refreshed after the long sleep. I was looking for your medicine pouch for when you woke up but Ary said she would bring it if you needed it.”
Shya shook her head slowly. “I won’t need it.”
“What? How do you know? I mean, you’re probably feeling fine now because they’re giving you medications.”
“No. I’m not getting any medication right now. Mom s
aid I haven’t been getting anything for pain or to prevent infection for the last nine days. And since I didn’t display any signs of pain or discomfort, she didn’t bring out the medicine pouch.”
Dammit, he’d been sitting here all this time and hadn’t even noticed that the IV bags attached to a pole were empty. The sounds and sight of things in the room all appeared the same to him, nothing was going to be different until she opened her eyes. Now that she was staring at him, Keller didn’t want to think of anything else. He leaned over and kissed her forehead and then her cheeks. She lifted her hands to cup his face and brought his mouth to hers.
The kiss was lighter than they usually shared and more intimate than anything they’d done together so far. A rush of emotions swelled in his chest and the scent…their scent wafted up between them.
She smiled as she let him pull away, but he didn’t go too far. He barely resisted the urge to climb into that bed and cradle her in his arms. For endless moments they simply stared at each other, lost in the moment and the magnitude of all that had happened between them.
“I’m going to want a huge joining ceremony,” she said after a while. “Right on the lawn in front of the center in Miami. And then after that, I want a honeymoon in the Gungi because I’ve never been to the home of the Shadow Shifters. When we return, I really do want to get started on the landscaping at the center. It should be a welcoming place for the shifters coming back above ground. I’ll also get started on finding competent therapists to help with any of the mental needs that may be presented. And then we can talk about expansion. Do you think Gold will want to run his own safe house, or would he prefer to be on guard missions?”
She only stopped talking because Keller touched a finger to her lips.
“Shya Delgado, are you asking me to marry you?”
“No,” she replied and shook her head.
His heart stopped.
She reached up a hand to touch his cheek and smiled. “I’m telling you that we are going to spend the rest of our lives together helping our people take their rightful place in the world.”
Keller had never imagined it, he’d never believed this type of happiness was in the cards for him, but here he was. In this most unlikely place, with this phenomenal woman who so obviously saw past all his flaws and mistakes and wanted him anyway.
“I’ve never been to the Gungi either,” was his only reply before he leaned in to kiss her once more.
While the Shadow Shifters rebuild
what was once taken from them,
the Legion will rise.
AWAKEN THE DRAGON
Coming November 4, 2019
He’s sworn to protect the very entity she was born to kill…
Next in line for the Drakon throne, Theo Masters is the most powerful half human, half dragon in the world. Royal power is the last thing he wants, however. He lives as a human and runs the Legion Security Company. But his new client—a mysterious, beautiful human from a small African village—and the unknown danger she faces may forever change the quiet life that he’s chosen.
Shola N’Gara exists to kill the dark spirit that is attempting to demolish her people. It’s her purpose and her destiny. The gorgeous protector who taunts her with his sexy voice and body is not—especially after he shifts into a magnificent black dragon with turquoise eyes.
A rise in demon activity and the brutal murders Theo’s agents have been reporting start to add up. Someone is making a play, and it’s big enough to change the course of the world as they know it. Now Shola must choose between her destiny and her heart. And Theo must decide if standing by the woman he’s fallen in love with is worth facing his father in a battle to the death.
Also by AC Arthur
Contemporary Romance—Series and Single Titles by AC Arthur
The Donovan Series, Donovan Friends, & Donovan Dynasty books (in reading order)
Book 1: LOVE ME LIKE NO OTHER
Book 2: A CINDERELLA AFFAIR
Donovan Friends #1: GUARDING HIS BODY
Book 3: DEFYING DESIRE
Book 4: FULL HOUSE SEDUCTION
Book 5: TOUCH OF FATE
Donovan Friends #2: SUMMER HEAT
Donovan Friends #3: WINTER KISSES
Book 6: HOLIDAY HEARTS
Book 7: DESIRE A DONOVAN
Book 8: SURRENDER TO A DONOVAN
Book 9: PLEASURED BY A DONOVAN
Book 10: HEART OF A DONOVAN
Donovan Friends #4: A CHRISTMAS WISH
part of the Under The Mistletoe Anthology
Donovan Friends #5: ALWAYS MY VALENTINE
Book 11: EMBRACED BY A DONOVAN
Book 12: WRAPPED IN A DONOVAN
Donovan Friends #6: ALWAYS IN MY HEART
Book 13: IN THE ARMS OF A DONOVAN
Book 14: FALLING FOR A DONOVAN
Book 15: DESTINY OF A DONOVAN
Donovan Friends #7: FOR ALWAYS
The Donovan Dynasty #1: DANE
Donovan Friends #8: THE WINTER WEDDING
* * *
The Office Series
Book 1: OFFICE POLICY
Book 2: CORPORATE SEDUCTION
* * *
The Indecent Series
Book 1: INDECENT PROPOSAL
Book 2: INDECENT EXPOSURE
* * *
Rules of the Game Trilogy
Book 1: RULES OF THE GAME
Book 2: REVELATIONS
Book 3: REDEMPTION
* * *
The Carrington Chronicles
Book 1: WANTING YOU - Part One
Book 2: WANTING YOU - Part Two
Book 3: NEEDING YOU
Book 4: HAVING YOU
* * *
The Rumors Series
Book 1: RUMORS
Book 2: REVEALED
* * *
The Royal Weddings
Book 1: TO MARRY A PRINCE
Book 2: LOVING THE PRINCESS
Book 3: PRINCE EVER AFTER
Book 4: TAMING THE PRINCE
* * *
The Temptation Series
Book 1: ONE MISTLETOE WISH
Book 2: ONE UNFORGETTABLE KISS
Book 3: ONE PERFECT MOMENT
Book 4: ONE CHRISTMAS SONG
* * *
Fashion & Passion
Book 1: A PRIVATE AFFAIR (Coming 2019)
Book 2: AT YOUR SERVICE (Coming 2020)
* * *
OBJECT OF HIS DESIRE
UNCONDITIONAL
LOVE ME CAREFULLY
HEART OF THE PHOENIX
SECOND CHANCE, BABY
SING YOUR PLEASURE
DECADENT DREAMS
EVE OF PASSION
Contemporary Small Town Romance (w/a LACEY BAKER)
The Sweetland Series
Book 1: HOMECOMING
Book 2: JUST LIKE HEAVEN
Book 3: SUMMER’S MOON
* * *
A GINGERBREAD ROMANCE (Coming September 17, 2019)
Sexy Paranormal Romance
The Shadow Shifters (in reading order)
Book 1: TEMPTATION RISING
Book 2: SEDUCTION’S SHIFT
Book 3: PASSION’S PREY
* * *
The Damaged Hearts Series
(Shadow Shifters Spinoff)
Book 1: MINE TO CLAIM
Book 2: PART OF ME
Book 3: HUNGER FOR YOU
Book 1-3: DAMAGED HEARTS BOX SET
* * *
Book 4: SHIFTER’S CLAIM
Book 5: HUNGER’S MATE
Book 6: PRIMAL HEAT
Book 7: A LION’S HEART
Book 8: A COUGAR’S KISS
* * *
The Wolf Mates
The Alpha’s Woman (Available as part of the GROWL Anthology and CLAIMED BY THE MATE VOL.1 Duology)
Her Perfect Mates (Available as part of the WILD Anthology and CLAIMED BY THE MATE VOL.2 Duology)
Bound to the Wolf (Available as part of the HUNGER Anthology and CLAIMED BY THE MATE VOL
.3 Duology)
* * *
The Legion
Book 1: AWAKEN THE DRAGON (November 4, 2019)
Young Adult Paranormal (w/a ARTIST ARTHUR)
The Mystyx Series
Book 1: MANIFEST
Book 2: MYSTIFY
Book 3: MAYHEM
A Mystyx Novella: MUTINY
Book 4: MESMERIZE
About the Author
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