Tainted Souls: A Shadow Creek Novel

by J. C RIMELL

  Eve nodded. “Promise.”

  Silver Skies would take time to rebuild. To forget. To move on.

  And so would Cade.

  Having only just found his grandfather after so many years, the sudden loss was a blow. The realization that so many now depended on him was a heavy weight. His people had expectations, but he didn't make any promises. Newly appointed, it would be wrong of him to offer anything. Cade had broad shoulders and was determined to carry the load with as much devotion as his grandfather.

  He also had Maria, his grandmother, who, despite her early treachery and misguided loyalty to Alex, had suddenly become part of his life. It was early days, and he still needed time to get to know her and her parents.

  Wearing only a pair of black fatigues and military boots, Cade turned to Kit patiently waiting for him on their bed.

  “Are you ready?” she asked coming to him and placing her hands on his bare chest. A vote had been held between the elders and just as the overseer had wanted, Cade was about to become the next Overseer.

  He nodded and brushed Kit's hair from her face. “I have to be.”

  She reached up onto her toes and kissed his lips before going over to the dresser and pulling out a clean white T-shirt. “Here,” she said handing it to him.

  He felt a sudden jolt through their mating bond. “Kit?”

  “Yes?” she asked turning back to face him.

  Another spark lit up the intricate web that linked the two of them together and a fierce protectiveness toward her came over him. “Did you feel that?”

  She lowered her eyes to avoid his gaze. “Yes, I've had them for a couple of days now. I didn't want to say anything with everything that's been going on.”

  A pang of panic flooded his veins as he rushed to her at once, sitting down beside her on the bed. “Kit, what is it? Are you okay?”

  Gingerly she raised her eyes to look at him. “I'm perfectly fine,” she answered. There was a long, silent pause that lasted over several of his heartbeats before she continued. “I'm just… pregnant.”

  Unable to speak, Cade dropped to his knees before her and placed his hand over her stomach. He could take it as some kind of sign, he thought. But whatever, his mate was carrying their young and his heart swelled like a riptide. “I can feel him… through the bond.” He smiled, stunned by the feeling, the connection of a new life, a delicate, new thread between them.

  Kit's eyes misted over with emotion as she ran her fingers through his hair. “It's magical, isn't it?”

  With a quiet nod, he got to his feet and pulled her into his arms. “It's more than that,” he said gently in her ear. “It's a blessing.”

  Thirty-Four

  Cade stood for a moment and glanced around the room. Everyone had come. Those he considered his friends, his comrades, his family, and most importantly, his mate.

  There were more of them sitting at the table than he last remembered. All waiting for him to address them as their leader.

  The raw, burning heat of the fresh new scar over his heart throbbed. The identifying mark of the Overseer, given to him by the oldest of the Elders the day of his grandfather's funeral. It had almost healed, but it was the responsibility that came with the scar that caused it to remain tender.

  After a deep breath, he took his seat at the head of the table with Kit sitting by his side.

  Each shifter waited patiently for their new position. As Overseer, Cade had to choose his Sentinels, Protectors, and Pack members. Having already given it some thought, he found no real reason to change the arrangements made by his grandfather. And Shadow Pack was back up to strength with newly recruited members, Oben and Danae.

  Madoc and her new mate, Jared, were sitting together, their recently formed bond clear to see in the way they looked at one another. Jared would have the opportunity to join the pack if he was willing to pledge himself to the Society.

  Cade nodded with satisfaction as he studied the formation of his Sentinels and Protectors. Led by his cousin, Jack, the men on his right were a formidable sight and he had no wish to change the dynamics of their team.

  “Tell me,” he finally begun, his gaze falling onto the tawny-eyed alpha at the other end of the table. It was a strange feeling to be the one in charge and the amused twinkle in the alpha's eyes didn't escape Cade's notice either. “What's on the agenda, Fleet?”

  The alpha smiled and everyone else seemed to relax. “First, we have three new pack members who need marking. The undercover operation in France is happening as soon as this meeting is over. Madoc has news regarding the others in the holding cells… and, ah,” Fleet ran a hand through his hair, his gaze sliding sideways to the shifter next to him. “Ryker here has it bad for a certain FBI agent.”

  Cade's eyes narrowed and his gaze swung toward the shifter sitting beside Fleet. Ryker squirmed a little uncomfortable in his seat, tugging the bill of his cap down lower to shade his eyes.

  “Robinson?” Cade asked, sounding surprised. He hadn't seen that one coming.

  Ryker cleared his throat, desperately trying to ignore the playful jeers and teasing from his comrades.

  “Ah, yeah. It's complicated… she's…,” he paused, glancing sideways to Kit, “human.”

  Cade's face turned serious as he looked at his mate. “All the best things are complicated,” he smiled at her warmly. “We have to remain vigilant. Careful with who we trust and allow into our circle,” he answered, turning to Ryker once more. “Does she know?”

  It was several seconds before Ryker answered and Cade could feel the tension in the room rising with his silence.

  “Ryker?”

  “Yes. She knows about me and about us.”

  “Ah, shit,” Fleet spat out.

  Cade watched Ryker with careful consideration. He knew exactly how he was feeling and just what he would be going through.

  “The old law of mating only those of our own kind is by far outdated. If our race is to continue to thrive, we must trust in fate to bring true mates together, whether shifter or human.”

  “She's FBI for chrissakes,” Jack interjected.

  “That may well be. I trust Ryker and so I'll trust Agent Robinson until proven otherwise,” his reply was blunt, before he asked the more important question, “Is she your mate?”

  “I'll say,” Nevada cut in. “The girl is hook, line, and sinker in love with his crazy ass.”

  A flare in Ryker's eyes beneath the shadow of his cap told Cade all he needed to know.

  “Everything inside of me tells me she's mine.”

  Cade nodded. “Then I suggest you don't take too long in claiming her, that way we are all protected, Gabrielle included.”

  Ryker's lips drew into a thin line before he blew out a breath and answered, “Yes, sir.”

  Cade turned his attention to Madoc. “When will we know if the maternal's blood has worked?”

  Madoc cleared her throat as Cade focused more intently on her. “I've started on Seth. He had a shot this morning after seeing good results when I tested his DNA with the maternal blood sample,” she paused and glanced around the table. “The shifter cells should mutate with his, we just have to wait and see if they will revert back to walkers, become shifters, or something between the two.”

  “Good work,” Cade praised her. “Keep me posted.” He turned his attention toward her mate. “Jared, I understand you're ready to give up on being rogue?”

  Jared smiled, his blue eyes deepening in color and intensity as he gazed at Madoc, kissing her cheek in a clear display of his affection. “I'd give up the whole world for this women,” he replied with unwavering focus.

  Cade reached below the table and squeezed Kit's hand. His heart warmed with the liquid heat of her mating bond and the subtle jolt on the thread of their unborn child.

  “I wish to pledge my life to Madoc,” Jared continued. “To her family, her pack, and the Society.”

  “We're happy to have you, friend,” Cade smiled. “That goes for both of you, too,
” he said to Oben and Danae. “We will schedule a ceremony on the next full moon, where,” he lifted his pointer finger, a razor sharp claw slicing through the tip, “I'll be more than content to mark you all.”

  Everyone fell into laughter and Cade felt at ease. It would be a difficult road, the shoes he had to fill were immeasurable. But he knew in his heart as he gazed at the people sitting around him, it wasn't a journey he had to travel alone. And sitting beside him was an infinite amount of love and support from his mate, more than one man could ever deserve.

  Standing up, he pulled Kit from her seat and into his embrace. The room fell silent and Cade felt all eyes turn to stare at him and his mate. He knew such a display wasn't a normal occurrence between Society members, but perhaps that would be one thing he would change.

  “Can I tell them?” he whispered in her ear.

  She nodded and with a huge, proud grin, he kissed her softly on the lips.

  He pulled her in closer. His heart filled with pride and an overflowing love for the woman in his arms and their unborn child in her womb. He also felt a surge of love and warmth for the men and women surrounding them.

  His family.

  Their family.

  Together they would continue to protect each other. Protect the shifting community and the world they shared with their human brothers and sisters. He only hoped their secret would remain intact. The truth about their identities and their supernatural abilities could spark a war that neither side was prepared for.

  But that was a problem to tackle if and when it came.

  Right now, he wanted to enjoy his mate and his family.

  Cade placed his hand on Kit's small bump and marveled at the thought of the new life growing beneath his palm. He heard the gasp from Madoc and before he could speak the women in the room had gathered around them. Praising Kit and hugging her, while the men, in turn, gripped his arm and shook his hand with some playful banter, fist pumps, and congratulations.

  He realized a chapter in his life had closed and a new one was about to begin. And with that thought, he said a final, silent goodbye to his grandfather and welcomed the future, no matter how uncertain it may be.

  “Come on,” he said addressing all of them, “let's go celebrate.”

  Epilogue

  Nevada stepped out of the Mercedes S class Cabriolet. It had been a dream to drive from the hotel on winding country roads. The white interior had that new, leather smell and was a vibrant contrast to the highly polished silver of the bodywork. She only wished she could've had the top down and let the wind blow through her hair, but it was a cool autumn night and it had taken over two hours of pampering to get her looking the way she did this evening.

  Handing the keys to the young, good looking valet, she gave him a stern, warning look.

  “A single hairline scratch on that baby, and I'll have your balls on a platter, you got that pretty boy?”

  With a nervous nod of his head, he palmed the keys. “Of course, Madame,” he replied in a thick French accent.

  Nevada raised a brow, she had to admit, she found the sultry French tone incredibly sexy.

  She stopped to check her appearance in the glass window of the car showroom. The incredulously expensive ball gown was on loan. A deep red lace and sequin over silk number which clung to her body and fell to the ankle with a one sided slit to the thigh. It had a high scollop neckline and low back, tapering to the bottom of her spine. Her killer heels pinched a little, but could seriously be used as a deadly weapon which happened to be convenient considering she couldn't go in armed. The security on the place was so OTT anyone passing by would think the Queen of England was attending.

  She heard Gabrielle's voice through her ear-piece. “You look stunning.”

  “Please,” she replied quietly, flicking a glance toward her colleagues carrying out surveillance in a blacked out Ford E-series. She felt far more at ease in her fatigues and military boots.

  But, whatever.

  She needed to turn heads. In particular, the rather handsome bachelor Simeon Chaput. The multi-billionaire was holding the charity event at one of his elegant showrooms. The sleek and stylish vintage cars inside caught her eye; the flawless paintwork gleaming beneath the cool lighting. Nevada hated to admit she had a weakness for fine and expensive things, but she'd devoted her life to being a soldier which meant far more to her than any materialistic pleasures.

  A final smooth down of her glossy golden bob and she approached the door.

  “Miss Sophia Lane,” Nevada said, giving her undercover name to the attendant who promptly crossed her off his list.

  Another female attendant ushered her toward a door leading into a large open space decadently lit by low hanging chandelier's; each with several branches of tiny LED lights. Soft classical music echoed in the background as men in tuxedo's and women in elegant gowns greeted one another.

  She politely took a flute of champagne and an hors d'oeuvre from one of the dozen attendants weaving between the tables decorated with fresh, white roses and deep green foliage.

  “Try not to enjoy too much of the bubbly stuff, Nev, you know how you get,” Jack quipped quietly down her ear-piece.

  Bite me.

  “Hey, no telepathy,” Jack interjected. Gabrielle had stipulated she needed to know everything that was happening, and seeing as she was human, that meant no quiet mind to mind conversations.

  Nevada rolled her eyes. “Okay, okay,” she mumbled, before downing the champagne in one with a cringe and exchanging the empty glass for a fresh one. It wasn't her drink of choice: no matter how expensive, she preferred the neat and wild taste of Tequila.

  She scanned the room, her sharp senses giving her no indication that anyone in the room was anything other than human.

  “Heads up, Nev. Chaput's just arrived in one helluva sweet ride,” Jack informed her, his deep voice kept to a barely audible level so only she would hear it in her covert ear-piece.

  She swiftly moved onto her third drink. “Bottom's up,” she said toward the attendant.

  The sudden shiver over her spine had her pausing the delicate champagne flute at her lips. All heads turned toward the door behind her. She took a quick sip and slowly wheeled around.

  Nevada had done her research on Chaput. The internet linked him only to his legitimate businesses and to very few women; none of which had been serious relationships. She'd found herself studying numerous photo's of the Frenchman. He was incredibly attractive, but posed an air of arrogance that she instantly disliked.

  The man entering the room seemed anything but arrogant as he smiled warmly and shook hands with men whom he seemed to know well. Their wives blushed as he kissed them on each cheek and spent a moment to talk and laugh with some of them.

  Nevada swallowed hard as he drew closer.

  The photo's had done him little justice.

  His thick, golden waves shimmered like silk under the glow of the lighting. Beneath his expensive tailored tux was a body she could tell was strong and hard just by the way he moved. And he certainly seemed like he'd be capable of looking after himself.

  The fine hairs on the back of her neck suddenly rose sending a shiver through her body that ran down to the very tips of her toes. Cold, steel eyes reared slowly, trapping her gaze in their intense, cruel beauty. Nevada knew in that instant he was no ordinary man. And just as if he sensed she was no ordinary woman, something flared in his eyes as they narrowed in intrigue. His direction shifted and he bee-lined for her like a hunter. She found herself defenseless, like a deer blinded by the headlamps of an oncoming car.

  “Have you made contact yet?” Gabrielle's voice tugged Nevada from her trance.

  “It's imminent,” she whispered, turning slightly to place her glass onto the table beside her.

  His fragrance hit her senses first. It was bold. Clean and dark and gently smoothed over her exposed skin making her close her eyes on a deep inhale.

  “I don't believe we've met, Miss…?” The timbre of h
is accent was mixed with an old style charm that had her opening her eyes in surprise.

  Nevada turned to face him. Her composure was cool and calm, the soldier in her pushing past the female hormones and her wolf's sudden interest and demanding nature.

  Offering her hand, she found her eyes drawn to the deep, cupids bow of his top lip as he smiled.

  “Miss?”

  “Lane,” she finally breathed, her gaze lifting to meet his and finding her own reflection shining back at her in the glassy sphere's. “Ah, I mean, Sophia. Sophia Lane.”

  “You're American?”

  “You can tell, huh?”

  “Your accent gives it away… just a little,” his voice dipped lower, “and your body language tells me you're not just a pretty face, Miss Lane.”

  A ripple ran up her spine. “Really?” Nevada stuck her chin out a little, squared her shoulders. She was gonna be pissed if he broke her cover so early on in the game.

  “I think the graceful, muscular definition of your arms tell me you're a strong and highly athletic woman.”

  His eyes followed her shoulders down to her fingertips and she felt his stare like a physical touch.

  Clearing her throat, she resisted the urge to fidget under his exploration. “Oh, I do a lot of HIIT, you know, I'm all about speed and it's the best form of exercise.”

  “I'll have to try it.” With a seductive smile he met her gaze once more. “Tell me, Miss Lane, which charity are you with?”

  Nevada picked up her champagne flute and took another large sip.

  “I'm not. I'm trying to secure funding to start my own. Rainbows End will be a charity for children with incurable diseases.”

  “Ambitious.”

  “You could say that.”

  “Strong exterior, but soft on the inside?”

  Yes she was. But she never normally allowed the softer side to surface.

  A tall male, dressed in an expensive looking suit approached and whispered in Chaput's ear. “Thank you, Mathieu.” With a nod he dismissed him.

  “I'm afraid it's time for me to make my speech, but I hope we can continue our conversation later?”