Shadow Visions: Shadow Warriors, Book 2

by Gabriella Hewitt

  “I have long known of Ixa’s existence. She bears my mark of a huitzil. The mark of a guardian.”

  Beside him, Manuel sensed Ixa stiffen though she held her tongue. The two gods continued to speak as if he and Ixa were not present.

  “It is time, Ehecatl, for you to return to the pantheon. A war is brewing. Some of the gods are not satisfied and wish a return to the old days when blood and war ruled the day. Already Itzapapotl divides the house and has stirred up much trouble. As you have experienced for yourself, her tzitzimime litter the land spreading their evil. We must not allow it. I ask you to help me prevent the chaos that would erupt on Earth should they succeed.”

  The wind god gazed over at Ixa and nodded. “Yes, I believe it is time that I took my place. However, there is still the matter of Metztli. I have gathered all his bones in a vessel of my making, but it is too dangerous to keep it here on this plane of existence.”

  “Do not worry,” Huitzilopochtli said in grim tones. “I will see that Metztli is sent to the nine worlds of Mictlan. He will feel comfortable in the netherworld, and I will see to it that he will think very carefully before trying such an act of rebellion ever again.” The words were said calmly but Manuel had no doubt that the sun god would exact punishment from the moon god.

  “I believe that you will, but should Metztli not heed you, he will have me to deal with. Next time I won’t simply break him into pieces. I will destroy him.” He bent down and picked up his wind stick from the ground and directed his gaze upon Ixa. “You carry my blood, child. Should you ever need me, send word on the wind.” He pointed the wind stick at her. Her hand flew up to her cheek and she appeared startled. The wind god chuckled. He then looked down upon his grandson with pride and sadness. He raised the stick and swirled it. A wind kicked up and lifted Ixa’s abuelo off the ground. The air current flowed around the body, the power so strong that both Manuel and Ixa threw up their arms to protect their faces.

  The wind died down suddenly. Manuel lowered his arm to see hundreds of multicolored butterflies take flight. Beside him, Ixa gasped.

  “What happened to Abuelo?”

  Ehecatl smiled kindly. “His remains will be scattered with the wind to return to earth, fulfilling the cycle of life.”

  Ixa nodded and, in a whirl of wind, Ehecatl disappeared from sight.

  Huitzilopochtli turned back to the two of them. “Manuel, you have successfully completed your mission. You are wounded. You must return to the home of the shadow warriors and heal. I feel the hunger of your eagle spirit. You must feed as well. Go.”

  “No, wait.” Ixa took a step forward and halted. “Can’t he stay?”

  “He is a shadow warrior, a soldier. It is his duty to return to his brothers. You, too, have a duty here on Earth to fight as a guardian. You will be tested in many ways in the years to come.”

  Inside him, his eagle spirit beat its wings, ready to return to the netherworld and fill its belly. Tired and hurting, he could feel his body weakening, but he did not want to leave Ixa alone. The eagle screeched its protest. With the last of his reserves he tamped the spirit down and stood up tall and bold in front of Huitzilopochtli. “My lord,” Manuel said, “I ask a boon.”

  “A boon?”

  “Yes, I ask that you allow me to stay. As you say, we are at war. Ixa needs more training. I ask your permission to stay and teach her, to prepare her for the battles to come.”

  “You would risk your soul for her?”

  “What is he talking about? Manuel? Answer me.” Ixa reached out and grasped his wrist, shaking it. Manuel ignored her, keeping his attention focused on the sun god.

  “I know what I risk. It is my choice. For my spirit mate, there is no sacrifice too great.”

  “What does he mean?” Ixa demanded of the god.

  “You are aware that a shadow warrior loses more and more of his humanity with each demon kill, until one day he becomes one with his animal spirit. Until and unless a shadow warrior finds his spirit mate, a woman willing to bind herself freely, soul to soul, then he is at risk of no longer remaining human. In Manuel’s case, should he stay with you, his eagle spirit will eventually take over.”

  “It is my choice,” Manuel stubbornly repeated. He did not want to leave Ixa, and if these were his final days, he’d rather they take place in her company. She needed him. She still had so much to learn.

  “How do I bind myself to him?”

  “Ixa, no. You do not know what you are saying. You would be tied to your Aztec heritage forever with no escape.”

  “I know exactly what I’m saying. All my life I’ve been on the outside, unable to fit in. My abilities scared me, so I tried to ignore them. But I’m not that frightened little girl anymore. I know who I am and what I want. I want you. In your arms, I feel whole. I feel like I belong. I can’t lose you too. I won’t lose you.” She faced Huitzilopochtli. “Whatever has to be done, do it.”

  “You are impertinent, but you have spunk and courage. Ehecatl is right to be proud of you.” He raised his spear and shield. “Tell me once more why I should grant you this wish.”

  Ixa looked over at him, love blazing from her eyes. Emotions welled up inside Manuel, nearly felling him with their weight. He had feared her choosing him out of obligation, but she wished this because her feelings matched his own.

  “I do this,” she said in a loud, clear voice, “because I belong with my spirit mate, my partner in love, life and death.”

  The air around her glowed and popped. Energy crackled. Manuel took a step back, pushed aside by a firm breeze. Ixa lifted off the ground, her mouth open in a perfect O. She spread her arms and feathers sprang out along them.

  “I declare you a shadow warrior and grant you eternal life for as long as your spirit is bound to your mate.” Thousands of sparkling flashes lit up the air around them. Slowly, Ixa returned to the ground. She touched her arms, but the feathers were gone. She glanced at Manuel questioningly.

  He clasped her hand and tugged her to him. “Are you sure?” he asked hoarsely, unable to believe she had chosen to tie herself to him. “Are you really sure?”

  “Oh yes,” she whispered, glancing over her shoulder at the sun god, who watched them. “And if we can get away from here fast, I will be happy to show you how sure I am.” She smiled wickedly at him, lifted her other palm and blew a breath on it. A light wind caressed up and down his body, touching sensitive areas that had his blood boiling and his groin throbbing.

  Manuel bowed low to his lord. “Permission to leave.”

  “Granted. I expect to see you in a week’s time. I doubt either of you are of any use to me right now. I suppose I must deal with all these humans and this mess.”

  Surprise arched Ixa’s brow and her mouth dropped open. Out on the street, several people had wandered out of their homes, many still in their nightclothes, dazed expressions upon their faces.

  “How can he possibly fix this?”

  Manuel nearly laughed. “He’s a god. He can do just about anything. He’ll have the place looking like it did and people will only remember a freak storm that hit the neighborhood.”

  “And I’ll accomplish it a lot faster if the two of you get out of here.” Huitzilopochtli’s voice sounded stern, but Manuel heard the strands of pleasure buried underneath

  Manuel grinned as he jumped to do his lord’s bidding and pulled Ixa after him. “This will be uncomfortable. Try to relax and let me take the lead.”

  “What are you—”

  He shushed her. He called up his eagle spirit and embraced the transformation. At the same time, he sent his will out and forced her to submit to the change. He spread his wings, and deep within his eagle, joy spread at the sight of the female bird beside him. He launched into the air. She followed him.

  Together they flew through the skies. He had found his spirit mate. Never again would either of them feel alone. Once again, he was part of a family.

  Life couldn’t get any better.

  About the Au
thor

  Gabriella Hewitt is the pen name of creative writing talents Sasha Tomaszycki and Patrizia M.J. Hayashi. Together they weave tales of romantic suspense and dangerously sensual paranormals, delivering on their promise of Excitement, Suspense, and Passion. Check out the website www.GabriellaHewitt.com to find out about upcoming releases, events on their blog and free recipe booklets.

  Look for these titles by Gabriella Hewitt

  Now Available:

  Dark Waters

  Out of the Shadows

  Danger prowls on two legs…

  Wolf Hills

  © 2012 Bianca D’Arc

  A Brotherhood of Blood Novel

  Detective Sally Decker’s Wyoming trip to visit her newlywed friend, Carly, turns into a dangerous adventure into the unknown when she learns Carly’s husband is a master vampire, and there’s a pack of werewolves living just up the road. As if that wasn’t alarming enough, the sexy Alpha wolf has taken a shine to her.

  Jason Moore is an Alpha on a mission to make Sally his own. His very public seduction doesn’t sit well with the pack’s available females, but instinct tells him that Sally can handle anything, including any werewolf bitch dumb enough to challenge her.

  Romance gives way to a call to arms when the pack’s children come under attack. Their rescue mission turns into a mating dance and the hunt is on in more ways than one. Their attraction is mind-bendingly hot, though startling revelations about his magic and her origins could drive a wedge between them forever. Can love help them bridge the chasm between their worlds?

  Warning: This book contains bombs, bullets, bare-knuckled and bare-naked lust, and some serious ass kicking. Please do not feed the frisky furballs, unless you’re willing to risk drawing back a bloody nub.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Wolf Hills:

  Jason stopped the bike and waited while she hopped off first. Sally was enthusiastically looking around at the scenery, her breath almost taken away by the natural beauty of the place. A brook leapt over an outcropping of rocks, tinkling merrily as it sped away downhill after collecting in a small pool beneath the waterfall.

  “What do you think?” Jason asked in a hushed voice as he came up beside her on silent feet.

  “It’s gorgeous,” she replied without taking her eyes off the beauty of nature.

  “I’m glad you like it. Thought you might.” She turned at his softly spoken words to catch the look of satisfaction on his face as he watched her watching the waterfall.

  “Did you? Take a lot of chiquitas up here, eh?” She was suddenly in a playful mood and felt like teasing him.

  “Would you believe me if I said you were the first?” His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled.

  “That innocent look may work on some people, but not on a hardened police detective like me.” She rolled her eyes at his expression, smiling all the while.

  “Are you absolutely certain?” He tried one more time for the earnest look, but she wasn’t buying it.

  “Sorry.” She shook her head in the negative. “You’ll have to do better than that.”

  “Oh, I can do better. Question is, can you handle it?”

  He moved closer to her, dropping the helmets on the soft grass beneath their feet. Suddenly she felt like she was being stalked by a wild predator. A thrill ran down her spine as she thought about avenues of escape. Did she want to run? It might be fun to lead him on a short chase, though ultimately, she really wanted to be caught.

  Giving in to temptation, she stood her ground as he reached her. It wouldn’t be right to start this relationship by playing games. She decided she would meet him as an equal or not at all.

  Wordlessly, he reached out, one hand just barely touching the sensitive skin of her cheek. When she didn’t move away, he deepened the contact, cupping her cheek in his warm, rough palm. Her pulse rate leapt higher as he moved even closer, right into her personal space.

  His head dipped toward hers. She closed the space between them, stretching upward to meet his kiss. And then she was lost.

  The kiss the night before was nothing compared to the full, intimate heat of him. His tongue invaded, plundered, staked his claim, and she loved every second of it. She met his challenge and returned it, reaching up to drag him downward, moving her body into his, daring him to take it further.

  He didn’t disappoint. His hands roamed her back, sliding downward to cup her ass and lift her into full contact. She could feel the hard rod of his excitement against her belly and it made her want more. More of his kiss. More of him.

  She didn’t know how long the kiss lasted. She only knew that when he drew away from her, she tried to follow. She was firmly under his spell and didn’t want to stop. Not for anything.

  Somehow—and it shamed her to realize she’d been so far gone—Jason pulled back and cooled things down. His forehead rested against hers, his breathing harsh. That was some consolation, at least. She could feel the trembling of his upper thighs against hers. She knew a little of what it cost him to stop. She felt it too.

  “Why?” The word escaped before she could stop it.

  “Too fast,” he replied through ragged breaths. “You’re human.” He let her go and stepped back as if forcing himself to do so. “Mostly human, at any rate. Were mating can be…kind of rough on the uninitiated. I’m trying not to scare you off.” He shot her a rueful expression, his grin catching her off guard, but charming her just the same. “Is it working?”

  “Why don’t you come back over here and find out?” she challenged.

  He stepped back another pace. “Later,” he promised. “First, I want to show you something.” He held one hand out to his side, inviting her to take it.

  Like teenagers on a first date, she held his hand as they walked together toward the small waterfall. He stopped for a moment beside it and she listened to the trickling water, appreciating its peaceful bounty as the cool, moist air helped bank the fire he had started within her.

  “My mother used to come up here all the time when we were kids. We used to bring a picnic lunch and she’d let us play in the water and in the woods nearby. It was our special place.”

  Touched by his words, Sally looked up at him. “She sounds like a special lady.”

  “She was.” Sally sensed a wealth of pain in his simple words. “The year I became Alpha, she was killed in the violence. There was a bit of a clan war brewing until I stepped forward to claim leadership and broker peace. It was her death that finally turned me into the Alpha I am today. It was a harsh way to discover my own inner strength, but our world is like that sometimes. You should know this before you get in any deeper.” He turned to her, his expression earnest. “Right now, you’re on the periphery. Your friends are fully in our world, but you might get away with simply being watched by one of the vamp enforcers for the rest of your life. You could go on with your normal, totally human life. Only you would know what really goes on in the dark. And it wouldn’t affect you much, other than having to swear yourself to secrecy about your friends. Those ladies and their mates are powerful enough to allow you that freedom.”

  “Carly mentioned something like that last night.”

  “Or…” he went on, “…you could choose to fully embrace the small part of you that has always been different. Like your friends, you could become part of the bigger world—the world where shifters and bloodletters and even magic users share the Earth with regular folk. The world where we live in secret among them. You could join my world, Sally. You could join with your wolf.”

  His words were so stirring, she felt in that moment, almost anything was possible. For a split second, she was ready to throw caution to the wind. She wanted to be with him, to embrace all that he was, and all that she could be. Then sanity interrupted.

  “I’m not sure.”

  Sally thought about her life to this point. Her hard-won career was waiting for her back home, along with a beautiful apartment she had spent the last three years decorating until she got it jus
t so. Her life was somewhat empty, now that all her friends were married and they saw each other less frequently, but it was still her life. The one she had created for herself.

  “It’s okay.” Jason dropped her hand and tucked both of his into his jeans pockets. His shoulders hunched a bit as he began walking toward the woods. She followed. “You don’t have to make any decisions today. You’re on vacation, right? We’ll just see where things lead. But I figured I should draw your attention to the facts at least once before we do some serious sightseeing.”

  His smile was easy, but she could feel the undercurrent of tension in his voice. Her response mattered to him more than he was letting on, for some reason. She liked that he wasn’t pushing her too hard. She had things to think over and she needed to learn more about Carly’s new existence. She needed to learn a lot more about shapeshifters too, for that matter. This world was completely new to her, though not as unsettling as she would’ve expected. Somehow, she had always suspected there was something more to the odd things that happened to her as a cop.

  She’d felt the pull of the full moon and chalked it up to coincidence, or perhaps superstition. She’d always been able to hear things others couldn’t and see things in greater detail than her colleagues. She had gained a reputation as a sort of super cop among her peers and enjoyed the way they treated her with increasing respect as she rose through the ranks.

  Hers was a sometimes violent job. It could be rewarding as well. Catching bad guys before they could harm anyone else had been her passion for a long time, though lately she had found herself more than once simply going through the motions. She hadn’t felt the same elation that she had when she was younger. Justice had become her goal in both work and life, and sometimes, it was hard to achieve. She’d become disillusioned with the system over the years and now that she was away from home for the first time in a long time, she realized she was at a crossroads. She could either continue the way she was going, or choose a new path.