20 Shades of Shifters: A Paranormal Romance Collection

by Demelza Carlton

  “Is it ready?” Anonghos asked.

  Tryker looked between Anonghos and Agnes. “Yes, but it hasn’t been tested. I don’t know if the trap will work.”

  “We have to try.” Agnes looked between the men. “It’s not just women were saving. We’re saving the mates who will continue your race.”

  “I’ll contact the lab to bring you the weapon, but right now, I have to try and save Frank.” He clasped Anonghos’s shoulder. “Be careful. The Mistonians are difficult to kill. May the Fates be with you.”

  Tryker left them alone.

  “Anonghos, do you think this thing will work?”

  He ran his hand through his hair. “I honestly don’t know. The one I used earlier failed miserably.”

  “Why?”

  “For one thing, he was invisible, and the entrapment is designed to hit a suspect in the heart.”

  She paced back and forth. “I’m just so worried about Frank and so damn angry about Daidhl that I don’t whether I’m coming or going.” She braced her shoulders. “But I can’t let this go, Anonghos. Daidhl has gone after my friend, my family, and me. He’s not going to stop.”

  “Agnes, this is getting too dangerous. You need to stay in the ship where it’s safe and wait for Frank.”

  “No, I don’t. If I stay here, I’ll go crazy. If you’re my mate, then you know staying behind will kill me.”

  He groaned. “Fates, you’re not making this easy.”

  She screeched up her face. “Oh, I’m sooo sorry. I didn’t realize this was so hard for you.”

  “Look, I know you’re brother’s fighting for his life and your best friend was murdered, but I’m worried about you. I’ve never felt…” He turned away, not wanting to acknowledge what he was feeling. “I… I don’t want to lose you.”

  “Because you’ll lose your breeder.”

  He whirled around. “Is that what you think?” His angry voice changed into a loud snarl.

  Agnes took a step back, putting her hand on her throat.

  Crap, what the hell was he doing?

  A tall Inquistain dragon in humanoid form came out of the lab, holding an entrapment cage. “Is everything all right here?”

  Agnes slowly put her shaking hand down. “Yes. We’re fine.”

  He reached out his hand. “I’m Qlask. One of the scientists that helped work on this.”

  Her gaze focused on the weapon. She hurried over to the doctor. “Is that the ensnarement cage? God, it looks like a compact mirror.”

  Qlask stiffened. “I assure you, this weapon is not a compact mirror.”

  Disbelief shone in Agnes’s eyes. “Can this really capture Daidhl?”

  Anonghos seized her arm. “You don’t know how to use it and could trap yourself inside. Plus, we don’t even know if it will work. The Inquistains didn’t have a long time to work on it.”

  Qlask glared. “Despite what you think, Bravian, we are not as incompetent as you think.”

  “I agree,” Anonghos said. “Daidhl’s been making a good show of an Inquistian’s abilities.”

  “That has been unfortunate.”

  Agnes glared. “Look, we don’t have time for a pissing contest between you two.” She gestured toward the cage. “How does thing work?”

  Oslask’s eyes and mouth lost their tenseness, replaced with a beaming smile bigger than a proud new father’s. “The light feeds on their radioactive cells.”

  Confusion replaced the anger in her eyes. “I don’t understand.”

  “Thousands of years ago,” Qlask said. “The Mistonians had humanoid bodies. They were a peaceful race. However, a rogue comet passed their sun, making it became extremely radioactive. The radiation not only destroyed their body’s cells beyond repair, but it changed their race. They became more aggressive, more vengeful. Most of the population was wiped out. Those who survived, developed into gaseous forms creating a whole new species. Instead of feeding on solid forms, they feed on emotions.”

  “What does this have to do with the light in this weapon?”

  “The sun was so powerful that they could no longer could go out during the day. The radiation would fizzle, even their gaseous forms. On Mistonia, they can only come out at night, so most of them have dispersed throughout the universe.”

  Agnes frowned. “Wait a minute. If you unleash this weapon on Earth, what will happen? Will it destroy us?”

  Qlask shook his head. “No. Since Earthlings have not been exposed to the Mistonian’s sun, none of your cells have been damaged. But this light will reactivate the Mistonian’s already damaged cells, which will either kill him or make him vulnerable to our weapons.”

  “Does the Mistonian’s sun have an impact on a Zalarian’s body?” Agnes asked.

  Qlask handed it to Anonghos. “That’s the flaw in this device. Our bodies were also not exposed to their sun, so the light won’t harm us.”

  “Then, this thing’s not going to work,” Agnes said.

  “Not necessarily,” Qlask said. “If Daidhl is out in the daylight in humanoid form, this could weaken him.”

  Anonghos attached the entrapment cage to his belt. “Enough for me to kill him.”

  “However, if he’s in dragon form…”

  “It won’t work on him.” Agnes finished for him.

  “Our dragons are much too powerful for the light,” Qlask said. “The light can’t penetrate our scales.”

  “The problem is drawing Daidhl out,” Anonghos said. “The bastard has been lurking in darkness.”

  “Are you sure?” Eagerness shook in Qlask’s voice.

  Anonghos and Agnes looked at each other. “Yes,” they answered.

  “There’s a chance, a small one, that Earth’s sun may be having a negative effect on the Mistonian.”

  Anonghos smiled. “Then, he’s vulnerable.”

  “Good,” Agnes said. “I know a way to draw him out.”

  Uneasiness fluttered in Anonghos’s gut. “How?”

  She smirked. “Live bait.”

  He scowled. “No.”

  “Listen to me. We have a chance. He came out once in the daylight at Starbucks to give you Laura Nybo’s uterus.”

  Qlask rubbed his chin. “I bet that stunt weakened him.”

  The memory of his mom leaving him flashed in Anonghos’s mind. He remembered screaming at her to stay, but she hadn’t even glanced over her shoulder, hadn’t waved, hadn’t blown a kiss–just walked out of his life forever.

  Unwanted tears threatened to flow again. He cleared his throat, pushing them back. He drew on his strength to ignore those dreaded memories, but they were getting stronger. “It’s too dangerous!”

  Agnes winced.

  Qlask frowned. “You don’t have to yell. We’re both standing right next to you.”

  Glisten of sweat trickled down Anonghos’s temples. Fates, he was trying to stay in control. “Sorry, I don’t want Agnes to get hurt.” His voice shook uncontrollably.

  The panic welling through his thoughts and words wasn’t him. Logically, Agnes being bait was a sound idea, but he couldn’t handle the thought of her being exposed and vulnerable. He’d fought too long to be a stronger dragon than his father.

  “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m a Malloy. I can do this.” Agnes braced her shoulders. The stubborn glint in her eyes meant trouble. He groaned.

  Anonghos clenched his fists to keep from shaking. “You’re going to get yourself killed.”

  “No, I’m not. You need to show me how to use this thing. Daidhl won’t expect me to have it. This gives us a huge advantage.”

  “Total madness.” Anonghos put his hand over the cage, afraid that Agnes would try and grab it.

  “We’re wasting time.” Agnes put both her hands on his chest and pushed as if to get him to change his mind.

  “See,” Anonghos said. “You’re losing your cool, which is exactly what Daidhl wants.”

  “Because you’re not using your head.” She faced Qlask. “Who is in charge here?”r />
  “It’s still Taog, even though he’s back on Zalara. We report to him.”

  She narrowed her eyes at Anonghos. “Then it’s his decision. Contact him.”

  Qlask pulled out his telicator. “Captain, this is Qlask. Do you read me?”

  “Taog here.”

  Anonghos grimaced. He knew what Taog would say. “Qlask, she’s my mate. It’s my decision whether she’s put in mortal danger.”

  “You explain it to the captain.”

  “What’s going on?” Taog demanded.

  Before Anonghos could answer, Agnes snagged Qlask’s telicator. “Captain, this is Detective Malloy of the Arvada Police Department. I’m Anonghos’s mate.”

  “I know who you are.”

  “Agnes, no.” Anonghos reached for the telicator. “It’s not his decision.”

  “Yes, it is. He’s your superior.”

  The captain interrupted. “Anonghos, shut up, so I can hear what’s she saying. That’s an order.”

  Anonghos threw up his arms in frustration.

  Agnes flashed Anonghos a superior look then she proceeded to fill the captain in what was happening.

  Anonghos’s telicator beeped. He glared at Agnes, who was on the other side of the room, taking deep breaths.

  This was ridiculous. He yanked his telicator out. “Anonghos, here.”

  “Is it true what your mate said?”

  “It’s too dangerous, Captain.”

  “I asked you a direction question.”

  Anonghos hesitated. He could lie, but what could would it do? “Yes, Captain.”

  “Then you know what must be done. We can’t afford to lose any more mates.”

  “But I could lose mine.”

  “I suggest you figure out way to protect her. Think with your head, not your cock. That’s an order, Anonghos. If any other mates are murdered, I’ll hold you personally responsible. Do we understand one another?”

  “Understood,” he grimaced.

  Agnes handed Qlask his telicator. “What will happen if another woman is murdered?”

  “It means he could be sentenced to death,” Qlask said.

  “What!”

  “We’re facing extinction, Detective. Every mate we lose, means our population grows smaller.” He clasped Anonghos’s arm. “I suggest you follow the captain’s orders. You’re a good chief of security.” He bowed slightly at Agnes. “If you’ll excuse me, Detective, I better return to the lab to see if Tryker needs any assistance with your brother.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  Anonghos and Agnes stood studying each other. He still hadn’t taken his hand off the cage. Warring emotions threatened to burst through his tight chest.

  Agnes broke the silence. “What happens if I die?”

  “The captain said all mates. That would include you.”

  She frowned. “He’s serious?”

  “Yes. Taog doesn’t have a sense of humor.”

  “Then, we better find a way to keep me safe. I don’t want anything to happen to you, because of me.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m hard to kill.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, glad she didn’t pull away from him. Her curves fit perfectly against him. “You’re determined to do this?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  He framed her face between his hands and whispered her name silently. He captured her stubborn lips, kissing her long and hard, afraid this would be the last time he would taste her. She balled her fingers up in his shirt. He brushed his lips over her temples, her eyes, her cheeks, the corners of her mouth, branding her every feature on his heart. Her lush heat drew him inside. The kiss deepened, turning desperate, bruising, urgent. Their tongues were hungry to claim each other. Agnes threaded her fingers through his hair. He crushed her to him, lifting her toes off the floor, then twirling her around in a final dance.

  All Anonghos knew was that she was his mate, a chance for him to find some happiness in one bed, rather than a host of empty ones. He’d so long denied falling for any woman, but none of them had been his fiery mate.

  Agnes pulled away, panting. “We need to get going. Before he kills again.”

  Anonghos looked down at her flush face, wanting to memorize every line, every curve, every lash. Her parted lips begged to be taken again. What if this was last time he looked at her alive? His heart pounded faster than ultra drive, and he realized hers matched his. She was as terrified as he was, but determined to do her job. She was so brave, so foolish, so stubborn.

  “Promise me you won’t die,” he said.

  She sighed and looked toward the lab where her brother had gone. “You know I can’t promise that. Any call I respond to as a cop could mean my life. But what I can promise you…” She put both her hands on his cheeks and stood on her tippy toes.

  He kissed her again, wishing he could make her forget this foolishness. Let him go after Daidhl.

  Once again, she broke off their kiss. She ran her fingers through his hair. “I promise I’ll fight to live.”

  It wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but her promise was all she would give him.

  Chapter 21

  Agnes sat at the same Starbucks where Daidhl had given Anonghos the bloody package. Her flat white coffee had no flavor. The café was crowded with a group of chattering teenage girls, a circle of elderly men, and a couple snuggling together on the couch. She couldn’t see the woman’s face, but the man was very attentive. There were several single people wearing earplugs and typing on their iPads. God, any of these people could be Daidhl in disguise.

  Her phone rang. “Detective Malloy.”

  “Any sign yet?” Anonghos asked. He waited across the street in a rented dark window van. Daidhl would be able to spot him if he were flying overhead or seated in the café.

  “No,” she answered nonchalantly.

  Her phone buzzed again–Captain Morgan.

  “I’ll call you back.”

  “Wait, Agnes–”

  But she hung up. She planned on avoiding Tom’s persistent calls, but she couldn’t ignore the captain’s. Not if she hoped to have a job after the killer was found.

  She sat straighter. “Captain?”

  “Where the hell have you been?”

  She flinched. “Investigating.” More people entered the café, including laughing teenagers, a kissy couple, and a single woman. She carefully watched them, wondering if any of them were Daidhl in disguise.

  “Did you and Anonghos steal an ambulance? One was found out on Indiana and Eighty-sixth Avenue.”

  She hesitated before answering. “No.” Lying to the captain, who had always believed in her, put her at an all new low.

  “Your brother is also missing from the hospital.”

  His accusatory tone pushed her lower than a child kidnapper.

  She cleared her throat. “Captain, Frank’s safe.”

  “Where is he?”

  She bit her lip and turned her cup around. “I can’t tell you.” Her lame answer echoed the same excuse former suspects had used that she had scorned.

  His response were hard, angry breaths.

  She shuddered as she sipped her cold coffee.

  “You got ten seconds to tell me where your brother is, or you’re off the force.”

  His belief in her just died.

  “Okay,” she said slowly. “He’s in a private facility that specializes in cases like his. As his only living relative, I had a right to move him.”

  “What facility?”

  Her lies and half-truths tongue-tied her voice. Ignoring his gruffness, she put the phone gently down on the table and stared at Anonghos’s car. When no one else believed in her, her dragon had faith.

  Not wanting to play the coward, she picked up the phone and blurted, “If he makes it, I’ll let him tell you.”

  “You’re walking on thin ice, Detective. Where the devil are you?”

  “Captain, he went after my family and my best friend.”

  Silence greeted her on the phone. />
  “You know about Kathy?”

  His voice turned gentle, something she wished he hadn’t done.

  “Yes, I know.” Her eyes blurred for a second, but she blinked back the wetness. She couldn’t show weakness, not while searching for Daidhl.

  “I’m sorry, Detective. I know she was a good friend.”

  Betty materialized in front of Agnes, her eyes burning red. “He’s here.” She pointed toward the couple. “Over there. Are you going to let her die like you did me, Detective?”

  Agnes grimaced at the haunting tone.

  “Captain, I have to go.” She stared at the couple, trying to decipher whether it was Daidhl. When the man looked over, she swirled around in her chair. Her heart pounded louder than the captain’s angry voice.

  “Damn it, Agnes, tell me what is going on before–”

  She hung up. She had a job to do. Not one more woman would fall victim to Daidhl’s sick craving.

  She glanced at the couple, who had taken a seat near her, and then took another sip of her coffee. The man whisper in the woman’s ear, but she’d hadn’t moved once.

  Now, what was she supposed to do? Agnes refused to have her actions result in losing another innocent woman. She needed to get the woman away from him. The plan was to get Daidhl to follow her outside and away from potential victims, but as usual, he was a step ahead of them.

  The entrapment cage only opened based on fingerprints. Anonghos had reprogrammed it for human instead of Zalarian. She slowly pulled the device out of her purse. No one gave her a second glance, since it resembled a woman’s silver compact. Only Daidhl would know that it was a weapon capable of destroying him. Or at least, she hoped it would.

  She turned her body so her back was facing Daidhl. God, she hoped Betty hadn’t been mistaken. So far, the ghost hadn’t been wrong.

  “Who is the woman with her?” Agnes lowered her voice, hoping no one heard her except for Betty.

  “Her name is Stacey Flynn. She’s a college student, studying to be an engineer. Daidhl followed you here. When you went inside, he forced her to come with him. He’s got a knife hidden in his pocket and promised to slice her throat if she made the slightest move to get away or cry for help.”