20 Shades of Shifters: A Paranormal Romance Collection

by Demelza Carlton

  The woman turned, laughing as she walked down the hall, leaving Gwain to return to his assigned chambers.

  Chapter 17

  26 years ago

  Gwain paced the opulent chamber, heart beating erratically. Penelope’s implied assumption of his intentions made his blood run cold.

  What would have happened if the real official had come?

  He forced those foul thoughts from his mind, attempting to mentally prepare himself for the meeting to come.

  At a knock on his door, Gwain moved to the center of the room, and drew a breath, praying for strength. “Come in.”

  The door opened at his invitation. Priestess Penelope led in a slender young woman covered in the red robes of her goddess, the mark of a golden flame etched into the material at her breast. A matching crimson veil shrouded her face, blocking him from view.

  “On your knees,” the elder woman instructed the younger. “A sign of proper respect.”

  The girl complied, kneeling before him, head down, gaze on the lush red rug covering the floor.

  “Remove your maiden veil,” the woman further ordered.

  Again, the girl complied, never raising her eyes from the floor.

  Gwain stared at the long golden hair, tumbling down her back in gentle waves. He wanted to speak, but feared his words would come unsteady.

  “As promised,” Penelope stated. “A rare beauty, and completely untarnished.”

  The woman reached out a hand and ran her fingers through the girl’s golden locks. “Remember, Guinevere, you are to do all this man asks. Otherwise you will greatly displease both me and your goddess.” As she stroked the girl’s hair, Gwain witnessed a visible shiver his sister was unable to suppress. “Be a good girl now.”

  Penelope looked up at Gwain. “If she gives you any trouble, let me know. I hope you find your examination…satisfactory.”

  With those words, the woman left the room, closing the door with a profound thud that echoed through the room.

  Alone at last with his lost sister, the air tightened in Gwain’s chest, refusing to rise as he stared down at the girl who was a child no longer. Finally, he managed to squeeze out, “My lady.”

  “Please,” her terrified plea broke his heart. “Don’t make me do this.”

  Forcing air through his constricted throat, Gwain said, “I would have brought roses, my lady, but know that plucking them would upset you so.”

  Nearly a minute passed while his words were processed. Slowly, the girl raised her eyes, meeting her brother’s pained gaze.

  Her blue eyes widened, lips falling agape. She appeared to try and speak, but no sound came, Gwen as speechless as her brother.

  Between ragged breaths, and with tears filling her eyes to slip down her cheeks, she asked, “Gwain?” The question came jagged and unsteady. “Gwain?”

  “Little sister,” he answered, kneeling before her.

  “By the gods!” she exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms as her tears fell faster. “I can’t believe…I—”

  “I’m sorry. So sorry, Gwen, that it took me so long. I am so…” His own tears gathered.

  “My letter…”

  “I knew the moment I saw the rose that you needed me.”

  “Did mother and father send—”

  “No.” Gwain shook his head, though his cheek remained buried in his sister’s long hair. “But I knew. I’m sorry, Gwen. You must hate me for letting them take you.”

  “You didn’t do anything wrong. I knew you couldn’t save…I knew.”

  “I should have,” he replied, voice thick with regret. “I wanted to stop them. I tried to see you, I swear. I sent so many requests, pleaded with our parents.” He pulled back to see his sister’s eyes, but not enough to remove her from the circle of his arms. “I tried, Gwen. I’m…”

  “Brother,” she whispered, “I can’t believe you’re…here…I…”

  “I had to see you.”

  Gwen’s tears slowed as she attempted to explain, “I was scared. I didn’t mean to drag you into…to get you in trouble. I never wanted to harm you.”

  “You haven’t. Tell me, what’s going on?”

  “I…” She drew a breath. “I was selected to become a voice of Kamar.”

  “A voice?”

  She nodded. “At the initiation ceremony, each priestess in training is assigned a future role. Some, like Penelope, are chosen to become high priestesses. Others are assigned different tasks to help serve the temples. But,” she drew a wheezed breath, “I was chosen to become a voice.”

  “You mean the oracles who speak with the goddess?”

  “Yes, but it’s not true.”

  “Not true?”

  Gwen’s shoulders shook. “They give you something awful. If you refuse, they force it upon you. I’ve seen girls tied down, screaming, while this liquid was poured down their throats to ensure they ingest it. It takes away who you are.” Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes, each glistening drop tearing at Gwain’s heart. “Once the drug is taken, the girls speak in riddles and nonsense, which high priestesses interpret as the words of the goddess.”

  “Wait…” Gwain shook his head uncomprehendingly. “Are you saying the prophecies and proclamations from the goddess aren’t true? That they drug the girls?”

  “They drug and keep them…for the rest of their lives.”

  “I don’t understand. What about their dragon halves? You can’t have a half-competent dragon flying around without—”

  “Someone chosen as a voice never transforms.”

  “What?”

  “The drugs prevent them from doing so. That’s why they do this as soon as we come of age. They never become dragons.”

  Gwain looked at his sister, this revelation difficult to digest. The temples were an elaborate lie. The words of the priestesses, false. A system to maintain their power in the kingdom.

  “What were you told to expect by the woman who left you in this room?”

  Gwen’s voice grew faint. “I was to please you, in any desired way. They give girls my age to the officials sometimes. Safer, they say, to hand over a girl who has…”

  “Yet to meet her dragon half,” Gwain finished, before clenching his teeth. “Gods, Gwen. I—” Under the crushing weight of failure, he pulled his sister close, crying as he spilled his remorse onto the thick cloth of her robe.

  She wrapped her arms around him, a sharing of mutual sorrow born of their cruel separation.

  “I knew you would come,” she whispered. “I always knew. I wanted to tell you so many times, but they read my letters. Forced me to destroy them if they found anything too personal. They wouldn’t even allow me to express how much I missed you. Gods, I wanted to.”

  Gwain held his sister for a long time, releasing his fear and sorrow before finding the strength to stand. Lifting her as effortlessly as he had done during her childhood, Gwain moved Gwen to the spacious bed and laid her down, moving a chair beside the bed to face her more comfortably.

  “I’m going to get you out of here. I promise, sister. But if this is going to work, we must do so carefully. Tonight, you are going to remain here. Tomorrow, I will order you to accompany me on a ride, during which, the friends who assisted me in gaining access will cause a distraction. We’ll only have that one chance to escape.

  “You should be aware that our parents do not support anything I’ve done, nor do they know. If we run, we will live in exile. Away from all we’ve ever known.”

  “What about you?” Gwen asked. “You would have graduated from the academy by now, have you not?”

  “A few months ago.”

  “Were you assigned to a guard?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Were you?”

  “Yes,” he answered reluctantly.

  “Which one?”

  “I said it doesn’t—”

  “Tell me.”

  “The royal guard.”

  “Royal? Gwain, that’s your dream.”r />
  “It doesn’t matter,” he insisted. “All that matters is getting you out of here. I promised to take care of you, and I’ve failed. All these years, I have failed, and in such a spectacular fashion. I refuse to fail you anymore, sister. I can’t live with myself if I do.”

  “Am I supposed to be able to sleep at night, knowing I took away all you have worked for? All the good you could have done?”

  “Yes! I don’t care about any of it.”

  Gwen took a deep breath and stared at her brother’s intense gaze. “You’re lying.”

  He sighed. “Allow me say what is beyond dispute. I love you, sister. Being your brother means more than any position or title. Can you believe that much?”

  Tears reemerged, cascading down Gwen’s cheeks as Gwain left the chair to again pull her close.

  “Forgive me, Gwen.”

  “I do,” she answered. “You came. You’re here.”

  “I am.” He kissed her brow, holding her until she gave in to exhaustion.

  Chapter 18

  26 years ago

  Dawn came too soon, both siblings awakening in a disparity of mixed emotions. Luckily such a state was appropriate for convincing Penelope events had taken a far different turn in the chambers the night before. Having moved to the bed to create a false pretense, Penelope found Gwen covered by a thick blanket, lying on her side, while Gwain had removed his shirt, giving the illusion of nudity.

  Taking the sharp tone of the pretended dignitary, Gwain glared at the intruding priestess. “Did I give you permission to interrupt?”

  Smile faltering, the woman rushed to say, “Pardon me, my lord. I only came to see if you were finished examining—”

  “Do I look finished?” he snapped.

  “No, my lord.” The woman lowered her gaze in a submissive gesture. “Forgive me.”

  “If no privacy can be found within these walls, I intend to take this examination elsewhere.”

  “Elsewhere?”

  “Yes,” Gwain answered, in a voice he hoped carried an air of authority. “In fact, tell me, how fairs the weather today?”

  “The weather?”

  “Are you going to repeat every question?”

  “No, my lord. It’s sunny today. Seems quite nice.”

  “Good. Saddle a horse.” He reached toward his sister and, with an apologetic glance only she could see, placed a hand on her shoulder, slipping his fingers down her side over the blanket. “There’s a clearing nearby. I intend to continue this line of questioning there.”

  “My lord, your request is highly unusual.”

  Lifting his gaze to stare at the woman, Gwain arched an eyebrow. “So is, I assume, the queen receiving an ill report from her chosen advisor. Would you prefer I inform her majesty that I found your institution less than accommodating? I’d be happy to recommend additional oversight.”

  “No, my lord.” The woman shook her head. “Won’t be necessary. I’ll have a horse saddled immediately. Will you require two, or one?”

  “One. The girl rides with me.”

  “Of course, my lord.” Penelope lowered her head in submission.

  She left without another word, leaving the two to properly dress.

  “Sorry,” Gwain apologized. “I didn’t know how else to ensure she was convinced.”

  “It’s all right,” she answered, rising from the bed.

  He did the same, grabbing his discarded shirt. “I’d let you change, but it might draw additional suspicion since…”

  “It’s fine,” she assured. “Only…”

  “What is it?”

  “I can’t believe you’re here. I thought I would wake this morning to find this a dream.”

  “As did I,” he answered softly, taking his sister’s left hand and placing a kiss upon the back of her palm. “Are you ready to get out of here?”

  Nervously, Gwen nodded, heart leaping at her brother’s comforting smile.

  Together, they walked down the halls, past occasional stares from the other women, until they emerged into sunlight. Awaiting them was a young woman holding the reins of a white stallion, equipped with a brown leather saddle.

  “My lord,” the woman offered a brief bow. “Is there anything else you require?”

  He started to say no, then recalled his sickening façade. “A blanket.”

  “Of course, my lord.”

  “I’ll take the horse,” he stated, reaching for the reins, which the girl passed into his hand before she left to fetch the requested item.

  He assisted Gwen onto the stallion while waiting, stuffing the blanket into a saddle bag the young woman had also thought to bring. Tethering the bag behind the saddle, Gwain mounted the horse, sliding behind his sister as he maneuvered the reins around her.

  “Tell Lady Penelope we will return by nightfall. I shall be returning to the palace first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “Yes, my lord,” the girl replied, again giving a slight bow.

  Gwain guided the horse toward the wooded area around the back side of the temple grounds. The land was vast, the temples owning expansive sections of the surrounding area. After allowing several minutes for both of them to grow accustomed to the horse’s cant, Gwain increased their pace to a gentle gallop, climbing over grassy hills, and gliding down gentle slopes to the scent of fresh grass and sparse wildflowers.

  Heat from the rising sun poured down on the two riders. Gwain increased their mount’s pace, inviting the breeze to cool their warm skin. His sister leaned trustingly against him, and both felt as though the past years had vanished. They were again two children racing along a well-loved path.

  Gwen stared up, spying a bird flying overhead, brightly colored feathers dancing across the sky. “Pretty bird. It’s been forever since I was allowed on a horse. Not since I was last with you.”

  The confession fractured his freshly glued heart, and he prompted the horse even faster. The beast eagerly responded, hooves pounding over the dry dirt.

  At the increase, Gwen laughed, and the sound brought him a joy he had not known since their separation.

  Eventually they slowed, moving to the temple’s south side. The grounds were outlined with a massive fence of solid, thick wood, which functioned to both keep out intruders, and prevent those within from escape. Gwain slowed the horse to a walk, and directed it along the outer walls, praying the instructions he had received were accurate.

  When they turned to follow the fence’s southern panels, Gwain dismounted. Walking along the wood barrier, Gwain’s fingers sought the hidden latch.

  His finger touched a deep grove, and he pushed back a hidden panel, before releasing a breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding. Moving back to the horse, he assisted Gwen from the saddle, placing her in the tall grass before gazing up at the sun, a hand moving to shield his eyes from the brightest rays.

  “Should be any time now.”

  “What will happen?”

  “They are going to—”

  A roar arose, the bellow so loud it reverberated in the siblings’ ears. A second roar drew a frightened squeal from Gwen’s lips. She turned, staring toward the temples at two immense golden dragons circling the distant building.

  Setting aside his blend of fear and awe, Gwain grabbed her arm, turning her back toward the fence. “The signal. We have to go now.”

  “Where?”

  “This way.” He guided her toward the fence, pushing on the hidden lever to open the panel.

  A third roar filled the air, and she turned, gasping at the sight of yellow flames lighting the field in front of the temple.

  “Go!” Gwain shoved her through the opening before ducking down to follow her.

  “Wait, what about the horse?”

  “He’ll be fine. They are only burning the front field to distract them. They’ll have the flames out in minutes, and the horse will be found when they search the grounds. As will we, if we don’t hurry.”

  On the other side of the wooden barrier, Gwen was f
aced with a dirt path, shrouded in shadows from towering trees above.

  With more hurry than care, Gwain guided her through the forgotten path, pushing aside branches and stepping over occasional rocks.

  He had done it. His sister was free of her prison walls. However, they remained far from safety, and the next hour of their journey would be the most dangerous. If the dragons assisting him were caught, they might be interrogated and give away his plot. Regardless, it would only be a matter of minutes before someone realized they were missing, in spite of the disturbance.

  Neither speaking, they followed the path to the spring, where it diverged, and he chose to continue in a thicker portion of the woods. With each crushed branch, Gwain cringed, fearing it might be the sound to give away their location. Around them, the forest remained eerily quiet.

  By the time they emerged from the trees, the sun had begun to set. Leaving his sister a few paces back, Gwain entered the clearing and spied a man seated by the fire. He approached cautiously, crouched in the tall grass.

  Once close enough to confirm the man’s identity, relief poured through him. Gwain stood, waving at his long-time friend. “Rob,” he called, alerting the other man to his presence. “We made it!”

  In greeting, Rob raised his hand.

  Gwain moved back to the tree line, and beckoned his sister forward, before escorting her across the field.

  “You made it,” Rob echoed, rising to his feet. “I have to be honest, I didn’t think you would.”

  “Neither did I,” Gwain answered, flashing a tired smile before turning back to Gwen. “Rob, this is my sister.”

  “Glad to finally meet you, my lady” he said, extending a hand before clasping his fingers around hers.

  “Pleased to meet you too, my lord.”

  Rob smiled and moved to the log he had used as a make-shift bench. “You’re welcome to have a seat. I have some water.”

  “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”

  “No need,” he said with a dismissive wave before handing her a leather flask. “Drink your fill, there’s plenty more.”

  Thirstily, Gwen took a deep drink of the quenching liquid before handing the flask to her brother, who partook as well, the liquid cool on his dry throat.