Fighting A Lion: BBW Paranormal Lion Shape Shifter Romance (Sleeping Lions - Shifters Prime Book 3)

by Harmony Raines

  “You were heading in the right direction, you have to go north, ask for the Talamo Pride Lands, and you’ll find him. They’ll welcome you in, the last long-lost brother, and that’s when you will strike. I would ask you to go for a run with him, and kill him in the mountains in the same spot that I killed your father. But I’m not that tied to history. You just need to make it quick, or there might not be much of your mate left to come back to.”

  “Misty, I will come back.” And with that Kieran shifted into his lion and disappeared into the trees.

  “That was easier than I thought,” Serrif said sneering. “Take her inside, and tie her up.”

  Misty was pushed and shoved into a room at the back of the cabin. Inside the small cramped room, was a wood-framed bed. One of them tied her to it, with her hands behind her back. Then they left, and she slumped forward, trying not to cry.

  It took a moment to take in all that had happened, to put all of the pieces that had been floating around in her head together. Everything that had happened since she left Darius’s mansion, was down to Serrif. The man who had killed Kieran’s father had somehow reached across the border and manipulated his life.

  He had been the pride leader for years; he would have connections. Most leaders did. The humans thought that the two worlds were separate, but they weren’t: deals were done across unofficial trade routes along the border, and both information and goods could be bought for a price.

  She pulled at the ropes that bound her wrists; they were tied fast. Closing her eyes, and trying to ignore the cold that was seeping into her body and her bones, she tried to figure out what exactly she was going to do. It was one thing to get her hands untied, but would be another to actually get away from here.

  And if she did, if she managed to leave the cabin, she would have to run faster than she had ever run before.

  Or should she just wait to Kieran to return? She couldn’t believe that he would actually go and kill his own brother, so maybe he was working on a plan to rescue her. He would still have to overpower the three men outside, unless he managed to lure them out, one at a time. Serrif would be easy; he was older and if Kane had beat him, then Kieran should be able to.

  She sat and thought for a while knowing that the best thing was to do nothing, until she had a clear plan. She didn’t want Kieran to return and find her already dead.

  Slowly, her clothes dried and she moved around just enough to try and create some heat in her body. If Kieran did return for her, she had to be ready to fight, she had to be ready to run, and she couldn’t do that if she stiffened up in the cold.

  She wriggled her across the bed, and then looped her hands over her feet so her arms were in front of her, and then she set to work untying the rope with her teeth. As she worked, she kept listening in case anyone approached the door, but all was quiet until, in the distance, there was the sound of a bear roaring.

  Her senses kicked in, her horse alert as they listened. Was the bear working for Serrif? Perhaps he was on guard out in the forest, just in case Kieran doubled back. Did that mean something had happened to Kieran?

  Misty decided she had to get away and help Kieran. Working on the ropes, she managed to undo them, and sat for a moment flexing her hands to let the blood flow back into them, before she headed to the door and listened for any sounds.

  There were mumbled voices, and then she heard a door slam. And then silence.

  She couldn’t just wait here, it was time to make a run for it and try to find Kieran. Moving quietly across the room, she headed for the window. It was small and it wouldn’t be easy to climb out of, but she was going to try.

  The catch was stiff, as if it hadn’t been opened for years, and she had to use the heel of the hand to bash it open, hoping it didn’t draw their attention to her. Only when the window was open, did she stop to consider if it was a trap.

  She had to risk it. Dragging a chair over to the window to stand on, she prayed she was doing the right thing, and she climbed out of the window.

  Her feet hit the ground, but she made sure she didn’t injure her ankle again, then she stood still, listening, allowing her senses to drift as far as they could into the surrounding area. She hoped she would pick up some clue as to what she should do. But all was quiet.

  “Where the hell are they?” she asked out loud. Not that she really wanted an answer.

  Summoning her horse, she shifted and headed into the trees, galloping as fast as she could while weaving in and out of the thick tree trunks. After a hundred yards she slid to a halt and stood, head up, ears pricked trying to listen.

  She had heard something. It came from in front of her. Off in the distance the bear roared again, and then mingled with the sound of a lion. Was it Kieran; was it her lion? Was he fighting a bear?

  She headed in the direction of the sound, not fearing for her own safety. All she could think of was that she had to save Kieran. But as she ran she felt the presence of something else behind her, and using her peripheral vision, she was shocked to see a lion running through the trees towards her. Putting her head down she ran faster, jumping over fallen logs and swerving around trees, but still the lion was there, but she had stamina and she could outrun him.

  Hearing the bear again, she altered her course towards it, knowing that she had to find Kieran.

  Chapter Twenty-Two – Kieran

  When he left the cabin, he had no idea what he was going to do, or where he was supposed to go. He knew that Serrif wanted him to go and kill Kane, but that wasn’t going to happen. Somehow he had to find a way to save Misty. He needed time, time to think his way through this. He was a fighter, but he couldn’t take on all three of them and win without putting Misty at risk.

  His lion battled with him, trying to take charge and come forward. His lion thought he could beat them easily, but Kieran kept control, telling him that they didn’t know how to fight with his teeth and claws. This had not gone down well with his lion at all.

  As this battle raged on inside him he ran north like they told him to. If he was being followed, he didn’t want to do anything that might cause trouble for Misty. He laughed to himself: hadn’t he done enough already, brought enough trouble her way?

  He replayed everything Serrif had told him, over and over. This was the man who had killed his father. This was the man who had got Lance take him on as a fighter, so he could keep tabs on him. They had known all along exactly who he was, what he was. When Lance called him Kitty, it was because he knew Kieran was a lion.

  He’d been played. For the last five years of his life he’d been used, kept exactly where they wanted him to be. And now his brother Kane had resurfaced, they were going to use Kieran to kill him.

  Let them think that, but Kieran was never very good at doing what he was told.

  He slowed to a walk. He didn’t want to go too much further, so he waited, listening, trying to hear if anyone was following him. And then a twig cracked a couple of hundred yards to his left, something was moving towards him.

  He set off through the trees, circling back the way he’d come. If one of them was following him, he would catch him and kill him.

  That would leave only two back at the cabin. He liked those odds so much better.

  There was a different sound, this time a snuffling, it didn’t sound much like a lion, he couldn’t tell what kind of animal it was. Then through the trees he glimpsed something moving. Two things moving, and one of them was much bigger than a lion. He lowered his body to the ground, trying to make no noise, as he stalked his enemy.

  It was a bear, this might be a little bit trickier than he thought, and the other one with him was a lion, but a smaller lion, one that would be easy to kill.

  They were moving, heads down, as if they were following a scent. He couldn’t tell if they knew he was there, but he moved in a wide circle around them until he was behind them. Then he waited for the ideal moment to pounce.

  They stopped, and looked in the direction of the cabin. They
weren’t tracking him; they were heading away from him.

  He moved forward, trying to get closer, but then they heard him. The bear turned and began to run at him. This did not look good, the bear would easily overpower him; his only option was to run. But just as the bear reared up ready to swipe him with his large paws, the small lion changed into a woman.

  “Frasier, stop,” she said.

  He knew that name—was this the person they were supposed to find? Darius had told Misty to find someone called Frasier: was it possible this bear was the person she had been sent to speak to?

  The bear stopped, lowering himself to the ground, but still showing his teeth, threatening Kieran.

  “You’re not Serrif, and I don’t think you’re one of his men, or at least I hope you’re not, because otherwise my friend here will kill you. You’re the one whose scent is mingled with Misty’s.”

  How did she know about Misty? He looked at the bear and he looked at the woman, and knew that the only way he would find out what was going on was if he changed back to a man.

  He shifted quickly, and stood with his fists ready to fight, not that he could take the bear on. And then he asked, “How do you know Misty?”

  “I met her over the border.” The woman came closer. “Who are you?”

  The bear sniffed the air and then looked back at the woman, who nodded, then he shifted into his human form, and said, “We have been tracking her since she crossed the border, we missed her by a day. Your scent has been mingling with hers all that time.”

  “That’s because I’ve been with her all that time,” Kieran said.

  “Then you might be able to tell us where she is now?” the woman asked. “Because your scent joined with another’s. If you led her into a trap, we will kill you.”

  “Serrif. The other scent belongs to him. You know him?” Kieran asked.

  Her head shot up at that name. “Do you?”

  “Not until about an hour ago.”

  “Does he have Misty?” she asked her voice showing her concern.

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll kill him,” she said.

  “Are you the woman who came over here with Kane? Are you Amara?” Kieran asked.

  “Yes, did Misty tell you about me?”

  “Yes, we were heading to your pride lands, and then this lion showed up, knew all about you, said that he had been on the run because Kane had taken over our father’s pride.”

  “Well, he’s right about that. He should be in prison, but he escaped a week or so ago.”

  “He wants me to kill Kane,” Kieran said simply.

  She stood looking at him, not saying a word.

  “Let me guess, the coward took Misty prisoner?” Frasier said.

  “Yes.”

  “We have to rescue her,” Amara said, turning to head towards the cabin.

  “Wait, Amara, I promised Kane I would keep you safe. That’s the only reason he let you come.”

  “He didn’t know we would meet Serrif, did he? Listen, Frasier, I want this ended once and for all.”

  “I know you do, but getting us all killed isn’t going to make that happen, is it?”

  “Then what do you suggest?” She pointed at Kieran. “Let him kill Kane and bring him his head so he can trade it for Misty?”

  “No.” Frasier turned to Kieran. “How many of them are there?”

  “Three including Serrif, at least as far as I know.”

  “And there are three of us. So if we can lure them out, we will beat them.”

  “Then what do you suggest?”

  “We make enough noise that they will come and investigate,” Frasier suggested.

  “OK. But you’ll have to go away from the cabin,” Amara said.

  “We will, and you keep watch. If the cabin empties, you go in and get Misty.” Frasier went to her and said with concern, “I’m trusting you not to do anything stupid.”

  “I promise you.”

  And with that Kieran and Frasier went off through the rain-soaked trees, while Amara hid in the trees, to keep watch.

  Chapter Twenty-Three – Misty

  “Misty.” The voice was familiar, and she turned to see Amara standing fifty feet away from her, exactly where the lion had been. Her horse stood and stared, not knowing if it was a trap. But how could it be? She trusted Amara.

  Going back towards her, Misty got within ten feet before she shifted back into her human form. “Amara, what are you doing here?”

  “We came for you.” Amara approached her, and threw her arms around Misty’s neck, but after a brief embrace, she pulled back. “Have you seen Serrif, is he in the cabin?”

  “I don’t know.” Misty shook her head, and looked around. “I managed to escape the cabin, but I didn’t hang around to see if there was anyone still at home.”

  “Then let’s go look,” Amara said, turning towards the cabin. “I saw the other two shifters leave, but not Serrif.”

  “Wait, I can’t go with you, I have to go check on something first. I’m afraid my mate, Kieran, is in trouble.”

  “He’s fine, he and Frasier are just finishing off the two other guys. But we thought Serrif would come out too, seems he’s too much of a coward.”

  “Wait,” Misty said again. “What are you doing here? And you’re with Frasier, Darius told me to find him.”

  Her face grew troubled. “We got a message that you had crossed over into the Prime, we came as quickly as we could. We hoped to find Darius had crossed over too; last we heard he had been rumbled.”

  “What? I can’t believe it; he was so careful. But I know they were onto him. When I left the mansion I was kidnapped, by the man Kieran worked for. They tried to get me to talk, but I swear I didn’t.”

  Amara put her hand on Misty’s arm. “It’s OK, it was only a matter of time. Once Kane left and took back the Pride, word was bound to spread. Darius hung on as long as possible, he has been siphoning off all the money he could, according to Frasier. And I expect he sold off the rest of his assets, which would have raised a flag to anyone looking too closely.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not. When Kane found out he was a shifter and we came across into the Prime, I could see how hard it was for Darius to keep it together. He belongs here, he’s done more than anyone ever asked of him.”

  “I think that’s how come I found out about him, it was on the night he told me he was ending my contract early, I saw a glimpse of his other side.” She looked at Amara, troubled by what Serrif had said. “Serrif wants to kill Darius too.”

  “I aim to make sure he never hurts anyone I care about again. We should go.”

  “Kieran isn’t used to fighting as a lion, are you sure he is safe?” Misty asked, looking in the direction of the sound of fighting.

  “Positive. He’s with Frasier and not many shifters would get past that bear.”

  “Then let’s go and find Serrif and put an end to this. You know how I dreamed of coming back to the Prime, and this guy is seriously messing with that. I want us to be happy, I want Kieran to know what it’s like to have a family.” Misty hugged Amara. “It’s good to see you, and it feels right that we should finish this together.”

  Amara hugged Misty back, and then pulled away from her, saying, “Let’s do it for our mates and let’s do it for our families.”

  They headed back towards the cabin, both of them keeping a lookout for anything that looked remotely like a trap. But it all seemed quiet in the forest, only the occasional roar of the bear mingled with sounds of lions fighting filled the forest.

  “There doesn’t appear to be any sign of Serrif, do you think he’s run away?” Misty asked. They had stopped about a hundred feet from the cabin, and were still hidden in the line of trees. To go any further would make them exposed to whoever might be watching from the cabin.

  “He’s a coward. I wouldn’t put it past him to run, but we have to check the cabin first.” Amara moved to the left, circling around to get a view of
the cabin from a different angle.

  “Anything?”

  “No, I can’t see any movement at all.” She took a step forward, out from the trees that were shielding them, and then another. Misty joined her, walking with her towards the closed door of the cabin.

  They hesitated when they reached the porch, but they had come this far, they had to go on. Misty, summoning all her courage, was the first to step onto the wooden porch. It creaked under her weight, sounding loud in the quiet night. It was two steps to the door and she took them quickly, standing to one side while Amara came and joined her,

  Motioning with her hands, she explained to Amara that she was going to open the door. They both stood back out of the way so that if anything came out of the door, whether man or lion, they would not be in its path. Taking a deep breath, stealing herself for whatever might happen next, she closed her hand around the doorknob. Turning it slowly, so that it made no sound, she pushed the door open.

  She could hardly breathe as she listened for any sounds from the cabin, but there were none. Ducking her head around the door frame, she looked inside, but there was no one there, and so she stepped forward, walking inside. Amara followed, the two of them going room to room, looking for Serrif. He wasn’t there.

  “So what we do now?” Misty asked.

  “We go outside and see if we can find his tracks. With the rain, the mud has become wet and there is a good chance we will be able to pick up his tracks and follow him. I know we could just let him go, we could just walk away, but he’ll always be out there.”

  “I agree; I can’t believe he has known where Kieran was for so long. It feels as if he’s making us all dance like puppets and I don’t want that, not for us or our children.”

  Amara touched her hand, briefly squeezing it and smiling at her in agreement, and then they left the cabin, closing the door behind them. Splitting up to cover more ground, they carefully walked around the outside of the cabin.

  “There are some tracks, leading that way,” Misty said, pointing in the opposite direction to where the bear fight had been.