I pulled out the orbs inside, three of them—one black, one blue, and one white.
Snakeman pulled harder and my arm.
I spun on my heel and found him behind me. Right behind me. And I shoved my other hand out, straight into his face.
Liber Somnia fell to the ground, and the orbs smashed into his teeth.
Snakeman’s eyes went wide.
This was it—my only shot.
He released my wrist and took a step back, and another.
The snakes disappeared and the wall crumbled.
I ran across the field toward Deckard. Only when I reached him did I turn.
A white glow grew around Snakeman. He let out a high-pitched squeal, a wail that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
The two wolves, Joey and Roger, raced toward Snakeman as the light grew.
“Run away!” No way should anyone be near him, or they could be trapped, too.
A flash of blinding light overtook the darkness. I shielded my eyes with my arm. And then it softened. The sky was daylight, and we were no longer standing beside the pack house, but instead in the tulip garden with gentle morning light pouring down between the branches above.
A soft palm touched my back.
I turned to find Deckard in human form, fully dressed beside me.
He smiled softly and pulled me in close.
I hugged him, then let go, searching for my father. There he stood staring where the circle of risen earth had been. And his eyes—he looked like himself.
I let go of Deckard and ran to my dad.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
He pulled me in for a hug, smiling. “Yes. I’m okay, but look.”
I turned my head. Roger and Joey were sitting down between the tall orange blooms, fully clothed in human form. The looked around at the sky and blooms with furrowed brows and dazed confusion, but they appeared unharmed.
And where Snakeman had been now stood a woman in a white dress—my mother. When I’d used the white orb to trap Snakeman, she was freed. Now she could walk through dreams again with my father.
My father ran to her and pulled her into his chest, and kissed the top of her head.
“Julia,” he whispered into her hair. “I missed you.”
They both looked at me, and I too joined them, taking my mother’s hand. She felt so real. It was too good to be true. I knew this was just a dream, but we were together.
“Thank you, Valerie,” she said. “I knew it would be you who would save me. And you have.”
“Mom? Is it really you?” I knew it was, but I needed her to tell me anyway.
She nodded.
“What about Snakeman?” Deckard asked.
Mom held out her palm. In it was the white orb. “Bernard was relentless in his search for Liber Somnia. Power twisted him, which is why I had to send him away. Now he’s trapped in the prison he’d made for me.”
“I wish I’d been sooner,” I said. “While you still had a body to return to.”
“I’m free,” she said. “And it’s enough. You can see me anytime in dreams.”
“Every night,” my father said, leaning his forehead on hers. “Forever.”
Tears of joy streamed down his cheeks.
But it wasn’t enough. I could do better.
I searched the ground, beneath the flowers. And there it was—Liber Somnia.
I picked up the tome and squeezed it to my chest. This was what it was made for, why I’d been searching for it all along. Not because someone else wanted it, not for anyone else. But for her.
I closed my eyes and made a wish.
Warm beams of morning light broke through the curtains and heated my face. I opened my eyes slowly and found Deckard beside me, leaning on his elbow.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Good morning.”
I looked up at him, at his mussed hair and scraggly beard. He beamed back at me. I loved this man. I was in love with him.
Deckard put his hand on my hip and pulled me close. He was warm and hard and wonderful. I could get lost in his arms, in his touch. And I wanted to, over and over again.
“You did it,” he said.
“Mm-hmm,” I said. “We did, together.” Then it hit me. I jumped from the bed. “Hold that thought.”
I raced down the hall, downstairs. I grabbed my shoes. I had to return to the graveyard. She was waiting, or at least I hoped that she was. I hoped that it had worked.
And there she was, in the kitchen—my mother.
“Good morning, Valerie,” she said.
My father sat across from her at the table, not tearing his eyes from her for even a second. I couldn’t blame him. She was back from the dead. I did that. With the book.
I hadn’t been sure it would work. After she was restored to the dream world from the white orb, I had hoped I could return her here with the power of Liber Somnia. All she’d needed was a body, and hers still rested in the mausoleum. I was afraid I’d fail, but I hadn’t. It was too good to be true.
“Hi.” Wait...I counted my fingers and pinched my nose. Nope, not a dream.
“I’m in the middle of something,” I said. I looked at the way the two of them were holding hands, at the smiles they both wore. It looked like they were in the middle of something, too. “I just had to be sure.”
Mom nodded. “Want to go for a walk later?”
“I’d love that.” I waved to them, then headed back up the stairs.
I found Deckard in my bed, beautifully shirtless and waiting for me.
I hopped into the bed next to him. “Sorry about that,” I said. “I had to know if everything worked out.”
“That’s okay,” Deckard said.
“Ready to talk about your dream?” I asked.
“Which one?”
“The one with me in it. Pregnant me.” I pushed his shoulder and he laughed.
“Valerie, I love you. I know you’re my mate and the only future I can see is one with you in it.”
“And babies.”
“Hell yeah, babies,” he said. “I want to spend every morning waking up to you. I want to grow old with you by my side, have kids and grandkids. I want all of it, everything, with you.”
I couldn’t help but smile, because that’s exactly how I felt about him.
“What about work? I bet you have to go on all kinds of crazy missions all over the place,” I said. “And me, my place is here, helping my father run the pack.”
“Most of the time, I don’t have to travel if I don’t want to. And if I have to, I’ll spend my nights sharing adventures with you while we sleep.”
Just like my parents used to do. Just like they’d get to do again.
“You have an answer for everything, don’t you?” I smiled and poked his nose.
“Almost.” He surprised me and pulled me to his chest, wrapping his arms around me. I giggled and embraced his closeness. I never wanted it to end. “I have just one question,” he said.
“Oh yeah?”
“Valerie Carlisle, will you be my mate?”
I squealed and kissed him. Then I kissed him again.
He pulled back and gave me a smile that melted me straight to the core.
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes,” I said. “A thousand times yes.”
Epilogue
Valerie
There was never a question as to what the venue would be. There was only one location fit for our wedding—in dreams.
The reflection staring back at me in the mirror was one I hardly recognized. My hair was up in beautiful braids and my makeup was perfect. Pink lipstick, blush, defined lashes. The dress was perfect, too—another benefit of hosting the event in dreams, not having to shop around. It was sleeveless and white, and it fit perfectly over my curves and flowed out at the bottom like I was a princess from the movies.
My mother squeezed my shoulders. “You look so beautiful,” she said.
“Thank you.”
She did, too. I still couldn’t believe that she was here, in my life again. I’d wanted to do the same for the friends that Deckard had lost, but the tome could only do so much. They weren’t trapped in the dream realm, they were gone. But their memory would never be lost.
Deckard found closure in knowing the truth of what had happened to them. And I was able to gather all of his coworkers from around the world for the wedding. It didn’t matter how far they were in the waking world, because here, everything was connected.
The white orb was safely held in Tribunal custody, so we knew Snakeman would never see the light of day again.
Dad knocked on the open door. “Ready?”
I turned to Mom and squeezed her hands one last time before I took a deep breath and locked arms with my father.
“Val, I’m so proud of you,” he whispered. “I’m proud of the strong woman you’ve become, and I feel so lucky to have you as my daughter.”
Tears of joy welled in the corners of my eyes as we stepped through the doors from the packhouse to the tulip garden.
Everyone was outside waiting—Dax’s friends from the Tribunal, my whole pack.
I could feel their eyes on me, but all I could see was him.
Perfect in his tuxedo, and all mine.
Deckard Reid, my mate, my partner, my world. A dream come true.
Also by Keira Blackwood
The Protectors Quick Bites
Midnight Wish - Chase & Harper
I Dream of Grizzly - Deckard & Valerie
The Protectors of Sawtooth Peaks
Running to the Pack - Cole & Hailey, part one
Defending the Pack - Cole & Hailey, part two
Uniting the Pack - Lance & Trixie
The Protectors of Sawtooth Peaks Box Set - Books 1-3
Howl for the Holidays - Harkins & Amy
Revenge - Axel & Penny
The Protectors of Riverwood
Grizzly Bait - Liam & Emma, part one
Grizzly Mate - Liam & Emma, part two
Grizzly Fate - Liam & Emma, part three
The Protectors of Riverwood Box Set - Books 1-3
The Protectors of the Pack
Bodyguard - Reynolds & Alex
Enemies - Witt & Zoe
Heir - Hunter & Grace
The Protectors of the Pack Box Set - Books 1-3
Warrior - Dax & Cora
The Protectors Unlimited
Can’t Prove Shift - Mason & Caitlyn
Suave as Shift - Lincoln & Juliana
In Deep Shift - Zane & Mia
The Vampires of Scarlet Harbor
Pierced - Bennet & Hannah
Hunted - Walter & Violet
Ruled - Tyr & Ashley
The Vampires of Scarlet Harbor Box Set - Book 1-3
Want more Protectors stories? Continue reading for a preview of Can’t Prove Shift!
A Taste of Can’t Prove Shift
Caitlyn Moreno’s no stranger to trouble. It’s part of the job for any cat burglar, let alone a thief who’s literally a cat. Well, ocelot shifter. No lock is beyond her capabilities, no mark beyond her reach. When rumor has it that the priceless Vandervelt broach will be kept for two nights in a hotel safe, guarded by shifter mafia, Lyn is compelled to make it hers. One mistake could cost Lyn her life, or worse, land her drugged, tossed in a crate, and dressed as… a bride?
When Tribunal enforcer Mason Blake returns home to his Alaskan cabin from a stressful assignment, he looks forward to a peaceful, quiet break. Alone. But a surprise late-night delivery leaves the anti-social polar bear shifter in an impossible situation—a gorgeous woman on his doorstep. Shut the door or let her in? Either way, she’s bound to be trouble.
Mason
With a flick of the knob, the stink of propane wafted from the burner. I lit a match and set my water to heat. The stove let out a faint whistle as the gas fed the flames. Heat grew while the last embers of the night’s pyre in the hearth behind me cracked and fizzled their final breaths. Me and my fires, so far from civilization—all was as it should be, save for the woman in my bed.
Cool, tranquil water transformed into a steamy, bubbling boil. I pulled the pot from the heat, and stirred in the cocoa powder with my long, wooden spoon. The aroma was warm and rich, every tendril of steam wafting the sweet scent of chocolate toward my nose. It was routine and comfort.
Then it hit me, a punch to the gut. Rich and creamy cocoa with just a hint of earthy cinnamon—it was just like her scent. Again I pictured her, the mystery woman from the crate, gorgeous and angry. The woman who slept in my bed.
I poured my cup of cocoa and took a sip. It burned as it went down, the flavor filling my head with thoughts of a stranger. Her eyes shone golden brown, like butterscotch.
The sweet taste of chocolate clung to my burnt tongue.
I settled into my favorite chair, finally content. Finally ready to sleep.
Whether or not she meant me harm, I knew I was in trouble. My guard was down. This strange woman, this vulnerable cat, had broken through my barriers in her sleep. There was no turning back.
Get Can’t Prove Shift on Amazon!
About Keira
Keyboard ninja, late-blooming bibliophile, proud geek, animal lover, eternal optimist, visual artist.
Keira Blackwood writes steamy paranormal romance full of suspense, action, and a dash of humor. No cheating. No cliffhangers. Always a happily-ever-after ending.
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Get started now with your free, exclusive Protectors story!
About Eva
Night owl, ghost hunter, forest explorer.
Eva Knight writes paranormal romances with a dash of mystery and a touch of steam. No cliffhangers, and HEA’s guaranteed.
I Dream of Grizzly: A Werebear Shifter and Witch Romance (The Protectors Quick Bites Book 2) Page 10
