Page 47 of Cursed

“We won’t let him get you.” Arden wraps his giant arms around me.

And although it feels wonderful and safe, I have a terrible feeling that we won’t be a match for all the powerful supes working against us.

15

FAERIE CIRCLES

SHAYLA

After a day of attempting a true shift and seeing what else I might be able to do, which wasn’t much more than what I could do before, I am exhausted.

I’m some weird shape-shifter that no one has ever seen before.

But maybe the assumptions about shape-shifters aren’t true. A common belief was that shape-shifters were extremely rare. Only three of them existed, according to the supernatural census. However, we knew of one hidden right at the top of the Supernatural Council.

How many more are there—hidden among us?

What is the true extent of their powers?

As I rest beside Arden on our cottage bed, I wonder why supes consider shape-shifters dangerous. I remember the debate from the first day at the academy. Kat worried about how many there actually were. She believes they are dangerous. They have always been a boogeyman of sorts to the supes. My mother used to taunt me, claiming she could shape-shift and was stalking me in various forms.

Little did she know, my other parent might have been doing just that.

Did my father watch me all this time? Waiting for me to show signs of power?

“Hey?” Arden hugs me to his chest as he spoons me. “You okay?”

My body is a stiff board of tension. I breathe it out and relax in Arden’s arms. “Just thinking about what it means to be a shape-shifter and to be considered dangerous among the most dangerous creatures in the realms.” I look over my shoulder and stare into his green eyes. “Do you regret, even just a bit, that you are bound to a boogeyman?” I correct myself. “Boogeyperson?”

Arden chuckles lightly. “I’ll never regret you. Because, just like Rourke said, you’re not your power. You are the same perfect person we all fell in love with.” He kisses my temple. “Youarea beautiful soul and my dyad.”

“Stop it. You are going to make my eyes leak.”

Landis bounces into the cottage like a kid in a candy store. He jumps, landing on top of the bed next to me, and gives me a kiss. It starts sweet and innocent but quickly evolves into him sucking and nipping at my lips. He finally pulls back and gives me the biggest smile.

“What’s gotten into you?” I ask with a giggle.

“Well, you have gotten into me, in my heart…andin my ass a couple of times. When are we doing that again?” He waggles his eyebrows. And I blush, remembering how I’ve used my shadowtendrils for pegging him in our shadowscape love sessions.

Arden chokes, then asks, with both intrigue and shock in his tone, “Uh, what?”

“I’ll explain how pegging works later, yeti cock.” Landis waves him off. “Shayla, there’s a surprise for you.”

“You know I don’t do well with surprises.” I scoot back into Arden’s arms. “What is it?”

“Would I steer you wrong?” he pouts.

I grab hold of his lower lip with my finger and thumb. “This is an unfair tactic.” I sigh heavily, giving in to whatever Landis and the guys have planned, and release him. “I’m the only one allowed to use a pout from here on out.”

“I’ll write the rule down in our official Shayla’s Coven Charter.”

I roll my eyes at his sass and look down at my baggy sweatshirt. “Clothes or no clothes to this surprise event?”

Landis groans happily, then peppers kisses all over my face. “I love you beyond words for just that question alone. I don’t believe you can get more perfect.” He winks and says, “Clothes… unfortunately. But we’ll see how the evening unfolds.”

Being the thoughtful guy he is, Arden has packed me a bag full of my clothes. Since I already showered in the bathing room Arden created for us, using Rourke’s fire-warmed water, I only have to slip on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeve shirt.

As if claiming me, Arden drapes his cardigan over my shoulders. It is huge but cozy and looks cuter on me than the billowing worn sweatshirt.

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