Page 60 of Shadows Lost
“I won’t presume to know your intentions here so either come out and explain or move along. Either way, do not waste my time being a voyeur.” I flicked sand from my tattooed forearms. It was nice to see my brands again, instead of the heavy black scales.
I arched a brow at the snarling leopard that leapt from the grasses onto the sandy beach. Yellow-green eyes fiercely clashing with my own.
I snorted at the display. “How terribly rude of me. I’m afraid I don’t speak cat, shifter.” I waved my hand flippantly. “Your other two companions should just join you. I know they are there.”
The leopard hissed at me, whiskers drawing back to the side of its fur lined face, but must have heeded my words because I watched two more of the same stalk from the reeds. Both flanked their leader, watching me with their powerful tails flicking back and forth lazily.
I sighed, wiping more sand from my naked body. “I told you already, I don’t speak cat. Shift or get lost.” I addressed their leader with the violet aura.
A brief flash was the only warning I had before the leopard transformed into a beautiful female fae with long flowing blonde hair that grazed the sand as it swayed in the gentle sea breeze. She wore a green body suit like a second skin, outlining every curvature of her lean body and the skin that was exposed was darker than the Night Court’s midnights.
“You dare!” She growled low at me.
I snorted. “Don’t flatter yourself, shifter. I dare with anyone…that right isn’t just reserved for you.”
She hissed and her gaze narrowed with distaste. “You kind doesn’t belong here.”
I choked on a laugh and mocked her, trailing my hand sensuously down my nude form. “You mean to tell me this isn’t the nude beach Andromeda?”
The shifter’s eyes followed my hand and froze at my sandy tits once she realized what she was doing.
I gave her a wide knowing smile.
“No. It is not.” She snarled, her yellow-green eyes striking in their glare against her dark skin.
I brushed more sand off my chest where her gaze had lingered. “Bet you wish it was now, don’t you shifter.” I smiled sweetly.
I was met with another snarl. “What I wish is for you to tell me who the goddess fuck you are, what your purpose is here, and…what you're protecting behind you.” She nodded towards Riella’s still form.
I flicked more sand. Goddess it was everywhere. “I’m not your Faerie godmother, shifter. I don’t fucking grant wishes.” Her attention angrily shifted back to me and away from my ward. Time enough for me to shift subtly, casting a new shadow over the unconscious faeling.
“Goddess' tits!” A new voice called out excitedly. “It’s you! You're her! Sweet Sheol, I don’t believe my fucking shifter eyes!”
Chapter 30
Iraisedabrowatthe second leopard to shift into their fae form. A transition so flawless that I hadn't detected it. Instinctively, I knew this newcomer was the one with the rainbow aura and she was…dangerous.
Physically, she was very different from her leader. Shorter and more athletically built. Her skin reminded me of a rich chocolate, rather than a black night of her companion, and it was exotically accented by a flowing white dress. Her dark hair was shaved closely to her scalp and delicate gold rings pierced her brows, nose, lips, and ears.
Even more gold jewelry sparkled when she waved her hands excitedly, quickly approaching me with soulful brown eyes riddled with enthusiasm. “I can’t believe it!” She voiced again.
I arched my brow, calculating her movement. The weak spots in her gait, the subtle way her right shoulder tilted, and how she left her delicate neck exposed.
“Do I know you?”
Her leader, seeing a fellow hunter, snapped her arm out to stop her companion. “Stay where you are.” She hissed to the enthusiastic fae.
“Oh my goddess, yes I see it fully now! Just wow!” She exclaimed again, pushing her leader’s arm off her.
“Penina.” Their leader growled low.
“Oh shove off, Eshe. You have no clue who that is, do you?” The young shifter's eyes grew even wider and she turned towards me. “You’re exactly how he described you! You wielded those shadows. It has to be you!”
“Penina, when will you listen!” A bright flash revealed the third leopard transforming into a handsome lean fae with bright blue eyes and tidy blonde hair tied back away from his face. His high cheekbones were a characteristic of a descendant of an ancient fae, blushing subtly as he met my assessing gaze.
Their leaderEshescowledat both of them. “Be silent both of you or I will make sure the king gets a full report of your continued insubordination. I will deal with this washed up trash.”
The one named Penina snorted and rolled her eyes before pointing at me. “If you had any idea who she was, you’d be giving her far more respect than you are now. How dense can you be?”
