Page 77 of Shift of Morals
“Tell Donovan whatever pretty lies you like, Gianna, but know accidents happen all the time. And someone with your…delicate physique won’t be as prone to survive as my other shifters.”
I inhaled her scent, the deep, musky perfume that always tickled my nose, and the touch of rot at her core. Gianna might be a predator, but she’d never be dangerous to me. I ate creatures like her for a living. “Roast swan is my favorite,” I whispered.
She swallowed hard, fear flaring in her eyes. The smell of acrid terror washed around us. I smiled and stepped away. “Begone and know if the gods refuse this binding, you will be out of my Keep immediately and banned from my territory.” I straightened my shirt and allowed my claws to recede. “If there’s any shopping you need done while you’re here, I suggest you get it done immediately.”
Gianna straightened, her lips pressed tight together. “You dare threaten me?” she hissed, but her bravado was gone, the scent of her fear lingering in the air.
I smiled, allowing a touch of power into my eyes. “I hear Donovan is at the popular cafe on Main Street. Don’t be late, little bird.”
Her eyes widened a fraction. I’d known the other Lord was on my territory the moment he’d stepped onto the land. Loyal people and clever spies are only one of the many tricks keeping me in power.
Gianna spun and hurried away, her spine rigid. I waited until she was out of sight before sending Simone a coded message.
Lucas has gone loup. Bring him back, dead or alive.
Simone’s thumbs up response made me grin. The Omega was always up for a little bit of hunting.
I was about to head to the kitchens when I diverted back to the hidden library to check for any other messages, but there was nothing there. However, just as I was about to leave, the smell of oak and ash rose in the air, announcing a presence I couldn’t see.
When the voice came, it was old, ancient. “What will you give, Lord?”
I was no longer afraid of the outcome. “Anything but her.”
Wind ruffled my hair, the scent not of this world.
And what about you, the voice whispered in my mind.
“I will pay whatever you demand.”
We’ll see…
The wind stopped, the presence gone in an instant, leaving me disturbed but unshaken. I would pay the price, whatever the god demanded. My territory wouldn’t survive someone as cruel as Gianna as its Lady. I might survive her, but I played a dangerous game.
I pulled out my phone again and texted Rowan.
Up for a bit of hunting?
In response, I got a picture of the Lord surrounded by a ton of plants and a pretty red-haired woman.
I laughed.Fair enough. See you soon.
Be careful.An inane warning from someone as powerful as Rowan but laced with meaning. Not many things could damage a Shifter Lord, but strange things stirred in Joy Springs.
Once I locked up the library, I passed by Seymour who lunged to get a hold of my sleeve. “Not today, Seymour. I have things to do. I’ll be back later to feed you some of those worms your mistress sent.”
The flytrap growled and shook my sleeve. I extricated him gently and set him back on the desk, but Seymour was having none of it. He lunged again, catching my belt loop this time.
I again extricated him, but this time I held him at eye level. “Want to go hunting?”
Seymour quivered with anticipation.
I studied him for a moment. “Fuck it,” I muttered. “You’ll have to stay in the bag I wear. Cool?”
Seymour quivered again. “Alright. Let’s go.”
Once I was out of the Keep, I shifted, the bag I wore around my neck holding Seymour and a change of clothes if I needed it. The change immediately centered me. It had been too long since I’d changed forms, my inner beast stretching in my mind. I spent a few minutes sniffing around the property, checking the wards and potential weak points before padding down the driveway.
A few other shifters spotted me and waved, used to seeing me out and about. I ignored them and put my nose to the ground again, searching for the scent of rogue magic.
