Page 32 of Shift of Destiny
13
One look in the mirror of the well-lit locker room told Moira she had unintentionally insulted train wrecks by comparing herself to them. Her right cheek was swollen, and her eye was turning a lovely shade of dark blue. Dried blood from her swollen, tender nose stained her chin and her T-shirt. Her stomach sported a fist-sized bruise from where Richie had slugged her. She stopped counting the various scratches, scrapes, and bruises. Her hair and clothes looked like she’d rolled down a mountain. Which, to be fair, she had, but that was beside the point.
She took off her hoodie, then made use of half of Chance’s pack of towelettes, and asked her escort, a confident African American woman named Chantal, to help her brush the worst of the dirt off her back. Moira had a disconcerting moment when she looked at Chantal in the mirror and saw the unmistakable features of a black leopard. A quick glance at the real woman proved she hadn’t shifted, so it was just Moira’s magic, uncovering the hidden. She really needed to get a handle on that.
“You sure have that hot redhead shifter dancing a jig,” commented Chantal. “If I were you, I’d reel him in fast.”
Moira laughed to cover her embarrassment. “He’s sinfully handsome, isn’t he?” She carefully closed the pack of towelettes and slid it into the pocket of her hoodie. “Could I ask you a question? I’m new to all this, er, magical world stuff, and I’m still trying to understand everything.”
Chantal shrugged. “Sure.”
“Pruhon’s wolves expected to get a lot of money by selling me at auction because I have magic and ‘shifter-mate potential.’ What is it? And is it only for wolves?”
“It’s any shifter, usually. Some humans can successfully mate with a shifter, as in, make a soul connection and conceive cubs or pups or whatever. Good for avoiding inbreeding.” She cocked her hip and rested her fist on it. “Some lazy-ass shifter outfits buy potentials like you and sex-mate them, rather than bother with all the courtship and consent stuff.” She made a face. “Sex-mating is just what you think it is, except the mental bond never forms. My mama was sex-mated by a no-good leopard when she was a human and got accidentally pregnant. That didn’t fit his plans, so he sold her to an auction, who sold her to a corrupt pride that planned to make her into a baby factory. Luckily, she escaped before he could force the shift change on her. Three months later, out I popped.”
“Your mother sounds amazing. I’ve been running from a crazy man for three years. I can’t imagine doing it pregnant. Or raising a child alone.”
Chantal smiled. “My mom is alpha, through and through, but it would have sucked donkey balls if she hadn’t met her true mate in an all-night truck stop. He may be a big grumpy bear, but he’s the daddy of my heart.”
Moira couldn’t help but smile at Chantal’s obvious affection. “How did the wolves know I have the potential?”
“Scent, usually. Did any of them lick your skin?” When Moira nodded, Chantal continued. “That’s how. If I was attracted to women, your skin would taste sweet and spicy, make me want to eat you up.”
Moira blushed when she remembered what she and Chance had done in the old bedroom at Turn of the Cards. Had that only been last night? She’d lost all track of time. Lack of sleep wasn’t helping, either.
“So, this true mate thing. How does it work with shifters and humans?” She shrugged apologetically. “Don’t answer if it’s too personal.”
Chantal chuckled. “This is a small town. Everybody’s always up in everyone else’s business. Those of us with enhanced senses knowexactlywho’s been doing what with who.” Chantal leaned against the counter. “My mama said it felt like sexual attraction at first, but it was deeper, like she wanted to hitch her wagon to his star and go wherever he did. She’d been so afraid, and he made her feel safe, even though they had both vengeful felines and coyotes hot on their tails. She’d been around plenty of shifters, and none of them ever made her hormones go off like the jackpot bells of a slot machine. They came here, the town granted sanctuary, and they got human-married a week later.”
Chantal’s radio beeped, startling them both. She tapped a button on the mic she wore on her uniform. “Chantal. What do you need?”
Moira heard tinny noise coming from Chantal’s earpiece, but couldn’t make it out.
“On my way.”
Chantal stood up and smiled. “Come on, girlfriend. Your redheaded shifter is making people nervous because he thinks you’re hurt. Let’s go show him you’re finer than fine.”
* * *
Moira’s eyes found Chance the moment she entered the gym, right where he’d been. He was still the handsomest man she’d ever seen. And if she hadn’t already fallen in love with him, his look of relief and slow smile as she crossed to him would have done the trick.
Chantal chuckled and leaned in confidentially. “If that man hasn’t already chosen you as his mate, I’ll go vegetarian for a week.”
Moira’s heart flushed with joy, but her brain knew they had some issues to deal with first. Starting with Lawrence Witzer. And her magic. And the fact that she was apparently a magnet to lazy-ass shifters who bought fertile females on shady Internet auction sites. Chantal peeled off to go handle an incident with some of the captives.
As soon as she got close enough, Moira took hold of Chance’s outstretched hand. “We need to talk.” She laughed when she realized they’d spoken simultaneously.
Chance snagged Shiloh as he walked by. “We need some privacy. Any place we can go?”
Shiloh smirked. “Should it have a sturdy horizontal surface?” He laughed at Chance’s low growl. “The library has a room.” He pointed to the gym’s double doors. “Go right, past the intersection. First door to your left, then through the blue door marked ‘Shhhh.’” He waggled his eyebrows. “You can play naughty librarian.”
Chance growled again, but Moira just laughed. Shiloh was clearly incorrigible.
They found the room without trouble. It had six separate study desks with laptop computers and headphones. Chance rolled out chairs for both of them, but sat close enough that their knees wove together.
She let herself marvel at his hazel-but-sometimes-amber eyes while she gathered her thoughts and her courage.
“I let Witzer ruin my life for three years because I thought my only talent was running. Then I broke down in Kotoyeesinay and met you, and you showed me my magic, and yours, and ours together, and now I don’t want to run any more. I want to stand and fight. I want my life back because I have plans for it.” She took his big, work-roughened hands in both of hers. “Plans that include you, if you’ll have me. I love you, Chance McKennie.”
