Page 70 of Panther in the Shadows
When we survive—because we will survive—everything changes. The careful distance I've maintained from this island's people for five years will shatter. They'll know I care. Know I have something precious worth protecting. Know I'm vulnerable.
The thought should terrify me.
Instead, it feels like relief.
Five years of keeping everyone at arm's length have left me hollow. I built an empire, joined the brotherhood, created a life here—but never let anyone close enough to matter. Empty in ways I didn't recognize until Moira filled the spaces with salt water and stubborn determination. Until she looked at me like I was worth saving instead of something to fear.
The battle will come whether I'm ready or not. Catalina waits in the deep water, surrounded by stolen spirits and centuries ofocean magic. Old Tom suffers in her grip. Elspeth's soul remains trapped and weaponized.
But Moira and I have something Catalina doesn't—each other. The brotherhood backing us. An island full of people worth protecting and the determination to do it right.
Sleep pulls me under slowly, reluctantly. Part of me wants to stay awake, memorize every detail of this moment before the fight pulls us back into danger. But Moira needs rest, and so do I.
My eyes finally close. Whatever comes in the deep water, we face it as one.
In a few hours, we fight. Right now, I hold what matters most and let that be enough.
The darkness comes and I let it take me.
CHAPTER 17
MOIRA
Consciousness returns slowly, wrapped in warmth and the steady rhythm of Rafe's breathing. His arm drapes across my waist, his chest pressed against my back. The weight of him is solid. Comforting.
For a moment, I let myself simply exist in this space. The heat of his body. The synchronized rise and fall of our breathing. The calm before everything changes.
Then reality crashes back.
The fight. Catalina. Old Tom suffering somewhere. Elspeth's soul trapped and weaponized.
All of it waiting for us in the cold waters of Stormhaven Sound.
I ease out of Rafe's embrace carefully, trying not to wake him. He needs every moment of rest before what's coming. But the instant my warmth leaves his side, his eyes snap open. Gold flickers as his panther surfaces, checking for threats.
"What time is it?"
"Just past ten." I pull on my clothes, movements quick and efficient. "We need to move."
He's already out of bed, reaching for his own clothing. No complaints. No attempts to convince me to stay here where it'ssafe. He understands that safety stopped being an option the moment Catalina bound Elspeth's spirit.
The warehouse above is quiet when we emerge from his quarters. Workers gone. Battle preparations complete. Moonlight slants through high windows, catching on stacked crates that smell of salt water and foreign spices.
Declan waits near the main doors, already in tactical gear. Storm-grey eyes assess us both with the careful attention of an alpha preparing for war. Behind him, Grayson's massive frame blocks most of the doorway. The bear shifter's expression is grim but determined.
"The others are already positioning themselves." Command and concern blend in Declan's tone. "Kian and Jax took boats out an hour ago. They're holding positions on the north and south perimeters. Finn is circling overhead in dragon form, watching for any early activity."
"And the ritual site?" I ask.
"Exactly where you marked it." Grayson's rumble is steady. Reassuring. "The water there already feels corrupted. Like something's waiting beneath the surface."
Something is. Catalina. The bound spirits she's raised. Old Tom trapped somewhere in her grip. And whatever dark magic she's been building toward with this death ritual.
Catalina needs sea witch blood to complete her transformation. Gran's grimoire made that clear. And only a sea witch can stop her. Only I can free the spirits she's bound and send her back to the depths where she belongs.
But we're going to end this tonight.
The boat Rafe secured for tonight sits low in the water, tied to one of the warehouse's private docks. Small enough to maneuver quickly. Large enough to hold me and the supplies I'll need for the magic. The hull is painted dark grey, nearly invisible against night water.
