Page 31 of Mortal Curse (Shadow Shifter)

“She doesn’t understand who or what she is. I’m only asking that she have an open mind. You are the only shadow she knows. I’m simply asking her to broaden her horizons. Perhaps she would consider more than one mate.”

Dannika launched at Landon. He dissolved, then wrapped his arm around her throat, holding her against him.

“Now that wasn’t very nice,” he said.

She stomped on his foot with the heel of her boot. He flinched, but his smile widened. Raine knew Landon had no intention of hurting Dannika. Landon’s eyes roamed over her body with interest. The threat was to Raine. To his future.

His shadow emerged snarling before it dissolved and then ripped Landon from Dannika’s back. His claws punctured the man’s neck before Steele and Ryder pulled him away.

Landon grabbed his throat, growling his displeasure, but backed away from Raine.

Maddock smiled with approval.

Ryder stepped between Landon and Raine. “Stop this. No wonder she will not consider a mate when you act like heathens. She is a shadow, but she was raised as a human.” He turned to Maddock. “Your animosity towards her has made her defensive. This has to stop.”

Dannika moved to the corner of the room. Exhaustion and hunger were a debilitating mix. Her sad eyes met Raine’s. “I won’t pick a mate because you tell me to. I won’t conform to your ideals of a shadow shifter. You may as well kill me.”

Raine had forgotten what fear felt like, the gut-wrenching sickness that invaded your entire body, making you feel hopeless and insignificant. While Maddock smiled, the other men in the room held the same pain as Raine. They were given a gift, and they’d destroyed it.

“Dannika, please,” Ryder said. “Allow us to come up with some alternatives. This is new to us and we are handling it badly. You will stay with Raine until alternative arrangements are made and you establish your rights within your clan.”

Maddock’s eyes flared. “That’s the thing. She is a fledgling and has no rights. Every shadow must prove themselves to their clan. They acclimatize to our rules or they die. She will do the same.”

CHAPTER19

“No one will control me, especially you,” Dannika hissed at Maddock.

Raine put his arms around her, but she only glared.

Maddock pointed at Dannika. “Look at her. She can’t follow simple instructions. How is she supposed to learn our ways, let alone fight a reaper?”

Ryder held up his hands. “Let’s try to be open-minded. Find some way to appease the clan members as well as give Dannika a choice. A way for her to get to know us and our ways.”

Maddock glanced at Raine’s arm around Dannika. His lip curled.

She had noticed his smile when Raine had fought Landon. He was not impressed with Raine’s protective nature when it came to her, but he had enjoyed the fight. His slow smile made her shiver.

Maddock nodded. “In the interest of clan cohesiveness, I propose a trial by combat. All eligible males will fight one another so she can observe their skills. They will fight for the right to mate Dannika.”

Dannika’s shadow emerged with glowing eyes. “Go to hell. I won’t choose a man because he wins the fight.”

Raine signed,Let me take care of this. Calm down. Don’t give him any more ammunition against you.

The intimacy between them as he used sign language calmed her inner beast. Her human form solidified as she took a deep breath.

“I want it very clear that no man will dictate my future.”

Ryder turned to Maddock. “The bear clan wishes representation in the trial.”

“Dannika is cougar and wolf,” Maddock said.

“If you deny the bear clan representation, then we will leave and we will never return. There are no set rules for a female shadow. I am willing to put parameters in place, hoping Dannika is the first of many, but we have no way to know. It could be centuries before we have another female. All eligible males should have an opportunity to court her.”

Steele nodded. “I agree with Ryder. We need to set a precedent for Dannika and any future females should they emerge. All eligible males, of any shadow clan, should have the right to court.”

Dannika shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this. Right to court? Did you guys miss the last hundred years of human evolution? Specifically, the part about women’s rights.”

Maddock’s eyes narrowed on her. “I agree. We should set a precedent. All clans will have representation in the trials. Dannika will sit by my side and decide her future.”

---