Page 1 of Mortal Mate (Shadow Shifter)

CHAPTER1

The dark pathway was not on the dimensional map. Dannika wrapped her arms around Raine’s neck, pressing against his body as her face turned to the side, inhaling his scent before the wrenching of every bone in her body. Molecules flew in every direction, taking her skin with it. She expected what was coming, and Raine had explained it would get easier, but every time they traveled the shadow streams, he took a faster route, conditioning her to the pain.

Dannika needed the training, craved it, as Raine shrouded her shadow. She wanted to crawl inside and live within the dark cocoon he provided. Protected. Loved. The torture of her body being ripped apart reminded her that her destiny was much darker.

The cascading sound whirled like an angry waterfall rushing through her head. She tugged from left to right as Raine switched streams. Her body lurched, almost ripped from his grasp, as he took a shallow pathway. The smaller the stream, the faster they raced through, increasing the chance that a body part would arrive at an alternate destination. An experience she worked to avoid.

Raine’s shadow tightened around Dannika, protecting her from the speed, showing her without words he would never let her go. The next wrenching moment flung her to the floor, but Raine was beside her, rubbing her back as she caught her breath.

Dannika allowed Raine to pull her to her feet. “I’m not gonna lie. That sucked.”

Raine smirked. “I apologize. There is no tunnel to the Forge. We are forced to take a particularly small pathway. It makes the stream fast, and painful.”

“I noticed.” She surveyed the circular walls. A single tunnel with orange light illuminating it was the only exit. “The Forge isn’t on the cartographer’s map of the cave system?”

“No. Darren was instructed to leave the Forge’s location off the clan members’ maps. Only seniors and blade bearers have access to the Forge.” Raine pointed to the lit tunnel. “Let’s see what the weapons master has for you.”

The heat as they approached the cave mouth was staggering. Sweat beaded her brow and trickled down her face.

The circular interior was strange and comforting. She had expected racks upon racks of weapons, but only a few archaic swords adorned the rock walls. A large man wearing leather pants and no shirt hammered on a steel dagger. Sparks flew as the hot metal gave way to the thunderous blows.

He looked up, smiling, as they entered.

“Raine, it is good to see you.” He wiped his hand on his leather trousers. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Dannika. I apologize for not making an introduction sooner. I no longer leave the Forge.”

Dannika looked around. “You live here? Like, all the time?”

Raine put his hand on Dannika’s back. “Ezra is protecting us. He is the only weapons master we have. If we lost him before he trains his replacement, it would be catastrophic.”

Dannika shook his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. If you don’t mind me saying so, Ezra is a beautiful name.”

Ezra winked. “It’s been a long time since I flirted with a beautiful woman. Raine will need to bring you here more often.”

Raine put his hand over his chest dramatically. “I will add you to the long list of men attempting to steal her from me.”

Ezra took on a feigned expression of innocence.

“You don’t say.” He grabbed a polishing cloth from a stone table and shone the reaper blade in his hands. “You are special, Dannika. This dagger once belonged to a great warrior of the wolf clan. I have inscribed new runes to signify its life with you.”

She glanced between the two men. “What does that mean?”

Ezra ran his fingers over the swirling script. “These weapons are special, and once a warrior passes, I prepare them to be gifted to the next generation. Once called, I add a new rune to the blade, to signify its owner. I leave the previous runes as a reminder of its past.”

Dannika took the blade from Ezra. Three runes were inscribed on one side of the blade. “This last one is me?”

Ezra nodded. “I have never inscribed a rune such as this. The images come to me as I prepare the blade. I have never seen this symbol, nor do I know what it means. All I can tell you is that it’s your destiny.”

Dannika’s finger traced the three intertwined circles with a sword running through them. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

“It is I who should thank you.” He motioned to the weapon. “The first rune was the symbol for the first wolf clan shadow shifter. The second was his son. That dagger has never called for a new warrior since.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Called?”

“The daggers call to me. When a blade bearer falls, the weapon is returned to me. When a new blade bearer emerges, I can feel which blade they will receive. This dagger has never called to me until today.”

“That’s your gift, as a weapons master,” she said. “To match the weapons with their owners. You’re a specialist.”

The dagger warmed in her hand, an extension of her demon. Her soul.

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