Page 23 of Mortal Magic (Shadow Shifter)

“They seem to be getting along.”

Colton’s gaze moved across the clearing. “For the moment. The reapers are afraid of Ferguson. Hopefully, that doesn’t change.” He tugged her hand. “Come on, Dannika is waiting.” He led her through the groups of men. Many glanced her way, some curious and others wary. The clans may have been separate, but gossip was bilingual.

Raine met them at the mouth of the cave. He shook Colton’s hand immediately. “Dannika is thrilled that you’re here.” He nodded to Riley. “Your transition has created quite a stir.”

Riley glanced back at the sparring men. “That’s not necessarily a good thing.”

“Shadow warriors are still men; they fear what they don’t understand. The former wolf clan leader wanted to euthanize Dannika because she was a woman. A successful transition from a demon bite is extraordinary and scary, but you are safe here, Riley.” He motioned them to follow him.

There was a sense of familiarity with Raine. An ease she didn’t feel with the other clan members she had met. The instinct to trust wasn’t one that came easily to her, even when she was human. Yet, when Raine winked at her, she found herself smiling.

Raine led them through the tunnels, nodding to fellow clan members as he passed. He opened the door to his and Dannika’s private suite, before indicating they take a seat on the leather couch. A coffee table with a single plant sat in front of the matching leather chair. “I’ll grab Dannika. She is just getting dressed.” He wandered into an adjacent room.

Riley’s gaze went to the picture of a white wolf, howling at the moon. “That’s extraordinary.”

“That’s Darren’s work. He’s the cartographer, but he has the soul of a poet, and the heart of an artist. He’s extremely talented,” Colton said, before standing when Dannika entered the room with Raine.

Riley’s heart stuttered as her eyes met Dannika’s. The face that matched the one in her visions was expected, but the tug in her soul had her clutching her chest. It took her a moment to realize that Dannika had mimicked her actions.

Raine glanced between the women. “What is going on?”

Dannika took a deep breath. “Riley is the woman from my visions.”

“You already suspected that. Why do both of you look like you’ve seen a ghost?” Raine asked.

Riley studied Dannika’s face, noticing the similarities in their bone structure and the shape of their eyes, though Dannika’s were a deep blue. “You feel it don’t you?”

Dannika nodded. “I felt something similar when I first met Colton, but this is much stronger.”

Raine pursed his lips. “Like she’s family?”

“Yes. She has to be a descendant of the priestess,” Dannika said, taking a seat on the chair opposite Riley. Raine sat on the arm of the chair with his hand on his wife’s back.

“Riley, can you tell me about your parents?” Dannika asked.

Riley fidgeted with her pendant. “Steele and Colton have already asked about them. My father was in the military and my mother was a nurse. I’m not aware of any ties to a Haitian heritage.”

Dannika smiled. “It’s been a long time since the priestess walked the earth. I’m sure there are lots of ancestors that have no idea they have a Haitian background.”

Riley clasped her hands in her lap. “What about your heritage? How did you find out you are a descendent of the priestess?”

A flicker of pain cost Dannika’s face. “My mother was raised in the Haitian village. She was a direct descendent of the original priestess. She chose a shadow mate for her husband, believing she could outrun the reapers. She was wrong. They were attacked and my father turned reaper, taking over the clan when my mother died. He abandoned me and my twin sister at the hospital, and though the Bokor that betrayed us claims to have killed her, a part of me is still hoping for a miracle.”

Riley leaned forward. “Is there any chance he lied?”

“We can detect lies but Hakim was very good at sprinkling a lie with the truth. He said he attacked a woman named Sasha, and drained her of her blood, killing her. He implied that was my sister, but he told so many lies that I’m hoping that’s one of them.”

“How do you find out the truth?” Riley asked.

“Hakim was very proficient at misdirection. We are investigating every unusual death in the last twenty years. Obviously, that will take some time. Once we find Sasha’s case file, we will investigate her background and confirm she was my sister.” Dannika’s voice warbled before she straightened her chair.

Riley pursed her lips. “The hardest part is not knowing. When my mom was murdered, and the investigation dragged on without any results, I would imagine scenarios in my mind that ended in her death. Trying to find reason in the chaos of her massacre.”

Dannika looked down. “Yes. Even if we confirm that Sasha was my sister, while it will hurt, it will still bring closure. I’d like to know who raised her. If she has an adopted family.”

Riley nibbled on her cheek. “I wish I had some answers for you.”

Danika’s blue eyes met hers. “You misunderstand. You are a miracle, Riley. Once we investigate your heritage and confirm you are a descendent of the priestess, it verifies our theory.”

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