Page 28 of Mortal Magic (Shadow Shifter)

Ferguson coalesced within the living room, startling the women.

“Jesus Christ Ferguson. I swear you’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days,” Dannika said.

“We felt the rumble in the caves. The demons opened another portal on the south side of the mountain,” Ferguson said.

Dannika stood with flaming eyes. “Our mountain?”

“Yes. The portal didn’t last long, so the demons weren’t preparing the site. I’m not sure why they picked that location, but they had help to find it.”

Dannika frowned. “Who would help the demons?”

Ferguson’s face was like stone. “Breck was at the site with thirty members of the reaper clan.”

Dannika’s lips curled over her fangs. “Breck betrayed me?”

CHAPTER17

Riley moved closer to Colton when black mist rolled off Dannika’s shoulders.

Ferguson looked down at his fuming queen. “I’m sorry Dannika. I should’ve realized the extent of Breck’s betrayal. He was always loyal to Julius. I had no idea he had so many supporters.”

The shadows surrounding Dannika receded. “This isn’t on you. It was my decision to make the reapers go cold turkey. They are like addicts and many don’t want to rehabilitate. It was naïve of us to think we could save them all.”

Colton pulled Riley to his side, wrapping his arm around her. “We need Anaisa’s help. We need to find out what the demons are doing and why they would align with the reapers.”

Raine shook his head. “Dannika can’t leave the caves.”

Riley took a hard look at Dannika. She hadn’t noticed the pale quality of her skin until Raine’s declaration. She had assumed he wanted to protect his wife but now she feared it was something else. “Dannika, are you okay?”

“Yes, but I’m taking some herbs Anaisa prescribed, and it affects me at times,” Dannika said.

Colton focused on Dannika. “Riley and I will go. Call Anaisa and tell her to expect us. Maybe she can help us with Riley’s heritage.”

Raine grabbed his cell phone from the desk as Colton’s shadow enveloped Riley.

The feeling of displacement, and broken bones was replaced by the rush of flowing through the shadow pathway like a runaway river. Time stopped as the freedom of traversing the dark streams infused Riley’s soul. They coalesced at the tree line outside the village. The clearing was empty as dawn broke over the horizon, sending filaments of orange, pink and gray streaking along the skyline.

Her gaze was drawn to the eclectic array of small two-story buildings. All were painted in a multitude of bright colors. From afar it was like looking at a village of toucans. Deep blues accented with orange and yellow. Many of the homes had woodcarvings mounted on their walls. And if the conjoined nature of the village didn’t inspire a sense of community, the fire pit in its center with cylindrical wood stools, did.

She turned to Colton. “Don’t force me to travel with you until I have said goodbye. Dannika and Raine were so courteous to us, and you raced off without showing them a simple courtesy,” she snapped.

Colton arched his eyebrows. “After everything that has happened to you, this is what irritates you?”

“There is no need to be disrespectful. If that is too much to ask, then I’m sure I can meet with Anaisa alone,” Riley said.

“You will not be traveling anywhere alone,” Colton said, flashing his fangs.

Riley stepped towards him. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking you intimidate me.”

Colton’s eyes searched hers. “God, you’re sexy when you’re mad.”

Riley smacked his stomach, then started walking towards the village. “You’re hopeless.”

“Hopelessly taken with you,” he whispered as he caught up to her.

“I won’t dignify that with a response. Your shit meter is at full capacity.”

Colton laughed, startling both of them. “I knew I shouldn’t have introduced you to Dannika. She’s a bad influence.”

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