Page 32 of Mortal Guardian (Shadow Shifter)

“Possibly, or he is that much stronger and older than the other demons.”

They turned as Leah screamed. Her bones grated and crunched as her face distorted. Fangs cut through her gums as her jawline elongated. Her body erupted in black shadows before her skin turned to a dark, oily consistency. Her eyes blazed red as she met Riley’s stunned gaze. There was no humanity in those malicious eyes.

Ferguson stepped in front of Riley when Leah lunged at her. The black gnarled claws whizzed past Ferguson’s face, but he arched back, avoiding the blow. Colton and Steele took positions a foot from Ferguson, leaving Leah trapped between the bed and the wall. She growled as her eyes darted between the wall of predators before her.

“What do we do?” Riley asked.

Steele shot Riley a pained look. “I’m sorry, Riley, but we have to kill her. She isn’t the woman you met. Her humanity was consumed. She isn’t a reaper. She’s a demon.”

Leah continued to growl and test Steele’s and Colton’s defenses. She lunged forward, only to pull back when they moved to intercept her.

“How is this possible?” Riley asked.

Ferguson shook his head. “I don’t know, but I want her body examined. Anaisa needs to test her blood. We need to figure out how they are turning the women.”

“You’re going to take her alive?” Riley asked hopefully.

“No, she’s too dangerous.”

Leah darted forward, but as Steele moved to grab her, she ducked below and rolled beneath his arms. As Ferguson moved to intercept, she dissolved and raced into a pathway.

Ferguson growled before his body dissolved.

CHAPTER16

Riley sat down hard on the bed. Her hands clutched the bedspread. “She’s a demon. We lost her.”

Colton knelt beside the bed, putting his hands on her knees. “Honey, there was nothing you could do. Once he touched her, it was over. Her transformation is unprecedented. There are no reports of anyone transitioning to demon during the original war. We will find out how they are transitioning the women and put a stop to it.”

Riley wiped the tear from her eye with the back of her hand. “Leah was so brave, a fighter. She should have been stronger than the demon soul.”

Colton pulled back his shirt, revealing the black infection, spreading across his skin. “I am an alpha and I’m struggling to fight this. Leah never stood a chance. I’m not sure if it’s because Deruthel is a demon general or he did something to his blood, but it’s like acid in my veins.”

Riley’s eyes widened. “He stuck her with a syringe. She didn’t think any of the serum made it into her bloodstream, but maybe she was wrong. Is that why Deruthel attacked her? He scratched her in the alley and left. Did his attack activate this serum? What would a demon inject into a human woman?”

Steele rubbed his chin. “That’s a valid question. We need to discuss this with all the clans. Dannika should call a meeting at the Wolf clan and ensure Ryder and Stern attend.”

Colton took Riley’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “Hopefully Ferguson will be able to subdue Leah before she returns to Deruthel.”

“You’re sure that’s where she’s going?” Riley asked.

Colton nodded. “Deruthel is her sire. They have a blood connection. If Ferguson doesn’t catch up with her, that’s where she will go.”

“What now?”

“We return home until the meeting is set,” Colton said. His shadow dissolved, enveloping Riley before they entered the pathway. The familiar hum vibrated around them before they raced along the stream. Emotions were heightened in non-corporeal form and her guilt hung around her neck like a stone necklace. Her failure too monumental to process. She made a silent promise to reach out to Leah’s twin when things were safe, and tell her what an amazing sister she had. To protect her.

They coalesced in their living room to the sound of night crickets and a windstorm billowing through the tree. It swayed and creaked as if protesting the night’s events. Crying to the heavens, with its airy moans.

Black script formed in the air before Colton. “The meeting is in one hour.”

Riley strolled to the large bay window, gazing through the branches to the tree line below. “I can’t believe this happened. Will that happen to every woman with priestess blood if infected by a demon, or only Deruthel?”

Colton put his hands on her shoulders, encouraging her to lean back into him. “I don’t know. We know he tried to inject her with something, but have no idea what it was. We need more information.”

“I wonder if the demons have been here before. Maybe there was a catalyst for the demons in our history. Every culture has scripture or mythology on various creatures. Is it possible they are the source of our fairy tale monsters or biblical evil?”

Colton’s hand slipped down her arms around her waist. “That’s an interesting question. We’ve documented the last incursion, but it’s possible they have been here before. When you consider the number of bloodsucking monsters in human mythology, it’s more than possible.”

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