Deserted (Shadow Beast Shifters Book 4)

I‘d never stepped foot on the sands of the Guardians’ territory. It was close to the Delfora and Rohami, so I’d sailed past it, but this was my first time entering their rich, midnight sands.

When our ship entered the docks, I was one of the first to rush down the plank and onto solid land. Time was running out, and the call of the sacred lands was growing harder to ignore. It thrummed inside my chest, competing with the bonds and power that filled my well. As I stepped closer to the village, where we would meet Darin and the others, a surge of energy almost slammed me to my knees. Reece caught me a moment before I would have hit the deck.

“I feel it too,” he murmured, pulling me up. “But I’m used to the Delfora’s call. You need to adjust your power.”

It took only a few seconds for me to throw up some blocks to ensure I could handle the whirls of unease rocking the underbelly of the desert’s power.

“It’s not just the Delfora,” Shadow said, pressing in behind us, Mera at his side. “That spell sent out by Tsuma is colliding with the impending power moon. The swelling of power is set on a path of destruction.”

It would not stop until it destroyed the wards in the Delfora and gave its creator a pumped-up power to raise the gods. It all boiled down to one truth: We were running out of time.

“I’m going to talk with the sentinels,” Reece said, quickly, his fingers grazing across my skin—deliberately, of course—as he released me. “They may know a more specific time of arrival for their princeps.”

No one could have missed the intensity of his gaze as it held mine or the brush of his thumb across my cheek. But not one of them blinked an eye or showed any surprise. Probably thanks to the sex show we gave them all last night in the boat—no matter how quiet we’d attempted to be, their hearing was beyond exceptional.

That was how you knew you had amazing and loyal friends. They understood that Reece and I were too volatile for teasing, at this stage anyway, so they were following our lead. When we were ready to discuss the relationship, then they’d chime in.

Reece left, walking toward the black-and-bronze gates, which were made of sand and glass in a combination strong enough to withstand an attack. Beyond that was a city in the same dark tones of the land but without an ominous feel. Maybe it was the glow of power or the gently curving design of their homes, but the Guardians’ land was quite homey.

As Reece pressed a hand to the huge double gates, they eased open, and four males stepped out, clad in black tunics. My focus didn’t waver until it was clear that they were friendly, then I could turn back to the group. Just as I did, another surge of energy slammed into the land. This time I was blocking, so it only jolted me an inch, but Mera almost lost her balance completely. Shadow got her in time, of course, so she was just left a little shocked and breathless.

“I hope Darin is a Desertlandian of his word,” she gasped, shaking her head. “You all need to refuel and get the hell to the Delfora before this world is rocked off its axis.”

“It’s time to leave, Sunshine,” Shadow said, pulling her more firmly into his hold. “The dangers are growing too strong to ignore.”

She opened her mouth, no doubt to argue, but this time I was backing the snarly beast. “He’s right, Meers.”

Her head jerked toward me, and despite being safely cradled in her mate’s embrace, she looked devastated. ‘The dangers have increased since last moon, haven’t they?”

I could only answer that honestly. ‘I feel it deep in my energy, and these warning shots are just the beginning.’

‘Why do you feel it in your energy?”’ Mera asked as Len, Galleli, and Alistair pushed in closer to our circle. Lucien was on his way to join Reece at the gate. “I mean, more than the physical jolt of it, you’re getting an actually connected beat between your energy and the Delfora… But you’re not Desertlandian.”

‘I have a lot of history with this world,’ I reminded her. ‘The bones of my ancestors are buried here. My blood has spilled here. I bled my soul into these sands, and I think that maybe, through all of that, there’s a connection between me and the Desert Lands that can never be broken…’

I trailed off at the heavy clomp of boots in the sands. Reece and Lucien were done with the sentinels. At first, I didn’t think he’d heard the conversation, but then he said, “The reason Angel feels a connection is because we’re bonded.’

Everyone stilled at that rather casual statement, like he was discussing the damn weather and not an eternal bond. He continued, ‘When we were in our youth, I claimed her. We bonded our essence and energy, and with my close ties to the Delfora, there’s no surprise that it would extend to my mate.”

Did he just… What in the actual demons of the deep?

I opened my mouth, emotions spilling out of me so fast that I had no idea what I was going to say. “Mate?” was all that emerged.

Great, Melalekin. You’re a fucking wordsmith.

Reece’s smile was cocky. “You’ve known all along, Lale. We might have lost our way for a few centuries, but there was only one future for us.”

When he was done, it seemed that I was the only one glued to the sands, basically speechless. The others let out a cheer as they rushed forward to hug us. It was clear that no one here was remotely surprised by what he’d said, but I felt like he’d just slammed me in the chest and knocked the air from me.

Reece was close, his big body wrapping around mine until our scents were so mingled I couldn’t tell one from the other. And oddly… it calmed me. ‘Fight it all you want, Lale,” he murmured. “We know the truth.’

For a split second I turned to mush, my head so clouded that I’d all but forgotten I could kill in a second using four hundred different moves. Apparently, I’d sold my warrior soul for orgasms and some desert charm. I mean, incredible orgasms, but still…

Forcing my breaths to even out, I shook my head—Reece and I had too much history for this “mate” claim to just settle. We needed time and healing, and we couldn’t get that until our mission here was complete. ‘Let’s focus on what needs to be done now,” I said, thankful to not sound breathless. “No point worrying about mates if we all die in the Delfora.”

My nickname wasn’t Sunshine for very good reason.

“What did the sentinels say?” I asked Reece directly. “Are our supplies ready; can we just leave?’

Reece’s smirk faded into a dark scowl. ‘Darin is standing firm with his request that we wait for them so that we might approach this together. They’ve offered us rooms to rest and clean up, and they’re preparing a banquet.’

‘We don’t have time for this!’ I snapped, agitated in a way I didn’t want to examine.

The energy has not reached the Delfora, Galleli said, standing near the edge of the docks and swirling sands that formed the deeps. Neither have Tsuma or her comrades. They will stay hidden until the last moment. His wings extended as he looked out to the horizon. We have time, and we should refuel. I sense this is a battle we’re unprepared for, and if we lose, it will be over for the worlds.

A slither of unease filtered through our group, grim faces replacing any that had been amused by Reece and me. We’d all learned to take his warnings seriously, and considering that, I could trust that we had enough time to refuel our energies before we found ourselves in a fight for the worlds. On the positive side, some of our team needed these few hours to restore their powerbase—like Reece, who had been controlling the ship and keeping us moving for moons; Lucien, who had run low on his plasma; Alistair, who needed to soak in a tub of liforina; and Shadow, who was about to make the difficult journey from this area to the library and back.

Mera must have had the same thought. ‘Take me now, Shadow,’ she said in a rush, twisting in his arms to face him. ‘Then you’ll have time to replenish before walking into battle.’

Wanting to ease her worry, because stress was not good for the baby, I quickly said, ‘We’re strong together. No matter what happens, we won’t leave anyone behind.” Her teary eyes met mine as I continued. “This might be a difficult battle, but I believe there are no warriors stronger than the ones standing here. You hold the fort back home and hold onto that baby until we can return.’

Her left hand fell from Shadows chest and pressed to her stomach as we both felt a stab of pain. I cursed that slip up; with children of power, there was no tempting fate. Mera recovered in a moment, but that flash of discomfort remained deep in her eyes. ‘I’ll be fine,’ she said, waving off the concern that was no doubt written all over my face. Shadow’s too, since he would have felt that stabbing sensation as well. ‘You all take care and make it through this because if any of you die, I will bring you back and kill you again for making me love you and then leaving me.’

Silence, until a snort of laughter escaped Len, and somehow that broke the tension which had been holding us tight. The others moved forward and hugged Mera… after Shadow reluctantly allowed her to stand one foot from his body. If the men held on too long, he growled, and it was only Reece who risked his wrath by lifting her from the sands and twirling her around.

She laughed, and then coughed. ‘Enough! Enough. This baby does not like the spinning game.’

Shadow, who was clearly on edge, rumbled louder than ever, his flames slapping out at the desert god, who only laughed and wiped them away like they were annoying flies and not lethal weapons.

‘Take your mate home,’ Reece said. ‘We’ll see you back here once you’ve secured the base and left Gaster, Inky, and Midnight in charge.’

Shadow’s fire calmed minutely, and at that, the pair clasped hands.

“Awww, Shadow and Shadow the Second.” Mera sighed. “It’s a true bromance.”

Shadow’s glare could have melted the damn ice lands. “I’m going to enjoy removing that word from your vocabulary, mate,” he rumbled.

She looked about as far from worried as a being could get. “Promises, promises.”

Shadow stepped forward, clearly intending to scoop her up, but I hadn’t had my chance at a goodbye yet, so I darted between them before he could. I wrapped my arms around her first, holding on as tightly as I could, breathing in the fiery scent that was all power and sass and Mera.

‘I love you,’ she choked into my shoulder. ‘Like, forever best friends and sisters. Twin souls, remember. Do. Not. Die.’

I laughed to cover up the depth of my worry that I would never see her again. ‘The Nexus would bring me back again.”

She pulled away to glare at me. ‘We don’t know for sure that would happen. Maybe next time your soul will be so tired that you’ll choose rest. So, with that in mind, don’t forget my previous warning. I need you to stay alive and keep the rest of my merry band of assholes alive too.’

Before I could respond, she spun and leveled all of us with her Mera glare. ‘Work together. Use your brains. Don’t underestimate this enemy, and don’t take stupid risks. You might be saving the worlds again, but if it looks like you can’t win tomorrow, then get out of there. We can regroup and come back again, stronger than ever. But if you’re all dead, there’s no regrouping.’

‘We promise,’ Lucien said, flashing some fang as his need for plasma grew stronger. ‘Take care, ma petite.’

Mera swallowed roughly, but for once didn’t yell at him for his flirty ways. Instead, she appeared to be looking at all of us, memorizing our faces. I did the same to her, taking in the wild mass of red curls, her hair untamed for days, and the way she was dressed in a black shift dress and no shoes. She looked fierce and strong, ready to protect her family, and I sent out every prayer to every god—except the fucking ancients—that this was not our last moment together.

Shadow, done waiting, finally got his arms around her, scooping her up so she rested against his chest. Before any of us could say another word, he turned and walked back in the direction of the docks and the ship. The further he was from the black sands, the less energy it would require to open a doorway.

Just as his broad shoulders were about to disappear onto the ship, Mera poked her head around the side of his shoulder and yelled goodbye, her voice fading as they both disappeared from sight. Another jolt in my chest followed, filled with pain. Only this time, it was not baby-ready-to-enter-the-world pain. This was heart pain.

‘We’ll see her again,’ Len said, slinging his arm around my shoulders. ‘Don’t let your focus be divided.’

He was right, and with that in mind, I pulled myself together, falling into my normal prep-before-a-battle mindset. Just as I was about to shake off Len’s hold because I needed to stand on my own, he was hit with a hard nudge from Reece.

‘Too close, fae,’ he growled.

The pair exchanged a heated stare, but Len didn’t push it. He wouldn’t after the desert god’s declaration that I was his mate. Staring between them, I briefly contemplated slamming their heads together, but instead leveled them with a withering glare and continued toward the front gates.

Reece was making some very public claims now, but there was no time to figure out why or what it meant. Anything that messed with my focus had to be pushed aside.

For now, my aim was to wash off the long journey on the ship, fuel up with the seeds we’d been saving, and prepare to fight for my life. All of our lives.

After all, I had a Mera-promise to keep.