Shifting Magic (Shifted) (6 page)

“
That is curious. See what you can find out about the Mage and his involvement. If Royal has enlisted their forces, we might have to adjust our strategies.”

“
Yes sir. I’ll try.”

“There
will be no trying. You will do. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes
sir. I’ll follow the Mage. He’s leaving now.”

“
Good. Keep me posted. Oh, and Will…”

“Yes
sir?”

“
Don’t disappoint me.”

“I
won’t sir,” Will’s words had fallen on deaf ears. Blake Howland had not waited for the lackey’s reply before hanging up.

Blake
paced the small cottage he had procured just outside the Haven’s Port city limits. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

was his
motto.  The Cheveyos had ruined his family name and stolen some of his pack. The deserters had chosen to live among the Chosen. The Chosen, what a joke. How could a former human be the Chosen? It was absurd to even think of it. She was an aberration. Her existence along with that sister of hers, was an insult to the race.

If the pack was
now seeking the help of the coven, that meant one of two things. One was they were running scared. The likelihood of that being the reason was slim. Royal Cheveyo asking for help from the Mage without consulting the council was doubtful. To Blake’s knowledge Royal had not been to council in weeks. The only other reason to seek a mage’s help would be to go on the attack. So far, Royal had only defended against his attacks by doubling his security.

It was unfortunate that Emory hadn’t perished in the
freezer. If he ever got a hold of another member of the family, he would not be so confident. His confidence had been his down- fall. He hadn’t known the little she wolf was mated to enforcers. Had he known that, he might have prevented the loss of twenty of his men. The loss had set him back months in his planning. He had still not amassed enough followers to take the pack, but he could cripple it.

He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. Once the Cheveyos were eliminated
, the council would see that he had been right all along. The purity of the race needed protection above all else. The Cheveyos acceptance of humans into the Alpha family would be their down fall. Blake planned to see to it.

“Nina?” Ranger asked, as the small witch that had just turned his life upside down with one touch watched out the window as the last of the families left.

“H
um?” she purred. The sound went right to his heart.

“
You don’t have to stay.” She was focused on the car her father and mother were getting into.

“Ranger
, I don’t know that I could leave even if I wanted to. I will admit it feels a bit unsettling.”

“
Unsettling?” Ranger risked stepping closer.

“
Perhaps that’s not the right word. Ranger, we met only hours ago, yet for whatever reason, I feel I know you. That I have always known you,”

“That’s
the mating fever. It kind of takes over.”

“Yes
it does,” Nina agreed. Reaching into her pocket, she took out her cell phone and

called someone. Ranger watched as she
watched out the window while pressing the phone to her ear. “Dad?”

Ranger’s
heart felt like lead. Was she calling for him to come back to get her? She hadn’t looked at him since the families left. She was not a Shifter. The mating fever probably didn’t affect her the way it did him. He couldn’t help but think she was changing her mind. This was all too much. Being drawn to a stranger was one thing, but to find out that that union would put her life in danger was another. She was smart. Smart people didn’t walk into the line of fire in a war that wasn’t even theirs. It had been too good to be true that her father had accepted him at all.

“Dad
, you’re being followed,” she continued.

Ranger
stepped up behind her looking over her shoulder and past her to the empty street. “Nina, what did you see?” he asked in a whisper.

“
It was a red four door piece of shit,”she said answering both Ranger and her father. “I don’t think so. Ranger, do you think your father would have my father tailed?”

“No
, definitely not.”

“Ranger
is sure it’s not Royal’s men…. I know …. I will. I don’t think whoever it is knows I’m here.”

Ranger called the compound
while Nina spoke to her father. His family had just arrived back home. The last person Royal expected to hear from was Ranger. “Speak,” he boomed in his usual greeting.

“Dad
, someone followed the Mage and his wife when they left here. They were in red, four door, beater.”

“
That didn’t take long. I’ll call Malcolm and handle it son. You might ask Nina to ward the house.”

“Ward
the house?” Ranger asked not knowing exactly what that was. “Nina, do you know how to ward a house?” he asked. Nina finally turned to look at him. He still wasn’t sure she wouldn’t run.

“I
can’t get over how alike our fathers are. My father just said the same thing. Yes, I can ward the house. Tell your dad not to worry. I got this.” She began right away, wandering from window to window, touching each before moving on.

“
You heard that?” Ranger asked hearing his father laugh.

“Yes
, I think you’re in good hands. I’ll call Malcolm.”

“Thanks
Dad,” Ranger hung up, stuffing the phone in his pocket as he watched Nina work her Magic. “I hate that I got you into this mess.” He groaned watching his intended mate move from room to room.

“It’s
not something you could have helped.” No, it wasn’t something he could help, but that didn’t make him feel any better.

“Nina
, I don’t want to drag you away from your life. I’m sure you didn’t see a werewolf mating in your future.”

“If
I didn’t know better, Ranger, I’d say you were trying to talk me out of it.”

“No
, I just don’t want to upset your life. I already have it seems. Your father is being followed. You had to call in to the station with a family emergency.”

“Ranger
, do you want me to go, is that it? Is there some girl you’re feeling guilty about?” Nina knew that true mates didn’t always show up at the most opportune times. Some men were already involved. Ranger was drop dead gorgeous, funny, and kind. What woman would want to give that up just because some stranger showed up?

“
No, there is no girl. What about you? Were you seeing someone?”

The fact that Ranger used the past
tense. “Were you seeing someone?”made her smile.

“No
, I was conveniently between relationships this morning when you showed up.

“That
is convenient,” Ranger moved closer. Nina had stopped touching windows and doors. He assumed she was done. “So I suppose

we
should discuss the obvious.”

Nina felt as if she was being stalked in a good way. The huge
man headed her way had a look in his eye she could get used to. A look that screamed, “mine.”

“
You’re referring to our mating?” Nina teased. She knew damn well what he was referring to.

“
Yes. I need to warn you that we are alone and that has increased my need for you tenfold. I am at this moment using a tremendous amount of restraint.”

“
Why?”

“I
want you to be sure. I don’t want you waking up tomorrow and regretting anything. I want you. I need you. I will always want and need you. Love at first sight doesn’t even begin to describe what this is. For a Shifter, it is so much more.”

“No
one is asking you to hold back, Ranger.” Nina smirked as Ranger swooped in taking her by the waist and pressing his mouth to hers. His essence filled her. She could feel his energy pulsing through her as his mouth moved expertly across hers.

Ranger pull
ed back, never letting go of the little witch’s waist. “We can complete the mating without me turning you. You heard my father. It’s your choice.”

“I
choose you Ranger, all of you.”

Ranger knew he
should ask again. He should verify what he thought she meant, but he was too far gone. His mate’s acceptance was all he needed to have the fever drive him over the edge.

“This is forever Nina.” I
t sounded like a warning.  A low rumble in the man’s throat filled Nina with desire rather than fear.

“I
know Ranger, Forever,” she agreed already breathless from just his touch.

8

Ranger lifted her without warning.
His mouth was still on hers warming parts of her she didn’t even know she had. The sensation went deeper than she could ever imagine. The next thing she was able to comprehend was that he was naked and hovering over her. The sight before her was delicious. His sculpted form was perfect, more than perfect. He hummed with an energy that called to her on some primal level. Her uniform lay in tatters by the bedside. How the hell had she missed that? “Nina?” Ranger groaned trying to focus. He didn’t want to hurt her but the need to claim her was overriding his will.

“
Now Ranger,” Nina managed but not even sure the words had reached the surface. She was just as far gone as he was, her body vibrating in anticipation. She was wet and ready with no preamble. His very presence had her body primed.

The feel of Ranger as he took her
astounded her. Every cell in her body was aware of him. His breath became hers. His essence merging with hers as he took her higher. The

feeling
, like floating, left her breathless. He filled her, mind, body, and soul. Nothing had ever felt so right. This beautiful man was hers for all eternity.

“O
h god, Nina,” he growled as he dipped his head to capture her mouth. The sensation of his body combined with her, and his mouth on hers, sent a flood of ultimate awareness. She matched his rhythm with ease. The dance of the truly mated was perfectly choreographed. The feeling of him filling her over and over sent her higher with every stroke. His mouth slid from hers down her jaw line to the junction of her neck and shoulder.

“Yes,”
she whispered. She knew she was baring her neck to him as she arched to press closer. His canines had descended. She could feel the scrape of them against her skin. Reaching up Nina slid her arms tight around his neck forcing him closer.

The bite was swift
, a sharp feeling that was not painful. It was filled only with pleasure. She was aware immediately of a chemical change taking place. A swirling warmth radiated from the spot Ranger held firmly in his teeth. They were both dancing dangerously on the edge of oblivion. The bite sent both of them

tumbling over into the
abyss. Pulling back, Ranger roared as he spilled into her, taking her along for the ride. This was more than an orgasm. It was more than a physical reaction to some stimulus. This was forever. The moment brought tears to her eyes. A bond so profound was nothing she could have ever imagined.

“
Tell me I didn’t hurt you.” Ranger’s concern filled the air.

“
No, you didn’t hurt me. It was just a little overwhelming, is all. How long till we can do that again?”

Ranger smiled down at Nina her eyes were dark
, filled with desire.

“
How does now sound?”

“
Hummm…now, really?”

“I’m ready if you are,” he grinned.

“So ready,” Nina said reaching to touch the cheek of her mate. A man she had met that morning. A man she knew would be hers always.

It was dark when Nina woke up. It took a moment to remember where she was in the darkness. Ranger stirred beside her. She wasn’t used to a man in her bed but this wasn’t a man. This was her mate, husband whatever you wanted to call it. Ranger was hers.

Her smile widened as she thought
of how completely absurd it was that she was okay with this. She was better than okay. She was ecstatic.