Glamoured (Shadow Beast Shifters Book 6)

Mera figured it out in about two minutes, finding the small groove that released a trap door. It had been very cleverly disguised. I’d never have found it without help—without her amazing extra senses. She lifted it all the way back to reveal wooden stairs leading down into darkness.

My heart squeezed so tight in my chest that I coughed to try and relieve the pressure.

Mera’s head jerked up to meet my gaze. “You okay?”

“No,” I choked out, as anger added an extra layer to my voice. No, not anger, pure rage. “He’s been keeping my fucking daughter in a hole in the ground. No wonder she’s failed to thrive. That bastard. Remind me to kill him before we leave.”

Not just kill but destroy. He had to cease to exist in this world and the afterlife, and I had the sense Shadow would know how to undo that waste of alpha genetics. Mera told me to trust in them. To rely on them.

In this situation, I would be.

Mera let me descend first, and by the time I reached the level below my fury had red tinting my vision.

“Here,” Shadow called, appearing in the low light filtering in from a few gaps in the wooden walls. He held a small bundle in his hands, and I let out a cry as I raced forward.

“Tabby!” Sobs broke from me in loud gasping sounds. My chest was crushing in on itself; I couldn’t breathe. Not even when Shadow placed her in my arms and she lifted her head just enough so that I could see her violet eyes. “Baby, baby girl, baby.” I just clutched her and cried, until a scream wrenched from me. It was dragged up from my soul, followed by a howl as my beast roared to life.

For so many minutes I clutched at my reason for existence, just holding her until I found the will to stop howling and just breathe. Lifting my head from where I’d had it tucked down near her frail body, I used my shoulder to wipe away tears so I could see her clearly.

“Mommy has you,” I whispered, examining her.

A gasp escaped me when she reached out and pressed her hand to my face. It was the first time I’d seen her move her limbs so independently rather than lying like a complete newborn. Her white-blond hair even looked a little longer, and her skin—a shimmery silver—looked healthier than usual. She was full of life for once.

“In his mind,” Shadow said softly, watching me with flames in his eyes, “the alpha indicated that he drained her before she visited with you, so you’d always worry he was the only one keeping her alive.”

The rage that had simmered down briefly returned in a blast.

“He will pay for everything,” I said shortly. “For her suffering. My own is one thing, but hurt my child and I will make sure you regret it forever.”

Shadow nodded, not having a single issue with that statement.

Mera, who’d been standing off to the side, caught my attention when she moved closer. “She’s perfection,” she breathed, sounding choked up as if she’d been crying with me. She wrapped an arm around us. “We’re going to figure this out, Sam. We’ll right the wrongs done to you and Tabby.”

With her free hand, she reached out and brushed some of Tabitha’s curls back before she slid her finger across the tips of her ears. Across the obvious sign that my daughter was only half shifter. It was this feature that had prevented me from asking for help, in the worry Shadow might choose to destroy her unknown genetics.

“She’s fae,” Shadow said simply. He didn’t sound surprised, and I had to guess that the moment he held her in his arms he knew the truth. The very slight curve to the top of her ears an indication of her heritage. “But her energy is almost muted. I don’t feel much from her.”

“I guessed she was fae,” I said truthfully. “But I never knew for sure. Are there other races with pointed ears?”

“Yes, there are,” he told me. “But when you add in her need for crystals, her true heritage becomes obvious.”

“Why can’t we sense her energy?” Mera asked, brushing her hand down Tabitha’s cheek. “It’s almost like she’s a dead spot of power.”

“I feel her,” I said quickly. “That’s how I knew for sure she was my daughter. But no one else appears to have the same connection.”

Mera shot me a sad smile. “Girl, she looks just like you. Gorgeous. Like a baby model. I have no doubt she’s your child, but it is curious about her energy.”

Small flames flickered around Shadow. “I’m not sure if it’s the fact that she’d been deprived of what she needs for growth and development, or something in her genetics. We need to return to the library and research. Len will also be helpful in this situation.”

I knew who Len was from my time in the library, but weirdly I couldn’t picture him in my mind. I just knew he was Shadow’s fae brother. “What if they try to take her from me?” I managed to say, still working on trusting them. “I remember that the fae don’t have children easily. She could be highly valued.”

Shadow had always been my first concern, but the fae themselves was number two. Somewhere out there, Tabitha had a fae father, and in the Library of Knowledge there were enough visitors from Faerie that word could get around.

“Not going to happen,” Mera burst out before Shadow could reply. “Not a fucking chance.”

“Sunshine is correct,” Shadow confirmed. “The fae would never attack the library, so you’ll both be safe there. We do need some outside help, though. Consider allowing Len in on the situation. He’s a great and trusted source of information.”

If I trusted in Shadow and Mera, then it stood to reason that I might have to trust in their friends too.

“The fae are very long-lived,” he continued, “but if Tabitha is ten, she should be more aged than she is. I’m not up to date with their younglings, due to the lack of them born in the last many decades, so any help will go a long way.”

Hence the worry that Tabitha might be desirable in their world, but hopefully that worry was already put to rest. “If there’s no risk from Len, then I’d gratefully accept his help.”

“Let’s get back to the library,” Mera said. “I’m done with this fucking town.”

Drawing Tabitha closer, I breathed deeply, enjoying that the continuous, low-lying panic I felt without her was easing. Her delicate, flowery scent filled my senses, and I savored this small moment with her.

“Fuck, this hurts my heart,” Mera said from beside me. “I’m going to kill that alpha now.”

A rumble from Shadow followed, and I lifted my head to find he’d taken Mera into his arms, stroking a thumb across her cheek. “This is Samantha’s kill, Sunshine. You know that.”

Mera pouted, her gaze lingering on her own beautiful daughter, still strapped to her mate’s chest. A daughter who was watching her parents closely with those ancient gold eyes. “Fine. But she better choose right.”

Her lips twitched and I couldn’t help but chuckle. Despite wanting to kill the bastard a few minutes ago, I’d calmed enough to want his suffering to go on longer. “Can we just leave him frozen in the middle of the path for a few weeks? Even better if he’s somewhat aware of what’s happening but can’t move.”

Shadow’s smile was darkly sinister, and it sent a tingle down my spine. “I can make that happen. Then, when we’re done figuring out your mystery, we can return here for you to make a final decision on punishment.”

Perfect. My focus now was all Tabitha. After my memories were returned and her growth and health were back on track, I’d deal with the alpha.

“Let’s get out of here, then,” Mera said. She started for the stairs, before pausing and doubling back. I was wondering what she was doing until she returned a second later clutching what looked like a purple plank.

“The crystal bed,” she explained, and I could have kicked myself for forgetting. Just having Tabitha in my arms had wiped out all other thought.

“Thank you. Fuck. We need that until we figure out what else is missing from her life to help her thrive.” There had to be something, I refused to believe she couldn’t develop and live for many years after this.

We left the basement, making our way up to the cabin and back into the forest. Tabitha was pressed close to my chest, still moving her hands about, touching my face all the time. Paying attention to her energy, since I was the only one who could feel it, I was ready to react the moment I felt any weakness and place her on the crystal mat that Mera carried.

For now, thankfully, she was strong.

“You’ll never go back to a dingy basement,” I whispered as we powered through the forest. “You’ll have the same light I’m searching for, Tabby. The same bright future. I love you so much.” My throat grew too tight to speak, so I just mentally whispered all the positive affirmations for us both. Tabitha made some sweet cooing sounds against me, and by the time we reached the main part of town I felt calm and happy.

And ready for the next steps in our future.

As we passed some of the frozen shifters, Shadow waved his hand, freeing them from his spell. The few nearby shook their heads and looked around in confusion until they noticed the seven-foot god in their midst. Most of them fell to their knees, while a few continued to just blink in confusion. Shadow wasted no time addressing them. “You’re getting a second chance as a pack,” he boomed as his energy exploded around the town. “Alpha Lorenze will be removed from power today, and now you can rebuild. I’ll be back to check what you’ve done with this chance. If I find you’ve been wasting your gifts as shifters, I will strip every single one of you of your beast, and you’ll live out the remainder of your existence as a human. Do not disappoint me again.”

From where I stood, a few shifters were visibly crying. I felt bad for them. We’d all been victims to the alpha, but I also understood Shadow’s strong stance on this. Clarity had let our alpha go too far without fighting back, and that wasn’t the shifter way. Now they had to prove they were worthy of their beasts.

“Is Alpha Lorenze dead?” Jewel, a small blond shifter asked. She was one of the newer recruits to our pack, and I’d heard her try multiple times to get out, but the alpha never let them go once they were snared in his web. I’d had to jump through so much shit to get out the first time, and he’d only let that happen because of his contingency plan to get me back. When the time was right.

“Not dead,” Shadow told her. “He’s frozen and will remain so for the time being. He’s also aware of what’s going on around him, so feel free to give him a small taste of whatever he’s put you through over the past years.”

Permission to torture granted. That bastard would finally reap what he’d sown.

I always said that what you put out into the world came back on you, and he was about to find out how bad that could be.

The few shifters closest to us rose, their expressions clearing of fear and sorrow, to be replaced with determination and… hope.

“You’re saying he will not break through and punish us?” someone else asked Shadow. I couldn’t see who through the gathering crowd, but it was a masculine voice.

“I’m holding him in stasis,” Shadow replied shortly. “He will not break free.”

Shadow turned then, done dealing with Clarity, and Mera went to follow, but I remained a few seconds longer, mostly because Grant was wobbling his way along the path, expression confused as he rubbed a hand over his face. “Samantha?” he said slowly. “What the hell is happening? Did we finish our mating?”

His eyes dropped lower to the child in my arms, and when he lifted his gaze to meet mine again, I didn’t let my expression soften. Grant had stood aside and let his father make these decisions to force a mating. I mean, sure, his father was insane, and had murdered his brother, so I understood his reluctance to speak up, but in truth he’d never tried to fight at all. It had just been easier for him to just go along with it all.

“You’re the alpha now,” I said, letting some of my energy leak into those words. “Don’t let this fucking pack down like your father has. Because we’ll be back.”

“We will!” Mera added with force. “Last chance for Clarity.”

No one argued. They could hear the resolution in her tone. If they screwed up this chance, Clarity would cease to exist.

For good.