Page 33

I blinked against the blinding rays of a hot sun and a chickadee perched delicately on my chest. Its head tilted side to side for a brief moment before it released a single chirp and launched itself up into a lavender lit sky. Crusted sand fell from my confused fluttering lashes…where was I?

Groaning, I rolled away from the harsh sun, feeling more sand flake away from my body and stared blankly at the faeling laying beside me.

Another slow blink before…

“Riella!” I cried.

Scrambling to her side, my battered body was quickly forgotten while I searched for her beating pulse. It fluttered beneath my shaking fingertips and I exhaled a sigh of relief.

“Wake for me, little one.” I whispered, brushing back her hair and giving her tiny body a firm shake.

After a few moments of attempting to wake her without success, I sighed, sitting back on my heels to peel away the wet hair plastered from my face and ponder the new lands before me.

The whirlpools had delivered us to a white sandy coastline that stretched for miles to the right and left.

The ocean lapped softly at our backs and a gentle breeze blew the tall green grasses lying just beyond the sandy beach in front of us.

My eyes trailed up to the skyline and I inhaled sharply at the large dark red mountains protruding from the earth in the distance.

So tall, that even from here, they disappeared into the white puffy clouds of the lavender lit sky.

Only one mountain formation rose that high and was stained that particular red…and it wasn’t in Faerie lands—it was in The West Isles. Home of the shifters and their beloved Red Cap Peaks.

A dry laugh escaped me. My vow to the shifter was fulfilled but my free ticket into these lands was still nowhere to be found and I was absolutely positive I needed it right the goddess now.

I was not alone. We were in danger.

By shifter law, our immediate deaths were imminent for trespassing these lands without permission of the shifter king. A king known for his cruel and barbaric ways. I was a fool for believing Emon when he vowed us safe passage here.

A vow that meant nothing and everything for the miracle lying before me.

Cursing, I glared up at the hot sun, mocking and baking our naked bodies. Unfortunately, the transition into land form did not provide clothing and with my sentient shadows still gone, I had no access to the void for my provisions.

A soft whimper from the tiny faeling, drew my gaze back down to her and I fully took in her child-like features for the first time without scales. Like all fae children, she was innocently beautiful, so much so that it physically hurt to look upon her for too long.

She had traded her black scales for bronze skin that shimmered in the sun despite the white sand caking her.

Black lashes fluttered against rosy cheeks and caught in a tangle of wet hair.

Brushing it away again, my hand stilled when the color began to change.

The muddy pink strands were quickly fading into dark raven locks, seeping like spilled ink from her roots down to the very tips .

“What in the goddess?” Water fae hair never changed during a transition, nor did their eyes. It was their one permanent feature that always stayed in both their water and landforms.

Riella released another murmur of discomfort and her innocent face crinkled as if in pain.

“Shhh.” I cooed. “It is okay, little one. You’re safe.”

Reilla shivered and her lashes fluttered but still she did not wake. Instead, tiny droplets bubbled on the surface of her brow.

Frowning, I placed my hand to her forehead only to feel a searing heat that was hotter than the sun glaring down on us.

I swore viciously. “You’re burning up!”

My head snapped up when another chickadee called in the distance and my eyes instantly went to the tall grasses.

Our voyeurs had crept closer, making their presence known.

Discreetly, I slid the dragon scale off Riella’s chest and tucked it up into my wet stringy hair, tying it behind my back, hidden behind my wet ponytail.

Standing slowly, I shifted in front of Riella and molded my own casting shadow to protect her feverish body.

It was more than what I could do for myself.

Even the wet gritty sand could not hide the fact that I was now standing nude, poised to fight without a weapon, with the scorching West Isle sun blazing down on me—mocking me in its hot spotlight.

The soft lapping of the ocean was the only distinguishable sound in the thick silence. Blinking, I used my aura sight to peer into the thick grass revealing three glowing auras. One violet—a leader. One a deep blue—a healer. And one, a rainbow—a free spirit, a visionary in a stagnant world.

A perfect trio for a scouting party.

“I won’t presume to know your intentions here so either come out and explain or move along. Either way, do not waste my time being a voyeur.” I flicked sand from my tattooed forearms. It was nice to see my brands again, instead of the heavy black scales.

I arched a brow at the snarling leopard that leapt from the grasses onto the sandy beach. Yellow-green eyes fiercely clashing with my own.

I snorted at the display. “How terribly rude of me. I’m afraid I don’t speak cat, shifter.” I waved my hand flippantly. “Your other two companions should just join you. I know they are there. ”

The leopard hissed at me, whiskers drawing back to the side of its fur lined face, but must have heeded my words because I watched two more of the same stalk from the reeds. Both flanked their leader, watching me with their powerful tails flicking back and forth lazily.

I sighed, wiping more sand from my naked body. “I told you already, I don’t speak cat. Shift or get lost.” I addressed their leader with the violet aura.

A brief flash was the only warning I had before the leopard transformed into a beautiful female fae with long flowing blonde hair that grazed the sand as it swayed in the gentle sea breeze.

She wore a green body suit like a second skin, outlining every curvature of her lean body and the skin that was exposed was darker than the Night Court’s midnights.

“You dare!” She growled low at me.

I snorted. “Don’t flatter yourself, shifter. I dare with anyone…that right isn’t just reserved for you.”

She hissed and her gaze narrowed with distaste. “You kind doesn’t belong here.”

I choked on a laugh and mocked her, trailing my hand sensuously down my nude form. “You mean to tell me this isn’t the nude beach Andromeda?”

The shifter’s eyes followed my hand and froze at my sandy tits once she realized what she was doing.

I gave her a wide knowing smile.

“No. It is not.” She snarled, her yellow-green eyes striking in their glare against her dark skin.

I brushed more sand off my chest where her gaze had lingered. “Bet you wish it was now, don’t you shifter.” I smiled sweetly.

I was met with another snarl. “What I wish is for you to tell me who the goddess fuck you are, what your purpose is here, and…what you're protecting behind you.” She nodded towards Riella’s still form.

I flicked more sand. Goddess it was everywhere. “I’m not your Faerie godmother, shifter. I don’t fucking grant wishes.” Her attention angrily shifted back to me and away from my ward. Time enough for me to shift subtly, casting a new shadow over the unconscious faeling.

“Goddess' tits!” A new voice called out excitedly. “It’s you! You're her! Sweet Sheol, I don’t believe my fucking shifter eyes!”