Page 4 of Shifter’s Promise (Devourer of Magic)

Chapter

Three

T his was the last place and time I’d ever expected to meet her.

Her .

My mate was a gorgeous female with a scent like sunshine, orange and honey. Everything about her called to me.

From the sudden stiffening of her jaw, she’d realized the same.

For a moment, we remained like that, eyes locked, her amber for my gold and green.

Her gaze softened, lips parting as she slowly took me in.

I followed her bright gaze from my eyes to my nose, lips, cheeks, chin and then—her gaze widened, rage shredding the warmth that had nearly enveloped me.

“Who did this?” She reached for my neck, but paused, hand midair, inches from the scar tearing through the delicate skin of my neck.

Reality came crashing down like an eruption of frost. I reeled back, breathing hard .

Mate , my leopard confirmed. Her excitement bubbled, a heady purr rumbling in our chest.

But my mate couldn’t be here and now… not when she’d died in my arms in that cell. Not when?—

“Who?” the lioness demanded firmly.

This wasn’t possible. I couldn’t be given a second mate. Not after I’d failed the first. Not after I’d lost her to them . Those bastards had enjoyed tormenting Gina more than all of the other slaves combined.

Sick. It was all sick.

This can’t be real. I stepped back, but her gaze didn’t waver.

“Little leopard,” she breathed on a sigh. “Please.”

Blinking slowly, Gina appeared before my eyes, and then the lioness. Like shutters, they flashed before me with each blink. Even though they looked nothing alike, they were both my mates. How could the gods have granted me another?

Panic climbed my throat, squeezing my airway. Confusion flew through me in a torrent. I couldn’t focus; thoughts and feelings rolling through me too fast. It was all too much.

So instead of facing any of it… I chose flight.

I turned and raced down the nearest street.

Shouts echoed behind me, but I couldn’t make out the words.

My heart pounded in my head, my ears, overcoming all sound as I sprinted down one street, then the next.

I slipped. I fell. I got back up. My ankle twisted.

I kept going. I couldn’t face her. I couldn’t face my failure.

My loss. The one piece of me that was forever lost. The piece that had made life bearable inside those dungeons… until she was gone.

I ran and ran, not knowing where I was going or for how long. I forgot all about the carriage, the angry vendor, and even the little shit who’d injured my horse. I ran until my feet bled and I couldn’t breathe. I ran until I couldn’t anymore. Until the warm, familiar scent of leopard surrounded me.

I ran until I found home.

I startled awake, gasping in lungfuls of air. Thrashing out of a mass of sheets and blankets, my pulse raced. It wasn’t until I’d kicked them off entirely that I calmed. Waking in a panic wasn’t exactly unusual for me. In fact, it was quite the norm.

Wait … sheets?

Since when had I been offered such luxuries? Never. Not since I was a child in my parent’s home. Not since?—

I inhaled sharply and sat up. Tears immediately flooded my eyes.

Golden canopy drifted in a light breeze, the scent of the sea on the wind, furniture hand-carved with little baby leopards chasing a butterfly.

There were notebooks, stuffies and childhood toys spread throughout the cream-colored room with soft purple and gold accents.

“My room.” I couldn’t believe it. “I’m?—”

“Home.” My father’s voice sent tears tracking down my cheeks .

“Dad!” I cried as I leapt off the bed and into his waiting arms. He grunted at my weight but chuckled and spun me around, holding me up before bringing me close. As soon as the spin stopped, he enveloped me in his warmth.

“My precious girl.” His voice cracked. “You’re alive. My baby is alive.” Wet hit my hair and I was relieved to find I wasn’t the only one crying.

“I’m home,” I whispered in disbelief. “I’m home, Dad.”

He laughed, a body shaking belly laugh that made me grin from ear to ear.

“You’re home, my precious daughter. You’re safe at last.” He squeezed and I spluttered, unable to breathe.

“Dad!” I gasped.

“Oh!” He set me down gently. “Sorry, Twin. Got a bit carried away.”

“It’s okay,” I said, unable to stop the tears.

The last time I’d cried… the last time. I froze.

Gina . The tears fell faster, harder, and then my knees gave way.

Father caught me, whispering reassurance as I lost the ability to think, stand or reason.

I sobbed and sobbed into my father’s chest until my whole body was sore and my throat tight.

I cried until my eyes hurt. Until I was a gross, snotty mess.

I cried for all I’d been through. The girl I was and the girl I’d lost. I cried for myself, my mate, my people, and all of the other slaves who were still in captivity.

I cried until my body couldn’t anymore.

When my trembling mess of a self could finally take a breath without tears accompanying it, Father brushed his hand down my hair and murmured how much he loved me. He told me I was safe now, and that he’d never let me go again.

I nodded, letting his words wash over me. I needed that love. The affection that had been robbed from me. It had been five years since I’d known a comforting touch, besides the small gestures of my fellow slaves.

It took me some time to calm down, and Father wasn’t quick to rush me. He let me take my time and breathe through it. Only when comfortable silence rested for more than a few minutes, did he finally speak.

“My precious daughter, Twinlin.” I looked up, meeting his gaze. His eyes, reddened by tears, still glowed the same brilliant gold-green as my own. “Please tell me… where have you been all these years?”

From the hard look in his eyes and the stiffness in his shoulders, he already knew. My hand flew to the scar at my throat and he winced.

“You know,” I said meekly. Normally, I’d hate showing weakness like this, but not in front of my father. Not my family. They were the few who I’d let see me break, if only so they could watch me mend.

His lips pressed into a firm line. “I have my suspicions.”

I sighed and dropped my head in defeat. “They’re right.”

“Slavers?”

I nodded. His nostrils flared. A growl rumbled in his chest, shaking me slightly.

“The whole time?” I nodded again. “Ten years with them.” He blew out a long-held breath. “I’m so sorry, Twinlin. I failed you.”

My eyebrows furrowed. I pushed back so I could meet my father's gaze.

“It’s not your fault, Dad.” None of it was.

On the day I was taken, I’d been out with mother, frolicking in the meadows behind our home.

It wasn’t until we saw the carriages that mother pushed me behind her and shifted.

But her leopard wasn’t enough to defeat half a dozen magic-wielding elves or the warriors with swords and shields.

They’d killed her before they took me kicking and screaming into my first cage.

“I should have been there,” he countered, shaking his head. “I should have looked harder. Longer.”

My chest squeezed, part of me wishing he had.

But would he have ever found me? I was carted from place to place, master to master.

I served multiple households over the decade, some for only a few months, others for more than a year.

That is until I arrived at Elherd’s manor, where I’d spent the last five years.

But we cat shifters always ran out of use eventually.

Or at least that’s what the elves always said when they slammed the cage door shut and sent me to my next post.

“You did all you could,” I reassured him.

Still, Father shook his head. He pressed a kiss to my forehead before finally releasing me. “What matters is, you’re home now. You’re safe. No one will ever hurt you again, Twin.”

I smiled. It was a father’s promise. One we both knew he couldn’t keep. Life hurts. It’d hurt me again one day. But for now, I’d let him believe what he wanted.

“Where’s Kara?” I asked suddenly. My baby sister. She would have grown so much by now.

His eyes softened as he glanced at the door. “Not far I imagine.”

The double doors to my room flew open.

“I’m here!” a female voice called. Standing in the doorway, a young adult version of my sister stared back at me with wide, hopeful eyes—totally not eavesdropping.

“Kara!” I cried. Tears once again welled in my eyes. Apparently, I hadn’t cried myself dry after all.

With thick black curls, wide golden eyes and baby fat still clinging to her cheeks, I could see the once tiny ten-year-old in my sister. She was so much older now. Tall—taller than me? Gods, I hoped not. She was barely an adult!

“Twin!” Kara raced into my open arms, tears bursting with her sob. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

I nodded against her head, pulling her tightly against me.

We had been so close before I was taken.

I’d missed her so much while I was gone.

I’d seen her in the slave children who’d been taken.

Saw her in the butterflies by the window, the long grass in the summer, exactly like that in which we played in at home.

And here she was—grown!

“I knew we’d be together again one day.” It was more of a hope. But one I’d never given up on .

“My girls.” Father wrapped us in his arms, squeezing tightly until we both gasped for air. Chuckling, he released us, but couldn’t stop beaming.

While Father smiled, Kara launched into a monologue about all I’d missed while I was gone; every time she thought about me, all the little things she’d wanted to share.

It made me melt and my heart hurt at the same time.

It wasn’t until she reached more recent years that I finally stopped her ramble with a raise of my hand.

“Wait, what do you mean Jaguar Clan took over our territory?” I barely restrained a growl. Those furry fucks had been after our territory for years. Of course they’d invade once dad’s mate and heir disappeared.