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He’s wearing some kind of leather body armor, form-fitted to his slim frame. His hair is longer now, down his back, and I can’t miss the black claws on the tips of his fingers. His face is a stone, but he crosses to the door and opens it.
“It appears we’ve been summoned.” Stepping back, he looks at me, but his expression reveals nothing.
“What’s going on?” I ask, fear tingling in the back of my neck. “Has something happened to Mercy?”
“Come with me,” is all he says, turning to exit the small space, taking the narrow stairway down the twisting tower. He’s moving fast, and I don’t have time to question. I follow him down, flight after flight, until we’re at the bottom.
Reaching forward, he turns the circle of metal to open the door. We’re back in the landing at the entrance of his labyrinthine castle. He doesn’t stop there. He goes to the door and pushes it open, walking out into the gloom. It could be day or night. I’d never know.
Walking ten paces away from the entrance, he turns and faces me. One of his hands grips my shoulder. “Close your eyes.”
I do as instructed, and as if I blink, I open them again to find I’m standing in front of Mercy’s house — or Hayden’s — in our world. The sun is low in the sky, just beginning to set. Hayden’s clothes are transformed into a black tailored suit, but I’m still in my jeans, tee, and leather jacket. He walks straight to the mansion, up the stairs and through the front door. Looking back over my shoulder, all I see is the familiar expanse of green lawn. No rift or door or anything.
Turning to the house, I jog up the stairs after him. I’ve got to get Mercy back, and he’s the only one who can help me do it. I’m through the doorway looking around when I see the one thing that almost knocks me down.
* * *
Mercy
“Koa!” I can’t help a shriek. The moment he appears in the doorway, I’m on my feet running in his direction. With a leap, I’m in his arms, holding him, burying my face in his neck. He smells so good, woods and water and delicious man-panther.
“Mercy?” His voice breaks, and his large hands are on my face, smoothing my hair back. His green eyes glow with wonder, and I pull him to me, our mouths meeting for the first time in so long.
His kiss is mesmerizing, lips crashing together, parting, tongues curling against each other. I press my body strong against his warmth, and his arms engulf me in the tightest embrace. It’s a feeling I dreamed about every horrible minute I was in that dismal castle, and now we’re together again in the most luxurious heaven.
“Sorry to break up the reunion.” I recognize that voice and turn my chin with a smile. Koa’s lips move to my temple, and he inhales deeply at the line of my hair.
“You smell so good,” he sighs. My eyes close, and I only want to hold him.
“We have to get this over with.” Slayde is still talking, and I step back to smile at him. Pain flares in my elbow, and I let out a little yelp.
“What’s this?” Koa’s voice is warm, full of concern, and I look up at him again, warmth flooding my chest at the sight of his beautiful eyes, his mocha skin, and his beard!
“Your beard’s grown.”
“I guess I was gone a while trying to find you.”
“You were?” Wonder fills my voice, but his brow lines.
“What happened to your arm?”
Looking at the white bandage covering my elbow, I shrug. “Hounds of hell.”
Koa’s jaw sets, and I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. It’s taking a little longer to heal, but I’m going to be okay. And you’re here now.”
Slayde is more insistent this time. “We need both of you in the study.”
“Okay! Okay,” I grin, taking my man’s big arm, and resting my head on his bicep. He steps forward and shakes his friend’s hand.
“What’s this all about?” Koa asks.
“You’ll see,” Slayde’s voice is a loud whisper as he leads us through the door into the room that once served as my older sister’s office.
Dylan is standing at the window, and when she sees us, she actually smiles. Penny is in a corner near a tall rubber plant as if she might hide behind it should things turn nasty.
Hayden is sitting in one of the armchairs next to the sofa, legs crossed, and behind the desk is a big man I’ve only just met as Derek Alexander, Slayde’s boss. He’s very handsome, the size of Koa and equally fierce. His blue eyes are steely, and he’s looking down at a file open in front of him. My eyes fix momentarily on the heavy brass insignia ring on the middle finger of his right hand.
“Based on the autopsy images we’ve examined from the death of Lord Hayden’s alleged immortal mate, we’ve discovered the victim was in fact, a shifter.”
