Mated To Magic (Stark Creek Shifters Book 1) by Barb Shuler (free ereaders .TXT) 📕

I shuddered, my entire body shaking as the wave of adrenaline passed. Mia promised he couldn’t find me. I believed her. I knew I was safe here, but my head convinced me otherwise sometimes.

I was tired and my feet hurt. I was just going to suck it up, shut my mind off, and go get some veggie lo mein from China Gardens since it was open until four a.m. Then I could go home and take a nice, long, hot bubble bath and read a book until I fell asleep. Sleeping was my nemesis most nights, but as tired as I was once my belly was full, I’d be asleep in no time.

Hopefully tonight will be a dream free, peaceful night. Last night was awful. I’d dreamed of nothing but dead deer and blood. I must have forgotten to take the sleep meds Mia had made for me. They kept the dreams of my past away, usually. Last night’s dream just messed with my head.

I was not meant to be a shifter. I was completely broken. Why Mia tolerated my neurotic, OCD obsessed craziness…I’ll never know.

I gave the counter and bar area a final glance before walking around and turning off the main lights. I double checked to make sure the front door was locked. The tables were cleared, stools stacked. The guys had swept and mopped already, so the place was ready for tomorrow.

My purse was in Mia’s office so I slipped into the back and into her office. I opened the cabinet, grabbed it, and with each step I took, my poor toes cried. I leaned down to undo my boots and took the damn things off. Never wear new boots on a busy night. God bless it, my poor toes. If they could sigh in relief they would.

I was going to knock on Liam’s office door, but I heard Mia talking to him and Dalton. I stopped. I’d not bother them to walk me out. It wasn’t like I couldn’t defend myself if need be.

Rubbing the back of my aching neck, I walked to the back door, slipped through it, and let it shut behind me. With my free hand, I pulled my keys from my bag. I yawned hugely as I rounded the corner of the building, my sock covered feet carrying me quietly toward the lot. My car sat in its spot, my freedom from this place just waiting there for me.

“Come to mama,” I sighed.

I heard a scuff behind me and went to turn. A familiar scent hit my nose just as something sharp pricked my neck. I yowled, my cat not liking this at all. I pulled away from him, my nails raking his face.

That was a mistake because everything shifted around me.

“You stupid bitch!”

As whatever he injected me with raced through my bloodstream, I was helpless to stop his fist as it made contact with my cheek. I grabbed for him, my nails marking his arm as I went down.

“She’ll come for you. Her precious, pathetic excuse of a shifter. Never seen a cat so scared of its own shadow!”

“Fu-fu…”

“Nah, bitch, you ain’t worth that kind of trouble. But you’ll bring her to me, where she belongs!”

The world around me started to blur, my body no longer able to fight his drug. I just hoped his face wasn’t the last face I ever saw.

Dalton

I listened in as Mia and Liam discussed the new software that would help with inventory and ordering supplies. They were both geeking out and I didn’t see the joy they had in it. But I was preoccupied. My mind and focus was elsewhere.

The new software was a good segue from what we had been discussing and that was Sy. It had been almost a week since his little minion Morris was taken out and still, nothing. He’s not been on any of Liam’s facial recognition programs. There was no activity on his credit cards. Nothing.

It was as if the bastard had just up and disappeared. I knew we wouldn’t be that lucky. He was waiting for the right time to strike. He thought I’d be stupid enough to let Mia out of my sight long enough for him to get to her. He was wrong. After her little vision quest with her Goddess, leaving her alone was the last thing that was going to happen.

I glanced up at the big monitors, checking the areas around the building, and cursed. “What in the hell is she doing?!”

“How did she get past us?” Mia gasped when she looked up at the monitors. Jayden was outside—with Sy! This was not happening.

I raced to the back entrance, shifting mid-stride and barreling through the door. It crashed to the ground and I jumped free of it, racing to the side lot. Ty streaked across the lot, Kody and Max right behind him. Mia’s scream when she saw Jayden on the ground sent a chill up my spine. Her power had flared...if she lost control there would be no stopping it.

She and Ty went for Jayden, so I was free to focus on the bastard who was behind all of this.

I came to a stop when I saw Kody holding Sy up off the ground, his face turning purple. I stalked closer, my body ready to pounce and tear him to shreds.

“What did you do to her?!” Mia screamed, that spike of energy rolling across me. I shook my body.

Kody’s fingers relaxed against Sy’s throat. He took in a deep breath of air.

“The bitch is fine!”

Kody growled, shaking Sy. His head flopped around like a bobble head for a minute. He dropped him to his knees. I leaned in, my muzzle resting against his face. He jerked when my fangs snapped, nipping his skin.

“I…should...have...put…you down…”

I snarled, jowls expanding with the vibration of it.

“Come on, Jay, sit up.” Mia’s voice pulled my attention away from Sy. Ty sat on the ground, his arm around Jayden while Mia patted her