"Shots! We need shots," Alanna called out once they found a table. Adira slid into the empty chair, as did Deputy Lainie Everest and Eve Hartlow. It was ladies night at Everglades, a shifter bar in Holopaw, and Alanna was determined that Adira would have a good time, to unwind and forget men and shifters, especially coyotes. It was a dive bar, really, nothing like Shades back in Draven Falls, but it held its own, rustic charm. It was a wooden structure, appearing to be constructed of discarded planks, rather than finished wood, with scratched up wooden chairs and tables, weak mirrors and flashing beer logos on the walls. Serving girls wandered from table to table, taking orders and flirting with the men patrons, whether the men had dates or not. Country music blared from a broken down jukebox, bouncing off the walls, as couples line danced and chugged their beers. It was the perfect place to get drunk and forget. While they were there to put coyotes out of their minds, there was one s
"You did what?" Dimitri couldn't believe what he heard. "Adira, Everglades is not a normal bar." He turned to Alanna and Eve. "You two know about that place. Why the hell did you take her there?"Eve looked at him like he was crazy. "Because it was ladies night. You know? Two for one? Duh."It took everything he had not to throttle the woman. "Damn it, Eve, this isn't a game." He could feel the panther pushing at him, wanting free to wreak havoc on whomever he could. Fur pushed through his skin a little, claws pushing out of his fingertips, the pain of the shift just beginning. He tamped it down quickly. He didn't need to lose control now, not with so much at risk. He spun to Alanna. "Everglades is a paranormal bar. You should have known they would be there. Hell, Sheriff Einstein even told me they were there the other day, shooting off their mouth." The three women returned to Alanna's cabin when they left Everglades, and Lainie went to the sheriff's department to file a report on the
"Here are the stones you asked for," Josh said, as Ezra and he entered Adira's cabin, both carrying an armload of small ordinary stones. "Planning on hurling them at Bane to drive him away?"A new day dawned and, so far, Bane's threat was unfulfilled. That didn't mean it wasn't imminent, however. Ezra chuckled as he walked over to her kitchen table, piling the stones on top. "Might not be real effective, but I'm sure it would be fun." A cloth covered the table, with various oils and gemstones lined along the edges and circled by a trio of tall white candles flickering shadows onto the cabin walls. A mortar sat in the center of the cloth, the pestle ready for action. At the far edge of the table, sage burned in an incense holder. Soft Native American music played in the background, not because she needed it for the spell, but because it helped soothe her nerves, calming her for what she needed to do. If I can focus long enough to pull the shards of my magic back into a steady pulse of
The evening sun dipped in the west, barely visible through the trees surrounding the small community of Bull Creek. A cool breeze whispered through the branches, rustling the leaves, as Adira eased her way along the trail following the panther, as he led her to where he knew the wards needed to be placed. It was hard not to be mesmerized by the feline's lithe body as he meandered through the woods, keeping his gaze bouncing around their surroundings. A smile spread across her face, knowing he protected her, keeping an eye out for Bane and his coyotes. After her run-in with Bane's thugs last night, Dimitri would not take any chances. She couldn't say that his over-protectiveness upset her. Not this time, anyway. In fact, if she were to say anything at all, it would be that his protective nature made her sex throb. If they didn't have to get the wards up so quickly, she would have loved for him to take her right there in the woods, driving his cock into her, spreading her open before him
Dimitri craved her. As soon as they were back to the cabin, he shifted again, taking her in his arms as soon as he possessed arms again. The entire time he stood by her as they took on Bane and his henchmen, it drove him crazy. Her strength, the passion in her voice as she stood up for herself, the way she defended the others in Bull Creek, it came as no surprise to him that his cock was rock hard when he shifted back. He didn't wait for her to strip. He didn't even wait for her to be in the cabin. He ripped her clothes from her body, tossing the shreds to the ground as he devoured her mouth with his, using his hands to explore her body. He cupped her breasts in his hands, his fingers grazing across her swollen nipples, teasing them. A hum of satisfaction slipped from her lips, her gasps at his touch spurring him to a hotter fire. He felt her hand grip his cock, stroking him, as she begged him to take her, pleaded with him to fuck her.Adira gripped his shoulders, yanking him toward t
Adira watched as Dimitri closed the door behind him. She felt terrible, blaming herself for the attack on Lainie. Dimitri's sister must have been attacked because of the way Adira mouthed off to Augur at the bar. This was the coyotes' way of retaliating. They couldn't get to her, so they went after her friend. Adira came to Bull Creek to help, but so far, all she did was make things worse. Not such a big help, huh? She only hoped Lainie was all right. Adira wasn't sure if Dimitri would forgive her if his sister were seriously hurt because of her. Hell, she wasn't sure if she could forgive herself.Turning to fix herself some tea, she placed her hand on Dimitri's teeth marks, and almost yelped at the touch, the sharp, electric sensations sending tendrils of pain throughout her body. Even without looking, she could imagine the bruise that formed on her lower shoulder. With a deep breath, bracing for the tender stings of pain, she caressed the deep impressions left by Dimitri's teeth, esp
Adira's head throbbed where Augur cracked it with…well, with whatever it was he used to hit her. Adira had no idea what that was, only that it hurt like hell. Then and now. Her eyes fluttered as she tried to open them, the light in the room stinging. She could hear voices off to the side—Bane and Augur—discussing what to do with Dimitri when he arrived to rescue her. She struggled against her bonds, pressing against the ropes that held her in place. She couldn't allow Bane to use her to hurt Dimitri. She wouldn't allow it. She tried to twist her hands, so she could use her power to get out of her bindings, but the coyote pack was smarter than she gave them credit for and bound her wrists so that she couldn't move her fingers. She grinned as she glanced off to the side where they stood, Bane conversing with Augur, while two others sat at a table in the corner playing cards or something. Not one of them seemed concerned with the woman bound to the chair. They were so naïve. So stupid. I
The sounds of fighting could be heard outside the cabin—panthers, a wolf, coyotes, even a bear. Their cries mixed with pain and agony. Augur jerked away from the window and darted toward the front door. Whatever happened outside, apparently scared him. Adira watched as he jerked the door open and reached outside. One of the men who went to the back emerged and darted to the front door to take Augur's place. A quick glance over her shoulder showed that the other guy remained in the back. Now was her chance. Taking a deep breath, she sent power through her arms, sending blue light from her forearms to sizzle and help her break the ropes that held her. They shredded, charred, and fell to the ground as she sprang from the chair, knocking it backward.The noise startled the goon who headed to the front door, causing him to spin toward Adira. She jerked her arm out, palms up, as blue fire erupted from her hand and sent a ball of energy into the man's chest. The power picked him up, sending h