Glamoured (Shadow Beast Shifters Book 6)

Everyone remained silent after my last statement.

A statement that hadn’t given any indication if I was happy or not by the fact that we weren’t mates. Maybe because I didn’t even know how I truly felt about it. Today had already been the longest, strangest day in existence. My emotions and thoughts were messy, and it’d take days—and probably therapy—to truly figure out my feelings on this whole Len situation.

“I don’t think we can assume that yet,” Angel said suddenly. “Firstly, the spell could be masking a lot. And secondly, if you can produce a child, there must be a deeper bond. Not to mention some fae in Samantha’s heritage.”

“I was thinking the same,” Mera piped up. “I mean, the first time I saw her I thought she was more gorgeous than any shifter had the right to be. She held a little extra.”

As the others around the table started to nod, I didn’t do my normal and argue. It wasn’t that I thought I was ugly. I knew I was reasonably attractive, but so were most shifters. The extra they spoke of had been imbued in us through the Shadow Beast. I didn’t see how I had extra extra but arguing about it just felt redundant.

“How do we find out exactly what’s causing the memory loss?” I asked, pushing us back toward the important stuff. “How can we solve the mystery that has surrounded the entire situation with Len? I mean, my life has always been riddled with weird happenings, but this is definitely the weirdest.”

“Always?” Len responded so quickly I almost jumped. “What weird happenings?”

My next words were raspier as my throat tightened. “I shifted before my twenty-second birthday.” This was the first time I’d ever admitted it out loud. “I actually can’t remember when I first shifted, but I was young. I never had parents around to ask, so I was just a wild shifter pup until I fell into packs.”

Mera leaned so far forward she was all but draped over the table. “You told me that you were with the hippie crystal lover before your first shift.”

I shot her a rueful smile. “Yeah, sorry, I spent so much of my life covering up my differences that it was second nature to stick with the lie.”

No one looked upset by my fabricated story, and I had to assume that in their long lives most of them had been part of a ruse once or twice.

“Shifting as a pup is unheard of,” Shadow rumbled as he sank back into his chair, his eyes unfocused. “For my rules to be overrode, there has to be some sort of mixed genetics.”

Mixed genetics for me as well? If only I knew who my true family was, that would have made this entire search easier. “I can’t help with that,” I said with a shake of my head. “My parents are nonexistent. It’s quite possible my first shift was after the trauma of losing them or whatever happened.”

“Can I touch you?”

My head jerked toward Len, his deep, smooth tones filling my mind. “Touch me?” I echoed, giving myself a moment to recover.

He nodded. “It’s the best way for me to feel the energy and blocks on your memories. It sounds like they might go back much further than ten years. Touching Tabitha might help as well.”

Despite the request, he made no move closer. If anything, he’d clearly been going out of his way to keep his distance and allow me time to come to terms with who he was, and the path we must traverse next. For that, and the sake of answers, I was willing to take a chance on him.

“Yes,” I said with a decisive nod. “Yes, I would appreciate it if you touched us to see what you can read.”

And maybe a teeny tiny part of me was curious how his touch would feel. Icy like his power? Or heated like the liquid silver swirling in his eyes?

Len stood as the food arrived, pausing while the dishes and trays were placed before us. When the robots left, he let out a deep breath. “It can wait until after you build up some strength.” He retook his seat as I wondered how fucking ragged I looked. I’d blame it on this shitty day and the need for a shower, even with Mera’s energy conjuring us some fresh clothes and removing my vomit stench.

My meal was placed before me, and I noted that Len only had what looked like berries and watermelon, or their fae equivalents since they were a little different to Earth’s version. “Would you mind if I gave Tabitha some?” he asked, noticing my stare. “I’m curious to see if she’s drawn to fae foods.”

I almost said no, since she’d only just learned to hold herself upright. But, considering she was also no ordinary child and strengthening her was the ultimate goal, it felt stupid to refuse. Surely Len would know if it was dangerous for a fae to eat so young. “We consume these dishes from birth,” he added when my silence extended a moment too long for politeness. “She will not be harmed.”

The from birth comment made me wonder if there was a whole range of reasons our daughter hadn’t thrived, even outside of the fact that she hadn’t been in Faerie.

Our. I’d just referred to her in my head as our, and it terrified me that already this joining felt natural. Len was a fairy tale I couldn’t afford to fall into.

Nodding like a Bobblehead, I forced myself to focus. “Yes! Yes. Let’s see if she wants any.”

Len spent a few seconds preparing the fruit, cutting it into strips and making sure nothing was a choking hazard, then he leaned forward and placed a small plate on the tray. I’d never fed my daughter before, not from the breast or bottle, both of which I understood were greatly bonding. I’d missed so much, but I wouldn’t let that stop me from being here for everything else.

Taking my eyes briefly from Tabitha, I noticed that Mera and Shadow had placed a few pieces of fruit before Aurora. Angel and Reece did the same with their boy. Despite their young ages, these children were clearly ready for extra nourishment to help with their astronomical growth. Aurora and Damon all but dove for their food, small hands grabbing up the mash and cubed fruits, eating with more skill than I’d expected. Tabby, on the other hand, was unsure. This was a huge first for her. She prodded the closest berry with her right hand.

“Go on, baby,” I said, leaning down to her level. “Just take a little taste.”

I picked up a piece of fruit, but before I could put it in my mouth, Mera shouted, “Noooo!”

My hand froze as I stared wide-eyed at her. “What?”

She was shaking her head fast. “You can’t eat food from Faerie. It’s designed to trap you in their world.”

Len laughed, the sound a deep bass, and it drew my full attention. “That only happens when you’re in Faerie, and only for those too weak to resist. Samantha should have no worries.”

Mera relaxed, sinking into her chair and retrieving her cutlery that she’d all but thrown across the table. Fairly sure Reece was wiping mashed potato off his chest, but he never said anything as he continued eating.

“Okay, good,” Mera sighed. “I just wanted to check.”

She went back to eating, and I lifted the red melon once more. As it touched my lips, a literal burst of flavor almost knocked me from my chair. “Holy shit,” I murmured, looking down at the fruit. It was as if the best watermelon in existence had been infused with the sugary sweetness of lemonade. A second taste had my eyes all but rolling in the back of my head, and I had to physically stop myself from stealing the rest of my daughter’s food.

“Does all food in Faerie taste this good?” I asked with a shake of my head.

Len was watching me with his usual intensity. “To the fae it does. We have stronger senses than a lot of other races, though all of them enjoy our food.”

A strangled laugh escaped me. “Despite your previous assessment, there’s nothing fae in my energy or power,” I warned him. It was best to put that out there before any hopes were raised.

He opened his mouth to reply, and at the same time Tabitha let out a small coo and grabbed a strip of the melon. With amazing dexterity, she lifted it easily and put it straight into her mouth, biting down with her two new front teeth.

Len’s attention shifted from me to her, watching with that same unwavering stare. Tabitha made a happy sound, her eyes lighting up as the purple swirled. Swirled, just like the silver of her father’s eyes. Now that they were close, it wasn’t just that he could feel her energy that told me she was Len’s, but it was clear that the purple of her eyes was all but a darker shade of the silver in his.

Their faces were even similar, with those proud and perfect planes. A prince and princess of Faerie.

She finished her fruit in seconds, before reaching for more. With each bite and swallow, her skin glowed brighter, her eyes grew clearer, and she started to babble to the extent I could almost make out words.

“Samantha,” Len said softly, drawing my attention from Tabitha. I wasn’t the only one watching her closely. The rest of the table had locked in on her new changes. “You need to eat also. Your energy is too low.”

He saw too much, and his concern twisted my insides in a way I didn’t want to examine, so I chose to focus on the sandwich. Lifting it and taking a bite, I found the flavor almost bland after the fruit of Faerie. Strange, since it was fresh bread, warm chicken, and a tangy dressing that should have completely satisfied me. Still, it was food and I needed to finish it.

After eating half the meal, I felt some of my own strength return, and I had to admit Len was right. I wasn’t glowing like Tabitha, but I had been weak. I’d allowed myself to grow weak, which pissed me off to no end.

But I was finally free to grow and prosper, to take the next step along my path, which might be into Faerie. All I could hope was that in Faerie, I’d find the answers to the many questions that had plagued me over the past few years.

Once I had my answers, I’d never be weak again.

That was a promise.