Living a Lion: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Sleeping Lions - Shifters Prime Book 1) (15 page)

Only when she was around fourteen and she’d had passed this way with her dad, had he told her about the mystery surrounding Remus’s death and how the rumours spoke of Serrif killing Remus and taking his mate, Leandra, as his own. The disappearance of the three cubs had always been a mystery too.

How could a woman live with a man who had killed her children?

And so Serrif’s story had been believed, that he had found Remus killed by an unknown assailant, that he had done his best to help him, and that as Remus lay on his death bed he had asked his friend to look after his wife and cubs. Cubs that had been spirited away in the night, never to be found.

As Amara crossed that empty plain, she wondered if she was about to find out the real truth. What if Serrif had told the truth, and the only reason Kane’s mom was unhappy was because someone stole her children. Or was she unhappy because she had been forced to live with, and endure, the man who had killed her rightful mate.

As she drew closer, she shifted back into her human form, only just in time, because two big lions were approaching and if they maintained the etiquette of other prides, they would not attack her. Still her heart beat fast in her chest and she thought she would turn and run, get away from there before she got herself into more trouble, yet she kept resolutely putting one foot in front of the other acting as though she had nothing to hide as she covered the ground between her and the two lions.

When they reached her, they slunk round in a wide circle sniffing the air, ascertaining where she had come from, but they could not tell the reason she was here, and so they turned into men. Men she would have to persuade to take her to Kane’s mom. If she was here.

Amara realised how badly this plan had been thought out, and just how much trouble she might potentially get herself into.

Kane felt victorious. He had beaten three of Amara’s brothers in one day. Three! He grinned to himself before grimacing at the pain in his side. Sean had hit him hard, and his ribs were bruised, there would be no more fighting today, or tomorrow. Isaac had refused to fight him, saying Kane needed to rest, or it wouldn’t be a fair fight. He was probably right.

As he wandered back to the house, he thought how pleased Amara would be, until she saw his bruises, and then she would no doubt be livid. As long as she didn’t have a go at her brothers. Sometimes it felt as if she wanted to treat him with kid gloves. He could handle himself, and she needed to understand that. He was not the same lion who had come to the Prime.

“You look as if you need a shower,” Amara’s mother said, ushering him upstairs.

“I wanted to see Amara, then I will get straight into the shower,” he said, wincing at the pain in his ribs as he turned too sharply.

“She isn’t here; she went for a run. Said she needed time on her own,” she said, blocking his way.

“Is she all right? Maybe I should go after her,” he said, but the woman still blocked his path.

“She needs a bit of time to think, this whole thing was sprung on her. And even though I know how happy you make her, her life has changed; her position has changed. Once you defeat Serrif, she will be your queen, a role she never thought she would have to take on, not to mention babies.”

“Do you wish I hadn’t come here?” he asked.

“No,” she shook her head. “No, I know what happened in your pride, and a wrong like that has to be righted. That man pushes people around like he owns the whole of the Prime. I can’t wait to see him grovelling on his knees to you. But not with you looking like that. Go shower.”

He did as he was told; only when he got to the bathroom did he see exactly what she meant by
looking like that
. His eye was black, his cheek bruised, and he had a small split on his lower lip. He would really love to have Amara here to kiss it better.

Later
. He got into the shower, feeling the warm water find all the parts of him that were battered and bruised, and let it wash away the tension in his body. Today had been a good day. He had proved to himself, and hopefully to the other people here, that he would soon be a worthy challenger for leadership of the Talamo Pride. He was both hopeful, and apprehensive that Serrif would hear about him and come and lay down a challenge. He felt he was ready, but he knew the others disagreed and would talk him out of going over to the Talamo Pride Lands to challenge his father’s murderer.

Towelling himself carefully, not wanting to aggravate his sore ribs, he went to the room he shared with Amara and dressed in casual jeans and an open neck shirt. He smiled, thinking of all the years he had been expected to wear a suit. Travelling to work, business dinners, everything in his old life was so formal, and he relished the time he had spent here, and the new family he was growing fond of.

His stomach grumbled. It must be time for dinner. Mara was a wonderful cook and her food was better than Mrs. Bowers’s, and he had always thought she was an excellent cook. Also, Amara should be back now. He wanted to hold her in his arms and kiss her, to tell her how alive she made him feel and how thankful he was for their life together.

Kane ran down the stairs, the smells coming from the kitchen making his mouth water. “Anything I can do?” he asked.

“You can set the table,” Mara said.

He poked his head round the kitchen, wondering what Amara was up to, because laying the table was usually her job. “No Amara yet?”

“No, not yet,” Mara said, casting a glance up towards the clock. “I thought she would be back by now; it’s not like her to miss dinner.”

“Maybe she has met a nice rich man who has swept her off her feet,” Sean joked, and Kane had to resist the urge to thump him again.

“Funny. I think she’s happy with her mate,” Kane said.

“Oh course she is. And I will be happy with you too, if you set the table,” Mara said, handing him the cutlery.

“Do you know where she went?” Kane asked.

“Not sure, she just said she wanted to clear her head,” Mara said.

“I saw her up over the back of The Rise, she was going pretty fast,” Albert said coming in and going to the sink to wash his hands.

“Not in here,” his mom told him, pushing him fondly. “We have bathrooms for that.”

“The Rise?” Kane asked. “I wonder why she went over there.” He remembered going over the paths with her, and how they had gone down to the edge of the Talamo Pride Lands.

“She’ll be back,” Albert said, and then looked up at his worried face. “Everything OK?”

“Yes. Just worried about Amara, that’s all. I’m not used to her going off on her own.”

“She has been stuck by your side since you came here, believe me, she just needed some space. Nothing to worry about.” But now Amara’s mom was beginning to look worried too.

He set the table and then went to the door to look outside, it was starting to get dark, and a strange sense of foreboding swept over him. Allowing his senses to roam, he tried to feel her presence, but couldn’t. She was not in the village; he was sure of that.

Slipping out of the house, he moved across the street and kept going until he came to the start of the path that led upwards. The same path they had taken the other day. He shifted, without thought, his lion and human form acting as one, working together to scent their mate. There it was faint, but definitely there; she had come this way some time ago. He moved up the path, not stopping, not thinking of anything other than where Amara was heading, and why.

When he crested the hill, the scent all but disappeared, the wind swept over the grass, taking any trace of his mate with it. But he knew where she was going and followed the path down, not surprised when he picked up her scent again. She was heading towards the Talamo Pride Lands. But why? She had warned him to stay away, so why would she go there herself?

And why hadn’t she returned?

He didn’t think of the consequences, only of his mate as he began the steep descent down towards the plains his father had once controlled. What lay in front of him, he didn’t know, but life without Amara would be unbearable. So if she was here, he would find her.

Breaking out of cover, he trotted across the rough grass, her scent still lingering on the grass. And then it changed, she had changed; the human Amara had stood here. A dozen paces further on, he scented two male lions, they had come out to meet her.

Standing with his head in the air, he breathed in. It was unmistakable, she had gone with the other two lions, whether by force or choice, he couldn’t tell. But he was not leaving here without her.

“I came to see Leandra,” Amara said to the two men, who she figured must be guards. “Is she here?”

“She isn’t expecting you,” one of them said.

“I know. I come from a village in the Satoma Pride Lands, and was passing by and wondered if I might see her,” Amara said, smiling and trying to look relaxed.

“Then you are trespassing,” the other guard, big, six foot four at least, said.

“No, you see I have been trying to get hold of her for a couple of days. It’s about a job she asked me to do.” Amara knew this sounded better in her head than it did on her tongue. Their next question was going to be…

“What kind of job?” And yes, their suspicions were raised. This was not going to end well.

“A dress alteration.” An older woman, her face lined with sorrow, came into the room. “I bought a new dress, and it was too big in the waist. The seamstress in Riverford was too busy to do it on such short notice.”

The two guards assessed the situation and seemed to accept the explanation. But they didn’t leave, awkward. But Leandra was so cool and collected, Amara had to remind herself that this was a made-up story, and not reality.

“Now, do you have the dress with you?” Leandra asked.

“Er, no. I needed another measurement,” Amara said.

“Good,” Leandra said with a smile. “Why don’t we go to my dressing room and we can do it there?”

“Yes. Yes, that would be great. I’m so sorry I didn’t get it right the first time. Stupid of me,” Amara said.

“No harm done. As long as the dress is ready for Thursday.”

“Oh, easily.” Amara followed at a respectful distance trying not to be too keen to be away from the guards, who, thankfully, did not follow them.

“In here, let’s close the door behind us,” Leandra said. “And I should warn you, if you try anything, I am more than capable of defending myself.”

“Oh. No, that’s not why I am here,” Amara said.

“Then why don’t you explain why you are here, before we both get into trouble.”

“Trouble? But this is your house,” Amara said, looking around the opulent room.

“It might be my house, but … well, that doesn’t concern you,” Leandra said.

“It might,” Amara said.

Leandra’s eyes narrowed and she examined Amara closely, trying to gauge if this was some kind of trap. What life did she live here if she couldn’t trust anyone?

“I am too old for intrigues. This is my life and I am resigned to it. If you have come to make mischief, then please leave.” She went to the dressing table and sat down wearily.

“What happened the night your mate died?” Amara said.

Her eyes flashed and she stood up, her face transformed from sorrow to rage. “How dare you,” she hissed. “How dare you come here and drag up the past?”

“Because the past is about to become the present,” Amara said.

Leandra stopped the full force of her scrutiny on Amara. “Speak quickly and plainly, or I will call the guards.”

“What happened that night? And what happened to your children?” Amara asked.

Leandra collapsed to the floor. “I don’t think about it. I had to block it out, I have had to block a lot out in my miserable life.”

Amara went to her, kneeling next to her and holding her close. “I can’t say any more. But I need to know whose side you are on.”

“Whose side do you think I am on?” Leandra asked.

“I don’t know. Remus was your mate, but there were rumours you were with Darius that night, that you called him away and that was why Remus was alone,” Amara said quickly, hoping a guard wasn’t listening at the door.

“Yes, I was with Darius. But not the way everyone thinks. It was innocent, trivial, a birthday party... If only we had known what we would set in motion,” Leandra said faintly.

“And your children?” Amara pressed.

“Gone. To safety I hope. But I don’t know. I still keep their teddy bears, hidden from Serrif of course, he would destroy them if he knew, just as he has destroyed every facet of my life.” She smiled. “I take them out, when I am alone, and smell them, my baby boys; they would be grown men now.” She inhaled, and then her eyes opened wide. “I smell them now. On you.”

Amara shook her head. “I should go.”

Leandra got up off the floor, straightening her skirt and smoothing her hair. “It was good of you to come.”

She went to the door and opened it, checking the corridor. “It is clear, go quickly, keep to the story about the dress and leave as quickly as you can. If Serrif ever found out who you were, he would use you, just as he has used me.”

With jagged nerves, Amara left the room, walking quickly but not running, even though her lioness desperately wanted to. They were in a lion’s den, and this lion would do unspeakable things to them if he caught them here.

Leandra followed her out, back the way they had come, and into the entrance hallway, absent of guards, and with the door open, all she had to do was cross the open plain, now covered in darkness, and run back home.

“Ahh, so you do have a guest,” a man’s voice came from behind them.

“Run,” Leandra whispered.

Amara had one foot outside the door, when the voice spoke again, gloating, confident, playing with her as he said, “I think I have something you want.”

She couldn’t help herself, she had to turn around, and as she did, she saw Kane being dragged down the hallway between the two guards.

He had come for her: she was a fool, a betrayer, and now Kane would pay the price. The ultimate price.