Shifters Gone Alpha (18 page)

Chapter 15

Jasmine and Asia sat at the table on the patio watching their children run around on the playground.

“What did you and Hawke decide?” Jasmine asked and then took a sip of cold lemonade.

“Hawke doesn’t think I’ll be happy unless I’m in the field. It’s what I’ve been trained to do and I’m good at it.”

“True. I hear a but…” Jasmine smiled, knowing this was a difficult discussion for her friend but a necessary one. Angus was on the mend and wanted to structure KnightForces. He needed to know if Asia would be a part or not. So far she had refused to give a straight answer; last night Silas asked Jasmine to talk to her.

“Not being able to mind-link proved a challenge. Tyrese had to walk across the parking lot to tell me they found the car. It was like working with the humans.”

“Maybe that’ll be your strength,” Jasmine said.

“Huh?” Asia pulled her attention from the kids on the swings. “Strength, how?”

“Since you cannot communicate mentally with your team, in public around humans, you’ll blend better. They’ll see everyone talking to you, updating you on everything instead of it appearing like you just know things.”

Asia stared at her for a few minutes and then laughed. “The things you say, Mistress. Shocking but true. Not that I want to work with the humans, but you make a good point. We did blend in well during the investigation because I had to talk, to explain, and give directions. If we could mind-link it might’ve looked odd.”

Jasmine laughed. “Might have. Imagine a group of people not talking but working in sync, reminds me of an alien movie. Trust me, it would’ve made the news, someone would’ve noticed.”

Asia shook her head. “You’re right, I hadn’t thought of it in that light.” She paused. “But I can’t be separated from Hawke for long periods.”

“Then don’t. Either he’ll come to you, or you come home for a short visit. Silas understands that part of it. You and Tyrese are in a similar boat. Sometimes Danielle won’t be able to travel and they’ll make similar arrangements.”

“She was a big help on the last job,” Asia said of Danielle. “I hope she can travel more.”

Jasmine smiled. Her daughter-in-law loved the excitement in the field and would go with Tyrese on as many assignments she could. She covered Asia’s hand and met her gaze. “We need to know what you want to do, whatever it is will be okay, but we need to know so we can move forward with the plans.”

Asia inhaled and then released it slowly. “I want to be a part of KnightForce.”

Jasmine clapped her hands and sent Silas a message. Standing, she and Asia embraced and then walked arm in arm to the playground.

“Mommy, come push me,” Sarita, Asia’s daughter called from her seat in the swing. Adam, Jasmine’s son ran behind the swing and pushed.

“Stop it Adam, I want mommy to push me,” Sarita yelled kicking her feet until Asia stood behind her and gave her a gentle push.

Adam ran across the courtyard, and grabbed his ball. “David come play ball with me.”

David stood from the table where Renee sat coloring and headed toward Adam to play basketball.

Jackie sat in the other swing and looked at Jasmine expectantly. Laughing, she pushed her daughter even though she knew Jackie could swing just fine without her help.

Damian entered the playground and waved. “Come play ball with us,” Adam yelled.

“Okay, give me a minute,” he said and walked toward Asia and Jasmine. He stood on the side of the swing. “Just wanted to let you know, Angus approved my application for KnightForce.” He smiled and then hooped, throwing a fist in the air.

Asia smiled shaking her head. “Congratulations.”

“Congratulations, are you in the first training class?” Jasmine said.

“Yes, Ma’am. I’m not sure where I’ll be assigned yet, won’t know that ‘til the end. From what I heard, the leaders get to pick their teams.” He looked at Asia and smiled. “How about it…mom? Can I be on your team?”

Asia laughed. “We’ll see how well you perform, I only take the best of the best.”

“And you know that’s me, right?” He grinned.

Jasmine loved the changes in Damian. From the time he arrived a month ago until now, he had blossomed into a fun-loving, secure young man. Family did that to a person.

“Yes, that’s you. I won’t find anyone better. Go play ball with the boys, you won’t have a lot of free time once Angus starts training,” Asia said. Sarita decided she wanted to play ball with her brother and the boys, leaving Asia free to watch.

Byte ran onto the playground, growled at Damian and then sat on the sideline when he was ignored.

“I want to play ball,” Jackie said, jumping off the swing and running to the other kids. Renee looked over at them and returned to her picture.

“Let’s go inside and find mama, she’s working on the baby shower tomorrow night. Whatever you do, don’t ask her how she’s feeling. The day is too short to hear her long list of happy complaints,” Jasmine said as the nurses walked closer to the children and security remained in the shadows.

Chapter 16

Silas watched from upstairs in his office. Fully recovered, Angus worked feverishly along with Tyrese structuring KnightForce. The rebels presented a real threat to half-breeds and full-bloods alike. All of his Alphas were on-board with the complete merging of half-breeds and adopted his zero policy for discrimination.

Tyrone hired a management team to implement a set of inclusion programs for half-breeds who feared coming forward and declaring fealty to their state Alphas. Silas hadn’t realized how deep the hatred and discrimination ran until he read some of the reports that filtered back from Tyrone’s preliminary surveys. As a nation they would do better, all wolves were entitled to his protection under the Goddess.

“If we split the nation in four sections, we can have field offices which handle the states in that area. There are enough trainees who went through the Alpha program that we can use them as seconds behind us,” Angus said.

Silas turned from the window and stared at his brother. Since the day he told Angus someone took his blood, it had never been mentioned again, but Silas knew it bothered the man.

“That sounds good, who do you have in mind for the fourth area?” Silas knew Tyrese, Asia and Angus but had no idea who else would have an area.

“Hawke or Jacques, either are worth considering, especially since we’ll be based here.”

“They have other jobs that keep them busy already, I can't have them do more. I’ll think about it and give you a name, until then split the country three ways.” Silas paused, thinking of a way to bring up the needle Alpha Chase’s men found in the barn. It sat downstairs in the lab, no fingerprints but a reminder of what happened in the mountains.

“I have a project I’m working on and will be gone for a week,” Angus said.

Silas took a cleansing breath. “Oh. What?”

“You already know. I see it in your eyes, wondering when I’m going to address what happened in Colorado.”

“True, what do you plan?” Silas crossed his arms and met Angus’ gaze.

“Simple, I plan to repay the bastard for his kindness. I leave tonight.” Angus walked out the room, the door closed behind him.

Unsure how he felt about the announcement, Silas turned and looked below at his pups running and laughing, the sound never grew old. Jasmine, Asia and a pregnant Victoria walked onto the courtyard, followed by Angus, Hawke and Jacques.

“I’m the only one working,” Silas muttered. He offered a prayer of protection for Angus and left to join his family while things were calm. Family. He smiled liking the sound of that.

<<<<>>>>

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to read the first book in the La Patron’s KnightForce series. I love paranormal books and characters in general and shifter stories in particular. Throw in the romantic element, strong Alpha characters who bend beneath the power of love and I’m over the moon. Sighs…

You’re invited to journey with me through all the books in this series. If you like fast paced action, suspense and great love connections like me, you won’t be disappointed. Feel free to drop me a line,
Sydney@ SydneyAddae.com
  or you can find me at my website, SydneyAddae.com.

If this is the first time you’ve read any of La Patron Books, right now, for a limited time I am offering a
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Knight Chronicles is a newsletter for my Readers Group from the characters of the series to keep you informed of what’s going on in the Wolf Nation. Each issue has a personal message from Silas Knight, La Patron, or his mate, Jasmine. Character profiles with in-depth interviews and thoughts you won’t find anywhere else. Also works in progress, new releases and special give-aways in every issue.  If you take advantage of the
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La Patron, the Alpha’s Alpha is my first paranormal series and I’d like to ask a favor. When you finish reading, please leave a review, whatever your opinion, I assure you I appreciate it.

Thanks again

Sydney

Lisa Carlisle

Chateau Seductions 0.5

Antoine Chevalier is a gargoyle shifter living in Paris. When he's attacked by rogue vampires, he's forced to abandon his identity and must recreate himself in a world now filled with darkness. 

Chapter One

Darkness Awakened

Paris, Late 1800s

At last, the sculpture was complete. Antoine studied the finished marble piece of a nude woman reclining with a grotesque figure crouched beside her. Beauty and monstrosity together, the contrast was exactly what he’d aimed to achieve. Others would view it as art, but he and his kind would see it as symbolic of their dual nature.

He examined the artwork with a critical eye one last time before cleaning up his work area in the salon. He’d applied many last touches over several days, but now he was confident it was finished. Tomorrow, he’d scrutinize it one last time before presenting it to his instructor, Rodin, and his colleagues for critique.

He strolled up the winding, cobblestone streets to reach his tiny studio on the other side of the hill in Montmartre. Moving here was the right decision; it had a bohemian mindset, attracting artists, writers, and poets. Perhaps he’d stop for a celebratory drink.

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be perched on Notre Dame with the rest of your hideous lot?”

As Antoine spun to face the male speaking, icy shivers raced up his spine. Whoever it was knew his true nature.

The scent of the undead hit his sensitive nostrils with an unwelcome sting. Even in human form, he’d recognize the unique odor of those who feasted on human blood. His kind had fought against them for centuries, before they’d established a truce.

Swishing sounds surrounded him followed by dull thuds of creatures landing on the pavement around him. Over a half a dozen vampires faced him with exposed fangs and red eyes flashing with venom. He was vastly outnumbered.

Mérde.

Their attack was instantaneous. Too quick for him to shift into his stronger gargoyle form. He fought back, bracing his arms against the attackers, but his human body left him at a great disadvantage. It allowed him to blend in with the world of men, especially the art world he so admired, but without his full strength.

Hands threw aside the arm he’d used to shield himself, and a female sank her sharp fangs into his neck. Without his tougher gargoyle hide, they pierced his soft, flesh without resistance. Sharp bolts of pain rushed to the site where she’d pierced him.

“No,” he roared and threw the vampire off of him with a rush of adrenaline, but a male vampire immediately sank down on him, puncturing the other side of his neck. Antoine fought them with all his strength, but they pinned him to the ground and held down his limbs. They penetrated his flesh at various points over his body—neck, chest, upper thighs—covering him like insatiable, bloodthirsty bats sucking out of his life force. The female was back, laughing, before clamping on his neck again.

“Get off me,” he cried, lashing against the attack, but it was futile. “Monsters!”

Terror faded as something far more sensual took hold. He fought against it, knowing it was some sort of vampire magic to lull the victims into submission, but too much flowed into his bloodstream. The pain at the sites where he’d been bitten vanished, replaced by pleasurable sensations that shot straight to his groin.

A different kind of awareness dawned, one entirely unexpected. Despite her flashing red eyes, the female vampire was captivating with flowing black hair and pale skin. The blood dripping from her full red lips excited him.

She stroked his hardening length. “Looks to me like you’re enjoying this every bit as we are.”

Antoine seethed, bucking his pelvis to remove her hand, even though his cock yearned for her to continue. And he wanted more. So much more. As if reading his mind, she scooted a couple of the vampires out of her way.

“Let me in.” She straddled him, pressing her mound against him as she bent forward and resumed sucking from his pierced flesh.

A sense of euphoria washed through him as the lifeblood flowed from his body into the vampires’ greedy mouths. He was losing consciousness. Soon, it would be all over. He wouldn’t have a chance to say goodbye to his family. He wouldn’t live to present the sculpture he’d worked on for so many months. And, strange as it was, he didn’t care. Blackness crept in from his peripheral vision, taking over.

“It’s time,” one of the male vampires said. His voice sounded muffled, from afar.

A drop of warm liquid fell onto his lips. Antoine reached with his tongue and tasted the unmistakable tang of blood. He turned in disgust, but someone grabbed his head.

“You will drink or you will die,” the female said.

“No!” Antoine howled, while trying to force his eyes open. His lids were too heavy. He only caught a quick sight of the vampires circled around him before they fell closed again.

“You don’t have a choice,” a male said. “We want a vampire with the strength of a gargoyle.”

Antoine’s mouth was forced open and more of the sickly blood flowed in. He spat it out, but swallowed some lest he choke on it. The warm liquid tickled his tongue with a coppery taste before it turned sweet, flowing like a fluid velvet. He stopped spitting it out and swallowed, eager for more. With horror, he realized the instant addiction, but it was too late. He wanted more, needed more, and gulped the blood with greedy lust.