Page 18 of Shannon in Sombra

“Six,” she says, directing it at me.

Huh? “What was that?”

“Just correcting something you said before, Shannon. When you said there were five of us… five human women in Nuit. Not anymore.” She jerks her chin over my shoulder. “It’s six.”

Turning to look behind me, my stomach drops when I see the knock-out with the long, wavy, deep-red hair smiling as she walks toward us. She’s flanked bytwodemons. Each one is in his shadow form, a pair of bright purple eyes gleaming out from the inky black depths.

I bite down on my bottom lip nervously.

So, Apollyon wasn’t worried about the rain, huh? Sure, he didn’t send for Duke Haures or anything, and maybe he didn’t contact Lucian and Damien, either—because, you know,psychics—but they’re here now anyway.

Wonderful.

Even better, I’m not the only one who doesn’t seem too thrilled at the appearance of our new guests.

Sierra sucks in a breath, her cheeks hollowing. A soft sigh escapes her as Hope’s brow furrows, glancing from Sierra to Tandy and back.

Meanwhile, Billie lays her hand on Sierra’s shoulder.

Sierra shakes her head. The universal signal for ‘I’m fine, don’t worry about it.’

Billie thins her lips and looks down her nose at her best friend. Andthatsays ‘Bullshit’ without her ever having to utter a word.

It hits me a moment later. Oh.Oh. I knew about this. It was more ancient gossip, back from the days the three of these women were in their girl group. Like twelve years ago, maybe.

When Sierra actually wasdatingJared Turner… until he cheated on her with Tandy.

That one act put a schism in their band and their friendship that never healed. Thr33peat split up, Sierra became Whiskey Rose, and the song she wrote about Jared Turner betraying their years-long teenage relationship—Heart Barely Used—became her break-out hit.

They hadn’t spoken in years. Sierra and Tandy, I mean. At least, not until the doppelseers were searching for their mate about six months ago and they had Malphas draw the woman that they saw in their head.

Tandy Lewis.

Their one true mate—and the woman that Sierra has been avoiding ever since Tandy came to live in Sombra.

Jeez. What does it say about me that I wanted entertainment and, welp, it looks like I might just get it.

Finally. At leastthat’s something to take my mind off of the rain.

MALPHAS

Over the many cycles that we have been bonded, my mate has taught me a lot. Today I’m reminded of the concept of ‘female conversations’, or as she prefers to call it: girl talk.

It all started with Amy, Nox’s human mate. The first time we went to her quarters, Shannon disappeared into another room to speak with her, leaving me and the former Nuit hunter to stand together, waiting for our mates to tire of each other’s company and return to their males.

Since then, every time Shannon and I visit the village of Connecticut, the same thing happens. Shannon and Amy talk, and now Nox questions me on what I have learned about being a provider for my mate.

We don’t hunt for our mates in the human world, though Nox has made it his purpose to explain to me how. Sometimes he and Amy would even join Shannon and me on our trips to Sombra so that I could put his lessons to use. While baking for my mate makes her happier than bringing her one of the prey beasts that I hunted with Nox, the hunter is right. I must do everything I can to show her how much I love her.

In Jericho, they have something similar to the Sombran ungez. Wee baby cats known as kittens. I don’t hunt them, though I help them, and Shannon always beams at me when I rescue another baby cat. Some nights, while we were waiting for Alana to be born, she would tell me she knew she picked the perfect dad for her kid because of the way I treat the kittens. I never would’ve thought to do anything else, which is probably why I’m the clan artist instead of one of the hunters…

I don’t need to be. My mate adores me the way that I am, and she’s not only the perfect mother for my child. She is my heart. My light. My flower. She is tiny, but mighty, and will always be the one to stand before me, defending me and our daughter. She is loving. Smart. Amusing. My love.

And, blunt as ever, she has no issue telling me when she’s had enough of my company.

Earlier tonight, as the main moon started to shine through the shadows in the sky, Shannon put Alana down for a nap after dinner, then shooed me outside, sending me to the village square. With Sierra and Hope staying over another night—and the doppelseers hesitant to return to their enchanted house with their mate—the six human women decided to gather in front of our house for another round of ‘girl talk’.

It’s a lovely night. The heat warms you down to your shadows, and though it’s been days since the gold moon rose, the main moon is shining brightly, cutting through some of the usual gloom. The women are either sitting on our porch or milling around out front as they chat, with my mate positioned near the slightly open window in case Alana coos and calls for her mother.

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