Page 24 of Finding my Shifter Soulmate

It's a fair question, one that I would ask myself if I were in their shoes. When I search for the source of the inquiry, I find the Komodo dragon in his human form. He is much smaller than when he's in his animal body, with skin of dark caramel and unruly hair, almost long enough to hide the wildness in his dark eyes.

"Sabrina is my fated mate," I declare. A chorus of muted gasps fills the cavern, and a few of my shifters stiffen, but they keep their questions to themselves. "But I'm not asking you to fight solely for her. While it's true I don't want Rama to get to her, she is just his latest tactic to get to me, to get to us. Do you want to continue to live in fear, always looking over your shoulders? Do you want to see tigers take possession of this forest and dictate your every action? Or do you want to see him defeated and sent into exile, maybe even forever?"

The shifter community around me exchanges glances, nodding in ascent. I am their Barong, their leader, as I have been for so long. I assumed their support, but now I haveconfirmation, and that bolsters my confidence. I puff out my chest, ready to speak my orders. "Good. This temple provides everything we need to defend ourselves from him. There's magic inside it, and I believe it will guide us to victory. So today we have been called to battle. My hope is that we win, and then can enjoy the peace of life in this jungle once more. After tomorrow, there won't be a tiger in these parts, and you'll be safe again."

Chapter Sixteen – Sabrina

Breezy little butterflies of apprehension move in my belly when I step into the ring of shifters. Their stares make me feel self-conscious and awkward. They must feel more powerful and formidable than I do, but I try to rise to the challenge in spite of my inner doubts. No matter how afraid I am, I know the Barong will protect me.

With a furrowed brow, Gede looks over at the Komodo dragon, who was the most vocal about the situation. I have a tense moment as we wait for him to respond. That same shifter eyes us. When he speaks, his voice echoes through the cavernous temple.

"I've been longing to take my revenge on the tigers. Something like this is worth fighting for. Count me in," he says.

He flicks his tongue just as I catch a whiff of smoke on the breeze, and I turn toward the clearing. Tendrils of smoke rise in the distance, in the direction of Gede's beach house. At first, I mistake it for a bonfire or something, a late night festival perhaps. But then, as I watch for a second longer, the smoke puffs more quickly and in larger quantities. I can't be sure, but it seems to be coming from Gede's house.

My breath catches. With wide eyes, I turn to look at Gede. How much worse can this night get? "Gede," I say, pointing behind me. His eyes follow my gesture. In the silence, his head drops slightly.

"My God," someone whispers behind me.

A flame of fury ignites inside me, flashing orange and yellow, consuming all my fear. Though he wears no expressionon his face, I can sense Gede's emotion inside me. The only difference is, his fury is not only red, but white-hot. His home, his family's home, is one of the only things he has left. He's lost his wife, his child, and his parents, and now, he's lost the last thing connecting him to them. We can't let Rama and his collective win.

Though Gede doesn't tear his gaze from the sight beyond the mouth of the cave, he speaks in a voice resonating with authority. "Shifters, the war has begun. I'll send word to Rama to meet us here at dawn. Perhaps we can come to an understanding, but if not, at least we’ll all be here to fight together."

At his order, the shifters leave at an urgent pace, turning from humans to animals as they take their positions outside to guard the cave. After a moment, the Komodo dragon waits to approach him, and while they talk, I step closer to inspect the Barong statue. For some reason, I want to feel its surface, touch the protection with my hand. Its presence is powerful, its cool, smooth stone a comfort.

When I trace the figure's ears and horns, a strong voice fills my head, a jolt of energy zaps through my arms. After a moment, a voice fills my head, seeming to echo through my mind.

"The time of destiny has come. Balance is out of alignment. Tiger and Barong are disordered."

I look around, searching for whomever has spoken, but no one else seems to hear the voice.

"Restore balance to the island. You are the chosen one, and you must be the light where there is darkness. The chosen two,the Barong and his mate, must shift the alignment. Only then will harmony be restored."

I glance over at Gede who is speaking to the dragon shifter a short distance away. I want to tell him what I've heard. The statue's voice was deep and resonant, and the message gives me confidence, and I believe that it is good, intended to help us. There is no mistaking its power, and there is no questioning its truth.

When the Komodo takes his leave, I approach Gede and take his hand. "Can we talk?" I ask, trying to contain the excitement in my tone.

"Of course. Let's go outside."

He leads me from the temple and across the clearing, tucking us further into the trees and away from the other shifters. The privacy is welcomed, for I'm not sure how the others would respond to what I'm about to tell him.

Leaning against the broad trunk of a banyan tree, I look up at him. Even in the dim shadows, the beauty in his face is undeniable. Strong chin, flawless skin, eyes brown as dark chocolate, Gede radiates strength and power. It's plain to see, without him ever saying a word.

"The statue spoke to me," I state simply. Days ago, this would sound insane to me, but after everything I've seen here I've been transformed into a woman who accepts this as truth, another basic fact, like that the sky is blue or that the tide comes in.

"It spoke to you?"

With a nod, I relay the words I heard, and Gede listens attentively. When I finish, his tone is pensive, not dismissive. He believes me, and I appreciate his openness.

"You're the chosen one. It makes sense since you're also my mate. This confirms it." He rummages through his pocket, pulling out a necklace with pendant of a Barong's face dangling from the leather string. He places it over my head and around my neck. "This belonged to my mother and has been passed down for generations in my family. She wasn't wearing it the day she was killed, or she might still be here today. It's meant for the Barong's mate. Will you wear it and stand with us tomorrow?"

"Absolutely." I tuck it inside the top of my sundress. A thrill runs through me as I consider the implications of having accepted it. A sacred heirloom I will cherish for as long as I live, and it binds us together even tighter. There's only one thing left that could possibly make our bond complete. I realize that any remaining doubts about me and Gede, about being worthy to stand by his side, have been put to rest. Here's a man and a beast of legend and myth who's willing to stand and fight for me, with all the power the universe has placed within him. I can't go home, not after experiencing this. I would give up my safe, ordinary life in a split second if it means I get to have this for a lifetime.

"I want you to mark me, Gede."

Gede stands taller. The power within him glimmers. "Sabrina." He says my name like he can't believe what I've said.

I reach back and pull my hair to one side, tilting my head, exposing the delicate nape of my neck to him. My heart pounds in my chest, but I'm not afraid. I want this, like I've wanted nothing else in my life. No one will ever have the power overme that this man, the legendary Barong, does. With a shudder, I close my eyes and wait, the seconds pulsing through my ears in a rhythm that anticipates his teeth. "Mark me. Mark me, and Rama will know I'm yours."

---