Page 15 of Finding my Shifter Soulmate

My fear doesn't melt away completely, but it feels different, less oppressive. "I know you didn't mean to put me in danger. I know you feel really bad about it, and I appreciate that. Also, I'm not sure, but I think you saved my life. Didn't you?"

A wistful look of relief crosses his face and he stands up again, taking a step forward. "I did. But it wasn't just me. I had some help. My army, my forces, we protect each other and the rest of our land from threats like him."

"Your army. Right." I manage a weak, half-hearted chuckle as strength starts to trickle back into my system. "An army of shifters. What other animals on the island can change?"

Gede's lips pull into a bright smile that warms me more than I'd like to admit. "Not every animal on the island is ashifter, but there are at least a couple of shifters for every species. The macaques, some lizards, birds... the list goes on."

Even though I'm officially a believer, all the information bombarding my brain leaves me in shock. "Right. Okay, let's move on. My plane doesn't leave for several days. Should I just lock myself in my hotel room until it's time for me to leave?"

Tapping his chin, Gede looks to the ceiling. "Honestly, no. Rama knows where you're staying. I caught him lurking around the resort last night. You wouldn't be safe there. I think it best if you came and stayed with me, in my home. I can ask my allies to guard the place until we can get you safely off the island."

Nibbling my lip, I begin to pace slowly around the small cavern, stopping to look at every beautiful fern and vibrant flower that blooms from the natural cracks in the stone. "Will he follow me to your home?"

He seems to force out his words, as if speaking is difficult or distasteful. "I can't say for sure, but I don't believe so. That would be a brazen move on his part. A direct trespass into my territory."

This island is going to be the death of me. Either I'll make it out alive, or I'll lose my sanity and die, probably at the claws of that thing. I make a mental note to curse Jean out for suggesting I come to this God forsaken place to begin with. Boy, is she going to get an earful when I get back.

If I get back.

Chapter Ten – Sabrina

Part of me is screaming not to listen to what Gede is telling me. Another part of me understands that in order to hold it together, I'm going to have to lose my grip on reality just a little bit. It isn't really possible for him to be a Barong and then a man, is it?

Shapeshifting is something that can't exist in the real world.

But the proof is staring me right in the face. And more than that, as scary as it is, there's magic between us. And the kind of bond that can't be denied no matter how hard I try. I stare at him. His size and muscles, the little nuances in his face and his mannerisms. It makes sense, and yet I'm not sure it will ever be easy for me to accept.

"Where do you live? Not here in the cave, right?"

"I have a house on the beach. Do you trust me, Sabrina?"

Do I? I know he's a kind man, no matter what else he is, and there's nothing in his past actions to make me think he'd do anything to hurt me. In fact, he put himself at great risk to get me away from that tiger.

"I'm not sure," I admit. "But, if I can't rely on you, then I really don't have any hope, do I?"

Despite my lack of faith, he takes my hand. "You can count on me, Sabrina. I promise."

It's tempting to yank my hand back, but instead I let him lead me out into the jungle. A hornbill appears overhead and squawks at us as it flies past. A monkey scurries away, retreatingup a tree before coming back to perch near us. I look at the animals very differently than I did yesterday. Now, I look at each one and wonder if there is really a person inside that animal skin and animal mask.

An orangutan hoots a cry and leaps off a tree across from us. Its heavy bulk lands on the ground so close to me that I shriek and cling to Gede. "Oh, God, sorry," I gasp, not letting go even as I chastise myself for letting panic get the better of me.

"Easy. He isn't going to hurt you," Gede says soothingly, resting a hand on my back. He inclines his head to the large ape. "No need to be afraid of him."

The rust-colored primate ambles over and lifts his chin like he's sniffing me. My chest tightens as he tilts his head this way and that, studying me. And when he extends a hand, I let out a little squeak. He opens his palm, and my cell phone lies in his grasp.

Gede smiles. "He's not a shifter, Sabrina, but he is a special animal. Orangutans are known for their advanced intelligence. Looks like he found your phone. It must've fallen when we were running from Rama."

It seems dangerous to accept anything from the creature, but I reach out, hesitantly taking the phone from his hand. "Thank you" I say.

With a last long stare, the orangutan turns, climbing back into the tree and swinging himself off into the jungle, calling out as he goes. "You made a friend, apparently," Gede jokes.

"Funny." He starts moving again, and I follow close behind, checking over my shoulder every few feet and strainingmy ears to take in all the sounds around me. "So, have you lived here your whole life, Gede?"

"No," he answers. "I was born here, and my father served as the Barong for most of my life. When I graduated high school, I moved to the states. After college, I started a successful computer business there. I made quite a lot of money, actually. But, when my parents died, I received a call to come home. I resisted at first. It wasn’t until I lost my wife and my daughter that I finally agreed to come back. I had nothing left back in the States, so I came back to take on the role that was passed down to me."

Catching a vine in my hand, I avoid tripping over a rock that’s just barely jutting out of the ground. My heart seizes, and I can’t imagine for a moment having lost so much. Nothing I’ve been through even compares. "I'm sorry. Was that recent?"

"Oh, no. It's been quite a while. I've been back here since I was twenty-five, so fifteen years now. I don't like to dwell on it. I'm sorry they're gone, but I have a duty to fulfill now in a way that would make them proud. It helps." Gede gives me a reassuring smile.

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