Chapter 185

While he let out a yelp of surprise at being bitch-slapped by nature, the legs of the chair he was sitting upon snapped. Sideburns fell on his ass at an awkward angle. But it wasn’t over. The table flew up and tumbled on top of him. A mug of cold coffee dropped onto him too, pouring its content all over his dirty face.

Exactly how I imagined it. I smiled and stifled a laugh in the fur beneath me.

Sideburns cursed, Going-gray shouted calls for alarm, and Shade chuckled low.

“Karma couldn’t wait, brother,” Shade said. “The universe isn’t a big place after all. It watches us closely. You might want to revise how you treat your fated mate.”

I smirked as I wiped at a stream of tears from my face. I didn’t know when I’d cried or why, since I didn’t cry for assholes.

But it was wicked cool that I could use magic to pull pranks.

My magic wasn’t finished, however. With one final gust, it blew the posts over holding up their section of the tent. Half of the canvassed roof collapsed on top of them. I felt a little bad that Shade had to be collateral damage.

The entire camp stirred. The shifters were on the move and shouting. The guards posted outside the tent rushed in to see what had happened to their Alpha Heir’s tent. More followed until the whole area became crowded with shifters.

 

 I bolted upright, then rearranged my bedroll to make it appear like I was still sleeping inside. I put on the ball cap and slipped out of the tent.

No one looked my direction as I scurried away and darted into the shadows. Bathed in darkness, I sprinted as fast as I could away from the camp.

I’d go to California, lie low, and plan my next steps. When I was ready, I’d look for the Vampire God. For I knew in my gut, he was the only one who truly wouldn’t harm me.

I only hoped he had answers for me.

 

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I ran up the hill, only pausing to look at the shifters’ camp far behind me. I regretted that I couldn’t say goodbye to Shade. For all I knew, he was the only friend I had.

With tears in my eyes, I scrambled down the other side of the hill and plunged into the dark woods. After I put more distance between the shifters and me, I’d need to seek out a stream or a river to make sure they couldn’t pick up my trail.

I doubted Sideburns would come for me in person, but he’d send a couple of shifters to hunt me.

Focusing all my senses, I glanced around trying to decide which direction to go, when a dark shape emerged from the foliage. I yelped, nearly jumping out of my skin.

I produced Shade’s dagger and brandished it in front of me to keep the beast at bay.

“Shoo, beast, go away now. If you’re smart, you’ll let me pass.”

My eyes darted wildly to the trees around me to see if I could leap and climb up one of them.

The beast halted and let out a low chuckle.