I was covered.
There was no more time for me to recover, because the shifters down below were getting started. Torin stepped aside to let Dean Heathcliffe have the floor, and this motherfucker had some interesting shit to say.
“The powder procured from the explorer proved to be fruitful,” he started, and there were cheers ringing throughout the room as those bastards celebrated their victory. “One virgin sacrifice and the magic of a shadow-whore meant we could interrupt the energy of their little magical portal, and now they’re blocked from ever returning.”
More cheers.
Torin and Jaxson both remained silent, though, arms crossed as they stood side by side. I found myself trying to read every minute expression on their faces, anything which might indicate if they’d been part of… or maybe even instigated this plan. But their expressions were impassive.
A shifter lifted their hand before shouting out a question. “Will this weaken the beast? Will he still be able to punish us?”
Dean grinned, looking manic as he glanced around the room. “According to the wanderer, right before we destroyed her body for the spell, that’s exactly what it means.”
My gasp—and Simone’s—was hidden by raucous laughter and excitement, but I heard nothing else that was said as my body heated like I’d just jumped into a pot of boiling water. “Mera!” Simone cried, but it was an insignificant whisper against the rising fury inside of me.
My vision started to double over as fire raced across my body, like I was channeling Shadow’s power. I felt his presence the moment Dean let out a raucous laugh. “And we’d never have been able to kill that wandering shadow bitch if it hadn’t been for the Shadow Beast himself. He laid the foundation to build his own destruction.”
They all laughed again, but my world dropped out from under me as an unearthly howl rang out through the room.
Shadow had helped them kill her?
Shadow had lied to me and betrayed me for his own means, just when I’d started trusting him.
Shadow, whom I sensed was here now because I’d reached out to touch the Shadow Realm again.
There was no time to contemplate that, though, because the shifters below had fallen silent as they scented the destruction marching his way toward them. Another roar cut through the night and sent the wolves to their knees. The sound was beautiful in its terror, and as the light slithered from the room, shadows creeping in through the room, air heavy and thick, I let a bitter smile cross my face.
The devil had finally arrived. And he wasn’t alone.
With the fire of a million avenging angels riding on my skin, flames dancing high above my body, I stepped off the edge of the platform. Simone’s screams rang in my ears as I fell.
It was like stepping off one small rock as I gracefully hit the ground, straightening to come face to face with the devil. We wore twin flames, and his expression was a hollow portal of death. As our eyes met, I let a slow smile cross my face. Beside Shadow, Lucien cleared his throat, but he appeared too unsure to speak. Reece as well.
Because they saw the truth of what was happening here. There was a new terror waiting in the wings for Shadow. A terror he’d never seen coming.
Me.
To find out what happens next, don’t forget to pre-order Reclaimed here: http://smarturl.it/ShadowBeast2 (to release 1st February 2021 or earlier).
Stay connected
The best way to stay up to date with the Shadow Beast Shifters world and all new releases, is to join my Facebook group here:
www.facebook/groups/jayminevenerdherd
We share lots of book releases, fun posts, sexy dudes, and generally it’s a happy place to exist.
Next best place is my newsletter at www.jaymineve.com and
www.facebook.com/JayminEve.Author
And lastly, if you’re looking for more delicious demon type guys and bookish babes, this is the group for you:
facebook.com/groups/bookbabesandlordsofdarkness
So many amazing authors to read!
Afterword
Ahhhhhhhh!! Okay, so, I’m really hoping you didn’t throw your kindle at the end, because yes, it left off with a bit of a cliffy. But the thought behind that was… get book 2 out quickly so you all don’t track me down and murder me. Hah!
So for now: Don’t hate me. Don’t throw your kindle. Don’t summon Lucifer in a bid to destroy me… or do, I mean, that sounds kind of okay.
In truth, I hope you loved this story with a little darkness and a whole lot of intrigue. It started with a single image. A demon holding a woman. It was hard to tell the intention for sure, but I saw possessiveness and shadowy beings and the sort of epic romance that could destroy worlds.
And even though we are only one book into the trilogy, I’m so in love with my characters. I just want to bask in their fire and watch this unfold.
Anyway, thanks for reading, I appreciate you all so much, and when the demon shows up, just send him my way. I’ll take one for the team.
Also by Jaymin Eve
JAYMIN EVE
Shadow Beast Shifters (Urban Fantasy/ PNR)
Book One: Rejected
Book Two: Reclaimed (mid-Jan/start-Feb 2021)
Book Three: Reborn (March 1st 2021)
Royals of Arbon Academy (Dark, complete Contemporary Romance)
Book One: Princess Ballot
Book Two: Playboy Princes
Book Three: Poison Throne
Titan’s Saga (PNR/UF. Sexy and humorous)
Book One: Releasing the Gods
Book Two: Wrath of the Gods
Book Three: Revenge of the Gods
Supernatural Academy (Complete Urban Fantasy/PNR)
Year One
Year Two
Year Three
Dark Legacy (Complete Dark Contemporary high school romance)
Book One: Broken Wings
Book Two: Broken Trust
Book Three: Broken Legacy
Secret Keepers Series (Complete PNR/Urban Fantasy)
Book One: House of Darken
Book Two: House of Imperial
Book Three: House of Leights
Book Four: House of Royale
Storm Princess Saga (Complete High Fantasy)
Book One: The Princess Must Die
Book Two: The Princess Must Strike
Book Three: The Princess Must Reign
Curse of the Gods Series (Complete Reverse Harem Fantasy)
Book One: Trickery
Book Two: Persuasion
Book Three: Seduction
Book Four: Strength
Novella: Neutral
Book Five: Pain
NYC Mecca Series (Complete - UF series)
Book One: Queen Heir
Book Two: Queen Alpha
Book Three: Queen Fae
Book Four: Queen Mecca
A Walker Saga (Complete - YA Fantasy)
Book One: First World
Book Two: Spurn
Book Three: Crais
Book Four: Regali
Book Five: Nephilius
Book Six: Dronish
Book Seven: Earth
Supernatural Prison Trilogy (Complete UF series)
Book One: Dragon Marked
Book Two: Dragon Mystics
Book Three: Dragon Mated
Book Four: Broken Compass
Book Five: Magical Compass
Book Six: Louis
Book Seven: Elemental Compass
Hive Trilogy (Complete UF/PNR series)
Book One: Ash
Book Two: Anarchy
Book Three: Annihilate
Sinclair Stories (Standalone Contemporary Romance)
Songbird