Rejected (Shadow Beast Shifters #1) - Jaymin Eve Page 0,44

hear choice two,” I chirped. “Fingers crossed it involves my death as well.”

If the look on his face was any indication, I was about to get my wish. “Option two,” he bit out, “is for you to remain here, under my control, while you figure out how you touched the Shadow Realm. We will also have to gather up the creatures you released with your recklessness.”

I held up a hand. “Okay… I have so many questions about what you just said.”

Shadow huffed out a blast of power, literal swirls of inky smoke wafting around his face as he did. “No. More. Fucking. Questions.”

“Fair enough, fair enough,” I said. “But are you saying that when I did that double vision thing and reached for those creatures, I allowed some to escape into our world?”

A single nod.

“And you think I can help you round them up and… What do we do with them if we can’t access the Shadow Realm again?”

His lips thinned. It was a warning sign I decided to heed by shutting my mouth. See, I could learn new things. Shadow crossed his arms, drawing my attention to his broad shoulders, and once again, I was distracted. Ugh. One should not admire the demon-god who wanted to murder you.

It was just common sense.

“We will contain them until you figure out how to replicate what you did. I’m sure, when the alternative is your death, you will spend a lot of time and energy on it.”

Energy on it? His broad shoulders? Oh, wait, shadow creatures. Gotcha.

I nodded. “Right. I mean, it’s a solid plan, Indiana Jones. Looks like we’re going on an adventure.”

He shot me a deadpan stare, and I had no idea if he understood the reference or not. Probably best to change the subject before he went with option one and killed me to shut me up.

“So, Gaster, the library concierge, apparently procured me new clothes. He said they were here somewhere.”

I gestured to the only other thing in this room to bring me to spontaneous combustion: the library. I still had hope that Shadow Beast would leave it to me in his will, although his immortal status put a slight damper on that plan.

“Follow me.”

God, I loved our conversations. So full of energy and clever turns of phrase. Like living in a Shakespeare play.

While I was mentally laughing at myself, Shadow turned, and as he walked away, I noticed his height grow. He’d been at the six-and-half feet height while talking to me, but I had a sneaking suspicion that the eight-feet size was more his natural height since he went back to it most of the time.

It was utterly fascinating how he did that, and all I could think was… Does everything change size? Yeah, this poor—technically still a virgin—wolf shifter had a very active sex life. In my head. I dreamt about sex, had a vibrator, and was actively participating in my own sexuality. Just usually alone.

Wait a freaking minute!

I needed my vibrator. Had that room of needs figured that out when it had been clothing me? Otherwise, I was going to have to find a chick friend here and get the lowdown on what this place was capable of. As cool as Gaster seemed, he was too much of a rule follower for me.

I liked to live in the grey sectors of life.

Shadow was halfway down the never-ending library, so I picked up the pace, racing after him. Last thing I wanted to do was piss him off when option one of “being murdered” was still on the table.

Putting my head down, I sprinted, only noticing at the last moment that he’d stopped. Careening to the side, I managed to avoid him, even as one of the tables caught my hip and I winced. Not that the sharp bite would last long now that I’d released my full shifter strength.

Shadow crowded into me, and I was suddenly no longer concerned about my smarting hip. “You’ve not begged or cried once,” he said, his voice softer than usual. “The few shifters who fall into my world are never calm.”

This was the second time he’d been confused by my lack of deferential fear toward him.

“I begged and cried for years in my pack,” I told him, my humor fading. “It made no difference. I’ve come to realize that when someone is stronger and more powerful than you, and you are at their mercy, begging and crying does nothing except give them some sort of sick gratification. I