Read Online Raphael | Parish by Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright - Free Book Online Page A

changed everything.
    “The Mark of the Shakpi,” he breathed. “This is—”
    “Impossible?” Bayon took the word out of his mouth. “Yeah, there’s a lot of that going around.”
    Ashe cleared her throat, struggling to hang on to her severely tested courage.
    “What is the Mark of Shakpi?”
    “It’s an ancient legend that speaks of the origin of our people,” Bayon answered, his flat tone intended to bring an end to the conversation.
    Of course Raphael’s stubborn mate wasn’t going to be intimidated.
    “And?”
    Raphael took charge of the story. “The legend claims that the bayous gave birth to twins,” he said, sharing the oral history that every Pantera learned while still in the nursery. “Opela was able to call upon the magic of the land, eventually creating the Pantera. Her sister, Shakpi, grew jealous of Opela’s love for her children and tried to create her own children to rule the Pantera. The children twisted the magic, using it for evil, and Opela had no choice but to have her sister imprisoned.”
    Ashe frowned. “Imprisoned in the swamps?”
    He shrugged. “No one knows where she was sent.”
    She gave a slow shake of her head. “There are a lot of stories about the bayous.”
    “Only one that our people believe.”
    “So you really think some mythical woman has escaped from her secret prison and is now going around branding her personal Robin Hoods?”
    Did he?
    Raphael glanced back down at the branded skin, a primitive fear lodging deep in his gut.
    A part of him wanted to laugh it off as an old wives tale. As Ashe pointed out, there were a dozen stories that came out of the bayous.
    But he didn’t laugh.
    He wasn’t human. He was Pantera. A creature of magic.
    And the fact that this brand was discovered when their people were unable to breed…well, it had to mean something.
    “It’s one explanation,” he murmured.
    She pressed a hand to her temple, as if her head was throbbing. “I really have fallen down the rabbit hole.”
    Raphael gave a short, humorless laugh. He felt exactly the same way.
    Six weeks ago he’d been a respected diplomat for his people, in absolute control of his life.
    Now he was mated to a human, expecting a child, and growing increasingly convinced his people were being hunted by an evil, ancient goddess.
    Yeah, that was one hell of a rabbit hole.
    Giving a shake of his head, he thrust aside his rising panic and turned his attention to Bayon.
    “The most important thing is to keep Ashe and our babe safe,” he announced.
    “Agreed,” his friend swiftly agreed. Then they both froze as that now-familiar scent drifted through the open window. “Raphael.”
    “I smell them,” he rasped.
    Bayon pulled a gun from the holster at his lower back, his eyes glowing with power.
    “Get her out of here while I distract them.”
    Raphael didn’t bother to argue. Not only would it be pointless to try and keep Bayon out of a fight, but his duty was to protect Ashe and the child she carried.
    Moving forward he laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I’ll meet you back at the Wildlands. Take care.”
    “And you.” Bayon flashed a smile of anticipation before he was running across the room and leaping out of the window with reckless valor.
    Raphael returned to his mate’s side, staring down at her frighteningly pale face.
    She’d been through hell and back in the past six weeks. More than anyone should have to endure. Let alone a pregnant woman.
    His heart clenched with regret. God dammit, he had to get her somewhere safe.
    “Ashe, will you trust me?” he asked.
    “Yes.”
    Something connected inside him at her swift, unhesitating agreement. A sense of completion, as if two separate pieces had just clicked together to form a perfect whole.
    He paused just long enough to savor the unexpected sensation before leaning down to scoop Ashe off her feet.
    “Don’t make a sound,” he whispered next to her ear.
    Barely giving her time to wrap her arms around his