Read Online Shadowed Threads by Shannon Mayer - Free Book Online Page B

roughed you up the night we went to find Deanna, isn’t it?” I leaned forward, hands sliding across the desk to steal his pen and twirl it between my fingers.
    He let out a low groan. “Yes, the Beast isn’t supposed to be used this way, but she’s captured him somehow, made him bend to her will. Not unlike the witch did to your O’Shea. And she ousted Deanna.”
    “Green shit on the walls, this is a mess. But I don’t have time to discuss the ousting of your sister. Can the Beast track me?”
    “Yes. Perhaps not the same way you Track, but they have some abilities, particularly if they’ve been set on someone they have been instructed to kill for the betterment of the Destruction.”
    I threw the pen across the room, wishing I could throw my chair as well. “This is a really bad time for me to be dealing with a Guardian. I assume that he can’t be killed?”
    “Not that I know of.”
    “Can Deanna call him off?”
    The sounds of footsteps behind me turned me around. Deanna stood there, her coloring and the shape of her face so like Will’s. But it didn’t look as good on her, like she was trying too hard not to be feminine. She wore a long multi-colored skirt, white button down shirt and her hair was tied back with a leather thong.
    “Can Deanna call who off?” She pulled a chair up beside me and lowered herself into it with far more grace than I would ever have.
    “Daniels and her Beast,” I said, watching for her reaction. And boy, did I get one.
    Her already pale complexion drained to the point of looking green. She swallowed several times, then finally reached across the desk and took Will’s coffee cup, lifting it to her lips.
    I lifted my eyebrows at her. “That bad, huh?”
    She nodded. “The Beast of Bodmin Moor. He is the phantom cat that protects us in time of need. She, Daniels … I can’t believe she would set him on you, even though she is the leader now. Are you sure?”
    My eyebrows shot upward. “Are you shitting me? The mother fucking big black kitty cat that weighs at least a thousand pounds, chased me like I was a fucking mouse and you want to know if I’m sure? ”
    “I see,” she whispered. “I had hoped perhaps … never mind. I apologize.”
    “Don’t apologize, fix this. Can you un-set him?” Gods, I was hoping.
    But she was already shaking her head. “I don’t know how she did it. For centuries, the Beast has been our protector, keeping us safe. For her to bind him … it would take something beyond my ken.”
    “Well, he’s after me now and I have shit that can’t wait for me to deal with him.” I swiveled in my seat to face Will. “I need a crossbow and a leather jacket of some sort.”
    “And another set of hands?” His eyes were hopeful. I thought about O’Shea, about how he and Alex had not gotten along when O’Shea was shifting into a werewolf. About the possessiveness around me. Will was an alpha in his Destruction; that alone was enough to deny him.
    “No, I don’t think it’s a good idea. I know O’Shea, he won’t hurt me. But you … you’d be competition.”
    Will stood and Deanna made a move to stand with him, but I put a hand on hers, keeping her with me. “Will, I’ll catch up with you in a second.” He nodded, jaw ticking as he headed to the armory. I thought about Pamela, thought about going back to get her and take her with me after O’Shea. I might need her something fierce to keep him from killing me. Then again, if he was killing witches she might be in too much danger to keep her safe. Fuck, there was no easy answer here.
    “Deanna. Milly used to make me pre-made spells that were contained within a bladder, like a water balloon. Can you do that for me?”
    “I think so, what is it you need?”
    I took my hand from hers. O’Shea and Pamela might both hate me for it, but it would be something that would maybe keep Pamela out of the line of fire, letting me leave her at home.
    “Something that will hold a large werewolf for a