Read Online Shifter's Claim (The Shadow Shifters) by A. C. Arthur - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: A. C. Arthur
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was quickly moving up her list of people she detested.
So why was she here? Why had she flown across the country when the notes had directed her to Reynolds? Because Sebastian Perry knew what she was after. He knew the secret Reynolds was hiding and she was going to get him to tell her. He’d warned her to stay away from Rome. Fine. Then he would be the one to tell her what she needed to know. It was that simple.
No, there was absolutely nothing simple about Perryville Resorts. The redbrick building was like a small fortress jutting up from the earth surrounded by nature’s choice and not man’s, by the most beautiful rock formations Priya had ever seen. Sure, she’d never been anywhere farther than Ocean City, Maryland, for a week in the summertime, so saying she hadn’t seen many gorgeous feats of nature was a given. But that didn’t stop her from recognizing the breathless wonder that was the Boynton Canyon and this magnificent display of modern décor that had been dropped inside of it like a penny in an old Coke bottle.
She stepped out of the cab, slipping her sunglasses off so she could see everything without any buffer. The sun had already set, night looming over the resort like a shadow, but even it couldn’t hide the opulence. The front doors seemed much taller and wider than normal doors she’d walked through, gold handles and writing on them added grandeur. She wanted to go back home and slip into her red dress once more, to put on the shoes she’d paid only about a third of her weekly paycheck for at Macy’s. Jennifer, her hair stylist who worked on Florida Avenue, would gladly squeeze her in for a quick wash and curl, and her manicure was still in acceptable condition. The jeans and black fitted T-shirt she wore did nothing to make her feel like she belonged in a place like this.
Still, her green money that held the same value as everyone else’s had paid for a room, so Priya walked up to the front desk and checked in. She tried to ignore the soft music that sounded like a harp over dripping water that played overhead. This wasn’t a vacation. She walked with her chin held high, her duffel bag growing a little heavier in her hand toward the elevators and once she finally stepped inside, let out the breath she’d been holding.
“Do or die?” she whispered to herself, shaking at how true that sentiment actually was in her case.
The elevator dinged, doors opened, and she hurriedly stepped out.
“Great. Big expensive resort and no signs to tell you which way to go to your room,” she quipped then looked down at the key card in her hand. It had the number written in small green numbers beneath the gold-printed Perryville logo, the same one that was printed everywhere she’d looked in this building as if anyone would dare to forget where they were or who owned the place.
It took her another five minutes to realize she was on the wrong floor and to curse herself for being wrong once again. Slapping her palm against the UP button she waited impatiently for the elevator. All she wanted to do was talk to Perry again, get some information out of him this time, then go back home where she belonged. The elevator doors opened once more and she stepped inside determined to do her job as quickly as possible and not to enjoy a moment of this gorgeous place for fear that at any moment she might just get used to it.
* * *
Bas stopped where he stood. He waited a beat, his hand paused over the knob of the door leading to the conference room. He was late by about fifteen minutes and it couldn’t have been helped. Maybe it could have had he not given into a basic need, a need that continued to claw at him. But he was here now and they were waiting for him. They had to pull out soon if they were going to make it in time for the drop-off.
Still, Bas didn’t move.
He inhaled deeply, released it slowly, and felt a now-familiar tug inside. It was as if the beast had begun stalking the human, taunting
So why was she here? Why had she flown across the country when the notes had directed her to Reynolds? Because Sebastian Perry knew what she was after. He knew the secret Reynolds was hiding and she was going to get him to tell her. He’d warned her to stay away from Rome. Fine. Then he would be the one to tell her what she needed to know. It was that simple.
No, there was absolutely nothing simple about Perryville Resorts. The redbrick building was like a small fortress jutting up from the earth surrounded by nature’s choice and not man’s, by the most beautiful rock formations Priya had ever seen. Sure, she’d never been anywhere farther than Ocean City, Maryland, for a week in the summertime, so saying she hadn’t seen many gorgeous feats of nature was a given. But that didn’t stop her from recognizing the breathless wonder that was the Boynton Canyon and this magnificent display of modern décor that had been dropped inside of it like a penny in an old Coke bottle.
She stepped out of the cab, slipping her sunglasses off so she could see everything without any buffer. The sun had already set, night looming over the resort like a shadow, but even it couldn’t hide the opulence. The front doors seemed much taller and wider than normal doors she’d walked through, gold handles and writing on them added grandeur. She wanted to go back home and slip into her red dress once more, to put on the shoes she’d paid only about a third of her weekly paycheck for at Macy’s. Jennifer, her hair stylist who worked on Florida Avenue, would gladly squeeze her in for a quick wash and curl, and her manicure was still in acceptable condition. The jeans and black fitted T-shirt she wore did nothing to make her feel like she belonged in a place like this.
Still, her green money that held the same value as everyone else’s had paid for a room, so Priya walked up to the front desk and checked in. She tried to ignore the soft music that sounded like a harp over dripping water that played overhead. This wasn’t a vacation. She walked with her chin held high, her duffel bag growing a little heavier in her hand toward the elevators and once she finally stepped inside, let out the breath she’d been holding.
“Do or die?” she whispered to herself, shaking at how true that sentiment actually was in her case.
The elevator dinged, doors opened, and she hurriedly stepped out.
“Great. Big expensive resort and no signs to tell you which way to go to your room,” she quipped then looked down at the key card in her hand. It had the number written in small green numbers beneath the gold-printed Perryville logo, the same one that was printed everywhere she’d looked in this building as if anyone would dare to forget where they were or who owned the place.
It took her another five minutes to realize she was on the wrong floor and to curse herself for being wrong once again. Slapping her palm against the UP button she waited impatiently for the elevator. All she wanted to do was talk to Perry again, get some information out of him this time, then go back home where she belonged. The elevator doors opened once more and she stepped inside determined to do her job as quickly as possible and not to enjoy a moment of this gorgeous place for fear that at any moment she might just get used to it.
* * *
Bas stopped where he stood. He waited a beat, his hand paused over the knob of the door leading to the conference room. He was late by about fifteen minutes and it couldn’t have been helped. Maybe it could have had he not given into a basic need, a need that continued to claw at him. But he was here now and they were waiting for him. They had to pull out soon if they were going to make it in time for the drop-off.
Still, Bas didn’t move.
He inhaled deeply, released it slowly, and felt a now-familiar tug inside. It was as if the beast had begun stalking the human, taunting
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