Shifter Magnetism Read Online Free PDF Page A

Judging by the grimace on her face, it tasted no better than it smelled. When she finished, she took several deep breaths and swallowed repeatedly. He prepared to grab a bowl for her.
    “Lay her back down, wolf.”
    He did, gently. The healer began to chant. Her hands glowed light green as her palms hovered over Leila’s body. The fringes of the healing magic brushed him. Calm descended over him.
    Finally, Mama Tui lowered her hands. “It is done. She must rest for twenty-four hours.”
    He looked down into Leila’s eyes. “Are you better?”
    “I don’t feel as if I’m at death’s door, but I’m awfully tired.” She sounded exhausted and weak.
    He picked her up. “What do we owe you, Mama Tui?”
    “I’ll take a favor.”
    He hugged Leila tighter. Sometime in the future he would owe the witch a boon of her choice. It was worth it to know he still had his mate.
    He carried her from the house and got them both strapped into the SUV. He couldn’t take her back to his home. His alpha would be furious. “What is your address, Leila?”
    She told him, and he drove to her building. She lived in a condominium in the heart of downtown. He pulled her keys from the pocket of her trench before lifting her from the car. He held her as they took the elevator to the third floor. He paused outside the door. The only heartbeats he could discern were their own. He didn’t smell another being either. He held her one-handed as he opened the door with the other.
    After he locked the door, he placed her on the couch and went through each room to check for an intruder. He returned to the living room, picked her up, and walked to her open bedroom door. He laid her on the side of the bed farthest from the door and then turned on the side-table lamp. She was sound asleep again. The healer said she needed twenty-four hours of rest. She didn’t wake as he removed her shoes. He climbed in the bed between her and the door. He would protect her from anything and anyone who wanted to take her away from him. He covered them both.
    Now all he had to do was resist his mate instinct so she’d be safe from his pack, watch over her all day, every day, and catch a deranged killer. Then he needed to convince her to leave her Council and join a pack that didn’t have a prejudice against nonshifters.
    He squeezed her to his chest to comfort himself.
    * * * *
    “Leila.”
    She struggled toward the deep timbre of his voice. “Nic?”
    “Only me from now on.”
    “What?” She forced her eyes open.
    Nic, in all his bare-chested glory, leaned over her. She could get used to this.
    She forced her gaze away from the sleek muscles of his chest and abdomen before concentrating on his face. “What happened?”
    “Do you remember going to Mama Tui’s the night before last?”
    “Yes, but I don’t remember getting home.” Or why he was still with her.
    “You were asleep. You’ve slept for over twenty-four hours. I’m going back out to check the perimeter of the building. Stay inside.”
    And here we go. Shifter arrogance.
    “He could come back for you, Leila. There is no record of another woman being killed last night or the night of your attack.”
    The information curbed her attitude. Three witches had been killed already. They hadn’t been from her Council, but simply in the city attending clubs or parties. He was a detective keeping her safe. The shirtless bodyguard work was a plus. The least she could do was follow reasonable directions.
    “Okay.”
    He stood and put his shirt on. She resisted the urge to growl, hold her hand up, and scratch at him as if she had a claw. The action would be tacky. She still wanted to do it.
    He brushed her hair off her face before exiting the room. She heard the condo door close. Climbing out of bed, she headed for the bathroom. One look in the mirror and her worst suspicions were confirmed. She looked wild and unkempt. Her hair was everywhere, and her dramatic makeup from the night of the party had taken