Soul Shift: The Charming Shifter Mysteries, #4

By Calinda B

From the author of the #1 Wished for Horror Anthology, The Charming Shifter Mysteries Books 1 - 3, New York Times Bestselling author Calinda B takes you on a dark fantasy, deep in the heart of a vampire--D'Raynged.

A vampire and a town manager walk into a bar in Charming, Alaska…

It's no joke that D'Raynged takes slacking his undead life away wicked seriously. He's a vampire of simple needs. All he wants is warm blood, his roommate's Netflix password, and to be left the hell out of all the supernatural crap that keeps happening to Chia Petit (aforementioned town manager, roommate, and best-friend-that-he-may-or-may-not-be-in-love-with).

Household maintenance is definitely not on his to-do list, especially not when it comes to the boiling red energy leak in Chia's bedroom ceiling that is dripping ghosts of all the former shifters and humans killed on her watch all over the carpet. Things go from bad to worse when Chia's boyfriend insists she kick D'Raynged out, and a great snowy owl bashes him in the head, sending him back to the 18th century—the last place he wants to be, and not just because of the lack of indoor plumbing.

D'Raynged must fight his way back to the present, but every choice he makes could not only change the course of the very future he's trying to get back to, but also spell certain death for the woman he can't seem to get out of his destiny's hair: Chia.

Storm Shift: Book 1
Power Shift: Book 2 (A USA Today bestselling book)
Blood Shift: Book 3
Soul Shift: 4
Star Shift: Book 5, the epic finale, coming in 2019

• Language: English
• Publisher: Calinda B
• Release date: Jan 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386424659

Calinda B

Author Bio: Calinda B was told early on that she should be a writer. She heard frequent praise for her writing, as well as her sense of humor. Scoffing at such admonitions and praise, she went on to pursue her life of adventure, chock full of the things that make up a well-rounded adventurous life: music (yup, she was a singer in a rock and roll band), dance (even performed hip hop in Russia), rock climbing (ever hung from a rock wall a few stories up? Yikes!), fire walking (taught high-ranking Moscow fire officials how to walk the coals), kayaking, scuba diving (she’s in love with sharks), travel, and falling in love again and again. Living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with the love of her life and her two cats, she has now chosen to put fingers to keyboard and write – when she’s not in pursuit of another adventure!

Book preview

Chapter 1 - Present Day

Three-hundred years of existence should be enough time to find something more scintillating than the weak-willed, shallow-minded encounter D’Raynged experienced tonight, right? Wrong. Sexual satisfaction slid through his fingers like slippery trout slithering from his hands on a sun-baked dock on the bayou.

Finding soul-food kind of pleasure in Charming, Alaska left much to be desired. If he simply had to feast here, close to home, he fed on tourists looking for an exotic experience. A good-looking, well-endowed vampire in a tiny backwoods town certainly qualified as exotic.

Outside of Sunshine Sally’s café, in the heart of downtown, he’d fed from the neck of a random, passive female beneath the sliver of a new moon, grinding his straining erection against her plush backside. Her blood hadn’t been that tasty. And her sexy seemed more like college fantasy material. No substance to it whatsoever. He sure hadn’t found the relief he desired.

After that, his body still craving something he couldn’t quite put his finger on, the passive woman’s friends had wanted a turn, as if he were a rocket ship ride at the carnival. He declined their offers.

He didn’t get it. Lately, each encounter left a dry-cornmeal kind of ache in his belly. Not finding what he sought—hell, not even knowing what he sought, his insides howled like his long-dead father’s Catahoula hound dog, Beau, calling out his cougar catch in the swamp trees.

Back in the south, about three centuries ago, D’Raynged had loved that hound dog. On a single day, he and Beau shared more lazy summer fun than his last six months of finding anything other than a hot meal between the legs of a lusty woman.

Currently, his frustration carved shapes and outlines in his insides—shapes and outlines that looked like Chia Petit.

Disappointed yet again, he catapulted through the void-blur of time and space in true vampire style, heading back from his nightly erotic sojourn much earlier than usual. Two am to be precise. Lately, nothing held his interest—nothing except his roommate and landlady Chia, town manager of Charming, Alaska, who currently lay in her bed, sleeping.

He wanted to be close to her. Plus, maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to get himself off in her presence while she slept. She’d been acting out of sorts lately. She pushed him away, then drew him near, ever since she’d discovered her blood offerings to him awakened some unique sorceress energy—something referred to as Cailleach blood magic. He chuckled, softly. Now, now, now...Is that what she’s out of sorts about? I don’t think so. It’s more like she’s fighting her desires to use me to access her magic. Whereas I have no compunction about using others to get what I want. She should just let go. He smiled and ran his tongue along his fanged teeth.

Chia’s grandfather had been a magic man. She’d stumbled into her awakening a year or so ago when she’d squeezed blood onto a chocolate kiss and left it on the counter. For me. Without me asking or even lifting a hand in her direction. He’d been so touched by the gift. And wham! Her abilities began to awaken.

As her Cailleach magic grew and pushed its way into form, awakened from its slumber, she asked him for more and more blood. Since she thought herself human, with aberrant magical abilities that only worked when she offered him blood, she seemed dependent on him. She hated to be dependent on anybody if her howls of protest were any indication. And, funny thing—he could never take her vital fluid the way he did with others. The effect they shared came from the offering—not the taking. The exchange only worked when she gave him droplets squeezed onto chocolate or whatever she had handy—which wasn’t much and always tasted stale. Ugh. He endured the foul-tasting food because the crimson droplets from her body tasted exquisite. And look how it serves her. Didn’t she manage to vanquish a host of nasty shadow shifters not too long ago? While the effect it has on me, is, well... He shivered, as his arousal began straining at his trousers. Imagine what it would be like to engage in sexual communion with her. My, my...

Not wanting to make a sound, he dematerialized outside of the front door and then rematerialized inside the foyer. With the stealth of a cat, he paced through the huge home.

Built by her late grandfather, a shaman if ever one existed, the house had massive timbers crisscrossing the ceiling. Chia’s assortment of coveted items—Tlingit tribe rugs, sturdy, hand-crafted furniture, and knick-knacks left by her grandparents—filled the room with cluttered chaos. All these bits of history helped secure the elaborate pattern of protective runes her grandfather had put into place inside the house as well as outside. They also held her sanguine magic in check, in a manner she wasn’t aware of, and he barely understood. There was a lot he didn’t understand about her lineage and the forces pulsing through her bloodstream. The research he’d done had only led so far. And, here in the house, D’Raynged had perceived hints of some strange, dark force permeating the old timbers.

Now, since he had nothing better to do, he squinted at the ceiling.

It seemed to throb and undulate with dark, crimson energy. The energy seemed bloated...weighted...as if long overdue birth hung imminent.

What could be causing this?

He placed one long elegant finger over his lips and tapped, deep in thought. Who could he consult? A tribe of Earth elders and shamans lived in the far north. Didn’t Chia mention something about rescuing shamans captured by the bastard known as Red Mountainbear? I might need to take a trip north. Then again... He had no desire to head north. He’d be too far away from Chia. Maybe this is voodoo? Aren’t there some voodoo magic specialists in the south? He shook his head. A sensation like snakes crawling all over his skin nixed that idea. No way shall I set foot in the south. Besides, I’d be way too far from Chia.

He crept down the hall and stood outside her bedroom. Like a master thief, he soundlessly twisted the brass knob and eased open her door. There she lay, softly snoring. The sheets and blankets had been pushed all around her, revealing her nakedness. The force of his desire exploded through him. A sharp inhale flooded his body with need. He wanted nothing more than to ravage her in an uncivilized and dangerous manner.

He shuddered and licked his lips. No. I shall never take from Chia in a meaningless exchange, like the countless women I have fucked. To keep his arousal in check, he directed his gaze away from her.

Her ridiculous ghosts—those transparent representations of past transgressions she’d never dealt with—drifted overhead, like colorful jellyfish. Outside the window, in the dark of night, a Snowy Owl sat on a leafless tree, watching over her. He made a mental note to check that out, too. Something about that Snowy Owl seemed odd to him. Night after night, it sat, watching her through the window.

He turned his attention back to her. One of the most stunning creatures I’ve ever beheld in my three hundred years of existence. His bulging erection pressed uncomfortably against his trousers, begging release. His teeth jabbed at the inside of his lips, seeking satisfaction. Saliva pooled in his mouth. He swallowed, studying her.

Scars still crisscrossed her skin. Something powerful and magic existed in her blood. If she cut her skin deep enough to bleed, flicking drops at them had enabled her to destroy the shadow shifters. They exploded on contact with her essence. But, it had taken a toll on her. She begged him to help heal her.

He’d gladly received numerous offerings from her.

Like a junkie, she’d pierce her skin to produce enough blood to coat a chocolate drop. Then, while he nibbled and sucked the sweet morsel, teasing her, she lay on the sofa tripping on the wondrous world she only perceived when they did the exchange. And, he did his thing.

Never mind that he’d laved her skin with his tongue to facilitate the healing process. The whole exchange left him hard as an anvil. Like he was right now, standing in the doorway of her bedroom like a skeevy peeping Tom voyeur.

Unquenchable arousal filled his cock to the point of pain. How can I get more than an insatiable taste? A deliciously devious idea shoved its way through his lust-clouded thoughts. Last time I performed healing, about a week ago, she mentioned she thought she was healed but wasn’t sure. Maybe I can offer her a boost. He chuckled, softly. I’m not so foolish as to think I want to stay close to merely look at her well-being.

Over the centuries, he’d learned many techniques for energy exchange. Perhaps one of them would allow us to stir the inner fires without the need for Chia’s blood. It’s worth a try. As he stood, watching her, he practiced a simple breathing technique taught to him about one hundred years ago by Yogic monks in a temple in Tibet. He inhaled deeply through his nose, drawing in Chia’s essence. He exhaled through his mouth, making a soft ah sound. He inhaled again. Exhaled.

Chia moaned.

That’s it, darlin’. Feel me. He kept up the breathing in a languid, lazy manner. The energy exchange grew thick and heavy before his eyes, like mint julep and sultry starlit nights. Strands of light connected them like a network of glowing fibers. Interesting. His arousal grew off the charts intense. My, my...the connection is stronger than I imagined. Can’t say I’ve ever experienced anything this potent.

Chia writhed, clutching her sheets around her. Her hand found its way between her legs.

D’Raynged unbuttoned his trousers, desperate for whatever release he could get.

So now you’re a voyeur, vampire?

D’Raynged froze. After securing the fly of his pants, he slowly turned to face Hung Durand, Chia’s sorry choice of partners. Hung stood several yards behind him in the dark hallway.

What’s this? No one snuck up on him—ever.

I’m merely tending to her wounds in a manner you should approve of. No blood exchange. He shielded the doorway with his body, giving Chia a bit of privacy should she still be pleasuring herself in her dream state. No sense setting this fool’s jealous impulses on fire.

Is that what you call it? Hung said, in a quiet, menacing voice. He took a step toward him, craning his neck in an attempt to peer through the doorway.

That’s what I call it. D’Raynged shifted to block Hung’s view. And what are you doing, skulking around in the night? That’s my job.

I needed some fresh air. I was out on the back porch. Hung’s eyes shifted left and right.

D’Raynged cocked his head.

I thought you had bounty hunter errands. Away from here. He also kept his voice soft, not wanting to wake Chia.

I came back early. And good thing I did. Maybe I need to move in and keep an eye on you.

An unfamiliar sensation rolled through D’Raynged’s gut. The idea of permanent cohabitation with Hung lodged in his throat like a tennis ball sized wad of hair.

Suit yourself. You’ve laid claim to Chia.

Laid claim... The hairball sensation shifted into something weighty. His chest seemed to strain, drawing some unfamiliar desire out of his subconscious.

Once again, she moaned.

What the hell did you do to her? Hung snarled.

D’Raynged put his hands out in a placating manner. I only observed, nothing more. She seems... He scanned his brain for an appropriate word. Aroused? Excited? Out of her mind with pleasure from our energy exchange? She seems agitated. Perhaps she’s dreaming. Of me, rocking into her most delightfully. A smile began to form, but he turned it into a sneer.

Hung scratched the back of his neck. Doesn’t sound like that to me. Are you sure you didn’t do anything?

Use your brain, human. You and she have been going at it like farm animals. She’s probably dreaming of you.

Hung’s eyelids lowered into slits. And you’re getting off on it. Close the damn door and give her some privacy. Besides, you and I need to talk.

He remained several feet away.

As you wish. D’Raynged pivoted, his gaze locking on Chia’s writhing form. He took one last deep inhalation and let loose a long stream of sex-soaked energy in her direction. That’s it, my sweet. Let yourself go.

Chia, still asleep, gasped and stiffened. Then, she relaxed with a beautiful smile on her face. She turned on her side and snuggled into the pillow.

D’Raynged’s heart began to stir and beat—something that rarely happened. Most of the time his organs stayed in a kind of quivering stasis, fueled by electrical impulses he’d never bothered to understand. Sweet Jesus, woman, what are you doing to me? He softly closed the door, smiling all the while. When he turned around to face Hung, he once more bore a stern, bored expression.

Which of your mundane concerns do we need to discuss? His lip curled.

You know which one. We’re heading out tomorrow to find my mother. You remember—the one you turned into one of your sick kind.

Ah, yes. I do recall a Type O with a touch of exquisite darkness.

Hung appeared to grow larger. Don’t say that. She had nothing of the sort inside.

D’Raynged waved his hand. Stay in denial. See what I care. And, we don’t know that I turned her, only that you can’t find her. But never mind. Right now, I’ve got something to attend to. My erection and the fine connection I’ve got going with your lover. Let me wrap a few things up before we chat.

Hung inclined his head. Right. And you’re not going to back out or disappear or anything, right?

D’Raynged made a sign over his dead heart.

You have my word. Now, if you shall excuse me. He pushed past Hung.

He could sense Hung’s slimy stare on his back like a snail trail. He kept his composure until he turned into the foyer to head back outside. Then, he paused, shook Hung’s ire from his skin, and stood, listening.

Chia’s door opened and snicked shut. The clunk of a boot dropping to the floor followed. Then, another boot. The mattress frame creaked from Hung’s weight. A sleepy murmur left Chia’s lips.

And again she yields to him. D’Raynged sighed. Something about his obsession with her didn’t make sense. He’d never experienced this kind of craving—at least he didn’t think he had. I seem to be hiding something from myself. But some things are better left in the dark. He took in one huge inhalation, drawing her sweet energy into his body. A noisy ah left his throat. He started to head outside.

A cry shattered the air.

Chia. The sound split his soul. In two seconds, he materialized in her doorway. He gasped. Even he, in all his years of gory existence, couldn’t have been prepared for the scene before him.

Chapter 2 - Present Day

D’Raynged froze in the doorway of Chia’s bedroom.

Transparent visages of those who died horrible deaths on Chia’s watch as town manager hung like effigies from the ceiling. The shifter Michael, who’d been caught in a trap stolen from Chia’s shed, stared at her with dead eyes. Deceased Fae, slaughtered by Red Mountainbear and his smarmy band of Shadow Shifters, their wings drooping from their backs, were suspended, pointed in her direction. Megan Giles, the young deer shifter who’d been shot by that crazed buffoon hunter Kyle, twirled in a circle, dangling by a rope, her chin on her chest. Every single being who’d been killed, destroyed, trapped, or desecrated since Chia had assumed her role as town manager surrounded her. They all vibrated with crimson electricity as if plugged into some invisible overhead socket.

Hung’s jaw had dropped open. His clothes lay in a crumpled heap next to his boots. He stood naked as if he’d sprung out of bed and halted, unable to process a single thought.

The Snowy Owl flew in frenzied circles outside the window, barely visible against the backdrop of the night sky.

Chia sat on her bed, clutching her bedding to her chest. Her gaze darted in every direction, like spilled ball bearings. Her chest heaved with shuddering breaths. Behind her, painted on the wall with either ruby-colored paint or blood, the words Choose or Die dripped from the wood.

Her ghosts zipped overhead in erratic patterns.

She looked at D’Raynged and opened her mouth as if to beg him closer.

D’Raynged leaned forward slightly in anticipation. Just say the word, and I’ll be by your side in a second.

Her head pivoted and her gaze fixed on Hung.

Hold me, she wailed.

He came out of his momentary comatose and crawled on the bed to her side.

D’Raynged sighed, assuming his bored countenance.

Hung drew her close to him, rubbing his hands up and down her back. There, there. Easy, girl. I’ve got you.

We were just...I was just...and then, this appeared, she blubbered. She clutched Hung and cried. Who would do such a thing? And why? What does choose or die mean?

Hung focused his eyes on D’Raynged. Oh, I have a good idea who’s responsible for this.

Chia pushed away. She wiped her nose on Hung’s shoulder as she did so. Who? Who on earth would do something so foul?

Yes, do tell, bounty hunter. D’Raynged crossed his arms over his chest.

Hung pointed his calloused finger at him.

D’Raynged stiffened. Why are you pointing your finger at me?

You were just in here staring at her. I’m sure this was some sort of spell or enchantment, Hung said.

It was nothing of the sort, D’Raynged said, drawing himself up to his full height of six foot two.

Chia scowled at D’Raynged. What were you doing in my room?

You were making agitated noises. I came to check on you, that’s all. I thought maybe you were going through withdrawal from the blood offerings. Perhaps it was a mistake to yield to my desires.

Right. Hung sniffed. And you’d be only too happy to help.

You came to check on me in the middle of the night? Why are you even home? Chia’s eyes were wide with surprise.

His mind raced to for a plausible excuse. I...I...I came home early. People don’t always have to vacate their homes when they’re not asleep, do they?

Chia leaned forward. She pointed at him, too. "You do. You get up, take whatever sustenance you need to get out the door, and then you’re gone. So what’s the meaning of this?"

She waved her arm around, indicating the see-through carnage.

His posture grew rigid. I have no idea. Why on earth would I resort to such tactics to get your attention? I’m well aware you’re on a mission to eliminate your addiction to offering me blood.

Chia covered her beautiful, snotty face with her hands.

"Make them go away. This is my bedroom," Chia cried, like there might be a better place for this to have happened.

Maybe she’s thinking I might enjoy waking up in my basement room to such carnage. People have the strangest ideas about vampires. D’Raynged whirled, ready to exit. I should head back downtown.

Where do you think you’re going? Hung said.

He glanced over his shoulder, one of his eyebrows raised in an imperious arch. Out. Like she said. He swished his hand in Chia’s direction. I’m usually not home at this hour.

A soft plop, plop, plop caught his attention.

He turned his head, seeking the source.

Blood dripped from the body of Megan, rolling down her toes. The viscous crimson soaked into the carpet, leaving a dark red stain. Then it began to drip from Michael. Next, the exquisitely colored life essence of the Fae seeped from their legs and feet, pooling on the ground.

Chia shrieked—more of a wail, really. "They’re bleeding. How is it possible that illusions can bleed? How can I get it to stop?"

D’Raynged turned his attention toward the ceiling. The same bloated red energy he’d noticed in the living room filled the space above Chia’s bedroom. It bore cracks and fissures, like a damn about to burst. The blood oozed from a fissure in the ceiling. Oh, this can’t be good. His brow furrowed. What’s the connection between that crimson force, held trapped by her grandfather’s spell, Chia’s magic, and this mad scene?

Yes, vampire, Hung snarled. How can she get it to stop?

D’Raynged cocked his head. So, neither of you can see or sense the red magic in the ceiling?

Magic? What red magic? All I can see is this horror show. Chia swished her palm back and forth as if trying to erase the sight before her.

You know how your grandfather set a barrier of runes around the property? He also...

Stop trying to deflect, vampire, Hung said, cutting him off. There’s no red anything in the ceiling, or I’d be able to sense it. I’m an avian shifter with a keen sense of the supernatural world.

I have a name, human, D’Raynged said. He held back a laugh over Hung’s keen senses. The magic in the ceiling was so blatantly obvious it might fall on Hung’s head. Which isn’t a bad idea.

What are you talking about? My grandfather did what? Chia looked at him, her brow furrowed.

Never mind. D’Raynged didn’t want to say more until he understood it. "Let me ask you something, Hung. None of this was in place when I left the room. You’re the one who was in here when it happened. What were you doing?"

Even in the dimly lit room, D’Raynged could see Chia’s rosy blush. I’m the one who gave her exquisite foreplay so he could drop his anchor into her? That’s all I’m good for to her. That, and paying rent on time.

You’re not going to pin this on me, Hung said.

"And neither of you is going to pin it on