Shifters Of The Elements: The Prequel (A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance Series): Shifters of the Elements, #0

By Lark Sterling

For decades, my mother Queen Omera has protected the Shifters. But a Queen's rule can't last forever.

My three sisters and I watched as our mother joined our ancestors, and once she left the mortal plane behind, we became the High Alphas, the new protectors of the world.

But in order to fulfill our destinies, each of us has been tasked with finding our fated circle of not one, but three mates.

According to the Council, each mate will supposedly provide protection for either the body, mind, or soul, making us more powerful than ever before.

None of us are ready to settle down with one mate, let alone three.

But as the new High Alphas of the Earth, Air, Water, and Fire Shifters, my sisters and I have a duty to fulfill.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Red Lily Publishing
• Release date: Nov 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393960508

Book preview

Chapter One

Ta ith kyrnawi norn dolibix, the Matriarch chanted as her shoulders swayed.

Her long black hair shimmered in the flickering of the lambent wax-held flames that surrounded her in her chambers. All around her, shadows danced along the walls, their movements almost choreographed like a flight of fairies in the bright moonlight. Elliptical bands of Abramelin spiraled from the small crystal dishes that perched on the edge of the ritual table that sat just a foot off the ground and close enough for Omera, the Mother, the guider of the Shifter clans, to pull her tools from as she drifted into a deeper meditation.

The ritualistic meditation was a regular affair for Omera. It was her time to connect with her ancestors, those that had ruled before her and guided her through her time on Earth. She ruled over all of the Shifter clans, shepherding them to a safe and prosperous life amongst the humans. They had spent centuries in the shadows, hiding their truths, but most liked it that way. They knew if humans were to discover their secret, it would only lead to mass hysteria and death.

Moiparran kalipar kali lethodar. The Matriarch’s voice was low and quiet, a whisper in the breeze of the open window.

As she spoke the words, her meditation pulled her from her conscious mind and thrust her into the ancestor’s realm. They called it the Fields of Moribund, the land of the dead. Omera had no fear of the dead, as they had no fear of her. They were the wise and strong, those that had spent lifetime after lifetime with their hands on the shoulders of Queens, Kings, and High Alphas, helping to keep the Shifter species safe.

Omera reached up and grabbed her small dagger, her hand wrapping tightly around the soft ivory handle. With controlled slow movements, her eyes closed and a small hum reverberated from her chest. She dragged the blade of the knife across her scarred palm and made a fist, holding tight as blood dripped down onto the burning Abramelin. The warm liquid hissed as it evaporated, and the dagger fell from the Matriarch’s hand.

As the process went, her head snapped back and her eyes opened, but instead of having pupils, they were simply white balls of light. On the outside, she sat perfectly still, her breath shallow, her legs crossed over each other. On the inside, her consciousness faded and she emerged, youth having found her skin once again. Barefoot, she walked forward through the Fields of Moribund, running her palms against the tall grasses along the path. In the center was a stone platform with the sigil of each of the four Shifter elements, Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, etched into the rock.

Her long flowing white gown fluttered around with the cool wind that whipped across the field. Omera’s voice was fluid and soft, almost singing to the ancestors. I am here at your will. What is the message you have summoned me for?

Colorful sparks