Seeking Davi: Sanctuary, #3

By Megan Slayer

A place to belong and strong arms to hold him—but will this shifter get what he needs?

After being rescued and taken to the Sanctuary, a refuge for lion shifters, Talisman knows he's safe. But he's restless. All the other shifters have paired up, except Talisman and one other shifter. The guy is fine, but he doesn't make Talisman's heart beat or his lion roar. Talisman refuses to give up looking for what he wants, but he never expected love to come running, stark naked, through a hole in the fence.

Davi doesn't understand what's happened to him. One minute, he's a happy lion at the petting zoo. The next, he's being hunted and humans want to use his head as a trophy. When his hope is almost gone, two lions appear to show him an escape route. At the Sanctuary, he realizes his power to shift and the desires of a human male. He doesn't trust humans, but there's one shifter he wants to know better.

Talisman and Davi must decide whether to give in to their animal urges or let the ghosts of the past tear their world apart for good. No matter what they choose, there's one person who doesn't want anyone, especially the shifters, to get their happy ending. As Talisman and Davi seek forever, it just might be ripped right out of their hands.

 

This book has been re-edited for this re-issue.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Megan Slayer
• Release date: Jun 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393699248

Megan Slayer

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com. When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Book preview

Chapter One

Give me fresh air and a willing partner to fuck.

Davi stretched then strolled into the enclosure. He dragged air into his lungs. The other lions in the pen were younger and play fought. He recognized his siblings, but unlike them, he’d grown faster. He prided himself on already being a large male. He dug his claws into the dirt then broke into a sprint. His muscles ached initially from the run, but once he settled into a pace, everything evened out.

The trees in the enclosure provided some shade, and the bushes in clumps were good for hiding under, but he didn’t want to hide. He wanted out of the enclosure and to be able to run longer. The pen seemed so small some days, and there wasn’t the opportunity to hunt. If he pounced on the other lions, he risked being zapped with the pain stick. His favorite handler, Kiki, had called the stick a taser. He didn’t know if that’s what the name was, but he didn’t like being zapped. She hadn’t used the taser on him, but her boss, Carlton insisted on it.

Davi snorted and shook his head. He wouldn’t worry about the taser right now. He hadn’t done anything wrong. He snorted again and clawed at the packed earth under his feet.

The urge to mark his territory and rut came to mind. He didn’t understand the need to fuck, but he sure wanted to find a partner. The other day, he’d rubbed his dick on the fallen tree, the pressure felt so good. He kept up the action, stroking himself on the smooth wood until the good feelings exploded within him. He remembered hearing Kiki giggle when she’d caught him.

Getting your rocks off on the log, eh? she’d asked. Next time, try that with a female.

He liked Kiki. When she laughed, she improved his mood. One time, while brushing him, she’d mentioned that he could turn into a human. How she knew that or why she would even think it possible confused him. He wouldn’t become a human. He was a lion.

He ran a bit longer then stopped, noticing a new scent in the pen. He knew that smell. He turned around and faced the enclosure door. Was it time to head back into the building? He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been allowed into the petting room area. Carlton, the owner and main handler at the petting zoo, claimed he was too big and dangerous to be in the petting room.

Davi didn’t understand why being big was bad. Being around the children required him to be gentle. He could do that. He liked the kids and liked when they buried their little faces in his fur. Carlton claimed Davi would attack the children. But why? If he attacked them, they wouldn’t want to be around him. He liked to please the kids.

Kiki stood by the door with her arms folded. She wasn’t smiling and her cheeks were red. What was wrong? Davi sprinted across the enclosure. He liked her and wanted her to be happy. When he bounded up to her, he tackled her. Kiki collapsed beneath him and laughed.

Silly lion. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. You’re crazy.

He moved off her and flopped onto the dirt beside her. When he pawed at her face, he noticed the streaks. Tears? He’d only seen the small children cry, and that was because they’d been afraid of the lions. Was she afraid of him? He didn’t want to hurt her.

She threw her arms around his neck again and cried harder. You dumb animal. You weren’t supposed to get big so fast. Poor baby. She buried her face in his stubby mane. You’re my favorite lion, and now, I can’t keep training you.

Couldn’t keep training him? What did she mean? He wished he could talk and ask her these questions.

Kiki hugged him and cried on him then ran him around the pen. She put him through his paces, having him jump, tackle and roll in the grass.

You’re so smart. She scratched him behind the ears. A waste. More tears slipped down her cheeks. Damn it.

He tackle-hugged her and stuck his face in hers. He didn’t understand and wanted to.

Oh for the love of God, will you let him go? Carlton’s shadow appeared on the grass beside her. We talked about this.

I know. She wiped her face with the back of her hand then scratched Davi’s ears. But why can’t he go to a real zoo? Why do you have to do this? It’s reprehensible.

It’s business, and it’s about funding. I can’t keep the petting zoo running if the place isn’t making any money. Keeping him is putting me out of business, Carlton snapped.

A blinding pain exploded in Davi’s hindquarter. He collapsed on the ground beside Kiki and closed his eyes. What had he done to earn being hurt?

Why did you do that? Kiki screamed. He’s not hurting me.

He’s vicious.

Vicious? Davi managed to open one eye and glanced up at Carlton. The sun prevented him from discerning too many details. He wished he could see the look on Carlton’s face.

It’s time to do what needs to be done. Carlton pressed the stick to Davi’s hip. Move.

After being zapped again? Davi struggled to his feet. He’d never liked Carlton much, but the abuse with the taser was making it worse. He managed his way his feet and wobbled beside Kiki.

You can’t do this. I won’t let you, she cried. Let me find the zoo for him.

Now, Davi saw Carlton much better and noticed Carlton rolling his eyes. He aimed the stick at Davi, prompting Davi to walk away from both humans. Why were they doing this? Him zapping and her screaming. Nothing made sense.

Don’t. She grabbed Carlton’s arm, but that didn’t stop him.

Carlton shoved her to the ground and jammed the taser into Davi’s rear flank. The pain radiated through Davi’s body again, but this time, he growled and ran away from his tormentor. He wasn’t sticking around for this.

Davi scrambled across the enclosure and dove under a bush. He listened for Carlton and Kiki. Her crying had stopped, but Carlton’s shouts lingered.

I don’t care. The poor bastard is eating me out of any profits, Carlton bellowed. It’s not my fault he won’t live to see tomorrow.

Davi hunkered down tighter. He was supposed to be an alpha, but he didn’t feel like one. He wanted to know why he wouldn’t see tomorrow. Not in the same enclosure? He wished he understood.

Where is the bastard? Carlton shouted. Here kitty, kitty.

Davi debated what to do. Stay put and suffer Carlton’s wrath or run? He bit back his pride and darted out from under the bush. When he zigzagged, he noticed Carlton behind him, holding a gun.

Where was he supposed to go? He ran along the solid red wall surrounding the enclosure. A door opened, and Kiki waved to him. She’d never steered him wrong. Davi pounded across the dirt to where she stood and ran through the doorway. As soon as he stepped into the new enclosure, he wished he hadn’t trusted her.

Thick swirls of barbed wire decorated the top of the chain-link fence. The lush grasses and trees were replaced by smaller, thinner bushes and gnarled, bare tree branches. What was this place? He skidded to a stop and every hair on his body stood on end. Something had definitely changed, and it wasn’t just the landscape.

Told you he’d be dumb enough to go in there, Carlton said. Davi couldn’t see where the owner was, but he heard the man’s voice clearly. He’s a typical big, dumb animal.

He’s not dumb, Kiki sobbed. What you’re doing is murder.

Davi wasn’t sure what murder meant, but if Kiki’s cries were any indication, he wasn’t in for a good time. Davi stared at the top of the fence. He’d never encountered barbed wire before, but Kiki had mentioned the wire would hurt him—if he could even jump that high. Without any trees near the fence, he wouldn’t be