Shifter Secrets

By TK Eldridge

Sid and Sin, as usual, have a lot going on. Pranks against the shifters have escalated to vandalism, with each new incident pushing the risks higher. Old feuds are resurfacing, and when your family lives for centuries, old feuds can get very old indeed. And Grandma Fortin has given Micah and his stepson Nico a place to stay since home is where, when you show up, they have to take you in. Lovely. Sarcasm intended.

Sid doesn't have time for his games, but Nico is more than willing to play. The more he's around, the harder it is to stay focused as she and Sin race the clock trying to stop the saboteur before the shifters, and every other supernatural in Belle Cove, are outed to the world, all while trying to keep the centuries-old family politics in the past where it belongs.

Check out the third book in this five-star series that people say "mixes magical issues with mundane, making it believable."

• Language: English
• Publisher: TK Eldridge
• Release date: Apr 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9780463889930

TK Eldridge

TK Eldridge retired from a career in Intelligence for the US Gov't to write. The experiences from then are now being used to feed the muse for paranormal romance, mysteries, supernatural, and urban fantasy stories. When they’re not writing, they are enjoying life in the Blue Ridge mountains of western North Carolina. Two dogs, a garden, a craft hobby and a love of Celtic Traditional music keep them from spending too much time at the computer.

Book preview

Shifter Secrets

T.K. Eldridge

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Graffridge Publishing

First published by Graffridge Publishing 2020

Copyright © 2020 by T.K. Eldridge

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

T.K. Eldridge asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

T.K. Eldridge has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

Cover by Lizzie Dunlap of PixieCovers.com

Editing by Donna A. Martz of MartzProofing.com

If those who came before us could see what we’re doing with what they bequeathed, would they be happy or horrified? I like to think they would be proud of the strength and determination, and wary of the ways and means.

In the absence of memory, a person becomes like an animal. They know not where to go, how to act or who to be. They become lost. Like wandering sheep, hungry for truth. ― Ezinne Orjiako, Nkem

Sid and Sin, as usual, have a lot going on.

Pranks against the shifters have escalated to vandalism, with each new incident pushing the risks higher.

Old feuds are resurfacing, and when your family lives for centuries, old feuds can get very old indeed.

And Grandma Fortin has given Micah and his stepson Nico a place to stay since home is where, when you show up, they have to take you in.

Lovely. Sarcasm intended.

Sid doesn't have time for his games, but Nico is more than willing to play.

The more he's around, the harder it is to stay focused as she and Sin race the clock trying to stop the saboteur before the shifters, and every other supernatural in Belle Cove, are outed to the world, all while trying to keep the centuries-old family politics in the past where it belongs.

Contents

1. Chapter One

2. Chapter Two

3. Chapter Three

4. Chapter Four

5. Chapter Five

6. Chapter Six

7. Chapter Seven

8. Chapter Eight

9. Chapter Nine

10. Chapter Ten

11. Chapter Eleven

12. Chapter Twelve

13. Chapter Thirteen

14. Chapter Fourteen

15. Chapter Fifteen

16. Chapter Sixteen

17. Chapter Seventeen

18. Chapter Eighteen

19. Chapter Nineteen

20. Sample of Witching Ways

About the Author

Chapter One

Sid

Life had been interesting since my cousin Micah returned home. We thought it would be just Micah who needed a place to crash for a bit.

Oh, no. It wasn’t just Micah. It was also his stepson, Nicodamas, or Nico as he preferred. That sexy excuse for a cousin – and yes, that is in quotes for a reason. He’s legally my cousin, but there’s zero blood connection. Thank gods.

It all started the night of Sin and Mira’s engagement party. My great-grandmother, Queen Margaret of Faery; my cousin, Prince Finn MacCumhaill; my parents, my Grandma Fortin and Grampa Walsh –

eh, let’s just say everyone who was anyone was there. Including Stumpy, also known as Detective Patrick Clancy with the Belle Cove PD and my dad’s childhood friend. Stumpy showed up with another cousin of mine that I’d never met, Micah Harpur. He was around my Mom’s age and a totally arrogant dick. I’ll be honest, when I first met him, he gave me a creepy, ‘something’s not quite right’ feeling. I don’t know why I got that feeling, but I did.

Mom and I had been sitting out on the steps, taking a few minutes to catch our breath while the party slowly died down inside. I hadn’t seen Mom in months since she and Dad had gone on a world tour. We were chatting when Stumpy’s cruiser pulled up to the house and he hauled Micah out, then uncuffed him and told us he’d pulled him out of a fight at Belle’s, the brothel on the outskirts of town.

Micah went into the house with Mom, and Stumpy followed to get a drink. I stayed outside for a minute, not eager to go back into that seething mass of emotion called family.

That’s how I got to meet Nico first.

About three minutes after everyone went inside, a rusted red pickup pulled up behind Stumpy’s cruiser. I stood and watched as a man got out. When the light from the porch reached him, I sucked in a breath.

Who are you? I asked.

I’m Nico Lamontaine. Who are you? he replied.

I knew right then he was with Micah. The Cajun accent was thicker on Nico’s tongue than it had been on Micah’s.

Sidonie Boudreau. I live here. You must be with my cousin, Micah Harpur?

Dat I am, chere. He’s my Papa.

Well, that I wasn’t expecting. Uh huh. How do you think that?

I could see that Nico was a shifter, not a witch. Unless Micah had somehow been a shifter and then turned back into a witch, this wasn’t going to fly with me.

Nico laughed, and the sound curled low in my belly. Yeah, I’d had way too much wine and champagne tonight. That had to be it.

He’s my step-papa. He married my Maman and raised me as his. I don’t call him step anything though. He’s my Papa, and I’ve known no other.

Ah, well that makes more sense then. I was going to say, you’re a shifter and he’s a witch. I know you could be half and half, but you’d at least have some witch in you if you were his.

Dark hair that reached to his shoulders, dark eyes that caught the light and gleamed green-gold, skin a couple of shades darker than mine, broad shoulders and narrow hips - he was built like a swimmer or a triathlete, and he moved with an arrogant grace that made my mouth go dry. Faded jeans and a soft t-shirt clung to him like a second skin, leaving very little to the imagination. A slight scruff of beard lined his chiseled jaw and high cheekbones, and I wanted to run my fingers over it badly enough that I took a half step forward before I realized what I was doing.

Looked yer fill, have you, chere? Mind showing me where everyone is? I could use a bathroom and a fresh coffee that isn’t from a gas station.

I blushed and nodded. Sure, come on in. Bathroom is to the left when you step inside. Everyone’s in the main room. Just follow the noise when you’re done.

I watched him walk down the short hallway to the bathroom, then turned away to head into the kitchen. I needed to stick my head in the freezer or something. No, it wasn’t a Chosen bond kind of feeling. More of a ‘haven’t had sex in forever and he’s a hottie’ feeling.

Oh, good, are you getting more ice? Grandma Fortin asked as she saw me with my head in the freezer.

I groaned, opened my eyes, and pulled out the bag of ice. I let the door fall shut as I turned to face my Grams.

Cooling myself down, I muttered to her.

I thought it was nice outside? Grams asked.

Oh, it is, but Micah’s son is here and…

Micah’s what? Grandma screeched.

Grampa came around the corner at a run. Lissa, what’s wrong?

Grandma shook her head, sucked in a breath, and I slapped my hands over my ears.

Micah Kian Harpur, get your ass in this kitchen right now, was shouted through the house.

Everyone fell silent, then the whispered mutters began.

Micah sauntered into the kitchen and gave Grandma a coy smile. Yes, Maman, what can I do for you?

Grandma’s hands landed on her hips as she glared at Micah. Not only do you show up to my house, after however many decades, handcuffed and in the back of a police cruiser – you also showed up with a son that I know nothing about? My own flesh and blood?

He’s my stepson, Maman. He carries none of my blood and all of my heart, Micah replied, tone gentle. Nicodamas Lamontaine is the son of my wife, Richelle.

Just then, Nico stepped into the kitchen. He walked up to Grandma, offered her a polite bow, and spoke. Grandmere, it is an honor to meet the maman of the man who raised me. I have heard the stories and am pleased to finally meet such greatness.

I didn’t know if I wanted to gag or swoon. It was way over the top, but it was sweet at the same time. Grandma seemed as hesitant as I, so she gave him a polite smile, reached up, and patted Nico’s cheek. That was well-rehearsed and very sweet, but I’m not the kind of lady that swoons over sweet words. Show me that Micah has raised you well, and we’ll be just fine.

And just like that, my grandma showed me once again how to be strong, classy, and take no bullshit.

Grampa offered his hand and introduced himself, then moved the two men with him back into the party. Grandma turned to me when we were alone in the kitchen. Is that why you were needing to cool down? I could feel the sexual tension the minute he walked into the room.

I tried to shrug it off. He’s sexy and he’s not really related. Oh, and his mother isn’t here with them. It’s just him and Micah.

That did what I had hoped. Derailed Grandma – temporarily, of course.

I wonder why the boy never told me he was married. I know nothing about this woman or her son, or anything. This is unacceptable, Grandma said and hurried out of the room.

I leaned back against the refrigerator with a thud. By the skin of my teeth I’d avoided that conversation. Then Sin walked in and gave me a look, and I sighed. Don’t. Just don’t.

My twin smirked at me, nudged me out of the way and opened the fridge to grab a beer. Want one? he asked.

Sure, I replied.

So, what’s going on with you and Cousin Nico?

Shut up, Sin. He’s our cousin by marriage, not by blood.

Sin opened the two bottles of beer and handed me one. We’re not in a backwoods mountain town, sis. You can’t be getting the hots for a relative. People won’t let you live it down. Reputations are kind of important now that we’re in the SPD.

For the love of the goddess, Sinclair! I thought the guy was sexy. That doesn’t mean I’m about to climb into bed with him. Take a breath, for fucksake. Yeah, I was angry. Annoyed even. There is no Chosen bonding hotness going on here, I said and swirled a finger around in front of myself. I’ve got my own life to live before I worry about all of that.

Uh huh. And I felt that attraction, sis. It’s not just some ‘hey, he’s hawt, wink wink’ emotion. You need to go take a cold shower or something.

Sin, enough. I’m not looking for some dick with limbs attached to make my life more complicated. It was a drunken appreciation for pretty. That’s all. Please, let it go. I drained about half the beer in the bottle, set it down and moved towards my brother, reached up on my toes and kissed his cheek. Congrats on your engagement, Sin. You found an awesome one. Give everyone my love, would ya? I’m going to go find my bed.

Sin, blessedly, stayed silent as I left the kitchen and slipped into my apartment. I locked the door behind me, checked my doors and windows, then got into the shower. Sin was right about one thing. I needed to wash those thoughts right out of my head. I even added some of the lavender water Grams and I had made the last full moon. It was supposed to rinse away any spells or remnants of spells that someone might have picked up. I felt a little lighter, but not enough to blame my reaction to Nico on a spell. Dammit.

Wrapped in my terrycloth robe, my hair twisted up in a towel, I reached for my phone and scrolled through the numbers. After realizing that the people I wanted to talk to were either busy at the party in the other part of the house, or probably out on a date with someone other than me, I tossed the phone back on the table and finished drying my hair. I felt restless and out of sorts and pacing my living room wasn’t what I needed. I pulled on a pair of shorts and a tank top, braided my damp hair and found my running shoes. My phone and key went into a belt pouch and I