Mortal Guardian: Shadow Shifters, #6

By Tia Didmon

A Descendant. A Pact. A Guardian.

When a traitor reveals the reapers are turning humans at an alarming rate, and Riley's blood is the key, a family secret is revealed that threatens her life and sanctuary within the clan.

The reapers join forces with the demons in exchange for immortality, but their pact includes experimenting on humans and shadow shifters alike. After Riley's attempt to save an innocent results in Colton being infected with demon blood, he begins a transition into something she doesn't recognize.

When the demon's plan is revealed, and Riley's trust is betrayed. Will Riley kill the man she loves in order to save humanity or accept her fate and become the demon king's puppet?

Find out what hides in the shadows by reading MORTAL GUARDIAN, the Paranormal Romance Series readers are comparing to Christine Feehan and Patricia Briggs.

One click MORTAL GUARDIAN and continue your paranormal adventure today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bold Butterfly Publishing Inc.
• Release date: Oct 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215989432

Tia Didmon

Tia Didmon is a USA Today bestselling author of provocative paranormal romance and paranormal women’s fiction. When Tia isn't busy writing about sexy shifters and dreamy demons, she spends her time binge-watching The Order and reruns of The Vampire Diaries, cooking with her daughter, and serving her cat. Her love of writing stems from a self-diagnosed book addiction.  Subscribe to Tia's newsletter at tiadidmon.com for a free book and start your journey through Tia's supernatural world today! 

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Smoke rolled off Riley’s shoulders as she focused on her prey. He was bigger, more experienced, and exceptionally fast. But she’d never let a larger opponent intimidate her in the boxing ring, and she wasn’t about to do it now. She listened for vibrations in the air, waiting for the particular hum that was emitted from the shadow pathway when one of them entered or exited the stream. Her opponent’s movements were too well practiced to anticipate his next maneuverer, but she stayed with him, looking for an opening.

Colton moved through the air at blurring speeds, transferring his weight from one foot to the other with the agility of a gazelle, and Riley was confident he had slowed his pace for her benefit. He dissolved from his current location in the middle of the field below their treehouse, only to reappear behind her. She detected the slight hum and displacement of air as his form coalesced and his arm arced to grab her. She allowed her warrior to compensate by spinning, her leg hyper extending to make contact with his face.

While her strike was unanticipated and quick, Colton arched his spine backward and her foot skimmed in front of his nose. His warrior receded as he resumed his human form, a smile on his face.

That was excellent, Riley, Colton said.

The adrenaline pumping through her veins made it difficult to calm her warrior. The need to hunt and kill was ever present, and she warred with instincts predominated by her demon. She inhaled the rich scent of damp earth from last night’s rainstorm, listening to the birds that fluttered from tree to tree in the surrounding forest. While the beauty of nature wasn’t shared by her demon, it accepted the battle was over and receded. She flexed her hand in front of her face as her human body reformed.

Thanks. I can detect the vibrations from you entering and exiting the pathways, but when you’re in front of me, I can’t anticipate your moves. You’re so fast that I’m reacting instead of sparring.

When it comes to fighting, remember that we are still part human. Every man has a tell. Slight movements that alert you to his technique. A roll of his left shoulder when he plans to strike with his right hand. A twist in his ankle as he plants one foot to kick with the other.

Although I never competed professionally, I enjoyed boxing. I even tried my hand at Tae Kwon Do, but I didn’t get far. She put her hand to her stomach when it rumbled.

Colton approached her, slipping his arm around her waist. Sparring excites your demon. It heightens your senses and enhances your strength, but those advantages come with a price.

She leaned into him, putting her hands on his chest. His sandalwood sent mixing with the musty odor of the surrounding earth. I have to feed. It hits me faster, the more I exert myself.

He kissed her forehead. Yes. It’s been over a week. I’ll try to find you a lame animal.

All right. I’d like to navigate the pathway on my own, if you don’t mind taking a backseat.

I think that’s a great idea. Now picture the location in your mind. Map out the streams you will traverse to reach your destination with the least segues between tunnels. Switching streams slows your progress, so you want to take the most direct route.

No different from a road trip. Got it. The low growl in her mind alerted her to her demon’s excitement. The thrill of the hunt was always present in its mind, an instinct she had to continually curb. A never-ending tug-of-war that would endure until she took her last breath. Her shadow warrior wasn’t the only beast within her excited about the hunt. Her cougar flexed its claws within her mind, rolling his shoulders as if it were an athlete stretching before the main event.

Colton touched her chin. Riley?

Sorry. Just having a pep talk with my demon.

The demon soul is part of you. Its desires are your desires, on a more instinctual level.

Riley reflected on the duality of her nature and the activities from human life that brought her joy. She’d always been competitive, enjoying a game of chess or a physical match. The hunt was a reflection of those emotions. To pit yourself against an opponent, to anticipate and out maneuver them in order to win. Colton was right. That desire was hers, but the need to kill was solely on her demon.

I’m ready, if you are, she said.

Colton put his hands on her shoulder. You will be directing my shadow as well as yours. After you dissolve, create the vehicle in your mind, and instruct our warriors to enter it before you move us into the pathway.

"I think I’ve missed something. I thought we simply held our molecules together to move through the pathway.

That’s true if you’re traveling alone, but if you are taking another shadow through the pathway, a fledgling, for example, you create an invisible casing to hold both shadows together. This ensures that they arrive with all their limbs intact.

Yep, I definitely want to avoid that experience.

Colton chuckled. Trust me, you do.

Her eyebrows arched. That sounds like a story.

It is, for another time. If your stomach gets any louder, I won’t be able to hear myself think.

You’re right about that. Okay, let’s do this. She created a map in her mind, one that led to the base of the mountain. The zigzag of pathways that intersected one another, allowing them speed and invisibility as they traveled. When she had her route mapped out, she connected with her demon, showing it what she wanted. Her body dissolved, every molecule separating into a swarm of dark matter. Her shadow enveloped Colton’s as she created the invisible casing. A bubble of power that would hold both her and Colton’s shadowy essence.

There was a moment of reluctance as her warrior instructed Colton’s. The alpha, unused to anyone else controlling it rebelled at the initial instruction. It touched on her soul, before infusing her power with his and following her direction. The invisible casing became a titanium like bubble, creating comfort and safety as they infused it.

Emotion and instinct were more prevalent in her non-corporeal form. Her hunger infected every cell in her body, making her desperate for the hunt. Still, she didn’t want to fail. The need to learn and gain Colton’s respect was just as dominant. She moved the combined essence into the pathway as the familiar hum radiated around them. The dark tunnel enveloped them as they raced through the stream. A blur of darkness with pinpricks of light. A starry night only the creature of the shadows could experience.

Her exit from the tunnel wasn’t as smooth as she had hoped. She stumbled on the uneven ground, tripping on an exposed root, before landing hard on the ground. Her hands clawed the wet earth before she stood, dusting the dirt from her clothes as Colton got to his feet. That was a little less stealthy than I expected.

Colton wiped his hands on his shirt. You have to picture your body forming with your feet beneath you before we exit the tunnel.

She pursed her lips. Why did you fall?

If I break through your casing, prior to you letting it fall, it will cause you pain. He winked. This isn’t the first time I’ve ended up face down. I’m sure it won’t be the last.

She admired Colton’s attitude towards life. He never let the little things bother him, yet he would give his life to protect her. While she wasn’t sure she deserved that kind of devotion, she had no intention of giving it up. Where to next?

Colton sniffed the air. There are several animals hiding from us. We will have to scout if you want to find something at the end of its lifespan. Which form do you prefer today?

I’ve done most of my hunting in cougar form. I’d like to utilize my wolf. If you don’t mind, her tone dropped an octave, with a warble of uncertainty.

Riley, I envy your ability to shift into a second form. Your wolf is beautiful. Don’t ever feel like you’re letting me down by enjoying that freedom.

If she wasn’t madly in love with him, that would’ve been the moment she caved, but her heart was already tied to the sexy shadow she had chosen to spend her life with. She formed the image in her mind, as the familiar pain of bones breaking and reshaping vibrated through her body. Grey and white fur bubbled along her skin as her jaw elongated to allow her muzzle to form. Copper coated her tongue as her canines burst through her gums, chomping together. The snapping sound echoing in the cool air.

The wolf raised its head and howled into the breeze, expressing its freedom and excitement. Birds burst from the tree above them, avoiding the predator below as she sniffed the air.

She put her nostrils to the ground. Dozens of scents were segregated and categorized. A mouse hid in an underground tunnel a foot from where they stood. A deer had strolled through the low brush, leaving it scent on the lush greenery. It was young and healthy, but that wasn’t the prey she was looking for. Her head snapped up, the scent of tainted blood infusing the receptors in her nostrils as she zeroed in on the trail she wanted to follow.

She sprang forward, allowing her muscles to flex beneath her thick pelt. She bounded over shrubs and fallen logs, weaving between the evergreens. Saplings brushed her fur and birds squawked their displeasure as she raced through the forest, intent on her destination.

While she couldn’t see him, she sensed the cougar running behind her. His paws thumping earth as it raced to follow her path. He could easily overtake her, his speed far greater than hers, but he allowed her to take the lead and navigate their hunt.

It took only seconds for the scent she was tracking to turn from a whisper to a thick odor of fresh meat. She slowed her pace, slinking through the underbrush so she could assess the elk herd. They strolled through the forest in a group of fifteen, led by a stag with eight points on his antlers. His majestic rack arced above his head like a halo made of bone. But the magnificent alpha wasn’t who she’d come for.

She inched over the grass on her stomach as the group passed, the straggler hobbled behind the group with scabs on his right thigh. The grey hair and sickly smell of infection had her leaning forward, prancing on her forepaws before she sprung into action.

The old elk’s gait barely accelerated before she took him down.

She fed, silently thanking the animal for its sacrifice, wishing it well on its next journey. It didn’t struggle, accepting the painless fate. Still, a sense of guilt was always with her. She shifted to her human form with tears in her eyes.

Colton pulled her from the ground and into his arms. Honey, you can’t keep doing this to yourself. That elk would never have recovered from that wound.

I know. I just... Her shoulders shook as she tried to contain the guilt. The demon, the wolf and the cougar accepted their predatory nature. The natural order and their roles within it, but the human refuted that instinct, as memories of the past resurfaced. Every pet she’d had growing up. Their trust and love were absolute until they took their last breath.

He kissed her. His lips were gentle and insistent, bringing her back to the present. Creating new memories and sensation that left her breathless. She knew exactly what he was doing, trying to distract her from the dark side of shadow life. She put her arms around his neck as he scooped her into his arms and strode through the forest, releasing her to her feet when they reached the riverside. She gave into his hunger, matching it with her own.

The thunder of rushing water echoed around them as he pulled her hard against his body. His caress on her skin insistent as he slipped his hand beneath her shirt had her growling in anticipation. She needed this. She needed him.

Riley clutched his shoulders as their shadows reached for one another. Emotions collided, as hunger, desire and love combined to heighten every sensation. His hair brushed along her cheek, a whispering caress as she nibbled his ear. The erotic fire building in her blood as he slid his hands to her breasts, rolling an erect nipple between his fingers before tracing down her ribs.

She reveled in the sensations his erotic touch produced. Every stroke produced a dark hunger that needed to be sated. A primal need that only Colton could alleviate. She wanted to scream for relief, but the air caught in her throat when his hand moved to her pants, slipping them down her thighs. He could shift their clothes to the shadows, but he liked unwrapping his presents.

He released the button on his jeans, springing his thick cock from its confinement before positioning her legs on either side of his. Riley moaned when his fingers slipped between her slick, heated