Crimson Purity (The Shifter Chronicles 15)

By M.D. Grimm

Diego is a coyote shifter living in Mexico City. He co-owns a tourist business with his best friend and enjoys his independence. Unfortunately, his parents are unable to look beyond his deafness and are convinced he is in need of care, regardless of his many achievements. And when his pack receives a special assignment from their master shifter, one concerning the Knights of the Dawn—an organization bent on the eradication of shifters—he’s determined to stand on his own and help, rather than let his parents hide him away.

Jay is an army veteran, and after reacclimating to civilian life, he takes his family’s advice and travels for a vacation. Hoping to hook up with someone to break his celibacy, he meets a beautiful man in a bar named Diego. Having two deaf sisters makes communication between them easy since Diego also knows ASL. Their chemistry is explosive, and Jay can’t believe his luck.

But their mutual bliss is shattered when Jay is hunted and attacked by knights. They don’t appear to want to kill him... they just want his blood. Diego must put everything on the line to keep Jay, and his pack, safe, and hope that their burgeoning relationship can hold strong in the face of the coming storm.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.D. Grimm
• Release date: Jan 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9781005697419

M.D. Grimm

M.D. Grimm has wanted to write stories since second grade (kind of young to make life decisions, but whatever) and nothing has changed since then (well, plenty of things actually, but not that!). Thankfully, she has indulgent parents who let her dream, but also made sure she understood she’d need a steady job to pay the bills (they never let her forget it!). After graduating from the University of Oregon and majoring in English, (let’s be honest: useless degree, what else was she going to do with it?) she started on her writing career and couldn’t be happier. Working by day and writing by night (or any spare time she can carve out), she enjoys embarking on romantic quests and daring adventures (living vicariously, you could say) and creating characters that always triumph against the villain, (or else what’s the point?) finding their soul mate in the process.

Book preview

Crimson Purity

The Shifter Chronicles 15

Blood Book Three

M.D. Grimm

Crimson Purity

The Shifter Chronicles 15

Blood Book Three

M.D. Grimm

Cover Art by Kris Norris

Copyright 2023 M.D. Grimm

Smashwords Edition

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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Table of Contents

Note to Readers

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Want More Paranormal Content?

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About This Book

Chronological List of Series

About M.D. Grimm

Other Titles by M.D. Grimm

Connect with M.D. Grimm

Note to Readers

The events in this story partially overlap those in the previous book, Red Sun. While reading Red Sun is not necessary to understand the happenings in this story, there will be a couple of storylines from the previous book continued and resolved in Crimson Purity. And, as always, there will be cameos of reoccurring secondary characters from previous books.

Prologue

Zan niquittoaya ye ni Mexicatl mani ya huiya nohtlatoca tequantepec ni yahui polihuin chittepehua a ya ye choca in tequantepehua o huaye.

Ma ca qualania nohueyotehua Mexicatli polihui chile.

Citlalin in popocaya ipan ye moteca y za ye polihui a zan ye xochitecatl ohuaye.

(I foresaw, being a Mexican, that our rule began to be destroyed, I went forth weeping that it was to bow down and be destroyed.

Let me not be angry that the grandeur of Mexico is to be destroyed.

The smoking stars gather together against it; the one who cares for flowers is about to be destroyed.)

~Aztec Song, written in Otomi

Diego squeezed into the crowded house. He pushed past his parents, his brothers, and his numerous cousins to slip his lean body into the front of those gathered. He got a few looks and eyerolls but no one stopped him. They all knew he needed accommodation and allowed him to position himself so he could see their master shifter unobstructed.

Eztli, the coyote master shifter, scanned her pack as they gathered inside her small home. She owned a large plot of land outside Mexico City and claimed to have little use for a big house. She spent most of her time as her coyote exploring the dwindling woodland parks that she’d told them were once lush and expansive. She’d lived a long life, as all master shifters did, and used to tell stories of her youth, before the conquistadors came. Before the people known to modern-day scholars as the Aztecs had diminished and disappeared. She didn’t tell those stories anymore.

It was rare for her to send out the call to her entire pack, demanding an urgent meeting. Due to many unable to be there in person, the more tech-savvy had set up a Zoom call to make sure everyone was included. Since there were a couple of hundred in her pack, many her direct descendants, it was the only way to answer her summons.

Diego regarded his alpha. She was short and stocky, her skin naturally dark brown, and tanned darker by the sun. She had delicate features with slender hands and feet. She wore colorful dresses and shawls, her long brown hair always restrained in a bun at the base of her neck. She didn’t appear older than forty, and it was in her dark eyes that her true age shone through. She held centuries of wisdom and experience within her gaze as well as a practical and often cold demeanor that left many with the impression she was heartless. Diego figured that anyone who’d lived as long as her would have to find a way to disconnect from the continual death and grief of all those around them. The world continued to change while she didn’t.

Eztli had an intense, undeniable presence, like a weight to the air surrounding her like a cloak. Even humans who didn’t know about shifters would give her a wide berth and wary glances. She wasn’t one to mess with and neither did she indulge in nonsense.

Quiet down and listen up! she said in Spanish.

Diego focused on her lips, at the way they formed words. He assumed everyone settled, since he couldn’t hear them. They stopped fidgeting and finally stilled. In his world of silence, he was intent to not miss a single syllable.

A month ago I was contacted by the Mexican Agency, and they were acting as messenger for the US Agency.

People shifted around him. Diego didn’t dare look away from her lips.

To get a handle on the Knights of the Dawn, the agencies have started to reach out to the large packs and herds and other shifter clans. They need intel and are requesting resources. I have recently learned that Nordik, the bear master shifter, is working closely with them. It seems his true mate is an agent named Poe.

More restless fidgeting.

Since the Knights are targeting us, I have agreed to an alliance on a trial basis. Our enemies are becoming more brazen, and we also need the resources the agencies can provide. And if Nordik can put his trust in them, and can find a mate with one of them, then I must see it as a sign.

She paused and glanced at Diego with a raised eyebrow.

He nodded, letting her know he was following her words.

Just yesterday I was contacted by Merlin himself, who seems to have left his self-imposed isolation.

Diego gasped and he assumed the others did as well. His inner coyote drew back his ears and ducked his head in anxiety. The Master Shifter of All Shapes getting involved?

Glory, the eagle master shifter, has also joined the alliance with the agencies. And Merlin himself urged me to accept the offer and to help as I can. Since our Father speaks cryptically, I have no details and only vague assumptions. But he urged me to know that a resolution is near at hand, and that Arcas is nearing his goal. He also claims to have seen Phoenix’s hand in recent events. I can say for certain, that doesn’t bring me any comfort.

Diego’s coyote whined, and he clamped his mouth shut to keep the sound inside. What did that mean? Phoenix was the ancient deity of the first shifters and rumored to be Merlin’s mother. While many still believed in her, including him, certain packs and clans preferred their own, more modern deities, which were linked to their culture—many wolves believed in Fenris, and cats worshiped Bast. But bird shifters, the most elusive and considered extinct until recently, had never swayed in their worship of her.

And Merlin? Merlin was active again? Master shifters could claim direct descendancy from him, which accounted for their long life span.

He rubbed his face. What would a resolution look like? Dread knotted his gut.

He also shared something with me, which the Mexican Agency confirmed a few days ago, that Arcas is after the blood of master shifters. Nordik, himself, had blood taken from him by the Knights a year ago. It’s most likely a spell.

Diego swallowed hard. True magic was rare in modern times but considering agents were descendants of beings called fae, it wasn’t surprising it could still be practiced. And many considered shifters as creatures of magic.

We need to be constantly alert, she said. If they’re after master shifters, it would make sense that I could be a target. Therefore, I will retire to the Parque nacional Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl. But do not assume I am retreating. I expect regular updates on what is happening in my home. She eyed those gathered, even the ones on Zoom. Who lives in Mexico City?

Diego, as well as many others, raised their hands.

Who lives in Puebla?

Others raised their hands.

She took a tally of those who lived in the major cities around the Parque.

The agencies will be sending us manifests of those flying in and out of the airports, as well as intel on any who raise suspicion. We are to follow them and report on their movements, discreetly. Keep in contact with each other, children. If you notice any of your targets journeying to other cities, notify a fellow pack member of that city to follow up. Do not deviate from your routine radically. We don’t know what the knights know, and we don’t want to raise suspicion. We are to be eyes and ears until I say different, yes?

Nods all around.

Eztli raised an eyebrow before pointing.

Diego turned and spotted one of his brothers with his hand up.

Ácatl said, Pardon me, Alpha. But why are we doing the Agency’s work for them?

Diego swung his head back around.

She scowled. "We aren’t. The knights want us dead. The agencies were founded to see that didn’t happen. They have been doing our work for us. Now it’s time to pull our own weight. Do not think I do this lightly. But I have seen the growing chaos of the world, and I alone of all of you know just how much the world has changed. The knights are like a rabid dog let off its leash."

Diego barely hid his smirk.

I will send out lists of who you should contact if you spot a knight or a potential target of theirs. Do not, at any time, approach a knight by yourself. Do not act a hero. Do not throw your life away. Call your contact. Call your back-up. This is non-negotiable. Understood?

More nods all around.

Dismissed.

Diego turned and was grabbed by Tupoc, the brother closest to him in age, only a year older. He sighed and didn’t fight it when Tupoc dragged him to their parents. His other brothers were gathered close, and as a unit of eight, they left the house into the fresh, warm air.

Acalan, his father, signed using LSM as well as spoke. You will stay with Ohtli for the time being. He doesn’t live far from you.

Diego wrinkled his nose, and his coyote snarled. He was thirty-four, and they still treated him like a child. He shook his head sharply.

He hadn’t been born completely deaf, so he’d learned to read and speak before the degeneration had progressed. Strangely enough, however, when he’d reached puberty and shifted into his coyote for the first time, a bit of hearing returned to his right ear. It was faint, though, and he couldn’t hear distant sounds or if someone was shouting close to him. He could hear the normal speech of a single person at his side. Surgery and implants were out of the question due to his shifting, as well as his accelerated healing abilities. He’d accepted it long ago, and had found peace in the silence.

"Ichtaca, please do as