Shadow Witch

Chapter One

"You've been summoned." My brother Samuel says in lue of knocking on my front door. He drops to my couch and stretches out, the perfect image of the feline inside him.

"By who?" I don't bother looking up from my computer screen where the jumble of codes resides.

"That's a stupid question Summer." He says swiping a red curl out of one hazel eye.

"Is it?" I finally look up and arch a brow.

"Who else would summon you?"

I lean back in my chair at the table and fold my hands in my lap, "What does the Alphahole want with me?"

"That's a new one. I like it." Samuel says before throwing a muscular arm over his eyes.

"Are you hiding from me Summer?" Ryhes asks from the doorway, his deep voice making me shiver. His big body blocks out most of the setting sun.

"Why would I hide from you?"

He steps inside and calmly closes the door before taking the seat directly across from me. His scare tactics never worked on me, but he never missed an opportunity to try. His normally pale blue eyes were swarming with amber, the color of his midnight wolfs.

"I've been texting and calling all day."

I shrug, "I've been busy."

He looks around my house before crossing his arms and leaning forwards. "I need your help."

I shake my head because maybe starring at his bulging biceps was making me hear things.

"Come again?"

A growl vibrates out of him and it's then I noticed the barely-there control.

Our friendship-if you could call it that-consisted of always getting under each others skin. Ever since my brother joined his pack and ranked third we've had to deal with each other. Never once in those three years has he looked at me the way he was now.

Like I was his only hope.

It gave me goosebumps.

"What's going on Ryhes?"

"Maddie is missing."

"What? How?" Obviously, they were stupid questions. If the Alpha knew he definitely wouldn't be here.

"I wouldn't be here handing in my favor if I knew."

Favor meaning on paper it looked like I was part of his pack so I didn't have to report to the witches council for testing every year. In turn, I stay six months at the waste brushing everyone up on the do’s and dont’s of the magic world.

"No, I'll do it but not to absolve the favor. Maddie is my friend."

His head dips, "Thank you."

"Do you know where she was last?" I close my laptops and place it in its bag and watch Ryhes.

"No." The amber covers most of the blue now. I place my hand, palm side up on the table. He hesitates before placing his palm on top of mine. The amber lessens and his breathing slows.

He shakes his head, eyes rested on our joined hands "I still don't understand how you do that."

"I don't know either." That wasn't exactly true, I seem to have a way of calming even the most feral shifters at times. Usually it was within Ryhes pack, and I had an idea of what it could possibly mean. I just wasn't willing to bring it up to anyone yet.

"Let me pack a bag. I'm assuming you've called everyone to the estates?"

"Don't ask stupid questions Summer. It's beneath you."

I shake my head and stand, "There's the Alphahole I know."

"Alphahole?" He questions, lips twitching like he's suppressing a smile.

"Don't ask stupid questions Ryhes. It's beneath you."

His deep chuckle follows me down the hall and to my room. I quickly place a few days worth of clothes and other essentials in a empty gym bag. There was a room at the estate for me. Mainly I used it for out of season clothes.

When I walk back out I place my bag next to Samuel on the couch before turning to Ryhes, "Do you want to come with me?"

"You're going to check if she's dead first?" Anger laces his voice.

"I do more than just check for dead people. I can also call in a few favors."

Going to the Soul Plane was a necessary evil if I wanted to figure out what happened. The Shadows that resided there would be able to pass through realms to check things out if I needed.

Maddie is Ryhes younger sister and we bonded over his asshole ways.

"I honestly don't think she is dead, but don't you think it will lift some of that worry etched on your face?"

It takes him a few long seconds to nod his head, "I'll go with."

I unhook the knife from my boot, "We will have to create a blood bond to get you there and you will have to stay shifted."

I slide the knife over the fleshy part of his palm before doing the same with mine. Our blood and magic mingles before the cuts close themselves. He starts to undress and I avert my eyes to Samuel walking out the front door.

"You couldn't just shift with your clothes on?"

"And ruin a perfectly good set of clothes? Am I that repulsive?" He smirks because we both know he is not.

"Fear dathuil dur." I mumble under my breath.

"Did you just call me handsome?"

I gasp and spin around. I have to pause because I can't stop my eyes from roaming over the muscles of his powerful chest.

Dang it!

"Since when do you understand Irish?"

"Since you started using it to insult me?"

"Well if you must know I said 'stupid handsome man.'"

He chuckles and drops his pants. I spin around but that doesn't stop my cheeks from burning.

Soft fur brushes my hand and his big body bumps my hip. The wolf was just as powerful as the man.

"I like you better like this." I say running my fingers through the fur down his spine. "I'll be able to speak to you telepathically while we are there. Please try to stay close."

"You act as if I can't take an order." His voice bounces inside my head.

I shiver.

"I think you are confusing the words take and give."

I get down on my knees and grab his massive head between my palms.

I lower my voice and meet his amber eyes, pleading, " We can not be there long Ryhes. I need you to stay with me. Preferably touching me."

I wasn't exactly sure how long a shifter could be in the other plane before slowly losing their life force. I wasn't about to experiment with Ryhes, but I knew it couldn't be long.

"I can do that." His voice is teasing and his lips pull back into what I assume is supposed to be a smile.

"Ryhes please." I know he can feel my emotions because of the bond.

"I promise Summer."

I nod and pull him closer so his snout rests on my shoulder.

I close my eyes.