Mortal princess, p.1
Mortal Princess, page 1
MORTAL PRINCESS
A SHADOW SHIFTERS NOVEL
TIA DIDMON
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Also by Tia Didmon
About the Author
Mortal Princess
Copyright © 2023 Tia Didmon
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner
whatsoever without the express written consent of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations
in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either products
of the authors imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living
or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental.
I love hearing from my readers so please contact me at:
https://tiadidmon.com
Other books in this Series
Mortal Curse
Mortal Mate
Mortal Reaper
Mortal Queen
Mortal Magic
Mortal Guardian
Mortal Demon
Mortal Princess
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CHAPTER 1
Riley knelt beside the freshly planted bed of roses, daisies, and an array of other shrubs. Her fingers brushed the soft petals as her knees dug into the churned dirt. “The garden is beautiful. My father will enjoy the view from the cabin.” Though dusk was upon them, the subdued light seemed to enhance the colorful bounty.
Colton touched her shoulder. “Gardening was Oliver’s favorite pastime, and he planned to build this garden when his son became a warrior. I will finish his son’s training, but I wanted to create the garden in his memory.”
Riley stood and slipped her arm around her mate’s waist. “He would have loved it.”
“Does Oliver’s son understand that it wasn’t you who killed his father?”
“Yes. Anaisa has been helpful in this regard. She tested my blood to ensure that all traces of demon venom were gone and that Deruthel, will no longer have access to my mind. Still, be wary. Anyone they bite can be infected and influenced.”
Riley sighed. “I know. We should have Anaisa do routine sweeps of the clans until the war is over.”
“Dannika has already made an arrangement with her. Considering how intelligent Deruthel is, Dannika wants the inspections to be random. No one will know when Anaisa is coming. Or who she will test. As it’s more damaging to go after a leader, those of us with higher rank within the clans will have more frequent testing.”
Riley slipped her fingers between his and they walked away from the cabin to the surrounding pasture. She’d always assumed it was to make it look like a yard for the cabin, but had noticed the clan used it for events. One’s like her impending bonding ceremony. She pointed at several clan members piling folding chairs and tables by the tree line. “What are those for?”
Colton winked at her. “Dannika’s bonding ceremony included a wedding. Since we were both originally human, I think it’s a tradition we should continue.”
“Are you sure it’s not the presents?” she asked nervously. She wanted to bond with Colton more than anything in the world, but the public aspect of a wedding and standing before her father, who had graciously offered to conduct the services, was nerve-racking. Being the center of attention had never been her thing, though despite rarely wearing them, she loved the idea of a dress.
Her favorite Barbie dolls, growing up, had always had pretty white dresses with sequence and silver sparkles. Little girls dreamed of their wedding day and she had been no different in that regard. Strange how her fantasy had changed. She was marrying the man of her dreams, but he wasn’t human and neither was she.
Colton tipped her chin up when he stopped in the middle of the field that would become their wedding chapel. “You are nervous. What is it? I understand it’s customary, but I hope you’re not having second thoughts.”
Riley slipped her hands around his waist. “No, not at all. I’m more concerned about the public aspect of the wedding. Dannika will be here, as will the leaders of the other clans. It’s a perfect opportunity for the demons to hit us. Everyone they deem valuable will be in one place.”
Colton kissed her forehead. “Ferguson is taking care of the security. Admittedly, it’s not something we’ve had to worry about before. Reaper attacks on home territory were rare. Since the demon incursion, everything has changed.”
“That’s an understatement, but I wouldn’t trade my life for anything. I never fit in when I was human. There was always something different about me, despite how much my mother and father loved me.”
Colton’s eyes flickered with black smoke. A testament to his alpha’s emotions. “You are exactly where you are supposed to be.”
She smiled up at him. “Thank you for being my mate. I love my life with you, and having my father part of it for the next thirty or forty years is a blessing I will never take for granted.”
“I am the lucky one. Your strength and your forgiveness are a gift I will never take for granted and I can’t wait to make our union official before our friends and family.”
She kissed him and the fire in her blood spiked. His shadow wrapped around hers, cocooning her in his warmth as they entered the pathway. Their shadows reached for one another as their emotions collided, heightening every sensation.
They coalesced in the living room, and her hand reached for the couch to steady her momentum as Colton’s body pushed aggressively against her. She loved him like this. On the edge of control. A wild animal that hungered for her alone.
His hair slid along her cheek as she nibbled his ear, and his low growl vibrated against her throat. The whispering caress sent an erotic fire racing through her blood and he slid his hands to her breasts, rolling an erect nipple between his fingers before tracing down her ribs and along her belly. The heat his fingertips created pooled in her core like a volcano waiting to erupt.
She reveled in the sensations his erotic touch produced. Every stroke left a firestorm in its wake, a dark hunger that needed to be sated. 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. A sensual caress that inflamed her further.
He released the button on his jeans, springing his thick cock from its confinement before positioning her legs on either side of his. He could shift her clothes to the shadows, but she loved it when he unwrapped her like a present. Riley moaned when his fingers slipped between her slick, heated flesh, parting her tender lips and pressing inside her.
She arched toward him, riding his hand, almost coming apart as he worked her. His mouth tugged hard on her nipple, causing a rush of liquid between her thighs, coating his fingers in her warm juices. He moved her above his straining cock as his tongue lavished her nipple. The sensations coursing through her body had her heart pounding in her chest. It was heaven. It was hell. She wanted more.
Colton’s eyes lit with blue hunger. He would devour her. Consume her body and soul. She wanted everything he offered and more. He kissed her neck, then thrust up through the tight folds of her silken sheath.
Air rushed from her lungs when he cupped her ass, holding her in place as he impaled her over and over. There was no thought. No reason. Only hard, unmitigated bliss, fueled by passion and dark power.
She clutched his shoulders as if they were the only haven in the tornado of emotion assaulting her body.
“Don’t stop.” She loved being on the edge with him. Reaching for the heavens. She should be embarrassed, but her body was on fire, a bomb teetering on the brink of detonation.
He pumped harder, anchoring her hips with his hands. She put a hand on the couch to combat the building pressure. Her nails dug into his flesh, and blood welled up on his skin. The sting of pain spurned his aggressive nature. He was in no more control than she was, and she loved it.
Rippling waves of pleasure washed over her skin, causing her to grip him in a velvet vise. She screamed his name as he went over the apex, holding her to him like he would never let her go. She floated in a sea of bliss, content to stay there forever.
Colton eased out of her and then got a warm cloth to clean her. His attentive nature was as endearing as his lovemaking and she thanked God for the gift she had been given. When he was finished, they dressed and sat on the couch. He pulled her onto his lap so she could lay her head on his shoulder.
“Why haven’t there been any reaper or demon attacks in the last week? They need blood to feed,” she asked.
“Ferguson is asking the same questions. He knows they are still here, but they are being very discreet. They are planning something and it’s making Dannika nervous.,” Colton said.
Her fingers caressed the base of his neck. “She thinks they are regrouping. The calm before the storm sort of thing. I was hoping we could visit my father. I
His shadow enveloped hers without her having to stand. She appreciated his gifts. He was a seasoned shadow warrior, and she still had a hard time traveling the pathways alone. Her molecules swirled around him in a loving tango as they made the short jump to the cabin. They coalesced outside, holding hands as they ascended the few steps to the entrance.
Riley opened the door to find her father in his favorite chair. Usually, he was sleeping, with his leather-bound bible in his hands, but today he was reading from it as two shadows sat on the couch listening to him. He lowered the book when he saw her. “Riley, I was hoping you would stop by.” He nodded to the two men. “Lance, Jeremy, do you mind if I visit with my daughter for a little while? We can resume in an hour.”
The two men nodded politely, then left.
Riley frowned. “They didn’t have to leave. I just wanted to see if you were stronger.”
Daniel stood, though his legs were a little shaky, and he used the chair arms for support. “I feel better than I have in years. Anaisa is a miracle worker. I will never be able to travel the pathways alone, but I love the new garden your fiancée created. I sit on the porch and drink Ana’s tea while admiring it.”
Riley went over and hugged her father. “I’m glad you are feeling better. You don’t need to navigate the pathways. If there is an emergency, one of the seniors will travel with you.”
His smile could still light up a room, and pointed to his chair. “Have a seat. I have something important to ask you.”
Daniel took his seat. “Sounds serious.”
Riley faked a serious look. “Very serious. You have mentioned to Colton that you wish to marry us, but I wanted you to walk me down the aisle. How are we going to put you in two places at once?”
Daniel’s smile reminded her of a little boy who had his hand caught in the candy jar. “I have arranged for another to walk you down the aisle. I want to be the priest to conduct your wedding. Is that alright with you?”
She knelt down beside his chair. “Of course. I wouldn’t trust anyone else, anyway. Whoever you choose to walk in your stead is fine with me.”
Daniel ran a loving hand over her cheek. “I am blessed to have such an understanding daughter. One that would put her father’s happiness first.”
Riley’s face sobered. “You lost so much because you took me in. I am the one who is lucky.”
Daniel patted his bible. It was an action he did often, and she wasn’t sure if he realized he did it. “Your mother would be so proud of you.”
She hadn’t thought about her mother in a while. The life and death choices and upcoming war had occupied her mind, but as she sat there talking about her impending nuptials, she felt an emptiness in her chest. Every girl wanted their mother to help them get ready on their wedding day. Riley had discussed this day often with her mother growing up. What they would do. What kind of dress she would wear? How her hair and makeup would look. There was a vise in her heart at the thought of doing this without her mother. She had gotten used to life without her mother years ago yet, today it felt like it was yesterday.
Daniel tapped her cheek. “Don’t be sad, Riley. I assure you that Cami is not. She wanted this for you since you were a toddler. Just because you can’t see her doesn’t mean she isn’t there.”
Riley smiled. “That obvious, huh?”
He shrugged. “Maybe a little.”
Black script formed before Colton and his eyes turned black before he turned toward the bay window. Riley noticed a dozen cougars racing toward the forest as the hum of the pathway vibrated from the stress of multiple shadows entering it at once.
“What is going on?” she asked.
Colton's eyes met hers. “We are under attack. It appears the demons were silent because they were preparing for war.”
They both bolted for the door as a scream echoed around them.
CHAPTER 2
The door slammed shut as they raced outside and down the steps. Growls echoed around them, seeming to come from multiple locations. Riley turned in a circle, glancing back at the door. “Where are they? Is dad safe?”
Colton turned as the breeze brushed his hair from his face. The chiseled angles seemed more pronounced with the hard look on his face. “Lance is on his way here to protect Daniel.”
Her heart stuttered as Colton flexed his fingers. His molecules phased, forcibly holding back his alpha as it pushed to enter the pathway and fight the invaders. “You go. I will follow as soon as Lance gets here. I don’t want to leave dad undefended.”
Colton hissed. The sound was inhuman. “I will never leave you alone again. You are not a soldier. The children and fledglings have been escorted back to the sanctuary. I protect you above all others. My brethren are trained warriors. They will withstand this siege until I take you to the sanctuary.”
Riley stepped away. “I am not hiding while you fight. You don’t have time to take me, anyway. We have lost enough time waiting for Lance.”
Colton’s eyes flickered with black smoke and the muscles in his neck tensed. “You are the most important person in this clan. The demons and reapers seek to acquire you. They will stop at nothing to...”
Lance coalesced beside them. “I have come to protect the priest. You may leave Riley in the cabin. There are twenty demons outside the sanctuary. You cannot enter. Those inside are safe.”
Colton swore under his breath. “Did the fledgling soldiers make it to safety? Did Lucan?” Riley understood Colton’s need to protect his friend’s son. Having been used by Deruthel to kill his best friend still gave Colton nightmares. He rarely slept before that incident and now, even less so.
Lance glanced at the cabin. “No. They were cut off by the demon horde. They are in the forest a mile from us and are fighting their way here now.”
“How many demons are attacking us?” Colton asked.
Lance pointed to the east. “We are fighting on five fronts. There. Just outside the sanctuary, and three more random locations in the forest. One is outside your home. There would have been another skirmish here, but Ferguson intercepted the demons in the pathway. He killed them all.”
Riley’s jaw dropped. “He killed a dozen demons in the pathway? How?”
Lance shook his head. “Steele wants to know the same thing. We assumed he collapsed the pathway, but then the demon limbs began to exit without their heads. We don’t know what he did, but he ensured no one got near the priest. He is fighting with the queen’s reapers close to your tree house now.”
Colton’s body relaxed. “Riley, I think you should stay with Daniel. I want to help Lucan’s group make their way here.”
She fought back the feeling of being inadequate. She had fighting skills, but they were those of the human world and only a reaper blade could deter a demon. “I will stay here and help Lance protect dad. Help Lucan and the others.”
“Lance, who was training the fledglings when we were attacked? Who is leading them?”
Lance glanced toward the forest as a reaper death scream pierced the air. “Luke is leading them. His ability to sense reapers and demons prior to them exiting the pathway saved them. He steered the group away from the sanctuary before it was too late. The group is intact, last I heard.”
Colton molecules disintegrated and moved over her body in a dark caress before the hum of the pathway tickled her ear. He was gone in an instant, and she turned as Lance grunted.
The black blade sticking out of his heart dripped with blood and stained the grass beneath his feet. His jaw dropped open as he fell forward and Riley grabbed his shoulders to break his fall, stumbling back from the momentum of his weight landing on her. “Lance!” Her eyes met those of a man she wished she would never see again.
