Only After Dark The Boxed Set Books 1 - 4: Shifters Forever Worlds (8 page)

She shoved her hair out of her face impatiently and chewed on her lip. “He really needs to stop treating me like I’m his little girl.”

“He’s just worried. I told him I’d found you and that you were fine.”

She nodded. “About Ms. Claudette…”

“You’re coming with me. You’re living at Arceneaux Point.”

“Was that a question?” she teased him, her eyes glittering dangerously.

“Would it matter if it was?”

He rose from the chair and stalked toward her, danger and lust in his eyes.

L
ézare was driving
. In the backseat, Ms. Claudette was napping. They were almost at Arceneaux Point.

He handed Natalya his phone. “Call Vax. He has a new son. Callie just gave birth.”

“At your house? During the ball?”

“Yes. They named him Eli. Healthy little boy.”

“I’m happy for him.” She bit back the urge to cry at the misery she’d created for Vax and his family. She should apologize, do something, say something. “Lézare…”

“You have to forgive yourself,
chère
. They’ll forgive you. In this world there has to be mercy and compassion, especially for the repentant.” He pointed toward the phone.

She nodded, then pressed Vax’s name and handed him the phone.

“Can you meet me at your cabin, and bring Mae? Callie’s still staying in the main house, right?” A pause, then he continued, “Just Mae for now. Don’ tell anyone else, especially my sisters. Not yet.”

Natalya knew why he’d said not to tell his sisters. He was seeking to avoid the fireworks. But why did he want Mae there?

“Earlier, on the boat, I heard you say you had an—” She glanced back at Claudette, whose eyes were closed. Was she sleeping? Could she say the word
elemental
? No, she didn’t want to take a chance. “I heard you say you had someone that you wanted Mae to meet.”

Lézare glanced in the rearview mirror. He was probably worried about the same thing—Ms. Claudette overhearing. “Mae is just like…” He indicated the backseat with a nod of his head.

Natalya had questions, but they’d have to wait until they were alone.

Arceneaux Point’s drive came into view, but he passed it. She glanced at him, wondering what he was doing.

“Avoiding the main house, for now,” Lézare said.

He took the next right and drove down a lane surrounded by trees in a tight formation, blocking the view to anything but the road in front and the road behind. He pulled into a clearing in which stood several old cabins.

Natalya hadn’t grown up in the area, but she knew what the cabins were. They’d been the homes of slaves in days past. But why were they still standing?

“My great-great-grandfather Étienne’s home, before he left to make a new life for himself.” He paused, then added, “Elsewhere.”

Her curiosity was piqued. She wanted to ask questions, but Lézare had parked and turned the engine off and Vax and Mae were coming out of the cabin on the far right.

“Ms. Claudette, we’re here,” Lézare said, then climbed out the vehicle.

He opened the door for Natalya, then held it open for Ms. Claudette.

Vax’s eyes were on Natalya. “What…?”

L
ézare saw
Natalya flinch at Vax’s reaction. He put his arm around her, then said, “I’ll explain later.”

Vax nodded.

She leaned in to him, as if seeking to gain strength. He squeezed her against his body, reminding her that they were in this together, that there was nothing to fear.

Then he turned to Mae. “I wanted you here because of Ms. Claudette. She’s a distant cousin by marriage. Natalya found her in Austin. We brought her home.”

Mae looked at Claudette, then focused on Claudette’s eyes. A flash of indigo appeared in Mae’s eyes. Dark clouds rolled in.

“Allynne.” Mae’s voice didn’t sound human; it had an ethereal quality to it. Lézare knew that it was her elemental speaking.

Natalya stared.

“Benithe.” That was Allynne’s voice, and it was

“You know each other?” Natalya asked.

Claudette took Natalya’s hand, but Allynne was the one who spoke. “We go way back. Before Mae, before Claudette. In another century, on another continent.”

“I haven’t seen her in ages,” Benithe explained to Natalya, then turned toward Allynne. “I haven’t seen you for at least two hundred years. Certainly not in this body.”

“True. Not since…” Allynne paused. “How is Circe?” she asked.

Mae’s expression changed. The indigo flame in the back of her dark eyes vanished. “I wouldn’t know.” And her voice changed. She was Mae again. “Though I’ll find out later. I’m going to see her…” A pause. “And the Order of Elementals. I’ll be making the trip with Astra.”

“That will be an interesting reunion. Perhaps I should consider a visit,” Allynne said. “Maybe after I find a new…” She sighed. “Claudette is getting older, and her mate was not a shifter. She won’t have the longevity that you seem to have.”

Lézare turned to Vax. “Ms. Claudette has graciously agreed to be our guest here at Arceneaux. I’d like to think that somewhere above, Étienne and Celine are smiling down on us.” A slow grin came to his face. “I think she’ll be just what my sisters will need.”

“Your sisters…” Vax began.

“What?”

“Evie isn’t doing well with Mason being here. I think Alexa is distracted—” Vax glanced at Natalya. “Perhaps as you have been distracted.”

Natalya took a deep breath. “Vax, I want to apologize to you and Callie. I know you can’t possibly forgive me. I—”

Vax put his hand on her arm. “You are Lézare’s mate. You’ve couple bonded. He’s my cousin.” He exhaled. “That’s enough for me. Callie will agree completely. Trust me. There has to be room for forgiveness. I’ve seen too much of the chasms that can develop between families. We don’t want that.”

“Thank you.” Natalya’s eyes brimmed with tears.

Lézare kissed her on the temple. “See? All is well at Arceneaux Point.”

“Your sisters…” Her voice was a wisp on the heavy, humid air.

“Don’ worry about my sisters. They’ll see what you are to me, what I am to you. Trust me.” Lézare thumbed away an errant tear that had made a lazy trail over her cheekbone.

“Let’s get Ms. Claudette settled in a room.” He glanced at his watch. “Looks like I’ve missed brunch. Are all the guests gone?”

“Many have remained. They’re staying to see you,” Vax said.

“Well, then, let’s get to the main house. I have an announcement to make.”

L
ézare stood
at the top of the staircase, his arm around Natalya. He scanned the assembled shifters, still in masquerade garb. Three faces which should be there were not—Alexa, Evie, Valencia. He didn’t let his concern show and forced a smile to his face. “I hope everyone has had a good time…”

Catcalls, hooting, and clapping interrupted him. His smile grew more genuine. This was an annual Arceneaux event and tradition mattered to him, though he’d had to break it to find his true mate. He glanced at her, gave her a tiny wink.

A soft blush kissed her cheeks.

“It’s been a momentous Escape weekend, one I’m sure my ancestors, especially Étienne would have been proud. I found my mate.” He kissed Nataly on the cheek. “More catcalls ensued. He laughed and waved them off, smiled and waited for the din to die down. “My cousin Vax…” He waved toward Vax. “And his beautiful mate have added to our family. Elias Rafael Tiero. Shortly we’ll be serving brunch. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like.”

In the back, sitting in a chair, Claudette smiled at him, her elemental shining indigo in her eye. Lézare offered her a half-bow and turned to Natalya. “I think I should dance with Cousin Claudette.”

She smiled, tucked a stray lock behind her ear. “You absolutely should.”

“I love you,
chère
.”

“I’m so happy.” Tears flooded her green eyes.

A new age was coming to Arceneaux Point. And Lézare had been waiting for this for a long time.

K
eep reading
for some sneak previews into upcoming releases!

W
hat about the ball
? What about Alexa? Do you really think we aren’t going to get some more of this awesome New Orleans flavor?

Catch Alexa’s story and more of the Masquerade Ball in
Insatiable
.

Get to know more about Ms. Claudette and Allynne too!

Coming soon!

I
nsatiable

She’s the alpha sister of Lézare. She’s got to worry about the Arceneaux Masquerade Ball because her brother’s gone gallivanting to Austin.

Except this once, she’d like to concentrate on her own pursuits.

Namely one.

Reese.

Reese Nielsen is an alpha wolf with a territory of his own to worry about. And that whole damned underground fighting ring. He’s got information on it, but with Lézare MIA, Reese waits until the time is right to share the information.

Except his heart and his wolf have an agenda of their own: the curvy and hot sister of Lézare, a white tigress with a mind of her own, and a temper to boot.

Things heat up in the midst of a Masquerade Ball.

C
ombustible

One glance. That’s all it took. Wolf shifter Rory Nielsen, Reese’s twin brother doesn’t get involved in affairs of the heart. He has an enterprise to grow and a territory to protect. He’s all business.

So why is he at the Arceneaux home? He’s attending the Masquerade Ball at the request of his brother, but reluctantly so because no one’s at home to manage the stronghold. He’s itching to get home. The only thing on his mind is getting back.

—Until a car pulls up and a curvy redhead steps out.

The attraction is—

Combustible.

Valencia Arceneaux is Lézare’s free-spirited sister. She’s a white tigress shifter with a mind of her own, the one who always marches to a beat of her own creation, the hell with shifter society’s expectations, the hell with her brother Lézare’s.

She attracts men like sugar attracts ants. She doesn’t fall in love.

Except…

She’s late to the ball. She’s ready to face her brother’s wrath because attendance is expected.

Ha. As if expectations ever mattered to Valencia.

She gets out of her car, ready to face Lézare and instead sees this wolf shifter.

Hunky, handsome, and fierce.

Her interest flares. Her tigress roars a message that resonates.

This is
Combustible
.

U
ndeniable

Lion shifter Mason Martinez is Mark’s younger brother. He has history with Evangeline-Evie-Arceneaux, the curvy sexy tigress sister of Lézare Arceneaux.

For Mason, it’s not history. Except that Evie hates him. She’s hated him since college, when they split up.

They can’t be in the same room together. In more ways than one, it’s undeniable.

Evie has no problem burying things—usually. So why can’t she bury her feelings for Mason Martinez?

Permanently.

A
lexa’s
the alpha sister of Lézare. She’s got to worry about the Arceneaux Masquerade Ball because her brother’s gone gallivanting to Austin.

Except this once, she’d like to concentrate on her own pursuits.

Namely one.

Reese.

Reese Nielsen is an alpha wolf with a territory of his own to worry about. And that whole damned underground fighting ring. He’s got information on it, but with Lézare MIA, Rory waits until the time is right.

Except his heart and his tiger have an agenda of their own: the curvy and hot sister of Lézare, a white tigress with a mind of her own, and a temper to boot.

Things heat up in the midst of a Masquerade Ball.

W
eeks
before the annual Escape Weekend in Louisiana

O
ver a cup
of coffee that was mostly steamed milk, Alexa glared at her brother. It was too early to think of Natalya Solis. Then again, was any time really a good time to think of that hellion of a brat that wreaked such havoc for their cousin Vax and his mate Callie?

“You are
not
inviting her.” It took everything in Alexa not to stomp her foot as she glowered at the arrogant yet way-too-handsome profile of her big brother Lézare.

Lézare stared out the window from the library on the second floor at Arceneaux Point, the home of their ancestors with a bittersweet history; one Lézare enjoyed recounting.

“I am.” His tone was resolute.

“You can’t.” She crossed her arms over her chest to keep from clenching her fists and even possibly throwing something at his head.

“I must.”

She caught the undertone in his words, but didn’t get it. Much later she’d understand, but now, she only heard what she wanted to hear.

“She has created way too much trouble for this family. She’s a drama queen. She’s a selfish bi—”

He snapped his head in her direction.

She bit her tongue.

“Tsk,” he clicked his tongue as though the choice of her words were displeasing.

Lézare was a man who had his renaissance moments. This facet of him had her friends sighing and swooning over her big brother all her life. He had remained oblivious to their reactions to his bedroom eyes, olive complexion, full lips, and slight southern accent mixed with a French twist.

She ground her teeth at her brother’s stubbornness. “I wish you wouldn’t invite her.”

“’Tis a done deal, chère.”

She sighed. “Then don’t leave me hanging. Make sure you pull your weight that weekend.”

He laughed. “I’ve always been the one to handle the arrangements. Would do you good to take charge for a spell, but don’t worry, I’ll be in attendance and handling everything in full force.”

L
ittle did she know
…