A Promise on White Wings (Wiccan-Were-Bear) Read Free Page A

said softly.  Shaking her head, she said, “That sounds so familiar, but I don’t know from where.”
    Looking distracted, she excused herself, and Danika returned her attention to the mirror and began to get ready.  Her den had traveled to Northern Ohio for the full moon celebration.  The den was having a party to welcome a new alliance and had invited her den to stay.  Other shifter groups would be at the party tonight, which was taking place in the center of the underground den where tables were already being laden with rich foods.
    She dressed in the traditional clothing of her people — a well-tailored hide vest and her long skirt.  The vest was embroidered with white feathers, and the skirt fell gracefully to her ankles.  When her hair was as dry as she could make it with the towel, she brushed it furiously and then braided a few sections on either side of her temples, securing them together at the back of her head with a leather tie.
    Ten minutes later, she exited the small tent and found the members of her den gathered to one side of the large, cleared area.  Of the seventeen members of her den, only three were females and two of them were mated.  Their King, Kajika, was an old and powerful bear, wise and kind.  His son, Mato, on the other hand, was an arrogant jackass and he, unfortunately, had a great interest in Danika.
    Even though no one knew what she was, it didn’t stop Mato from wanting her as his bride.  He was handsome, but he was cruel.  He would be a cruel leader when he succeeded his father.  She didn’t love him.  Hell, she didn’t even like him.  And there was no way that she was going to submit to him and become his wife.  She didn’t know who she would end up marrying, but she knew that whoever her mate was, he was not part of her bear den and he sure as hell wasn’t Mato.
    She stood next to Cree, queen bear and Kajika’s mate, and looked around at those who had gathered.  Besides the Cleveland bear den that was finishing setting up the feast, the other groups were slowly arriving.  Werewolves, serpents, and tigers milled around in groups of a dozen or more.
    And then her heart stopped in her chest for a moment as a group descended the flight of stairs, led by an olive-skinned god with curly black hair and wearing tight black leather pants.  Something inside her stirred as she watched him move with his people through the den to greet Adriel, King of the Cleveland bear den, and his people.  The dark-haired man seemed unhappy.  Standing tall and muscular, he had a straight nose and dark brows.  Her body heated immediately, and she had to steel herself from running over and doing something foolish.
    Like licking him from head to toe.  Or offering to be his love slave.
    “Are you well, marala ?” Cree asked, calling Danika little wing .
    She tore her eyes away from the man and looked at Cree.  “I’m fine, Cree.  Maybe a little hungry.”
    “I agree,” Kajika interjected, “the food smells delicious, and yet we still wait.”
    Danika looked everywhere but where the handsome man stood, although she was fully aware of exactly where he was at all times.  It didn’t really matter if he was gorgeous and made her tummy flip, because she was leaving in the morning to return to the den in Delaware.  The part of her that wanted to pull him back into her guest tent and have her way with him felt too old to have a one-night stand.  Especially because judging from the way the others acted around him, he was their leader.
    She cracked her neck and fidgeted.  Her back ached, particularly her shoulder blades.  Distracted for a moment from the compellingly handsome dark-haired man, her attention was drawn to the stairs again where another group descended.  A large man, with a thick head of blond hair streaked with gray, led them.  He carried himself like a King, and she wondered which were-group he led.
    Adriel moved to him quickly, shaking his hand with a broad smile.