Promise of Paradise Read Free Page B

and glanced at his second and triad mate, Nick Hill. “You’ll back me on this?”
    “You know I will, Alpha.” Nick stared them down, his gaze intense. The man might be the alpha’s bitch, but he was also the head enforcer in Paradise. Second to only the alpha, Nick Hill pulled a lot of weight. He also shared a lot of the collective magical power of Paradise with the alpha pair.
    All of the people of Paradise held magic within them. It was enough to dress or undress themselves at will, call down the power of the gods and goddesses if needed, and to veil the town and its people from the world. They could, and did, on occasion, perform miracles with that power. Those were the times that Gabe couldn’t have been more proud to be who and what he was.
    You will accept a seat on the council.” Nick stared them down. His gaze was so intense that Gabe turned his head to the side and tipped his head back, exposing his throat. Luc did the same.
    “Yes.” They both said at the same time.
    “Just so you know, neither of us has any idea what a council member does,” Luc added.
    Adam gave them both a tight-lipped smile. “Then you don’t have any preconceived notions, do you? You’re both a blank slate. You’re both people whom I can train to be what I need you to be.” His chair creaked as he sat forward. “What I need right now are men sworn to be the protectors Paradise needs. We’ve been informed that there could be someone on their way here who could rock our very existence.”
    “Alpha?” Gabe cocked his head to the side. “What are you talking about?”
    “As you know, a pair of sisters here in town have been known to predict the future, along with having some other special…powers.”
    Both he and Luc nodded. They knew the alpha spoke of the two sisters whom the men of Paradise rescued from one of Camuls’s rape camps.
    “Yes.” Gabe nodded. “Samantha and Sabrina. Their maiden name had been Hart. The two sisters were something other than shifters. Some speculated they were at least part fey. Though, he supposed, only they and their mates knew the full truth.
    Strong in their own right, once mated, the women became a force to be reckoned with.
    “What have they seen?” Luc sat in his chair, his back straight, his hands gripping the arms.
    “They have seen a man. They call him a dream stalker. They say that he has the power to enter one’s dreams and see their most fervent desires. He will also see what we are. He will find a way to prove it and he will expose us if we don’t stop him.”
    “How are we supposed to stop him?” Gabe frowned at the news. “We don’t need this. Not now. Not with the carnival imminent. We’ll have humans and shifters alike here.” Not to mention that none of them had no idea who the man was or what he looked like.
    “My thoughts, exactly, which is why I’m finally putting the council together.” Adam held up his hand. “I realize that it’s too little and most likely too late, but we do what we must to survive. What I need from you two is your vow to protect at least one woman, at the moment. Though, the sisters have told me there will be at least three who will need our help.”
    Adam stood, held out his hand, his expression unreadable. “I apologize for the strong-arm tactics, but I don’t have time for waffling. I need to know you’re with me, whether you like it or not.”
    “We’re with you, alpha.” They said at the same time, each of them standing to take the alpha’s and then beta’s hands in turn.
    Gabe didn’t like the alpha’s tactics, either, but he knew he would do the same if suddenly thrust into the other man’s shoes. One did what one could to survive and Adam Greer always did what was in his power to protect his people.
     

Chapter Five
     
     
    After spending nearly an hour in the diner catching up, they signaled for the check.
    Sarah, the waitress, just smiled. “It’s been taken care of already.”
    Taken care of? Nadya frowned.