Southern Shifters: Purred Promises (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Free Page A

eyes, and she let them come. Walking off the porch with Geraldine, she waited until she rounded the corner of the house to start crying loudly. The scent of blood was heavy on the air, and she followed the long line of lynxes to the sacred grove, wondering what the future held.
     
    * * *
     
    Four hours later, Genesis stood outside her father’s study, staring at her blood- stained hands. After Levi set Marco down on the sacred altar, she ’ d placed her hands on Marco’s chest, the cooled blood seeping into her skin. It was for show and nothing more. Princesses were supposed to behave a certain way – usually, the more dramatic the better . She’d stared at his face, its features smoothed in death. He was handsome, with olive skin and black hair. She wondered briefly whether their children would have taken more after his features , or her own light brown hair and jade green eyes. Then she decided it didn’t really matter. Marco was dead, and she was still an unmated princess.
    The door to her father’s study was opened suddenly by his second-in-command. “Come in, daughter,” her father called.
    Genesis arched a brow at Geraldine, who stood across the hallway from her. Her aunt shook her head ever so slightly. Stepping into the study, she walked across the wool rug to where her father sat behind his enormous mahogany desk. She glanced around the room quickly and saw that many members of Marco’s chain were in the room . Levi was sitting in the chair across from the desk.
    Nerves crept into her suddenly, but she knew better than to ask he r father what was going on. He wouldn’t approve of her behaving in any way that would bring shame to him as a king.
    “The body of your arranged mate is being taken back to his homeland for burial,” her father said. He paused, staring at her with an inscrutable expression on his face. After a long moment, he continued. “In the tradition of our people, you r arranged mating will be transferred to the next eligible male in the clan.”
    Her mouth fell open. She’d never heard of that tradition. Before she could protest, Geraldine appeared at her side and clasped her hand tightly, silently warning her to keep her mouth shut. Drawing her lips together with some effort, Genesis relaxed her shoulders and smiled at her father.
    “You will be given in mating to Levi,” he said.
    The room filled with silence as her father dropped that bomb on her. Levi was at least her father’s age , if not older, with a face that told her he’d been living a hard life for a long time. Marco had at least been appealing; she wasn’t remotely attracted to his dad.
    Levi stood wi th a short growl. “Where is my thank-you, little bitch?” he demanded.
    Genesis took a step back with a gasp. “What?”
    Levi grasped her arm and jerked her to him. “I have no need for a mate, but with my son dead I need a new heir.” His gaze roamed over her , making her feel like she was being licked by something slimy. “You’ll do. But you’ll give me the respect I deserve. On your knees, bitch.”
    Genesis’s cat snarled. Males were supposed to treat their females with respect. Nothing about this situation was good or right.
    Jerking her arm free from his grasp, she took two steps back and let her fangs elongate. Hissing at the male, she said, “I will not .”
    Levi and half the males in the room snarled at her. Her father stood abruptly and slammed his fist onto the top of the desk. “You will mate with Levi or you will be banished. The choice is yours , but the decision comes this instant. I will not have a guest insulted so gravely.”
    Grief filled her. What had happened t o cause her father to make such a demand? Tears stung her eyes, but she fought them back. She had to stand up for herself, or no one else would. “I choose banishment. I’d rather be without my chain than with a male like him .”
    Her father’s eyes narrowed and Levi screeched in rage.
    “You have an hour to pack,” her