Warrior Fae Trapped (Warrior Fae 1)

“That’s a minotaur,” Macy said quietly. “They’re mean bastards. If you look them in the eyes, they take offense. If it’s Roger or someone strong enough, usually they’ll ignore the challenge. That’s because they know they can’t win. They’re not stupid. But us…” Macy shook her head as Andy ripped off his basketball-style sweats with snaps for seams. The same sweats they all wore.

A loud huff preceded the minotaur’s stamped hoof.

“This is happening.” Andy pushed down his boxer briefs, completely nude now. “This is definitely happening.”

“Why is he stripping?” Charity asked in a furious whisper, bouncing in place, trying to shake out the adrenaline buzzing through her. “What if we run away? My pride will be fine if we run away.”

“Andy’s getting ready to change. And that thing is faster than it looks.” Macy ripped off her own pants. “Stay right there, okay? Don’t move.”

“But…”

The minotaur stamped its hoof again. It bent, pointing its dirty, dull horns their way. Dull or not, with enough force, they’d spear through their middles handily enough.

“Here we go,” Andy said. Green swirled around him like smoke. Fur rolled and boiled, a wolf erupting from his skin.

Charity’s mouth dropped open. She’d known what they could do, theoretically, but she doubted she’d ever get used to seeing them shift.

The minotaur started forward, its jog quickly becoming a run.

Macy’s shirt drifted to the ground.

Fear shocked through Charity’s body as she watched the huge creature barreling toward them. And then the fire in her middle pulsed hot. Electricity zinged through her limbs and rolled within her body.

Without realizing what she was doing, she stepped out from behind her protection. Standing on her own, she stared at the charging minotaur.

A fierce growl ripped the air. Andy, or the large gray wolf that had been Andy, crouched as the beast neared.

“Get back!” Macy yelled. Green began to swirl around her.

A surge of spicy heat pumped into Charity’s bloodstream from that deep source in her body. A manic grin lit up her face. She locked eyes with the beast, and dared it to keep coming. She didn’t know what she’d fight with, but it didn’t matter—she’d rock that thing’s world and send it limping home.

A rrrraaaahhhh sound rumbled through the beast’s thick chest. It shook its shaggy head. Then slowed. A hoof clattered against the ground as it stopped its advance. It huffed at her, clearly debating.

“C’mon, you bastard. Show me what you’ve got.” Charity held eye contact. The wild thing within her flared. Pulsed higher. Hotter. She heard the song of battle calling to her. And wanted to answer.

The minotaur huffed again, its muscles relaxing somewhat. Charity heard Macy suck in a sharp inhale. The beast proceeded to cross to the other side of the line and amble past as if nothing had happened.

“It’s leaving!” Macy whispered. She straightened up with wide eyes. “Holy crap, Charity—you have a ton of magic. But why can I only feel it sometimes, I wonder…”

Fur boiled and shivered before disappearing back to skin. Andy sprawled on patchy grass.

“Jesus, Charity,” he said, panting as he crawled to his feet. “Please tell me you’ve learned your lesson. Those things are not fun to rumble with. I am relieved I didn’t have to.”

Charity scratched at her chest. Her heart pounded in her ears. She couldn’t get enough air all of a sudden. “What is going on with me?”

Macy’s excitement turned into confusion. “What’s up?”

“Just…” Charity shook out her arms, trying to dislodge that electricity. “I don’t know. I…”

“Out with it,” Andy said, standing and then putting his hands on his hips and bending at the waist, looking like he’d just run a mile. In the nude. “We’re all friends here.”

“Does it take a bunch of energy to change into a wolf or something?” Charity said, not able to explain the intense feeling.

“Yes. I’m tired. What’s up with that scratching at your chest? Your boobs falling off? Because that would be awful.”

Charity couldn’t help a smile at Andy’s jest. “My chest… It’s like there’s this fire trying to get out, or something. I don’t know. It’s been like this since last night, and it’s way worse today. It feels weird.”

“Magic,” Macy said as she refastened her pants. “Your body is trying to grow into its magic. It must be. It feels kind of like that when we go through the summons.”

“The summons?” Charity asked.

“Yeah,” Andy continued. “We’re shape shifters, right?” Charity nodded. As ludicrous as it sounded, she’d come to accept that. Mostly. “Right, okay. So we get to a certain stage in our lives where our bodies start to change. Like puberty, but for shape shifters. Mine came after human puberty, but a lot of people, like Devon, hit them both at the same time.”

“I did.” Macy raised her hand. “I got summoned the day after I got my period.”