Desired by Shadow (A Shadow Walkers Novel) by Cynthia Luhrs Read Free Book Online

must be laughing their heads off.”
    “Would you rather I had let you die?” Incredulity filled her voice at his ungrateful response. She’d just saved this life and this is how he acts?
    Jerk.
    Looking her over with a look that told her he found her lacking in every way, he seemed to come to some decision. He growled at her, “It would have been easier than what’s coming in the week ahead. What’s done is done, there’s no going back now.” He ran his hands through his hair, anger radiating off his body.
    “Allow me to introduce myself; I am Robert Bartholomew of Wales, lately a guest in the dungeon of Edinburgh Castle, at your service, Madam. You may call me Robert. I mean you no harm. Shall we abscond from this dreary, dismal place?” His teeth were clenched and the muscle in his cheek was twitching as he raked a glare over her, lingering on her breasts.
    She gasped. No, it couldn’t be, this was not happening. Not today of all days. Standing in front of her was the infamous pirate, a terrifying Shadow Walker, legend among Solien and his men, feared by all. Did he know what she did? How Bruce made her betray his kind? Didn’t matter it was against her will, not with what she’d heard about him. He’d kill her on the spot. She had to get out of here now, before he realized she worked for his enemies.
    Stepping backwards, Maggie turned and ran as fast as her feet would carry her, ignoring the pain in her shoulder and hand as she fled.
     
     
    Robert’s laugh was a harsh cough. His breathing slowly returned to normal. The irony of the Fates.
    The woman who intervened, who was destined to save him, to be his soul mate according to the prophecy, ran from him as fast as she could. This was hilarious. He could hear Colin and Jasper giving him hell now.
    Usually women ran to him, not away from him. Though in this instance he didn’t know whether to laugh or shout. How could this happen? Another Shadow Walker shouldn’t have had a chance at a soul mate for at least a hundred years. Bloody hell. He loved his life, didn’t want this. He grumbled as a new thought penetrated his angry brain.
    What was she doing hiding under the scaffolding? She smelled like she’d been swimming in a slaughterhouse. He grinned. Even smelling like the back of a butcher’s shop she was a pretty little thing. Her hair was the red of a fiery sunset, her eyes the color of emeralds, and her curves, well, those were meant for a man to hold on to while they made love all night long.
    Shadow Walkers were cursed. When reliving their death anniversary every year. If by some sick twist of fate, a human woman, not just any woman, but one who had died and crossed into Shadow and back, intervened, then the countdown started, no way to stop it. He had a week to break the curse and in so succeeding would tie himself to her for all eternity. Even worse, he was powerless for the coming week giving Day Walkers an added incentive to try and take his head. He was rather attached to his head, thank you very much.
    If this rubbish was true, Robert had a limited time before he’d be trapped forever. For if he failed, he would be cursed to wander the in-between, not living or dying, sentenced to eternal suffering in limbo, gray, and empty, doomed to walk the shadow realm as a wraith. The woman would pay a price for her altruistic act—if she failed, she would never find true love, destined to live the rest of her brief life alone, knowing she had destroyed him, and dying utterly alone. It didn’t matter if during that week she perished in an accident, was murdered, or any other harm befell her. Once started, the sands of time couldn’t be stopped.
    Now the quandary. Did he let her go and the curse be damned? He wasn’t sure he believed in the outcome. Yes, Colin and Emily had found each other but they didn’t fail and experience the aftermath of the purported curse. Maybe there weren’t any repercussions, he might not turn wraith. Could be it