“Ahhh,” Maya nodded. “Of course you don’t. Shocking they would actually let one of you come here.”
“I’m half inclined to be offended by your words.”
“But you are ruled by the other half because life is here for your amusement.”
A huge grin spread across the handsome shifter’s face. “It’s like I’m a book you’ve already read.”
“I don’t read books,” Maya said, hoping to shut down any hint at flirtation. She moved into an open doorway and spotted a desk. Gracefully heading toward it, she pulled out the seat and started looking through the drawers for anything she could use to start making lists.
“Is it because you won’t spare time for fun, or are you afraid that a good story might make your life feel hollow?”
Maya didn’t even look up at him as she said, “Stop trying to start a fight. I’ve no interest in flirting, fighting, or in any way engaging in conversation.”
“In other words, no time for romance?”
“Bingo,” she said, pulling out some paper. “Now, if you’ll excuse me—”
As she was talking, the sound of a door opening attracted their attention. A pair of voices were speaking, and she noticed the storm dragon perk up, and he hurried out of the room. Not caring what was going on, Maya put her attention back on her work. There was a mild sense of comfort in knowing that she would teach the Honeysett children that evening, but the question was how long would it take before she would be able to do that? She could bend time, but her powers weren’t limitless. If too much time passed, it could create a serious problem that she might not be able to fix on her own.
I am not like my grandmother. I will not destroy lives with a time paradox.
Chapter 1
Never the Right Words
Vaguely aware of some chatter going on behind her, Maya kept her attention on drawing on the paper she had found. Her back was towards the door and the chatter as she focused on what she needed, and she drew it exactly as it appeared in her mind. Unfortunately, as soon as she finished sketching, the paper just disappeared. There was no time to make any of it actually happen. Scowling, Maya had a sneaking suspicion that the island was taking measures to keep her there. After what had happened around Christmas, it made sense that the people in charge had modified things based on the known abilities of the shifters on the island to keep them from leaving.
If they’ve taken away my ability to get away easily, there is nothing that will save them from retribution when I return home. They cannot force me to stay here without serious consequences.Even as she thought it, Maya was fully aware of just how ridiculously futile the thought was. After all, if Prince Everet didn’t have a choice, her desires were far less of a consideration. Like her cousin, Sasha, Maya was far more magically gifted than the average shifter. Unlike her cousin, though, all of Maya’s talents were natural, not manufactured by her parents. And Maya was far more vindictive.
A voice broke into her thoughts of vengeance. “Good day. Are you Maya?”
Turning around, Maya immediately recognized the blond shifter from earlier, the one who had taken an interest in Cullen, and a thought started tugging at her mind.He might have helped them somehow. This guy may have pretended to be watching Noel’s brother, but he was actually watching me. After all, he knew who I was then. And he already knows who I am now. So what’s he playing at by asking?
Not wanting to make her suspicions clear, Maya replied without emotion, “I am.” Then hoping to take him by surprise, she straight out asked, “Are you the person in charge here?”
The shifter had the gall to laugh at that. “If only I were. My name is Apollo, and I’m a healer.”
His response made no sense, unless he was trying to confuse her. “I have no need of a healer.”
The shifter’s expression was a bit stunned, but it was the person who stood just behind him, peeking out from around the doorframe, that caught Maya’s attention. Standing up quickly, Maya felt she might finally have an answer for what was happening. “I take it you brought me here, Naomi, but I must insist that you send me back home.”
Naomi’s genuine look of shock and immediate desire to de-escalate as she held up her hands caused Maya to reconsider her initial assessment. “I had nothing to do with you being here. The old shifter who sent me here made it sound like you had another job lined up.”
“Me?” It sounded ridiculous, but Naomi had never been particularly adept at deception. Based on her business partner’s reaction, there was little reason to think that she was lying. However, the implications of Naomi’s words were not lost on Maya. The idea that she would schedule anything on the island, a place she viewed as no better than breeding grounds, was downright offensive to Maya. Then there was the idea that she would demand that Naomi go somewhere without any kind of planning or explanation. All of those thoughts came out in what was almost an accusation. “When have I ever dragged you off anywhere through a portal?”
Naomi’s look of confusion quickly morphed into disbelief. “Almost all of the time, Maya. That’s pretty standard.”
It felt like intentional misunderstanding, which bothered Maya. “Not without warning. You, on the other hand—”
Suddenly, the blond shifter stepped in front of Naomi, as if to protect her. Maya watched him, a thought coming to mind as he started to speak. “Ladies. I don’t think that arguing is going to get us anywhere.” Maya simply looked at him, thinking of how much audacity this guy had to think that he could mediate when he didn’t know them at all. Then he turned to her and made it worse. “I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Maya, but we are ontheisland.”
Do you think I’m an idiot? I know where we are. The magic is positively crawling all over our skin. The desire to be sarcastic was quickly overshadowed by the realization that the guys might actually have a notion that she was now an option as a mate. After looking at the two male shifters and Naomi, she just said, “No.”
“No, what?” Naomi looked nervous and unsure.
Wanting to explain things so that her business partner wouldn’t panic, Maya said, “I donotwant to be here. So I need to know how to get back. I have—”
Naomi cut her off, though, a strange look on her face as she approached. “Maya, it’s okay.” Putting her hands on Maya’s shoulders, she said calmly, “Time doesn’t work the same way here.”
