Free Autumn's War (The Spirit Shifters Book 4) by Marissa Farrar Page A

on!”
    His laughter was infectious, and Madison’s shoulders relaxed, her grip around her child loosening.
    “No, honey, they don’t.”
    “Is that ’cause they were animals?”
    “Yeah, I guess it is.”
    Chogan tried again. “This is the world you live in now, Madison. It’s better to have us on your side.”
    “The man helped us, Mommy,” Billy added, turning his eyes on his mother. “You can’t take the car of someone who helped us. That’s stealing.”
    Madison gave a deep sigh, and nodded. “Okay.” She reached out and unlocked the door. “Don’t make me regret this.”
    Now dressed, Peter and Sahale hauled the two young men to their feet and dragged them over to the car. They curled in on themselves, their hands still trying to hide their private parts from the beautiful young woman and child they now found themselves naked in front of. Chogan wondered if the leopard was anywhere around, if he’d positioned himself to find out what was going to happen next.
    Chogan folded his arms. “Now what do you say?”
    “Sorry,” mumbled the first one, unable to look at her.
    “Sorry, Ma’am,” the second boy added.
    “Now get the hell away from here and learn how to behave yourselves.”
    Peter and Sahale both gave the two boys a shove, and they half staggered forward, glancing back to make sure Chogan wasn’t about to give chase and then took off down the empty freeway, their naked, white backsides flashing as they went. He expected them to have some clothes hidden somewhere close. He just hoped they’d learned their lesson. They were barely more than kids themselves.
    With the boys gone, Nadie slipped into the seat beside Madison. Madison gave the other woman a nervous glance, but Nadie smiled.
    “Don’t worry. I don’t bite.”
    Madison gave a timid smile, as if she didn’t quite believe her.
    Now they needed to find Autumn, Lakota, and the others.
    As Chogan climbed into the driver’s seat, and Peter and Sahale started up the bikes, he wondered what Autumn would make of the news that Blake might still be alive, and also what she’d think of the new arrivals.

Chapter Nine
     
     
    AUTUMN LAY IN bed in her apartment, the bedcovers soft and warm, her face buried against the pillow. It felt so good to be back here, cocooned within the familiar scent and comfort of her own bed again.
    Movement came behind her, and her heart lurched. Quickly, she turned her head to peer over her shoulder. Her eyes took in the sight of familiar nut-brown skin, the big muscles, and curves and swirls of his tattoos.
    “Blake?” she said confused.
    He moved in bed, lifting his head to see her. Happiness swelled inside her like a bubble, but then she realized something, and the feeling burst. What was happening here? Blake wasn’t supposed to be here, was he?
    Blake grinned down at her, his face lighting up. She was so used to him always being so solemn, and the easy, relaxed smile looked good on him.
    “I don’t understand,” she said, frowning. “I thought … I thought you were dead.”
    He laughed, a deep rumble in his chest, and reached out to her. “Don’t be silly. You must have had a bad dream.”
    She let him pull her into his arms. The warmth of his skin, the strong breadth of his chest. How good it felt to press her cheek against his chest once more, to inhale the scent of him, to hear the steady thud of his heartbeat.
    “You’re right,” she said, though confusion still clouded her mind. Something didn’t seem right. “I must have been dreaming.”
    “Of course you were.”
    Autumn closed her eyes and relished his presence. She felt like a better person when he was around, special, strong, and more confident. He made her feel like they could tackle the world together, that nothing would defeat them.
    She lifted her head from his chest to look him in the eye. She’d missed that strong, powerful face. The slightly widened nose, the deep set, dark eyes, the full lower lip. She’d missed him so