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 on the island.”
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 do not want 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.”
Is she … trying to comfort me? After pausing to consider that, Maya was sure of one thing. Time was very much working as it always did. “Of course it does.”
Before Naomi could say anything, the blond shifter butted into the conversation, “No, she’s right.
” To Maya’s chagrin, he walked closer, adapting a similarly calming tone, as if trying to pacify her as he stood just a couple of steps away from her.
Whether he was being condescending toward Maya or trying to protect Naomi, Maya wasn’t sure.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s both. This guy seems like someone who’s accustomed to people deferring to him and always being right.
Maya fought to keep her expression neutral as he continued to explain in a tone she found very condescending. “They manipulate time here so that people don’t miss too much time back home. It’s meant to take the pressure off anyone sent here so they can relax and enjoy being on the island.”
Are they somehow working together? Or … they are mates, aren’t they?
This realization irked her as it meant that the storm dragon might actually think he could continue bothering her.
Maya desperately wanted to roll her eyes, but settled for looking between her business partner and the blond shifter as she asked, “How do either of you know this?”
Naomi said, “Sasha and Noel,” as the blond said, “Noel and Sasha.”
Maya looked over at the black-haired shifter, fully aware that a look of disgust was on her face as she listened to Naomi almost gush to the insolent blond shifter.
Completely tuning out their conversation, Maya did a quick test herself.
She made eye contact with the black-haired shifter, pressing against the edges of time and trying to rewind things back to when it was just the two of them.
His eyes widened, making it obvious he could sense what she was doing, but Maya did not care.
As she began to bend time, she felt the magic of the place pushing back.
Like tapping on the strings of a web, Maya knew better than to push too far because they were currently trapped in that web.
And she had no idea how much living in the time constraints would mess with her work. And her own abilities. The pair were partially right, but time wasn’t nearly so straightforward.
Shaking her head, Maya muttered, “I need more information than that to feel confident that my work won’t be affected.”
The non sequitur seemed to shut up the love birds, but the black-haired shifter was suddenly very interested in joining the conversation.
From the way he was looking at her, she felt he was enjoying the ridiculous situation a little too much.
He approached them, a smirk on his face and his hands behind his back as if he were out for a stroll.
“If work is your primary concern, I can assure you that you will not be affected. But if you really need something to help you, I’ve got this for you. ”
Then he brought his hands around, and Maya couldn’t believe what he had. A tablet!
She grabbed it, feeling a sense of comfort spreading through her as soon as the device was in her hands. Almost like a security blanket. Then a new suspicion sparked in her mind. “How did you get this? I was told I had to leave it.”
The storm dragon explained as she started tapping the screen, trying to pull up her information. The amusement in his tone indicated that he was thoroughly enjoying her discomfort. “That one’s not yours, but I can help you set it up so that you can access all of the information on your tablet.”
Of course it isn’t mine. But whose then? And can he really connect to all of my information? I stored it where no other shifter is likely to access it. Her thoughts came out in two short questions. “You can? How?”
The devious look in his eyes was almost humorous as he leaned forward, as if sharing a secret. “Don’t worry about it. Just know that I understand human technology. They are just as addicted to those things as you are.”
“I’m not addicted to this,” her tone was sharp as she waved the tablet around, the screen showing a scene to a place she vaguely recognized.
Maya’s denial was just further cause for amusement as the storm dragon barely hid a smirk. “Sure, that’s what they all say.”
The initial gratitude waned as she looked at him, understanding dawning that he was being sarcastic.
But before she could say anything, Naomi started laughing.
Turning her annoyance on her business partner, Maya asked in a clipped tone, “What’s so funny?
I know you prefer to wander around talking to people, and that’s great for business.
But I have a lot to do because the Mason/Jagger wedding is next month. We are behind on that because—”