Disease (Legendary Shifters #5)

Prologue.

Jess/Loch Ness Monster

Jess sat on the stone bench in Frankie’s rose garden.

There were now four rose bushes growing, one for each couple that had fallen in love.

Vladimir and Emmaline’s were white roses with blood-red outer petals.

Jase and Willow’s were the colour of the ocean with sea-green tips.

Lanie and Mac’s were an emerald green with gold petals on the outside.

And Drew and Shelly’s rose had bloomed a few weeks ago and was a cream colour with a white inner core. Jess gazed at one that hadn’t blossomed and wondered whose it was. The beautiful vine wound its way up the wall, full of buds.

Someone would get a stunning display when they discovered their mate. Such a shame it wouldn’t be her; sadness hit, and Jess wallowed for a few seconds before shoving it away. Frankie came into view, saw her, and approached with a smile.

“Hey, sister,” he said and slumped next to her. “Why so sad?”

“These are gorgeous,” Jess replied, avoiding his question.

“Yes, and do you think I’ll allow you to get away with that?”

“With what?” Jess asked innocently.

“Don’t, Jess. What’s wrong?”

“I want a mate, but at the same time… I don’t,” she finally admitted.

“Why not?” Frankie leaned back and tilted his face to the sun.

“Who’d mate with my shifted form? Jesus, the size of Loch Ness Monster alone would crush him, even if only for an instant,” Jess complained.

A pang hit deep in her heart, and she hissed out a breath filled with pain.

What she said was true. Jess was the second biggest creature they had; only Scylla was bigger, and if Jess felt like this, she couldn’t imagine how Salah felt.

“Why so negative? You think Jase and Drew didn’t feel the same?” Frankie challenged.

“Slight difference, Frankie. They retained a humanlike shape. Me? I’m turning into a freaking plesiosaur,” she snapped.

Frankie shook his head. “Although only four of us have mated. Jess, there will be a way; you have to believe.”

“I can’t, Frankie. That would fill me with false hope, and we all understand that’s the cruellest Sin of all,” she replied morosely.

“Come with me,” Frankie said, standing up and grabbing her hand. He led her to a barren flowerbed. “I can sense life in there. I don’t know if it’s your rose or not, but several shoots are growing, which means more of us will find mates. We’re all scared, Jess, but things work out. You need faith.”

“I lost that when we were infected and kicked out of Heaven.” She scoffed. “Faith? What the fuck is that?” Jess demanded.

Shaking her head, she leaned over, kissed Frankie’s cheek, and walked away. Faith, what a bloody joke that was.