Hot Summer Love: A Multi-Author Box Set (Shifters in Love Book 2)

“He wouldn’t,” she said.

“He might if he knew I was there. Being here puts you all in danger,” he said. Then he pulled back and took her hand, kissing it before beginning to walk back up the valley. “You’re right, Amara, let’s go home.”

Amara followed him, lost in thought. She had never even considered that Serrif would come looking for Kane. But there was a real chance that was exactly what he would do if ever news got back to him that a rightful heir to the Talamo Pride Lands was on his doorstep.





25





“Ready?” Tallis asked.

Kane nodded, and let his lion take over his consciousness. His poor bruised and battered lion. However, one thing he had learned was that this lion was tough, resilient, and getting better at fighting every day.

This time he would not be beaten. His lion roared its challenge and they began, Tallis coming at him. Only this time, Kane didn’t dodge, because that’s what he always did. No, this time he was going to attack.

The fight was over quickly, Tallis lay sprawled on the floor, with Kane, the victor, pinning him down. Behind them, the others whooped and cheered, Amara running over to put her arms around his lion neck, burying her face in his mane and whispering, “I knew you could do it.”

He panted, dragging the breath in through his nostrils, but he was elated and excited for the next round, which he wanted to begin right away.

Shifting his weight off Tallis, he got up, allowing the other lion to stand shakily. Then they both changed, Kane wondering how Tallis would take defeat.

“You did it, fair and square,” Tallis said. “You know, Kane, I have never been so pleased to be beaten in all my life.”

“Thank you, Tallis. You have been so patient with me, I appreciate the time you’ve given up to help me,” Kane said.

“My pleasure, Kane,” Tallis said and drew him into a manly embrace, which Kane found awkward, but deep down, he also felt accepted by Amara’s family.

“One down, three more to go,” Frasier said from the edge of the square.

“I am ready for the next one,” Kane said.

“Then allow me,” Brandon said, standing and approaching Kane.

“Listen, before you start again, I have some business that I have to take care of,” Frasier called. “I’ll be gone a few days. Think you can stay out of trouble until then?”

“Sure,” Kane said, as Brandon stood before him, grinning confidently. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“I hope not,” Frasier said.

“Go, we’ll catch up in a few days,” Kane said, preparing to change into his lion.

“Yeah, we’ll keep an eye on the young cub,” Brandon said.

“No teasing, Brandon,” Amara called anxiously.

“I’ll go pack,” Frasier said, heading back to the house.

By now a small crowd had begun to gather, around the two fighters. The people had become mildly interested in Kane and what was happening over on the village square. Kane and Amara’s brothers sparred here every night after work, and Kane had become to feel like the village entertainment. Well, tonight he was going to try to beat his second lion.

He changed; his lion baring its teeth at Brandon, laying his challenge down, and Brandon responded, lifting his head and letting out a territorial roar. Kane’s heart thudded, the sound of his opponent making his blood race through his veins, adrenaline pumping into his muscles as he prepared to attack. This was his new plan: attack first.

With Tallis, he had always waited to be attacked. Now he wanted to learn how to be the aggressor. Pacing up and down, he waited for the moment Brandon was about to attack, noticing how his muscles bunched before he leaped, and at that moment, Kane used his haunches to power himself forward, and went for Brandon’s throat.

It worked. He hit Brandon on the neck, choking off the air, throwing him off balance and then he pinned him down on the floor. Although he did allow him to breathe.

“You did it,” Amara shouted, and he could feel her excitement. Inside, he was grinning from ear to ear, although outwardly he tried not to gloat.

Brandon pushed at Kane’s paw, trying to get him off, and Kane took a step backwards, allowing him to get up. Brandon stood with his head down, his breath raspy, and Kane worried he might have done some real damage. Changing back to his human form, he put his hand on Brandon’s back, leaning down to check he was all right.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Kane said.

“Come on, Brandon,” Amara said heading over, “I’ll take you home.” She looked up and smiled at Kane. His heart swelled; he was beginning to get the hang of this fighting thing.

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