Inevitable: Shifters Forever Worlds (Only After Dark Book 5) Read Online Free Page A

that was listed were the entrees, appetizers, desserts, and a wine and cocktail selection.
    “How do you know how much everything costs?” she asked Lucia.
    “There’s no cost. Quake picks up the tab.”
    “For us? Why?”
    “No.” Leandra opened her own menu. “For everyone.”
    What kind of place does this?
    “So the restaurant pays everyone’s tab?”
    “No. Quake does.”
    Leandra cocked her head. “That’s the…” She didn’t know what else to say.
    “This is Quake’s place. It’s named after him.” A slight tremor rolled through Lucia’s voice.
    Whoa. What’s this? How could I not know?
    Sure she lived in the swamp, but she did hear talk. Why didn’t she know this?
    She studied her aunt. “Tante—”
    Lucia glanced down at her menu. “You’re no longer a child. Call me Lucia.”
    Not to mention, she looks young enough to be my sister. Those shifters with their longevity. They managed to age better than witches, and live longer too.
    Leandra nodded. “Lucia, do you know this Quake person?”
    “Know him?” The one-shoulder shrug thing again, then, “I used to know him.”
    Leandra waited for Lucia to continue.
    Nothing. Lucia’s eyes were glued to the menu. When she looked up, she said, “So what are your plans?”
    “To stay in Mémé’s cabin.”
    “She left it to you in her will. You’ll find out at the reading. I won’t be there.”
    “Why did she leave it to me?” Mémé had two daughters after all. “And where will you be?”
    “I’m leaving New Orleans. I have no reason to be here. You’re the only one she could leave it to. Not me, since she knew I didn’t want to stay in town. Not Rochelle.”
    Leandra didn’t need to ask why Mémé wouldn’t leave it to her mother. Rochelle would have burned it to the ground. But still it would have been nice to hear something, anything, from Lucia. Leandra felt as though she’d lived in a vacuum. She barely knew anything about her aunt or her mother. Or even her grandmother’s life prior to Leandra’s birth.
    “Why not Rochelle?”
    Lucia fixed her with a pointed stare. “I’d think that was obvious.” She rolled the menu back into a scroll. “I’m having the daily special. It’s been a long time since I’ve had decent etouffee. You?” Her tone told Leandra that all talk about family was over.
    Tears burned Leandra’s eyes. Etouffee was her Mémé’s specialty. “Same. I’m going to the restroom to wash up.” And get rid of the sadness that began to eat at her, knowing that she’d be in the cabin.
    Without Mémé.

Chapter 7
    N ew Orleans , Louisiana

    T heo leaned against the wall at Quake and tried to get control of his lion. He’d seen her walk in. His lion had reacted with such fervor it had pushed Theo close to a shift.
    Yeah, that’s what I need to do, shift at Quake and start a goddamned supernatural world war.
    True that , his lion agreed.
    It would not be a good thing.
    But that woman.
    Fuck.
    She’d started a campaign of battles within him. His lion battled with common sense, wanting to approach her. His cock battled with his mind. His nose picked up her scent and let it imprint on his soul, damned near making her a part of him.
    How can this be?
    His lion roared deep within his head. She’s the one. He roared the sentiment with vigor and a volume that made Theo want to grab his head.
    There was no way to know that , Theo insisted, arguing with himself, with his lion, with his senses, with his soul, with the universe.
    He couldn’t erase the image of her, though it was a brief glimpse.
    Skin the color of mocha, exactly the shade of the beverages Maylene—his boss’s housekeeper would make for them every afternoon. A perfect, cream-topped concoction that coursed down his throat, warming him. Yes, this woman he’d seen, she was that same shade and left him with the same warmth.
    Warmth, hell. She left him with a hot sensation.
    Yeah, hot.
    His pants tightened in all the wrong places, for all the