Your Lycan or Mine? (Broken Heart Book 14) Read Online Free

“What?”
    “Soul shifters needed mates immune to their peculiar hunger.”
    “Therianthropes.”
    “Yes. It makes sense. You and I both can change forms. Granted my way is easier because my DNA is malleable.”
    “So now we’re destined mates?” She pulled away and put distance between them. “One kiss doesn’t mean we’re gonna get married.”
    Jarod laughed. “Relax, Natasha. I promise not to drag you down the aisle.”
    Ash noticed he didn’t deny his belief that they were mates. She didn’t know what stunned her more: The fact he’d suggested it or the fact she didn’t hate the idea.
    “I have work to do.” Flustered, she grabbed her boots off the floor and started to yank them on.
    “Are you sure you want to face the past alone?”
    She didn’t bother asking how he knew why she was here. After all, he’d sent her this direction with all that talk of remembering where the first sacrifices were made.
    “You really think my parents’ deaths are because of Lilith? That she knew I was the one who could keep her bound?”
    “Yes,” he murmured. “They had you, the statue, and the prophecy. The problem is that Lilith struck before they could prepare you. And then the Convocation scooped you up.”
    “Yeah. And what a joy that turned out to be.”
    Jarod stepped closer to her and cupped her face. His concerned gaze met hers. “Do you need back-up?”
    “I have to do this alone,” said Ash. “I’m not even taking Nor.”
    “If you need me…” He trailed off, his gaze filled with genuine concern.
    “Yeah,” she said, uncomfortable with his obvious worry for her. “Thanks.”

Chapter Three
    Marietta, Ohio
    C LAIRE GLASS WANDERED among the garage-sale treasures. She touched votive candles, potholders, Matchbox cars, and a cookbook. Her fingertips relayed the differences in textures. Smooth. Soft. Bumpy. She could see the sizes and shapes of the items.
    The colors were missing.
    Gray permeated her once vibrant world. How she longed to see a red rose, a blue sky, and a green Starbuck’s logo. Had it been only a year since every happy thing in her life had been stolen? The man she loved. The wedding they’d planned. The new promotion she’d gotten. Hmph. Difficult to be an interior designer without the ability to see color. Even their dream house, which they’d only moved into the week before the accident, had been taken.
    Without Henry or her job, she hadn’t been able to afford the mortgage payments. Now, she lived in a tiny apartment trying to make ends meet with disability and Henry’s life insurance money.
    When she’d come out of the coma, the doctors told her that her cerebral cortex had been damaged. Cerebral achromatopsia was the result. She was lucky to be alive and luckier still that only her limited vision was the price paid for the same wreck that took Henry’s life.
    Snap out of it, girl. Pity parties are so lame. Claire rounded the corner of the table and looked at the items displayed on a rickety bookshelf. Her fingers danced along an assortment of Precious Moments figurines. She knew why she was so damned mopey. Today would’ve been her first wedding anniversary. Had Henry lived, they would be celebrating, maybe even taking the first step toward starting a family.
    Her gaze swept the driveway, looking at the careless displays of toys, shoes, and tools. What the—
    Heart thumping, Claire leaned down and reached into the cardboard box labeled “Miscellaneous ~ 25¢ each.” The owl head was as wide as her hand and looked familiar. She could see groves in the neck where the head connected to another piece. It was a shame it wasn’t intact, but the broken statuary was still extraordinary.
    She saw its color.
    The owl head was a brilliant red. Claire looked around. If she could see color again, maybe her vision was getting better. What did doctors know? Miracles happened every day.
    As her eager gaze bounced around the neighborhood -- staring at cars, at people, at lawns,