Might be, Mr. Lion Dragon Man ~ Immortal Shapeshifter: Part Four

Tuesday howls, yowls, and growls, shapeshifter lovers. [note: I ***hate*** the new blogger/google format. I spent hours on this post. It was on the blog. And now I find it in draft]

The Chinese Year of the Snake begins on February 10th. I must imagine our beloved Lamar, the Peak's snake shapeshifter extraordinairre, will be in his scaly slithery glory this coming year. Stay tuned for Lamar, Itzi, our dragonkind shapeshifters, and other serpent shifters joining the cast of characters.

And, stay tuned for our very first ***ShapeShifter Seductions Newsletter***. Gypsy Red Wolf has penned her predictions column for the year, 2013.

Yes, indeed, Zephan and Solanja's story continues. The Muse is insistent, and since my energy remains low, she gets to win. This week my heroine, Solanja, stars with her voice. I hope you enjoy.  
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"Might be, Mr. Lion Dragon Man."

Immortal Shapeshifter ~ Part Four  

Craggy, Solanja thought. Zephan's rugged and unique features intrigued her beyond her original fascination with him--when she'd feverishly studied the ancient merchant records.

"Lion Dragon Man at midnight," Solanja repeated his words, as she lowered her cooled coffee mug. "Your appearance does remind me of a lion. A male lion, that is."

"Rawrrr," he boomed in a teasing manner. "I'll take that as a compliment. Of sorts. Better'n looking like a scaly dragon."

"Some dragons have a noble countenance," she defended, unable to take her gaze off his face.

His gaze sharpened, and Solanja witnessed the high intelligence he hid behind his mountain-man demeanor. "Seen many dragons?" "A few. Mostly sightings from afar. One was very close and personal. A shapeshifter." Solanja grinned, remembering the colorful character in the Scottish Highlands.

"Around here, it's shapeshifter-landia. But you know that, don't you?" Zephan reached for her mug. "Refill?"

"No, thanks." Solanja gave her hair a shake before answering. "We're aware. My white-heart side is aware of the growing population. Yes. Although, since we haven't monitored anything, I doubt we have a clue about what is really going on."

"The black-heart side?" Zephan's narrowed gaze assessed her, and she felt his automatic mental scan of her thoughts.

"Before I left to search for you, I did some mind sleuthing. To what end, I'm not certain, since I didn't want to tip the black-hearts off about my leaving, or your location." Solanja gulped in a large breath, and let her gaze fall from his. "They know. From what I could gather, their Seers keep watch on the Tiger Yakuza, a place called the Pleasure Club, and Brandon Wayne."

"Brandon is a personal friend." Zephan's harsh tone knifed through her, and Solanja resisted the urge to jump.

"Sorry. Not you I'm aiming for, Solanja. Apologies," he emphasized.

The gentleness in the depths of his dark topaz-colored eyes--the gentle energy waving from him, calmed her. Still, before Solanja could halt herself, she wrapped her arms around herself, then rocked back against the firm but overstuffed couch.

"Truth is, from what I could determine, the psychic and technological shielding around this area defeats the black-hearts from discovering much of anything."

She watched him ponder her words, a distant expression on his face. "That, in itself, might be painting a target on our backs here in the Peak."

Solanja slightly shrugged. "Might be, Mr. Lion Dragon Man."

Mygawd, she liked calling him that. She also liked his giant handsome stature more than she cared to admit--even though, he wasn't a real giant, as she and other white-hearts had battled before. If you could defeat them psychically, the double-row of teeth giants were easy to slay.

"Although, there's a bigger game afoot, as you're aware," she continued, as he began to rise. "Like world domination."

"It's who the psycho bastards are in league with, that's got my innards churning." Zephan offered her a hand up.

After placing her hand inside his, Solanja asked, "Do you mean the demonic entities? Or, the lizard kings and queens, as we refer to them?"

"The space-flyin' lizards," he answered, pulling her upward with unexpected gallantry. "They're mean suckers in a fight. 'Course, ice bullets stop 'em dead, given that cold reptilian blood of theirs."

"Freeze guns do work," she agreed.

"Freeze guns?" Zephan's blatantly interested expression tickled her.

"A scalar weapon that can be set to a freeze frequency. I would have brought...but, they're too easy to track."

"You're one intriguin' woman. But I'm forgettin' my manners--such as they are. Do you need to refresh yourself?" His thick dark brows lifted in a way that caused Solanja to smile.

"Not yet. The coffee hasn't made it that far. Besides, I.." she began, uncertain about what tact to take with him. Most men didn't have this overwhelming tingly affect on her. Actually, none that she could recall, which left her more quivery-weak inside.

"Beef stew with lots of vegetables suit you, Solanja?"

"Anything hearty would hit the spot." When her hand shook slightly, Solanja tightened her grip, hoping he didn't notice. Ridiculous on her part, she knew. With his supernatural powers, he could read her like a book. Almost.

"You're safe here," he spoke after a moment, his tone low and reassuring. "Tell you what. Once we've chowed down, I'll give you the grand tour."

"Your underground weapons collection?" Solanja raised a brow, and arrowed her gaze at him.

His grin started slowly, but spread from ear to ear. His gaze positively beamed at her as he let go of her hand, then offered his arm.

Solanja twined her arm around his, her heart thumpity-thumping. An instant later, her heart lurched hard, but this time, it wasn't from Zephan's nearness--his manliness.

The search for her was on. Both the black-hearts, and her family, used every psychic and tech means at their disposal to find her location. Damn.

She'd taken great pains, explaining in a letter delivered to her cousin, why she'd decided to disappear. Obviously, that hadn't worked with her parents. Damn again.  

"No worries, Solanja," he interrupted her reeling thoughts.

"No worries for now," she murmured in agreement.

Solanja moved beside him as if it was something she did everyday. That wasn't lost on her, even with danger looming like a tribe of charging cannibalistic giants.

"We'll figure out a way, if it's needed, to stay hidden. Right now, my stomach's growling for some grub."

The quiet determination in his voice eased her. That, and Solanja's own knowing there was time to fortify their defenses.

"Right, Mr. Lion Dragon Man." She lightened her tone. "No use chancing you going Manticore on me, if you don't get fed." 

Why not? For now, the frequency shield around the Talbot's Peak area remained invincible.

"Plenty of extra room here," Zephan conversationally began, "and I've got a spare underground room I think you'll like."

"You're telling me, there's a room without weapons? Not that I mind. Although, the gun oil does..."

"I'll clear it out," he interrupted, his voice bantering, "and you can decorate it however you want."

Second thoughts about imposing on Zephan had Solanja halting in her tracks. "Are...are you certain? I mean, after awhile I could..."

TO BE CONTINUED...
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~ Have a Magickal New Year of the Snake ~ 

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~