Bayou Shadow Protector
Native American legends and the fairy world combine in a bayou filled with danger, deception and deadly secrets . . .As a shadow hunter of ancient, evil spirits Chulah Rivers is used to strange creatures and happenings in the bayou. But when April Meadows appears out of nowhere to enlist the Native American's help in a battle that threatens the balance of the fae and human worlds, Chulah is plunged into a deadly battle–and confronted with an all-consuming desire for this mysterious stranger who knows far too much about his past . . . .
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Native American legends and the fairy world combine in a bayou filled with danger, deception and deadly secrets...
As a shadow hunter of ancient, evil spirits, Chulah Rivers is used to strange creatures and happenings in the bayou. But when April Meadows appears out of nowhere to enlist the Native Americanâs help in a battle that threatens the balance of the Fae and human worlds, Chulah is plunged into a deadly battleâand confronted with an all-consuming desire for this mysterious stranger who knows far too much about his past...
âBet you have a million secrets buried under that beautiful, innocent face.â
Beautiful. He thinks Iâm beautiful. That was something April could grasp and hold on to while facing his disgust.
âIâm not considered particularly beautiful by the other Fae,â she said casually.
Chulah snorted. âImpossible. Harder to believe than the fact you arenât human.â
âIâm half human. On my fatherâs side,â she said quickly. As if this might make her appear more acceptable and less foreign.
âWhy didnât you tell me the truth to start with? Iâm a shadow hunter. Iâve fought supernatural beings most of my life. Hell, I have my own powers.â
âIâm well aware of your heightened senses. And your strength.â Aprilâs eyes roved over his broad shoulders and chest, the lean, muscular biceps of his arms. Her throat went dry remembering how it felt to be wrapped in those solid arms and how much sheâd desired his touch over the years.
DEBBIE HERBERT writes paranormal romance novels reflecting her belief that love, like magic, casts its own spell of enchantment. Sheâs always been fascinated by magic, romance and gothic stories. Married and living in Alabama, she roots for the Crimson Tide football team. Her oldest son, like many of her characters, has autism. Her youngest son is in the US Army. A past MAGGIE® Award finalist in both young-adult and paranormal romance, sheâs a member of the Georgia Romance Writers of America.
The Bayou Magic series continues with Bayou Shadow Protector. You met Chulah in the first book of the series, Bayou Shadow Hunter, and this second book is his story.
The mystery and romance of the Alabama bayou continues as Chulah meets a mysterious woman new to Bayou La Siryna. Strange thing is, she knows everything about himâright down to events and thoughts heâs never shared with anyone.
I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it!
All best,
Debbie
Contents
He came in second place to a dead lover. If that wasnât just so typical of his life.
Tallulah placed a hand on his arm. âIâm sorry. Really.â
Anger pounded his temples. He didnât want her pity. Chulah shrugged her hand away and took a step back. âForget about it,â he answered curtly, knowing his resentment was ridiculous, but unable to control the emotion.
âI had no idea you felt that way about me,â she continued.
Tallulah actually looked surprised. Like he and every other warrior should know that she still thought about Bo, lived for Bo, even when heâd been dead for over a year. Crazy women. Heâd never understand them.
âNo problem,â he lied. He didnât want to hear any more of the words that killed his dreams. Chulah took a deep breath and started for the woods, aware of Tallulahâs eyes following him as he made for the tree line. His heightened senses from hunting evil bayou spirits allowed him to feel her focused energy on his rigid back.
I love you as a brother, sheâd said. As much as I do any of my fellow shadow hunters.
Right.
He should have known better than to reveal his feelings, should have stuck to his code of displaying no vulnerability. Chulah kept his back straight. Eyes ahead. No need for her to realize that the blow had hurt his pride as much as his heart. He was a warrior, damn it. Well, mainly he stuck to the codeâwith the mistaken exception of this afternoon. But the way sheâd stood in the sea breezeâblack hair teased by the wind, shirt pressed against her strong, lean form, the leather fringed necklace disappearing into the cleavage of her breastsâheâd lost all reason. She was the epitome of a warrior hunter, the only female hunter in their tight clan. A perfect match. Or so heâd imagined. Heâd dared to hope that she must know and return some of his desire.
Wrong.
Heâd let his protective barriers down, told her of his secret feelings. Stupid. He deserved the I-Just-Wanna-Be-Friends brush-off.
Marching away, he was so latched on to the eyes-straight-ahead approach and shoulders-back posture that his left foot tangled on something and he stumbled.
His pride took a dive along with his feet and he dared not look back. The old Tallulah would have laughed and teased him; now she must see him as a bumbling idiot or, worse, as a man to be pitied.
