Pieces of Three Read online

  Pieces of Three

  Kim Carmichael

  About this Book

  Of all the different shifter species in the Okeanos Archipelago, none is more feared than the Lykans, the wolf shifters, diseased, destructive thieves who had been ostracized decades ago. In fact, history shows that no human has ever survived mating with a Lykan.

  As liaison between the humans and the shifters for Anthros Island, all Alyssa Wilkinson wants is to become an Ambassador and explore the archipelago to study the species she’d been fascinated with her whole life. She only needs to gain her confidence and overcome her fear of water.

  With disease ravaging their females, Lykan shifters, Julian Chalis and Porter Galen have come to Anthros searching for a cure. Captured, their only hope is found in a tiny human with large principles.

  When the three of them are shipwrecked on an isolated island after a storm, Julian and Porter find themselves in the middle of the Lykan lunar mating cycle. Both wanting Alyssa, they give into their desires and choose to share her, never realizing they could be risking her life.

  However, when Alyssa falls ill, Julian and Porter must return to Anthros, the island of the enemy, to save the one they love.

  Copyright

  © 2015 Kim Carmichael

  All rights reserved.

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission of the publisher of this book.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of this author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN-13: 978-0692445754 (Irksome Rebel Romance)

  Published by Rebel Romance, an imprint of Irksome Rebel Press

  Graphics by JWORX Designs

  Dedication

  To the explorers, the outcasts, the misunderstood. Love is found in the most unexpected places.

  Contents

  About this Book

  Dedication

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  “I can’t believe it, we’re finally at Anthros.” Julian Chalis guided his ship into the island port. Boats of every size and shape graced the harbor, creating a busy thoroughfare where business, commerce and politics converged. Both he and his species needed to be a part of the incredible happenings and advances on the human island. “Drop the anchor.”

  “Stop ordering me around, I don’t answer to you.” Even with his complaint, Porter Galen, his shipmate and medical specialist, complied.

  The splash of the anchor dropping into the water told Julian he would soon step foot on the main island of the archipelago, a place where the Lykans were forbidden, their appearance punishable by death. Julian secured the boat and joined Porter.

  “Why we didn’t sneak on land is beyond me.” Porter crossed his arms.

  “We would miss this.” He swiped his arm in front of him. The landscape was exactly as the elders described. Multi-story buildings created a jagged horizon to paved streets, trees and bushes planted in perfection with people walking all about. Anthros radiated energy and excitement.

  “Yes, who would want to miss watching the prosperity of those who destroyed our island?” Porter slid on his suit jacket.

  “We are coming back better than ever.” He smoothed down his suit. Their dark clothes would fit in perfectly with the humans, allow them to blend with the businessmen. Maybe once they realized the Lykans weren’t the pariah or the enemy things would change and bring the prosperity they needed to reclaim their position in the Okeanos Federation of Islands.

  “Tell that to the four females we buried before we left.” Porter shook his head. “Remember why we’re here. Let’s get what we need and sail home.”

  “This will be easy, we already got the other supplies we needed with no trouble.” He shrugged. Porter never possessed any vision, he only trudged through his life, his responsibilities weighing him down rather than using them as stepping stones.They left on their excursion with a shopping list of sort from those they left behind. Their foraging trips were necessary several times a year since the archipelago banished their kind, but they never dared visit Anthros. “They think we’re diseased thieves anyway, let’s find out what we can. Maybe enough time has passed.”

  “Stop with your rhetoric. I’m not one of your believers.” Porter motioned for him to walk ahead.

  “Give it time.” He gave Porter a grin fit for a leader and disembarked the ship.

  A man in a white uniform stood at the end of the ramp holding a clipboard.

  “I told you we should have snuck on.” Porter growled behind him.

  “We blend right in, that’s why we scare them, don’t worry.” His shipmate always looked at the dark side, but no one was better with the details. He strolled over to the man.

  “Stop right there.” The man tapped his clipboard.

  “Is there any trouble, sir?” He broadened the smile on his face.

  “I have no record of this ship coming in today. There is no identification.” The man glanced between the two of them.

  “Oh, I apologize.” Julian chuckled. He heard humans were always polite and he made every effort to be amiable. “This small boat is one of my hobby ships, we took it out for a quick sail to test it out, but I had a bit of trouble. We only needed to stop here quickly to get a part, we will be out of your way as fast as we can.”

  “Hobby ship?” The official pursed his lips.

  “Yes, I’ve been working on it for years, finally got it seaworthy and now this.” He exhaled as if everything was nothing but a huge inconvenience. “My female thinks it’s all silly, but what would I do to get away from her?” With a huge laugh he elbowed the man.

  “Female?”

  Porter cleared his throat.

  Julian searched for the right word, the human word, and he had to make it come out without a hitch. “Wife.” He forced out another laugh. “I call her female when she gets a little testy and needs a little discipline.” Somewhere he also remembered their species liked to give out a little too much information. “She’s not too happy about my hobby, so if I can just get back to her I would appreciate it. I won’t be long.”

  The man paused and made a notation on his clipboard.

  He held his breath, they had to find the medicine, but he swore the best way of infiltrating the humans was to come in like one of them, rather than sneaking and hiding.

  “All right.” The man gave his ruling. “Get whatever part you need, but then get out of my slip.”

  “Thank you. We’ll hurry.” He nodded and walked down the ramp.

  Only after they reached the main thoroughfare did Porter speak. “I can’t believe your insane excuse, besides you don’t even have a female.”

  “It’s fine, they think we are one of them, and that’s the best cover.” He slowed his steps to take in his surroundings. The structures seemed to shine, the people moved with purpose, power and excess. A long time ago Lykos possessed the same attributes, was a force to be contended with, but with the Great Relocation they fought to reclaim what was once theirs. They struggled to rebuild their species to their glory as well as live their day to day lives. He swore he would see the end of their days of being de
prived, he would lead the Lykans into a new era where they wouldn’t be lowered to stealing for the basic necessities.

  “Let’s find the hospital and get off this roach infested sink hole. The city has been master-planned and organized into sections.” Porter rushed toward a sign containing a directory. He ran his finger down the list until coming to the medical entry with an arrow pointing left. “How convenient of them to show us the way.”

  Julian read the sign, taking in all the different offerings on the island, government, shopping, food and entertainment. A blueprint to what he wanted for his species. “Incredible.” As the word left his mouth, the air around him suddenly changed. The electric thrill turned into charged vibration coursing throughout his body, alerting his senses. He tensed, muscles rigid and alert, ready to transform at a moment’s notice to protect himself, Porter and his mission.

  “Julian.” Though Porter only uttered his name, Julian knew the same warning reverberated through him.

  He scanned the area. The gleaming buildings towered over them casting dark shadows, the smiling people scurrying through their day disappeared, his instinct to shift escalated, they needed to get out.

  “Don’t.” Porter barked.

  A synchronized series of clicks echoed around them.

  The bear shifters from Aktrosos as well as humans surrounded them, guns cocked and aimed on them.

  “They hired the stuffed animals.” The urge to change overpowered him, took over, and beyond his control fangs grew from his mouth betraying his true identity.

  “Stop right there. Make no mistake we will shoot.” A voice boomed though a speaker. “Put your hands up, one shift will result in in your death.”

  His focus darted all around him searching for a hole, any escape route. A quick shift and they could run. No one, human or animal could catch them or beat them. “We mean no harm to anyone,” he shouted back.

  “They have us surrounded, we can’t get away.” Porter lifted his hands.

  “Your ship has already been seized with all the evidence of what you illegally took from other islands.” The voice of doom clouded over him.

  “No.” There had to be a way. Those at home relied on them to bring the medicine and supplies. The other islands forced them into stealing to save lives.

  “You have five seconds.”

  “We won’t be able to save the others if we are dead.” Porter’s curt tone cut through him.

  “Five…four…three…” the voice counted down.

  Give up? Never. He stared ahead thinking of something, anything.

  “Two…”

  At last an idea sparked, something an elder told him long ago. “We demand to see an Ambassador! It is within our rights!” A great comeback never started with the leader surrendering.

  “Julian!” Porter yelled.

  He put his hands up.

  * * * *

  “Hurry up, they’re waiting for you.” Secretary Girard’s assistant pointed down the hallway toward the secure area. “Have you seen them yet?”

  “I’m on my way.” Alyssa Wilkinson rushed past the woman and attempted to ignore the way the heel of her pump stuck in the carpet fibers with every step she took. At last they wanted her.

  She hugged the official guide to human-shifter relations to her chest and headed toward the set of double doors that would open to her greatest moment.

  With her next few steps she would enter as the expert, the liaison, the conduit between the humans and the shifters, and if she performed well she would leave as the Ambassador. No one was better prepared to undertake the task.

  She reached for the doorknob and glanced down in one last final check to ensure she had everything. Once more her heel stuck in the carpet and she stumbled. While she managed to catch herself on the door, it flew open and slammed against the opposing wall with a sick thud. “Damn.”

  Several members of the Security Council clapped, and she shut her eyes. Ambassadors didn’t fall into a room full of important officials. She exhaled and turned toward the center of the room.

  “Hello Ms. Wilkinson.” Secretary Girard motioned toward an empty chair. “Please join us.”

  Before moving forward she prayed her shoe would cooperate. With all her research, she forgot to have them repaired. She looked over the room.

  The Secretary’s top staff sat in chairs while Aktosian Guards lined the perimeter of the large wood paneled space. Though in their human form, their height, girth, thick legs and snout betrayed their bear-like origins. A Saurorian Diplomat whipped his tail and sat back. No one would ever mistake the lizards in their human form or not. Where were the pirates?

  “I believe we’re who you’re looking for.”

  She moved around the door and froze at the sight of the two males before her, close enough to humans that she almost glossed over them.

  Almost.

  Yes, she studied shifters her whole life, but never dreamed of having not one but two of the forbidden species here. These shifters weren’t like the rest in the archipelago, easily distinguished from humans and reliant on them for technology. Rather these shifters rivaled humans in every possible way. If the tales were true, there weren’t many left, and those still alive were said to be dangerous, diseased, killing thieves. Lykan shifters were strictly forbidden on any island in the Federation, and if any were captured they were to be immediately detained at the Filaki Island to await trial.

  Her throat dried out and she tried to take a breath. “Hello.”

  “Hello.” The one who waved answered. “You must be the liaison.”

  She nodded, or thought she did, she couldn’t stop staring between the two of them. Maybe gawking was a better word.

  Both perfectly dressed in suit pants and white shirts, these men or shifters might look like humans, but most humans she knew would die to look like them.

  Her cheeks heated and she pressed her hand to her forehead in an attempt to cool down.

  “I’m Julian Chalis, the head of foreign relations for New Lykos Island.” With his hand out, he stood, towering over her, but not imposing, rather the appearance of a strong ally, with his black hair brushing his shoulders and his green eyes practicically shining telling her his species wasn’t terrible only misunderstood. He tilted his head back to the other man. “This is Porter Galen, head of research for our medical team.”

  The second one stood as well, but didn’t offer a hand. Rather than Julian’s sparkling star, Porter’s light was dimmed, his gold eyes lacked the vibrance of his fellow Lykan, and his brown hair short and sensible. His presence was much more guarded, a tower of strength one could hide behind and never get lost.

  Three of the Aktrosian Guards stepped forward. One let out a low animalistic growl.

  She swore the one named Julian winked at her, but she remained frozen to her spot and not due to her heel stuck to the carpet.

  “As I said, I am Julian.” He plucked her hand off her face and shook it. “I needed to remind your government it was well within our rights to request a meeting with an Ambassador. With none available they said they would bring you.”

  Always the Liaison never the Ambassador, she held her breath. His touch didn’t serve to abate any heat. In fact, she swore a trickle of sweat trailed down her spine. She shuddered. Yes, most humans would die to look like them, or be with them.

  “It’s a bit warm in here. Maybe we can get Secretary Girard to adjust the temperature.” He kept her hand in his. “Then maybe later we can fix your shoe. “

  At that moment her body decided it needed the oxygen denied it, she inhaled too quickly. She choked and was wracked with coughs, but at least she succeeded in retrieving her hand.

  “Why don’t we get you something to drink?”

  “Why don’t we get on with it?” Secretary Girard pointed to an empty chair directly in front of his desk. “Ms. Wilkinson.”

  She caught her breath and willed her feet to move, saying a silent prayer of thanks when her feet and shoes cooperated and s
he made it across the room and sat down with a lot less fanfare than her entrance. “Of course.”

  “Let’s give them their moment.” Secretary Girard leaned back in his chair. “Why we give thieves any rights at all is beyond me.”

  The two shifters returned to their seats. Porter perched at the edge of his chair and stared at her while Julian crossed his legs and glanced at his nails.

  With a nod, she rifled through the documents until coming to the section on the Lykans. The words her father drafted blurred on the page, not that it mattered as she knew the laws by heart. She paused, willing her heartbeat to slow an acceptable level. “What would you like to discuss with me?”

  “We only came here for medical supplies,” Julian answered.

  “How does that explain your constant rampage on the other islands?” Secretary Girard shook his head. “Your ship was loaded with stolen goods.”

  “We needed some supplies, and it wasn’t like we had somewhere to go to ask for aid.” Julian turned to her. “Could we?”

  “Our laws dictate there are to be no relations between the Lykans and any other species of the Okeanos Federation.” She wrinkled the paper with her tight hold. No doubt the Lykans knew the law, only extreme circumstances would have brought them here. It was their duty to hear the intruders out and not dismiss them.

  Julian cupped his hand over his mouth as if whispering but he raised his voice. “I think that’s a nice way of saying mating.”

  One of the guards lumbered up behind him.

  “Our laws have served us very well,” Secretary Girard interjected.

  “Don’t you find them a bit paranoid and antiquated?” Porter spoke his first words since she entered the room.

  “I find no law that keeps our citizens alive and untainted antiquated or paranoid.” The Secretary picked up a pen and tapped it on his desk. “I find it necessary.”

  “Then we are only asking for the same treatment.” Porter squeezed the arms of his chair as if he were trying to hold himself back. “We only came for medicine.”