Debbie Herbert - 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...

“Bet you have a million secrets buried under that beautiful, innocent face.”

Beautiful. He thinks I’m beautiful. That was something April could grasp and hold on to while facing his disgust.

“I’m not considered particularly beautiful by the other Fae,” she said casually.

Chulah snorted. “Impossible. Harder to believe than the fact you aren’t human.”

“I’m half human. On my father’s side,” she said quickly. As if this might make her appear more acceptable and less foreign.

“Why didn’t you tell me the truth to start with? I’m a shadow hunter. I’ve fought supernatural beings most of my life. Hell, I have my own powers.”

“I’m well aware of your heightened senses. And your strength.” April’s 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 she’d 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. She’s 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, she’s a member of the Georgia Romance Writers of America.

Bayou Shadow Protector

Debbie Herbert

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader,

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 him—right down to events and thoughts he’s never shared with anyone.

I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it!

All best,

Debbie

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Dear Reader

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter 1

He came in second place to a dead lover. If that wasn’t just so typical of his life.

Tallulah placed a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. Really.”

Anger pounded his temples. He didn’t want her pity. Chulah shrugged her hand away and took a step back. “Forget about it,” he answered curtly, knowing his resentment was ridiculous, but unable to control the emotion.

“I had no idea you felt that way about me,” 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 he’d been dead for over a year. Crazy women. He’d never understand them.

“No problem,” he lied. He didn’t want to hear any more of the words that killed his dreams. Chulah took a deep breath and started for the woods, aware of Tallulah’s 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, she’d 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 code—with the mistaken exception of this afternoon. But the way she’d stood in the sea breeze—black hair teased by the wind, shirt pressed against her strong, lean form, the leather fringed necklace disappearing into the cleavage of her breasts—he’d lost all reason. She was the epitome of a warrior hunter, the only female hunter in their tight clan. A perfect match. Or so he’d imagined. He’d dared to hope that she must know and return some of his desire.

Wrong.

He’d 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.

Chulah regained his balance and plunged into the woods’ underbrush, heedless of the nettles and brambles that tore at his jeans, not caring to follow the easy path. Instead, he strode forward, straight at the black trunks of massive trees, solid, unmoving and forbidding. As unyielding as Tallulah’s words. Words that pierced like poisoned darts. He struck savagely at the parasitic kudzu vines that hung between the trees and underbrush, making his way deeper into the shadows.

Tallulah, even with her heightened hunter senses, couldn’t see him now.

He wished he could turn all his senses off. His heart, too. Just off.

His breath grew ragged; his long legs shook with exhaustion. Chulah abruptly stopped and inhaled deeply. The green lushness of pine and moss soothed his battered spirit, even more than the peace his job of repairing motorcycles provided. Fixing motors, his mind and hands were in sync and focused on correcting problems.

In the bayou forest, his trekking abilities kicked in, providing a welcome diversion.

The scent of salt drifted from the Gulf on early autumn breezes and mixed with invigorating pine. His supernatural hearing picked up the lap of the tide, the rustle of leaves, a scampering squirrel and a cawing of crows. Chulah opened his mind to it all, relaxing the barrier he put in place to avoid sensory overload. The forest bathed his battered heart as he drew in the ancient wisdom and energy of the trees, calming his mind.

Chulah worked his way to the path and sat on a large tree stump, resting his tired legs. So he’d finally taken a chance and she’d turned him down, with a swift directness that typified all her actions.

And while he was being honest...he was more relieved than disappointed, now that the initial embarrassment had passed. Tallulah had been, perhaps, a little too convenient. They’d grown up together, had shared similar gifts and had fought alongside each other. Their families were close. She’d been his secret crush in high school, and with Bo gone, it was only natural he’d drifted to her familiar, comfortable presence.