Into the Pride (Nuuba Pride Shifters #1) by Michelle Monkou by Michelle Monkou

was born ready. This was mine,” he shouted.
    “I didn’t steal it from you.” Starr had tried to prepare for this day. Not that her plans meant they’d share the most intimate and vulnerable side with each other. “Your tattoo is the design on your family’s tribal badge. It will be complete on the day of your ordination.”
    He rubbed his chest. Confusion still clouded his expression. A frown settled in place, growing deeper as he stared at her.
    “Please help me. Together we can do this, for your parents’ sake.” The incentive was the right one.
    The information fueled his fire as he picked up one rock, then another. He worked like demons were on his heels, hoisting and throwing large blocks of cement to one side. She worked on the smaller obstacles. Finally, the gaping hole, once the doorway to the temple, appeared.
    “I will go first.” He didn’t wait for her objections. “I hope there isn’t any collapse.”
    Starr hoped for the same. She didn’t have a Plan B. Simply telling David the truth wasn’t enough. His essence had to be awakened and must participate in the ceremony.
    They proceeded slowly. There was no way to test the probability of a cave-in.
    “We’re here.” Starr stepped forward to the altar. She bowed and paid homage to the High Priestess and the eternal order.
    David stood next to her, staring ahead. Motionless. Calm. She admired the profile of the man she loved.
    “Are you, all right?” she asked, but didn’t want to push. This was his time to ponder, celebrate, or curse.
    “I don’t remember anything.” His mouth tightened. He looked at her. His forehead creased with deep lines of worry. His gaze returned to the ruins. “Shouldn’t something come back to me?”
    “It will. I promise.” She wanted to kiss him, press her lips against his, take away the sorrow that would hit. The pain of awareness that would crash into him. From the blank background as a guard to knowing that he was a son, a prince, who had lost not his king and queen, but his father and mother. His bloodline that set him apart had been broken. In all this time, he hadn’t been able to grieve and absorb the loss. With all the powers that she possessed and skills at survival, she could do nothing for when that time would come.
    Starr kneeled next to him. Time to prepare her mind for the monumental task.
    “Don’t.” His voice sliced through her concentration.
    She waited.
    “I don’t know about this. You’re about to make me a prince.” His chest rose and fell. “Then, what? I’m no one up there.” He spun around. “Ruins. Chaos. Nothingness.” He squatted next to her. “That’s the kingdom I will rule? With one snap of your fingers.” He snapped his fingers in her face. “Why did you come into my life?”
    Starr braced herself. Even if she could explain, he wouldn’t hear her. How she wished for Madame Voorhees’ calming influence for her and for him. Shutting out his panic, for the moment, closing off herself from the misery that still dwelled among the ruins, she settled her spirit. The prayer extended out from her soul, through her heart, uttered through her mouth. Its old language of clicks and guttural sounds floated out and over them, its power meant to bring a calming blanket over David’s shoulders. She continued the prayer that was usually done with other sisters. On faith, she pressed on, hoping that a cosmic connection would occur, near or far.
    The dank air slowly lifted from the floor. The free flow of air swirled around her feet, alerting her that it had worked. Her prayer chain had been cosmically connected. Its power continued to soar pushing up the dread and despair that the battle created and the earthquake and tsunami finished. Up it went into the overhead foundation and beyond, lifting until it could be free of the confines of this place and evaporate into the air above.
    David shifted from his squat position to stand. Noticeably relaxed, although he still frowned, his