Frost Fire

by Michelle Howard

  Snow began to drift from above. A violent wind kicked up, stirring the snow already on the ground. One by one the rest of the Dracol buried in the madness landed in a single row next to Faris. They stomped and tore at the ground, their eyes gleaming with the same pitch blackness as Faris.

  Varyk eyed them warily. Rena’s lungs struggled to work and her inner Dracol cried in despair.

  Their presence snapped whatever connection Rena had been making and Faris lunged to his feet. A spear of ice formed in his left hand then another in his right. “Death it shall be.”

  “Please, Faris.” Rena didn’t care if she begged. It couldn’t end like this.

  He gestured at the Dracol with him. “Kill them. Start with the Kings and save the female for me.”

  “Go! Stop him.” Rena pressed her hand to Rylin.

  He hesitated but as the Silver males shifted into a line of naked warriors ready to fight, he had no choice. Rylin lowered her head carefully to the ground. “We’ll do our best, Rena.”

  With a flick of his fingers a circle of fire surrounded her, flames so high, Rena couldn’t see over them. She strained against the bright flames and flinched when Faris roared in rage at being blocked from her.

  Varyk chuckled. “I won’t kill them but I’m going to have a bit of fun.”

  Green swirls rose in the air and Rena’s breath caught at the sight of them. Varyk created a mist and ported behind another Silver male. Varyk held his long sword out and jabbed the hilt onto his head before he could react. The Silver male dropped to the ground with a groan. Varyk appeared next to another Silver, the half-grin on his face reflected how much pleasure he took in being allowed to fight the Silver.

  Rena twisted about. Rylin had taken on two. He swirled and dodged around them, striking with a fire whip that left bleeding slashes on their legs and torsos.

  ***

  Faris grabbed his braid and tugged, his head tipped back as he screamed. Scales rippled over one side of his face, distorting his handsome features in an abhorrent partial shift. Razor sharp teeth gnashed as his mouth twisted in a snarl. He came closer but hovered on the other side of the wall of flames protecting Rena. “Who are you? Why can’t I find you?”

  There was true pain in the questions. Faris slammed both his fists onto the ground and stared at Rena. “You are not part of the mantle. Where are you, female?”

  “Right here, Faris.” Rena tapped her chest with a trembling hand. Struggling to breathe, she kept talking. “I’m in your heart as you’re in mine. Together, Faris. Remember?”

  He released a sound of such anguish that even Varyk glanced over from his downed opponent and winced. Faris struggled to his feet and took a rocky step toward her. Rylin kicked back the male he fought with and tensed when he noticed Faris trying to reach her.

  Stopping at the blaze in his path, Faris waved his hand and the fire froze in its form. Jagged edges of ice. Faris kicked aside the broken bits and cleared a path to get to her.

  “Stop!” Rylin raised his hand again as if to create another barrier between them.

  At this point death waited for her and there was only one thing Rena wanted. She gazed up at Rylin. “Let him through.”

  Rylin studied her expression. “You are sure, Rena? The darkness surrounds him in a bitter cloud that even now rolls against my mantle.”

  She nodded. “Please.”

  Staggering forward, Faris came to her. He bent at one knee next to her and stretched a hand to her hair. Rena held still. He stroked softly, the black of his eyes flickering with hints of gold. Rylin carefully eased closer, not that Faris seemed to notice.

  The dozen or so Dracol who’d succumbed with Faris were all sprawled on the ground in various states of injury. The Green and Black King had been decisive and quick about their counter attack.

  “I don’t feel you in my heart,” Faris whispered, his voice oddly lacking the echo since the madness pulled him under. “Why is it that my soul cries for you?”

  Rena touched his bare thigh. He was ice cold. “Are you sure I’m not there? Look again.”

  He shot her a glare for questioning him. Then Rena felt it. The probe. A small flicker.

  “You are...nothing to me.”

  Rena ignored the hurt. She panted as the whisper of the Goddess began to call to her. “Try again. You are mine and—”

  “I am yours,” he finished fiercely as he crouched over Rena and pulled her onto his lap. “You are dying, female.”

  He stated the obvious and Rena wasn’t sure how she found the strength to chuckle. “Y-yes.”

  He cradled her close, her face pressed to his chest as cupped her head in his large palm. He lowered his head and rested it on top of her hair. “Let. Me. In.”

  It was said so low, Rena almost missed it. Her lids fluttered, wanting to close. Not yet. She couldn’t leave him yet. “Faris, are you back?”

  He inhaled and the prodding sensation poked at Rena’s heart. Poke. Prod. Poke.

  “It hurts,” he murmured. “You left me.”

  “I’m right here.” Rena wanted to stroke his braid as it hung in front of her. Unfortunately, she no longer had the strength to lift her arm.

  Poke. Prod. Poke.

  What was stabbing at her with such determination?

  Poke. Prod. Poke.

  The Goddess whispered louder demanding Rena return home. Closing her eyes, Rena relaxed in Faris’ embrace. His scent, his touch. It was all she needed to take with her. Back in his arms is all she’d ever wanted.

  Faris rocked her and keened. “Let me in. Let me in. Don’t die...Rena.”

  Rena? She jerked, wheezing. Had he called her Rena? Prying her eyes open, Rena met a gold stare blazing down at her with a familiar passion. “Faris, who am I?”

  “Mine. You are mine, amans.”

  Agony sliced at Rena, ripping through her head and heart. She screamed, body locked in a rigid bend as Faris buried his face in her neck.

  ***

  Rena. Lover. Amans. Keeper of his heart.

  And she lay dying, her face pale and eyes closed. No!

  Red hair spilled over his lap. The darkness lost its hold on a screeching cry then burst into thousands of pieces and dissipated. Faris didn’t hesitate. He pulled hard at the mantle, begging his sect for help.

  He’d turned on them but they didn’t hesitate to answer his call. Hundreds responded. Power poured into him in a continuous stream as Faris sought to reconnect Rena to the mantle.

  Again and again, he tried to bring her back into the Silver yet something blocked his way. “Let me in.”

  He’d beg if he had to. Send prayers to the Goddess. Anything to keep Rena with him.

  More. I need more. It wasn’t the darkness asking. This time Faris pleaded for a different type of power. He channeled his need to the mantle and his sect rose in love and support. The darkness had tried to win but hadn’t counted on what he and Rena shared. He’d been blinded to who she was yet she’d clung to him.

  Her eyes had never lost hope. Not when he shredded her connection to the mantle. Not when he attempted to kill her.

  Oh, Goddess. Faris kissed her temple. Her cheek. “Let me in.”

  He pushed as much of the energy from the mantle as he dared. A sliver. A small opening. It’s all he needed. “Let me in, Rena. Now!”

  Finally he saw it. A brilliant glow against the dull shadows spreading around her. Faris took it and rammed all his love through. Rena arched in his arms, screaming in pain and agony.

  Faris held on. The connection snapped into place and her light shined brighter than any others. The mantle pulsed as his people, those he’d tried to harm, sent wave after wave of love.

  “Faris?”

  Rena opened her eyes. Faris laughed and sniffed as tears rolled down his cheeks. “Together. I am yours.”

  “And you are mine.” Her smile trembled but she grasped his braid in her weak hold and tugged.

  Faris lowered his head and kissed her.

  Chapter 1
9

  Cheers exploded as Faris and Rena walked outside his home and stood together on his front. Their mating ceremony had overflowed with members from the sect and to his surprise Varyk and Rylin had showed to give their support.

  Rena held his hand as they waved to the crowd and smiled up at him. “Well, how does it feel to be liras.”

  Unimaginable. “It feels like I waited a lifetime for this moment.”

  He raised their joined hands and kissed her knuckles.

  “Same.” Rena winked. “We have our whole life for adventure.”

  Faris had enough adventure to last him several lifetimes. Almost losing Rena wasn’t something he ever wanted to experience again. “There is still the matter of the Purple.”

  Now that they were sure love and bondings played into the cause of the madness, Rylin and Varyk were desperate to get a hold of Kon to explain. So far he hadn’t responded and no one had heard from his sect. It was cause for worry.

  But not today. Today was for celebration. “Let’s be with our people, Queen Rena.”

  She cocked a brow at the title then ruined the effect by laughing. “Of course, my King.”

  Rylin joined them followed by Varyk wearing a cocky smile. He held hands with a tall dark-haired woman. His lira, Inez, formerly of the Black.

  “Congratulations,” Varyk offered.

  Faris nodded and smiled. “Thank you, Varyk. For what you and Rylin did for me.”

  They could have easily taken him out. A snort escaped. Maybe not easily but neither King had used the full force of their abilities in their attempt to halt his madness. For that he was grateful.

  Rylin leaned forward and kissed Rena on the cheek. Faris restrained the urge to shove him back. “Congratulations, Rena. We couldn’t have stopped the strain in the Silver if not for your aid. The Goddess of Fate will smile kindly upon you.”

  Rena shifted about. She was uncomfortable with the attention. In her head she’d only done the right thing. The only thing. Faris lifted her hand and kissed the knuckles. Her shiver sent a dart of arousal through his veins.

  “What of Kon?” Faris asked.

  Rylin shook his head. “Nothing still. I’ve spoken with Breya. She has agreed to my proposal.”

  Breya. The one female Kon had asked to be his lira. “Will it work?”

  It was Varyk who answered. “We’ll soon find out. My mentor, Uvem, said the liras were the key. With you mated that leaves Kon as the only single king left.”

  Which meant the madness could already be running rampant among the Purple sect.

  Author’s Note

  Hello and thank you for reading Frost Fire. Hopefully you enjoyed Rena and Faris. He has been my favorite king to write so far. (Just when I thought Varyk held the spot) Secret Fire, Konlan’s story will be the last Novel of the Dracol and I’m anxious about writing his story. Especially since no one has heard from them in a while.

  As always, please consider writing a review on the retailer of your choice to help spread the word. Until the next book, happy reading.

  Michelle H.

  About the Author

  USA Best Selling Author, Michelle Howard dreamed of writing since reading her first romance novel many years ago but never thought it was possible. Now, she couldn’t be happier. She loves paranormal and contemporary romances and is a fan of the classic romances by Judith McNaught, Julie Garwood and a host of others.

  I love to hear from fans so please reach out to me. If the mood hits you, leave a review.

  Email: michellehowardwrites@gmail.com

  Twitter: @mhowardwrites

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  Website: www.michellehowardwrites.com

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  Books by Michelle

  Warlords

  * Honor Bound (Warlord Series 1)

  * The Overlord’s Heir (Warlord Series 2)

  * A King’s Revenge (Warlord Series 3)

  * Rise of the Shadow Warriors (Warlord Series 4)

  * A Warlord’s Heart (Warlord Series 5)

  * Unexpected Bride (Warlord Series 6)

  * Unleashing a Warrior (Books 1-3 Warlord Series)

  Alpha Squad

  * Project Genesis (Alpha Squad)

  Harmony

  * No Reason to Run (A Harmony Novel)

  Sci-Fi Romance

  * Mating Urge (Love in the Stars 1)

  * Love Like No Other (Love in the Stars 2)

  * Wired For Love (Wired #1)

  A World Beyond

  * Torkel’s Chosen (A World Beyond 1)

  * Arak’s Love (A World Beyond 2)

  * Lindsey’s Rescue (A World Beyond 3)

  * Kyele’s Passion (A World Beyond 4)

  * Rydak’s Fall (A World Beyond 5)

  * Jaron’s Promise (A World Beyond 6)

  * V’hor’s Nestmate (A World Beyond 7)

  Paranormal

  * Djinn Lover (Magical Lovers book 1)

  * Wicked Lover (Magical Lovers book 2)

  * Rylin’s Fire (A Novel of the Dracol 1)

  * Relentless Fire (A Novel of the Dracol 2)

  * Frost Fire (A Novel of the Dracol 3)

  Coming Soon

  * Secret Fire (A Novel of the Dracol 4)

  * Stolen Moments (A World Beyond 8)