Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels

by Adkins, Heather Marie

  It will be so easy to lure her. The carnal pleasure that I’ll draw from her is what I hunger. When I slide into her body, the more I take, the more she will give, allowing me in. Her soul, that pretty white light that shines on the world and the people she comes into contact with, will join with mine. Together, we’ll rule.

  Since I first saw her all those years ago, she’s been at the forefront of all my thoughts. Even though I hid her file in the top drawer of my desk, I knew what she looked like. Every fucking night, I stroked myself into oblivion, and she’s the only thing I had in my mind’s eye.

  Fated. Destined. Meant to be.

  Whatever you want to call it.

  The night Rhys called on me, begging me to take her, to make sure she was safe, I knew the universe was aligning for us. If it wasn’t for me, her parents would have sold her to the Elders, who would possibly have gifted her to my brother. Their belief that the purple blood runs rife through him and her would make them the perfect couple, but the asshole wouldn’t know what to do with her light.

  All our lives are tied together. They have been since before we were born. The Cravens hid her future from her, they didn’t tell her about the Montgomery boys, but now she’ll learn the hard way.

  The streets are silent as I make my way toward the airstrip. The flight to Columbus won’t take long, I’ll kill the asshole who hurt her, and then I’ll be back to claim my reward.

  The princess who will soon be queen.

  On her next birthday, she’ll come of age, and I’ll be there to make sure to claim the throne. I’ll sit beside her as King. I’ll rule three worlds. That’s my plan. I was meant to kill her to save my brother, but I’d rather see him perish after all he’s done to me.

  When I laid my eyes on her in the office today, finally inhaled her scent, the sweet perfume that filled my senses, I knew there had to be another way. One where I don’t lose her. I was warned. My father knew it, and now, so do I.

  My restraint was on edge being close to her, slowly slipping. Her big, dark eyes are so alluring I could stare at them for hours. They’re almost black, just like my heart. Her soft lips look good enough to suck and bite on till I taste her blood. I bet they’d look incredible wrapped around my dick, staining the base with that glossy shit she had shimmering on them.

  I want to see her cry.

  I want to hear her scream.

  I want to take, take, and take.

  And when she has nothing left to give, I will take some more.

  My little Witch. Captivating and beautiful.

  When I held her wrist in my hand, I felt her heart racing, which was evidence enough that she wanted me. All she needs to do is let me in, and when she does, my plan will flow easily.

  Pulling up to the airfield, I park in my designated spot and exit the vehicle. “Sir.” The pilot nods in my direction as I head toward the private jet.

  “Hans, thank you for this late-night flight. I’ll be in and out. Keep yourself on standby. I need to be back in Boston before the morning,” I order as I climb the stairs and step into the belly of the plane.

  “Of course, Mr. Montgomery,” he affirms as he makes his way to the cockpit.

  Once I’m settled, my flight attendant brings the signature bourbon and places a tumbler with the bottle on the table. “Thank you, Misty,” I acknowledge her, earning me a smile as she heads to the back.

  Dropping my phone on the table in front of me, I grab the bottle and pour a shot. As soon as I swallow down the liquid, I savor the sweet burn. The plane travels down the runway, and when we speed up, my mind recalls the last time I was in here. It was the day I sent my brother to Europe. We’ve never seen eye to eye. It’s been years since we even spent time in the same room. Killian has different ideas on how we should be living our lives, running our father’s company. I, however, don’t see the point in killing for fun. I do it for revenge. It’s so much more powerful, more addicting. Watching someone’s eyes flicker as their life seeps from their soul is beautiful, intoxicating.

  Even though we do work together essentially, I’ve not heard from him in weeks. He knows the prophecy as well as I do, but I’m the eldest, so there’s nothing he can do about how I do this. He quickly suggested I kill Talia, but I told him I will do things my way. He knows not to question me. At the time, I was on board with saving my brother because that’s what my father would have wanted, but if I could get her to allow me in, if we could find the balance, we could become a formidable force not to be reckoned with; no longer under the rule of the Elders and possibly breaking the prophecy once and for all. Hopefully, my brother hasn’t figured out what I have.

  I always looked up to him, the way he had no regard for anything. That is until we each got told we were to share ownership of the family business when Dad died, but I would be named as CEO, and Killian would then inadvertently be my employee. He’s had to live with it, but it’s not set well. I recall the day we moved in together to learn from the Elders in London. The apartment they gave us was to keep us together, so we were forced into it. After the two years of being there, we came back to the US to finalize the details. I was to take over the Boston office, and he went back to Europe to oversee the other side of the company. The ruse of Montgomery Limited has been in the family for many years, and in each generation are a set of brothers who run it.

  “Kade, what the fucking hell are you doing?” Spinning on my heel, I notice my brother running down the stairs toward me. We’ve lived in London for so long, and I still fucking hate it. The rain doesn’t stop. When father died, the Elders called us here, told us we’d need to learn from them since Father has been killed by Witch scum.

  I’m young, too young for this shit right now. The only thing I want is revenge. I want to make sure that the people who took my father from me will pay, and I’ll be the one to rip them apart. Other than that, the only things I am interested in are pussy and alcohol. I’m a guy, what can I say.

  “I’m heading to the pub. I am sure there’s some cold beer.” Pulling on my black hoodie, I step out onto the sidewalk and turn left towards the main road. I need to de-stress.

  “Kade.” I stop and turn to face him. He’s always tried to be the good boy, the perfect son, but since we’ve gotten all our powers gifted to us, he’s turned darker than I could have imagined. I may be the black sheep of the family, but I’ve held onto some of the light that runs through my veins. The Elders were more impressed with Killian. They always have been. Fuck it. I don’t give a shit who likes me and who doesn’t.

  “What, Killian?” Irritation in my tone is obvious.

  “You need to wait for the call from the Elders.”

  “I’m going to the pub. If they want me, they can find me on my mobile. You know I don’t give two fucks about this so-called magic shit. The only reason I am in this shithole is for them to tell me who exactly killed our father so I can make sure the assholes don’t live another day. So, let me go, and you can sort out the apartment.” Glaring at him, I can see the resignation in his expression.

  “Jesus, you’re a dick. Do you know why you’re single? Because you’re a fucking asshole. And that’s why Dad never trusted you with anything.” Rearing back my fist, I punch him square on the jaw, and he goes down without another word.

  “Fuck you, Kil.” Spinning on my heel, I stalk off towards the pub.

  “Fuck you, too, big brother.”

  As I turn the corner, a sweet, sexy English accent halts me in my tracks. “Aren’t you the big boy?” Twisting my head, I lay my gaze on a gorgeous brunette. She’s about five-six and all legs. Her curly hair hangs to the middle of her back, her skin is golden brown, and I wonder where she got that tan and if there are any tan lines. Her eyes are piercing green, and her full, rosy lips are sexy as hell. For the first time in a long time, my cock throbs so hard I’m sure my zipper won’t be able to hold him back.

  “Who’s asking?”

  She walks up to me, dressed in a pair of ripped blue jeans and a bl
ack tank top. The hoodie she’s wearing is open in front, and her tits aren’t big, but they’re incredible in that tight shirt. About a handful of heaven. I can see my dick sliding between them, and a low groan rumbles in my chest.

  “Chelsea.”

  I let out a chuckle. “What? Like the suburb?” She nods. Her smile is mischievous, and I can tell she’s going to be fun. “Where you off to then, Chelsea?”

  “Wherever you’re willing to take me?” An image of her bent over my new sofa while I ram into her flashes in my mind, and I can’t help grinning.

  “Darling, I don’t think you can handle me.” My appreciative gaze travels from her eyes in a slow movement over her chest and down to her legs. The jeans she’s wearing has rips at the knees and thighs. Her supple skin peeking out, teasing me.

  “Why don’t you let me decide what I can and can’t handle?” There’s a challenge in her gaze, and I nod.

  “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. I am not a good guy.”

  “Who said I wanted good?” I turn and walk towards the pub with her falling in step beside me. We’re silent until we walk up to the bar, and I glance at her.

  “What do you drink?”

  “Whatever you do.” She winks and turns to grab a table. Her ass has me licking my lips in appreciation. I can’t wait to spank that and make her yelp.

  5

  Talia

  Five o’clock came too fast, but that’s not what’s bothering me. As I wait for the elevator to take me down to the ground floor, my mind is still a mess after my random chat with Kade. Something strange about him niggled at me for four hours. I can’t remember a time I’d ever felt such an innate need to talk to someone. To confess all my sins. All my darkest desires.

  Once I’m out on the sidewalk, I finally feel as if I can breathe. The building is stifling, but nothing like the man who owns it. Kade Montgomery has gotten to me. Before I can take a step in the direction of my apartment building, a sleek, black car with tinted windows pulls up in front of me. The BMW i8 is beautiful, and it looks brand new.

  The driver exits the vehicle and rounds it, stalking toward me. “Ms. Craven.” He offers a nod and gestures to the vehicle. “Mr. Montgomery would like to escort you home.” He reaches for the door and tugs it open. Confusion settles around me. Didn’t he say tomorrow night?

  The darkness of the interior doesn’t scare me. Instead, it intrigues me, and as I step closer I notice the slacks that hug an impossibly sexy thigh.

  Glancing at the driver, I offer a shy smile. “I can walk. It’s not a problem.” My grin falls when I notice a polished black shoe stepping into the white snow. The contrast between the two is incredibly beautiful. Darkness against the starkness.

  “I insist, Ms. Craven.” A resonant voice rumbles from deep within his broad chest. As if the gloominess from the car followed him, it swirls around the handsome man, which only serves to intrigue me further. I’ve never noticed it before, but it’s as if there’s a cloud, smoke or something that hovers around him. He offers his hand, and with one glance at those intensely blue eyes, my resistance falls away as if he’d convinced me with a mere smile.

  “Thank you, Mr. Montgomery.” As soon as I slip into the seat beside him, I’m overly aware of his proximity to me. My body tingles with anticipation of feeling his touch again. Although, even when he took my hand, something felt off. Not like his earlier touch, and when I cast a glance at him, I try to figure out why, but nothing seems out of place. “I thought you said tomorrow night?” I question. Azure eyes pin me to the seat when he glances my way. He looks baffled at my question for a moment, but before I can say any more, he nods.

  “Yes, tomorrow, but I wanted to make sure you get home safely,” he informs me confidently. The corner of his mouth lifts into a smirk. I can’t shake the feeling that something is amiss, but I pin it down to my exhaustion finally getting the better of me.

  “Thank you.” With that, silence settles around us. The ride is quick, and when we pull up outside my apartment, the driver gets out and opens the door.

  “Have a good evening, Talia.” His murmur is low, gravelly, unlike the silky tone from earlier. The deep rumble shudders through me. When I glance at him again, it looks as if he’s completely engulfed in darkness. But it’s probably just my overactive imagination.

  “I will. See you tomorrow.”

  Once I’m out of the car, my lungs pull in a deep breath, and I make my way up the stairs. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end when I open the door to the entrance of my apartment building and wonder just how he knew where I lived. I was in shock when he offered me a lift. I didn’t even ask. Inside, I turn to watch the car pull away and disappear in the throng of traffic. Confusion settles, and for some reason, fear sits heavy in my gut.

  Not fear of the man, but anxiety of what’s happening to me. My eyes must be playing tricks on me. Unless my strange infatuation with the man has my head in the clouds. I make my way up the steps to my apartment and unlock it. As soon as I shut the door, I lean against it and close my eyes.

  There was something about Kade, and there was something about Presley that got to me. Something that snuck up on me, and it was only when I did some research did I find out she doesn’t exist. There are no records of her on company listings, but when I googled her name, nothing popped up. No Facebook, Twitter, just nothing. As if she doesn’t exist.

  Pulling my phone from my pocket, I scroll to my parents’ home number and hit dial. On the third ring, I hear my mother’s sweet, melodic voice. “Hello.”

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Oh my God, are you okay, Tali?” Her worried tone has a knot forming in my stomach. My parents tried to stop me from moving and working for Montgomery Limited since I told them about the prestigious job offer, but they wouldn’t explain why. Perhaps it was their way of keeping me safe. Maybe they’ve just never wanted me to know who I really am, but that stops now.

  “Yes, why wouldn’t I be?” I question as I flop onto the sofa. My knees are weak from worry, and my body feels lax, as if I’m exhausted.

  “Baby, I need you to come home. Can you get a flight tonight?”

  “Mom, I’ve just started work. I can’t just up and leave on my second day. What’s happened? Is it Dad? Has—”

  “There are things we need to talk to you about. Things we should have told you years ago, but our need to protect you was paramount. It seems the past is catching up to us, and we have news that there’s danger coming our way.”

  Frowning, I jolt upright. “What do you mean, danger? Are you and Dad okay?” She’s silent for so long I think the call cut, but when I glance at my screen, it’s still connected.

  “We’re okay . . . for now.” The last two words are murmured, and her soft sigh filters through the speaker and squeezes my heart painfully.

  “What do you mean? This doesn’t make sense.”

  “Talia, there are things you don’t know about us. Secrets that were kept making sure you were safe. But now it seems there are dark forces at work. And it’s time you learned who you are. What you are.” Her words slowly permeate my mind, but still, nothing registers. Anger, confusion, and frustration at their coddling has me reeling. The mention of Rhys’s name is more than enough, and slowly, my heart unravels. It drips agony into my veins and courses through my body.

  “I need time. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “No, please—” I tap the end button and hang up on my mother. My head pounds with a migraine, and I can’t feel anything other than the pain completely consuming me. The darkness, those emotions, encompass my entire being. Tears trickle from my eyes, and I curl up on the sofa, hoping sleep will come.

  “Rhys?” The form before me is my best friend, but he’s not real. He can’t be. When the figure turns to face me, I’m met with the eyes of the man I’ve loved since I was seven. He’s beautiful. Ethereal. “You’re here?” I question, and he gifts me with a smile. One of those that settle the aching in my heart, and th
e pain I’ve held onto disappears.

  “Tali,” he murmurs in his quiet way. “I’m sorry I left you. There wasn’t time to tell you everything. I wish I could be there when you learn. When you find your way.”

  “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” When I take a step toward him, he in turn takes one back. “Rhys, please?”

  “Talia, you’ve got so much ahead of you. I’ve made sure you’ll be safe. It was the last thing I could give you before I died.”

  Shaking my head, I reach for him, but he doesn’t take my hand. “What did you do, Rhys?”

  “He promised to take care of you. I want you to trust him, let him protect you from those that will come for you. Tali. There are bad people out there; they want you. You’re special. When you turn twenty-one, there’ll be no stopping them. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to be your guardian, but I’ve been called to do other work, to be more than I thought I was. We will meet again—”

  “No, wait. This doesn’t make sense. What are you talking about? Who do I trust? What do you mean, I’m special? Rhys, please tell me?”

  He shakes his head sadly, and I feel it. That rope that tethered us together all our lives, it’s fraying, and there’s no way I can stop it. I want to hold on to this dream, but I don’t know how.

  “Rhys!”

  “I’ll come to you again. But I can’t stay long.” He glances behind him and frowns. “I have to go. Remember, trust him . . .”

  “No! Come back!” Jolting upright, sweat drips down my neck, my back. My body shakes with emotions wracking through me. My heart thuds painfully against my ribcage. The apartment is draped in gloom, but strangely, I can see perfectly. My breathing is erratic, and the frustration of not being able to get a grasp on what’s going on has my headache attacking with a vengeance.

  Just then, my phone buzzes, alerting me of a message.

  Unknown: I trust you’re having a good evening, Ms. Craven. Till tomorrow.