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

by Adkins, Heather Marie

  “Don’t let her words bother you. This is all an act, and she’s worse than normal because for the first time in our friendship, the hot guy is fawning all over me and not her.” Nat placed her hand on my thigh and squeezed.

  “Who’s Mona?” I asked. I needed to know of anyone else I might run into.

  “She’s their cook and never leaves the kitchen. She likes me and always keeps a little stash of my favorite coffee on hand. Now is a good time to go do what you need. Sandy won’t be back for a few minutes.”

  “What will you tell her when she returns?” I asked.

  “That you went to the restroom, like we planned.” She smiled into my eyes. “Go, I’ll take care of Sandy. We need a little girl talk anyway.”

  I gave her a quick kiss and stood, pulling the image of the blueprint forward in my mind, with the path Natalie had outlined still fresh.

  “If I’m not back in fifteen minutes, text Stephen and find a way out of here.”

  She made a shooing motion with her hands and blew me a kiss. Go, hurry, she mouthed as the echo of her friend’s heels indicated she was on her way back.

  I slipped out of the living room and made a right, then followed till I found the staircase. The bathroom was next to it. I reached in and turned the light on before closing the door, making it seem as though someone were inside. I checked behind me before ascending the stairs on silent feet. My military-like training clicking into place as I searched out the threat. Thoughts of Natalie and her friend faded to the back of my mind, her emotions calm and happy across our bond. Natalie projected her feelings so clearly and with a resonance that I instinctively knew was her.

  I took a left at the top of the stairs as Natalie had told me to do and followed until the next junction where I paused and peered around the corner down the right side. There, as she promised, was a single guard station outside a set of impressive double oak doors. The guard was leaning against the wall with his nose in his phone. I let Drago come forward a little, helping to heighten my hearing to confirm Valmyre was indeed inside. I wouldn’t be able to sneak up on this guard without some type of distraction. Just as the thought crossed my mind, something crashed at the other end of the hallway, grabbing the guard’s attention. He turned away from me and I took my chance, quietly rushing up behind him and placing him in a choke hold. He fought for a few seconds, but I held strong until I felt him losing consciousness. I held a couple more seconds to ensure he stayed out long enough for me to inject him. I pulled out the syringe of ketamine Stephen had procured for me. I needed enough time to kill Valmyre, and retreat back downstairs. The dose was small, enough to keep him out for thirty minutes or so.

  I checked the hallway again as I grabbed the small radio off his belt. I didn’t need him contacting the outside guards if he woke before I came back out. Seeing the hall still empty, I reached for the door handle and silently entered Valmyre’s office. He was turned in his chair with his back toward the doors, deep in conversation with someone on his cell phone.

  “No, there is no need to bring in the Virginia chapter. Their incompetence will only hinder things.” His self-assurance was strong in his voice. I slowly made my way across to the desk, the thick carpet helping to keep my steps quiet. He had a tumbler of dark liquid on his desk. I paused, waiting for him to notice someone was in the room with him. He must have been deeply focused on his conversation because he didn’t move.

  Drago laughed at Valmyre’s relaxed position, considering the dragon he was planning to destroy stood feet from him and he hand no clue. I pulled the vial from my pocket and pulled on my dragon fire. I worked a small flame up my esophagus and directed it toward the vial, heating the ingredients with an added touch of dragon magic. My fires were the last ingredient before I quickly emptied its contents into the tumbler on his desk.

  “No, I am positive I have things under control. Midnight tonight, the dragon and his fated mate will be dead with no one being wiser.” His laugh sent chills down my spine. This man was pure evil, and I couldn’t help myself from clearing my throat. I knew it wasn’t wise, but my dragon and I both wanted this man to see us, wanted him to raise his glass and realize it would be his life that would be snuffed out on this day. I backed up, again my steps muffled by the plush rug. I opened the door behind me and cleared my throat again.

  “Oh, I am so sorry. I must have made a wrong turn.” I tried my best to keep my voice apologetic as Valmyre spun in his chair, surprised at the intrusion.

  “How the hell did you get in here?” His eyes grew wide with shock. “I’ll have to call you back,” he said to the person on the phone before ending his call and placing his phone on his desk. “Now, tell me how you got passed my guard?”

  “You mean the one sleeping on the job?” I looked over my shoulder. “I wondered what he was doing outside the bathroom.” I looked back at Valmyre. “I obviously have the wrong room.”

  “Who are you, and what are you doing in my home?” His composure was calm, and I had to give him a small bit of respect for not reacting worse. He grabbed his tumbler and swirled the liquid inside before taking a long pull. Drago smiled inside, and his excitement sent shivers down my arms.

  “I am visiting with my girlfriend.” I smiled at him. “You have a lovely home,” I said, wanting to drag out the conversation until the poison took hold.

  “Well, you need to find your way back to your girlfriend, and both of you need to find your way…” His words sputtered out as his eyes rounded. I heard his heart kick up its pace and his breathing become shallow.

  “Oh, I will, very soon. I just wanted to watch as the man who thought he could take me and mine down realize he is the one who will be dead long before the midnight hour chimes.”

  Static came across the radio in my pocket. “Daniel, you missed your check-in. Report.”

  Valmyre’s lips began to turn blue as his breathing became jagged, and he pulled his unencumbered hand across his desk to his computer keyboard. I assumed he had a panic button sequence he planned to hit, but the poison worked faster than I had expected, and his arms went limp as his heart stopped. His fingers were inches from the keys that might have saved his life. His crystal tumbler hit the desk after it fell from his other hand, spilling the remainder of the poisoned liquid before rolling off and falling to the floor. The plush carpet was the only thing that kept it from shattering.

  I knew my time was limited, but I quickly moved to clean the liquid up and remove the tumbler. There would be no evidence of murder as the poison was untraceable. I grabbed a towel from the bar at the left of his desk after rinsing the tumbler and placing it next to the decanter. The soaked towel went in the trash can by his feet, and I grabbed his cell from the desk before exiting the room. I placed the radio back on the guard’s belt and quietly made my way back down the hall and stairs before the guard sent another check-in demand from the unconscious Daniel.

  I slipped in the bathroom and washed my hands before returning to Natalie and her friend in the living room. I pulled out my phone as I walked in as if it had just vibrated. The time showed seven minutes since I had left.

  “I am so sorry, babe, but it’s work. We need to go.” It wasn’t a complete lie. There was an encrypted text from an unknown number that informed me backup for the rest of Valmyre’s circle was in place for the takedown.

  “Oh, okay.” Natalie pouted giving Sandy an apologetic look, playing her part perfectly. “I had really hoped we could stay a bit longer.”

  “I can get Nat home if you need to leave.” Sandy stood and approached me. “Let me show you the way out.” She smiled at me, all teeth and eyelashes batting.

  “No, that’s okay, Sandy. I told Mom we wouldn’t be long. She’s probably expecting me.” Natalie stood and made her way to my other side and wrapped her hand around my arm. “Wyatt will get me home safe.” She turned her face up toward me, total trust written all over it.

  I leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Always, babe.” I pulled my arm from Sand
y’s grasp. “Thank you for sparing us a few moments of your time. It was a pleasure to meet you.” I wrapped Natalie under my arm and walked toward the front door.

  “Anytime, sugar, and when you get tired of Nat, you know where I live.” She laughed, trying to play her comment off. “I’m just kidding, Nat.”

  “No worries, I doubt I’ll ever get tired of my beautiful Natalie.” I walked to my bike, Natalie still tucked safely beneath my arm. When we got to it, I turned and took her face in my hands and thoroughly kissed her before placing her helmet on and securing the strap beneath her chin. I swung my leg over the bike, leaning it up and kicking the stand back into place. Natalie climbed on behind me, wrapped her arms around me, and laid her head against my back. I grabbed her upper thigh and turned to give Sandy a smile.

  She stood on the front porch with her mouth hanging open as I revved the engine to life. Natalie waved as we left, leaving her snooty friend in our dust. Drago preened at our show and wanted to take Natalie far away, strip her naked, and devour her for days on end. Instead we rode back to her home at the speed limit following all laws. Our mission wasn’t over yet. We had one more plan to carry out before we could focus solely on our mate.

  “That was intense,” Natalie said after we had parked and dismounted. She wrung her hands nervously. “Did you do it?”

  “Don’t worry, her father is no longer a threat.”

  “I’m worried about Sandy. Maybe I should call her.”

  I wrapped my arms around her, the need to comfort her a top priority in that moment. “It’s not a good idea. I know you are worried, but she will be better off without the evil that man poured into her. You can’t call her right now though. It will look suspicious since we were just visiting.” I kissed her brow. “It will take some time, but hopefully without him in her life, she can become who she wants to be and not the nasty woman he raised her to be.”

  “I hope so too.” She buried her head in my chest, breathing deeply. Her open acceptance of our comfort made both Drago and I happy. Being able to care for our mate fulfilled a soul-deep need we didn’t realize we had until she’d come into our life. It may have only been a day or two, but our life couldn’t go on without her. All our focus was now on her. Her needs, protection, and care were our number-one concern.

  “Let’s go inside. I need to contact Stephen and make sure he has things ready at the warehouse.” I stepped back and took her hand to lead her through the side gate and up the steps to her childhood home.

  Her eyebrows knit together. “Don’t you have to go too?”

  “Normally I would, but Leo’s men are in place, and I have full confidence they will take down the circle and the men without the need of my assistance.” I pulled her against me and kissed her again before opening the door. “With you is where I need to be tonight.”

  She put her hands on my chest. “Okay, but give me a minute out here, okay? I need the fresh air a few more minutes.”

  I glanced around, looking for threats. Once Drago and I were satisfied she was safe, I nodded. “Just a few minutes.”

  “Okay.” She stood on tiptoe and gave me a quick kiss before turned to go inside. “Thank you.”

  I knew she was sad and confused. Her emotions were buried, but they still filtered through the mating bond growing between us. I didn’t know how to help her. This was part of my life, of my world. I could only be here for her and give her what comfort she would accept.

  Our bond sang with fear seconds before I heard her scream.

  “WYATT!”

  I ran back to the porch to see two people in all black dragging Natalie into the side door of a van.

  “NATALIE!” Drago and I roared together. The heavy scent of magic hit my nose as Stephen ran out behind me.

  “The warehouse,” we said in unison.

  “Call Leo! I’m going after her!” I yelled as I ran to my bike and took off after the van. It was already blocks ahead of me. Drago wanted to shift and burn down everything in our way to Natalie.

  23

  The driver of the van was good and obviously knew the town well by the twists and turns they took, down alleyways and behind businesses. I lost sight of them when they hit the main road again and passed an old farm truck, barely making it back into our lane before the line of oncoming traffic hit them. I was stuck behind the damn truck and had no room on the shoulder to get around them, even on a motorcycle.

  “Fuck!” I yelled. I tried to keep them in sight but lost them around a curve. They were gone. I was pretty sure I knew where they were going though, the only place that made sense. The warehouse. I gunned my bike and took the next right turn and headed that direction, hoping I was right and they wouldn’t hurt Natalie before they got here.

  I checked our bond, and her fear vibrated through but no pain. It was the only good sign I had and the only thing keeping Drago in check. The first moment we felt pain, my humanity would be lost to the rage of my dragon.

  The streetlights began to lessen as I got closer, either by lack of poles or busted bulbs. I parked two streets over, and the only light left was the waning full moon. Leo and his men should be here as well. I made my way on silent feet through the litter and debris scattered about. Leo’s scent hit me first, followed by others I didn’t recognize.

  Leo appeared on my left and pulled me into his cover. “Wyatt, what the hell are you doing here?”

  “They have Natalie,” I growled.

  “Shit.” He pressed a button at his throat. “Hold your positions. We have a new development.”

  Drago raged forward, using my sight to search for her. “There. The van. That’s the van they took her in.” I unconsciously surged forward, Leo’s grip the only thing keeping me from running straight at it.

  “Wait.” He spoke into his com again. “We have a hostage situation. She’s Wyatt’s mate. Proceed with plan B. Secure the area but no one touch her unless you want to die. No live fire. I repeat, no live fire.” He turned me toward him. “Wyatt, man, I need you to calm down. Let my men secure the area before you go barreling in there. You know they won’t hurt her right away. They are using her to lure you in.”

  The night lit up with bright flashes through the high windows of the warehouse. Leo’s team was on the move, using flash grenades to stun anyone in their way.

  “Close your eyes, baby. Keep them that way until you hear my voice.” I wished we had finished the bond. Remembering that Drago spoke to her without issue before I begged him to do it again.

  “I don’t give a fuck. They have my mate.” My body vibrated, ready to shift. Scales shimmered along my skin, and a fire built in my belly. “I’ll send them all to hell, burning along the way.”

  “Beta team secure.” Leo’s com crackled. “Omega team secure.” It crackled again. “Theta team secure.”

  “Do you hear that?” Leo’s eyes held mine. “What does that mean?”

  “Alpha team is in play,” I automatically replied. The alpha team was the last team, the most important, and tasked with the biggest hurdle in any mission.

  “That’s right, once they disable the magical wards, I’ll let you go.” He paused, still holding my gaze. “You both must promise not to hurt my men. They will secure the area, disable the wards, and capture anyone left inside before reporting. I can’t let them leave the room though. You know that, right?”

  I did. It was how I had trained my own team. You never left anyone vulnerable, even if you thought all threats were gone. Drago roared in my head, wanting to burn everyone in our way to the ground. Rationality was beyond him at this moment. I held on, held him back. I didn’t want my fellow team mates’ deaths on my hands.

  “Yes. As long as they are far from Natalie, they will be safe.” I panted with the effort it took to keep Drago in check.

  “Alpha team check in,” Leo barked. He wouldn’t break eye contact. The alpha in him wouldn’t allow it, but he also knew if he did, Drago and I would be gone. Challenging my dragon like this was a risk, but with
so many men depending on him, it was one Leo would gladly take on.

  “Almost there, boss, one more ward to disable.” Leo’s com crackled.

  “There, hear that? Almost there.”

  “And the girl?” he asked.

  “Unharmed,” the alpha team leader responded.

  Drago calmed a bit, enough for me to gain the upper hand and stop the change. I nodded and looked away from Leo, knowing Drago wasn’t going to take over and take off. I slowly turned toward the warehouse as an explosion rocked the ground, and a scream rent through the air.

  The change was instant. One moment I stood next to Leo, and the next, Drago and I soared into the air, grabbed the warehouse roof in our talons, and ripped it off piece by piece. Below us stood Natalie, tied to a pole in the middle of the circle, surrounded by a ring of fire. Men lay scattered about the floor, some of them coming around from the blast and others still unconscious or dead. All of them wearing Leo’s tactical gear.

  I flapped hard four times, driving wind down into the warehouse, attempting to put out the flames encircling Natalie. The flames seemed to reach for the air rather than slink away from it.

  Drago, they are fueled by magic. Look at the color. We can’t extinguish those with brute force. We need to land and find the source.

  We roared our anger and then slowly landed, keeping our wings away from the flames as we folded them along our body. Drago couldn’t take his eyes off Natalie, but I needed his focus.

  Search the circle. Can you find the source? A symbol or fuel-filled container?

  It took moments to locate the only glyph still pulsing with life. We raised a foot to move closer when a shout caught our attention.

  “Wait, stop!” One of Leo’s men was waving his hands, yelling and pointing. We looked down and saw a thin wire a whisper above our claw. We followed the wire to the wall and toward the currently missing roof, followed the trail across a beam we had missed in our destructive haze, and to another trap. This one aimed straight at our heart.