Warrior Fae Trapped: A DDVN Book

by Breene, K. F.

  “If an elf had stopped you, they would’ve known you were lying,” Barbara said. “They would’ve hauled you in.”

  “No, shit,” Dale said, exasperated. “I would’ve run like hell from an elf. What do you think I am, stupid?”

  “At times,” Barbara replied.

  Dale scowled—and then scowled harder when he saw Steve’s smirk.

  “What’s the story with Vlad, anyway?” Dale asked. “I heard he hasn’t been seen in a while.”

  “Went underground when Charity barbecued him,” Steve said.

  “Underground, but not dormant,” Barbara replied. “Only a fool would think he wasn’t watching that fae from the shadows. He’s planning. That’s what elders do. They strategize.”

  “Very insightful.” Steve winked at Barbara. “You have a real knack for stating the well-known.”

  “Asshole.” Barbara went back to scanning.

  “It is true,” Cole said. “Both the repeating of information we already know, and that Vlad is still active. I’ve heard how much interest he showed that girl. I was there when he tried to take her. He showed his determination. He won’t let her go easily. He’s just waiting for the right moment to strike again.”

  “Which brings us to why you’re here,” Steve said.

  Cole nodded, his chest puffed out. Where an elder vampire would give most creatures pause, Cole just readied for battle.

  “Where’s the Rogue Natural, by the way?” he asked, giving Steve some suspicious side-eye. “He was supposed to be here.”

  He’ll meet us on the other side.”

  “That right?” Dale continued his sideways stare. “I also heard you wasn’t a pack man.”

  Steve’s smile grew at the soft threat. “Au contraire—that’s French, by the way—I love Pac-man. I spent a great deal of time playing it as a kid. Oops, here we are now.”

  Two vans, white and beige, pulled up alongside the crumbling curb, stopping near a pile of trash in front of a sign that said “no dumping.” The doors of the vans slid open, ejecting four guys and three gals. Devon, the black-haired lady killer, glanced Steve’s way as Charity stepped up next to him. Her delicate features belied her obvious power. She didn’t touch Devon, but Steve knew a lot about body language, and he noticed the way the young alpha leaned into her just a bit, sharing personal space with her. He dropped his head to her, whispering something.

  “That’s them, huh?” Dale asked before spitting.

  “Nailed it,” Steve told him.

  “He’s younger than I remember,” Cole boomed.

  Steve turned back to glance at the grim-faced snow-giant. “You embarrass yourself a lot, I take it. No wonder Reagan picked on you.”

  Cole’s face crumpled into anger and his hands curled into fists. He’d been the only one brave enough to rise to Reagan’s taunting one night in New Orleans. She’d had her hands full with him. He would’ve ripped her head off if she hadn’t set his fur on fire.

  “Oops. Sore subject?” Steve grinned.

  Devon stalked toward them, power and authority brimming from his athletic frame. In his lesser twenties, he was still filling out, gaining a man’s muscle and honing his strength. That didn’t diminish the dominance and power that wafted from him like it was his birthright.

  He stopped in front of the new pack members, his confidence not the only thing carrying his mantle. Steve’s eyes widened as a thick wave of magic rolled over him, suffocating. It was the feeling he got whenever Roger stepped into a room, though not as potent. Not yet, anyway. In just a few months, Devon’s power had obviously grown. It was heads and tails more intense than Steve had remembered. That was some fast maturing for this young buck.

  “Steve.” Devon stuck out his hand.

  “Alpha.” The handshake was firm and personal. Good politics.

  “Emery?”

  “Has no interest in seeing the sights of Chicago. He’ll meet us on the other side.”

  Devon nodded as the rest of his pack drifted in behind him, Charity in the lead.

  That was interesting. Had Charity naturally assumed the position of beta, or had Devon assigned it to her? Either way, the rest of the pack had acknowledged her status.

  Devon’s gaze touched on each new person before settling on Dale. Good instincts. Dale was absolutely the one to worry about. Steve had heard rumors regarding Dale’s penchant for taking over packs he’d been sent to help, but it would have been obvious regardless. His body language screamed challenge, from his tense posture to his slight forward lean. He had no respect for this up-and-comer.

  “I’m Cole,” the yeti said, and Charity’s brow wrinkled in confusion. She was probably wondering why he was shouting at everyone. “I took part in the battle on your property.”

  “Yes, of course,” Devon said without skipping a beat, though Steve was certain Roger had kept that detail from him. Devon stepped forward to offer his hand.

  Dale spat, the splash landing only a foot from Devon’s shoe.

  “Gross,” Charity said, wrinkling her nose. Apparently no one had told her to look badass and say very little when meeting new shifters. How delightful.

  “Barbara.” She nodded, not one for touching in any capacity. More the pity. Devon, picking up on her vibe, nodded in return.

  He turned to the side and pointed at a brown-haired guy with a vague sort of face who wouldn’t stand out in a line-up. “That’s my beta, Dillon.”

  Steve barely contained his surprise. The pack had a gap in communication where the beta was concerned, that was clear. Titles didn’t match how they acted.

  “That’s Macy, beside him.” Devon indicated a short, thin lady with brown hair and a hard expression. She didn’t look like much, but Steve bet she was trouble in a pinch. A stunning blonde was mentioned next. “Yasmine, and beside her, Rod.”

  Steve remembered Rod, the linebacker. He’d be a real bruiser someday soon.

  “And Andy,” Devon finished, motioning at a surfer-looking guy Steve didn’t recall. He hadn’t gotten friendly with the locals after the skirmish at Devon’s house.

  Each new pack member nodded in turn, except for Barbara, who stared without blinking.

  “We have reason to suspect Charity’s dad is in the house,” Devon said. “He wasn’t too welcoming when Roger’s people stopped by a few months ago. Prepare for an altercation upon entering.”

  “Yeah, but…we have her.” Cole motioned at a dour-faced Charity.

  “He won’t be happy to see me,” Charity mumbled. “We had…words before I left for college. He’s not expecting me back.”

  “Getting past one old man isn’t a problem.” Dale’s brown spit splattered the hot cement. “Devon, you take your crew and I’ll load up these guys. We’ll rendezvous at the address Roger supplied.”

  Steve grimaced. They’d barely given intros and already Dale was trying to assume control. This whole thing could derail right now. There were two strong leaders in this group, and they wouldn’t be satisfied until one submitted to the other. The grapple for power might explode before they even hit the road.

  Devon’s unwavering stare hardened. Silence rolled through the crowd, only interrupted by Charity scratching the center of her chest.

  Don’t let him call the shots, bro, Steve thought at Devon. Don’t let him take your power. Make him drop his eyes, or make him challenge you. Don’t let this go. Roger wouldn’t.

  Steve knew from experience. Roger didn’t take kindly to other shifters pushing their weight around, something Steve had learned the hard way.

  One by one, Devon’s muscles flexed. One by one, Dale’s fingers curled into a ball. The air between them sizzled with magic, the two shifters pushed to their limit. Any moment one or both would explode—

  Fiery magic tore through the air, biting into Steve’s body with an invisible spray of ghost needles. He jerked backward, startled by the unexpected pain. Dale did the same, bumping into a grunting Cole and throwing a hand up to protect his face.

 
; Devon didn’t so much as flinch.

  Andy flew sideways, as if Charity were a bomb and the explosion had burst out through her right side. The unlucky sod tumbled through the air like a flailing rag doll, hitting the ground with a thump.

  “Oh crap!” Charity exclaimed, her hand slapping over her mouth in apologetic surprise.

  “What the hell, Charity?” Andy hollered when he came to a stop. “What’d I do to you?”

  “Sorry!” Charity called over Rod’s laughter. She rushed toward Andy, probably to help him up, but Dillon stepped in the way, blocking her. “I was trying to keep my magic in so I didn’t blast it out toward the new guys. It accidentally leaked out the side.”

  “We talked about this, remember?” Andy pushed to standing and dusted himself off. Rod laughed harder. “If you feel one of those surges coming on, you walk away. Remember when we made that deal? Right after you blasted me into the refrigerator? You feel the surge and you walk away.”

  “I know, I’m sorry! This was just a tiny little surge so I thought I could keep it in.” Charity scoffed at Dillon. “Would you move?”

  Another surge of power punched Steve. He took a step back with a ladylike gasp. Fire ants of pain crawled along his skin.

  The blood drained from his face. This was a tiny little surge? Steve hadn’t even been her target, yet it felt like his face was being sanded off.

  For the first time in a long time, Steve’s beast did not want to emerge and fight. Unbelievably, he felt like running. Not to mention, elves could sense magical beings. If this magic went haywire anywhere near one of them, even a lesser-powered elf would notice. Traveling off the beaten path didn’t matter a whole helluva lot when you were being followed.

  They needed to get to the Flush, pronto.

  “Charity, get in the car.” Devon’s voice was a whip-crack of command, his alpha magic rattling Steve’s bones. The three new people, so damn confused they looked like clowns staring at an empty circus tent, swiveled to look at Devon.

  The alpha had arrived.

  “It’s fine,” Charity said. “Honestly, it’s mostly under control.”

  It was a long fucking way from being mostly under control.

  Devon turned to her. His power struggle was no longer with a slack-jawed Dale, but with a power-oozing warrior fae. His shifter magic boomed, making Steve wonder how he’d blasted that much out without changing shape.

  As if she were a dog reacting to a silent whistle, Charity snapped her head toward Devon, staring at him like he was a rival magic holder competing for dominance. A beautiful fluidity took over her lithe body, and a strange glow emanated from her skin. The fingers on her right hand twitched, as if wrapping around an invisible sword.

  A flash of brilliant blue eclipsed her focused brown eyes and a lovely smile tickled her lips. A strange music drifted in on the breeze, like cupids singing of battles and death, killing and mayhem. Magic rolled from her in thick, gooey waves.

  “Are you done?” Devon asked in a low, rough voice.

  How he withstood that onslaught of magic without at least half-cowering—like everyone else—Steve had no idea.

  Blue flashed over Charity’s eyes again. “I’m just beginning. Can’t you feel the thrill of it?”

  A shiver flash-froze Steve’s body, but strangely, his cock hardened. He was man enough to admit that this whole situation scared the shit out of him. Yet, strangely, he’d still take her—or one of her kind—to Pound Town. Exhilarating.

  “Enough of this,” Devon said, his body brimming with controlled supremacy. “You have to learn to master it until we can get you training. You’ll end up hurting yourself or one of your own.”

  Like a balloon popping, the painful prickles and tiny punching fists dissolved. Her posture lost that breathtakingly lethal edge. She looked like a fallen angel, unsure, worried and vulnerable. Steve’s heart squished.

  “Get in the car,” Devon said softly, not yet letting go of his magic.

  Heaving a sigh as she turned, she muttered, “I hate this weird magic.”

  Steve let chuckles relieve the tension. Now he understood why the young pup had transformed into such a strong alpha. Devon had needed to gain strength, power, and control to combat the unbalanced and unpredictable magic of the budding warrior fae. Roger had mentioned it, but he couldn’t have prepared Steve for the experience. Steve had heard that her kind were mostly gentle and loving, but if roused, they’d rip the world apart. Devon had risked his own safety and well-being to help her control the uncontrollable. He was a good man, but what a trip.

  Note to self: bed only trained warrior fae.

  “This is the control you have over your pack?” Dale asked as everyone started toward the vans.

  “Dave, give it a rest, would ya?” Steve said before Devon could turn around. He ran his fingers through his hair.

  “My name is—”

  “I agree,” Cole intoned. “Give it a rest. At least until the fae has calmed down. That wasn’t…pleasant.”

  “Neither is the volume of your voice,” Steve murmured.

  “Never enter a library with him,” Barbara said, breaking off to go in the front van with Devon and Charity. Steve grinned, mostly because she wasn’t kidding. Also because she’d rather ride with an unpredictable fae than with Loudmouth Larkin.

  “I get the feeling the girl and daddy dearest don’t get along?” Dale whispered as they neared the rear van.

  “From what I gather, he was an abusive prick,” Steve said, climbing into the van beside Andy. Rod glanced back from the driver’s seat but Macy, in the front passenger side, ignored them.

  “A drunk, abusive prick and the reason her mother left her,” Andy added as Cole swung into the rear, followed by Dale. Andy nodded at Steve. “Hey. Good to have ya.”

  “How’s your face?” Steve replied.

  “Why? Do I have scratches all over it?”

  “You can’t feel the road rash?”

  “Not over the throb in my shoulder, no.”

  “If she can’t control her magic, traveling through the Realm will not be…easy,” Cole said.

  “Neither will being in confined spaces with you,” Macy murmured.

  Steve huffed out a laugh while he rubbed his temples. “You’re both right. Let’s hope Emery is as good as everyone says. Otherwise, we’re not going to get very far.”

  Grab it here.

  *_*_*_*_*

  Have you read the beginning of the DDVN World? If not, swipe for more details!

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  Check out the exciting #1 Amazon worldwide bestseller by USA Today Bestselling author, K.F. Breene!

  Supernatural Bounty Hunter isn’t the sort of thing you see on LinkedIn. But with a rare type of magic like mine, I don’t have many options.

  So dangerous or not, the job is mine. And it was going fine, until an old as sin vampire stole my mark, and with it, my pay day.

  Knowing I’m poor and desperate, he has offered me a job. I’ll have to work by his side to help solve a top secret case.

  Everyone knows not to trust vampires. Especially a hot elder vampire. But without any other jobs coming up, I’m stuck. As I uncover a web of lies and treachery, revealing an enemy I didn’t know existed, the truth of my identity is threatened. I might make it out alive, only to end up in a gilded cage.

  Read it here!

  Also by K.F. Breene

  DDVN World

  Born in Fire

  Raised in Fire

  Fused in Fire

  Natural Witch

  Natural Mage

  Natural Dual-Mage

  Warrior Fae Trapped

  Warrior Fae Princess (coming soon)

  Demigods of San Francisco

  Sin & Chocolate

  Sin & Magic

  Sin & Salvation

  Finding Paradise

  Fate of Perfection

>   Fate of Devotion

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  About the Author

  K.F. Breene is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, Amazon Charts, and Top 10 All-star bestselling author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and fantasy novels. She lives in wine country where over every rolling hill, or behind every cow, an evil sorcerer might be plotting his next villainous deed while holding a bottle of wine and brick of cheese. Her husband thinks she’s cracked for wandering around, muttering about magic and swords. Her kids are on board with her fantastical imagination, except when the description of the monsters becomes too real.

  She’ll wait until they’re older to tell them that monsters are real, and so is the magic to fight them. She wants them to sleep through the night, after all…

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  Contact info:

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