The Dragon Stirs: Energen, Book 1

by Lynda Aicher

  He flinched, smiled and pulled her closer, which she didn’t resist.

  “And the rest?” she persisted.

  He exhaled and tugged lightly on her chin until she lifted up and met his lips in a soft kiss of unity. He pulled back slightly and looked into her eyes.

  “Whatever it is, whatever happens, we’re in this together.”

  She gave a slight nod and smiled. “Together.”

  He kissed her again and the warmth sank into his heart. The Apocalypse might be coming for the rest of the world, but the veil on his world had already been lifted.

  And what he saw on the other side made him groan in complete contentment.

  Epilogue

  Airiana sat on the comfortable leather couch, feet curled under her, Louk by her side. The logs in the fireplace snapped and popped, sending small sparks flying upward in a miniature display of fireworks. She leaned into Louk’s warmth and smiled at the instant exchange of energy that flowed uninhibited between them.

  Happiness—pure, clean, simple—warmed her heart and kept her balanced against the overwhelming pressure that was building each day. She gave Louk’s hand a small squeeze. His fingers linked with hers where they rested on her knee. Together. He turned his attention away from their guest and gave her a quick smile of reassurance.

  He was there for her.

  “The bond between you two is very strong,” Cronus said.

  Louk looked back at Cronus who sat in a matching leather chair beside the couch. “Is this normal?” Louk gave a little laugh and shook his head. “Of course it’s not normal. Nothing between us has been normal.”

  Cronus returned the laugh, the crinkles round his blue eyes softening his serious face. “True. The two of you are an anomaly, but a very good one. One we are lucky to have occur.” He smile faded. “The bond of The Two was essential, the first link in a chain that we must complete before Gog is released. Before he rises.”

  “Are we to stay locked away in this house until that happens?” Airiana asked. “Because as much as I love this guy, I’m probably going to kill him if he’s the only one I can talk to for the next year. No offense, Louk.”

  “None taken.”

  “No, Airiana. This will only be temporary.” Cronus tilted his head and studied them for a moment. “Do you know what is next?”

  Louk looked at her, then nodded. She met the Ancient’s intent gaze and wondered how much he already knew. “We get glimpses, more like impressions, through the energy, of what is to come. But, nothing is clear. What do you know?”

  Cronus’s lips thinned, every year of his long life seeming to appear on his tired face. “I know that each step must happen over the cycle of the next year in rhythm with the earth. That if even one of the steps fails, then we have lost before the battle even begins. But, I do not know where each step will take us. Of who will be needed to see that it succeeds. Only that the energy will guide us just as it guided you.”

  “Oh, that was guiding?” Louk joked. “I’d call it more of a gigantic shove.”

  Cronus laughed, the lightness returning to his features. “That it was. But, it worked.” He shifted his attention down to their clasped hands. “Very effectively I might add. I’m going to assume that happened when you joined. Correct?”

  Airiana reached over with her free hand, the hand that held her mark, to stroke the mark on the back of Louk’s hand. The now matching symbols rumbled low then sighed in unison before they curled up in contentment. The change in the marks had been one of the major shockers after they’d joined.

  “Yes. How?” She looked at Cronus. “I didn’t know they could change like this.”

  “Neither did I,” Cronus answered. “Some things still amaze even one as old as me. And that, young ones, is what makes each day a joy to live. No matter how long we are on this earth, there are still new things out there to surprise us.”

  “So what does it mean?” Louk released his hold and lifted his hand to examine the dark blue-black dragon that now marked the back. “Shit. A dragon? On an Energen’s hand? I didn’t know that was possible. Or even remotely acceptable.”

  “A winged dragon is an honor, a sign that they are not extinct. It gives me hope that they are returning. That they will rise to help us once again.” The Ancient leaned back and crossed his legs. “Have you tried to shift?”

  Louk’s hand dropped to his lap, his back stiffening as he sat forward. “What? Me shift? Doesn’t that go against being an Energen?”

  “Airiana is not an Energen, but she is not filled with negative energy. She can shift to her dragon form and that does not make her evil. Neither will it for you, Louk.”

  “I haven’t even tried to shift since the mark changed,” Airiana said looking down at her own, now darker colored dragon. “Should we? I always associated shifting with a connection to the negative energy.”

  “The winged dragons are special, but you already know that. Shifting into their form only brings you more power. Don’t you see, the winged dragons have the unique ability to control two elements where most of us can control only one.” Cronus paused, the words holding in the room as comprehension slowly settled in. “Shifters can only control the element of fire whether in human or dragon form. Energens are each granted the ability to control one of the elements, air, water, fire, earth or spirit. But winged dragons control both fire and air—in both of their forms.”

  Airiana couldn’t think. Couldn’t process yet another major change in her foundation. Louk’s arm circled her shoulders and hugged her close to his side, the connection soothing the rising tension.

  “Now that you are joined, your control over those elements will be even stronger. More powerful, more expansive. The dual energy combining to give you an advantage that no one else has.” Cronus smiled, apparently amused by their stunned expressions. “You now see why the The Two are needed. Why the The Two ignited the change. How The Two will play in the war to come?”

  Silence filled the room, broken only by the soft crackle of the flames in the hearth. Airiana pressed into the warmth of Louk’s body and felt his confusion, his doubt, as it flowed over the energy. She had those feelings, too, but she also knew that they would be fine. That they would handle whatever challenges were ahead.

  “Together,” she whispered to Louk.

  He turned his head and stared into her eyes, searching deep. He smiled. “Together,” he said before turning to Cronus. “So, what’s next?”

  “That, young one, is for your brother to answer.”

  “Phelix?”

  “Damian.”

  Louk’s breath held before he slowly released it. “Will it be good?”

  “We can only hope that it is.”

  About the Author

  Lynda Aicher has always been a sucker for happy ending and has dreamed of being an author since she first read The Outsiders at the age of twelve. After years of weekly travel as a consultant implementing computer software, she ended her nomadic lifestyle to raise her two children. Now, her imagination is her only limitation on where she can go and her writing lets her escape from the daily duties of being a mom, wife, chauffer, scheduler, cook, teacher, cleaner and mediator. To learn more about Lynda, please visit her website at: www.lyndaaicher.com

  Look for these titles by Lynda Aicher

  Coming Soon:

  Energen: Stone of Ascension

  Trust no one…except the one who walks in the dark.

  Key of Solomon

  © 2011 Cassiel Knight

  Relic Defender, Book 1

  Anthropology PhD candidate Lexi Harrison never bares it all when she belly dances for a strip club crowd. She doesn’t have to—she’s that good. Every performance earns money toward her degree, and restores the sense of power that her painful childhood ripped away.

  Something is different about tonight. A man whose silver gaze seems to touch her skin beneath her veils. When a rowdy customer crosses the line, he comes to her rescue with the speed of a falcon—complete
with wings.

  Mikos Tyomni has never seen anyone dance the raqs sharqi like Lexi. Trust his tormentor, Archangel Michael, to put him in close contact with the cause of his downfall: a mortal woman. Particularly this mortal woman. The Defender. He has only thirty days to win her trust before Hell’s deadliest demons attempt the mother of all prison breaks.

  No matter how sexy the messenger is, Lexi’s career plans don’t include some crazy idea that she’s the last line of defense against the forces of evil. Until her university mentor’s murder leaves her holding the key to Hell. And fighting a losing battle against a passion with the unholy power to bring down Heaven…

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Key of Solomon:

  Oh, shit! Lexi let out a startled squawk as he closed the protective distance she’d put between them until he was within a foot of her. His fists knotted as if he wanted to grab her, but he held back.

  “How do you know Beliel?”

  Lexi held up the sanjiegun, gesturing out a circle in front of her body Mikos was damn near to breaking. “Whoa, personal zone here.”

  “Alexandria, this is important. Answer my question. How do you know Beliel?”

  She cringed. Her full name again. “He showed up at my apartment earlier.”

  Mikos jerked back. Fascinated, she watched his pupils and iris begin to spark again, the silver pinpoints of light widening. For Pete’s sake, what had she done or said?

  “What happened?” he asked.

  She shrugged, and looked down. With a sharp snick, she extended her sanjiegun, rested the tip on the floor and idly spun it like she was trying to start a fire. Christ. She suddenly had an urge to duck her head and squirm like a child caught doing something wrong.

  “He made me an offer,” she said and lifted her head, her gaze sparring with his.

  “What kind of offer?”

  The phrase an offer you can’t refuse flashed into her mind. She didn’t let it out. Probably a smart decision based on the silver sparking in his eyes. Where the hell did he get that unusual ability?

  Instead of uttering any number of smartass comments wavering on her tongue, she answered, “A normal life. One with a family.”

  “A normal life,” he repeated. His tone sounded as if it had as much emotion as a rock.

  Oops. Better scratch that. She actually knew a rock with emotion.

  “Lexi, you must stay away from him.”

  “Hey, I didn’t invite him. He just showed up.” She wrinkled her nose. “What’s the big deal?”

  “You don’t know him. He’s dangerous.”

  Lexi placed on hand on her hip and tapped her right foot. “So? I didn’t know you, but that didn’t stop you from interfering.”

  Mikos’s eyes narrowed. “That is different.”

  “Feels the same to me.” She paused. “Besides, all he’s done is show me another life.”

  A life she’d always wanted. Sounded so simple. So easy. So confusing.

  “For a price.”

  Lexi shrugged again. “Everything comes with a price tag.” And everyone could be bought. The only variance was the dollar amount.

  “What did he want from you?” Mikos continued.

  “To give him some kind of book. A book I’m sure I don’t have.”

  Mikos face turned to stone. No, not the Rocky-type stone, but hard, cold granite. “If you had the book, would you take Beliel’s offer?”

  “I don’t know.”

  She truly didn’t. As tempting as it was to realize she could have a family of her own, it bothered her that Beliel offered her a ready-made family. After all, if she really wanted a family, she’d have found herself a nice guy and made babies. Sure, and it was just that easy wasn’t it? Except, she wanted…

  Something else.

  Something special.

  Something just for her.

  So, she didn’t know what that something was. And while she wouldn’t admit it to Mikos, she wasn’t sure she’d want to pay the cost for whatever Beliel offered. She sensed it would be high.

  Despite the set expression on his face, Mikos’s tone had a controlled lightness as he said, “Lexi, you are the only one who can do this. God expects this of you, and your race needs you. Do not make the mistake of thinking only of yourself. Too much is at stake.”

  The critical and patronizing tone in Mikos’s voice punched like a sledgehammer at her chest. How dare he try to make her feel selfish? He had no idea of the life she’d led or things from her past. Damn right she was selfish. She had to be.

  Growing up in the system and then on the streets had taught her if she didn’t look after herself no one else would. A hard lesson to learn at the age of twelve but she had, and no man, no matter how attractive he was, was going to stand there and make her feel bad about her choices.

  Lexi shoved Mikos’s chest. “Where the hell was your God when I lost my parents? Where was your God when I was shuffled from home to home?”

  She paused and took a deep breath. For the first time in as far back as she could remember, tears welled.

  “And where were you and your God when my supposed father in the last foster home put his hands on me like no father ever should?”

  She was tired, angry and mentally exhausted with the events of the last day. Otherwise, what the hell else could explain her opening her mouth and sharing such an intimate thing with a relative stranger?

  Lexi barely suppressed a shudder at the memory. Her last foster father, Tom, hadn’t seemed to fit any profile of a child abuser. With no previous history of abuse in his own childhood, a gentle manner, no issues with drug or alcohol abuse, clean cut, a pristinely maintained yard and home, he appeared to be anything but a vile abuser.

  It was only later did Lexi find out just how much of an abuser he was. Certainly, she would have found out if she had stayed around long enough for him to finish what he’d begun.

  She still remembered the stark terror of being pushed against the wall of her bedroom while Tom groped and grabbed at her clothing. The smell of fresh paint from her foster mom’s remodel of the kitchen, the feel of the stucco on her backside.

  Slightly damp, cold hands that left behind an unclean feeling, one she’d never be free of.

  Lexi felt fortunate in that she had been strong and independent even at the age of twelve. One unfatherly touch from Tom, and she bolted from the house.

  Looking up at Mikos, she realized that in her anger, she’d come within inches of his body. Major personal zone violation. Silver painted eyes looked down at her awash with an emotion she didn’t want or need.

  She shoved him again. “Don’t you dare pity me. And don’t you dare tell me what God expects. I stopped caring about those expectations a long time ago.”

  Maybe the thought of shoving him a third time had crossed her mind and shined in her eyes because Mikos moved. His hands come up to grab her wrists, jerking her forward and locking her arms against her sides. For the second time, her sanjiegun fell to the floor with another sharp clatter. Damn it, she was going to get a strap on that thing.

  She pulled her knee up then thrust downward. Because of Mikos’s tight meld to her body, she couldn’t get enough momentum to do anything more than tap his foot. A hard tap, yet still not enough to break free.

  “You’re going to hurt yourself.”

  This close, his whisper danced across her neck. She sucked in a whistling breath as unfamiliar sensations rocketed through her body. When was the last time she’d felt any, even the most microscopic, attraction to a man? Each time she was around this man her libido went supernova.

  Mikos’s body seemed to fit hers like a comfortable chair, one she wanted to sink back into then lose herself in the firm cushions. She inhaled, the warm, musky scent of masculine perspiration filling her nose. Did his skin taste salty? She eyed the pulse beating in his neck.

  An inward yelp echoed through her mind. What the hell was wrong with her?

  She let her shoulders relax as if she’d given up. He stil
led. Maybe he hadn’t expected her to concede. Good. His stillness should have let her focus on breaking free.

  It didn’t.

  One woman with a job to do. One gorgeous hacker with a plan. One apocalypse. Any questions?

  Brighid’s Cross

  © 2011 Cate Morgan

  Aika Lareto is a descendent of St. Brighid in her incarnation of all things fire and warfare in a time when heroes were revered as gods. In 2025, this means Aika is hunted by all things demon and government. All she wants is to get on with her work as guardian of the dregs scraping out a fringe existence in London’s blitzed underground—the lost, forgotten and the just plain ignored.

  Declan Pryce is the hacker who finds her first. Quite a feat, considering current ruling government conglomerate Dreamtech has issued a bounty on Aika’s head for her ability to bypass their security systems.

  When she escapes Dreamtech’s net, the vote is unanimous—Aika is a liability in need of immediate resolution—dead or alive is entirely her choice.

  No choice, really. She’ll take death over disloyalty every time. Declan has a plan that doesn’t include falling for an impossible woman in an impossible situation. She has plans of her own that don’t leave room for a love life.

  If they’re incredibly lucky, it just might work.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Brighid’s Cross:

  Declan Pryce had not gotten a full day’s sleep since a bomb exploded his parents out of existence in the Seven-Year War. So it came as no surprise when nightmares plagued his sleep once again, entangling him in scratchy army blankets and discarded him, spent, onto the shabby rug. He stared into the lowering dark of early evening, sweat plastering hair into his eyes.

  When his breathing slowed sufficiently for feeling to return to his limbs, he disentangled himself from the twisted bedding and heaved himself onto the edge of the narrow bed. His shaking hand knocked a water bottle from the bedside table as he reached for it, issuing a muted thud on the area rug. He retrieved it with a murmured curse, experiencing instant relief when the lukewarm liquid settled his stomach.