by K.N. Lee
Rae shook her head as she pulled up to the curb and rolled down her tinted windows.
“Get in,” she said.
Crescentia blew a bubble with her gum and popped it as she opened the door and slid into the leather passenger seat.
“Sup, sis,” she said, stretching her long pale legs onto the dashboard of Rae’s BMW.
“Feet off, Crescentia.”
Crescentia rolled her gray eyes but obeyed and took her feet down. “Done.”
“What did you do this time?” Rae asked as she pulled away, hoping no one she knew saw her leaving the jail.
Crescentia gave her a sidelong glance, a grin on her plump pink lips. “I kicked a guy’s ass,” she said, cracking her knuckles.
“Why?”
“He called me a whore.”
Rae exhaled, tightening her grip on the steering wheel. “Was it really necessary to hurt him? The odds aren’t exactly fair.”
“That’s not my problem.”
Rae shook her head, pursing her lips as she drove back to her house. Crescentia was a young, recently fallen angel. Living within the human world was new to her and it was Rae’s job to help her assimilate and learn what was acceptable.
Like a hormonal teen, Crescentia had no control over her impulses or emotions. Such things would have to be learned and practiced and Rae was the teacher.
They drove back to her house, all the while Rae tried to think of ways that she could get through to Crescentia. The young angel was almost as difficult as her teen patients.
That’s when it came to her. Perhaps she could appeal to her the same way she provided care to her patients. A fallen angel wasn’t much different from the teen girls she spoke to each day. They were lost, confused, full of shame for betraying their father, and full of self-loathing.
As Rae pulled into the driveway, Crescentia opened the door.
“Wait,” Rae said, putting a hand on Crescentia’s arm.
“What?” Crescentia asked, her eyes going from Rae’s hand and meeting her eyes.
“Do you want to talk?”
Crescentia titled her head. “About what? About how much I hate this place?”
Nodding, Rae gave her a sympathetic smile. “Yes.”
Slumping back into the seat, Crescentia shook her head. “I just want to go home.”
The pain in the young angel’s voice caught Rae off guard. She swallowed and stroked Crescentia’s arm. “I know. Once the cloak of lies is lifted, we are all faced with the realization of our error. Trust me, hun. We all want to go home, and the ones that don’t end up crossing to the other side.”
Crescentia shot her a look, one of curiosity. “Do you ever think of just giving up this game of trying to earn your redemption, and crossing over to the other side?”
“No,” Rae said, softly. “You don’t want to do such a thing.” She pulled her hand away from Crescentia as it both of her hands started to shake. She looked away. “I’ve seen what that can do to an angel. Please, trust me. You do not want to become a demon. I’ve never seen such an act get reversed, and it only causes more sorrow and pain in the end.”
There was silence between them as Crescentia seemed to mull over Rae’s words. Rae thought of Luke, and how he’d made that exact mistake. If there was ever a way to save him from that mistake, she’d do it. As much as she hated to admit it, she loved him enough still to wish he made it back from that decision.
“Okay,” Crescentia said. “Maybe we can talk about what’s next for me.”
“Sure.” Rae turned off the car. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes. I didn’t want to touch that disgusting food they had in the jail.”
They got out of the car and started up the stairs when another car came up her long driveway.
Rae brightened when she saw that it was Collin.
“Your boyfriend is around a lot lately,” Crescentia said.
Rae fixed her hair. “Yes, he is.”
When he parked and got out of the car, her smile faded at his expression.
“Collin? What’s wrong?” she asked as he approached her.
Collin glanced at Crescentia and took Rae by the arm. “We need to leave. Right now.”
“What?” Rae asked, not budging. “Tell me what’s wrong?”
His chest heaved and his face was flushed as if he’d been running. His eyes widened as he looked down at her. “I have something to tell you, Rae.”
Crescentia walked back down the stairs, her interest piqued. “Oh. This is getting good.”
Rae held a hand up, shushing her. “Tell me.”
Collin paused, his eyes looking to the sky.
Why did the world go silent?
Rae tensed as she followed Collin’s gaze.
The sky darkened, and three figures flew over her house and landed before them.
Rae’s jaw dropped as the sun was blocked by dark clouds that turned the day into night.
Her heart thumped in her chest and her palms grew sweaty as she looked the strangers up and down, wishing she had her sword at her hip.
Demons.
14
“I told you we needed to leave,” Collin said, breaking her from her thoughts of summoning her angelic powers or pretending to be oblivious to the supernatural world.
She had to protect him, but something told her he was less in need of her protection than she’d thought.
“What else did you need to tell me?” Rae asked, her eyes focused on the three masked men that stood in her front yard.
Crescentia stood beside her. “What’s up with these goons? This isn’t Halloween,” she yelled down at them, completely unfazed by their sudden appearance. She twirled her hair around her finger and glanced at Rae. “Want me to get rid of them?”
“Stay back,” Rae said, her eyes fixed on Collin.
“Halston sent me to warn you,” Collin said and Rae shot him a surprised look, her brows lifting high.
“Halston? What?”
Three dart guns were lifted and pointed at Rae.
Collin stood in front of her, blocking their view.
From behind Collin, Rae looked down at her hands. She chewed the inside of her lip, her rage simmering to a boil. Her breaths became labored, and her mind raced with all of the possible outcomes of what was about to happen.
“The three of you need to leave,” Collin said. He nodded to them. “As a Netherworld Division agent, I have the clearance to either arrest or kill you all.”
Agent?
Rae flickered a shocked look at him, her eyes widened, her lips parted. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know you were an angel until today,” Collin said, shaking his head. He took a step closer to her, and she backed away. Throwing his hands up, he tilted his head as he gazed down at her. “I’m sorry.”
“So, now that you know my secret. Tell me yours. What are you?”
Never did she get a vibe that he was anything supernatural. Though, humans did work for the division. But, why Collin? He was a surgeon—not a soldier or military man. He wasn’t a vampire or an angel.
That must mean that he’s…
Realization slammed into her and she covered her mouth. “Good God. You’re a shifter?”
A laugh came from who Rae assumed was the leader. “Shifter? They really should stop letting shifters into the Division. Wolves and cats aren’t exactly a match for our sort.”
Rae looked to the leader. She didn’t get a good glimpse of his face through the mask.
But, when he ripped it off, she pushed Collin aside and flew at him with a speed that was barely traceable by human eyes.
“Rogan,” she hissed, grabbing him by his collar and flying him far into the woods. Though surprised by her speed, he tried to hide it with a false smile.
“You do remember me, then.”
“What do you want?”
She threw him into a tree and hovered in the air, throwing three rings of angel light up her body. Exhilarated by the release
of her power, she allowed the bright golden light to crisscross and cascade up and down her body.
“We were told to take you,” Rogan, an old enemy from her days in England, said.
As she asked the question, she knew exactly who sent him. Had Luke been trying to warn her this entire time?
“We only had the guns to scare you and coerce you to come with us,” Rogan said, holding his hands up.
The ruler of the demon clan of England, Edwin Allington.
A normal life was no longer on the table, not with a bounty on her head from a creature she didn’t stand a chance against.
Rae lowered herself to the ground, her heart racing.
She stepped up to Rogan, inches from her face. “Well, what are you waiting for?”
His eyes widened. “You’ll come. No trouble?”
She turned and headed back to her house, a scowl on her face as she tread through thick underbrush. “Yes.”
As Rae walked through the woods, she thought of all of the clues Luke had tried to leave her. How he still cared about her enough to save her life.
Though she hated to admit it…she was going to need him to face the demon king.
Collin ran to her once she was back in view. He wrapped his arms around her. “What happened? Are you okay?”
Rae exhaled and buried her face in his chest. “I’m fine,” she said, hating what she knew she had to do.
He held her out at arm’s length and looked in her eyes. “What is it?”
Rae was afraid to say what was on her mind, but she knew that there was no way around it. She looked to Crescentia, who sat on the stairs, her eyes fixed on the three men. The look in her eyes sent chills up Rae’s spine. She frowned, realizing that she had no idea what kind of skills the girl had.
And for that matter, she didn’t know what kind of shifter Collin was.
“Rae?”
She turned to him and kissed him on the lips, her hands grasping either side of his face. “Take care of Crescentia for me.”
“Nope,” Crescentia said, standing and stretching her legs. “I’m going wherever you go. No way I’m sitting in this boring house while you go out and act like a superhero.”
Rae sighed. She did sound like a petulant teen right then. “No. You won’t. Go inside, Crescentia.”
“Try to stop me.”
Rae looked in Crescentia’s eyes and saw a strength that she never noticed before. Maybe she could use an ally.
“Rae. Halston wants you to come to the Netherworld Division. That’s where we are going.”
Pulling away, Rae shook her head. “Tell Halston that I have to do this. I have to face my past for once and for all.”
Collin stepped forward and she held up her hands, pushing him away with the power of her mind.
“Don’t try to stop me,” she said, tears burning her eyes. She turned with Crescentia and the three men, she flew into the sky. Saying goodbye was too hard, and she didn’t. Instead she whispered down to him.
“I love you.”
The tears streamed down her cheeks then as she flew away from her home, her life, and the man she loved.
The future was a dangerous place.
And as she watched her home grow farther in the distance, Collin appeared at her side.
Shocked, Rae coiled back. “Collin. What the hell are you doing up here?”
A determined look on his face, he flew beside her, his hair rustling with the wind.
“I’m a dragon, Rae,” he said. “I can fly whenever I please, in my human form or not. So, you’re not getting rid of me that easily. Don’t try it again. I’m here for you no matter what.”
Dragon shifter?
“But, where I am going is dangerous,” she said. She was overwhelmed with emotion as they flew together. She never imagined this moment, the man she loved flying by her side. Though they flew toward danger and peril, she was oddly at peace now that she knew his secret and he accepted hers.
“I heard what you said back there, Rae. I love you too much to let you go alone,” he said, reaching for her hand.
Rae pursed her lips and nodded, oddly happy that he was by her side. “Okay. Together, then.”
Thanks for reading! This is the first installment of the Dragon Rising novella serial. Expect the next novella in February!
Check out Netherworld: The Chronicles of Koa Book One and learn more about Rae and the Netherworld Division!
NY Times bestselling author, K.N. Lee presents book one of the critically acclaimed urban-fantasy series critics and fans are calling Blade meets Ocean's Eleven.
Angels protect us from the escaped creatures of the Netherworld.
Demons seek to destroy the balance and treaty between vampires and humans.
One half-blood vampire is torn between the two worlds.
Introducing Koa Ryeo-won, a half-blood vampire with an enchanted sword and a membership to the most elite vampire castle in Europe.A vengeful demon threatens everything Koa has worked hard to protect. Not even Halston and his legendary infinity gun can stop him, but Koa's mother might be strong enough to do it--if only her curse can be broken.
There is one vampire of ancient royal blood who can help. If only he wasn't locked away in a faraway parallel universe.
First stop, the Ivory Tower, where only the most notorious supernatural criminals are kept. A prison heist, new foes and friends, and a grand wizard await.
Koa must prepare herself to return to the place that nearly killed her. The Netherworld.
An Exclusive Look at Netherworld
THE CLOCK STRUCK MIDNIGHT, and for once Koa didn’t have anyone to track…or kill.
A buttery aroma wafted into the air as Koa opened a bag of freshly popped popcorn. There came a low purr from behind and she glanced over her shoulder at the stoic black cat that sat on the countertop.
“Smells good, Raven. Doesn’t it?”
Raven stared back with her ethereal green eyes. The cat blinked, and licked her paw.
Koa shrugged and blew her dark blue bangs out of her eyes. “Fine. More for me.”
Through the archway and into the grand hall, Koa walked through the large empty manor. There was a chill in the air, but Koa didn’t mind as she wore nothing but a black lace panty and bra set. The sound of her soft footsteps echoed, and she found herself humming as she always did.
She didn’t pay any mind to the gothic statues that glared down at her on either side of the wide corridor. There was a time when Koa had been frightened by her father’s relics. As a girl she would avoid walking down the hallways at night for fear that they would awaken and grab her with their cold stone hands.
Now, Koa was used to the statues of angels and demons. She barely glanced at them anymore. Such things were a part of her daily life and she no longer feared their artistic replicas.
It took her a few moments to cross the cold marble floors to the large den she had converted into an entertainment room. Koa used a remote to turn off all of the lights. She lit a scented candle just as Raven brushed past her leg. She rubbed her soft fur onto Koa’s bare flesh.
The scent of vanilla made her smile.
Koa flopped onto the plush sofa and put her feet up on the ottoman. She sank into the cushions and closed her eyes in bliss. “Halston has given me a few nights off.” She turned on her television. “Finally, I get to catch up on some reality TV!”
Raven seemed to roll her eyes and Koa grinned. “I know,” she said as she relaxed her back on the orange pillows and popped a handful of popcorn into her mouth. “I can be such a girl sometimes.” She laughed to herself. She was happy. Life had been so busy lately with the rise of supernatural crime that a single moment of solitude was rare.
Koa glanced at Raven and held her arms out. “Come sit with me.”
Raven snuggled next to her and rested her head on Koa’s lap. Koa smiled and stroked her black fur. Sometimes it seemed as if Raven was all she had left in the world, besides Halston.
Koa just started t
o crunch on a kernel when she heard the faintest creak in her hallway. It was so faint that she almost didn’t catch it. She didn’t want to catch it. She wanted the night to go smoothly, but it was the way Raven’s ears perked up that confirmed that Koa had indeed heard something.
Scrunching her small nose, Koa grumbled and put her bowl of popcorn down on her glass coffee table. All of her senses were heightened. There was a definite warning deep in the pit of her stomach. She sniffed the air. There was the faint stench of coal and something rancid.
Odd, she thought, frowning. She had smelled that distinct odor before. It was not from this world. Very odd.
Raven looked down the dark hallway and made a low sound of warning deep in her throat. Her black fur stood on end. Koa shushed her with a hand.
She came to her feet and headed toward the sound. She could feel that someone was there. Like the telling smell of oncoming rain, Koa had an uncanny sense of knowing when something bad was about to happen. She hoped that this time she was wrong.
Her heart thumped wildly in her chest. Her one day off, and someone decided to bother her. Raven lowered her head and waited back on the sofa.
“Scaredy-cat,” Koa mumbled.
Koa softly tiptoed into the darkness. She now wished that she was properly dressed. She didn’t want someone catching her in her underwear. She sighed. She was probably overthinking things. Two-hundred-year-old French manors tended to creak in the night. Koa should have been used to the sounds after all these years of living there.
The truth was that Koa was still afraid of the dark, and with good reason. She froze when something crashed to the floor. She quickly pressed her back against the wall and waited. One of the statues had broken.
Voices.
Koa cursed in her head. Someone was definitely in her house. Her breath quickened. Koa could hear Halston’s voice in her head, telling her that it wasn’t worth it—that she should run. She didn’t run.
Instead, she peeked around the corner of the wall and saw flashlights. The harsh, fluorescent light pointed in her direction. Two men. Bald and big. They were dressed in black with tattoos all over their pale white faces and scalps. They clutched silver-barreled crossbows.