First Flame (Stories of Frost and Fire Book 1)

by Kimbra Swain

  “Wonderful. I’d love to have you in my class, Wynonna,” he said.

  “We’ve got to get going, but maybe I can drop by sometime and tell you more about the school?” Colton asked.

  “Yes, that would be nice,” I replied to humor him. I offered my hand to Professor Karis who hesitated. He knew who I was. I could see it in his eyes. He shook my hand, and I felt the cold buzz of a Winter fairy. A full-blooded one. I couldn’t out him to Colton, but I needed to know where Soraya and Rory were. “Have you ever met my friends, Soraya and Rory?”

  “I do not believe that I have. We really must go,” Professor Karis replied.

  “But you do know Reyna Havlin,” I insisted, refusing to release his hand.

  “Winnie,” Kyrie spoke softly.

  “I have a class to teach, Miss Riggs. I’d be happy to speak with you further after class,” he said. His eyes darted to Colton, then back to me. I released his hand.

  “I don’t have a lot of time,” I said.

  “You have time. I’ll meet you back here in an hour,” he replied. Colton seemed confused, but he didn’t say anything as Professor Karis walked away with him.

  We watched them walk away. I dug my phone out of my pocket. It rang once and Nick answered.

  “You are past check-in,” he said.

  “I have a lead,” I replied.

  “Where are you?”

  “On campus at Steelshore University. I ran into Colton Walker here and his professor, Seth Karis, who is a Winter fairy. He’s sparkling with the same Sanhedrin ward magic,” I explained.

  “I told you to stay away from Colton Walker,” Nick growled.

  “Well, tough shit. Karis knows something. He told us to meet him here in an hour. I need you here for back-up,” I said. Kyrie’s eyes widened, but he approved of my brashness.

  “I’ll be there in a few minutes. Get out of sight. I don’t want the Sanhedrin finding you there. The professor could tell them you are there. Hide. Now,” Nick said, then hung up the phone.

  “Roof?” Kyrie asked.

  “I guess,” I replied.

  We walked back to the library, then Kyrie flew us to the roof.

  “How are they involved?” Kyrie asked.

  “I don’t know, but Professor Karis knew exactly who I was,” I said.

  “I saw that. I also saw him look very protectively on Colton,” Kyrie said.

  “Protective? How so?”

  “Like maybe your neighbor has a taboo relationship with his professor,” Kyrie suggested.

  “Or maybe Colton is related. It’s possible for a fairy to have a changeling that doesn’t mature into their gifts until late in life. Uncle Levi was like that,” I said.

  “Possibly. Nick will know.”

  “That pisses me off, too. If there was something I needed to know about Colton, then he should have told me. How in the world am I going to lead us if I don’t know everything?” I huffed.

  Kyrie kept his distance. He knew how volatile I was when I was mad. I looked down at my hands, but the normal fire building there hadn’t reached the point to be visible.

  Malphas and Echo were the first to arrive. They shifted into human as they landed.

  “Callum and Isabella will be along shortly. Are you alright?” Malphas asked.

  “I’m fine. But Nick has some explaining to do,” I said.

  “About?” Malphas asked.

  “About my human neighbor, Colton Walker, and his history professor, Seth Karis,” I said.

  “I don’t recognize the name,” Malphas said.

  “I thought you guys were all buddy-buddy. Doesn’t he tell you all his secrets?” Kyrie asked.

  “Apparently not,” Malphas said.

  A large white raptor and owl flew in from the south. Aydan shifted into human, but it took a moment for Isabella to shift. She landed naked behind Aydan, then I felt her Winter power move, clothing herself with a glamour.

  “What’s going on?” Aydan asked. Kyrie explained the situation to him while he and Isabella listened. She didn’t talk much, and it occurred to me that I should get to know her better since she had been spending so much time with my brother. It also reminded me of how self-centered I could be.

  “So, we need to be on the look-out for an ambush?” Aydan said.

  “I’d almost welcome one at this point. We have no other leads? No one found anything in their searches?” I asked.

  “We found nothing,” Malphas said. Aydan shook his head.

  “We need to be ready for anything. Kyrie and I will go back down and sit on that bench,” I said, pointing in the direction where we had last talked to the professor and my neighbor. “If you spot something, do whatever you have to do to signal us. I’ll out that professor in a heartbeat if it means saving our lives.”

  “Hold your horses, Winnie,” Nick said, joining us on the roof from the door to the library.

  “You got some ‘splaining to do,” Kyrie teased to lighten the mood.

  “And I will explain. I met Seth Karis not long after I moved to Steelshore. I’d stopped for coffee at a place just off campus. When he came in, I knew he was a fairy,” he said.

  “And how did you know that?” I asked. Dominick Meyer was a Faeborn wolf which meant one of his parents was a full-blooded fairy. I knew he disliked his fairy side, but occasionally he did use it. Things were tense, and jerking his chain about his abilities thrilled my soul.

  Nick sighed and shook his head. “I looked at him through my sight.”

  “Oh, that’s right! You are Faeborn,” I teased.

  “Winnie,” he growled.

  “Sorry,” I shrugged.

  “Anyway. I followed him back to his apartment where he turned the tables on me. He knew I was following him. He explained that he had a contract with the Sanhedrin, but they refused to protect his son.”

  “Colton,” I said.

  “Yes, so I volunteered to put him in the apartments with us.”

  “Why would you tell me to stay away from him?” I asked.

  “His father’s ties to the Sanhedrin would put you in danger. I’m not sure why the Sanhedrin gave him a contract. I’ve not met any other fairies that have contracts. There must be a reason. If there is one, Karis hasn’t been forthcoming,” Nick explained.

  “Does their contract on him explain the ward magic around him?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Nick replied. “You go down there and talk to him. Maybe he will tell you something that he wouldn’t tell me.”

  “He knew who I was,” I said.

  “Winnie, every fairy in this town knows you are Grace’s daughter,” Nick said.

  Being the daughter of the Queen of Winter had some perks, but I didn’t think everyone knew who I was. So much for keeping a low profile.

  Suddenly, something dawned on me. “Is that why you want me in charge?”

  “Get down there and talk to Karis,” Nick ordered. I’d struck on a piece of truth that he didn’t want to talk about right now. Kyrie took my hand and lowered us to the ground. We casually walked to the bench and took a seat.

  “I think this would be a perfect time to make-out,” Kyrie said.

  “I think you are nuts,” I replied.

  “Is that a no?”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s a yes?”

  “No. It’s a no!”

  “You are amazing, Wynonna.”

  “That isn’t going to change my mind.” I couldn’t look at him, because he had me grinning from ear to ear. So, I didn’t see Professor Karis when he walked up.

  “I’d rather not talk in the open,” Karis said.

  “I’d rather not talk in private because of your ties to the Sanhedrin,” I replied.

  “How do you know about that?” he asked.

  “I can see their mark around you. You’ve been through their wards,” I said as if it were fact. If they didn’t mark him as one of their contracted fairies, then the residue had to be from their ward. I just hoped it was
from the new location instead of the old one.

  “Part of my contract is to check in once a week with them. Although they are not happy about putting my son into the care of the F.B.I. I’d petition to send him to Shady Grove, but I doubt your mother would accept him,” Karis said.

  “Why? Because he is human?”

  “He won’t be human for long. His abilities will kick in eventually.”

  “The king is a changeling,” Kyrie said.

  “He is full-fairy now thanks to the Queen,” Karis said.

  “Actually, he did that on his own via Tennyson Schuyler,” I corrected him. “Either way, I don’t see them turning him or you away. My mother has dealt with the Sanhedrin. The question is, why are you entangled with them when you have the option to go to Shady Grove like all the other fairies in the human world?”

  “It’s complicated,” Karis responded.

  “I’d say I have time to hear you out, but I don’t. I have an appointment tonight, and I need to find my friends. I need to know where the Sanhedrin are now. They took our friends which includes the Prince of Summer,” I explained. “We are going to have a very mad king in Steelshore if we don’t find his son.”

  “I don’t know where they moved,” Karis said.

  “I went to see them yesterday for my check-up. I saw your friends there. They were not being held. Or at least they weren’t bound or jailed. They were sitting and having tea with Reyna and some of her minions. They told me they would be changing locations, and that they would contact me when they were settled.”

  “Soraya and Rory had to be held there.”

  “Why? The Sanhedrin can make fairies do things against their own will. They can be very persuasive,” Karis said.

  “They persuaded you to sign a contract,” I surmised.

  Karis nodded. “I sent my son back to the apartment building. If you can get him into Shady Grove, I would appreciate it.”

  “I’ll do it,” I replied.

  “What do I owe you in payment?” Karis asked.

  “Nothing. I’m not the Sanhedrin. If you choose to give me something in return, it is your choice. I require nothing,” I said, hoping that was enough to get him to spill any information he had.

  A raven landed in the tree behind the bench. It cawed loudly three times.

  “We have to go,” Kyrie said. “You know where to find us.”

  “Thank you, Wynonna,” Karis said. However, he didn’t give me a damn thing. I nodded, and we walked to the curb where Aydan picked us up in a black full-sized pick-up.

  We sat silently until we got a block away from the Professor.

  “He didn’t tell you anything,” Isabella said.

  “No, he didn’t,” I replied. The frustration dripped from my voice. Aydan drove us back to the office. I watched the tall pine trees give way to the river which flowed into the bay. Its waters sparkled with the setting sun. A shrimp boat moseyed up the river with its long net arms held high. I’d never had a lot of seafood in Shady Grove, but I enjoyed it here while in Steelshore.

  I missed home and the simple complexity that was Shady Grove. But I’d become very fond of Steelshore and its quirks. More than anything I wanted to claim this city for my mother’s reign by stopping the trafficking that flowed through the port.

  I came here to figure out who I was. I knew one part of that now. This was my city, and I’ll be damned if the Sanhedrin or these trafficking thugs ruined it. The Phoenix was here now, and I’d lead this crew to clean it from shore to shore.

  But right now, I had a date with a pirate.

  Kyrie watched me finish my make-up and hair from the living room with Colton. They were bonding over a video game. When I returned from meeting with Scarlett O’Lear, we were going to drive him to Shady Grove ourselves. I just hoped that we would get the information we needed from Scarlett to find the Sanhedrin. I didn’t want to return to Shady Grove without information for Astor. The King of Summer was a gentle giant, until you pissed him off, then he would turn into the Viking king and rip your throat out.

  “Well?” I asked the man-boys.

  “You look beautiful,” Colton said.

  “Thank you.”

  “You look too beautiful to be going out with someone other than me,” Kyrie said.

  “You are worried about the pirate?” I asked.

  “He is a vampirate, and he’s older than fuck. So no, I’m not worried,” Kyrie said.

  I kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll see you later tonight. Take care of Colton.”

  “Oh, why do I have to babysit?” Kyrie whined.

  I laughed at him and opened the door to my apartment to find Ruby standing there about to knock.

  “Oh, hey,” I said.

  “May I come in?” she asked, holding her nose high.

  “Sure,” I said, stepping aside for her.

  “Oh, you poor thing. I heard you were in such a predicament. I assure you that I will take very good care of you,” Ruby said, rushing over to Colton.

  “Good luck,” I said to Kyrie who gave me a pitiful look, as I walked out the door.

  I admit that I wasn’t the prim and proper woman like Ruby. Descending the stairs in heels proved to be much harder than I thought it would be. When I reached the front door to the complex, it opened for me.

  Seamus waited next to a black limo while one of his men had opened the door for me. Seamus always had a classic style. Not exactly what you would expect for a pirate, but exactly what you would expect for a vampire.

  His black suit fit him perfectly, creating a slim line from shoulder to toe. He wore a wool overcoat that hung to his knees. He finished the look off with an ornately carved cane with a silver knob on the top. He lifted an eyebrow as I approached him.

  “Miss Wynonna, you look lovely. It is an honor to escort you tonight,” he said.

  I stopped before climbing into the limo. “Are you wearing eyeliner?” I asked.

  “That is not eyeliner, my dear. It is my sensuality escaping from my eyes,” he replied.

  “Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?” I asked.

  “Have you ever met an incubus?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “Let’s just say I taught all of them how to seduce prey.”

  I snorted, then climbed into the vehicle. He shut the door, crossed behind the car, then entered in on the other side.

  I’d never been in a limo. The white leather gleamed under the accent lighting. A small wet bar with a miniature mini fridge sat on the right side of the vehicle. A tinted window separated us from the driver. Without a command, the limo began to move. While looking around the seating area, I got a closer look at Seamus’ cane.

  The carved silver knob was actually a pirate skull with vampire teeth. The long ebony cane had rune markings from top to bottom. Through my sight, I could see the runes glowing with magical power.

  “Nice cane,” I said.

  “I keep it for emergencies,” he replied.

  “Are we expecting an emergency tonight?” I asked.

  “The last club you went to was magically shot to pieces. I’m playing the odds,” he replied with a smirk.

  “What do you know about Scarlett?” I asked.

  “She is a wonderful dancer. She puts on a fabulous show, and she’s a mermaid which means I keep her at arm’s length. All pirates are wary of the wiles of a mermaid. She was born to seduce men,” he said.

  “And the fairies in her performances, are they all legit?”

  “I do not know.”

  “Do you know anything about Rory and Soraya?”

  “I know that they were moved recently. I also know that the Sanhedrin paid Professor Karis a visit after your meeting with him.”

  “How could you possibly know that?”

  “Darlin’, there is very little in this town that I don’t know. However, since I left, I know less than I used to, and that irks me.”

  “It’s my town now.”

  He grinned but did not resp
ond. I watched the city pass us by as we made our way to the Savoy Palace. When we arrived, the marquis had changed. It read “Rare duo performance – Scarlett O’Lear and Eartha Hamlet.”

  “Interesting,” Seamus said, as he tucked my hand into the crook of his arm.

  “Aren’t they enemies?”

  “Sometimes the enemy of your enemy is your friend.”

  “Who is the common enemy? The Sanhedrin?”

  “Could be. Could be you.”

  My heart began to pound in my chest. Maybe I shouldn’t have trusted Seamus. He was a pirate after all. He was motivated by money. I didn’t think he would risk betraying my mother. Then again, I was glad he was with me. He had lived for a very long time which meant he was a survivor. I sighed as I calmed my inner fire.

  “Wynonna Riggs, your heart sounds delicious,” he commented, showing me his fangs.

  “That’s creepy. Stop,” I said with a nervous laugh.

  “It is the truth, but I’d like to keep my fangs. You have nothing to fear from me,” he said.

  “You are afraid of my mother?”

  “Your mother, your uncle, your brothers, but most of all, you scare the shit out of me.”

  “I do not,” I said, calling his bluff.

  “Good evening, Mr. Daragh. Your box is ready,” a shirtless man said as we entered the venue. He walked up the velvet carpeted stairs, and we followed.

  “You hold a great power within you that you have yet to completely control. That is frightening considering you’ve claimed this city. A city which used to be mine. I happily relinquish it to you, but I warn you. There are far darker things in Steelshore than just fairy traffickers and zealots,” he said, sounding ominous.

  Mr. Pecs, as I decided to call him, opened a curtain for us, and we stepped out into Seamus’ personal box. Two red velvet lined chairs sat side by side with a golden champagne ice bucket and two crystal goblets.

  “Nice view,” I said.

  “Sit and have a drink with me before the show,” he said.

  I sat down as he popped the cork on the champagne. He poured my glass first, then one for himself.

  “Do you need anything else?” Mr. Pecs asked from behind us.

  “I am satisfied. Do you require anything to complete your pleasure?” Seamus asked me.

  “No, thank you,” I replied.