by Kimber White
My heart raced. The baby finished nursing and I lifted her off my wife’s chest. Lucia was right. She did look exactly like Ash. I cherished the solid weight of her as she flailed her fists and hiccupped. She struggled to open her eyes once more. When she did, for one instant, she trained them on me.
One blue. One amber.
Wolf and tiger.
Her power was new, untested, but also undeniable. I could sense her magic grow. In the years to come she would need my strength to help her find her own. But, as I nuzzled my daughter against my cheek, I could feel her essence and I knew her grandmother was right.
My beautiful, new, amazing daughter would be the most remarkable shifter to walk the earth.
“Enjoy her,” Lucia said, hugging Ash. “And don’t worry. She’ll be incredible. She already is.”
Ash kissed Lucia. “Thank you so much, Mom.”
“You three need some time alone. Enjoy it. Sleep when she sleeps. Oh...and do you have a name picked out? I’ve got a crowd out there waiting on it.”
I locked eyes with Ash. She gave me a smile and I knew she’d finally decided.
I held the baby up so Lucia could see her face. “Meet Daniella Brandhart.”
“Daniella,” Lucia repeated, her love making her eyes flash silver. “It’s perfect.” With that, she blew the baby a kiss and headed out to tell the others.
I brought Daniella back to Ash’s breast. “I can’t believe it,” she said. “It’s just so…”
“I know,” I said. My heart swelled with joy, pride, the deepest love. I’d been broken before and didn’t know it. Now, with Ash and Daniella in my life and heart, I knew all things were possible.
“I love you,” Ash said. She leaned up and kissed me. Daniella squirmed, rooting at Ash’s breast again.
“Hey, little tiger girl,” Ash whispered. “My little she-wolf too. I can’t wait to see all that you can do.”
Daniella cooed and ahhed in answer. Then, she snuggled against Ash, warm and safe. We would make a life for her in Blackfoot. Though Ash’s crew was still wary of me and they would never know exactly what I was, they knew Ash and I belonged together. And my magic had helped bring the Little Sister mine to even greater prosperity. Now, as Daniella grew, she would need Clint and Lucia’s guidance as well as my own. Part tiger, part wolf, part dragon. I couldn’t wait to see all that she could do either.
“You’re sure you’re okay with moving back to Blackfoot?” Ash asked, reading my mind.
“Baby, home is wherever you and Daniella are. Plus, when I’m needed here or in Chicago or anywhere else in the world, I can be there at a moment’s notice. Perks of having wings.”
“Mmmm,” she said. “I miss flying with you.” We’d been cautious over the last few weeks as Ash’s time drew near.
“I hope you miss a few other things too,” I said, practically purring against her ear.
“I love you,” Ash whispered. Her eyes glistened with tears. “You’ve given me everything. You’ve given me the world.”
A chorus of cheers reached us from up above. Lucia had likely just filled my brothers and their wives in on the news. Soon, the rest of the Yeagers would head up the mountain to meet our little girl. Our family. We were big, bold, proud, occasionally dysfunctional, but we would all protect Daniella and help her make her way.
“I should go get them,” I said.
“Mmm.” Ash’s eyelids grew heavy. She was exhausted. “Soon,” she said. “Right now, I just want to enjoy this with you. It’s better than any wish or dream I’ve ever had. I love you so much, Loch. I can’t believe how far we’ve come already.”
I smiled and kissed my wife. “My love, we’ve only just begun.”
Daniella yawned and let out a tiny roar. Then, she settled back against Ash and purred as she fell asleep.
Epilogue
Avelina
Three months later…
I hadn’t been to this particular spot in almost seven hundred years. I wondered whether I would even be able to find it again. But then, I felt that faint, ancient pull of magic and knew I could never forget.
It was here, at the apex of the mountain overlooking Knoydart, the very mouth of the volcano where I had laid my husband to rest. I had come alone then as I did today. Over the years, my sons had asked me where their father was buried. Many times I almost told them, but something always held me back. It may be selfish of me, I know. But this place belongs only to us. Magnus and me. This pain is mine alone.
I would bear the guilt and shame of what I almost did to Clint Yeager for the rest of my life. Grief had blinded me, but love washed away my sins. Christoph Jeger was long gone. Just like Magnus, only I knew his final resting place. His sons and grandsons no longer hunted me. It was time to say goodbye to that final link to our bloody past.
When I reached the spot, I knelt and let my fingers seep deep into the ground. Soft earth, black as coal. Tiny fissures opened up, pouring white-hot magma over me, though it didn’t burn. It would never burn me. I was part of this earth now just as much as Magnus once was.
“I’m here, my love,” I whispered in the ancient tongue. “Always.”
I wished I could bring my husband only joy today. There was much of it. Though the lava didn’t burn, the single scrap of paper I carried in the pocket of my cloak singed my soul.
“Your sons are doing well,” I said, wishing so deeply it were true for all of them. I was here to tell Magnus the good as well as the bad.
I reached beneath my cape and pulled out the gold necklace I wore. It was a such a simple thing. Ash had made it for me; the chain came from the gold of her family mines. Four small, round pendants hung from it. Within each, a small birthstone for each of my granddaughters.
“Cassia holds Xander’s fire within her,” I said to Magnus’s ghost, holding up the garnet. “Red hair and a mischievous smile. She’ll be strong someday, though people will try to use her power against her. I’ll help her fight. She’ll never be alone.”
Next, I fingered the opal meant for Amelia. “Gideon’s daughter is a wild thing. Her wolf will get her into trouble. She’ll wander far, but she’ll never forget her way home.”
“Finn has married a witch, my love. I know. I didn’t see that one coming either. But, Gemma is special. And their daughter? Phaedra? Oh, my. The magic in that one is unmatched.” Phaedra’s ruby red stone glinted in the sunlight.
I kissed the final stone. A diamond for Daniella. Its colors changed as the light did, just like Daniella herself. Part tiger. Part wolf. “She’s something special too,” I said. “She’s the end and the beginning of us, Magnus. Loch has chosen well. Better than I could have. If it had been up to me...well...I know you understand now. They’ve helped me let that part of you go.”
Except, I still kept the best part. Five sons. Now, four granddaughters. I wanted to hope. I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. There was still one more thing to share.
“Tell me what to do, Magnus,” I said. I took the crumpled piece of paper out of my pocket. There were just four words written on it. Each one sliced through my heart.
When I heard the news, I hadn’t wanted to believe. It happened near a small town so far away. A wildfire. The worst in a century. I still didn’t know if there had been any casualties. Not for sure. But, in the deepest part of my heart, I knew the truth. There had to be. The fire had started in the middle of the night. It burned so hot, nothing could stop it. There was only one thing that could do that kind of damage that quickly.
Dragonfire.
Slowly, I got to my feet. In the distance, I heard my sons begin to arrive. They would join me in the meeting place I always chose. The spot where they were born on the other side of the mountain.
Each of my sons heeded my call. Xander. Gideon. Finn. Loch. In turn, their dragons screeched, heralding their arrival. One by one. All except for Kian. My heart broke as that final truth became clear. Kian was too far gone. He could no longer hear me.
My tears came as I looked at that tiny
scrap of paper one last time and let the words and their truth sink in. It was a message, delivered by one of the oldest keepers of our secret. Simple words. A thundering truth.
It’s time. He’s lost.
I let the paper flutter to the ground. It ignited on impact, burning quickly to a cinder.
It’s time. He’s lost. I listened one more time, but Kian never came. My last son was too far gone to reach. Though the others were spared, it was too late for Kian. I let out a hard breath. I said goodbye to Magnus. I headed down the mountain to meet my four sons. It might break us all, but they would know what needed to be done.
To Be Continued in Kian’s Story...Freed by Fire
Up Next from Kimber White
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A dragon shifter out of control. A woman with an explosive secret that could change the world. Don’t miss Kian’s story. The final, smoldering hot installment of the Dragonkeepers Series. Click here: Freed by Fire
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About the Author
Kimber White writes steamy paranormal romance with smoldering, alpha male shifters and kickass heroines (doormats need not apply). She lives on a lake in the Irish Hills of Michigan with one neurotic dog, her sweet, handsome son, her fire-breathing warrior-princess of a daughter, and the most supportive husband any writer could hope to have (seriously, he just took said son, daughter, and dog out for a boat ride so she could finish this book in peace!).
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Books by Kimber White
Dragonkeepers Series Page
Kissed by Fire
Tempted by Fire
Marked by Fire
Claimed by Fire
Freed by Fire
Mammoth Forest Wolves Series Page
Liam
Mac
Gunnar
Payne
Jagger
Wild Ridge Bears Series Page
Lord of the Bears
Outlaw of the Bears
Rebel of the Bears
Curse of the Bears
Last of the Bears
Wild Lake Wolves Series Page
Rogue Alpha
Dark Wolf
Primal Heat
Savage Moon
Hunter’s Heart
Wild Hearts
Stolen Mate
Claimed by the Pack Series Page
The Alpha’s Mark
Sweet Submission
Rising Heat
Pack Wars
Choosing an Alpha
The Complete Series Box Set