Rebels and Realms: A Limited Edition Urban Fantasy Collection

by Heather Marie Adkins

  Drake’s voice was devoid of all emotion, but his eyes were filled with sorrow. I reached my hand out to his front leg. “Then let’s get the avenging part finished.”

  Drake gave Ladon one more glance and we all charged toward Yelah and Zendar again. We would finish the job without any more losses.

  9

  Yelah had the advantage this time when we turned back toward her. Zendar had only empowered her by taking out Ladon, making Yelah an even more formidable opponent.

  Drake took the lead and I was happy to let him have it. His leg already seemed to be healing, but I could tell it still pained him to walk on it. Regardless, I was pleased to see the trail of blood dry up.

  I sat back, trying to figure out Yelah and Drake’s game plan. Zendar was now outnumbered, but he was still keeping his own. They flanked him, taking turns breathing fire at each other or swiping for low cuts. I couldn’t figure out where we were supposed to fit in, so I decided to just make it happen. No more waiting. This was ending now.

  “You guys remember that one time in practice when you threw me on the roof?”

  “Yeah,” Lucas said, uncertain of where I was going with this.

  “Let’s do that again, but this time I need you to throw me on top of a scary-ass dragon.”

  Both their faces paled, and they shook their heads. Oliver spoke up first. “No way. Yelah said she’d tell you when to go in. Just wait for her.”

  “Look at them. They’re too evenly matched. We have to do something to push the odds in our favor. Unless you have another way, then sending me flying for the dragon seems like the only viable option.”

  They both groaned, and I knew I had them. They couldn’t deny this was the best way.

  “Fine, but if you turn into dragon food, I request the right to say I told you so at your funeral,” Oliver said, and I grinned.

  “I would welcome it.”

  We quickly got into formation and I sheathed my sword for the flight to prevent accidentally impaling myself on landing. That would be no good for anyone.

  “On the count of three,” Lucas said.

  I nodded and steadied myself. I knew exactly where I wanted to land, I just had to hope my boys still had good aim. They loved me enough to want to keep me alive. I hoped.

  On three, I went soaring. I got the attention of Yelah, and her eyes widened in shock as I grinned at her and waved. Quickly, bringing my attention back to the evil dragon I was currently being propelled toward, I braced myself for impact.

  Thankfully, he was as wide as a semi-truck, and I landed with a thud in the middle of his back on my hands and knees. Zendar flicked his head back and roared. I sat up on my knees and swiftly unsheathed my sword, smirking at him.

  “Good day to die?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. Why don’t you ask Ladon?” he countered, and I cringed. This asshole was going to die now.

  I charged up my sword, but before I had it fully immersed in my power, Zendar bucked wildly and shot blazing flames at me. I flattened to my stomach on his back, attempting to make myself as small as possible, but before I could pull my legs in, his fire grazed my ankles and feet. I wanted to scream out, because it burned like a mother, but I kept the hurt locked in, using it to push me forward. I army-crawled toward the base of his neck, where Yelah had already done some damage.

  I heard shouts from in front of Zendar. Lucas and Oliver were making a ruckus and throwing orbs in an attempt to get Zendar’s attention off me. It worked momentarily, but I knew it wouldn’t last long.

  I picked up the pace. By the time I reached where I wanted, my sword was completely charged and ready for action. I couldn’t stand on my feet, because they’d been burned by the flames worse than I thought. I pushed myself up on my knees, falling over several times as Zendar continued to evade the blows he was being dealt by my friends.

  Finally, I got steady enough on my knees to feel confident in my strength to deliver the deadly blow. Now I just had to hope Yelah was right and this sword really was special enough to kill the beast beneath me. If not, I was going to start saying my final words, because there was no way I was making it out of here any other way.

  “NOW!” Yelah roared.

  I sank the long blade as deep as it would go and held on tight. The hilt heated in my grip, but Zendar began to flail like a bucking bronco and I wasn’t letting go for fear of getting trampled on.

  My hands burned almost as badly as my feet and ankles did, but my grip remained locked down tight. Zendar continued to roar and buck while Oliver, Lucas, and Yelah continued to deliver hit after hit. Just as I began to think Yelah was wrong and all my sword had done was piss this dude off, Zendar stilled.

  “Jordan, jump off!” Lucas screamed at me, but I couldn’t move.

  My hands were glued to the sword. I pulled with all my might, but they wouldn’t budge. Zendar’s body began to shake uncontrollably and my eyes widened in fear. What the hell was happening and why couldn’t I let go?

  I soon realized my body was being siphoned of magic. The sword was continuing to pull from my well of power in the process of destroying Zendar. I cried out in pain when it became too much. I could hear Lucas and Oliver frantically yelling for me, but there was nothing I could do except hope I survived.

  My body slumped against the sword and I gave up trying to fight the pain. I let it consume me, and my energy was zapped rapidly.

  Then suddenly, everything stopped.

  Zendar stopped shaking. My hold was released from the sword. Our surroundings were eerily quiet. But before I could do anything or celebrate, my world exploded. Literally.

  I was once again flying through the air, surrounded in blood, scales, and guts. Disgusting. I had nothing left in me to brace for impact. I didn’t even have time to think of any smart-ass last words. The speed in which I was traveling didn’t fare well for me at all.

  I closed my eyes, picturing my family and remembering Drake’s earlier words. I was going out like a warrior. It brought a smile to my face just as I slammed into something soft.

  I opened my eyes and screamed a few obscenities. I was floating in the sky, stuck and unable to move.

  Yelah and the others approached as I slowly lowered to the ground. My feet winced as I touched down, and I bit back a few other choice words.

  Lucas and Oliver ran to me as soon as I reached the ground. They each hugged me gently and I knew I probably appeared just as horrid as I felt.

  “What can we do for you?” Lucas asked, and I appreciated him not asking if I was okay. Obviously, I was far from it and I might have smacked him if he had.

  “I can’t walk. Bastard singed my feet. Now, treat me like the princess you always call me and carry me.”

  “There’s our girl.” Oliver smirked. “She’s going to be alright.”

  Yelah nudged me with her oversized snout and I reached up to place my hand on her head. Her eyes said everything I needed to know. I nodded my understanding, not needing words to feel her appreciation of our help here today.

  “How did I stop from shattering my entire body against one of those trees?” I asked Yelah.

  “I used a shield. Normally, they’re used for catching trespassers. It’s meant to keep someone trapped until the creator of the shield releases them. I hadn’t been sure it would work, but I’m thankful it did.”

  So, I was alive due to pure luck. I had a few things to say about that, but before I could, Lucas carried me over to Drake, who stood next to Ladon’s lifeless body. My concerns for how I was saved weren’t more important than the respect Ladon deserved from us. We had a moment of silence for him until Yelah spoke several minutes later.

  “There is much to do, and Jordan needs to see a healer. Drake, will you stay here with Ladon until I can bring others back to help?” Drake nodded. “Lucas and Oliver, you’ll need to hold Jordan on my back, so I can take you to the nearest healer.”

  I saw the uncertainty in Lucas’s face before he spoke. “Do you mind taking us to a
gateway instead? We have a very capable healer in Arvata, and we’d really like to get back home.”

  “Very well, but please promise to return when you’re all up for it. We’d like to thank you properly for your assistance here today.”

  Lucas agreed, and they started getting me situated on Yelah. I was glad Lucas had spoken up. I was ready for my bed and, when my feet healed, a day at the spa. I could feel dragon bits in places they most certainly didn’t belong.

  There wasn’t a lot of space for Yelah’s wings to fully expand, so once we were comfortable on her back, Yelah moved for the gate. As soon as she made it through, she stopped short, and I lifted my head in an attempt to see what caused her to pause.

  “There are dragons. Everywhere,” Lucas whispered.

  Seriously? Could this day get any worse?

  “Wait. They’re bowing. One by one, they’re all kneeling for their Queen. It’s okay.”

  Oh, thank frick. I couldn’t handle any more evil dragons today. I settled back into my best friends and closed my eyes. I was done thinking or doing for the time being. I needed sleep, stat.

  With the knowledge that my two best friends were watching my back, I drifted off to sleep, more thankful than ever before to be headed home.

  10

  “Now, move your toes,” Lorelle demanded.

  She was a great healer, but her bedside manner needed some work. It wasn’t like I had called her every name I could think of while I went through hell the past two weeks.

  My feet had almost been melted off. If I hadn’t had on my tough-as-nails boots when Zendar burned me, Lorelle was certain I’d have lost them both. I cringed at that thought every time it crossed my mind, which was often.

  I wiggled my toes for her. This was my last visit. After several reconstructions on Lorelle’s part, my feet and ankles were finally working as one again. The only positive thing about all this was that Lucas and Oliver had been my slaves and I hadn’t had to get out of bed unless I wanted to, which wasn’t often.

  “So, she’s all healed?” Oliver asked anxiously.

  Lorelle nodded. “She’ll have some residual numbness, but that will go away in time. Other than that, I don’t need to see her anytime soon, unless she decides to tangle with dragons again.”

  I rolled my eyes. I’d like to see her go against the dragons and come out unscathed.

  “Thank the Fates.” Oliver turned to me. “I’m out of here. Don’t ask me for anything for a solid month.”

  “Quit being a baby. I wasn’t that bad.” He glared at me. “Okay, maybe I was, but I totally saved the day. I deserved it.”

  “Whatever you say, Princess.”

  Before I could respond, Oliver ported from the room. I glanced over at Lorelle as I slid off the medical table. “Thank you for all your work. I wouldn’t have trusted anyone else.”

  “You’re lucky I didn’t give you a sixth toe.” Lorelle appeared serious, and I stared at her with my mouth hanging open until she smirked. “You actually handled that better than most men. I’m used to being yelled at when I’m breaking bones and moving things back where they belong.”

  I leaned in and hugged her hard. “I’ll try not to find myself in here again, and I’ll make sure to mention to the men they need to toughen up.”

  Lorelle laughed, long and hard. “Let me know how they take that.”

  I nodded. “I’ll see you around. Thanks, again!”

  For the first time in way too long, I walked out of the room on my own. As easy as it would be to port home, I wanted to test my feet and make sure they really were all healed up.

  Lorelle lived about a mile from home, which was just the right amount of travel time to test my newly-healed feet.

  I pushed up until I balanced on the balls of my feet and stretched out my ankles. Things were still tight in there, but there was no pain for once. After a few stretches, I began my walk. I made it to the heart of Arvata where most of the businesses were, but I went around the long way. I knew people would want to stop and talk, and I wasn’t up for that just yet.

  I’d had nightmares almost every night about the fight with the dragons. It was too close of a call for me to just play things off as no big deal like I normally did. Yelah had asked us to come back, but I wasn’t sure when I’d be ready for that.

  Before I knew it, I was walking up the yard to the house. I kicked off my shoes and the grass felt amazing beneath my feet. I laid down in the lawn and stretched some more. Nothing was painful, but it was certainly sore. I was going to have my work cut out for me trying to get back in shape from two weeks off.

  When I was done with my stretches, I ported up to my room. I landed on my bed with huff and decided a nap after my walk was a good idea, but a niggling sensation in the back of my head told me to check my book first. I hadn’t checked it since we got back. My gut instinct was telling me my vacation was about to be over.

  I flipped through the pages to find the newest entry dated today. The Fates wasted no time once I got the all-clear from Lorelle.

  The Atwaters have been attacked again. They are worried about Kaliah and have requested a protector for her. Their magic was revealed to her and we had to remove some of her memory. This is not something we want to happen again due to the lasting effects it could have.

  This is the second attack on Brooks and Dalila since they went to Earth with Kaliah. We need your help to make sure there isn’t a third one.

  You will be sent to Earth and appear as the same age as Kaliah, growing as she does. You will become her closest friend, and without her knowledge, her protector.

  You are expected there by the week’s end. Prepare what you need to and expect to be gone until Kaliah’s twentieth birthday.

  I had zero words. How? Why? I didn’t understand. I needed Lucas and Oliver. I was going to be gone for eight years. Even though we aged way slower than any human once we turned twenty, I had no desire to be gone from my best friends and my life here for that long.

  I’d do it, but it didn’t mean I had to be happy about it. Hopefully, Brooks and Dalila had raised a kid I could actually get along with.

  I ported to Oliver’s house, hoping Lucas would be there, too. He almost always was, and as I walked in the door, I was thankful today was no different.

  “What’s wrong?” Lucas asked as he took in the expression on my face.

  I explained to them what my book had said and what I had to do. They both remained quiet until I was done, which made me nervous. I needed them to be upset about this.

  “The situation certainly isn’t ideal, but Brooks and Dalila have done a lot for all of us,” Lucas said. “I knew they were having some issues, but I didn’t realize it had gotten this severe. I’d go in your place if I could, but I think you’re going to enjoy it. Look on the bright side, you can go shopping whenever you want on Earth.”

  A smile appeared on my face and I hugged Lucas first, then Oliver. “I’m going to miss you guys.”

  “It’s going to be boring without you, but we’ll come visit when we can,” Oliver said, making me feel better.

  Ready or not, I was headed to Earth. Kaliah better be ready for her world to be turned upside down. I wasn’t going to go easy on her. I could prepare her for this world without actually telling her about it, and that’s exactly what I planned to do.

  * * *

  The End

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  About the Author

  Heather Renee is a bestselling and award-winning fantasy and paranormal author who lives in Oregon. She writes fast-paced novels with a mixture of adventure, humor and romance. Her love of reading eventually led to her passion of writing and giving the g
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  When Heather’s not writing, she is spending time with her loving husband and beautiful daughter, going on their own adventures. For more ways to connect with her, visit www.HeatherReneeAuthor.com

  Vampire Secret

  A Rebel Angels Novella

  Rosemary A Johns

  VAMPIRE SECRET: A REBEL ANGELS NOVELLA © 2018 RosemaryAJohns

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  Vampire Secret

  Angels and witches battle an eternal war to hunt the rebels.

  A rebel angel, Zachriel, flees Angel World.

  Hunted by angels and adopted by the witch family of the House of Rose, Wolf, and Fox, he battles to fight his addiction to the human world.