“Braxton,” she panted. Her lips completely frozen and blue.
Braxton looked over his shoulder, and she saw his eyes catch on the vampire. He knew it was coming for them, and he had to wake Elizabeth up. He had to bring her back into the moment and to the now, to get the cold away from her and make sure she could say her incantations and send out her energy.
“I love you, Elizabeth,” he whispered in her ear, and then he kissed her hot and heavy on the mouth and breathed fire into her, being as careful as he could not to burn her from the inside out.
The fire was so intense, but she had been prepared for it. She smiled and coughed as their lips parted.
She was full of dragon fire now, and she was back in the room. She looked around and saw the gaping hole in the floor and the sinister creature creeping out of it with its long, blood-soaked nails scratching along the ground, and she raised her own hands above her head and felt her energy power out through her feet, so she was grounded and ready to work.
“For the good of all,” she said. “I banish thee.”
She held her hands in front of her, fire in her palms helping her energy shoot across the room as she screamed and focused. Everything inside her was fighting to break free, and from behind, Braxton braced her, holding the top of her arms and keeping a constant supply of energy flowing through her.
The vampire recoiled but it didn’t stop him. He was knocked back a few paces, but then, he leaped back up and began to drag himself across the icy floor again.
“I BANISH THEE!” she screamed. “SEAL THE GATEWAY. DESTROY THE BRIDGE TO THIS WORD!”
The vampire fell to the floor, and some of the ice in the room disintegrated and flowing into the hole.
All around her and all inside her, a storm was raging. Elizabeth was the ice storm. She was drawing it into her and expelling it with fire.
She had always been a powerful witch, but now that she was at the peak of her magic and had the dragon beside and within her, she was a force to be reckoned with.
She screamed her spell repeatedly, her throat becoming raw as more shards of ice fell and broke around them. The vampire slipped backward and was sucked into the hole. Everything in sight was spinning, and it followed him down into the dark pit of nothingness.
Nothing was glowing blue anymore, but everything was still white, and all Elizabeth could see was a snowstorm. In her mind, she imagined herself back in Braxton’s bedroom, looking out across the front of the mansion, and then of them running through the grounds with the rest of the dragons, building snowmen and making a magical life for themselves up there in the wilderness.
She thought of her mother, alone in the cottage in the forest, she thought of all the times she had played in the snow as a child, and of how she was determined she wouldn’t let this evil ruin it. Bridge Hollow was her home, and all the people she loved and cared for were here. And now, it was her moment to save it.
She raised her hands again and screamed at the top of her lungs as the fire sprang from her palms and turned to flames so hot and powerful, they were electric blue. The hole and all the ice around it seemed to fold in on itself, and just before Elizabeth collapsed with exhaustion, she saw it disappear and her whole world went dark.
“Elizabeth…” His voice reached her from far away, and she smiled and nodded.
She could feel the warmth of his hands, warming her soul and keeping her calm. And she leaned against him, letting him carry her wherever he wanted to go.
“You did it, babe,” he said. “You sealed the veil.”
“I did?” she whispered.
“Yes, and you reversed all the bad the vampire had done…,” he continued. “We got word from the forests that the animals have come back, the land is no longer dead… The two hunters that were missing have been found… And the people who were killed at the bar, they are all alive; very confused and achy, but they are alive and well.”
“My god,” she said, clinging to him.
She felt as if she were on the edge of a dream, as if she were just about to wake up, but sleep was still clinging to her, and she was confused about where she was and what was happening.
“I saved them?” she asked.
“You saved them,” Braxton confirmed.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling weightless against him. Her whole body was sore, and she could barely keep her eyes open, but she was safe with him. She would go wherever he wanted to take her, and she knew he would look after her.
Her body was depleted and broken, but she would stay with her dragon mate, and he would help revive her.
Since she had come to town to live, she had discovered so much about herself and her power. And now that she had done something worthwhile. Her fate had led her to her ultimate challenge, and she had saved Bridge Hollow with the man of her dreams. The gateway was sealed. The evil was gone. They had won.
Now, it was time for her, and everyone else in town, to truly live.
They had been given a second chance at life and love… And they were going to make every single moment count.
20.
Town was bustling and thriving, and the last day of the fair was well underway.
After the tragedy at the bar, no one had left their homes after dusk, but since Elizabeth had changed everything, sealed the gateway, and brought people back to life, they certainly had a reason to celebrate this last and final night.
It was still crazy to her to think of how the past few days had unfolded. The Paranormal Fair was about to close down for another year, and all the people who had come to visit would have no memory of what they had witnessed while they had been there. They had come looking for something supernatural, and they sure as fuck had found it. But that was something they were never going to be able to recall.
The same day Elizabeth sealed the gateway, she erased everyone’s memories using the same spell her mother had used on her to make her forget Braxton. Luckily, being a powerful witch and now, part dragon, she was immune to similar spells now.
But the people who had come to celebrate the fair, and the townsfolk alike, none of them would have to remember the horror. Only Elizabeth, her mother and the rest of the shifters would know what had truly happened that day, and they would take it to their graves.
Elizabeth looked at the grand tent on the edge of the forest. It was decorated in thousands of fairy lights and looked like a winter wonderland dream. She stood there in her long, black ballgown, slim and elegant, with a split right up to the top of her thigh and her green eyes shining out in the dark. When she breathed, the heat from within her sent steam rising into the air and she laughed a little. She still got a kick out of.
She heard footsteps crunching through the snow and turned to see Braxton coming toward her in his tuxedo, looking so incredible she could actually pounce on him right then and there.
“Wow,” she breathed. “You’re like James Bond.”
Braxton wriggled his eyebrows, and she laughed. She loved his sense of humor the most, going forward she could see how it would always keep them playful. She could imagine there would never be a dull moment.
“Are you ready to walk in there?” he asked her.
Elizabeth sucked in a lungful of air. She knew she would never be fully ready, but at the same time, she had fought hard for this life, and now, she was determined to explore it in all the ways she could.
From inside, a brass band played, and the chatter of guests was drifting out into the night. The whole of Bridge Hollow had come to celebrate the last night of the festival, and they had so much more to celebrate too… The ending to the danger that had plagued them for centuries. Now, it was put to bed, and they could relax and start living again.
Shifters, humans, and witches, all together in perfect harmony.
What a place to call home.
“Come on,” she said as she slid her arm through his, and they began to walk through the snow. She hitched up her dress, and as they made it to the entrance, she sm
iled at the sight of many familiar faces.
Braxton had introduced her to all the shifters and their girlfriends, and for the first time in her life, Elizabeth had a gang of girls to hang around with. She had never had a friendship circle, so to be part of something so fun and exciting, and share it with her dragon boyfriend, made it even more special.
She waved as she saw Dean and Amanda, Ryder and Pamela, and Anson and Krystal, all of them part of the bear pack. Then, she saw some of the wolves and smiled and waved to them. Dash and Jannie were waiting by the bar, sipping glasses of champagne and chatting with other members of their wolf clan.
Other faces from town were there too… Some of the old-timers who hung around the bars and taverns, shop keepers, and Krystal’s Aunt Beau, who had finally gotten her store back once the gateway had been sealed. They could now work at clearing everything up and get trading again. Children hopped and skipped between the tables and ran toward the dancefloor, the lights flashed in icy blue and white.
“What does that look like?” Elizabeth teased as she nodded her head toward them, the memory of the gateway still fresh in their minds.
Braxton looked at the dancefloor and lights and shuddered. “Thank god, it’s all over,” he said as he kissed the side of her head and led her to the bar.
The two hunters that had gone missing were standing there drinking pints of beer, and Braxton smiled and nodded at them, but they looked at him with a blank expression. They had no clue of who he or Elizabeth were. Their memories had been erased too. No one would ever know what happened to them during the year they were missing. But for them and their families, the nightmare was over and forever forgotten.
Elizabeth sipped champagne and nudged Braxton when she spotted her mother dancing with Bishop in the center of the room under the disco ball, and Braxton laughed and rolled his eyes.
“Can you imagine,” he teased.
“I think it’s great,” Elizabeth grinned. “A little dragon for each of us.”
She winked, and Braxton laughed.
He took her hand and pulled her to the dancefloor, and when the lights caught both their eyes, he could see the witch in her, and she could see the dragon in him. In that moment, they knew they were the luckiest creatures on the planet.
Their love had saved the world. Now, they had the opportunity to live their lives together, and keep their dynasty strong and powerful for all time.
A dragon and a witch leading the way was history in the making.
But, for one night, they would enjoy dancing under the full moon and stars with the rest of their wonderful little town.
They could breathe.
Bridge Hollow was finally safe…
THE END
Keep your eyes peeled for Samantha’s next series…the LONE REACH SHIFTERS are on their way…
In the meantime if you are looking for more romance…If you enjoyed this tale and have already read Samantha’s LOST CREEK COLLECTION, then check out this complete Box Set from Cynthia Wilde, also on Amazon…
Preview of Burning Falls Shifters
Her Keeper Bear
Book 1
Cynthia Wilde
Copyright ©2019 by Cynthia Wilde. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic of mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Chapter One
The image in her rear-view mirror reflected the jagged New York skyline fading into the distance. The dim, gray color of the sky mirrored Cindy’s mood, drizzling large spattering rain drops onto her windshield.
“Good riddance, New York,” she muttered as she sped down the two-lane highway. Her time in the city had done her no favors outside of her professional life. More specifically, Reginald Anderson, though he preferred Reggie.
Cindy had fallen for his smooth demeanor, and the fact that he was a co-worker did not deter her from a series of toe-curling dalliances after hours. The affair ended badly. As it turned out, smooth-talking Reggie was having a clandestine romance with another colleague as well.
She found out about his “dalliance” one night when she had to return to work unexpectedly to retrieve a file she needed to go over before a morning meeting. When she got to the office, she spotted his light on down the hall and opted for a surprise pop-in.
“Hi, Reggie,” Cindy had purred as she opened his door. She found him between the thighs of his personal assistant, her bare backside perched on the shelf of his bookcase which was rattling against the wall as his hips thrust into her with great gusto.
He had not even tried to pretend an apology. “We never said we were exclusive,” he called out between gritted teeth, not even pausing his machinations. Cindy absorbed the scene in silence, watching them for a few seconds before she spoke.
“That’s okay,” she demurred. “I wanted to let you know I’d like to submit my resignation, effective at once. Goodbye Reg.”
In three days’ time, she managed to pare down her belongings enough to fit the remainder into the back of her Prius. What she could not cram into her car, she had dropped, without ceremony, to the nearest thrift store. She could not stop herself from chuckling as she drove past the sign indicating the edge of the small town she had once called home.
‘The City of Burning Falls Welcomes You!’ followed by a small clip art picture of a flame beneath a waterfall. The waterfall itself was far more poetic than the sign would show and the only thing which held any sentimental memories for her from her hometown.
“You are always welcome,” her grandmother said. “For as long as you like.”
“You might be right, Nan,” she had replied. “New York is wonderful, but the city is so fast paced. I think I need a break.”
“What aren’t you telling me?” Nan replied with a wry tone.
“Why do you ask?” Cindy said, trying to evade the second sense her grandmother always had about her.
“It’s that boy, isn’t it?”
“Well, Reggie’s thirty-five, so I wouldn’t call him a boy.”
“I knew he was trouble, being so much older than you. It was not a good match.”
“Only ten years, Nan. That’s not that much older than me. And besides, I wasn’t looking for a match. Maybe just a flame.”
“I’d like you to come,” her grandmother said. “I’m not as young as I used to be, you know.”
“Oh, Nan. You’re only as young as you feel, as you always point out.”
“That’s the problem. I don’t feel as young as I once did. I’m getting tired more often, these days. It might be nice to have someone else here for a little while. Just in case.”
“Okay, fine. If only for a little while.”
Cindy and Nan had always had a unique relationship, much to the chagrin of Cindy’s parents. Nan had encouraged Cindy’s creative endeavors, always asking to see her latest designs, even when she was a child. After high school, she had skipped town as quick as she could blink, taking a job as an intern in New York, which led to a full-time position in the fashion industry. Cindy felt that much of her success came because of Nan’s encouragement.
A few minutes after passing the welcome sign, houses began to appear at the edge of the two-lane road. Farm houses placed back from the road with large, sweeping yards, gravel drives, and cute little flower gardens adorning the porches.
“Ah, home,” Cindy said, not without some irony in her tone. “New York, this is not,” she murmured. Soon, she arrived at Nan’s house. The nearest neighbor being about a quarter of a mile away, still visible, but from a distance. Cindy smiled as she pulled into the driveway.
Her grandmother’s house had always had a certain element of character, compared to the other homes. Besides the lavender hydrangeas planted around the base of the raised porch, she also kept a collection of wind chimes, birdhouses, and painted gourds all over the porch. The house r
eflected her grandmother’s eclectic personality.
Cindy exited the car, hearing the light tinkling sounds as the breeze drifted through the décor, the sounds of childhood. She had not even made it to the front step before the door flung open.
“There you are!” Nan stepped out with arms wide, rushed into the yard and scooped her up into a huge bear hug. “I thought you’d never get here!”
“Hi, Nan,” Cindy said.
Nan shuffled her inside before grabbing her suitcase, carrying it as if it were light as a feather, her long flowered skirt swishing around her sandals. Cindy could not keep from smiling as the woman dragged them both into the house.
“Come in, come in! I’ve got soup in the crock pot waiting for you. It won’t be ready for another hour though. I’ve got tea. Would you like tea? I can put on the kettle in no time at all.” She fluttered around the house, picking and adjusting the already pristine home.
“Tea would be nice.” Cindy took a seat at the kitchen table, a relic from a bygone era, made of lime green Formica. The room filled with cheery welcoming scents of the rich chicken broth bubbling in the corner. Within moments, the tea kettle hummed on the stove. Nan poured two cups of hot water over the spiced tea satchels.
“Cream, sugar?” she asked, peering over her shoulder.
“Oh, both please,” Cindy replied.
“Ah, it is a ‘both’ sort of day. Isn’t it?” Nan turned and sat down across from her, placing the steaming mug before the young woman. “So, tell me about New York. Is it as glamorous as everyone says?”
Cindy sipped her tea, relishing in the cinnamon and comforting sweetness of the flavors. “Ugh, I’ve had enough of glamour,” she said. “Though I think you should visit the city sometime. You would love it there. It’s a wonderful place to visit.”
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