by A. K. Koonce
Claiming
Copyright 2018 A.K. Koonce
All Rights Reserved
Cover design by Killer Book Covers
Editing by Ms. Correct All’s Editing and Proofreading Services
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without express written permission from the author. Any unauthorized use of this material is prohibited.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Created with Vellum
Contents
1. Kreedence
2. Unimaginable Power
3. Minue
4. The Road to Everywhere
5. The Worst Fucking Suggestion
6. Two Friends
7. Show and Tell
8. Female Orgasm Connoisseurs
9. Dragon Rider
10. His Dragon
11. A Different Kind of Incident
12. The Frost Beneath the Surface
13. The Shift of Shame
14. The Fifth Floor
15. The Solstice Queen
16. Ice Myths
17. Come Crashing Down
18. A Past of Love
19. The Truth (For Once)
20. How do You Know
21. A Break
22. A Fragile Bond
23. The Painful Truth
24. The Mage and Her Dragon
25. Not Alone
Also by A.K. Koonce
About A.K. Koonce
One
Kreedence
I feel him long before I ever see him. He’s in the nerves that claw through my body, he’s in the rapid stumbling of my heart, he’s in every shaking breath I take.
But especially, he’s in the magic that snaps through my fingertips. With a burst of white light, the power rips from my palm. Through the quiet living room of Agatha’s small cottage, out the open door, and into the dark night my magic soars. It seeks out a target with intent.
The three dragon shifters in the middle of the room still hover over Sinister. The demon looks more dead than alive, but that doesn’t seem to deter the brooding shifters from pinning him to the floor. Silence stretches on as my fingers fist into the thin blanket covering me. The old floorboards beneath me were such a comfort when I slept, but sleep is the furthest thing in my mind now.
He’s here. I feel it.
The bright light twirls, quickening its pace as if it’s about to reach a finish line. Magic bursts on impact with a flash of crimson as it strikes its target. That color bleeds light on the man lurking at the forest’s edge.
Familiar red eyes eat up my features. The gentle breeze catches the tips of his inky hair. His head tilts with a smile slicing across his knowing lips. There’s an acquainted look in his sharp features. The man looks at me like he knows everything about me.
Like he made me.
In a way, he has
I’m not that helpless little girl any more. I’m done running from him. I’m not afraid of Kreedence.
Not anymore.
The moment I see him, I stand. But I guess I’ll never be as fast as a changing shifter.
The embers of light fade out softly and in an instant dark scales rip over Chaos’ arms. He’s barely out the door when wings burst from his back. He changes from the sweet man I’ve come to know into a storming, roaring beast.
The sound of the dragon’s aggression tears through the night. I feel the rumbling of his anger in the shaking floorboards beneath my feet, the dress against my calves, the strands of my hair. In this moment, rage is a living, breathing thing.
I know Chaos is an unpredictable creature. There are too many emotions tearing through that man. And I see that clearly as his claws rip up the dirt and anger fumes from his snout.
A molten glow of orange and yellow drips from his lips, leaving a trail in the dirt. It sparks my interest even as the pretty colors start to burn into the earth.
It’s … acid.
The light of it along the ground highlights the dragon’s every move. Strong muscles flex with each step, inky scales glisten, power coils through every inch of the beast.
Rime stands, keeping his gaze locked on his friend as he takes quiet steps back. It takes me a moment to realize he’s standing purposely in front of me, shielding me from the open door and whatever lurks beyond it. Kain remains kneeling on the floor. He keeps his big palm against Sinister’s shoulder, as if the demon might somehow harm us in his unconscious state.
And Chaos is alone out there. Suddenly I am afraid. Fear trickles in and I shove past Rime to run after the reckless dragon. Jarring steps slow my pace as I stumble against the deep claw marks etching the ground. Tingling magic burns my fingertips as I fire shots into the dark forest in the distance. Magic brightens the world in streaming streaks of pure white. It teases the shadows. It warms the night. It reveals the demon waiting with patience for the beast ahead of me.
Color spews from Chaos’ roaring mouth. Acid showers over the darkness. It lights up the surroundings like rain kissing the ground. It burns through nature itself. Leaves sizzle into nothingness. Tree bark cuts away inch by inch before the trees topple over onto one another. Acid stings the air and I can do nothing but breathe it in.
It’s everywhere.
And yet, it missed its target.
White smoke wafts up. It burns a transparent memory of where Kreedence was just standing. My fingers tense against my palms with waiting magic as I stare wide eyed at the eerie emptiness of the night.
Warm breath and taunting words crawl down my spine.
“You didn’t think you’d be rid of me so easily, did you?”
Two
Unimaginable Power
“I hate you, Arlow. I hate you more than you’ll ever know.” His accent attacks his words in a quick lashing of rushed syllables. His fingers grip my jaw, and for the first time in five years, I’m face to face with the man I’ve tried so hard to run from. The magic he himself taught me to use races through my hands. Heat sears my palm and I press that painful magic against his smooth black suit. It seeps into the soft material and burns along his pale skin, but he doesn’t even flinch.
A tormenting smile tilts his thin lips and he looks down at me with demented affection.
“I did miss your resentful mouth though, beautiful.” Forceful and demanding lips slam against mine. Vomit meets my tongue as he holds me painfully in place. More power than I’ve ever felt tears through me and my fingers start to sink into his flesh. Hard bone matter slips against my fingertips. And still he just breathes me in with a kiss filled with his passion and my revulsion.
When he pulls back, my teeth are biting out words in an instant.
“You fucking—” Agony claws at my throat as my voice rips away into silence with a simple wave of his hand.
He’s a man of unimaginable power. I’ve met demons before. Sinister is a demon. But he’s nothing like Kreedence. There’s a dark energy in this man that’s a well of strength like I’ve never seen. He taught me how to use my own magic, but it’ll never be anything like his.
“You always did talk too much, Arlow.” That fucking smile is still right there in place. “I thought for sure you’d have traveled farther by now.” He shakes his head at me slowly. “Perhaps I’ll have to lead you where I need you. I need you willing and I need you ready. You’re not ready yet, beautiful. You always did have to be taught the hard way.”
Anger slas
hes through my body at his insinuating words. Memories rise within my mind, but they don’t have time to really settle in. His lips crush mine once more, and all I can do is lash out with sharp teeth and anger. Blood meets my tongue as my teeth sink into his lip.
His kiss feels just like it used to. Forced, quick, lacking affection. It’s more of a gesture than a romantic need.
It always was.
He shoves back from me, curses falling from his mouth as he glares into my eyes. A palm snaps against my cheek and the force of it has me stumbling away from him.
He turns from me, ending our brief moment of twisted affection. The black jacket over his black suit lets him nearly disappear against the night.
He doesn’t look back at me as he stalks toward the house. Kain takes a single step forward but with a wave of the demon’s hand, Kreedence halts the shifter in his tracks. Magic fires from my palm and it hits the demon hard between the shoulder blades. It distracts him just enough for Rime’s fist to collide against the demon’s jaw. Kreedence shakes the assault away, his hair shifting just slightly. Scales slink up Rime’s arms, but with another tedious turn of Kreedence’s wrist, the transformation ceases. Less than a dozen scales shine against Rime’s skin and he, too, is frozen in place. A look of rage strains the shifter’s features but there’s absolutely nothing he can do about it.
My feet are storming after the demon and he smirks back at me before disappearing into Agatha’s cottage. My steps thunder against the boards. Books fall to the ground as I push past them. A harsh breath forces from my lungs just as I turn the corner into Agatha’s bedroom, and a familiar aching feeling consumes my chest as my stomach drops.
Because the room is empty.
Three
Minue
“He fucking took Bobble too.” I don’t know why my voice sounds so pathetically shocked. Surprise, surprise, my demon of an ex-boyfriend took not only my best friend to get back at me but also that damn anxiety ridden fish.
“What the hell is a Bobble?” Kain looks to me, his red brows pulling low over his eyes.
“It was her goldfish,” Chaos tells him as he picks up an old newspaper and holds it over his hips with more dignity than I’ve ever seen from him. Perfect posture, broad shoulders, slim hips, and a little dash of dignity.
Finally.
“He was an endangered Tumid fish. Don’t insult him, Chaos.” A heavy breath forces from my lungs. I turn away from Agatha’s empty room and gaze around at the fallen books that litter the floor.
I’ve messed everything up. Again. I saved up that magic just for a moment like tonight and it didn’t even matter.
What if Kreedence is so powerful he torments me for the rest of my life? I swallow that thought down. That’s not going to happen. My jaw clenches and I flick my fingers toward Chaos with a snap of angry magic. Dark jeans and a white tee shirt meld against his body. He glances down at the new clothes before releasing the crumpled black and white pages. They fall to the ground with the rest of the mess.
It feels good to do that one thing right. Even if it was a pathetic little trick of magic.
I’ll find Agatha. I can do this. He won’t hurt her. He won’t.
Another weak breath shakes over my lips, interrupting my mantra.
I can do this.
Hazy lines of early morning sunlight stream into Agatha’s kitchen. The soot staining the window attempts to block out the beautiful dawn but little glimpses of it still manage to sneak inside the dusty cottage.
I step over the papers, my feet slipping against the pages before I settle down at Sinister’s side. He’s young. A year younger than me but he’s never looked as innocent as he does right now. He’s wearing the same black jeans and boots he wore the last time I saw him. My fingertips lightly brush against the inky lines swirling up his arm. It’s a gentle touch like he might crumble to ash if I press too hard. I keep that gentleness as my fingers tense with a turn of my wrist. It’s just enough to magically drift a black shirt into place against his body.
His long dark lashes rest over his high cheekbones and I’m so fucking terrified to really touch him. If I touch him … I’ll know. I’ll know if he’s gone. I’ll know the moment my hand settles against his skin, and I just can’t bear the thought of him really being gone.
My fingers shake just slightly before settling against the smooth angle of his jaw. The wicked smile he always passed me isn’t there. The shining mischief in his gaze isn’t there.
But his heartbeat is. A steady rhythm beats against my fingertips and the weight in my chest lifts just a little. I think about all the dreams I’ve had of him. All the years that have passed but his memory never did.
“Sinister.” His name is little more than a trembling breath.
It’s all that he needs.
Bright shining eyes peer up at me. His quiet attention shifts over every part of me. His palm skims against my knuckles; the heat of his touch warms me.
I can’t believe he’s here.
I can’t believe he was here the whole time and I never realized the sweet hellhound was the sweet man I loved all those years ago.
Tension presses between us. It rises with each passing second that slips by into the silence.
And we let it build. Just like we always did. We let it build until it’s an energy that I feel pulsing through my veins and my heart.
“You’re sure we can trust this asshole?” Boards creek as Chaos shifts on his feet.
The tension breaks. Just like that. My hand pulls slowly away but I keep my attention focused on Sinister.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fucking perfect, Arrie.” That calm, knowing smile pulls at the corner of his lips.
It takes me a second to realize all my anxiety has shifted into adrenaline. All it takes is that instant of realization for the fear to drop back into place.
“Good.” I stand abruptly, and no one helps him as the demon slowly stands at my side. “Good.” I nod once more. “We have to find her.” I look up and I don’t know why, but it’s Kain that I look to.
“It’s fine. We’ll get Agatha back. We’ll get the tuna fish back too.” Kain lifts his palms to me in a calming way as if he can settle the fast pounding of my heart with a meager wave of his hand.
“Tu-mid. Tumid!” The word shrieks from my mouth and all four of them tense around me.
The pressure in my chest presses against my lungs until my breaths become those ridiculous shaking inhales again. The nerves within me are twisting into touchy aggression.
“I’m sorry.” I exhale the word slowly.
A big palm settles over my spine and glides up before skimming back down, rubbing slowly in a calming gesture that almost helps. Sinister’s crimson eyes meet mine as he dips his head to study my features, and his palm continues that slow rhythm against my back.
“You’re okay, Arrie.” The gentle sound of his reassurance hums through me and my heart hurts realizing I got one of my friends back just to lose another. I missed him. I missed him so much it hurts just thinking about how close he was as the hellhound I loved so much, and I never even knew it.
Without asking, he pulls me against him. His arms wrap around me in this embrace of pure comfort and I lean my head into his chest, letting him simply hold me for a moment like he used to. He’s good at this. He’s good at taking away all my anxious thoughts.
Seconds pass like that before anyone speaks again.
“Right, well, as much as I’d love to stand here and watch you paw all over her, finding Agatha and… Bobble is what really needs to be done. Right, Low?” My head tips up to find Chaos staring intently at the way Sinister is touching me.
He once told me that there was a sense of pride for him and Rime to share the same mate. To share me. Apparently, he only extends that invitation to those he cares about.
And trusts.
I’m not an idiot. I can see and understand that the shifters don’t trust Sinister.
Rime’s gaze trail
s over us and it’s his quiet attention that has me pulling away until I’m standing back from the demon. Rime has a mind that never stops but he’s not open enough to voice any of the thoughts he’s considering. His simple analyzing attention is enough. He says it all with one hard look.
Sinister’s fingers trail down the side of my arm before he fully lets go.
“Kreedence has a demon den to the east.”
“Along the coast?” Kain’s arms fold across his chest, almost brushing a towering stack of papers on Agatha’s table but missing the teetering pile by less than an inch.
“No, it’s the next city over. I met him when he was travelling in my hometown of Warf.”
“I remember that.” Sinister’s words are quiet and he keeps his gaze on the floorboards between us rather than me.
Kain passes Chaos a look, both of them seeming on the edge of their seats and ready to murder Sinister if he says the wrong thing at the wrong time.
Just like with Sinister, I remember the moment I first met Kreedence. I sat at the edge of the old dock, my feet skimming over the clear ocean water, and I looked back at the busy street for only a moment before quickly testing my powers. I just wanted to see if they were still there. I’d kept my magic hidden for so long sometimes it felt numb and nonexistent within me. As I let my magic gently sway the rippling waves of the cold waters in glittering colors of silver and gold, he lowered himself near me, his mysterious eyes meeting mine.
You should never hide something that beautiful. Those first words still echo in my mind. It was the first encouraging and sweet thing anyone had ever said to me in regards to the part of me that everyone was so ashamed of.