Awakened By Flames

by Vella Day

  Chapter Two

  Finn tossed and turned. Normally when Kaleena came to him in his dreams, her brightness soothed his soul and excited his wolf. Not tonight though. Everything was different—darker, somber, and even frightening. While her face was always a bit blurry and her long, red hair was swept behind her back, her body was in shadows this time.

  “Finn?” Kaleena called as if she were very far away.

  “What’s wrong?” He’d become accustomed to her coy and flirtatious tone. While she shared some things about herself, he suspected she held back at the same time. Tonight something had changed.

  “I need your help,” she pleaded.

  From the way her voice cracked, something was very wrong. In his dream world, Finn was invincible and capable of doing anything. “What can I do?”

  “I’m being held prisoner. I need you to come to Tarradon.”

  He wondered why his imaginary woman had chosen this scenario to play out with him. “Of course, I’ll come. I’ll ride in on a white steed and save you.” Not that he had any idea where this town of Tarradon was located.

  “Finn, this is no joking matter. I’m real. You have to believe me. I need you.”

  Finn rolled over, his mind in a confused dream state. At times, he wanted to believe that the woman in his head was alive and that they’d even met at one time, but how could she be flesh and blood? Kaleena only appeared to him when he slept.

  Because she sounded so desperate, he played along. “Okay, I believe you. You said you live in Tarradon? Where is that exactly? And how can I reach you?”

  “Tarradon is a different realm from Earth—a parallel universe if you will. My best guess is that I’m still in Edendale, which is a town in the province of Avonbelle. Getting here will be tricky. You will have to find a portal in order to reach me.”

  “A different realm?” He had to be crazy to believe her. “Listen, I don’t even know how portals work.”

  “Someone must know. Ask a white lighter.”

  “A white lighter?” He could guess what she meant by those words, but he wanted to be sure.

  “You call them witches.”

  Since she used a name he wasn’t familiar with, it gave credence to the fact she might be real. “I’ll try.”

  “If you don’t help me, I could die.” Then the link broke.

  “Kaleena?”

  Nothing. She was gone.

  The idea that Kaleena was being held captive and in danger—while Finn was unsure if he could help her—was so horrendous that he bolted upright in bed. His forehead was drenched in perspiration, and his heart was beating way too fast. It took a moment for him to realize that he was in his bedroom and not locked in some cell. A prison cell? Where had that idea come from?

  Usually, Finn’s dreams took place at some glorious waterfall that spilled into a clear pool. It was so turquoise and clear he could see to the sandy bottom. Kaleena was always with him, smiling and beckoning him to join her.

  At night, they’d interact on many different levels, sometimes flirting and teasing. At others times, they’d delve into fascinating philosophical discussions. As crazy as it sounded, he was beginning to fall in love with her. Kaleena even promised that one day they’d meet. Hell, maybe that day had come.

  Often, their dream session would end with them engaging in mind-blowing sex—well sort of engaging. She wasn’t actually with him—just in his mind—but man did it feel real. His cock sure felt as if they’d had sex, and when he was kissing her, he could almost feel the pressure of her lips on his.

  But he wasn’t that delusional. Finn knew they hadn’t actually touched despite reveling in her velvety mouth and enjoying her warm, sensuous hands.

  In this last dream, she’d been bathed in darkness, and he could feel her pain as it wrapped around his heart and squeezed.

  It is a dream. It has to be.

  No, his wolf responded. Kaleena is real. And she needs you.

  Finn wanted to believe that was true, but sane men recognized that dreams were in the mind.

  The light streaming in through his bedroom window helped calm his clouded thoughts, but the sun didn’t make things any clearer. Ever since this amazing woman had entered his thoughts a few weeks ago, he’d pondered whether he really had been talking to a woman he was slowly falling in love with, or if he had lost his mind. The only person who’d believed him was his twin, Chelsea, but could she help him now?

  Finn snatched the phone from his side table and called her. Today was her day off from the vet clinic.

  “Hey. You’re up early. I thought you closed the bar last night,” Chelsea said.

  “I did. Listen. I need to pass something by you.”

  She didn’t say anything for a moment. “You sound worried.”

  “I am.” He told her about his dream and how scared Kaleena sounded.

  “If she is in trouble, maybe Connor can help find her.”

  Connor might run a security agency, but there wasn’t much he could tell his brother about where Kaleena was. “I don’t know how. She lives in a different realm!”

  Chelsea was silent for a moment. “A different realm? You mean Cargonia?”

  Most shifters believed one other parallel realm, called Cargonia, existed, but that it was the only one. “No. This is a different realm, called Tarradon.”

  “Wow. Maybe you should be contacting Zane Barons. He claims to be from Cargonia. I know that’s not this Tarradon, but he might have heard of this other realm.”

  Why hadn’t he thought of that? “Thanks, Chels. I’ll give him a try.”

  “Let me know.”

  “I will.”

  Zane claimed he’d been cursed and sent to Earth, where he was asleep for one-hundred years until his mate found him. He now worked for the fire department as a janitor. Had Finn’s older brother not vouched for him, Finn would have considered the man a bit loco. Why not call? Finn had nothing to lose.

  Finn’s mind reeled. “So it’s possible the other realm exists?” he asked Zane.

  “I believe so.” Zane motioned Finn to take a seat on his living sofa. “But as I said, I’ve never been to Tarradon. I’ve heard that it is inhabited with many dragon shifters who rule their realm. As a werebear, I decided it was best to stay clear of the place.”

  “Have you met anyone who’s been there?”

  “No, I’ve just heard stories. Mind you, the last time I was in Cargonia was over a hundred years ago. A lot could have changed.”

  “I see. But if you know that other realm exists, it means Kaleena is telling the truth,” he whispered. Finn leaned forward. “Can you tell me how telepathy works in your realm?” Finn never understood how he was able to communicate telepathically with Kaleena when they hadn’t mated.

  “What do you mean?” Zane asked.

  “Kaleena and I have not mated—obviously—yet we can communicate when we sleep.”

  “You can dream-walk?” Zane asked, his mouth opening slightly.

  “Yes. Why?”

  “That only happens if both of you are witches.” Zane waved a hand. “Of course, it might be different on her realm.”

  Finn dropped back his head and glanced to the ceiling. “Well, fuck—I’m no witch.”

  Zane shook his head. “How do you know?”

  Maybe Zane didn’t have his shit together after all. “I have no magical abilities.”

  “Maybe they are latent, and you just don’t know about them. I’ve seen it happen before.”

  Talk about mind-blowing. “Then I guess I need to do a little investigating. Only who should I speak with?”

  “If this Kaleena is a witch who is able to initiate this dream link with you,” Zane said, “then you’ll need to find a powerful witch here to help you. She’s far more qualified to know about these things than some lowly bear like myself.”

  Finn jumped up. “I’ll speak with Ophelia—Silver Lake’s most powerful witch.” He faced Zane and held out his hand. “Thank you.”

&nb
sp; “I didn’t do much.”

  “You helped more than you realize.”

  “Any time.”

  As soon as Finn left, he sat in his car and called Connor. True, his brother was skeptical about the existence of Kaleena until he told him what Zane said.

  “It might be true about you having some special talents,” Connor said.

  Now it was Connor who was a bit crazy. “What do you mean?”

  “Our great grandmother on Mom’s side was said to have witch abilities.”

  Shock coursed through him. “So we’re part Wendayan? That’s nonsense.” And he sure as hell never had blue sparks shoot off his body when he was sexually excited either—a sure indication he was part Wendayan.

  “Don’t be so hasty. You might have inherited some of her talents,” Connor said. “You need to ask Mom about it.”

  “Oh, I will.” Just as soon as he talked with Ophelia.

  So, here he was, waiting in his car, ready to hear whether he was delusional. Finn had never spoken to the town’s most powerful Wendayan because he’d never needed her guidance before. While she’d often been helpful to others—especially to his family members—she did have a tendency to talk in circles. Some claimed she’d been more frustrating than useful at the time they met her, but in the end she had always been right.

  He shouldn’t be nervous to meet her, but he was. What if she tells me Tarradon doesn’t exist? Then what would I do? Seek therapy because I believe my dreams are real?

  He didn’t want to address that issue yet. He wasn’t sure which would be worse though—learning that Tarradon didn’t exist, or what he’d have to do if it did.

  Aw hell, Ophelia was some ninety-year old lady who probably wasn’t open to things such as realms. If she said other realms were a product of someone’s imagination, he’d try another witch.

  He looked around the wooded area where Ophelia was said to reside, but he didn’t spot her. He wasn’t sure where she wanted to have this conversation, but someone as frail as her wouldn’t appreciate standing out in the cold. Finn debated searching for her, but he’d been told she could sense when anyone was near. Hopefully, she’d find him.

  Sure enough, two minutes later a frail and withered looking woman, who couldn’t weigh one hundred pounds soaking wet, emerged from the forest. Given her advanced age, he expected her to move slowly, but she seemed to glide rather than walk.

  As if he’d lost track of time for a minute, she opened his car door. Christ, he hadn’t even seen her cross in front of his vehicle. He must be losing it. Ophelia slipped in and reached out to take his hand. Even though she wasn’t wearing a coat and the temperature was nearly freezing, her hands were warm to the touch. How was that even possible?

  She studied him. “You’re troubled.”

  Since this was the first time they’d met, Finn was more surprised by the blunt comment than at her observation. It was true the bags under his eyes were the worst they’d ever been because of his worry for Kaleena, but he didn’t think he looked that haggard. “I am.”

  While he’d rehearsed what he was going to say, now that the petite woman was in front of him, it seemed his tongue couldn’t work.

  She squeezed his hand then let go. “No need to explain. Dream-walking can be very troublesome to your sleep patterns and quite confusing, if not downright disturbing.”

  Tension rippled through his muscles at her insight. Never in a million years did he expect her to know anything about that. “What do you know about it?”

  She smiled. “You’ll find out soon enough. Right now, you need to worry about that mate of yours. We don’t have much time—or rather Kaleena doesn’t.”

  Finn’s head nearly exploded. Ophelia knew her name? How? It was almost too hard to grasp. “So she exists?”

  Mate, mate! his wolf chanted. I told you so.

  Finn had hoped it was true, but he understood he had a better chance of winning the lottery than Kaleena being flesh and blood.

  Ka-ching, ka-ching. His wolf cheered. Better than the lottery.

  “Of course, she exists,” Ophelia said, as if she couldn’t believe he doubted it. “Her family is very important in Tarradon.”

  It didn’t matter if her parents were important or not, Kaleena was his main focus. “What can you tell me about her?”

  “She’s a Guardian who’s been kidnapped. Don’t ask me how I know that, or why that is a big deal, just believe me. As much as I’d like to tell her parents that Kaleena’s being held hostage, I don’t want to interfere with Fate’s plan for true mates. It’s up to you to follow the path that Fate has set out for you.”

  She wasn’t making a lot of sense. “So you won’t help her?” He failed to keep the censure from his tone.

  “I didn’t say that. I will do what I can, but I suspect when Kaleena doesn’t show up for work, they will begin searching for her.”

  Her information was becoming increasingly more frustrating. Finn didn’t know whether to ask what a Guardian was or what he could do. “You said you could help. How? You’re here and she’s…” he nodded upward. “There.”

  “I can help by aiding you in reaching her.”

  Finn prided himself on his strength, but right now his bones were about to melt and his head explode. “Me? How?”

  “I can show you the location of the portal.”

  Joy sprang up. “I can go to Tarradon and help Kaleena?”

  “That’s the plan.” Her modern use of language threw him for a second.

  Then reality struck. “Even if I reach Tarradon, what can I do? Suppose I manage to find her family. They might not believe that Kaleena called out to me.” This was getting worse by the minute. It had all sounded so doable at the time. Only then did it occur to him that Ophelia might be pulling his leg. “How can you be so sure you can find a portal?” No one that he knew of had been successful in doing so—other than Zane who had come from another realm.

  Ophelia sighed. “You young people and your need for proof.” She pulled something out of her pocket and held open her palm. “This is a dragon scale imbued with magic. With it I can communicate with someone in the Guardian Circle—someone with the power to help you reach your destination.”

  A dragon scale? For real? It did look like it could belong to a dragon. The mostly black scale was about one-inch by one-inch and was iridescent in parts. Finn straightened his shoulders. “Where did you get that?”

  “It was given to me many years ago.”

  “How does it work?”

  She waved a hand at his incessant questions. “Suffice it to say, it’s magic. Magic you don’t need to understand. Just know that I can contact this person and ask him to open a portal where someone from Kaleena’s family will meet you.”

  Finn had his doubts, but to voice them would piss off the old lady, and he needed her. Ophelia’s lips had already thinned, and she seemed to be losing her patience with all of his questions.

  Regardless of her changing attitude, he decided to call her bluff. “When can I go?”

  The tension lines around her eyes seemed to soften. “The portals open everyday at noon and midnight. So you will go tomorrow at midnight.”

  “Why not tonight?” While it wouldn’t give him much time to get ready, he didn’t want Kaleena to suffer any more than necessary.

  “I need to make sure I can contact the right person on Tarradon. I also figured you’d need time to get your affairs in order.”

  She was right. He had a job he needed to square away, and a lot of people to say goodbye to. His shifter family and friends were more accepting to strange occurrences, but he doubted everyone would be open-minded to his attempt at inter-realm travel.

  Now that she was handing him this golden opportunity though, he wasn’t sure he was ready, mentally or physically to leave this world. “What is it like?” he asked.

  “What is what like?” Her brows knitted together.

  “The portal. How long does it take to reach Tarradon? And will it be
a difficult trip?” Even though he was willing to deal with any kind of hardship for Kaleena, he needed to be as prepared as possible.

  She let out a breath. “One second you will be here and the next there. I doubt you will even realize you’ve moved.”

  That was too good to be true, but how did she know? Had she herself been through one? And was it to Tarradon? Portal rides might be different to different realms. Finn had to admit this sounded like something out of a science fiction movie, but if Zane was to be believed, he’d come through one, so it must be okay. “If traveling between the realms is so easy, why haven’t we even heard of Tarradon before?”

  “It’s complicated. I’m sure Kaleena’s family will explain once you arrive.”

  Kaleena never mentioned that her realm was dangerous, but if she was imprisoned somewhere, it must be. More questions surfaced. Once Finn stepped into this portal, would he dematerialize or stay in his human form? Jeez. What difference did it make if it worked? Like toppled over building blocks, a ton of additional questions bombarded him, but he forced himself to hold them back.

  Then his practical side surfaced. “What should I take?”

  He had to assume the air was compatible to that on Earth. In Zane’s realm of Cargonia, it seemed to be. As for how cold or hot it was there, Kaleena never complained of extreme temperatures, but even if Tarradon were blistering hot or icy cold, he’d deal. From what she’d said, Tarradon had the same modern conveniences as Earth, but given that royalty lived in castles, it implied a hint of the medieval mixed in.

  “I suggest you limit it to one change of clothes. Anything else can be purchased there.”

  With what? Dollars? That would imply the two realms interacted often, and somehow he doubted that. Jeez, the number of unknowns was mounting.

  Now that he’d been shown what was possible, could he leave his world, his life, his family?

  “Now run along and do what you need to, but tell no one other than your family, and be sure to swear them to secrecy.”