Hidden Mage
Page 1
Dragon Enchanted
Hidden Mage
Sophie Stern
Copyright © 2021 by Sophie Stern
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover design by Melody Simmons
Also by Sophie Stern
Alien Chaos
Destroyed
Guarded
Saved
Alien Chaos: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance Bundle
Anchored
Starboard
Battleship
All Aboard
Abandon Ship
Below Deck
Crossing the Line
Anchored: Books 1-3
Anchored: Books 4-6
Club Kitten Dancers
Move
Pose
Climb
Dragon Enchanted
Hidden Mage
Dragon Isle
My Lord and Dragon
The Dragon Fighter
A Dragon's Bite
Lost to the Dragon
Beware of Dragons
Cowboy Dragon
Dark Heart of the Dragon
Once Upon a Dragon
Catching the Dragon
Dragon Isle (Collection: Books 1-3)
Dragon Isle (Collection: Books 4-6)
Dragon Isle (Collection: Books 7-9)
Good Boys and Millionaires
Good Boys and Millionaires 1
Good Boys and Millionaires 2
Honeypot Babies
The Polar Bear's Baby
The Jaguar's Baby
The Tiger's Baby
Honeypot Darlings
The Bear's Virgin Darling
The Bear's Virgin Mate
The Bear's Virgin Bride
Office Gentlemen
Ben From Accounting
Polar Bears of the Air Force
Staff Sergeant Polar Bear
Master Sergeant Polar Bear
Airman Polar Bear
Senior Airman Polar Bear
Red
Red: Into the Dark
Red: Through the Dark
Red: Beyond the Dark
Return to Dragon Isle
Dragons Are Forever (Coming Soon)
Shifters at Law
Wolf Case
Bearly Legal
Tiger Clause
Sergeant Bear
Dragon Law
The Fablestone Clan
Dragon's Oath
Dragon's Breath
Dragon's Darling
Dragon's Whisper
Dragon's Magic
The Hidden Planet
Vanquished
Outlaw
Conquered
The Wolfe City Pack
The Wolf's Darling
The Wolf's Mate
The Wolf's Bride
Standalone
Saucy Devil
Billionaire on Top
Jurassic Submissive
The Editor
Alien Beast
Snow White and the Wolves
Kissing the Billionaire
Wild
Alien Dragon
The Royal Her
Be My Tiger
Alien Monster
The Paralegal
Roses in the Dark
Honeypot Babies Omnibus Edition
Honeypot Darlings: Omnibus Edition
Red: The Complete Trilogy
First Shift
The Swan's Mate
Eternity: A Vampire Romance
The Feisty Librarian
Polar Bears of the Air Force
Wild Goose Chase
Star Princess
The Virgin and the Lumberjacks
Resting Bear Face
Shifters at Law
Seized by the Dragon
The Fablestone Clan: A Paranormal Dragon-Shifter Romance Collection
Star Kissed
Club Kitten Omnibus
Okami
Savored
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Also By Sophie Stern
Hidden Mage (Dragon Enchanted)
Author’s Note
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
Author
Books
The Bear’s Virgin Darling
Sign up for Sophie Stern's Mailing List
Further Reading: Cowboy Dragon
Also By Sophie Stern
One mage. One dragon shifter. One incredible journey.
Tabitha is the last of her kind.
The Mages of Kunzite were once the most powerful order in the world, but now it's just her. She's the only one who can stop the witch responsible for slaughtering her people. She journeys to an island rumored to be the witch's home with only one thing on her mind: revenge.
Felix has been living alone ever since he killed the witch who kidnapped him. He lurks in the shadows of the island, collecting treasures and enjoying the scenery. He can't remember anything that happened before he was kidnapped, so even if he knew how to leave the island, he wouldn't have the faintest idea of where to go.
When a newcomer arrives at the island, Felix knows instantly. She's beautiful and interesting and sweet. She's charming. She's come to hunt a monster, and Felix decides to join her. After all, he's been living on the island for years and he's never noticed a monster. He's certain her mission is futile, but he's all too happy to help her.
Then Felix discovers something about himself that will change everything.
Suddenly, Tabitha's mission seems a lot more dangerous.
It seems deadly.
And Felix will have to do whatever it takes to survive.
Even if it means losing her.
Author's note: this is a sexy, steamy dragon-shifter romance that takes place in the same world as THE FEISTY DRAGONS. It is the first in a new trilogy by Sophie Stern, author of Dragon Isle and The Fablestone Clan.
For my readers.
Author’s Note
Dear Readers,
Dragon Enchanted is a three-book series featuring a powerful mage – Tabitha – and a dragon shifter named Felix. This series was so much fun to write. Tabitha is sassy and brave, and Felix is determined and headstrong. I loved getting to know both of these characters, and I hope that you do, too.
That said, I did want to let you know that this series takes place immediately after the events in THE FEISTY DRAGONS. That is a three-book series featuring Felix’s younger brothers, who are triplets and also dragon shifters.
While you do not need to read THE FEISTY DRAGONS in order to enjoy this story, I wanted to let you know about it in case you want more adventures in this same world.
Additionally, I do have several other shifter books that, while featuring different types of shifters, all take place in the same universe:
The Fablestone Clan series (dragon shifters)
The Dragon Isle series (dragon shifters)
The Honeypot Darlings series (bear shifters)
> The Honeypot Babies series (many types of shifters)
The Luck of the Wolves (wolf shifters)
The Dragon’s Christmas Treasure (dragon shifters)
Out of the Woods (bear shifters)
It’s my hope that you’ll read DRAGON ENCHANTED and love the books, the world, and the characters. Sometimes it’s nice to escape from reality just for a little bit, and in this book, I think you’ll find that.
All my love,
Sophie
Prologue
Felix stood in the doorway, looking in at the wedding reception.
It was quite the party.
He’d never been to a wedding before. He’d never been anywhere like this before. He had been thrilled when Mama and Daddy decided that he was old enough to get to attend.
It was a big responsibility, he knew, attending a wedding. One day, he’d go to a big ceremony like this, only he wouldn’t be a guest.
He’d be the groom.
One day, he’d find someone to love him, and he’d love her right on back.
He stood, staring at the bride and groom. They were both in their animal forms, and they were circling one another on the dance floor. The bride was a giant tiger, and the groom was a lion. His parents always said it didn’t matter whether someone was the same type of shifter as you. It just mattered that you were happy.
He thought that sounded pretty good to him.
Now, Felix looked at the couple as they moved on the dance floor. They were slinking around more than they were actually dancing, but he knew they were happy. He could tell.
“Are you having fun?” Felix’s mother patted his head. Raya was pregnant and just beginning to “show.”
That was the word Mama and her friends always used.
“Show.”
It meant she looked pregnant. It meant people could look at Raya and tell that she was carrying Felix’s new brothers or sisters. He knew there was more than one baby inside his mother’s tummy, and he couldn’t wait to see what they were going to be like.
Maybe they’d play catch together in the yard.
Maybe they’d lie on the grass and look up at the clouds.
Maybe they’d shift into their dragon forms and fly around together.
He didn’t know.
All he knew was that no matter what happened, it was going to be totally awesome.
“Yes,” he told his mom.
“Good,” she said. “They’re cutting the cake soon. Do you want a piece?”
Felix liked cake a lot, but he was rarely allowed to have any. The surprise must have shown on his face because Mama just laughed.
“It’s a special occasion,” she shrugged. “I bet one piece won’t hurt you.”
“Okay!”
Felix looked around. He could see the bride and groom still in the center of the dance floor. They were definitely having fun. He smiled as he looked at them. It was interesting to see other kinds of shifters. Felix’s parents were dragons, and most of their friends were, too.
Just then, Felix jumped because there was a loud crash.
“Oh!” Mom was startled. She looked toward the source of the sound. “Felix, stay here, okay? I’m going to go make sure everything’s okay.”
Mama pointed to a large couch that was in a seating area, and Felix nodded. He could sit still and wait, especially if it meant he’d be getting some cake soon. He walked over to the couch and sat down, bouncing on it. He was only four, but he was old enough to know he wasn’t supposed to bounce on couches.
Quickly, he looked around to make sure nobody had spotted him, but it must have been his lucky day because no one seemed to notice at all.
He bounced again, enjoying the way the cushions were soft and squishy.
“Fun, isn’t it?”
Felix turned to see a woman standing there watching him.
Quickly, he stilled. He didn’t recognize this woman, but she might know his mom. Mama wouldn’t be happy if Felix was jumping on the couches. Not when she had told him exactly what she expected of him.
After all, she’d just stepped away for a minute. Whatever was wrong would be over soon. Mama always fixed everything. Felix hoped the crash had been something like a gift falling, and not something like the cake falling.
That would be horrible, he thought.
“Don’t worry,” the woman standing there said with a smile, “I won’t tell anyone.”
“You won’t?”
So, she was a cool grown-up.
She wasn’t going to tattle on him. That was good. Nice.
“No, I won’t tell. I need something from you, though.”
Oh, so she wanted a favor.
It was going to be like a trade.
Felix frowned. He knew he wasn’t supposed to be talking to strangers, but this woman had seen him jumping. He couldn’t exactly tell her to leave him alone. What if she told Mom that he’d been messing around?
“Just a small favor,” she said.
“What is it?” Felix asked.
“I have some cake for the wedding,” the woman said.
“Cake?”
Felix’s stomach rumbled. He loved cake. Mama said every little dragon did. That was what she was always telling him.
“Cake,” the woman agreed. She smiled. “Only, it’s too much for me to carry all by myself. Do you want to help me bring it inside?”
He did.
He did want that.
“I’ll give you an extra big piece, of course,” the woman said, “but we need to go now.”
“I gotta tell Mama,” Felix said. He knew he wasn’t supposed to go anywhere without letting his mother know first.
“We’ll be quick,” the woman said. “Besides, your mother is busy helping the bride and groom.”
Felix glanced over at the crowd who seemed to be dealing with a simple problem of their own. He still wasn’t exactly sure what was wrong, but he knew that his mom would be able to handle it, whatever it was.
“Okay,” he finally said, and he took the woman’s hand. She didn’t bring him to the front door of the hotel, though. That was a little strange. She led him down a hallway, through a door, and then down another hallway.
They were walking quickly, and she was squeezing his hand.
Felix tugged, trying to free himself.
Suddenly, he didn’t feel like he wanted cake that much after all, but the woman kept yanking, pulling him along.
“Stop,” Felix said.
The woman didn’t speak. She ignored him and just kept walking. His hand hurt more and more as she tugged, pulling him along, and he regretted the fact that he hadn’t followed the rules and told her to leave him alone.
He wasn’t supposed to talk to strangers.
He wasn’t supposed to go anywhere without permission.
Now, he was starting to think this lady wasn’t going to give him cake the way she promised.
“I don’t want to,” Felix said, digging his heels in the ground. “I want to go back. I don’t want to go with you.”
The woman stopped and turned, abruptly. Gone was her nice, sweet smile. Instead, she was glaring at him harshly. Her eyes narrowed.
“Too late,” she snapped. “You’re coming with me.”
“No!”
Felix opened his mouth.
He remembered what his mother said about dealing with bad guys or kidnappers. If someone tried to take you, you were supposed to scream.
That’s what he would do.
He would open his mouth and let out the biggest, baddest scream he’d ever thought of making. He could be loud. He’d had plenty of practice.
When he did that, this lady would stop. She’d have to stop. She’d let him go, and everything would be okay. As soon as she let go of him, he could go back to his mother and father, and Felix would never wander away again.
Only, as soon as he opened his mouth, the woman seemed to realize what he was doing.
“Not so fast, dragon,” she said.
&n
bsp; He wondered how she knew that he was a shifter. How did she know what kind of shifter he was? He’d never told her. He hadn’t told anyone. He hadn’t even come into his powers yet.
Still, she definitely seemed to know.
Before he could scream, the woman pulled something out of her pocket and waved it. She muttered a word, and instantly, Felix’s mouth clamped shut. He started to panic. He felt like he couldn’t breathe. He opened his eyes wider and tried to open his mouth, but nothing happened.
That was when he saw the item.
A wand.
She had a magic wand.
How?
Magic wands weren’t real.
Witches weren’t real.
Were they?
“Not another word, Felix,” the witch said, glowering at him. “Not another word.”
She didn’t seem so nice anymore.
She seemed mean and evil and scary, and Felix wondered what was going to happen to him next. This woman wasn’t about to let him go, and he realized that there probably wasn’t any cake, anyway.
She’d tricked him.
She grabbed his hand again and yanked, pulling him again down the hallway, and Felix looked back one last time, wondering if he would ever see his mother again.
Chapter 1
35 years later
“Another drink?”
“Sorry, sweetheart. Five drinks is my limit,” the man with the mustache and the greying beard chuckled as Tabitha offered to order another round.
“Aw,” she murmured, sliding her hand onto his leg. “Are you sure? We’re having so much fun. I don’t want the night to end yet.”
She leaned close, nuzzling her head on his shoulder. She felt gross even as she did it. She didn’t want to cuddle this guy. She didn’t want to snuggle him. She wanted nothing at all to do with him, but he had something she needed.
“I’m having a really good time,” she added, purring the words.
The only way she was going to get the map to the Isle of Kyanite was if she got into this guy’s house, broke into his safe, and took it.
“It’s not every day you find someone you can connect with, you know?”
Tabitha felt gross saying the words. This was a blatant lie. All of it was: the persona, the clothes, the incessant flirting. She didn’t have a choice, though.