Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels

by Adkins, Heather Marie

  Leo’s head snapped up, and his eyes flashed again. I wouldn’t have thought to say that before my experience with Sterling and his pack members, but now it felt right. I laughed. “Give in, man. You can’t hold your lion back forever.”

  “We’ll see.” Leo’s eyebrow rose in question. “You’ve changed.”

  “I have.”

  His expression turned sad. “This is why I try to never let myself feel for another. This ache.” He rubbed his chest subconsciously. “It’s easier to distance yourself, but our animals need more.” He stared at me and nodded. “All right, I’ll grant your leave on one condition. If I find The Resistance, you will return to help take them down.”

  That was the most emotion I had ever seen from Leo, and I knew it would be a long time before I saw it again. “Of course.” The mood in the room changed. A feeling of sadness enveloped me for a moment before disappearing.

  “I’ll need to know where to contact you, so make sure to update your file on the servers when you settle. We want to keep the use of the satellite phones to a minimum as much as possible.”

  I realized then Leo was going to miss me, not the enforcer or bodyguard but me. “Yes, of course, but Leo I don’t plan to go far. I’m taking Sterling up on his invitation to come visit and hang out with his pack.”

  “For now, but I feel there is something building inside you, a journey ahead of you. Just stay in touch.” His secretary knocked on the outer door, interrupting us.

  “Sir, you wanted me to remind you, you have an international conference call in ten minutes.”

  “Yes, thank you, Sheila.” Leo straightened himself, his business face in place. “If you need anything, Wyatt, just call. I wish you the best on your adventure.” A slight smirk tilted one corner of his mouth as he gestured for me to leave.

  “Thank you, sir.” I formally bowed, clicking my heels together in military fashion.

  Leo laughed gruffly. “Get out of here.”

  I chuckled under my breath as I walked out of his office. It had been a long time since I had felt any inkling of joy, and each step I took away from his office became lighter. I had a full-on smile by the time I exited the building. I raised my face to the sun, closed my eyes, and basked in the warmth for a moment. I put my sunglasses on and looked around the street, deciding where I wanted to go first. For the first time in decades, I didn’t have a mission or directive. I could choose for myself what my day had in store. I dug in my pocket for my key and swung my leg over my Harley waiting for me at the curb. I secured my helmet and started the engine, letting the rumble flow through my body. My inner dragon smiled in appreciation. The sound of a well-tuned and loved Harley was the closest thing I could get to a dragon’s roar in my human form.

  I wound my way through the streets from Leo’s office building until I reached the interstate that would take me out of the city and toward pack land. I stayed within the speed limit until the last edge of the city passed me by. When the last house was a speck in my mirror, I opened her up and sped down the almost-deserted highway. Speed wasn’t a fear of mine. The faster I went, the better I felt, and with the lightning-fast reflexes I had as a shifter, I was always in control. Riding at high speeds on my Harley was as close to flying as I could get for fear of being seen. My dragon half was always happiest when we could travel this way. He hated planes, and we avoided them whenever we could.

  The next two hours sped by, and soon I found myself pulling into the back parking lot of The Silver Fox. I set my kickstand and settled my helmet on the back of the bike and took in the outside of the bar. I hadn’t been here before, and it looked a bit rundown. Though, appearances never really meant anything to me. The inside is what mattered. The Silver Fox was owned by Sterling. The name was a bit ironic as Sterling himself was a silver fox shifter. The back door of the bar burst open, and two women practically flew outside. Their hands were animated as they talked. Neither one of them paid any attention to me.

  The shorter of the two huffed and crossed her arms. “I told you I could handle him. I don’t need you rushing in to rescue me all the time.”

  “No, you can’t. It’s why Marla put you on days and me on nights. I’ve dealt with jerks like him before. You are too nice and sweet. If you smiled at him one more time, he was going to try putting his hands on more than just your ass,” said the dark-haired, more voluptuous one of the pair.

  I cleared my throat to announce my presence.

  “Hey, Wyatt. Marla said you can go in and wait for the boss in the office. He had to go pick up his mate at the airport but should be back soon,” the dark-haired one said without even looking at me. Her familiarity put me on edge. I had not informed anyone but Sterling of my intended arrival.

  “Excuse her rudeness.” The shorter one looked my way. “We were told you were coming, and with Reana’s description, we couldn’t miss you. Please, if you go through there, you can grab some dinner from the kitchen on the way.”

  Her comment stopped me. “Reana’s description?” I had prided myself throughout my career on being able to look non-descript in any situation. I knew how to melt into the background when needed. Today I was in basic biker gear: black boots, black jeans, and black T-shirt with short military-style hair and just a bit of scruff for a beard. I was curious how Reana had described me so well to these ladies that they knew me without seeing me before.

  “Yeah, your scent is very distinct. She explained it, and we knew it was you before we even came out,” the darker-haired one replied.

  I cocked an eyebrow. “And how do I smell?”

  “Sex, sin, and smoke,” she replied with a sway of her hips.

  “Dammit, why do you have to flirt with everyone?”

  I smiled at the banter between the two. They were either siblings or lovers the way they interacted.

  “I’m sorry for her. I swear she’ll hump anything that has two legs and a sex organ. Male or female doesn’t matter.” She huffed. “She was right on the smoke part. Reana said you had a unique, smoldering fire smell with a hint of sage, a dash of mint, and a splash of musk.”

  So they were shifters too. I tilted my head and opened my senses a bit more. I hadn’t picked up any telltale scents when they had come through the door. I took a big whiff and finally, underneath a bouquet of shampoo, lotions, body spray, and errant bar stench, I found it. A faint musk of them. My eyes squinted in accusation. “Why are you masking your scent so well?”

  The smaller of the two replied, “It’s a long story. The short version, we spent years on our own among the humans and learned to mask what we were from others as a means of survival. Now it’s habit. Sterling and Marla know and advised us to continue.”

  “Hmm, I’d like to hear the story sometime. If you are willing to share it.” I tried to smile, though I felt my dragon trying to peek at the girls. My eyes turned warm when he looked with me. He had become more curious ever since I let him out in Texas. My kind were almost extinct. I am pretty sure I am the last one, as I haven’t come across another dragon in the last century. Because of that, I didn’t shift much, and when I had down in Texas, it had been the first time in twenty years I had fully let him out.

  “If you want to hear our story, we would be glad to tell it. Maybe this weekend at the gathering when we aren’t working,” the dark-haired one said.

  “Is that the one planned at Jerome’s?”

  “Yes.”

  I nodded. “If I am still around I would love to hear it.”

  The back door opened again, and a tall woman with olive skin and a scowl on her face came out. Her scent identified her as a lynx. “Those tables in there won’t wait themselves. Break is over.” She scuttled back in. “You must be Wyatt. Come on in. Sterling just called, and he’s about ten minutes away. I’ve got a steak with your name on it on the grill now.”

  I followed her in. “Thank you. You must be Marla.”

  “That I am. You need anything else, you let me know.”

  “I will. Thank yo
u.”

  I stepped inside and sat down just as a tray full of food was brought in by the shorter of the waitresses. She set it on the small table in front of the couch.

  “I brought water and beer. I wasn’t sure which you would prefer.”

  “That is perfect. Thank you.” I smiled, and she blushed and left.

  Marla tapped her foot. “I don’t think I should have to tell you, but there will be no flirting with my staff while they are on duty. I need them focused on their job, not the new shifter in town.” She turned and strode from the office.

  I dug into the steak, amusement flowing through me. I was never seen as the one who flirted. Stoic, strong, and mean as hell was what I was known for. I think I’ll have fun with this new side of me. I decided to try my hand at flirting as soon as I could, without the constraint of a mission I decided to enjoy my time. Finding a female to warm my bed with no strings was a promising idea, one I thought about while I finished my dinner and slowly enjoyed my beer.

  I relaxed and let my guard down, enjoying this new type of freedom I had been given.

  2

  I heard Sterling and Reana enter the building and relaxed as I waited for them to join me in the office. Reana came through the door first and launched herself at me as I began to stand. She wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed. I stumbled a bit and wrapped my arms around her as well. I hadn’t realized I missed her till this moment. I squeezed and released her.

  She tilted her head back. “I have missed you! How have you been? What are you going to do now? Are you staying with us?”

  Sterling walked forward and untangled her from me. “Let’s give him a little room to breathe, darling.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I get ahead of myself sometimes. It’s still hard to have friends who leave. I never really know if they are coming back or not.” She looked at Sterling. “I suppose it will take more time to be able to trust that they will.”

  Sterling sat in the chair across from the couch and pulled Reana into his lap.

  “Yes, I suppose it will,” I replied as I sat back on the deep-cushioned sofa. “I’m happy to answer your questions though. First, I have missed you too. I have been well but better since being released from my duties to travel here on leave. As to what I am going to do, I am not sure. I think an adventure is in order, but of what kind, I don’t know.” I smiled at her. “I haven’t had free time to myself in many, many years, so I thought to just take it a day at a time for now.” I directed my next words to Sterling. “As for staying with you, that is something I would like to discuss. I don’t have lodgings at this point, and with no real destination, I hadn’t made plans. I would love to stay with the pack for a while if that is okay.”

  Sterling nodded as I spoke. “Jerome and I figured you might. We discussed it last weekend at our council meeting, and there is a small cabin on pack land that is vacant. It’s not much, but it’s yours for however long you need it.” He readjusted Reana and continued. “We are having a gathering this weekend at the Alpha House, and I have been instructed to invite you to join us. There will be a pack hunt afterward as well.”

  “Thank you. I would love to join you, but I don’t know about the hunt. It’s much easier for you all to blend in with wildlife. A large gray-blue dragon flying through the sky might not go over so well.”

  Sterling laughed. “I thought you could magic yourself invisible. Even if not, you have no need to worry. The pack lands are spelled so no humans see what we are. They will just see a large cloud in the sky that seems to be moving fast with the breeze. If you stay within the boundaries, you’ll be fine.”

  “Oh please, Wyatt, you should come. I’d love to see your dragon again,” Reana pleaded. “Mack and Casey and the twins are in town and will be there, and Rook and Jasmine are back as well. Please, it’s not often everyone is home.”

  Reana had been the brave soul who had volunteered to demonstrate how my dragon fire wouldn’t hurt those I chose not to, that its destruction could be singularly focused. Our focus at that time had been a truly evil witch who had taken control of the pack she belonged to. This witch was one I had been tracking for a very long time and had worked her way through packs and prides through the years. She was the same witch who had oozed into the South American Pride before Casey had become the first female alpha. The witch—I won’t say her name ever—had fled by the time Rook had traveled down to assess the pride, and she had been under the radar since.

  That was, until Leo had sent Sterling and me with a couple others to Texas to investigate a pack that had some odd reports sent about them. It was after that mission when I noticed some of my abilities becoming spotty. The cloaking ability Sterling joked about was one of them. The last time I had attempted to cloak and fly, the magic faded moments into my flight, and I had to land quickly before I was seen. I hadn’t attempted it since.

  “Wyatt, did I say something wrong?” Reana asked, interrupting my memories.

  “Oh, no, I’m sorry. I got lost in my mind. I would enjoy coming and seeing everyone. As to flying with you, I’ll think about it. How’s that?”

  “Oh, yay. I know you’ll do it, but I’ll take that answer for now.” She kissed Sterling on the cheek and hopped out of his lap. “I’m hungry. I’m going to go see what they have stewing in the kitchen and then go chat with Marla if I can find her. You two boys relax and chat while I’m gone.” She winked at me as she left.

  I watched her flounce out. “She’s gotten rather bossy, hasn’t she?”

  Sterling grimaced. “You have no idea. But don’t let her happy-go-lucky attitude fool you. She still has a spine of steel, and if you cross her or those she cares about, she’ll rip you a new one.” He laughed. “She’s still my spitfire.” He turned back toward me. “Now, down to business. What are your plans?”

  I leaned back and crossed an ankle over my knee. “I’m not sure. I thought to come down and relax a little bit before deciding where to go. I haven’t really had downtime in years, and this is a new feeling. Not having to be anywhere or having a mission…” I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I’d like to take Jerome up on his offer of the cabin. Start there and then see where this journey takes me. I think I want to hunt down my lineage and see if I can find out what happened and why I am the last dragon.”

  Sterling nodded. “I thought you might. Jerome and I did a little research before you got here just in case it was the reason you had asked for the leave from Leo.” He stood and went to his desk and rummaged around in the top drawer. He pulled out a key and brought it to me. “Here, this is to the cabin. You can’t miss it. Take the left fork at the alpha’s house. It’s the last one on the right. It’s set back from the road a bit, but it has a lean-to where you can store your bike. Suzanne has stocked the kitchen and put fresh sheets and towels in the bedroom for you.”

  “She was pretty confident I would come here, wasn’t she?” I cocked an eyebrow.

  “Just wait till you meet Suzanne. If you hadn’t come, she would have sent me for you.” He laughed. “Take a bit of advice. Let her mother you just a bit. Soak up the special attention before you head out again. Keeping the alpha’s wife happy keeps the pack happy.”

  “I’m sure it does.” I stood. “Thanks, man, I appreciate it.” He slapped my shoulder and squeezed it as we walked out.

  “Anytime, man. It’s not good to be alone for so long. Your job with Leo fills the void for a while, but eventually it won’t be enough. No matter what you choose, you need a home pack, a family to lean on when you need.” He opened the back door for me. “Wyatt, it’s time for you to find your home. To help balance who and what you are.”

  I left and strode to my bike before I looked back at him. “Yes, it is.” The bike roared to life between my legs, and I took off.

  Sterling’s directions were easy to follow, and I knew I was on the right road when I felt the jolt of magic as I passed through the protection barrier. I slowed as I turned onto the dirt road leading to the alpha’s
house, keeping an eye out for the fork Sterling had indicated. I stopped when the house came into view. I had been inside it before but had never seen the outside. Leo had always brought us through the maze of tunnels he had connecting his office with a multitude of buildings. The alpha house was one of them.

  The structure wasn’t large and imposing as I had expected. Rather, it was warm and inviting. A two-story plantation-style house painted in a warm color that made me think of heavily creamed coffee. The windows were framed by shutters in a dark espresso color, and it had a large wraparound double-decker porch. The driveway was a half-moon of gravel with a rose garden in the middle that you could see was tended to with love. The whole structure radiated warmth and safety. The front door opened, and I took it as my cue to continue my search for the cabin. My chit chat limit was up for the day. I needed to relax in silence and try to plan my next steps.

  The cabin was small and out of the way. Just what I needed.

  I pulled my bike into the shelter next to the cabin and emerged to find a young boy sitting on my steps breathing heavily. He hadn’t been there when I pulled in. I scanned the surrounding trees, looking for others, his presence putting my defenses on high alert.

  I looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “Can I help you, young man?”

  He replied through heavy breaths. “Gigi says… you have to… come to dinner.” He paused, taking another deep breath. “We eat at seven.” Then he pinned me with his gaze, a mad look on his face. “Next time just come up to the house, so I don’t have to run all the way over here to deliver her messages. It’s too hot to be running that fast.” He stalked off into the trees, and I watched as he shifted from one step to the next. A young, sleek, black panther stopped and glared back at me, the green of his eyes glowing eerily. He chuffed and then took off back toward the alpha house and his gigi, I assumed.

  I had a feeling the peace and quiet I had hoped for wouldn’t happen. I checked my watch. I had a couple hours before supper. I decided to shower and head over early. I owed Suzanne an apology, and I wanted to ask Jerome about the research Sterling had mentioned he’d done into my heritage.