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

by Adkins, Heather Marie

  “If you are done inspecting me, my dear, we must be on our way.” The same voice echoed through my mind again.

  “Is that you?” I asked, taking a few steps toward him. I felt no fear in his presence. I was drawn by his magnificence.

  “Of course, you silly girl. This is how I always talk to you.”

  His answer confused me. “You’ve talked to me before? But this is the first time I have ever seen you.”

  He cocked his head and then lowered it so that his chin lay on the ground and his eyes were level with my head. I felt a pulse of something flow out of him with his next warm breath. “Oh, for heaven’s sake. You aren’t you. I don’t have time to explain. Climb up on my back and hold on. I know who to take you to, but if we wait much longer, the hunters will arrive, and I am in no mood to fight them today. He extended a leg toward me and waited, his eyes growing agitated the longer I waited.

  I couldn’t see how I was supposed to “climb up.” I stepped closer and then saw how his scales sat against each other in layers. Some were offset enough to create a path to climb. I obviously didn’t move fast enough for him because the next breath from him was hot enough to burn my ass. I shimmied my way up his leg, carefully trying not to hurt him. It was a bit like how I imagined rock climbing to be. Grab a scale here, place a foot on that one, and push up. Repeat over and over. My arms and legs were shaking with exhaustion by the time I made it to his shoulder and found a semi-flat place to stand. He stayed still, sensing I wasn’t quite stable yet.

  “Look up, little one. You’ll see your seat.” His growly voice echoed through my mind. The tenor of his chuckled comment sent a zing to my girlie bits. This damn dragon was turning me on!

  I shook the feeling away as best I could and looked up. I was surprised to find a small leather-type saddle positioned high on his shoulders at the base of his neck. I leaned and crab-climbed the last few feet to the seat. Finally sitting down, I felt my balance come back.

  “Just like riding a horse.” I laughed.

  “This is nothing like riding a horse, little one. I don’t want to hear you call that a saddle again. Be thankful I had a seat made for my mate that you now grace. Now hang on. We must fly quickly. “A rumble rippled through his body as his words filtered through my mind. Holy hell, that feeling between my legs was better than I imagined any Harley roar could be.

  There were two straps at the front of the seat that I wrapped my wrists in and grasped the edge of the leather. I bent my knees and placed my feet in the small stirrups on the side. This was a hyped-up English saddle, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. With everything happening so fast, I had neglected to get this dragon’s name. “Hey, what’s your name, and how can you talk to me in my head?” Reality was setting in and the questions flew through my mind.

  “You may call me Red. As for the rest of your questions, those will have to wait till we are safely away from here.”

  “Okay, Red, giddyap!” I laughed. I shouldn’t have.

  He shot straight into the air. If I hadn’t wrapped my wrists into the leather straps, I would have fallen to my death. I screamed, the sound whipped out of my mouth by the force of air whooshing past us. Red leveled out. I saw that we were miles above the land, and my stomach felt like it was going to heave itself out my nose.

  “Deep slow breaths, little one. Your first ride is always a rough one.”

  “I think this will be my last ride too. That takeoff is killer.” I focused on the scales of his neck to try to ease the nausea.

  “Takeoffs are normally not this drastic. Circumstances dictated we fly as high and as fast as we can.”

  I had an inkling there was more to it than that. I did kind of goad him with my comments. As he settled into his glide, I felt an ease and comfort take me over. I let go of the straps and threw my hands out at my sides, letting the wind whip over me. This was the closest I would get to flying on my own, and it was glorious. I felt like I could touch the sky. A bubble of laughter escaped my lips as I reveled in the joy of flying on the back of a dragon.

  Red flapped his wings, making my foot jiggle a little, and I lost my foot from the stirrup. Within seconds, I listed to that side and fell off. I screamed as the ground raced toward me. I was going to die.

  * * *

  I jerked awake, screaming and drenched in sweat. It took a few moments to focus before I realized I was in my room at home.

  “It was just a dream. But damn what a dream.” I rubbed my face with my hands and noticed a brilliant blue peeking from the floor at the corner of my bed. I threw back the covers to investigate.

  A small leather-bound journal lay next to my tote. A crystal embedded on the cover winked in the moonlight at me.

  “Where did you come from?”

  9

  Wyatt

  This dream was different from any I remembered, though my surroundings seemed oddly familiar. I hid in the shadows of the trees at the edge of a clearing, watching a lone woman stand and gaze around her. When she turned her head giving me her profile, my heart stopped and the breath left my lungs.

  “It’s her,” I whispered to no one. My feet moved on their own accord, but when I went to step into the clearing, I was hit with an electric shock that brought me to my knees.

  “This is not the time, last of the dragons. You are charged to watch. When the time is right, we will let you meet.”

  “Who are you?” I demanded.

  “That is of no matter to you now. We are here to guide and help as best we can, but the future of the dragon race lands solely in your hands. Now watch as your mate learns of your history.”

  It was then I saw her take off running toward the trees that currently hid me. My heart leapt in excitement as I saw her heading directly my way. I stood and waited for her to see and acknowledge me, but she veered to my left and down a path I hadn’t seen before. Confused as to why she didn’t acknowledge me, I turned to follow her. She was fast, and I felt like I was trying to run through quicksand to catch up to her. She burst through to another clearing before I could reach her. I slowed, having learned my lesson the last time. I was in no hurry to get shocked again. I slowed when I saw the dragon waiting for her. His scent and the vibrations of his magical essence were very familiar. I squinted and moved closer to the clearing to watch their exchange. I couldn’t hear their conversation, but when the large red dragon dropped his head to his claws, recognition hit me like a ton of bricks. Red.

  My legs gave out underneath me, and I dropped to my knees. My eyes filled with tears, and my heart twisted with the pain of loss and longing. This woman I felt such a pull to, whom my soul yearned for, was having a conversation with my grandfather. He was much younger than I remember him. Seeing him brought the pain of his loss slamming into me. The centuries faded away, and I felt it just as I did the day I found him gravely injured and losing his will to fight for life.

  His eyes glanced my way for just a moment as a keening, grief-filled cry escaped my lips. Tears fell unchecked down my face as once again I faced the loss of the one man who had been constant in my young years, a dragon who held to the morals of our history and who taught me to never ever take our magic for granted or use it for gain. He taught me that we were the one species of shifters that wasn’t blessed and created by the gods, and so we were charged with proving our worth generation after generation.

  I watched as she climbed up his foreleg and noticed a small saddle-type seat hidden within his scales. Fear gripped me, pushing aside the grief that continued to fill my chest. Fear for my mate, fear for my grandfather, and honestly, and fear for myself. The fear spurred me to stand and reach inside for Drago. He had been unusually quiet during this experience. I needed to shift and be ready to take flight and follow if they took off.

  He wasn’t there. I searched every corner of my mind, turning my focus inside. He. Wasn’t. There…

  “Do not worry. Your Drago is safe and asleep in your realm. He was not allowed to travel here with you for many reasons
. This is for you to see and process first without the influence of your dragon’s emotions. Do not worry, she will not be harmed. We promise you so.”

  I spun around and roared at the sky, “Who the hell are you?”

  No response came, not that I expected one. A small scream and the feel of gale-force winds signaled Red’s takeoff. I turned, searching the sky for him and found it had shot them thousands of feet straight into the air. That was a trick he had taught me, one that had saved my life more than once. I followed their progress as far as my eyes could before they disappeared. The scenery around me wavered and changed from the forest-laden mountainside to a very feminine living room, complete with lace eyelet curtains and doilies on every piece of furniture. I took a step to look out the window and found nothing beyond but gray. The aroma of fresh coffee assaulted my nasal passages, quickly followed by the absence of scent. I turned from the window and faced Gran.

  “You don’t seem surprised to see me.” She sat in one of the two wingback chairs facing the window. “That’s good because I don’t have time to calm or convince you of what I have to say. Come sit, have a coffee with me.” She indicated the chair next to her. “I do not baby anyone nor do I hold hands through tough times. Your circumstance, though, deserves some intervention.” She took a small sip from her cup. “Your mate is on her way to discovering your history and soon you. I know you are close to her as well, which is good.” She nodded, still watching out the window to the grayness beyond.

  “You keep referring to her as my mate, but how can that be? I thought I was the last dragon.”

  “Yes, that is true. You are the last full-blooded dragon. You are the last born of two shifter parents.” She finished her coffee and set the cup on its saucer on the table between us. “Your mate though, her situation is delicate. She is descended from the first bloodline who created your species. She has been prophesied to save the dragons for centuries, but because of her heritage, she can also be the savior of other species.”

  I felt my face bunch in confusion at her words.

  * * *

  My body woke me, stiff and sore from the position I had slept in. I stretched my legs, flexing my feet to bring blood flow back to them and alleviate the pins-and-needles sensation. I rolled my head, stretching my neck and upper back as I did. I was getting way too old to sleep sitting on a hard-ass floor. The dream came back to me as I stretched.

  “Drago, buddy, you good?” I could feel him inside, simmering under the surface.

  “Yeah, pissed at the old lady but okay.” He stomped around a bit like a child who didn’t get their way. “Hate when she shuts me out.”

  His words made me pause. “She’s done this to you before?” I don’t ever remember meeting her or dreaming without Drago being a part of me.

  “Yeah, when you first changed, she locked me out during your dreams. Said you needed to find some things out on your own without my help.” He huffed, and I imagined the pouty droop to his mouth and eyes.

  I laughed at the image. “I don’t remember that, but I tell you I didn’t like not having you with me. Do you know what she told me?” I didn’t know if his inability to be in the dream would prohibit him from knowing what I learned.

  “Yes, I told you. We must find her and claim her. Now.” His agitation at my lack of enthusiasm came across loud and clear.

  “Well, big guy, you are going to have to wait a bit longer. I need to figure out what this barrier around the town is and means.” I spoke as if declaring it out loud would help me stick to my plan.

  I grabbed the last bottle of water I had and a package of beef jerky I found buried in the saddlebags on my bike. Once I satisfied my growling stomach, I pulled out the SAT phone Leo had insisted I bring and dialed the number for Selena, the leader of the local coven. She had helped Jerome and his pack many times, and I hoped she could help me with the barrier before I decided to venture through it into town.

  10

  Natalie

  I headed back to the historical library after a quick breakfast with Mom. It was a short walk from the house, but I was on edge the whole way. I kept readjusting my purse on my shoulder, trying to keep it close to my body. Inside I carried the journal I had discovered this morning. I wanted to ask Mr. Crawford about it. Deep down I knew it was valuable, not in a monetary way but in a historical and life-changing kind of way.

  Mr. Crawford greeted me at the door with a rare smile. “Good morning, Miss Seraphim.” His brows knit together when he saw the look on my face. “Is everything okay? You look worried, child.”

  I stepped through the door, and it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, my paranoia vanishing. “That’s weird.” I glanced around the room before turning back toward Mr. Crawford and pulling the journal out of my purse. “I found this on the floor in my room this morning. I thought it might have fallen into my bag yesterday when I knocked a few books off the table, but I don’t remember ever seeing it among those you gave me.” I took a breath. “So, I thought I better bring it back. It feels important.”

  “Ahh, is this the cause of concern on your face when you walked in?” He took the journal from my hands and lovingly caressed it.

  “Yeah, I was on edge the whole walk here, like I needed to protect it, but when I walked in the door, the feeling fled.”

  He chuckled. “Well, your feeling was right. This is very old, and I haven’t seen it in years. This journal has a mind of its own and only shows itself when the true history of the dragons is needed.” He handed it back to me. “As for how you felt when you walked in…” He shrugged. “This building is a haven, neutral territory if you will. It’s one reason I built the historical library here. No damage can come to it within these walls.” He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, closing his eyes and tilting his head back, lost in thought for a moment.

  I cleared my throat, feeling awkward standing with him like that. “Well, I think I’ll go back to my research.”

  His eyes flashed open. “You don’t need to research any longer. That journal in your hands”—he nodded at the leather-bound book—“is all you need to learn the history of dragons, and it might answer the questions floating around in your head.” He moved toward the circulation desk, waving his hand. “Your room is still available and just how you left it. If you need anything else, just let me know, but I highly suggest you read what is in your hands first.”

  I stared at the cover. It was old, but as I stared, more detail came to life. The door behind me opened, startling me out of my trance. I stuttered a quick thank-you to Mr. Crawford and headed down the hall to the room I had occupied the day before. The stack of books was on the table just as I had left it, but taking Mr. Crawford’s advice, I ignored them and sat with the journal still in my hands.

  The leather casing was soft to the touch, worn with years of handling. A thin strip of leather was tied around it, holding the cover and pages closed. In the middle of the cover was a small blue-red stone with veins of gold shimmering through. I placed my bag on the floor and took a deep breath as I untied the leather strip and opened the cover. The pages inside were yellowed with age, the ink on the pages faded, but not so much I couldn’t make out the words.

  Natalie –

  After so many stories being passed down by word of mouth and being twisted with each generation, I decided it was time to write down everything I can remember before we all disappear. By the time you read this, dear, my grandson will be the only one of us left, and his hope will be gone. He will not accept that it’s his destiny to return our species to the glory we once were, to bring a new meaning to dragon shifter and what we stand for. But to understand him and what it will take to bring his hope back, you need to know how we became who we are and what happened to bring us to the point we are now. Natalie, know that I have seen you in my visions. I have seen how good you and Wyatt will be together, but it won’t be easy, and only through your determination and stubbornness will you get through to him. Appeal to his d
ragon first. The man will come around eventually. His dragon has already decided you are his. Use that and anything else within these pages that you feel will help you break through his walls.

  Also know that even though we are centuries apart, you are in my heart and I love you as my own. I am proud of the woman you have become and thankful that you have a mother who accepts everyone as she does.

  Now, get a cup of tea and turn the page. Your history lesson is about to start.

  I leaned back in shock. The first page was written to me. Emotion clogged my throat, and tears filled my eyes as I reread it. I believed all things were possible, which was because my mom taught me how nothing is as it seems and the unreal is usually the most real part of the world. I had been introduced to the existence of the paranormal world but only to keep myself safe. Now here I sat, reading a note written to me centuries before I was born, feeling that the woman who had written it loves me just as much as my mother does. Excitement began to build as I turned the page, ready to find out all I could.

  A knock on the door interrupted me. “Yes?” I answered.

  Mr. Crawford entered, carrying a tray with a tea pot, cup, sugar, and milk. There was also a small plate with biscuits and jam.

  “I thought you might need something to get you through the day. A good cup of tea is always a perfect match to a good read.” He smiled at me, a knowing look in his eye.

  “Thank you.” I smiled, impatiently waiting for him to leave so I could dive into the journal.