by Lia Davis
Snowed Undercover
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© Copyright 2018 Kerry Adrienne and Lia Davis
Published by Davis Raynes Publishing
PO Box 224
Middleburg, Fl. 32068
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Cover by: Glowing Moon Designs
Formatting by: Glowing Moon Designs
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All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Contents
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
Chapter 16
Epilogue
About Kerry Adrienne
About Lia Davis
Prologue
Fear the man whose soul has rotted with loneliness, for his beast rages against love and all we hold precious.
“Tell me the story again, father.” The child poked her stick into the fire and glowing embers popped and crackled in the cool, night air. “Tell me about the great beast that lives beyond the aurora.”
“You know how it goes.” The old man tugged his parka hood close. “It’s time to sleep.”
“Please? I want to hear about the monster.”
He stared into the darkness overhead, a million stars visible on the velvety dome of the sky. The faint veil of the aurora flickered through the air like a strand of green ribbon in a rushing creek. A tear slipped from his eye, and he wiped it away with a gloved finger, then looked at his daughter.
So innocent.
The legacy was not one his people wanted to pass on, but they had no choice. Everyone needed to know.
The beast was still out there, somewhere between the winds, in the ice floes offshore, or even in the forest near the village.
“Please, Daddy?”
Precocious and curious, his daughter always wanted to be by his side, learning the old ways. She pushed him to tell her everything about the village and the Inuit customs.
Why do the salmon skip and splash upstream through the water? Why do the seals sleep in groups, whisker to whisker? Why did the wolf howl before dark? Tell me about the beast that kills our people.
Always the questions. He took a deep breath and committed the moment to memory. One day soon, she’d grow up and slip away from him. The time for stories would be over.
These moments were what memories were made of.
He returned her smile. “Very well. Promise me you will share the legend with your own children one day. Promise me you will never let loneliness seep into your soul and change you into a horrible beast.”
“I promise, father.” Her face took on a solemnity usually reserved for adults.
A low howl slithered across the cracked ice. Not wolf. Not anything recognizable.
He pulled his daughter close and began the tale.
* * *
“Long ago, as the frigid Arctic winds sliced through the eternal darkness of winter, a beast formed in the depths of a man’s consciousness, feeding off his loneliness and rage like a wolf cub suckles at its mother’s teat. The beast grew stronger until it had overtaken the human—wiping out what was left of his love and compassion. Taking away his humanity.
One night, when the aurora pulsed vibrantly in colors that rivaled a rainbow’s shadow, the creature ripped through the man’s nightmares and slid along the trails of his tears and pain to the surface. And when it had eradicated the last shred of his humanity, the beast grew colder and angrier.
Humans could not stop him. Other creatures cowered.
Each time the greens and pinks of the aurora shimmered in the black sky, the beast hunted. Not for food.
He hunted for gratification and the joy of the kill.
Hatred and revenge fed his icy soul, and his angry screams spit shards of icicles across his path like a million knives. Kill. Maim. Damage. Leathery wings unfurled, and he cast an icy blast over caribou, seals, wolves—and warm hearts became mere spatters of red ice, life forces drained.
Immeasurable pleasure filled him, and he ascended over the aurora, wings taut against the wind, his mind deranged with bloodlust at the thought of the next kill.
As he soared and circled, he spotted a small village, its fires flickering in dark shadows against the white snow. Warmth flowed from the village, heating the air above.
He sensed it.
Beating hearts. Love and family.
Happiness…
Rage split his shriek, and he dove, nose down, toward the village. The first human he spotted was a young woman. Mouth open, she dropped her pack when she saw him, and he grinned as he speared a talon through her heart as he sped by, the hot blood draining onto his claw. He flung her away and tasted the last of her life force, a warm and coppery tang.
He laughed.
Within minutes, he’d torched the entire village and killed every living being there. It wouldn’t be long before the town would be reclaimed by the snow and ice of the Arctic. Desolate and lonely, it would cease to exist in reality or on maps—a fragment of the emotion that had once rolled into the air.
Mission complete.
He’d sleep well. Satiated for the moment, he turned to go home.
Beneath him, a speck on the ground, was another man pulled by a dog team on a sled, headed toward the next village. He hadn’t been home for the bloodfest.
The ice dragon smiled. He’d wait till the man saw the destruction and realized what he had lost before killing him.
The more pain and suffering, the sweeter the slaughter.
The man’s cries echoed across the tundra as he approached the outskirts of the village. He urged the dogs closer, and they took a corner too quickly, dumping him into the snow. He lay still, crying for his wife and child, and the ice dragon grew near, savoring the pain he’d caused. The beast landed yards away.
He’d take his time with this one. He moved closer, his talons clicking on the hardened snow and ice.
Odd, the man didn’t stand to face him. The dragon blew out a puff of cold smoke when he saw the man’s legs were bandaged above the knees. He couldn’t run.
He had no legs!
The aurora brightened as the man’s shouts turned to angry threats.
What can you do to me? The dragon hissed and lumbered toward him.
“You killed my family,” the man shouted, his gloved fists biting into the snow as he tried to raise himself into a sitting position. The dogs whined and backed away.
“And I will
kill you.” The dragon sped his pace.
A heated scream rocketed from the man and suddenly, the aurora dipped low, touching the ground like a thousand lightning bolts, sending a shockwave through the air that knocked the dragon back.
What the hell?
As the lights retreated, he shook his head at the sight before him. Where once lay a crippled man, now stood another dragon. Larger than him, magnificent in its silvery scales with four horns of black on its head, the creature held a look in its eyes the beast recognized.
Anger. Revenge.
The newly formed dragon grabbed his tail and swung him in the air, repeatedly hitting him on the ground, then blasting him till he moved no more and the land swallowed him whole. He was never seen again.”
* * *
“Then what, Father? The evil dragon is dead, but there’s a new dragon now. A silver one.”
He nodded. “Yes, and the new dragon is still out there, hiding somewhere above the aurora. Waiting. He seeks revenge for the loss of his family. We don’t know when he’ll strike again.”
“Don’t worry.” The daughter stood and tugged at her coat. “It’s just a story. It’s not real.” She skipped off to the tent.
The old man squinted at the aurora, watching its patterns waver in front of him. From a child’s lips to the gods’ ears, he hoped they’d never see the fearsome ice dragon.
Chapter One
When the auroras sparkle green and pink, the monster will return…
A shrill scream echoed in the distance. The high-pitched cry of a child in pain seared through the cold air in a blast of agony.
Every muscle in Luke’s body tightened and his pulse quickened. Instinct and years of hunting rogue dragons pushed him into action. Adrenaline surged through him and cleared his head.
He had to get to the child.
Now.
Dropping the axe onto the snow-covered ground beside the pile of logs he’d been splitting, he ran toward the woods surrounding his small house. Though he was on a forced vacation, he couldn’t stop his dragon from protecting the innocent.
Jo was innocent.
Several yards into the frozen brush, he stopped and listened. Where are you, kid? His dragon prowled, wanting out to search, but he calmed the beast down. He didn’t want to scare the injured child, so unless it was absolutely necessary, he wouldn’t transform. He’d try in human form first.
About three miles north was an Inuit village. It was the closest human settlement to his cabin, and he used to visit it somewhat regularly. Life had gotten in the way, though, and he hadn’t been to see his friends in a few years. He decided to go toward the village, hoping it was the correct direction. Sound traveled in odd ways over the tundra.
He couldn’t imagine why a young person would be so far from the village, alone. The Arctic was a dangerous place for even the most seasoned wilderness guide. A child stood no chance against the perils of the wild.
“Help! I’m hurt.”
The sound came from nearby. Relieved he was on the right path, he took off again in the direction of her voice. “Keep talking,” he yelled back, hoping she’d be able to hear him.
“Hello? Where are you?” Her voice was weak with pain.
Thank gods. His heart hammered. Why did she need help? Fear drove him to run faster. Had she been mauled by a polar bear? Bitten by a wolf? He couldn’t sense anything. “I’m coming.”
With his supernatural speed, he reached her in the half the time it’d take a human.
When he made his slow approach, she lifted her head, her brown eyes going round. She appeared to be around fifteen. The scent of fear rolled off her in waves, and she shrank from him. Her body began to shake, even though she wore a light parka. He wasn’t sure if it was out of fear or shock.
Maybe both.
Luke held out his hands in what he hoped was a non-threatening way. “I’m here to help. I won’t hurt you.”
He sat about a foot from her, the snow crunching under his weight. Being an ice dragon meant he could withstand the extreme temperatures of Alaska. The very human teen in front him couldn’t. Despite her parka, hat, and gloves, her lips had a blueish tint, and her cheeks were bright red.
“Thank you for rescuing me.”
She’d have frozen to death if she hadn’t been found soon.
“Everything’s going to be okay.” He reached for her. “My name’s Luke Snow. What’s yours?”
Something about her seemed familiar, but he couldn’t place it.
She sniffed back her tears and with a shaky breath, said, “Angel.”
“Looks like I found a real-life snow angel, huh?”
She scowled, then winced in pain. “Ha ha. You know, I’ve never heard that one before. I wish Mom hadn’t named me Angel.”
“Your name is beautiful.”
“Thanks.” She sniffled.
“I’m sorry I teased you. I was just trying to lighten the mood.” He didn’t scent blood. “Are you hurt?” She didn’t appear to be dying, but her cries had definitely been of pain, and maybe fright.
A weak smile formed on her lips. Jo had told him he had a gift for talking with young people. She said his smooth voice calmed them as much as it lured adult females in. The ache in his cold, dead heart returned.
Jo. Mate.
Until a serial killer, rogue dragon murdered her. At least that dragon was dead and wouldn’t hurt anyone again. Too bad he hadn’t suffered more. Luke fisted his hand then relaxed it, not wanting to scare Angel.
Shaking off the depression and rage, he focused back on the girl, waiting for her to answer.
She pointed to her ankle. “I fell. I think it’s broken.”
Scooting closer, he reached for her leg. “Let me see.”
She started crying and shook her head. “Don’t touch it! It hurts!” Her scent shifted from fear to pain.
Luke froze. “Can I look at it? Please?”
When she nodded, he carefully untucked her pant leg, and unzipped her boot enough so he could see the ankle. It was swollen and red with a few blotches of blue. She wouldn’t be able to walk, and she needed medical attention soon. “Angel, I have to pick you up and carry you home. Is that okay?”
She nodded, and her fear spiked again. He guessed she wasn’t supposed to be out alone. Especially this far from the village.
Tears streamed down her face and she shook her head. “I’m in so much trouble.”
“Maybe. But I bet your mom and dad will be glad to have you home safe.” He moved closer and slid one arm under her knees while the other supported her back. When she didn’t protest, he lifted her. She was light in his arms.
“Do you know my mom?” She pushed her hair out of her eyes.
“I might. What’s her name?” The teen’s name sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t quite place her. He began walking, then slowly moved into a run. If he kept Angel talking, maybe she wouldn’t notice how quickly he could run without tiring. His breath came in icy puffs as he ran.
“Her name is Kirima. We live in the village of Nunutuq.”
Made sense that she lived in the nearest village. What didn’t make sense was why she was in the wilderness alone.
He paused, recognition blooming in the back of his mind.
“I’ve been there before. Many times, in fact. You’re Kirima and Yutu’s child.” Luke smiled as he breathed the cold air. No wonder the teen had seemed familiar. “It’s been a while since I visited them. You would’ve been a lot younger then.”
“Cool.” Angel lay her head on his shoulder. “I want to go home.”
“We’ll be there soon. Are you in pain?”
“A little.”
“We’ll get the doctor as soon as we get there.” He adjusted her in his arms and jogged toward the village. “Why were you out in this weather alone? It isn’t safe.”
Angel fell silent for a little while before speaking. She didn’t meet his gaze. “I know. Mom and I had an argument, so I left. Walking helps me calm
down, though I usually don’t go so far from the village. I slipped and broke my ankle. I wasn’t paying attention.”
He was pretty sure her ankle wasn’t broken. At least it didn’t look it, nor did she act like it was. Then again, he wasn’t a doctor. “You’ll be grounded for sure.”
Angel sighed. “I know. It was stupid. My mom is going to be mad.”
“She’ll be glad you’re okay.” Good thing he was in top condition. Carrying her wasn’t much of a burden at all. Nothing like chasing down a rogue dragon.
He slowed a few yards from the village. The afternoon sunlight glittered across the snow in shades of pink and orange. No one was in sight, but he couldn’t risk being spotted as different, so he’d have to walk the rest of the way. “We’re almost there.”
Angel glanced up, her dark eyes examining him. “That was fast.”
Ignoring her observation, he scanned the area. Spotting a small plane on the makeshift runway at the edge of town, he nodded. “Looks like Dr. Wilde is here. You’re in luck.”
He secured her in his arms and headed into the village. His boots clicked and clacked on the icy ground like he was walking on marble.
Where was everyone? The village lay quiet, though a few chimneys spewed white smoke into the air, and a team of sled dogs yipped and played in the snow.
As soon as he reached the first house, Kirima rushed out of it and straight at them, her husband, Yutu, fast on her heels. Luke immediately recognized them.
“Angel! Where have you been? We’ve been looking all over for you.” Kirima scowled. “Don’t you ever run off like that again.”
After a moment, recognition lit up their features. Yutu advanced toward Luke and smiled. “Luke Snow? Is that you? Why are you carrying my daughter?”
