Wicked Flames (Solsti Prophecy)

by Sharon Kay

  WICKED FLAMES

  A Solsti Prophecy Novel

  Sharon Kay

  This is a work of fiction. Any actual places are used in a fictional context. Other names of places and people are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual places or people is purely coincidental.

  Edited by Janet Michelson

  Cover art by Amanda Simpson at Pixel Mischief

  Interior design by Ink Slinger Editorial Services

  FIRST EDITION

  WICKED FLAMES Copyright © 2014 Sharon Kay

  All rights reserved.

  Kindle Edition

  Also by Sharon Kay

  WICKED WIND

  (Solsti Prophecy #1)

  WICKED WAVES

  (Solsti Prophecy #2)

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  First, a huge, sincere THANK YOU to my readers! Without you, these stories would remain untold. Your support, comments, and messages motivate me and mean more to me than I can possibly express.

  Thank you to my amazing husband, for your patience and support of my writing. You are wonderful to brainstorm with about plots and powers. I love you!

  Thank you to my son. I love everything we do together. I love your bright and curious mind, and your endless questions (and thank you to Google for helping me answer them)!

  Thank you to my parents and siblings, my in-laws, and my extended family for your love and encouragement of my creativity.

  Thank you to my critique partners for picking apart my rough draft: Amy, Cam, Claudia, Cristin, Jamie S., Nicola, and Racquel. Your opinions, advice, and nit-pickiness are invaluable, sometimes hilarious, and always spot-on!

  Thank you to my team of beta readers, for helping me polish the final version and for helping with my last minute flurry of “keep or toss” questions: Cristin, Diana, Gina, Heather, Jamie K., and Skye.

  Thank you to JB Salsbury and Cristin Harber, for allowing me to weave your characters into my storyline. It’s been fun having them over here! (Darn, is it time to send them back already?)

  Thank you to Toshia, for your endless enthusiasm and setting up our Solsti Series Facebook group. Not only did you go toe-to-toe with my flirty, rowdy demons in an interview, but you are one of the best cheerleaders and promoters that I could ask for!

  Thank you to the trio of women who make my plain Word document into a professional-looking book: Amanda Simpson, my cover designer at Pixel Mischief; Janet Michelson, my eagle-eyed editor; and Cheryl Murphy at Ink Slinger Editorial Services, my formatter and savior from the scary world of ebook html-coding.

  And a big hug and kiss to the many bloggers I have had the joy to work with. The support you give to indie authors is amazing. Many of you have jobs and families and still make time to read and review dozens (if not hundreds) of books each year, providing exposure for us through insightful and witty reviews, blog tours, cover reveals, and contests. THANK YOU!

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  The Thief

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  The Thief

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  The Thief

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  The Thief

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  The Thief

  Chapter 39

  Wicked Flames Playlist

  About Sharon Kay

  Kissed By A Demon Spy: A Novella

  On Wicked Ground

  Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.

  ~Walter Scott

  CHAPTER 1

  MATHIAS SAT WITH HIS ARMS folded across his chest, watching his leader conduct the briefing in choppy snarls. Arawn was the picture of efficiently-contained dark adrenaline as he barked orders to his lieutenants, his six-foot-seven figure pacing across the front of the room. His deep voice boomed off the rock walls, which were lit by a hundred glowing fire bulbs. The soft white orbs hovered on a dim setting, as if they too deferred to the formidable Lash demon leader.

  “Aleksai, you’ll go to the southern forest. I want to know the extent of this drought. We’ve got creatures popping up all over the realm, everywhere they shouldn’t be, stirring up trouble. Claiming there’s no water back home.” He shook his head. “Tell me how the locals are really doing.”

  The blond soldier gave a chin lift to Arawn’s instruction. “You got it.”

  Once the Watchers of Arawn’s inner circle received their assignments, they would head up their small groups of warriors to complete their tasks with stealth and swiftness. And possibly blood.

  “Caine, you’re going to a party at Mulvari’s house tomorrow.” Arawn jerked a thumb toward the image of a sprawling stone mansion on a screen behind him, the pale gray edifice stark against the black wall.

  The dark-haired demon’s eyes snapped to their leader. “Am I looking for anything specific?”

  “He’s opening his doors and showing off. Even though most of his possessions were ‘gifts’ from donors he ‘encouraged,’ I want eyes in there. Recon if nothing else. Record it all, down to the last shot glass and last pair of nymph panties lying on the floor.”

  Caine nodded. The Lash Watcher bore the unique ability to remember everything he saw. Every face. Every building. Every weapon. Like the others in the group, he dealt in his share of rough justice. Mathias wasn’t sure how Caine slept at night, with the images that must flicker behind his closed lids.

  “That’s all.” Arawn stopped his pacing. The assembled Lash Watchers stood to leave. He remained rooted in place like a massive oak, feet planted and arms crossed. “Go.” He waved with his hand before calling out, “Hunter.”

  Mathias walked to the head of the rectangular stone table. “Sir?”

  “Sit.”

  Mathias sank into a carved wooden chair, ready for anything. His leader wasn’t chatty and didn’t mince words.

  “I’m putting you on operation Solsti,” Arawn said.

  Mathias leaned forward. “Ria’s already on that one. She need backup?” Ria was damn good. Had something gone wrong?

  “She’s security and surveillance.” The Lash demon leader raked a hand through his shoulder-length brown hair and settled into a huge armchair at the head of the table. “I need your skills on the target too.”

  “We already have the location.” Mathias’s tracking abilities hadn’t even been necessary this time. The woman they were monitoring lived a normal human life. Used her real name and all forms of social media. The rare talent she kept hidden and unused would never be suspected by anyone.

  “No shit.” Arawn snorted. “That’s the problem. I don’t want every creature in the realms to know it too. We’re lucky nothing has happened yet. That female is too fucking vulnerable. Not that I doubt Tirianna’s skills, but I want the Solsti on board.”

  “You want me to convince her.”

  “This has gone on too long. Three Solsti have been discovered. Two of them have their heads on straight, but this one says she doesn’t want to play?” Arawn shoo
k his head, anger shining in his onyx eyes. “Unacceptable. I don’t know why both her sisters and my Watchers haven’t been able to talk sense into her, but it’s time to stop dicking around.”

  Mathias nodded. He’d been informed of Gin’s reluctance. He couldn’t fathom why she didn’t want the stunning power she’d been blessed with.

  “Persuade her, Hunter. She’s a Solsti. She doesn’t get to opt out. I could give an elf’s ass about whether or not she wanted or asked for this. She has a part to play. No one else can do it.”

  “I’m on it.”

  “It’s probably best to act like you don’t know Ria. No need to blow her cover. From her reports, it sounds like the two of them are best friends or some shit.” Arawn reached over to clap him on the shoulder. “Other than that, use your own judgment. Though I’d advise against dragging her here kicking and screaming. She may set you on fire.”

  “When have I ever dragged a female anywhere?” Mathias winked. “Unless she asked me.”

  Arawn rolled his eyes. “Seduce her, argue with her, tell her jokes, tie her up, I don’t care. Just make her understand. Whoever heard of a Solsti who didn’t want the job?”

  “Whoever heard of the Solsti at all, unless it was in a myth?”

  “Not a myth any longer. They’re a legend come to life. And we don’t know who we’re supposed to help them fight.” Arawn glared at the stone walls, as if they could give him an answer.

  “The three of them did just find out about their lineage.”

  “That’s beside the point. Her sisters are coming along, polishing their skills, kicking ass.”

  “True.” Mathias rubbed the back of his neck. Gin’s sisters leaped at the chance to take down as many nasty creatures as they could find. His first order of business would be to pay them a visit. Then he’d fine-tune his plan for their reluctant sister. “I’ll leave in an hour.” He pushed his chair back to stand up.

  “Mathias.” Arawn’s eyes blazed.

  Mathias stilled, hands on the armrests. Arawn rarely used his given name, preferring to address him by his title. Hunter. Known for his ability to find anyone, anywhere, whether they wanted to be found or not. And to persuade them to do what was needed to maintain peace. Whether they liked it or not. “Sir?”

  “You’ve never failed me. Now isn’t the time to start.” Though the words were spoken softly, their weight landed like bricks on Mathias’s shoulders.

  “Understood. I will convince her.” Or I’ll die trying. If the old tale was true, the Lash demons weren’t the only ones who needed Gin’s cooperation. The entire world did.

  Xavier paced the line of trees, his boots crunching the meager inch of snow coating the hard ground. He didn’t bother to hide his tail or the small horns above his ears. No one would see him here, except the two idiots who were late with his product.

  He shoved his hands deeper into the pockets of his leather duster and stared at the illuminated glow of the building across the small field. His workplace. Well, one of them.

  Getting a job at the water treatment plant had been as easy as manipulating his background and credentials. The humans working there respected him as if he were an actual scientist. He had access to every machine, every room, every test result. All the better to do the work of his true employer.

  A sudden prickle at the back of his neck alerted him to company. Familiar magic hummed among the trees, signaling the opening of a portal. With a soft pop, a bright opalescent circle appeared before him and expanded outward. It stretched and widened to a diameter of six feet. Wavering gently in midair, rainbows played across it like oil on water. Xavier paused for a second to appreciate its beauty before the effect was ruined by his expected travelers.

  In a flurry of limbs and curses, the two fuckwads hurled through the shimmering ring and landed hard in the snow.

  Phobos went to stand up and slipped, falling on his ass. “What the—” he grunted. “There wasn’t any snow last time.”

  Xavier rolled his eyes. “You’ve seen snow before, dipshit.”

  “Yeah, but we never came through a portal and landed in it.” The troll stood up, unsteady on his massive gnarled feet. He wobbled to the side and almost went down again before righting himself. The backpack that dangled from one shoulder slipped to the ground, falling with its unzipped side down. In the blink of an eye, a glass vial shot out and whirled end-over-end in the dark air.

  “Shit!” Deimos, the other troll, made an awkward grab from his sprawl on the snow. His large cracked hands whooshed through the air just above the vial’s trajectory.

  In a slow-motion arc that none of them could stop, it dropped like a silent missile into the white. The red plastic top popped off. Black, precious liquid spilled out, an ink-blot design on the frozen ground.

  Xavier cursed loudly. “Damn you both!” Why Elegia couldn’t find more competent couriers was beyond him. This delivery was priceless.

  The vials contained a beautiful, potent liquid extract taken from a rare black lily that didn’t grow on Earth. It didn’t grow on their home realm of Torth either. No realm’s environment had been able to sustain the plant after a war had ravaged its original home on Evena. After decades of attempted growth, it had been given up for a lost cause.

  Given up by all except one. Elegia, single minded in her brilliant focus, had done it. Only a handful knew of her accomplishment. And with her experiments on supernatural subjects complete, she was ready to extend the extract’s hold to Earth.

  Xavier righted the backpack and picked it up, grabbing the empty vial before he straightened. “This is the last time! She’s gonna hear about this.” He shook the vial in Phobos’s face. “I need every drop.”

  Deimos shrugged out of his backpack and handed it to Xavier, who snatched it with a glare. Xavier rummaged inside, reaching beneath additional vials of extract, and found…

  Yes! This has to be the amulet. He held up a chain with a single charm dangling from its length. It resembled a coin.

  “She got the witch to do it.” At least one thing had gone right tonight.

  He needed a better way to communicate with his leader. Computers and phones didn’t work realm-to-realm, but Elegia had a few witches under her command. They made transportation amulets and, if this thing worked, an inter-realm communication amulet as well. They also created cloaking amulets. His attention dropped to the trolls. Too bad nothing can cover their rotten stench.

  “Hope you can get back home without fucking that up,” he muttered, as Phobos recited the words that would open the portal once again. The shimmering oval window appeared.

  Phobos glanced at Deimos and then at Xavier. “Uh, sorry about the—”

  “Go. Now, before anyone smells you.” Xavier waved the air, irritated, and the two trolls disappeared.

  He blew out a breath and turned back toward the treatment plant, glowing like a beacon across the white field. His first order of business would be to test that communication amulet. Elegia needed to know what sorry-asses her trolls were.

  Checking his watch, he noted that the plant’s guard would be at the opposite end of the facility now, with his damn mutt. The German Shepherd’s nose was good, but not as good as a demon’s. Xavier had ten minutes to get inside. An easy feat, and preferable to making up a reason why he was strolling around the edge of the plant in the middle of the night. The less talking he did with humans, the happier he’d be.

  CHAPTER 2

  MATHIAS HIT THE BLUE MATS with a thud as a knee jammed into his throat. His lungs fought for breath that wouldn’t come. He tapped his comrade’s leg twice, and Rhys stood up.

  “Nice moves.” Mathias sprang to his feet. “Let’s go again.”

  The two circled in the training room as AC/DC blasted from the speakers. Mathias moved first, aiming a kick at Rhys’s solar plexus, but missing on purpose. His trick caught the other demon off-guard, allowing Mathias to dart behind him. In a flash of movement, he reached for Rhys to collar him in a choke hold.

>   Rhys ducked, shifting his center of gravity in the nick of time. He whipped around toward Mathias’s exposed abdomen. Anticipating the hit, Mathias brought his knee up hard. Rhys’s jaw cracked loudly and his head snapped back.

  Mathias lunged, grabbing his friend’s shoulder and turning him as he took him down.

  Face down on the mat, Rhys muttered, “Shit. For an old man, you still got it.”

  “Call me old again and you’re gonna feel this tomorrow.” Mathias twisted Rhys’s arm behind his back.

  “Fine. You’re distinguished.”

  “Rilan’s distinguished.” Mathias backed off and Rhys sat up.

  “Yeah, yeah.” Rhys crossed the room to grab his water bottle and took a long swig. He stopped short of draining the bottle and dumped the last of it over his dark brown buzzed hair. “You still got two centuries on me.”

  Mathias rubbed a towel over his face. “It’s gotta be at least a hundred years since you and I worked together.”

  “Fighting those dark elves on Torth.”

  “Bastards,” Mathias grumbled. “Your moves have gotten better.”

  “Thanks. I’ve been training a lot with Kai.”

  “He’s good. He barely needed my help on that last job.” Yeah, being forced to survive as a gladiator slave tended to make a guy into a pretty vicious fighter.

  “That’s because Brooke saved his ass.” Rhys tossed a water bottle to Mathias. “Speaking of the Solsti,” he drawled. “You ready for the little firestarter?”

  Mathias stifled a laugh. “I think she’d singe your ass for that comment.”

  “From what I hear, if you can get her to do that, you’ve made progress.”

  Mathias blew out a breath and nodded. At least she knew she wasn’t human. He sent up a silent prayer of thanks that her sisters had already handled that one.