Happy Howlidays: Shifters in Love Romance Collection (Shifter in Love Book 1)

by V. Vaughn

  “Never,” the one whose real name was Maddox replied with a smile in his voice. “Damned glad to hear from you. Now, open the link with the others. They’re driving me nuts to talk to you.”

  Feeling a slight shift in her mind as the bond her mate shared with his brothers simultaneously grew brighter and wider, Elsa jumped as three deep voices boomed in unison, “Quinn!” Then a single low baritone added, “Oh my Heavens, it is good to hear your voice, Q. I never gave up hope.”

  The name Drago, along with feelings of immense loyalty and deep respect, filled Quinn’s consciousness as visions of the man he called Commander swam into view. She could see immense strength and intelligence in the depth of his dark eyes and his commitment to his men in the straight set of his shoulders.

  “I’m here, Commander. What of the others?” Quinn was quick to ask.

  “Kayne and Kyran are here with me. The first to find their way home. Where are you, lad?”

  Elsa smirked at the use of the word lad to describe a hundred-and-eighty-seven-year-old dragon but was overjoyed that her mate had reconnected with his brethren. She listened to the men catch up, hearing that some had found their mates just as she and Quinn had found one another. And meeting those he called brother, at least through their mindspeak, was a wonderful experience but she couldn’t help her growing anxiety at the impending blizzard and the threat of her crazy auntie. She wished her dad had made it home but was glad he was safe in the village with one of their family friends.

  “We have a bit of a problem here. One I am sure you lot will want to help rectify.” Elsa laughed at the way Quinn’s accent and speech pattern had gone back to the way they were when he’d first awakened after only a few minutes of talking with his friends.

  “Do tell,” the one called Kayne chuckled.

  “I have had the pleasure,” Quinn’s last word dripped with sarcasm as he raised his eyebrows at her, “of meeting the witch, or rather I should say gnome Halfling, who cursed us all.”

  Outraged, they all cursed, some in Gaelic, some in English, but all with a vehemence that assured the men wanted in on the fight. Kyran, the one Quinn continued to call Phantom in his mind, spoke with a thick Gaelic accent and asked, “Shoo us th' coordinates 'n' we'll be in flight as soon as th' sun goes doon.”

  Looking at her, he winked as he said, “I don’t have a clue where I am but this is Elsa, my beautiful mate, and she will show you the way.”

  Surprised, shocked, and completely embarrassed, Elsa tried hard not to blush at the image of her Quinn showed his brothers. Her mate definitely had what her sister Harmony called love goggles if that was how he saw her. It was both flattering and intimidating and something she added to the list of things she wanted to talk to him about as she said, “Hi there.”

  Her grin grew as they all welcomed her not only in words but with unconditional acceptance and friendship. Working hard not to be overwhelmed, she went on, “I’m really new to this whole mindspeak thing, but here’s a bird’s eye view of our neck of the woods from a picture my Uncle Brutus sent us last year from his crop duster.”

  The dragons immediately began discussing a strategy for getting to the cottage as quickly as possible as her sisters’ discussion grew louder and more hostile just over her shoulder. Excusing herself, Elsa turned from Quinn and hurried across the living room at the same time Mona growled, “I am the oldest, I will take the lead.”

  “No, Penelope and I are better at holding our spells. We can create a wall of snow while you and Muriel throw those fireballs you’re so good at,” Harmony countered.

  “Okay, if you’re so smart, what are Ivey and Olivia doing? Are you just gonna leave them out?” Mona was once again acting like a spoiled brat, but Elsa was proud when Harmony quickly responded with almost no sarcasm in her voice.

  “No, they are super talented with creating water, so they can conjure and lob ice spears at Auntie Geneva. With any luck, we can set her on fire and freeze her ass at the same time. All we have to do is hold her off long enough for Quinn and Elsa to work their super mojo. That evil bitch isn’t gonna know what hit her.”

  Elsa wondered if she should be more worried about the gleam in Harmony’s eye at the prospect of all the violence they were planning or the way her mother had been totally silent since ending her communication with Alara. Taking a step toward Carolyn, the elf stopped dead in her tracks and spun around as Quinn bellowed both out loud and in her mind, “Son of a bitch, Geneva is riding the blizzard over the mountain and she’s not alone!”

  10

  Elsa had always heard all the planning in the world couldn’t beat dumb luck, so she had to figure that went for shit out of luck too as all their planning flew out the window at the sight of Auntie Geneva literally riding on one of the low grey clouds rolling with blasting winds and freezing snow over the mountains and straight toward their cottage. It reminded her of that part in The Wizard of Oz when the Wicked Witch of the West was swooping toward the Emerald City with her flying monkeys. The major differences were Geneva was an evil Halfling with a serious megalomaniac complex and it wasn’t flying monkeys but Buggars, shapeshifting fairies from the Unseelie Court with bad attitudes and sharp claws, coming for their hides and Elsa’s magic.

  “We’re going with Harmony’s plan,” Elsa shouted, giving her sister a single nod before adding, “Tell ‘em where you want ‘em.”

  Listening to Harmony as she took control of the elves, Elsa was so proud that even after the devastating news of what their grandmother had done they were all banding together as a family. All the years of feeling like the odd man out was over. She vowed right then and there to do everything in her power to hunt down the sorceress Alara had made that fateful deal with and make her return the magic to her mother and sisters. It wouldn’t change the fact that Elsa had been given the magical family mojo and would someday be expected to go be royal, but it would considerably level the playing field where her sisters were concerned.

  Turning to Quinn, who was still talking to the dragons, Elsa again tuned into their conversation. She immediately recognized Drago’s voice and the tone of a man used to being in charge.

  “There is simply no way we can make it to you, lad, even if we take flight now. We are at least a day away as the dragon flies.”

  Before Quinn could answer, Kyran added, “Ye kin doo this. Froom whit ye've tellt us that wee liddle elf o' yers is packed wi' power.”

  Raising her eyebrows, Elsa chuckled as Quinn shrugged as he answered, “That she is, my friend, that she is.”

  “And my sisters aren’t half bad either,” the elf added then chuckled along as Quinn’s brothers all wished them good luck and assured them of their victory.

  Maddox was the last to speak as Elsa pointed to the ever-growing dark cloud carrying her auntie closer and closer. “Give her hell, Q, for all of us and we’ll see you soon.”

  “And you all do the same. Sounds like our Phantom brought the fight to your door.” All the dragons chuckled. “Rest, you know the next fight is never far away. We will see you as soon as we can.”

  Elsa knew she’d missed something important while planning Geneva’s demise with her sisters and from the single nod Quinn gave her, there was no doubt he would explain later. She listened as they said goodbye and was ready when Quinn spoke aloud with a clap of his hands, “All right, what’s the plan?”

  Without hesitation Harmony jumped in and explained, finishing just as Carolyn pointed and screeched, “She’s coming over the middle ridge!”

  Everyone jumped into action. The elves threw on their snowsuits and boots. Quinn grabbed the coat her mother had made him and slipped his feet into her father’s Wellies. In less than two minutes, their mini army was out the door and scrambling for their positions. Elsa smiled as Carolyn took her position behind a huge holly bush to the left of their house. It had been decided since the elven matriarch rarely used her magic that she would stand by as a surprise tactic to throw Geneva off if the bitch got too close. The e
vil Halfling may be a nasty piece of work but she loved her sister, and they were banking on her split-second hesitation if all else failed.

  Looking around the huge expanse of frozen tundra between the cottage and the mountain range that she’d always called her front yard, Elsa noted everyone’s positions. Harmony and Penelope were the farthest away on either side of the valley about a hundred yards from the base of the smallest and closet mountain. Then about five hundred feet back sat Mona and Muriel, each as high as they could go in two enormous birch trees. She could see the flames already crackling upon their fingertips.

  Lastly, and just fifty yards ahead of where she and Quinn stood out in the open in the middle of the dell, were Ivey and Olivia tucked inside the lush branches of two massive Douglas firs. If all went as planned, Geneva and her band of Buggars would be frozen and burnt and all but beaten by the time they even saw Elsa and Quinn.

  Feet planted, shoulders back, the elf watched the eerie shadows of her auntie’s approach cover the glistening snow blocking out the moon in an attempt to blanket their world in black magic. Quinn’s hand wrapped around hers, and she was once again in awe of their combined power and had to grin as his dragon stood at the ready, head bowed with his battle horns aimed at the coming challenge. She could feel her sisters’ magic filling the valley; fed on their anticipation and excitement, their belief that when they stood together, no one could beat them.

  Dense fog rolled across the tundra, reaching the row of Yew bushes Harmony and Penelope were using for cover only seconds before the first troop of Buggers flew over the final ridge and into the basin. From one second to the next, the elves erected a dense wall of snow and ice. Screams of pains filled the skies as the Buggars crashed into the nearly transparent barricade.

  Taking their cue, Mona and Muriel began their assault. Streaks of fire filled the dark sky, punching holes in Geneva’s black magic and blowing even more of the evil shapeshifting fairies from the skies in a show of sparks and flames that reminded Elsa of their New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Ear-shattering screeches of agony cut through the night sky as those that made it past their second line of defense were bombarded with spears of ice and cannonball-sized snowballs.

  The ground was littered with the bodies of burnt and frozen Buggars as far as the eye could see. Their corpses smoldering through the ice leaving a macabre mosaic across the once peaceful valley. But still more came. Their numbers were vast. Their maniacal cackle mind-numbing. Elsa could feel her sisters’ fatigue as they continued to battle the malicious fairies. It took all her control to follow the plan as she shook with the need to help them. Finally, when the elf thought she could take no more, she spotted Geneva using the last battalion of Buggars as cover, looking for an entry point.

  Their eyes locked. Elsa saw the hate blazing in the depths of her obsidian eyes. The bitch was bringing the fight to them. This wasn’t just about their magic; she wanted their blood. Geneva’s long, leathery wings flapped with determination, blasting a staccato beat through the howl of the wind from the blizzard and the explosions from her sisters.

  The snow from the sky mixed with the wall of sleet Harmony and Penelope were tenuously holding steady, making visibility nearly nil. Steam rose like columns from the frozen and scorched bodies the others had eliminated. Mona, Muriel, Ivey, and Olivia gave all that they had, but the enemy’s numbers were so immense there seemed to be no end in sight. The exhaustion her sisters were battling beat at Elsa, tearing at her resolve, making her doubt the plan to wait until the time was right to strike.

  Her need to help, to lend her strength, battled with her deadly desire to defeat Geneva. Her hands raised of their own volition. Green light danced at the tips of her fingers. Her sisters’ welfare was more important. Taking a deep breath, ready to call a retreat, Elsa gasped as Quinn stepped behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and whispered, “Wait for it…wait…here she comes…you can do this…five…”

  The evil Halfling flew closer, gradually descending, keeping eye contact with the elf, attempting to use intimidation to make Elsa doubt not only herself, but her sisters and her mate. Listening to Quinn’s words, feeling his strength, believing in his power, leaning on both man and beast, she counted down with him. “Four…three…two…”

  Time stood still. The couples’ magic continued its crescendo. Her heart raced. Sweat ran down her back. She trembled as the massive power they shared pulsed to be set free. Finally, Quinn growled, “One…” Then shouted, “Now!”

  Elsa let go of the grip she had on her magic at precisely the same moment Quinn and his dragon opened the gates of their minds. Magic burst from every cell of their beings, erupting like a funnel cloud of lights and enchantment and colors. Shrieks of agony were barely audible over the symphony of their magic as bodies fell from the sky like black snowflakes popping out of existence as they touched down.

  Vibrating with power, Elsa cursed aloud when through the chaos, she finally caught sight of Geneva using Buggars, trees, bushes, and even her sisters’ wall of snow as cover. Giving herself completely to her magic, the elf gasped as she felt Quinn do the same, and in the span of a heartbeat was enveloped within the spiritual manifestation of his dragon.

  Although transparent, his green scales shone brightly in the glow of their magic. His huge wings extended to nearly the entire width of the valley. The battle horns that grew from the ridge of his brow and curved over his head shook with power as a row of thick, sharp spikes rising from the middle of his skull and traveling down his back shone like blades ready to shred the enemy.

  Through their bond, the dragon looked first to Quinn and then to Elsa, giving them both a nod before flapping his mighty wings and taking flight. The elf lent all that she was to the magical beast, watching in awe and honor as his flew with purpose directly at Geneva. Her mate’s pride filled them both, adding to the strength of their enchantment, fueling the dragon’s mission.

  Elsa didn’t hold back her evil grin or the gleam in her eye when her aunt finally caught sight of the mighty dragon. Raising her hand, Geneva attempted to throw first fire, then ice, then a steady stream of black magic at the beast, but the union of elf, Guardsman, and dragon was too strong.

  The winged warrior gained on the Halfling as she frantically tried to escape. Dropping her left wing as she raised her right, Geneva attempted to dive and turn at the same time, but the dragon was faster, stronger, and battle-proven. Opening his massive jaws, the dragon gave an earth-shaking roar as fire flew from his gaping mouth.

  Wrapping her wings around her body, shielding herself from the flames, Geneva dove for the ground, landing with a thud as she rolled toward the ravine, jumping to her feet just before sliding over the edge. Spinning on her toes, the Halfling thrust magic at the dragon as his enormous paws touched down.

  Sparks flew. Smoke filled the skies. Good fought evil. Dark magic met white hot dragon fire as Geneva fought to gain ground over one of the Universe’s chosen warriors. The point where their magics met grew taller and wider. The glow burnt Elsa’s eyes but she refused to look away as the dragon, who was just as much her mate as the man who held her in his arms, fought against Geneva for not only the elf’s freedom and safety, but that of her family.

  Her winged warrior moved forward. His huge claws dug into the ice and snow for support. Gaining ground on the Halfling, he pushed her back, step by powerful step. Elsa saw the fear growing in her auntie’s eyes; saw the sweat on her brow, the tremor in her legs, and the shake of her arms. Geneva was losing ground. She was all alone. Her army of Buggars lay dead or dying as the falling snow covered their remains. The elf could feel the thrill of victory.

  But Geneva had one last trick up her sleeve. In one fluid motion, the Halfling fell backward into the ravine, unfurled her wings, and glided to the other side. Smirking as her feet touched the ground, she once again thrust her magic at the dragon, hitting him in the chest. Stumbling for a split-second, the beast roared, pulled even more enchantment from Elsa and Quin
n, and with a commanding flap of his wings, shot into the air, breathing a steady stream of flames directly onto Geneva.

  Elsa wanted to look away. Knew what was about to happen. But she was simply riveted in place, unable to move, entranced by the way the dragon’s fire and magic tore away at her aunt, stripping the Halfling of her enchantment, burning away her wings, and finally leaving her as nothing more than a smoldering pile of ash while her death screams still echoed through the air.

  As if a switch had been flipped, the elves extinguished their magic. Quinn and Elsa pulled theirs back, watching together as the dragon, their champion, slowly floated toward them, fading back into his place within Quinn’s soul. Bone-deep exhaustion filled the elf as she turned in her mate’s arms, looked into his beautiful emerald eyes, and breathed, “We did it. We really did it.”

  “Yes, mo ghra’ we did,” he whispered just as his lips touched hers.

  Falling into the kiss, Elsa let go of all her fears, all her questions, and all her doubts. They had a lifetime to talk. Right now, she wanted to enjoy being alive and being in the arms of her mate.

  The sounds of boots in the snow alerted her sisters’ arrival a half a second before Ivey called out, “Oh, my Goddess, seriously, get a room. Do you guys ever think of anything else?”

  Lifting his head, Quinn barked with laughter as he answered, “Oh, I plan to and no.”

  His words were met with laughter as Carolyn commanded from the porch, “Get in the house before you catch your death. Aren’t you guys smart enough to get in out of a blizzard?”

  “But what about the mess?” Mona asked, pointing over her shoulder at the remains of not only all the Buggars, but also their aunt.

  “Let me take care of that,” Quinn quickly offered. “You all go inside.” Then just to Elsa after kissing the tip of her nose, “I’ll be right in.”