Magic Awakened: A Paranormal Romance Boxed Set

by K.N. Lee

  Out of the bushes, four more wolf shifters crept forward. The dragon landed in front of her, its black scales shining in the moonlight and its silver eyes narrowed as it scented the air. The dragon shifter snarled, lowering his head. Smoke curled from its mouth and the heat singed the hairs on her arm. Good thing she’d mailed her brother’s birthday present yesterday, ‘cause Melody was fucked.

  Kyle

  The woman smelled of wolfbane and magic. But she wasn't a shifter. A witch then? Time was running out, because the bite on her arm was blackening. If she didn't get the poison out of her system soon, she would most likely die. And to get involved with Diego’s men meant she was to be avoided. Kyle didn’t need any more complications in his life. Damn, why had he stopped flying to come examine the power surge that had rattled through him when this little witch’s bubble had popped?

  If the poison didn’t kill her, the five wolves surrounding her would. An unfair fight... for her. Still, wolfbane venom was illegal. Then again, so was shadow fighting.

  He should walk away. Fly away, and not look back. Diego didn’t need to know he’d interfered and he could continue garnishing a piece of his winnings to pay for his sister’s surgery. But the way this woman straightened her spine when a tendril of smoke escaped his lips showed him bravery. He'd seen less courage in the ring from his opponents. Besides, he always hated bullies. Danielle had had plenty growing up, with her brother playing the role of both parents. Okay, little witch, I'll help.

  First, he had to get rid of these rabid dogs. And why were the wolves after her anyway? He'd save her now and provide protection while she swirled the charms to regain his lost memory.

  “Back off dragon,” her voice was husky. “I won't be crispy fried without taking you with me.”

  He laughed and spoke with his telepathy. “As if your skinny ass could satisfy me.” Marching forward, he broke through the circle of wolves.

  The wolves growled.

  “I promise, no harm will come to you if you help me out with a bit of magic.” Like an illegal, dangerous charm.

  Yellow lines were trailing up her arm from the bite. She wobbled where she stood, but glared up at him.

  “I don't make deals.”

  “Suit yourself.” He backed away, letting one of the wolves inch closer. “But they'll tear you apart before the venom in that bite reaches your heart.”

  “Why do you care?” Was she trying to goad his dragon? Foolish.

  “Let's just say we can help each other.”

  Instead of looking grateful, as she should, she arched an eyebrow. “My magic is enough to handle them.” Under her breath, she mumbled, “If this venom wasn’t blocking it.”

  Maybe she could assist him with his memories and why he couldn't remember anything since the fight with the lion shifter a week ago, and why he had woken coated in blood.

  Memory charms were expensive and risky. If the witch pushed too hard, amnesia would happen. Twist the spell the wrong way, and Alzheimer’s.

  One of the wolves snapped at Kyle's tail and he swung wide, knocking the wolf back several feet. The other wolves growled and snarled, creeping up closer to her. Figuring she was the easier target, he guessed.

  She ducked a wolf that lunged at her and kicked another in the stomach.

  “Last chance.” Kyle met her stare. “I can always find another witch, but us dragons are rarer. It's doubtful there will be another around to rescue you.”

  “Why should I make a deal with you? You’re not helping. Besides, I can handle this myself.” She pulled out a taser, and aimed it at the closest wolf, but her hand shook. The wound on her other arm looked too painful to move.

  “Fine.” He snarled at one of the wolves as it rammed into her, knocking her down.

  When she fired her weapon, the wires went sideways, hitting Kyle on his wing. Electric current zinged through him. Unable to stop, his body transformed. The pendant he wore around his neck shrunk with him. It carried a spell of clothing for whenever he shifted back into his human form. Too bad it was only shorts, T-shirt, and loafers. The early winter wind beat against his flesh.

  “I’m so sorry.” The witch’s brow furrowed as she approached him.

  The wolves yipped, closing in.

  He couldn’t even nod as the current ran through him. Something strong enough to force a dragon to change wasn't an over-the-counter purchase.

  One of the wolves leapt on his back, but he grabbed its muzzle before it could sink his teeth in and flipped it over his shoulder.

  “Run while you can,” she panted. A breeze danced through the trees.

  Like hell. “We made a deal.” He couldn't defeat all of these shifters in human form, but he wasn't gonna abandon a maiden in distress either - although, she seemed to be holding up well. The closest wolf leapt and Kyle stuck out his arm and clothes-lined it before it reached her. Kyle kicked another wolf into the base of a tree. It whimpered and didn't move. The woman kicked another in the muzzle and the animal spat out blood.

  “Hey, I never officially made an agreement with you.”

  “Yes, you did. I’m fighting with you, aren’t I? Just like you asked.”

  “Whatev—” Her knees buckled and Kyle snatched her up in his arms.

  Shit! The wolves’ growls made his heart hammer against his chest. How long before he had his dragon abilities again? He couldn’t outrun the werewolves, yet he wasn’t about to give up either. Adrenaline surged through his veins. For a few minutes, he could fight them, but then what? How long did she have before the venom killed her? Time to get the hell out of here. He tucked her deeper into his embrace and bolted over a thorn bush. The wolves howled for help and snapped at his heels.

  Melody

  Cradled in the dragon shifter’s arms, Melody’s body jostled against his chest as he ran. Dizziness pounded through Melody’s head with every step the dragon shifter took. Over his shoulder, she glimpsed the shifter wolves giving chase. What had happened? Last thing she remembered was her arguing with the dragon shifter while trying to battle the werewolves.

  His skin was warm against her cheek, and she inhaled his scent - cinnamon and vanilla. I must be delirious. Savage wolf shifters were after her, poison from one of their bites raged up her arm, and here she was swooning in a guy's arms. Her sergeant would never let her live this down if she knew.

  One of the wolves was gaining on them.

  “They’re almost on us,” she croaked out.

  The dragon shifter’s arms tensed. “What?”

  Before she could answer, the beast pounced on his back, knocking them to the ground. She tumbled from his arms, rolling until she hit a tree. No time to waste. She climbed to her feet, reaching for her taser, except the weapon still needed another five minutes to recharge. How much time would the dragon need to shift into his animal form?

  “Son of a bitch—” Dragon guy stood a few paces away, facing the snarling werewolf. “Give it a rest man, you won’t be able to beat me in a fair fight.”

  In answer, the wolf snarled and its fur bristled.

  Melody pushed forward to help but just then more wolves dashed toward them. Burning pain seared through her injured arm and her knees buckled. She hit the ground. Shit, get up Melody. She wasn’t going to surrender and lay on the ground waiting for death to chomp her throat out. Shakily, she rose, nausea rolling through her.

  Five wolves surrounded them. One, the largest, transformed into the man she’d confronted earlier. “Kyle, this isn’t your fight. Take wing and leave and we won’t tell the boss you interfered in our fun.”

  “Oh? And just when do you shifter wolves hunt human prey?”

  The wolf guy curled his lip. “Since this tasty morsel tried to find our underground fight ring.”

  Not looking at her, Kyle squared his shoulders. “So? Lots of people try to get in. You know that, Michael. Maybe if you’d offered her a discount on tickets, she wouldn’t have thrown up a magic circle.”

  So he’d sensed the circle? Us
ually, shifters didn’t - until they crashed into it. If she got out of this alive, she was looking up all she could on dragons. And he had fought like a professional. Did he participate in shadow fighting? His offer for them to help each other was sounding more appealing.

  “She’s a—”

  Kyle slammed a fist into wolf dude’s nose. The werewolf went down in a crumpled, bleeding heap.

  Holy Cow! Just how strong was this guy?

  Kyle snagged another wolf by its tail and sent it sailing. Another wolf raked its teeth down Kyle’s back as he kicked the fourth werewolf in its flank. Kyle’s breathing grew ragged. He retreated, slamming the wolf on his back into a tree. Two remaining wolves lowered their heads, preparing for attack mode. Together, they jumped onto Kyle, but he banged their heads together and they went down.

  “Why didn’t you do that a while ago?” Melody asked.

  “’Cause someone tazed me and zapped my strength for a bit.” He wiped his brow.

  Michael staggered to his feet, shaking his head and laughing. “You’ve done it now, Dragon. Wait until Diego hears about this. Nothing will save your hide. He’ll have your snout sticking out of his trophy wall for keeping her from him.”

  “Big talk. You owe Diego more money than the entire league combined.” Kyle spared a glance at her and she nodded that she was okay.

  But she didn’t feel all right. Her legs were quickly turning to jelly and she couldn’t focus. Right now, Michael looked like he was three people instead of one.

  “Let’s see, shall we?” Michael let out a loud whistle.

  Melody covered her ears, or rather ear since she couldn’t move her injured arm.

  “You calling the army, man?”

  “What do you expect? I always play to win and she’s my prize.”

  “Like hell.” Melody stepped around Kyle but wobbled and he caught her.

  “Tell you what, Kyle. For old time’s sake, I’ll allow you to watch while we teach this little witch a lesson. Maybe afterward, I’ll train your sister Danielle before she dies too.”

  “Touch her and die!” Kyle dove forward, tackling Michael.

  In the distance, howls and yips and roars sounded - a zoo of animals. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my. Kyle was on top of the were, and punching him repeatedly.

  She grasped his shoulder, but he shrugged her off. “We have to go. Now!”

  But he didn’t listen, his fists pulverizing his enemy.

  “Kyle, there are more coming. Lots more.” She jerked hard on his arm. “We can’t fight them all.”

  “Speak for yourself,” he hissed, then blinked as if really seeing her. “Sorry.” He sighed. “You’re right.” Grabbing her hand, he ran deeper into the woods.

  “Wait, the city is in the other direction!” Where there would be more police, both regular and MIS officers, and weapons that could protect them against the weres chasing them.

  “Exactly.” He scooped her up in his arms when she stumbled over a tree root, not breaking stride. “The shifters will be coming from civilization. We hide out until I’m able to shift, then get the hell out of here.”

  “How long will it take before you can become a dragon again?”

  “Not sure. Never been hit by a taser before.” He winked at her. “Let’s hope my stamina rebounds quickly.”

  And then what? Would the other shifters stop their pursuit? She doubted it. If they escaped this attack, she needed to get to MIS-Magical Investigation of Shifters headquarters and tell them what happened. Reclaim her radio and bring backup. Lots of backup.

  She closed her eyes as Kyle bonded through the forest. The constant jostling was making her queasy. How long before the wolfbane in her system killed her? An hour? Two? Would Kyle be able to change and fly them out of here before then? Images of her flying several feet in the air and falling sent bile rocketing up into her throat. Heights and her didn’t mesh. Because of it, she’d turned down a promotion that came with flying a chopper, and had run from the Air Force when they’d knocked on the door after graduation.

  Her stomach lurched in her throat at the thought of sailing through the air. Why had she agreed to work with a dragon? Right. ‘Cause she stood a good chance of dying without his help.

  “You okay? Hold on.” His voice soothed her like hot chocolate. Images of his arms around her, kissing her, made heat hit her cheeks.

  “I’ll be better once this wolfbane has left my system.”

  “Right.” He paused and set her down. “In case you pass out on me, where’s your place?”

  She held onto his forearms to keep from falling over. “My, aren’t we forward?” She giggled. Damn, had the poison gone to her brain already?

  “No. But we can’t go to my place. Diego will expect that and we can’t risk it. Your place is safe since they don’t know who you are. I don’t even know your name.”

  “Me-lod-y.” Her words sounded slurred to her ears. Was she talking too fast or slow?

  “Where do you live, Melody? Hurry, we don’t have much time before they’ve got us surrounded.”

  Branches above her swayed back and forth. Were they dancing, despite their roots deep in the ground? And what about the birds, did they get motion sickness?

  “Melody!” Kyle shook her. “Tell me where you live.”

  “On Tree Street.” She hiccupped. “I mean Oak Street.”

  “What address?”

  Did she have her keys with her? She didn’t want him breaking down her handcrafted redwood door. She’d paid a fortune for that. It was spelled too.

  “Melody…” his breath brushed against her cheek.

  He was so warm, and she was so cold. She stepped into his arms and kissed him. His mouth tasted hot and sweet, like warmed honey. But instead of kissing her back, he grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back. She blinked, seeing his mouth move, but hearing nothing. A wave of blackness struck her as several muscled men burst into the clearing.

  Kyle

  Melody collapsed into Kyle’s arms. Damn woman had nearly made him forget the entire underground shifter league was after them. If she hadn’t kissed him, he’d have gotten her street number out of her. Oak Street was miles long and a half hour flying from here. He just hoped his guess was right and it was on this side of town. She may have some herbs and spells to heal her wolfbane wound.

  This reserve would be a shortcut to the freeway and the city. A smell of sweaty fur reached his nostrils and he spun.

  “Leave the girl with us and I'll put in a good word for you with Diego,” Brian, the lion shifter, said bursting out of the foliage in his human form.

  Nice to see the shiner Kyle had given him last week was still purple with green edges. Melody grew heavy in his arms. He didn't need his dragon ears to know her heart rate was slowing. He had to get her help soon or she'd never wake. It would be easy to lay her on the grass and walk away. Diego would be pissed he’d interfered, but surely the guy would let Kyle off with a heavy fine and a few broken bones. Another debt added to the rising hospital bills. Wouldn't be the first time.

  Kyle laid her on the grass. Her soft breathing made his insides tighten. There was nothing around to help them except grass and trees. Any humans who happened to spot them from the dirt road yards away would turn and run the second they realized it was a pack of mismatched shifters.

  “Good boy.” Brian stepped forward as others pushed into the clearing. “Now, back away and don't let your chivalry bring you regret. She'll be dead within the hour if left on her own, but Diego wants her to answer his questions.”

  Bastard would destroy her body and mind. He’d seen it done too many times to trust Diego. And in her current condition, would the shifters be honor-bond and take her in right away... or use her while she was helpless to defend herself?

  He squeezed his fists at his sides. Rage boiled underneath his skin. “No.”

  “What was that?” Brian asked, his eyes glowing gold like his lion form. “You fight us now, then you're through. No more ring
... no more money. Diego will make sure you never cross the ropes again.”

  “Hope you're better at flipping burgers than you are at punches,” Michael, a bear shifter, mocked and spat out tobacco.

  Every instinct in his being told him to smash their faces in, but more and more fighters were emerging around him. As big as his ego and pride were, he knew in human form he could only handle three or four. There were twice that many already, and more drifting in. Just what had this woman stumbled upon?

  He could see Diego sending in a few goons to rough her up, scare her, but lion-ass had talked about using her before they took her for the cure.

  “Why does the boss want her?” If Kyle could get her to bring back his missing memory, then he’d personally escort her safely to Diego himself. The big guy would reward him for saving this damsel from a gang rape.

  “Don't know and don't care,” Bear grinned. “Just been promised a fun time now and when we bring her in. Tenderize her a bit for him.”

  Lion laughed and the circle of men closed in around him until half stood an arm’s length away from Kyle. “You can have our leftovers when we’re done.”

  “Wrong answer.” Kyle hit Bear in the throat with a hand, and then smashed his elbow into Lion’s temple.

  The others swooped forward. Time to vanish.

  Kyle brought forth his fire, allowing it to burst from his mouth, scorching the ground around him and Melody. They were protected in a flame circle. That wouldn't hold off the shifters for long. He didn't need a lot of time... only enough to recover fully and transform into his dragon form. The tingling under his skin that let him know his dragon was there and waiting, but hadn’t awakened yet. Better be any second now.

  Rick the rhino charged through the flames and got a solid knee to his gut, then Kyle plowed him back with a roundhouse kick. Melody was still unconscious on the ground, but Kyle had to keep the creepy shifters away from her and give his dragon time to recover. Another guy leapt over the flamed circle. This one Kyle had seen in the underground hallways. He was never in the ring.