Magic Burn: an Urban Fantasy Novel (Shifting Magic Book 2)
Page 16
I assumed the largest was James. He was pure white with silver tipped wings, a gloriously beautiful dragon. Catriona and I briefly lost sight of him when he passed through the snowy clouds that dotted the otherwise clear sky. Next in line was a dragon only a bit smaller than Darius, one I knew intrinsically to be Leda. She was bright red, like the stripe of a candy cane, with white marks across her four massive feet, all of which were tipped with sharp, black talons.
Bringing up the rear was Quinn’s navy blue dragon, the various other hidden colors of his scales glittering in the sunlight. Catriona couldn’t take her eyes off him—not that I could blame her. He flew next to the smallest dragon of the bunch: Hudson. As the youngest, I assumed he would also be the smallest: a little olive green dragon, one distinct color from top to bottom, with only a few spikes along his back. Those teeth though… When he roared, I noted that his dragon body still needed to grow into his razor-sharp set of teeth.
“They’re so…” Catriona opened and closed her mouth, as though struggling for words as we watched them soar. I nodded, unable to wipe the smile from my face.
“Beautiful?”
“Exquisite.”
“Agreed.”
We perched at the edge of the plateau, legs dangling over the brink of a rocky abyss—a good hundred-foot drop, if we slipped. The usual fear of hanging over a great distance wasn’t there, mostly because I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the dragons above. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting their song fill my soul, breathe life into my marrow, before staring up dreamily.
My inner voice had been lulled into silence too, though I felt this pull, this undeniable need to be with them. I yearned to jump, to soar, to race alongside my father, my newfound siblings. I longed to be included, to be welcomed into the fold as one of them. Heart hammering inside my chest, I lifted a hand, tracing James’s flight with my finger—then stared, wide-eyed, at my arm when something rippled beneath my skin. Swallowing hard, I brought my hand back to me, and swore something skittered along beneath my skin again. Adrenaline pounded through me, illuminating every limb, every fiber. A wave of nausea followed, yet I’d never felt more alive. My senses heightened without me calling upon them.
Was this…?
Was Leda right? Being in the presence of my kin… Perhaps it was drawing something out of me, something long dormant, something that yearned to join the chorus of cries thundering across the sky.
Could I possibly be on the verge of—
“Oh, Darius is back.”
I turned away at Catriona’s words, and the feeling rapidly subsided. Blinking hard, I pushed up to my feet, ready to hold Darius’s clothes for him—I could only imagine he longed to join the other dragons soaring overhead. However, my smile faded when I caught the look on his face. He lifted hollow, distant eyes to mine, then slowly turned and made his way back down the path. Biting my lower lip, I hurried off after him, catching up a few moments later.
“Darius?” I caught his arm, stopping him, and slowly waited for him to face me. The whites of his eyes had turned faintly red, and he felt stiff within my grasp. My heart dropped.
“Word from home,” he said thickly. “My father is dead.”
I said nothing—because what could I possibly say? I’m sorry? No one wanted to hear that when someone had passed on. I’m sorry never fixed anything. It didn’t alleviate the guilt, the pain, the agony of loss. So, instead, I stood up on the tips of my toes and hugged him, as hard as I could, until finally his body lost its stiffness and collapsed against me. He trembled as I stroked his hair, but as far as I could tell, no tears fell.
Typical Darius. I knew he would grieve in whatever way seemed right on his own time, whether I saw it or not.
“I must go home,” he told me, his voice hoarse when we broke apart. He raked his fingers through his hair and shifted his gaze elsewhere, everywhere but to me. “You should stay. Be with your family.”
I shook my head. “Not on your life.”
“Kaye. Stay with your—”
“You are my family,” I snapped, poking him hard in the chest until he looked at me. “Don’t you dare think about leaving me here. I’ll come after you. You know I’m just as stubborn as you are.”
He gave a weak chuckle in response. “I suppose that’s true. But you’ve only just connected with them. Don’t you—”
“We have all the time in the world to get to know each other,” I argued, pushing all thoughts of the ramifications of Khalon Thomas’s death to the back of my mind. Surely, Darius had a thousand thoughts racing through his head, too. For now, all that mattered was that my dragon survived this—and I would be right by his side to see him through it. “Seriously. I’m coming with you.”
“But—”
“We do this together,” I said forcefully, taking his hand in both of mine and squeezing, “or not at all.”
Using his own words against him—I just couldn’t help myself. Darius lifted his gaze to the horizon, jaw clenching for a moment. I could see it all, the weight of this news. It would drown him, if he let it. Thankfully, my generous hips made me very buoyant. I wouldn’t let him splash around for long.
“Together it is then,” he said, exhaling deeply. His fingers laced around mine. In the distance, the bellowing of four great dragons filled the air. Darius slowly sank to the ground, his head in his hands, and I followed, holding him to me in the shade of the mountainside.
“Together,” I whispered.
For whatever the future held, darkness or light, I couldn’t imagine it without my dragon. Because I loved him. I’d stand by him. Always.
The End.
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Catherine Vale
http://www.CatherineVale.com
About the Author
NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling Canadian author Catherine Vale loves to write urban fantasy tales of magic and mayhem, and paranormal romance, where guys sprout fur, and gals aren't afraid to bite.
Girls with curves, and guys with growl. What more could you want?
When she isn't lost in one of her fictional worlds of magic and shifters, you can find her watching thrillers, spending time with her friends and family, and dancing to 80's rock.
If you love reading about kick-ass heroines, powerful heroes and their magical adventures, check out Catherine’s website for a full listing of books: http://www.CatherineVale.com
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Other Books by Catherine Vale
Shades of Dragon
Broken Moon
Kiss of Fire
Darkest Days
Wild Things
Edge of Magic
Bearly Magic
Dark Side of the Moon
Murder by Magic
Shifting Magic Series:
Magic Fire, Magic Burn, Magic Blaze
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Magic Burn
Shifting Magic Series: Book #2
Catherine Vale
Copyright © 2017, Moonlight Press
Website: http://www.CatherineVale.com
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This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, brands, incidents, and places are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction. The publication/use of these trademarks is not associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Edited by Charlotte Stanley
Inquiries may be sent directly to: shifters@catherinevale.com