Light of Dawn

by Angela Colsin

  “Yes. She only used the Rymid,” Chandra answered.

  “How so?”

  “It seems that her search for a mortal sun fae had lasted nearly a century, and to expedite it, she'd joined a faction of vampires residing solely in the mortal realm where she'd have better luck finding one. Inevitably, Charlotte became her target.”

  Garrick, standing next to Victoria, qualified, “That's why she killed members of the Rymid trying to stop us, Yules. She didn't give a shit about them and never had.”

  Ulric had come to the same conclusion, and filled in the rest of the blanks on his own. “So you couldn't allow Mystikkar to come under attack, and borrowed Charlotte for the favor I owed to stop them. As for the Sentinels, you attacked to keep us from interfering because Charlotte was already invulnerable, and we'd have a better chance of wiping them out after sunrise.”

  Chandra gave a nod of confirmation, her piercing eyes sweeping over the scattered ashes of their enemies. “With the deaths of these magistrates, no one else knows of Charlotte's mortal born status, my coups remain undisclosed, and your debt is repaid, Draconian.” Casting her gaze back at him, she concluded, “Everyone wins.”

  Then it really was over. The extreme relief Ulric felt was only overshadowed by his need to make sure this never happened again, announcing, “We'll have to keep Charlotte's human lineage a secret from now on.”

  “Agreed,” Dalris seconded. “No one outside this mausoleum who doesn't already know will hear that she used to be mortal.”

  His siblings were in accord—and looking rather smug that things had turned out so well in addition. Garrick and Victoria bumped fists with a grin, and as they discussed getting kegs for a celebration that night, Dalris asked Charlotte, “Would you rather teleport Ulric home, or come with us?”

  “Oh,” she started, waving a hand. “We can get back on our own.”

  “Very well,” he nodded, looking between them with a warm smile. “We'll see you both there later.”

  He turned to go, and Ulric heard Chandra mentioning, “Don't forget, I'll come to the manor to break Isaac's curse later this evening. Have a few drops of your friend's blood ready when I arrive, Charlotte.”

  She agreed as Ulric inquired, “You got him to accept your help?”

  “Yes. Isaac isn't happy with my demand, but it's a taste of his own medicine.”

  Chandra almost sounded relieved in a way, and once she'd departed with her Sentinels, Ulric headed outside with Charlotte just to get away from the mausoleum.

  Descending the front steps, he came to a stop in the yard where a gentle breeze blew through the trees, causing yellow and orange leaves to fall around them. Charlotte stopped with him, and in noticing his pained expression, she asked, “Are you okay?”

  Regretfully, he stated, “I didn't make it in time to save you.”

  Realizing where this was going, she countered, “Ulric, no, you did. You've saved me from more than just a dagger to the chest.”

  She took his hands to put his arms around her, then cupped his cheeks, meeting his gaze as she went on, “I love you, Ulric, with all my heart. I wanted to tell you last night, but never got the chance.”

  “You did tell me last night.” At her confused look, he leaned in closer and murmured, “You were chanting it when you got off.”

  “Oh,” she drew out, her cheeks tinged pink. Then she smiled, brushing her thumbs across his jaw. “Well, I do. You've fought so hard for me, and I want to make you as happy as you make me.”

  Ulric closed his eyes, her confession filling him with contentment as his forehead came to rest against hers. “I'll never be unhappy with you in my life. You're my heart and soul, sweet love.”

  Whispering his name, she kissed him, a kiss he returned with every ounce of feeling he possessed, reveling in her closeness after the night they'd just experienced. Charlotte was finally out of danger, and she'd given him her heart.

  What more could Ulric ask, except the chance to cherish it forever.

  As the kiss slowly broke, she breathlessly asked, “How long will it take the others to get home?”

  “A few hours, and I doubt they'll rush.”

  “That's good,” she grinned, transporting them both back to the estate.

  Just a moment later, they were in the backyard of the manor where Ulric wasted no time, leaning down to scoop her up and carry inside.

  “Where are we going?” she asked suggestively, and his answer was simple, making Charlotte smile.

  “To find out how much you love me.”

  Chapter 37

  Two Months Later

  “Ulric!”

  “Can't handle it?”

  “I'm gonna kick your ass!”

  Charlotte was desperately trying to keep him in her sights, but he kept jumping out of the way, laughing when she missed yet again.

  “Damn it, hold still!”

  Suddenly, she dropped her game controller when Ulric got a stealth kill, turning without hesitation to push him over onto their new sofa in his room at Dalris' estate, yelling, “You're a cheater!”

  “Stealth isn't cheating.” He grinned, grabbing her wrists to stop her from swatting him.

  “It is when I'm no good at it!”

  Despite the fact that he'd beaten her two out three times, she was grinning, utterly enjoying herself. As it turned out, supernatural life wasn't so different, particularly when she was with the man she loved, idly playing video games—an essential part of any working relationship.

  It was a lazy afternoon, which was appreciated when the past two months had been so busy looking for a place to build a home. Ulric had already found a good contractor, so a plot of land was all they needed.

  Because Charlotte preferred warm climates, they'd been looking at oceanfront properties, and found one in the Cayman Islands that was perfect. The only trouble was another buyer who'd gotten there first, though Ulric told Charlotte not to give up.

  In the meantime, he wasn't taking any jobs, focusing primarily on starting their life together, and mending family relationships.

  Everything had come full circle, and the only person missing was Edith.

  The evening after Lillian's demise, she'd volunteered to use her blood to break the curse on Isaac once Charlotte explained his condition and the reason for it. In turn, Chandra was somehow impressed by the mortal, putting her mark on Edith to finally take her first apprentice.

  This explained why Isaac had thought her voice sounded familiar—he'd been hearing it in his dreams. The demon just couldn't sense what Edith was beforehand because he was so weakened by the curse, and only figured it out when he saw Chandra's mark on the back of her shoulder moments before they left the room.

  Not long after, Chandra ushered Edith away for her training in the City of Magic where Isaac couldn't follow as he was bound to the mortal realm.

  Needless to say, he was extremely unhappy about it.

  But Edith would return when her training was over, and Charlotte looked forward to it. According to Ulric, apprentices were taught magic at the Guild Hall, and should they pass their tests, they'd become immortal.

  It was hard to think of Edith as a mage of some type, but even harder to imagine her with Isaac—and he'd been asking all sorts of questions about Edith's personality and history. Charlotte didn't give him many details when that would be comparable to invading Edith's privacy, but she sated his curiosity with her general personality traits.

  She also warned him to treat her well, or else.

  Now, with her wrists captured in Ulric's hands, Charlotte found herself lost in a deep kiss, murmuring when their lips broke, “I love you, Ulric.”

  “Even when I'm sneaking up on you in our games?”

  “Maybe a little less,” she snickered.

  He grinned, wrapping his arms around her. “We need to go have another session training with actual weapons again, too.”

  Charlotte was slowly but surely learning to use various types of armaments, finding t
hat smaller blades suited her tastes better. “True, but I'm more interested in being lazy with you right now.”

  “That works, too,” he grinned. “Either way, I have a surprise. Remember that property in the Cayman Islands?” When she nodded, he went on, “I got the buyer to back out. So it's all ours if we want it.”

  Charlotte couldn't hide her excitement, but still eyed Ulric suspiciously. “How did you get him to back out?”

  “I asked nicely,” he replied on a tone suggesting that wasn't exactly the case. “So what do you say? Is that where we build?”

  No matter how he'd done it, the property was gorgeous, so Charlotte eagerly replied, “Yes! That's exactly where we build.”

  Ulric grinned, musing aloud, “Then now we finalize the floor plans, pick out materials, and get started.”

  It sounded like a lot of work, and a lot of fun. “Do you think we'll have an easy time agreeing on everything?”

  “No, I think we'll argue, then have make up sex, so all's well that ends well.”

  Charlotte smirked. “If that's the case, I hope we argue a lot.”

  “Reading my mind?”

  Snickering, she asked curiously, “Are you sure you're okay staying here until it's finished, though?”

  “Why not? It gives me a chance to spend more time with Dalris.”

  Knowing of the tension between them now, which they'd been repairing over the past two months, she smiled. “You're right. I guess I'm just anxious to get the place finished and see what it looks like.”

  “We'll get there,” Ulric promised, “and we'll probably get constant visits from Isaac until Edith returns, too. He'll be looking for distractions.”

  “I really don't know what to think about that. I mean, Isaac and Edith?”

  “Afraid he'll drive her crazy?”

  “No, I'm sure she'll put him in his place if he gets out of line. I'm just worried they won't get along.”

  Ulric shrugged, “We get along.”

  “Oh, sure, after you pulled a knife on me and drug me across the country,” she joked.

  “I'm still sorry about that,” he grumbled. “If I knew then what I know now, I would've waited for you to come home, knocked on the door, and started seducing you.”

  Charlotte laughed, “That wouldn't have worked any better, trust me.”

  “That's not the point. I just wish I'd never threatened you, empty or not.” Leaning up, he brushed his lips along her throat as if in apology, making her lightheaded.

  At the same time, the buttons of her blouse started coming open at his hands, and Charlotte sighed when he kissed the swells of her breasts above her bra, whispering, “I love you so much.”

  “I'll never get tired of hearing that.”

  Taking his cheeks in her hands, she tilted his head to catch his gaze. “I hope not, because I'll be saying it for eternity.”

  Ulric's smile was affectionate while his gaze was lustful, pulling her down into another mind numbing kiss before turning her over on the sofa. Every stroke of his hands against her body melted her, and when he murmured against her ear, “Good, because I'll love you for eternity, sweetness,” she sighed contentedly.

  The future was clear, stable, and she had Ulric with her to make it wonderful. A home, friends, family, and eventually, children waited for them—not to mention several opportunities she never could've imagined before.

  Charlotte hoped to one day meet Dra'Kai, and perhaps see the other dragons as well. Though not the standard issue dreams of her youth, she wouldn't change a single part of the story as it'd come to be. Excitement filled her, and she looked forward to where it would go, wanting Ulric there for each new experience.

  Their journey together was just beginning, and promised to last forever.

  Author's Note

  Thank you so much for reading Light of Dawn! If you have a few moments to spare, I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review, and I truly hope you've enjoyed this story!

  For any questions or comments, or to learn more about The Crucible Series and books available, please visit my website at www.angelacolsin.com, or follow me at:

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  THE FINAL CALLING

  Prophecies, tyrants, assassins, and exiled royalty aren't the things Edith Walsh thought she'd be dealing with when her training as a mage apprentice began. Her main focus is becoming an enchantress by completing the Final Calling—a grand scavenger hunt all apprentices undertake to gather items needed to craft their coveted staff and gain eternal life.

  This challenge can prove lethal if care isn't taken to watch one's steps. But making matters worse, Edith has also been marked for death by the Steward of the Perosian Empire, a tyrant named Rothario, all because of a pesky prophecy made centuries before her birth foretelling his demise at her hands.

  So what's a mage to do? Simple; accept the assistance of a sexy Perosian who's dealt with Rothario's minions for as long as he can remember. Yet Isaac wants far more than Edith's safety—she's his mate, and his fiery gaze, wicked tongue, and shameless seductions inflame her more intensely than she's ever known.

  Convicted of murdering the imperial family of Perosia, Isaac's spent centuries as a fugitive hunted by a homeland he doesn't recall. But his ruthless talent for survival serves him well, and there's nothing he won't do to protect Edith from the forces threatening her life, even if it means sacrificing his own.

  Prologue

  • • •

  Dra'Kai Estate, Outside Atlanta, Georgia

  To most people, a curse of eternal decay would be a nightmare to endure.

  To Isaac, it was a disappointment.

  Laying on a soft bed in a lavish estate, he'd wondered if the decay inflicted on his body by the curse would have some success in removing the mute branded on his back. But no, the marks remained in tact, subduing his abilities despite the loss of three and a half fingers, a good bit of his hair, the vision of one eye, and nearly all of his teeth.

  Still, he probably shouldn't have been surprised. After all of the abuse he'd taken in the Pit alone—including being skinned alive repeatedly—the damned thing never failed to regenerate with the rest of his body. Never could catch a break.

  “Isaac?”

  The voice broke through his thoughts from outside the bedroom door only seconds before it opened to reveal his best friend, Ulric Dra'Kai, followed by his new mate, a mortal-turned-sun fae named Charlotte. Their presence and well being proved she'd just survived a ritual that called for her sacrifice, and Isaac inquired over it—realizing in the process that it was getting difficult to speak.

  “Guess you guys finally killed the bitch.”

  Charlotte smiled happily. “Yep, Lillian's gone, and as a bonus, we took out several of her friends.”

  Ulric looked extremely pleased by the outcome, taking a seat in a chair next to the bed. “All that's left now is breaking your curse. How do you feel, anyway?”

  Pressing his tongue against a loose tooth, Isaac turned his head and spit it into his palm, then deposited it on the nightstand with the rest, answering, “Like a big fucking bowl of sunshine. Can't you tell?”

  Ulric grinned in amusement, looking the demon over in his decrepit condition. “You'll be better soon. Chandra's here, she's just discussing this curse with Edith.”

  Isaac groaned at the drop of Chandra's name. Though she was a sorceress who'd agreed to break his curse, she hadn't been his first choice to ask for assistance—or his last.

  A few days prior, Isaac had randomly stumbled across a vampire plot to abduct Charlotte while visiting a popular supernatural nightclub in Atlanta called Foxy's. The club's succubus owner had idly mentioned to him the oddity of a mortal with Charlotte's description visiting that night.

  So Isaac investigated, and found her unconscious with a severely burned vampire poised above her, ready to drain her blood.

  Without hesitation, he'd intercepted, killed the vampire, and teleported Charlotte to the Dra'Kai Estate where Ul
ric's eldest brother lived.

  But what Isaac didn't know was that Charlotte had a cursed pendant in her pocket, and when he deposited her onto a bed for rest, his hand made contact with the chain dangling from her jeans. The simple touch was enough to contract the curse, making it imperative to find a mage who could break it, and Chandra was everyone's first choice.

  But Isaac refused.

  He'd known the sorceress for two centuries now, and her magic was both potent and reliable. But he'd sought every other avenue possible rather than turn to her for help, and the reason was simple.

  Two centuries ago, a prophecy was made revealing the identity of Isaac's mate as being Chandra's first mage apprentice. She'd never been overly interested in acquiring a student to teach, but Isaac knew she'd do so soon if only because he'd been dreaming of his mate for the past two years.

  Such premonitory dreams were something all male demons experienced, a sign that they were soon to meet their fated match, and in a word, those dreams were hellacious. Isaac could never see his mate in them, and always woke with a sense of yearning for her so strong he nearly felt physically afflicted.

  Furthermore, his dreams had grown so intense in recent months that he knew she was extremely close—and may have hounded Chandra about taking an apprentice even more often than usual.

  This meant she'd make a demand for breaking the curse he was now under, and it happened like clockwork. As soon as Isaac's plight was out of the bag, he had to take a blood oath to refrain from interfering with his mate's training no matter how much he wanted to see her.

  But Isaac was impatient, and some apprentices trained for decades.

  Still, it was a waiting game regardless of his desires—waiting for the curse to be broken, and for Chandra to actually take an apprentice, let alone teach her.

  At the thought, the bedroom door opened. Both Charlotte and Ulric looked back just as a tall, slender woman with black hair tied into an impossibly neat bun at her crown entered the room. In one hand was an ornate, silver staff with a large onyx gem set at the tip between two inverted scythes, and in the other was … a saltshaker?