Freed by Fire (Dragonkeepers Book 5)

by Kimber White

  “I need to question this Kian,” he said. My stomach dropped. I’d kind of hoped Baines had forgotten about him. As far as anyone knew, Kian had left town over a week ago. I didn’t want to directly lie to Baines or anyone.

  “He hasn’t been around the bar for a while, Sheriff,” I said.

  Baines nodded. “So you’ve said. Listen, we could stand here and do this little dance, but I’d appreciate it a hell of a lot more if you’d just tell me the truth, Calla.”

  My pulse raced. “I don’t…”

  “It’s no good,” he said. “And before you dig your hole any deeper, Mason came to see me.”

  Mason. I should have figured him for a rat. Mason was the most powerful wolf shifter in the region. His presence had been the main source of trouble in Shadow Point until the bodies started showing up. He and Baines usually steered far clear of each other since Baines wasn’t pack. Wolf shifter politics were complicated.

  “Mason’s a bit of a bully,” I said. “But, I don’t have to tell you that.”

  “He’s also a first-class asshole. Only I’ve never known him to be a liar. He said he saw you with this Kian fellow a few nights ago. He said the two of you looked close.”

  I reared back. “Close? You’ve got to be kidding me. Did he also tell you that he and his pack were two seconds from ripping the guy’s face off until I stopped them? Baines, they had him cornered in the park. Eight against one.”

  “Still,” Baines said. “I asked you to tell me if you saw the guy again. You didn’t think it was worth mentioning?”

  “No,” I said. “I didn’t. And if Mason’s going around trying to make it sound like something it isn’t, that ought to tell you something. Tensions are high enough in town. That guy feeds off it. I told you, I don’t like bullies. Any time I see Mason or anybody like him trying to start something like that, you can be damn sure I’m going to stop it.”

  Baines took another sip of his club soda. He set it down hard. “Mason said the guy had a smell about him. Said he couldn’t place what it was. Calla, I need to talk to this guy. That’s all. I’m not accusing him of anything. As far as Mason and his pack...you’re right. They can be a bunch of bullies. You’ve got the power to keep that in check...and I don’t know how you do...but I’m grateful for it. You’ve always made my job just a little bit easier since you came to town. I just would hate to see you letting some outsider take advantage of you. You’re one of us now, Calla. That means something.”

  Damn Baines for saying the one thing that could choke me up. I’d never been one of anything for my whole life. I knew he was partially playing me, but it felt good to hear it just the same. And it also made me feel like a jerk. Baines wanted to question Kian. Why did I feel the need to stand in the way?

  “I really do appreciate you looking out for me. And your opinion of me means a lot, Baines. You don’t always get credit for how hard your job is. You walk a fine line among the shifters in this region. You’re probably the only man who could do it and succeed.”

  “Well,” he smiled. “See, that’s what we have in common, you and me. One of these days, you’re going to have to fill me in on what kind of magic it is you practice.”

  “Who says it’s magic at all?” I said. “So what’s the frontrunner these days?”

  Baines finished his drink and set his mug down. This was a good-natured joke between us. I knew damn well the shifters in this town had a running bet about my background. “Well,” Baines said. “For a while, the safe bet was mage. Only, you just don’t have the smell. Some thought Owen had a lock on it. His theory was that you were part wolf, but I knocked that one down right away. So...odds on favorite right now? The fairies have it.”

  I raised a brow. “Fae, huh?”

  Baines’s eyes narrowed. “You mean…”

  “Sorry, Baines,” I said. “Wouldn’t want to tip the odds in anyone’s favor. What’s the fun in that?”

  He grumbled, but it was enough to placate him for now. He threw a five dollar bill on the bar and slid off his stool. “Fine. Keep some of your secrets, Calla. Shadow Point was built to hold them. It’s how the town got its name. Now, there’s a story for another day.”

  “I’d like to hear it.” I wiped down the bar. The door opened and two couples came in. Sadly, I knew that would be our rush tonight.

  “Tell your friend I’m looking for him,” Baines said, his tone growing serious.

  “Got it,” I said, hating the lie. “Although, you can’t blame him for wanting to steer clear of wolves after Mason’s stunt.”

  “Fair enough,” Baines said. “But I trust you can convince him I’m not part of that. But I will do whatever I have to to protect the people of this town.”

  All trace of friendliness faded from Baines’ eyes. His meaning was crystal clear. He’d protect the town against me if it came to it. I nodded and waved as he headed out the door.

  Owen came out. His smile brightened when he saw the new customers. I just wished I could do something to bring in more business. For now, their burger and beer orders would have to be enough to keep Owen’s mind off our troubles. It wouldn’t even make a dent for me.

  Owen closed early, just after eleven. He made me two extra burgers and an order of fries when I asked. He assumed I was taking it all to Astor. I just hoped Astor wouldn’t figure out we’d locked the doors. With any luck, I had a little extra time to sneak away and bring the food to Kian. He needed to know about Baines. I had to figure out a way to keep my promise to him without putting Kian or Baines in any danger from each other.

  My pulse quickened as I took the path through the woods. It was eerie, dark, and quiet tonight. There was no official curfew in place, but people stayed indoors. A hooting owl was my only company as I left the trail and forged through the brush. I took a zig-zag path, hoping to make it that much harder if any shifter decided to try and track me.

  I held my breath for a moment as I approached the mouth of the cave. I could feel Kian’s pulse and hear his breaths from several yards away. He was waiting for me. That familiar flare of heat went through me. Since the other night, I’d kept my distance. Still, the pull of desire made my blood hum as I flicked on my lantern and headed down into the cave.

  Kian sat on the ledge looking pensive. But, he was calmer now than I’d seen him for days.

  “Brought your dinner,” I said, lifting the Styrofoam box.

  “Thank you,” he said. His chains rattled as he shifted to face me. I put the food beside him.

  I shined the light into his face. Kian squinted, but didn’t raise a hand to shield himself. I took a beat, studying him. He was a little grimy from being underground for so long, but his color was good. In fact, he looked the best I’d seen him since I brought him down here.

  “How are you feeling?” I asked, hopeful.

  He cocked his head to the side. “Better,” he answered. “It’s...quiet here. My head is clearer.”

  I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “Good. No, that’s good. What about...have you had any blackouts?”

  He opened his mouth to answer, but stopped himself. His eyes widened. “No. Actually...no. I slept a lot today. But, I haven’t lost time.”

  “That’s great!” I said, gushing. I forgot myself for a moment and rushed to him. I put a hand on Kian’s shoulder. Instinct took over and I think I might have hugged him. A spark went through me the moment our skin touched. Kian let out a growl. The touch startled him as much as it did me. His eyes flashed and sweat broke out on his brow.

  He strained against his bindings. I stumbled backward. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to...I should have been more careful. You’ve been down here a long time. Too much too quickly...no wonder you’re feeling a little sensory overload.”

  He drew his legs up. The length of chain binding him to the wall hung in a loop in front of him.

  “So what’s your plan, Calla?” he said. “Do you want to keep me down here forever? I’m your secret pet?
”

  “What? I...no...just until...we know for sure.”

  “What are you waiting for?” he asked. “Someone else to die?”

  Anger flared through me. “No. I told you. I have a feeling about you. I don’t think you're guilty. But you’re sick. Being down here is making you better. So, you’re welcome.”

  His face broke into a sarcastic grin. “You think it’s being down here that’s making me better?”

  He was cryptic, but I felt his meaning blaze through me. It wasn’t the cave that was good for him. He was better when he was around me. They all were. Until they weren’t.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “If I could come up with a better plan for you, I would. You have no idea what I’m risking even trying to help you. I’ve betrayed good friends for you.”

  “I didn’t ask you to do that.”

  “Well,” I said. “You also didn’t stop me. Listen, the town sheriff wants to question you. Pretty soon, we’re going to have to let him. I just need some time to figure out a few things. And you need more time to get a hold of yourself.”

  He lifted his chains again. “You’re the boss, ma’am.” His eyes twinkled with sarcasm. I took that as a good sign. The rage within him had quieted. Despite what he said, the solitude of the cave was helping him just as much as anything else. Now, if only I could figure out what to do about Baines.

  Without warning, Kian went stiff. His eyes glowed. The growl he let out echoed through the cave.

  “Someone’s coming!” he shouted. He stood and strained against the bindings.

  I felt a familiar pull between my shoulder blades. Shit. “Stay here!” I commanded. “And for the love of God, keep quiet.”

  “Calla,” he muttered. “Don’t.”

  I shot a look at Kian. “Trust me. I know what this is. I’m not in any danger, but you might be.”

  I turned my back and ran to the mouth of the cave. The night was still dark and still. The trees rustled in the breeze. To anyone else, nothing had been disturbed. But I could sense that magic anywhere. I’d been an idiot not to plan for it.

  Astor appeared as a flickering light. Then, he took shape, passing straight through the nearest tree. His face wavered, but his expression was unmistakable. He was furious.

  “What are you doing here?” I whispered, walking toward the apparition. I thanked God that Kian’s chains wouldn’t reach far enough for him to make it to the mouth of the cave. I couldn’t be sure whether he would see Astor’s projection for himself.

  “I knew you were lying,” Astor said, though his lips didn’t move. His words slammed inside my head. I’d forgotten how dizzying that sensation was.

  “Just...stop this,” I said. “It’s not good for you. You don’t have enough strength to…”

  “I’m strong enough!” he shouted. I cupped my hands over my ears. It felt like I’d been hit between the eyes with a frying pan. “Show him to me!”

  “Calla!” Kian shouted at my back.

  Shit. I was cornered. Kian sensed enough to know there was someone or something causing me distress. If Astor had projected himself this far...he may have already seen inside the cave. There was no mistake that he’d heard Kian’s shout though. Astor’s eyes blazed with blue fire. He was gearing up to cast another spell.

  “Stop!” I shouted. “You’ve made your point. I’m on my way home. Stand down, Astor.”

  Astor dropped his arms to his side. “The worst has happened. It’s all turned.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Astor shook his head. “Owen’s missing. You have to find him before it’s too late,” he said. My insides went hollow. No. No. No.

  “Calla!” Kian sensed my distress. I felt his madness rising. But, there was nothing I could do for it now. Grief tore at me as I left the cave behind and ran toward town.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Kian

  The air was thick with magic. It stuck to me like tar, got in my lungs, choked me.

  “Calla!” I yelled.

  I stormed to the center of the cave. The chains tugged at my wrists. I froze. I could go after her. I could break the chains as if they were made of paper. But, then she would know.

  I strained to see Calla at the mouth of the cave. Light and a thousand colors like a prism blinded me. Whatever had a hold of her, it was cloaking itself.

  “Calla!” My voice echoed off the cave walls.

  A blast of cold air hit me square in the chest. The cloaking spell had teeth. I acted without thinking, tearing the chains off my wrists. There was no going back now. I ran to the mouth of the cave.

  The wind howled. Clouds rolled in and a fierce storm began to brew. Calla was nowhere.

  “Calla, where are you?” I kept my voice even. She was here. She was just here! I saw her tracks in the soft earth. The scent of magic choked me. I put my arm over my mouth to try and keep from inhaling any more of it than I had to.

  There was just one set of footprints leading into the thicker part of the forest. Had the magic just swept her up like a cyclone? Just beneath the magic, I could sense Calla’s distress. She was running. She was afraid. I couldn’t sense what direction she took after her footprints disappeared.

  “Son of a bitch!” I punched the nearest tree. Wood splintered around my hand. My fire bubbled up. Sparks skittered down my spine. If I couldn’t contain my rage, I might set the entire forest ablaze. It was too risky. Calla could be anywhere. I’d been such a fool to go along with this. I should have taken that woman to our ancestral home in Scotland where this black magic couldn’t touch her.

  “Calla!” I called again. My instinct failed me. Wherever she’d gone, I couldn’t find a trace of her.

  It would be easier in my dragon. The effort of keeping him at bay made it that much harder to get my bearings. Maybe if I just let him out a little…

  A column of flame shot from my fingertips. Thunder cracked. Just ahead of me. A bolt of lightning touched down and split an oak tree in half. Then the rain came. It was a blessing. It might be enough to keep a wildfire from starting. That was if I got far enough away.

  “Calla!”

  I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to focus on my breathing. I listened for my pulse. It was thunderous, erratic. It was all I could hear. Calla was gone.

  Another crack of lightning hit a few yards in front of me. God. It was me. I was drawing the electricity. I had to get out of the woods, and fast. I could hear Calla as if she were right beside me. She would tell me to go back to the cave. Only, something had startled her. I felt her panic. Protective rage and instinct fueled me as I made my way through the forest.

  I tried not to think. If magic was blocking me from sensing Calla’s movements, I wouldn’t feed it anymore. I let my heart pull me. I burst through the trees, tearing at the brush as I made my way toward town.

  If I was wrong...if I was running further away from her…

  My head exploded with sound. It was like metal on metal. I doubled over and clamped my hands over my ears. I threw my head back and let out a blast of flame. Scales popped out on my forearms. I curled into myself. I had to fight it.

  There, beneath the chaos, a sound reached me. It tore my heart in two. I heard flesh rip. Smelled blood. Death. A low, murderous growl. Then… under all of it...I heard Calla scream.

  Blackness settled over me like a curtain. No! Not now! I could not let my dragon out. She was close by. Thank God. I could sense her. She was alive. But, her heart beat wildly. She was running from something. It was fierce and alive and wanted to devour her.

  No. Not something. Me. My fire consumed me. I hungered for blood. I couldn’t see. Couldn’t feel.

  The blow came from the side. I saw only flashes. Brown eyes widening with fear. He was begging for his life. So much blood. So much pain. A hulking shadow hovered over the man. I recognized the man but couldn’t pull the memory of him into focus. But, the danger was in the present. A beast. Teeth then fangs. Then death.

  My back contorted wi
th pain as my wings tore at me. I pulled my arms to my chest, trying to push the dragon away. No. God. No. It wanted the death. The kill.

  I saw Adam Webster drop to his knees. He clasped his hands together in prayer and his lips moved. That same screeching metal on metal sound split my head in two.

  I let out a blast of fire. It burned Adam’s shirt away. Claws ripped through him. He was dead when he hit the ground. Then, everything went still and black.

  “No!”

  Calla’s scream reached me. It tethered me as I tumbled end over end into the void.

  “Kian!” she said, breathless.

  My talons dug into the wet grass. I was on all fours. My breath heaved. Calla was behind me. Trembling, with torturous effort, I retracted my talons.

  “No. God. No!” Calla rushed forward. She’d come running from the other direction. I reached for her, but she slipped through my grasp. She sank to her knees with her back to me. It was then I noticed the other figure on the ground.

  “Owen!” she screamed. Calla knelt with her hands out to the sides as if she were trying to contain the horror in front of her.

  I got to my feet. This was the edge of the park. We were just across the street from the pier on one side and the Shadow Point Marina. Streetlamps had just turned on. Dark shadows concealed the alleys. There was someone out there. I could smell him, but my brain was too scrambled to recognize the scent.

  “You!” Calla turned. Her eyes were wild. Her hair flew around her. She launched herself to her feet. It was then I saw Owen. His body superimposed with the memory of Adam Webster’s. Owen’s clothes were ripped from his torso. Great red slashes cut through him. It was a fresh kill. He was still bleeding. Rivers of it ran into the cracks in the sidewalk and washed into the gutter.

  I tried to sort it all out in my mind. It was Adam I’d seen die. Not Owen. My memories jumbled. I viewed them as if they were reflections in a cracked mirror.

  “How?” Calla said, her voice dropping low. She quaked with rage as she came to me.