Dragons in Fire: Paranormal Shifter Romance (Supernatural Community Book 3) Read online

  Dragons in Fire

  Supernatural Community: Magic in Light

  Book Three

  KRISTA STREET

  Copyright © 2020 by Krista Street

  All rights reserved.

  First published: February 28, 2020

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, scanned, transmitted or distributed in any printed or electronic form, or stored in a database or retrieval system for any commercial or non-commercial use, without the author’s written permission.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and plot are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any places, business establishments, events or occurrences, are purely coincidental.

  50102028100108

  Cover art by Covers by Combs.

  Table of Contents

  Table of Contents

  Preface

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Angel in Embers

  Thank you

  Preface

  Dragons in Fire is a paranormal shifter romance and is the third book in the Supernatural Community: Magic in Light series. The recommended reading age is 18+.

  Chapter 1

  I screamed then screamed again.

  Similar to my portal transfer to Emunda, the sound didn’t carry, but I kept screaming.

  I tried to curl into a ball but couldn’t move. Jarring pain ripped through me as the portal threatened to shred my skin and crush my bones.

  Somewhere in the swirling mess flew Daniel, the full-blooded angel accompanying me back to earth, but I couldn’t see him. Nothing but blackness surrounded me.

  I knew I was going to die. An image of my mother and my nan flashed through my mind.

  I’ll see you soon.

  But just when I felt my ribs about to crack, the pressure stopped, and I landed. My legs buckled beneath me, and I fell on all fours.

  My fingers sank into dry earth. Tall grass surrounded me. I panted loudly, my hands clinging to the dry, coarse stalks.

  “Fucking hell,” I muttered.

  “Oh my. Did that not go well?”

  I peeked up at the sound of Daniel’s deep, musical voice. The angel towered above me. He stood at least six-three, his body sculpted and strong. His dark hair waved in the breeze as his turquoise eyes—the same color as mine—sparkled in the sun.

  The earth’s sun. Or at least, I thought it was the earth’s sun. I relaxed my grip on the grass.

  “Where are we?” Dirt crumbled beneath my knees when I shakily stood. A vast meadow surrounded us. Large towering oaks and aspens swayed in the breeze off in the distance. Bright sunlight filled the blue sky. I took that as a good sign. “We’re on earth, right?”

  “Of course.” Daniel pointed at something far away. “The Supernatural Forces headquarters is just over there.”

  My heart leaped into my throat when I spotted the magical barrier, that glimmering red ribbon that only supernaturals could see. I tried to swallow my anxiety. The SF meant Logan—someone I did not want to see.

  “Um, do we have to go there? I was kinda hoping to avoid that place.”

  “We need to inform your werewolf boyfriend—” He stopped when he caught my expression. “I mean ex-boyfriend that you are unharmed.”

  As I brushed the remaining specks of grass from my knees and clothes, my movements grew more agitated. “There are other ways to let him know. Like a phone call? You know, how Mother Nature intended we communicate?”

  Merriment filled Daniel’s eyes. “Ah, young angel, how amusing you’re proving to be.”

  I forced a smile and waited to see if Daniel was going to push the matter because the last person I wanted to see was my werewolf ex-boyfriend and SF member, Logan Smith.

  I shook my head. I never thought I would be in this situation.

  Memories rose in my mind even though I tried to stop them. Only a few hours before, Logan and I had been enjoying a romantic afternoon in the supernatural marketplace, finally getting away from the headquarters. But all of that stopped when I’d spotted the psychic who had first alerted me to my dark angel power. And unbeknownst to me, when I went to search for her, Logan’s fiancée had shown up and draped herself all over him like a tacky accessory.

  The image of Crystal with Logan had seared itself into my mind like a brand. Of course, if I had known that Logan was engaged, I never would have considered him my boyfriend in the first place.

  I snorted to myself. What a liar.

  My heart rate increased as anger, pain, and the feeling of betrayal again fired in my gut. My dark angel power rolled in my belly, responding to my surge of emotion.

  I concentrated on dusting my legs off and made a face at the mud stains on my thighs.

  “Do you need to shower?” Daniel leaned over, his smooth forehead crinkling just enough to convey his concern. “That’s the correct term, isn’t it? To shower? How one cleanses oneself here on earth? Or do you still cleanse in rivers or perhaps a lake? Bathing varies from one culture to another, from what I recall.”

  “Yep, showering is one way Americans bathe.” I eyed his pristine white pants. “But I see dirt doesn’t affect you.”

  He just smiled serenely, the expression still making him look like a Calvin Klein underwear model. “I see that you’re not only untrained in your powers but also in transferring between the realms. Shall we do it again? Would you like to practice portal transfer before we commence training on your powers? With enough practice, debris shall not bother you, either. Your clothing shall remain unaffected.”

  I backed up, waving my hands frantically. “Oh, no, definitely not. I’m very okay with not being well trained in traveling between the realms. In fact, I’d prefer to stay right here on earth, thank you very much, although the fae lands sound interesting. Maybe I’ll go there someday, but not now. I think I’m all realm-traveled out for the time being.”

  Daniel’s perfect white teeth flashed in a smile. “As you wish.”

  Scanning the meadow, I searched for the road. “Do you have any idea how to get back to Boise? I’m guessing we’ll have to walk, but I really need to find Cecile and Mike so they know I’m okay.”

  Daniel pointed toward the trees. “These humans you refer to, Cecile and Mike, they’re seated in a large box of some kind just over there. The box has wheels on the bottom and makes the most unpleasant sound when—” He tapped his chin. “What do humans call it? The engine starts?”

  “Are you talking about the bus?”

  “Ah, yes. The bus. That does sound correct.”

  I grinned. “Excellent! I can let them know I’m okay, then we can begin training.” I set off through the meadow, the tall grass brushing against my thighs.

  Off to the right, the magical barrier still glowed. I guessed Mike and Cecile had parked f
ar enough away from the barrier that the sorcerer’s mind-manipulation magic wouldn’t affect them. Logan had said he would tell them where it was safe to park.

  I stumbled as an image of Logan came unbidden to my mind—broad shoulders, dark hair, rich deep-brown eyes, and a chiseled body any woman would swoon over.

  An aching gut-clenching sadness rose inside me. It was so sharp that for a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

  No! Don’t think about him!

  I shook my head firmly. Logan was with Crystal. Even if he was unhappy about that or didn’t want to be with her, he didn’t deny their engagement.

  I forced myself to take a deep shuddering breath and welcomed the anger that burned away my sadness like fire.

  Logan had tried to sugarcoat his engagement by saying Crystal wasn’t his girlfriend, like using different terms to describe who she was somehow made his lying okay.

  I scoffed. Nice try.

  “Daria? A most unpleasant frown is upon your face again. Does the thought of seeing this Cecile and Mike distress you so?” Daniel strode at my side, his strong legs swishing through the grass.

  I forced a smile and tried to bury any lingering memory of Logan, but my straining cheek muscles suggested that my smile most likely resembled a grimace. “Not at all. Cecile and Mike are like family to me. I was thinking about someone else.”

  “Ah-ha.” Daniel continued gliding along as gracefully as a gazelle. “You were thinking of the ex-boyfriend werewolf who once held your heart dear.”

  I gave him a funny look. “Do all angels talk like you?”

  He raised his perfect eyebrows. “Whatever do you mean?”

  That time, my smile was genuine. “Never mind. But yes, if you want to know, I was thinking about Logan.”

  We reached the ditch and jogged down it. Since the road lay before us, I spotted the bus.

  Cecile and Mike had parked a quarter mile away, in a sleepy-looking pullout. Nostalgia swelled inside me.

  So much had happened in the previous weeks, and my life felt out of control. The thought of seeing Cecile and Mike and of sleeping in my own bed made my anxiety over what had happened with Logan lessen, if only a little.

  Daniel effortlessly strode up the ditch to the narrow road. “Shall we meet with this Logan? If whatever occurred between the two of you distresses you so, perhaps a reconciliation is in line.”

  I snorted but swallowed the sound when I realized he was serious. “Um, no. If we can just concentrate on my training so I can control my angel powers, I’ll be just fine never talking to Logan again.”

  He dipped his head. “As you wish.”

  I hurried down the road, brow furrowing, since Daniel kept saying, “As you wish.”

  Those were the exact words the vendor had spoken to me before I’d jumped into his shop’s portal and landed in Emunda.

  “Does that mean something among angels?” I asked. “To say ‘As you wish’?”

  He shrugged. “Not particularly, but it’s a common phrase among our kind.”

  “Does that mean the vendor in the supernatural marketplace, the place I entered the portal to find you, knows about angels?”

  “The vendor? Are you referring to Victor?”

  “I don’t know. Am I?”

  “I believe Victor inhabits the place of which you speak. That portal is one of the few portals that accesses Emunda, and yes, Victor knows of angels.”

  “Does Victor have bushy eyebrows?”

  Daniel’s lips quirked up when we reached the bus. “His eyebrows do appear rather bushy.”

  “Then that’s who showed me the portal.” I sighed and reached for the release button on the bus’s door. “In which case, the psychic who told me how to find Victor also knows about angels.”

  My frown didn’t lessen as the door hissed open. It seemed that either the psychic I’d met during my teenage years was more than just a psychic, or she knew more than most supernaturals.

  When I bounded up the bus’s stairs to the living area, two sets of startled eyes met mine.

  Cecile had been biting her nails on the couch but she jumped to her feet, while Mike tipped his Yankees cap off and stepped around the kitchen counter, his jaw dropping.

  “Daria! You’re safe!” Cecile covered the distance between us in one second flat and flung her arms around me, obviously not thinking.

  My dark power rushed up, completely out of my control.

  I lurched back, bumping into Daniel’s hard form in my haste to get away from her. Already, the dark power was flowing down my arms toward my hands. Bad things happened when it reached that part of my body.

  But the second I made contact with Daniel, something from him flowed into me. My dark power calmed. It retreated, as if yielding.

  With a start, I realized the contact with Daniel had done it.

  Daniel settled his massive hands on my shoulders. The further contact helped slow my pounding heart.

  I closed my eyes.

  Beneath his gentle touch, an indescribable feeling of tranquility and peace flowed along my nerves. So this is what it feels like to be touched by an angel.

  “Dar? Are you okay?” Mike’s worried tone had my eyes opening.

  Cecile stood a yard away, a questioning expression fluttering across her face as she peered at Daniel.

  The full-blooded angel gave me another brief squeeze before letting go and stepping back.

  I missed his touch immediately, my dark power once again making itself known. That brief feeling of peace disappeared.

  I cleared my throat. “I’m okay. Sorry if I worried you both. I didn’t mean to.”

  Daniel continued wearing a neutral expression as his arms hung loosely at his sides.

  “This is Daniel.” I waved the introductions. “And this is Cecile and Mike.”

  Cecile nodded at him. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  Daniel dipped his head. “The pleasure is mine.”

  Cecile’s eyes widened at the sound of Daniel’s voice. I smothered a smile. Considering that both Cecile and Mike were completely human, I wondered if they had any idea that they were speaking to a divine creature.

  “Well,” Mike said, scratching his head, “I have to say you’re the first fella I’ve ever met who has the same eye color as Daria.” He laughed. “And here we thought she was unique in that aspect.” He stepped closer, peering into Daniel’s irises. “Unless you’re wearing contacts? Is your eye color real?”

  Cecile swatted him on the shoulder. “Really, Mike. Where are your manners?”

  Mike shoved his Yankees cap back on. “Sorry about that. Just took me by surprise. But you’re the first person I’ve ever met who looks in any way like Daria. Of course, other than her mother.” The second he spoke of my mom, a grief-stricken look entered his eyes.

  I swallowed down the sadness that I always felt when I thought about her too. It was hard to believe an entire year had passed since she died.

  “Anyway, as I was saying earlier…” I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry if I worried you. I’m guessing Logan told you he couldn’t find me at the supernatural marketplace.”

  Cecile nodded. “Oh yes, he told us, and he’s been frantically searching for you ever since.”

  “Speaking of Logan.” My voice caught on his name. Just hearing it caused a tightening in my chest. “Will you send him a text and let him know that I’m fine?”

  She frowned, her eyebrows drawing together. “You want me to text him? Don’t you think we should go find him?”

  “No.” The word came out sharply.

  Cecile frowned.

  “Whatever had started between Logan and me is done. I don’t want to talk to him. Will you please just text him and let him know I’m okay?”

  Given the expression on her face, she obviously wanted to ask more questions, but she just nodded. “Sure, honey, but whatever happened between the two of you, you just let me know when you’re ready to talk about it.”

  I was glad she didn’t push me fu
rther for details. Already, my throat was closing, and the familiar longing returned.

  Despite Logan’s betrayal, I still missed him, and if I were being honest with myself—completely honest and not trying to bury how I felt—I missed him desperately.

  Cecile sat back down on the couch and patted the cushion beside her. “Do you two want to sit? And are you ever going to tell us where you’ve been? We’ve been worried sick.”

  I sank down on the sofa next to Cecile, Daniel squeezing onto the cushion beside me. His thigh brushed mine, eliciting that calming feeling again as something from him flowed into me. My sadness lifted, serenity taking its place.

  As odd as our meeting had been, I was coming to enjoy having Daniel around. He was like a personally tailored dose of Prozac and Ativan rolled into one.

  I clasped my hands in my lap, trying to figure out how to explain my little journey from planet earth to Emunda.

  “I was…” I tapped my chin. “I’m not really sure how to describe it, to be honest, but I’m okay now.”

  My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see a call coming in. Logan’s face flashed on the screen, and I sucked a breath in.

  I hastily hit the ignore button, letting his call go to voicemail and was about to slip my phone back into my pocket when the date and time across the top of the screen caught my attention.

  My jaw dropped. “I left over a week ago!”

  But how can that be? Logan and I had ventured to the supernatural marketplace only that afternoon, following a Mexican lunch with Cecile and Mike.

  I obviously hadn’t received any calls or texts in Emunda, and as if just connecting to the mobile network, my phone dinged over and over.

  Voicemails and texts rolled in. A quick scan through the incoming data revealed that most of them were from Logan. I shoved my phone back into my pocket. I’ll deal with that later.

  Cecile shook her head, her eyes widening. “How can you not know we’ve been searching for you for a week? We’ve all been so worried. The only reason Mike and I are here in the bus, and not out looking for you right now, is because Logan promised us he would track you down even if it was the last thing he did on this earth. We’ve been waiting close by ever since in case you returned, but until now, nobody knew where you were.”