Fire Unleashed (Reign of Fae Book 3)

  Fire Unleashed © 2019 CK Dawn

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  ckdawnbooks.com

  Cover Design by Vanesa Garkova

  He saved her world...but at what cost?

  The seduction of a Horseman’s beast is a powerful thing. It’s something Bram can’t escape, or won’t. Consumed by power, his beast has gained control, and now the royal has another problem. He doesn’t think he’s worthy of redemption, believing he deserves his dragon prison, after what he’s done, and who he’s killed. Losing the last remnants of his humanity, though, was a small price to pay to free Chloe’s world from the grip of the deadly fae realm.

  Will Chloe be able to save Bram before he rains fire down upon her world as the uncontrollable Horseman of War, the thing of nightmares? But more importantly, can she free the man she loves from his inner demons?

  Contents

  Prologue

  1. Breakfast at Tyranny’s

  2. Shedding Old Skins

  3. Mirror, Mirror

  4. If at Fae You Don’t Succeed

  5. Skin Deep

  6. Stuck Between a Fae and a Hard Place

  7. Bring Out Your Dead

  8. Such Sweet Sorrow

  Reign of Fae Continues

  CK’s Street Team

  About the Author

  Also by CK Dawn

  Prologue

  Forest for the Trees

  Thunder roared around her, echoing off hundreds of trees lining the bog. Butterflies, birds, and other marshland inhabitants scattered, fleeing the coming storm.

  The squall rushed in. Winds whipped through the maze of trees, threatening to uproot them. Each gust was more intense than the last, ripping bird nests out of branches, and tearing bark from trunks throughout the marsh. It were as though the balance of Fae itself had been disrupted.

  Leave.

  Not one of us. The nymphs’ unspoken threats surrounded her, invading her every thought.

  But she couldn’t leave. She couldn’t move. Her body was no longer her own. Long fiery red hair intertwined with one of the tree’s branches; twisting and weaving, up and around, extending out to its leaves. Once lush and green, the leaves turned the color of her red hair, but began to wither. One by one, they fell to the ground.

  The nymphs cried every time another one of her leaves tumbled to the frigid wet mud below. Tears ran down their own trees like melting rain water underneath a thin blanket of ice. Their dark rivulets of sadness wept down the trunks encased in the thin barriers that had frozen in the storm.

  The ground rumbled and a large crevice meant to be her living tomb opened and sucked her into its hollow. Encasing her entire body, it strangled her will as it slowly crept closed again. Nutrients leached from her body and fed the soil. Her heart, lungs and bones began to harden into the rings of the wood and her mind wandered farther and farther away. Memory after memory disappeared as she started to forget who she once was.

  She was melding into the tree, becoming the sickly tree. More red leaves fell to the ground. The nymphs were right. She didn’t belong there.

  Get out! The hamadryad nymphs cried in a single voice.

  But she couldn’t leave. The tree was her prison.

  With her last corporeal breath, she screamed her familiar’s name, hoping he would hear her plea, hoping he would find her. “Tenebris!”

  1

  Breakfast at Tyranny’s

  “Tenebris, stop!” Chloe pleaded, still trying to recover from the effects that the Fae realm had had on her.

  Mary’s familiar cawed in protest and turned them away from Bremerton’s coastline and flew toward the Spree entrance in Seattle instead.

  “I don’t give a damn what Mary said about heading straight to the Spree after the gala! We’re not going back. We can’t. Not yet.” She couldn’t believe she was starting to understand the massive raven’s caws. Pulling her long dark blonde hair into a bun at the nape of her neck, she cursed the long wine colored gown she’d have to fight in, but prepared for battle anyway. “We have to help Laszlo and the others first! You heard Avery’s threat. Please, Tenebris. It’s my fault they’re in danger. We have to save them!”

  Tenebris jabbered in protest under his breath, but seemed to be contemplating Chloe’s request and defying his witch’s orders as he slowed down.

  “We just need to kill those vampire bastards. I should have ended them the first time, then we’re off to the Spree. I promise.” She scratched Tenebris under his neck feathers for good measure. Just like cat scratches, it comforted them both after having to leave Bram behind and imprisoned in his dragon form. Chloe shook her head, refusing to give up on the notion of being able to bring him back somehow. “Besides, with the human realm scorch free the Spree is healing too, right? I’m sure it’s keeping Mary super busy. We’ll be there before she even misses us.” Chloe forgot she wasn’t petting a giant cat until her fingers grazed the connections where quills met skin. It was foreign and felt quite unusual, like petting a hairless cat with porcupine quills, but underneath its sharp armor. She began to absently trace the runes etched into his skin, wondering what stories and history they held.

  Leaning into her strokes Tenebris sighed again and changed course back toward Bremerton.

  “Yes! Thank you, Ten.” Chloe shielded her eyes, but soaked in the sun as they soared through the air. It felt like her world had been without it for months. She couldn’t believe it had only been days. It seemed like a lifetime ago. A lot of things seemed like a lifetime ago. She let her mind drift as she worried about Bram’s fate. She hoped Little Blue had actually been able to send him to the Horsemen realm for safekeeping, but feared he was still in Fae, captured by Avery and Mortimer. Reality and fantasy had blurred for her during their escape and she had faded in and out of consciousness. She still believed her hands had really melted away when Bram’s dragon torched the sky around them, and that Little Blue had healed them somehow. But the sounds of the dragon’s angry screech and his body’s loud thud against the closed Mirror had been real. She was sure of it. And it haunted her.

  Chloe was angry as hell at Bram for sacrificing himself in order for her to escape Fae and the other Horsemen’s grasp, but she would have to think on how to get him back later. Right then, her friends were in danger and Mordecai was going to lose more than just his hand this time.

  Looking down at the seemingly silent heart-stone pendant resting on her chest, she couldn’t help but wonder if it had quieted because Bram’s beast was in control or because his love for her was gone. Maybe the distance was a factor and the thrumming was still there, but only just, and her mortal ears could no longer hear it. Whatever the case, she wasn’t giving up on him, not ever.

  She quirked her head at the small butterfly stow-away from Fae still resting on the heart-stone. “Little Blue, does your magic work here in my realm?” Chloe knew she would need all the help she could get going up
against two vampires, each with the strength of ten men.

  He raised his front legs and shrugged his uncertainty. A child-like whisper pierced Chloe’s mind. If you believe strongly enough.

  She quickly formulated a plan and relayed it to the little bundle of pure magic. “I guess we’re about to find out if I do.”

  “My, what big muscles you have, grandmother.” Mordecai’s velvety voice spoke to the invisible assailant behind him as he referenced the child’s fairytale.

  He didn’t seem startled and apparently recognized his attacker’s identity simply by her presence. All of his movement stopped nonetheless as the Horseman sword was pressed into his neck. His flesh sizzled and smoked under the fiery blade’s sharp edge.

  “The better to sever your head with, my dear.” Chloe’s cold steely voice answered back.

  “Mordecai?” Talon froze mid-stride holding a cast iron pan as he came out of the kitchen. He looked confused, but ready to tackle whatever or whoever had his master in a restraint.

  Chloe held onto the blade at Mordecai’s neck in a death grip with both hands. The butterfly’s magic wrapped around her bare hand like a luminescent glove made of nothing but pure light, protecting her skin from the blade’s sharp edge and fire. The magic extended all around her like an aura giving her incredible strength and invisibility. She made sure not to look directly into Talon’s eyes as he stared in her direction from across the room, but she watched and waited for their next move.

  Although he couldn’t see who dared threaten his master, Talon took a step toward them.

  Mordecai calmly raised his hand and stopped him. “It’s alright. We simply need to bring Chloe up-to-speed and reassure her of our allegiance.”

  Talon took a knee at the mention of her name.

  Wow. That’s new. Chloe marveled at how quickly Talon had displayed his obedience. The first time they met he was nothing if not defiant, almost as confrontational as Osiris had been before Chloe relieved him of his head. She took a quick look around the unusual scene in front of her then.

  Both Mordecai and Talon had forgone their tailored jackets and their sleeves were rolled up. The master vampire himself had even unbuttoned his collar, giving Chloe easy access to his exposed neck. She didn’t see any goblets of blood or trails of human fluids leading to dismembered body parts anywhere, which she took as a good sign.

  “Chloe?” Laszlo must have heard her name leave the master vampire’s lips. He came out of the kitchen with his wife Cat. They walked around the still kneeling Talon and placed a pitcher of orange juice, a mound of crisp bacon, and a pile of pancakes on the table. “We’re celebrating. Come join us.”

  “What is this?” Chloe spat.

  “It’s called breakfast. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?” Mordecai’s smooth voice answered back.

  Still kneeling, Talon took a whiff of the scrambled eggs he was carrying and snubbed his nose.

  “Are they compelled?” Chloe became suspicious.

  “Only just. Think of it as a mild tranquilizer, or a very stiff drink. It was simply to keep everyone calm.” Mordecai answered.

  Chloe pressed the vampires. “Calm for what?”

  “Nothing nefarious I assure you.”

  “Release them.” Chloe demanded.

  “As you wish.” Mordecai waved his hand in the air and looked Laszlo and Cat in the eyes.

  “Laszlo?” Chloe’s invisible form asked her friend for confirmation. She tried to keep the nervousness out of her voice.

  “It’s alright, Chloe, we’re all okay. They’re telling the truth.” Laszlo spoke to the air, unable to focus on where Chloe might actually be. “I remember what it felt like last time they were, uh, here for a visit. This ain’t that.”

  Chloe let the sword’s sharp edge bite into Mordecai’s neck and waited for a reaction or an attack. She didn’t trust them. Even though they were fae, these vampires could lie. And the sinister grin Mordecai had given her at the Blood Reaping celebration before he vanished still haunted her. He had looked like he would take pleasure in killing everyone in the entire house. Leaving the children for last, savoring them like a sweet decadent dessert.

  “We serve Primus...your Bram.” Mordecai grimaced. “You have my word.”

  “Your word.” Chloe mocked. “Why do you serve him?”

  Mordecai scoffed in defiance. “Have you met the alternative?” Even with a blade to his throat, the vampire was elegant, smooth, and cavalier in his sarcasm.

  “I’ll never serve the vile bitch.” Talon muttered under his breath.

  At the use of Bram’s label for Avery, Chloe’s nerves relaxed, but only just. “Don’t compel them again.” She let the blade dig into Mordecai’s skin a little more before releasing the captive vampire and backing away. The magical butterfly reformed into his natural state and flew up into Chloe’s hair. She retracted the sword’s blade, but kept it by her side, and at the ready.

  “As you wish.” Mordecai watched Chloe appear, and the corners of his mouth crept up, revealing dimples that probably enchanted most of his other prey. He touched his fingers to his burned flesh. When they came away clean his smile grew even broader. His seared skin was raw and angry, but she knew it would heal. “Careful, love, in my world I’d consider that foreplay.”

  “Ha. You wish.”

  “A mind reader, too.” Mordecai motioned it was alright for the kneeling Talon to rise. “I’m doomed to fall madly for you, I’m afraid.” He teased.

  Chloe rolled her eyes.

  “I see you’ve made a new little friend.” He motioned to Little Blue nestled in her hair. “Care to sell or trade him? Name your price.”

  “He’s not for SALE!” Chloe was appalled. “He’s not a thing to be bought or sold. He doesn’t belong to anyone, especially not me.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Mordecai’s grin was devious, but thankfully he and Talon were keeping their compulsion abilities contained.

  All fae were masters at deception. Mordecai was probably trying to throw her off guard, and unlike other fae, Chloe reminded herself again that vampires could lie. To spite him, she kept her guard up even though everything in the house seemed to be somewhat normal, almost everything. Mordecai’s sexual overtones were unnervingly reminiscent of Avery’s and Mortimer’s. The pale lavender shirt he chose to wear screamed that his allegiance just might be with the vile lavender-blonde bitch after all as well.

  Mordecai caught her frowning at his body. He pulled his shoulders back and moved his arms just so in order to draw the eye to the outline of his well-toned physique. His body seemed to instinctively respond to any prolonged attention, even disapproval. Mordecai’s left eyebrow arched as a smirk crept to his lips. “Have to keep up appearances, love. We all had our part to play.” He eyed her burgundy strapless gown. “Didn’t we?”

  “Who’s playing? This isn’t a game.” Chloe’s anger and frustration surfaced. The blade in her hand rumbled in anticipation of a fight.

  “Isn’t it? Aren’t we all just pieces on the board, moving around where we’re told, hoping not to be the next sacrificed Pawn as the King and Queen play their little game of dominion?”

  “Bram’s not playing, he sacrificed everything to save this world!”

  Mordecai dismissed her words. “Did he? Your Bram never wanted to rule. It was thrust upon him. He gave up nothing. But someone did. There are always pawns. There are always sacrifices, of that you can be sure. And I’m not talking about Famke, or even Mortimer for that matter.”

  “Mortimer?” Chloe’s furrowed her brow. The mention of the Horseman of Death caught her off guard. She hated the bastard, but had no idea why Mordecai was referring to him.

  “Haven’t you heard? Of course you haven’t.” Mordecai’s response was flippant and dismissive. “Mortimer’s dead. Avery killed him.” He stared her down then. “A Horseman killed by his own sister’s hand just as Famke was killed by your Bram. Care to elaborate how that’s even possible?”

  “Wha...wha
t?” Chloe was taken aback by the news of Mortimer’s death, but she refused to share anything she knew about how either death was possible.

  “No?” All the previous grins meant to be charming were stricken from Mordecai’s face and his sexual advances were gone. He knew Chloe was hiding what she knew. “Not a game, huh?”

  “This is all my fault really.” Cat interrupted. She nervously tried to deflate the rising tensions in the room. “I kind of freaked out when Mordecai and Talon showed back up.” She sat down at the table and motioned that Laszlo should do the same. “Shall we eat?”

  “Kind of?” Talon placed the eggs on the table with another crinkle of his nose at the smells emanating from the human breakfast spread. “Anyway, while you two decide whose dick is bigger, the wards are back up around the house. You’re welcome.” He stated for Chloe’s benefit. “No fae are getting in here besides the two of us. Could have done without the concussion though.” He headed back toward the kitchen without a second glance.

  “Sorry, Talon.” Cat called after him.

  “Yeah, yeah.” Talon rubbed the back of his head and grumbled under his breath.

  ‘Besides the two of us’. Chloe’s heart sank. Talon had said it almost as if he and Mordecai knew Bram wouldn’t be coming back from Fae with her.

  Fear washed over her then and her heart quickened like a deer sensing a predator as she watched Talon track a female soldier’s movements just a little too long. Instinctually, the woman gave Talon a wide berth as she came out of the kitchen and had to pass right by him. The hunger in Talon’s eyes said he considered her a juicy cheeseburger he was ready to sink his teeth into. Chloe turned to Mordecai. “How long until you have to feed?”