Burning Violet_Lick of Fire Page 13

  When the para in need of rescue is Petro’s own brother, Hazel doesn’t hesitate to volunteer her help. Neither does Paris.

  A chimera on a road trip with two of her mates is awkward enough, but to complicate everything even more, the man they’re on their way to save is Hazel’s third mate, Paul.

  Defeating bigots and their guns is one thing. Overcoming fear, jealousy and bitterness will be an altogether different adventure.

  EXCERPT

  Mated (Firelands Wars #1)

  When, a few minutes later, Maikel was back in the guest suite and enduring a tongue-lashing from his father about being too trusting of people who’d been their enemies only three decades ago, all he could think about was that look from Celly, and how different it had been from the way she’d looked at him earlier.

  He’d done something wrong in her eyes—but what? All he’d done was try to take the blame so she wouldn’t get in trouble.

  “Are you even listening?” Deneo all but growled, the anger in his voice replaced by the fiery heat of his dragon.

  “Honestly?” Maikel replied, looking him straight in the eye without flinching. “No. I wasn’t. I went out to learn riding. I had a pleasant time with the daughter of our host. We lost track of the hour. I didn’t hear your firecall. If you want my apologies, you have them, but don’t try to tell me I was in any danger with Celly, because that’s just not true.”

  Something changed in Deneo’s gaze as he narrowed his eyes. When he looked at someone so intently, his head tilting ever so slightly to the side, Maikel was always reminded of his dragon form; it was never a comfortable experience to stand in front of a human but feel their inner beast ready to take over.

  “No,” Deneo said, now very quiet though the heat in his words was still as intense. “Don’t you think about it even for a second.”

  Maikel blinked in confusion.

  “Think about what?”

  “I know what it means when a silly young man says a girl’s name the way you say hers, and I’m telling you, that is not going to happen. You need to find a dragon mate that will give you heirs, not—”

  “Father!” Maikel cut in, his ears suddenly burning in a way they hadn’t since he’d reached adulthood. “Who is saying anything about mates or heirs?”

  “Me. And I’m telling you, not her. Not a phoenix girl. I’ve worked too hard to solidify the throne to see you risk everything because of a girl’s pretty smile.”

  That his father saw such an alliance as a risk, Maikel could understand. Dragons and phoenixes simply did not mix, the mistrust existing between them overriding everything. If Maikel mated with a phoenix, their family’s closest dragon allies would see it as a slap in the face that none of their daughters had been good enough for him. It would weaken Deneo’s power, as well as their lineage.

  What didn’t make sense, however, was that Deneo would talk of mates now, when as far as he knew Maikel and Celly hadn’t done more than go for a ride together. He shook his head, taking a step back from his father.

  “Pretty smile or not, I’ve hardly proposed to her yet.”

  Continued in Mated

  OTHER SERIES AVAILABLE

  THE VAMPIRE PACTS

  In a faraway past, humans and vampire clans' relationships are regulated by pacts. In exchange for blood, vampires protect humans from savage demons, occasionally forming deeper bonds with their willing prey.

  - All Things Except Blood

  - Her Last Words

  - Souls Night

  - A Kiss of Blood

  OUT OF THE BOX

  A journey of lust and love for Virginia and her vampire lover Anando.

  - Out of the Box

  - Living Out of the Box

  - Beyond The Edge

  THE DEMONS AGE

  In a world besieged by ferocious beast-like demons, vampires and humans live and fight side by side, and sometimes discover love in unlikely places.

  - Fangs & Lullabies

  - Demons & Lullabies

  - One Last Lullaby

  - The Blurred Trilogy

  - Aria & Will

  - Anterograde

  - No Crayons On The Front Line

  - His Sire’s New Pet

  - His Sire’s New Game

  - His Sire’s New Rules

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Kallysten’s most exciting accomplishment to date was to cross a few thousand miles and an ocean to pursue the love of her life. She strives to give her characters the same ‘happy ever after’ she found… although their lives are significantly stranger than hers! But whether they have fangs or an inner beast, whether they play with magic or with whips, whether they’re looking for ‘the one’ or a single night of fun, in the end it’s all about love…

  To see her other stories, visit http://original.kallysten.net. Subscribe to her readers group for free stories and exclusive content, and to get notices about new releases, discounts and giveaways.