Burning Danger: Dangerous Ties Book 3 - Paranormal Romance Read online

  BURNING DANGER

  DANGEROUS TIES BOOK THREE

  E.A. SHANNIAK

  Burning Danger: Dangerous Ties Book Three by E.A. Shanniak

  Copyright © 2021 E.A. Shanniak

  All rights reserved.

  Cover Design: Harvest Moon Cover Designs

  Editing: Tiffany P.

  Proofreading: Michelle F.

  Formatting: Keyminor Publishing

  Published by Eagle Creek Books LLC of Coldwater, Kansas

  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.

  Without limiting the rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical by photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior written permission of the copyright owner and the publisher of this book.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or by any other means without permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized printed or electronic editions and do not participate or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.

  www.eashanniak.eaglecreekbooks.com

  To my husband Bryan,

  Thank you for always believing in me, having my back, and putting up with my crazy, hair-brained ideas. I love you so much, forever and always.

  Love,

  Nuff Nuff

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  WARNING: This book contains scenes and foul language that some readers may find disturbing and/or triggering. Read at your own personal risk and don’t blame me. You were warned in the blurb and now here.

  Phew! We made it! The final book where bedroom scenes, sarcasm, and happiness collide in a great finale that hopefully will make you deliriously thrilled. So… All I gotta say is: love me. You know you want to. This was fucking awesome!

  MORE BY - E.A. SHANNIAK

  Fantasy Romance – A Castre World Novel Standalone

  Piercing Jordie

  Mitering Avalee

  Forging Calida

  Uplifting Irie

  Braving Eavan

  Warring Devan

  Hunting Megan

  Shifting Aramoren – short story

  Anchoring Nola – short story

  Storming Area 51— A Bayonet Books Anthology

  Stalking Death - short story

  Clean & Sweet Western Romance – Whitman Series Romances

  To Find A Whitman

  To Love A Thief

  To Save A Life

  To Lift A Darkness

  To Veil A Fondness

  To Bind A Heart

  To Hide A Treasure

  To Want A Change

  To Form A Romance

  Paranormal Romance - Dangerous Ties Series

  Opening Danger

  Hunting Danger

  Burning Danger

  Clean & Sweet Regency Romance – A Bramley Hall Regency

  Love At Last

  Love That Lasts - coming soon

  Sci-Fi Reverse Harem - A Ubsolvyn District Novel

  Stalking Death - prequel

  Securing Freedom - coming soon

  CONTENTS

  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

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  EVANDER

  I shifted as I fell off the castle wall, hoping the impact in my wolf’s form would be enough to deter the damage my human body would’ve taken. All around me wendigo climbed the sheer rock castle walls. Their gnarled, taloned hands scraping into the stone, while hefting their twisted bodies to the wall-walk. Demons flew in the moonlit sky, picking up my people, inhaling whatever it was they were taking from them like a vacuum, and leaving a skeleton covered in leathered skin in their wake. The demons dropped their dead corpses to the ground as if they were nothing more than a ruined shirt.

  My back hit a tree branch, sending me spinning, ass over face to the ground. My right side hit the cold, loose dirt, knocking all the air I had in my lungs completely from me. My eyes watered. I fought to suck air into my body. Finally, it happened, and it made me cough from the crisp sharpness of the fall air. I stood on shaking legs, growling. My head felt dizzy from the impact, and it took me a few seconds to regain my bearings.

  My mate screamed from the castle wall, though not in fear. I smirked. She was fucking pissed, bellowing orders for our people to get the children to safety while others shifted to fight back against the sudden attack. Her bright turquoise blue magic poured out of her hands, ripping out the heart of a wendigo as she kicked it over the side of the castle wall. The wendigo burst into flames and ashes as it fell.

  “Go for their hearts,” I ordered, charging straight for a wendigo heading toward the castle not far from me.

  I leaped at it, sinking my claws into its chest and knocking it on its back. It tried to rise on its clawed, cat-like feet and gore me with its broad elk horns. I dodged the blow, biting deep into its chest and tearing its heart from its body. The wendigo became a pile of ash.

  I charged at another creature as I picked my way back to the castle. Black as night demons swooped down at my people and those who gathered to march on Diomedes. They cried hollowly, like they were inhaling air in a high-pitched manner. I could not see any eyes, or any facial markings; only rows of sharp teeth, open and exposed, like a shark. Their long claws and horn covered bodies made a grab for me and I dodged it.

  I caught flashes of the bright blue magic of my mate out of the corner of my eye. Zuri’s magic illuminated the darkness, bringing down demons and wendigo easily. I leaped at wendigo, but was quickly knocked on my ass by another coming from behind me. Scrambling to my feet, I charged again, this time aiming true and getting the beast in the chest. I jumped from the beast I killed to the other wendigo, easily bringing it down.

  I headed to the castle’s outer gates to protect those fleeing inside. Ogres swung their clubs and axes at the demons, catching some in the head where the demon burst into dust upon impact. Bears shifted, emerging from the castle roaring furiously. They caught demons and vampires out of the air with a swipe of their massive paws or sharp snatch of their long teeth. The sky once swarming with enemies became quickly less occupied with everyone working together. Enemies were dropping like moths in a bug zapper.

  The small silver sprites zoomed around healing allies' wounds quickly. Their tinkling wings fluttered by me with one landing on the bridge of my nose. The tiny creature stood maybe four inches tall with delicate human features. The only differenc
e I could tell were the pointed ears and the cat-like slanted blue eyes. The sprite woman tilted her head to the side and smiled broadly at me. She touched my nose with the palm of her hand. Immediately, the pain in my side from falling off the castle wall felt immensely better and I sighed with relief. The sprite nodded her head, taking off to help some others.

  I made my way toward the beings on the outside of the castle gates, battling with a few wendigo trying to get through. Zuri’s bright blue magic caught in my peripheral. I found her up on the wall-walk, using her magic to create a shield around those trying to escape while wendigos slowly crept up the castle walls and demons swooped down at her.

  “Evander!” she bellowed, her voice worried and panicked.

  “I’m here, babe,” I answered.

  A vampire rushed at me from the right and I caught his hand, biting it clean from his body. Spitting it out, I leaped at his flying, pale, wingless backside, landing on his back. The vampire bared his teeth at me as he tried to turn over mid flight to fling me off. My claws dug into his spine for purchase while my jaw snapped into the back of his neck, ending his life. I vaulted from him as his body crashed, dead, to the ground.

  The assumed feud between werewolves and vampires was null. We didn’t hate each other, and often found ourselves gathering together. Though, this time, they fought on the wrong damn side and I had no problem terminating them.

  Fredek, the cyclops, launched a giant boulder from the side of the castle wall, taking out two vampires coming toward me. I loped away from the scene, shifting mid run and ushered those still lingering outside the castle walls, in and toward the safety of the stone surroundings. Sprites fluttered their little wings, zooming and dodging bodies of allies and enemies alike as they retreated inside as well.

  “They’re retreating!” Deryn bellowed.

  I glanced at the sky, seeing demons and vampires flee back east to where Diomedes was gathering his horde. I grimaced, and growled under my breath. They weren’t necessarily attacking to kill us, but to see what we would do, to see if we would rally and work together or crumble. They were spying on us for what and who we had available to fight back with.

  Now, they had an idea of what we were all capable of. They knew Zuri had powers and would be using them against Diomedes. A light touch pressed against my arm and I grinned softly at Zuri’s warm presence.

  “Evander,” she said gently, weaving her fingers in with mine. “Come inside.”

  I turned, kissing her on the forehead while I inhaled her raspberry-vanilla scent with a relieved sigh. I pulled back, my eyes scanning over her entire body to ensure she was sound and whole. Save for a few bruises and cuts, she was fine. Her dark, teal blue gown was torn at the hem and around her midsection. The sunflower and winter berry crown she wore was now gone. Her hair, once curled, now tangled and straight. Even with her rugged appearance, she had never looked more beautiful to me.

  I kissed her soundly on her lips, my mind wanting to make certain she was truly fine. She kissed me back fervently.

  “This wasn’t how I imagined our mate-bond to end up, let alone the night,” I whispered.

  Zuri smiled brightly at me. “I don’t care what comes at us, so long as I have you,” she replied, kissing my cheek. “We need to pack and head to Maluhia faster than I think we anticipated.”

  I nodded my agreement. Kissing the back of her hand, and tucking it in the crook of my arm, I took us further inside the castle. Some children were crying, clinging to their mothers and fathers with their arms tightly wrapped around their parent’s necks.

  My people and those here to rally and fight, walked into the castle courtyard sullenly. The previous merriment of Zuri and I’s mate-bond was lost in the crowd. Set jaws and firm eyes met my observant gaze. Ogres, cyclops, and werebears walked in amongst my pack. Where before they would have kept segregated, it seemed now this looming war brought all sides together. Equally. It made me happy despite the circumstances.

  I made my way toward the courtyard, dropped Zuri’s hand, and got up on a stone flower box. Terrified anxious faces met my steady gaze. Children were cooed to silence by their parents, turning their tear-streaked cheeks toward me. Glancing down at my mate, she nodded at me to continue whatever I was about to begin. I squared my stance, rolled my shoulders back, and took a deep breath.

  “Tomorrow we march for Maluhia to gather the rest of those wanting to fight against the fast rising darkness of Diomedes,” I began, my voice ringing out over the tense silence while beings nodded in agreement. “I implore all women and children to head into the Vidis Forest where the old magic of the forest nymphs will protect you if the valor of Quivleren should fail and Diomedes should rise to power. There, you’ll be protected and safe. I won’t force you to go. It’s your choice.”

  I paused, my eyes scanning the crowd. Couples glanced at each other, uncertain of what to choose. Husbands kissed their wives, speaking softly for them to go into the forest. I hung my head, wishing my own wife would go with them, but getting her to would probably cost me my own life.

  I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. Her face was firm and jaw set. I refrained from swiping a hand over my face. I was worried about Zuri fighting, about losing her. I knew she was capable and her skills have pulled us out of terrible situations, it just terrified me to lose her. And I was also concerned about Diomedes going after those left behind while the majority of our forces were in battle.

  Zuri peeked up at me, understanding in her eyes. I winked at her, eliciting a smile and a faint blush to her cheeks.

  I cleared my throat and shuffled my feet a bit. “Thank you all for fighting valiantly and for the sacrifices being made to end what so wrongfully began. Let’s get some rest and food, for tomorrow we march.”

  I jumped off the platform, taking my mate’s hand in my own. She gave it a squeeze, walking in tandem with me toward the castle doors.

  “Alpha,” Molner began, coming to stand on my right. “Where do you want the women and children to gather tomorrow should they want to head into the Vidis Forest?”

  “Outside the castle by the large willow with the clematis vine in it. I’ll lead them into the forest myself before we march to Maluhia.”

  Molner dipped his head. “Yes Alpha.”

  Zuri squeezed my hand and I turned to look at her. “Yes, Babe?”

  “Why Maluhia?”

  I tilted my head to the side, wondering if she was in the meeting for that topic of discussion. Seemed I had forgotten she was with the werelion cubs. “It’s the closest big town we can get to with food and housing for everyone without being too close to the impending battle. And it’s relatively close to the Vidis Forest should we be forced to retreat.”

  Zuri nodded. “Sounds good,” she said, tucking hair behind her ear. “I’m going to find the cubs.”

  I reached for her hand, pulling her back to me. “I would love for you to go with them.”

  She blew her lips. “Nope. You don’t tell me to sit and stay.”

  I rolled my eyes and smirked. Her and her damn dog jokes would be the death of me before Diomedes could kill me. They were funny as hell, but a bit much at times too.

  “Alright. But if things get bad, I want you to go there,” I said.

  She took her hand from mine, crossing her arms over her chest and leaned back to give me that womanly challenging stare. She pursed her lips, eventually nodding her head side to side. “I will agree to that.”

  I couldn’t help but blink at her. I was expecting more of a fight, for her to turn blood red and get all huffy while explaining to me how much I would need her. I looked down at my feet, feeling immense relief. If it got too bad, if it looked like we would fail, at least she would be safe.

  I ran a hand over my face and released a breath I didn’t know I was holding. For a moment, I caught myself staring at her stomach, wondering if I would get the chance to have children with her, to see them grow and turn into amazing people. My heart constricted with the unk
nown. I hoped to be able to return home, to see my mate and create a family. But war was uncertain.

  I shoved my hands in my pockets, my eyes still on her stomach. I knew she would be able to defeat Diomedes. She was strong and capable. I just feared the unknown, if I wasn’t able to be there and protect her as I should. It was my biggest fear.

  “Evander!” Zuri shouted, eyes narrowed at me. “Hot damn, should I get a dog whistle? I’ve been saying your name for a while.”

  “What would a dog whistle do?”

  She perked a brow and hid a smirk. “Would you like to find out?”

  I shook my head. Knowing my mate, it would probably be humorous, but hurt. “What’s on your mind, love?”

  “Has anyone stepped forward to claim the cubs?”

  Again I shook my head. “Not that I’m aware of.”

  “If no one does, after this war, we’re gonna keep them.”

  I pulled her close to me, kissing her forehead, and letting my lips linger for a moment. She sighed contentedly and I felt her smile against me. I loved the fact she was protective over the children, that she desired to do right by them and give them a loving home. She would make a fantastic mother and that fact made me proud.

  The cubs were still non-communicative to other pack members, but I didn't expect much else after all they had lost. I needed to ask the pack if anyone was a counselor so they could check in with them and help the werecubs process that terrible event.