Amber Flame (The Flame Series Book 4) (33 page)
A woman’s voice suddenly entered his mind.
Okay, I lied, Fergus. Though it wasn’t exactly a lie. I didn’t think I’d be coming back, but I begged to have one last word with you, and I was allowed.
Fergus shifted his head on his pillow and couldn’t help but chuckle. Sharon floated nearby as though sitting on a chair, her legs crossed at the knees. She wore her favorite black boots, laced up the front and tied with small neat bows.
Still holding a sleeping Mary tight against his side, Fergus smiled.
I’m glad you did. But Mary’s asleep. Should I wake her?
Sharon’s quirky smile appeared.
Nah.
How did you get permission to come back?
She pretended to fluff her non-existent cropped hair, which only caused her ghostly mist to move and swirl.
My supervisor said I did really well, on all fronts, so he said yes.
Mary suddenly stirred and leaned up on her elbow. Her voice entered their telepathy.
Sharon? Is that you?
I didn’t mean to wake you.
I heard you in my dreams. Oh, I’m so glad you’re here. Did you see it all? The battle against Sydon, I mean.
Sharon’s expression grew affectionate as she looked at Mary.
I did. You were brilliant. Both of you.
We couldn’t have done a damn thing without you,
Fergus said
. You know that.
Sharon smiled and looked really pleased.
I admit I had a hand in things.
She screwed up her face.
Confronting my flaws was hard as hell, but it was worth it to see that pair get blown to pieces.
Thank you so much,
Mary said,
for making the effort to come to me that first time in my house. I know I wouldn’t have made a single move toward Savage without your encouragement.
Sharon glanced from one to the other.
I’m really happy for you both. Just wanted you to know.
She appeared for a moment to be listening to someone else. She made an odd disgusted sound with her voice, and addressed her ghostly mentor.
Hold on. I’m getting to it. Don’t be so impatient, Gabriel. Jesus.
She gave herself a shake and shifted her gaze back to Fergus.
I have one last message. You might want to keep an eye on your friend, Warren. Seems like some dark witch in Elegance has it in for him, though I don’t know why.
Fergus felt a ripple of dread pass straight through the fae part of his soul.
Sharon, what witch? Do you have a name?
She shook her head.
I have no idea and now I’m being called away for good. You two kids behave, or not!
She blew a misty kiss with her hand and was gone
Fergus could feel her absence in the room like some of the air had just been sucked out of the space.
“That was weird,” Mary said. “But typical. She’s funny, your deceased wife.”
“You know what else is weird? That we’ve both been talking to my ‘deceased wife’. Sometimes the reality of the
alter
state blows me away.”
Mary relaxed against his shoulder, laid her arm over his chest and hugged him. “But what are we supposed to do about Warren?”
There was a time when Fergus would have been all-wolf and launched into attack mode. He would have contacted Warren right away, offered his help, made up a list of some of the worst dark witches in Elegance Territory, then suggested his wolves track each of their movements. Yup, a whole host of let’s-take-care-of-this-now.
Instead, he took a deep breath and accessed his faeness. Peace descended in the same moment and what came to him was simple. “Warren will let us know when he needs our help. And when he does, we’ll be ready.”
Mary chuckled softly. “You know, I confess I was thinking like a wolf. I was ready to leap from bed, fly straight to his compound and repeat everything Sharon just told us.”
“Couldn’t let you do that,” he said, rubbing her arm.
“Why not? I mean maybe we should.”
“Well, here’s the problem, you’re naked. There’s no way you’re going over to the Caldion Compound without anything on.”
“Oh, you’re so funny. I’m laughing so hard.”
Fergus sighed deeply and smiled up at the ceiling. He was thinking about adding beams like the ones Mary had in her family room. “I have a surprise for you,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“I hired an architect to draw up new plans for us. I want to add on a wing to our private residence.”
Mary lifted up just enough to meet his gaze. “What for? I mean your home is plenty big as it is right now.”
He’d never felt so much love in his entire life as in this moment, staring into her light brown eyes. “For your cats of course and your birds. And if you want, I was thinking we could add a surgery, some exam rooms, an office, hire some staff for you. What do you think?”
“Fergus, really?”
“But only if that’s what you want.”
“It is. It is. I’ve been thinking something similar. I know you wolves heal up fast, but sometimes those dominance fights end with brutal gashes and crushed bones that could use some intermediary work.”
He laughed. “I was thinking of small, domestic pets.”
“You need to think bigger.”
He took her hand and held it against his half-erect cock. “I am.”
She made a very wolf-like snorting sound. “You’re ridiculous.”
“But you love me.”
Her expression softened. “I do, with all my heart.”
A swell of emotion washed through him so profound, that he rolled her suddenly onto her back. His lips found hers once more and with her answering response, he was soon making love to her again.
He had no doubt his life with Mary and with his pack would be full of challenges, impossible conflicts to resolve, and perhaps even the occasional visit from an unexpected ghost.
But for now, all he wanted was to hear Mary’s soft melodious howls and join her with a set of his own.
The End
I hope you enjoyed reading AMBER FLAME!
And remember, you can claim a free e-book of mine right now by signing up for my mailing list on my home page:
http://www.carisroane.com/
If you enjoyed AMBER FLAME,
I’d love it if you took a minute to leave a short review at your favorite online retailer!
And you don’t have to be a blogger to do this, just a reader who loves books!
Especially for you!
I run giveaways all the time on my website. Be sure to check out my contest page today! Enter here:
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Do you love cocktails!?!
I’ve been working with the awesome paranormal romance writing duo, Trim and Julka, who have developed a series of Flame Drinks that correspond to each of the flame books. You can find these specialty cocktails and their recipes at:
http://www.trimandjulka.com/flame-drinks/
Please remember: Don’t drink and drive and don’t light these drinks on fire! Enjoy!
COMING UP NEXT:
Are you ready for the 9
th
and final installment of the Blood Rose Series?
EMBRACE THE POWER will be my next release after AMBER FLAME and I’m writing it as we speak! Here’s some info:
http://www.carisroane.com/9-embrace-the-power/
In the meantime, be sure to read the 8
th
book of the series, EMBRACE THE HUNT!
A powerful vampire warrior. A beautiful fae of great ability. A war that threatens to destroy their love for the second time…
Find out more about EMBRACE THE HUNT:
http://www.carisroane.com/8-embrace-the-hunt/
LIST OF BOOKS
To read more about each one, check out my books page:
http://www.carisroane.com/books/
The Flame Series…
BLOOD FLAME:
Find it now on Amazon
AMETHYST FLAME:
Find it now on Amazon
DARK FLAME:
Find it now on Amazon
CHRISTMAS FLAME NOVELLA, A Holiday Novella for any time of the year:
Find it now on Amazon
The Blood Rose Series...
BLOOD ROSE SERIES BOX SET, featuring Book #1 Embrace The Dark, Book #2 Embrace The Magic, And Book #3 Embrace The Mystery.
Find it now on Amazon
EMBRACE THE DARK #1:
Free on Amazon
EMBRACE THE MAGIC #2:
Find it now on Amazon
EMBRACE THE MYSTERY #3:
Find it now on Amazon
EMBRACE THE PASSION #4:
Find it now on Amazon
EMBRACE THE NIGHT #5:
Find it now on Amazon
EMBRACE THE WILD #6:
Find it now on Amazon
EMBRACE THE WIND #7:
Find it now on Amazon
EMBRACE THE HUNT #8:
Find it now on Amazon
LOVE IN THE FORTRESS #8.1 (Companion to EMBRACE THE HUNT):
Find it now on Amazon
BLOOD ROSE TALES BOX SET:
Find it now on Amazon
Guardians of Ascension Series...
VAMPIRE COLLECTION (Includes BRINK OF ETERNITY):
Find it now on Amazon
THE DARKENING:
Find it now on Amazon
RAPTURE’S EDGE – 1 – AWAKENING:
Find it now on Amazon
RAPTURE’S EDGE – 2 – VEILED:
Find it now on Amazon
Amulet Series...
WICKED NIGHT/DARK NIGHT (Boxed Set):
Find it now on Amazon
You can find me at:
Author of:
Guardians of Ascension Series
– Warriors of the Blood crave the
breh-hedden
Dawn of Ascension Series
– Militia Warriors battle to save Second Earth
Rapture’s Edge Series
(Part of Guardians of Ascension) – Second earth warriors travel to Third to save three dimensions from a tyrant’s heinous ambitions
Blood Rose Series
– Only a blood rose can fulfill a mastyr vampire’s deepest needs
Blood Rose Tales
– Short tales of mastyr vampires who hunger to be satisfied
Men in Chains Series
– Vampires struggling to get free of their chains and save the world
The Flame Series
– Hunky ‘Alter’ warriors battle for control of their world
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Caris Roane is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-two paranormal romance books. Writing as Valerie King, she has published fifty novels and novellas in Regency Romance. Caris lives in Phoenix, Arizona, loves gardening, enjoys the birds and lizards in her yard, but really doesn’t like scorpions!
Find out more about Caris on her website!