Darkness Colliding: A Reverse Harem Series (The Severed Souls Series Book 3) Read online

  I have a thing for creatures, the dangerous and the unique, and I’ve never seen an egg this large. It’s larger than an ostrich egg even. Its structure seems thicker as well. I hold the heavy egg closer to my chest. My eyes fall closed as a deep breath fills my lungs.

  My magic is quiet within me. I’ve hidden it away and tried to save it up for when I know I’ll really need it in the future.

  It’s there though. A numb sort of tingling feeling of power stings through my body.

  A blur of a thousand images flickers through my mind. I search past them all until one faded image pulls to the front.

  My sight shows me three large animals. Their wingspan is the size of the run-down shack that I’ve called home for the past year. Thick scales cover their bodies like proud armor. Long talons and sharp teeth lash down from the heavens, preparing to scoop up their next prey.

  “Dragons.” My eyes open once more, the depths of my blue irises are inky in the reflection of its glossy shell.

  A strong and quick beat begins to take over my heart.

  They’re rare.

  Deadly.

  Expensive.

  I’ve never sold a dragon before. The most I’ve ever gotten for a magical creature was a year’s worth of income for a pegasus. Would have been more if it was a unicorn, but the buyer didn’t believe me when I said its horn was just underdeveloped.

  A dragon could pay for a new life, though. A real life. Imagine how I could live.

  With three dragons, I could start over. No longer would I be a drifter running from her past. I could have a home. A family.

  A life.

  A smile pulls at my lips, and I’ve already made up my mind.

  Without another thought, I toss the onyx colored egg into the fire.

  Mages no longer have the darling little reputation that the generations before us had. No, we’re feared. My mother hid me away to protect me, but it weakened my powers. When I was older, I studied magic; magical creatures mostly to continue to stay under the radar of those who hunt us. My powers grew stronger with the help of Kreedence. I thought he cared about me but I know now that that was a lie.

  My lip curls as I think of him. I push the thoughts from my mind. It’s an old chapter of my life and I grew from it. I learned more about my trade because of it.

  I know creatures from all over the world. It’s a specialty of mine.

  And I know heat is needed for dragons to survive.

  Maybe that’s why Agatha disposed of them. Maybe she couldn’t get them to hatch.

  A cold summer breeze shakes against the worn, open door, threatening to tear it from its weak hinges as it drifts back and forth. The wind catches against my dark hair, but all of my focus is on the flames caressing the inky shell. Closer, I lean into the flames.

  Grit and dirt of the old floorboards shift against my fingertips as I move closer to the shining black egg.

  Prayers like I’ve never said before stream through my mind to whatever gods my mother loved so much. I pray hard, wishing like hell the little creature will survive the heat and grow stronger from the kiss of the fire

  The smallest of lines crack against the surface, making me gasp.

  The heat stings my cheeks as I peer into the heart of the embers.

  A breath is long forgotten in my lungs.

  Without blinking, I stare hard with impatience.

  Sharp nails pierce through the shell, thrusting through it until its whole leg is revealed and ripping off the imprisonment of its small home.

  A quiet but powerful hum of a roar reverberates through the egg. Strong wings burst from its remaining surroundings and the tiny creature looks up at me with crystal-like eyes. Distrust is in its gaze as it studies me for several seconds.

  I shuffle quickly, reaching up on the table until I find the only food I have. I rip the meat into a thin shred, and with careful movements, I extend the offering to the little beast.

  “Eat,” I say in a quiet, gentle voice. It’s a tone I’d never use with humans. As deadly as a dragon might be, humans are far worse creatures.

  Yes, animals are much easier to speak with.

  Bobble, the white Tumid fish on my bedside table watches the beast with wide fearful eyes. His gaze is more bulging than normal if that’s possible. The poor little fat fish looks like it’s puffy body is filled entirely with anxiety in this moment.

  The dragon crawls out of the flames, shaking off the ash once it’s on the floor next to me. A ticking sound announces its small steps as its talons hit the boards. Its head is the size of my palm, and its sharp teeth rake against my fingertips as it nibbles cautiously at the strip of dry meat in my hand.

  Warm, golden firelight flashes across its eyes and I lean in even closer to the creature. One eye’s a pale blue and one’s a warm honey color. It’s unique and beautiful. I’ve seen the iris mutation in dogs but it isn’t common. It keeps its gaze locked cautiously on me as it tears off more meat with razor like teeth.

  “My name’s Arlow.” I whisper the introduction with affection tinging my tone. He doesn’t acknowledge me at all as he continues to devour his dinner. “Time for your friends.”

  With care, I cradle the red egg in my palms. The heat of the flames nips at my skin as I push it into the hot embers.

  The second one is born just like the first.

  He climbs out with more strength than the other dragon. His crimson scales capture the light of the fire in gleaming magnificence. He’s just as deadly and beautiful as the other one, but he’s not nearly as trusting. I can’t even get close enough to offer him a strip of meat without him snapping his traitorous snout at me. I toss the food to the floor, and his taloned wing pulls it closer to him. Low growls emit from its throat with every move I make.

  “Aren’t you a little darling.” I roll my eyes at his shitty attitude and begin bringing the last one over to the fireplace.

  The white one is a little smaller than the others. It’s so pure looking I can’t bring myself to toss it into the flames. On my knees, I lean into the fire. I don’t release him even as the heat stings my knuckles.

  The embers crackle as I settle the egg in against the ash and dust.

  What if it doesn’t do as well? It’s so small, what if it isn’t ready yet?

  I peek down at the two dragons ripping viciously at the last few scraps of meat.

  Hell, what if these things kill me before the end of the week?

  Life is filled with what-ifs.

  You can only leap into the flames and hope you have the strength to walk away from the ash.

  Heat washes over me as I lean into the warm fire. The golden hue of the flames glistens against my dark hair reflecting in the shimmering white surface.

  Just when my hope starts to sink low in my stomach, a small crack shatters down the curved shell.

  And just like that, another beautiful monster is born.

  Order your copy of Taming today!

  Also by A.K. Koonce

  The Mortals and Mystics Series

  Fate of the Hybrid, Prequel

  When Fate Aligns, Book one

  When Fate Unravels, Book two

  When Fate Prevails, Book three

  The Resurrection Series

  Resurrection Island, Book one

  The Royal Harem Series

  The Hundred Year Curse

  The Curse of the Sea

  The Legend of the Cursed Princess

  The Hopeless Series

  Hopeless Magic

  Hopeless Kingdom

  Hopeless Realm

  Hopeless Sacrifice

  The Harem of Misery Series

  Pandora’s Pain

  The Huntress Series

  An Assassin’s Death

  About A.K. Koonce

  A.K. Koonce is a USA Today bestselling author. She’s mom by day and a fantasy and paranormal romance writer by night. She keeps her fantastical stories in her mind on an endless loop while she tries her best to focus on her actual lif
e and not that of the spectacular, but demanding, fictional characters who always fill her thoughts.