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  So many faces and names she couldn’t remember, due to the potent concoction of brew made by GrandPap. She glanced at the older man. She used to call him Little Joe. He had led his people well and trained Cord to be a leader too. Even Waulie, Cord’s younger brother, had the sight, a seer.

  Shadow and Trixie curled next to the warming fire, and Moonsilver grazed in the open pastures with the other winged horses and unicorns.

  “My pairing partner. I still can’t believe it.” She pressed her cheek against the crook of his neck.

  He twirled her again on the crowded dance floor. He showered her with kisses, and she didn’t care who watched. The warrior angels’ and the hybrids’ camaraderie lightened her spirit.

  Someone tapped her shoulder, and she turned and screamed, “Tabris? My brother?” She released Cord’s embrace to hug him. “You’re so big and strong.”

  “And you’ve paired. Congratulations.” Tabris laughed. “The glittering angel dust is covering everyone.”

  She shouted over the crowd noise. “I know, isn’t it grand?” She reached for Cord’s hand. “Tabris, this is Cord.”

  “Brother.” Tabris clasped Cord in an embrace.

  “It’s good to see you again, Tabris,” Cord replied.

  Kaduntz dipped her chin. “You know my brother?”

  Cord’s grin went wide. “Very well. He’s one of Everglade’s teachers.”

  “A teacher. Ah, that suits you, Tabris. Have you been well? Are you paired?”

  “I have paired, and we live here.” He waved and motioned to a tall, dark-haired beauty standing next to the food wagon. She came over and smiled, her cheeks bright red. “Sister, this is Moriah, a descendant of Sandy and Baldric.”

  Kaduntz kissed each of Moriah’s cheeks. “You’re with child?”

  “Yes, I’m due in another month or so. I’m glad to meet you—finally. Tabris has told me so much about you.”

  The ground under their feet shook, and Kaduntz’s sensory receptors went on high alert. “Get the women and children to shelter, Cord.”

  “Excuse me, love.” He turned from Kaduntz and addressed Tabris. “You know the drill.” Cord scaled the stone wall next to the church. He shouted to the crowd, “Calmly move the children and elderly to the basement of the church. Warrior teams, go to your respective units, grab your weapons, and meet me back here in five minutes.”

  Michael, the AAF commander, materialized with the Keepers of the Sacred Law. “Anoth has something to tell you.”

  Anoth stepped forward and said, “My brothers and I were summoned by Luc and requested to follow you here, Kaduntz. He feared for your safety and the potential threat from a new breed of superhumans. We followed, and upon arriving learned the superhumans were angel hybrids created by the Trinity. We didn’t report back to Luc. With a legion of the Fallen, Luc has pushed the Ellauroa into the forest. He demands entrance through the stone gate. Queen Ellen denied knowledge on how to open the door, and her warriors are near a breaking point.”

  “We must protect them.” Cord frowned. “We’ll use the tunnel system.”

  “What tunnel system?” Kaduntz asked.

  “Under Everglade is a sophisticated tunnel system and home to our state-of-the-art command center with weaponry and intelligence supplied by the Trinity. We work with the AAF. It’s around one thousand feet underground and protected by supernatural shields held in place by The Creator Himself. We have entry points positioned in strategic areas of the forest. We’ll break into units and route the Ellauroa through the portal.”

  Tabris held Moriah’s hand when he said to Cord, “You risk the parallel universe we live in.”

  Kaduntz stepped forward. “There’s not a choice. We must reroute the Ellauroa to safety. Otherwise, they’re doomed. We’ll attack the Fallen in the forest. Luc won’t sacrifice himself to save his army. But if we capture him, we can finally chain him to the pits of Hell once and for all.”

  GrandPap stood. “It’s time to enter the world again and take our rightful place among the magical creatures and the nature spirits.”

  Anoth squared his shoulders. “We will call on the Heraldic animals, the Griffons, Centaurs, Harpies, and even Hydra, the seven-headed dragon, if necessary. We will find you in the forest.”

  Anoth, Oglaren, and Arnorag shifted into crows and vanished.

  Shadow howled. “We go with the crows.”

  He and Moonsilver dematerialized too.

  “Hurry, to the house for our warrior gear.” Cord held Kaduntz’s hand, and they teleported inside the house. Each went to their respective rooms to dress for battle and met at the front door.

  “He’s looking for me, Cord. If something happens to the Ellauroa, I’ll never forgive myself. I let myself get caught up in a beautiful dream, and it may cost lives.”

  He gripped her upper arms. “We’re not going to discuss defeat, do you understand? You and I, we’re a team from here to eternity. No matter the cost. Are we clear?”

  She nodded and grabbed his right hand. “Guide me to the tunnels.”

  Chapter 6

  The command center and underground tunnels were impressive at eighty-five feet wide and twelve feet tall with reinforced walls two feet thick made with materials, not from this world. The ramped tunnel roads veered off in three directions. Around two hundred and fifty warrior angels and hybrids waited for instructions from the Archangel Michael from the nerve center, which transmitted directives to and from the In-Between’s AAF headquarters.

  Michael walked to the wall surveillance screen and marked several areas on the holographic imaging. “We have several legions with Uriel waiting to descend on Campbell Ridge. Luc has forced the Ellauroa into the forest, but the nature spirits, the Heraldic animals, and tree nymphs are shielding them.”

  He turned to the warriors. “Shadow sniffed out a tracking nanochip on Anoth before they moved our forces in and surrounded the area. Without Luc’s knowledge, we infiltrated Ice Mountain. We will sever his communications to his generals once we begin engaging the enemy. The Trinity has requested we capture Luc alive, and only use deadly force if necessary. The Army of the Fallen will crumble without Luc’s vast communication systems.”

  Kaduntz could barely contain her excitement at the thought of finally capturing the Morning Star and bringing him to justice. Cord linked fingers with her. His facial expression was grim.

  Michael looked at Cord and Kaduntz. “Take the north tunnel into the forest and redirect the Ellauroa back through the portal and into the parallel town of Everglade. Queen Ellen must be protected, or their species will die without her. Go, now, and we’ll only engage in telepathic communications. Once the queen is safe within the portal, then Cord may contact the nerve center.”

  Kaduntz and Cord moved out with one hundred warrior angels and hybrids. An eternal blue light from the Trinity lit the tunnel road. Within thirty minutes, they reached the surface door. Cord turned to her. “If we get split up, don’t do anything too heroic. I just found you.”

  She pulled the divine shield from her back and unsheathed her sword. “Right back at you.”

  He motioned to the unit to move out.

  The forest canopy took on a surreal, magical quality. Kaduntz instantly connected with creatures not seen in thousands of years who remained hidden within its lush folds of greenery. No sound from any living creature, nor animal or fowl.

  The deathly silence made the hair on her neck rise from an ominous presence.

  She tapped her sword on Cord’s shoulder, breaching his mind with her thought. It’s a trap.

  The thought had barely escaped her mind when the Army of the Fallen attacked.

  She fought with her sword. Blade clashed on blade against the demons.

  War never changed. Battles fought on both sides drew heavy losses.

  Blood and sweat poured in her eyes.

  She forged onto the marked area she memorized on the command center’s map. She had to save the queen. Where was Cord? She couldn’t
find him, and that filled her with a sinking dread.

  Lightning bolts overhead crackled across the gloomy sky.

  Dark entities within the forest spread venomous spells laced with negative energy.

  Kaduntz lifted her voice and sang the undecipherable angelic song calling on Michael and other warrior angels for help.

  Many of her unit fell to their deaths, their spirits turning into crystalized mist ascending to Heaven for rebirth.

  She was outnumbered.

  She looked up to pray to The Creator.

  Shadow flew in, bringing a Heraldic Animal Army with him. He tore the enemy’s heads off with his ferocious teeth.

  Thank the Trinity!

  The roar of battle rang in her ears. The carnage was brutal.

  She pushed all thoughts of Cord to the recesses of her mind. She had to protect Queen Ellen to save the rare fae species, or they would die without her. Then Kaduntz would find Cord.

  Fire and smoke blurred her vision.

  A White Hart appeared sending telepathic messages to Kaduntz on the Ellauroa’s location. Queen Ellen and her people had sought safety in the shelter of a grand white oak.

  Kaduntz flew toward the tree, severing demons from nose to navel along the way.

  The battle ended as fast as it had begun.

  Landing on the ground, Kaduntz lost her breath.

  Cord lay lifeless near the oak tree, blood pouring from a mortal wound to his chest.

  She cried so loudly the tree nymphs shook with fear. She ran over and dropped to her knees. She drew him into her arms, a red stain spreading between them.

  The Ellauroa came out of the tree and started chanting: Heal the man, heal the angel, heal the man-angel, Heal the man, heal the angel, heal the man-angel over and over again.

  Moonsilver approached with Shadow.

  Shadow nudged her shoulder. “Place Cord on the ground.”

  “No, he’s mine. You can’t take him.” Her words came out choppy and coarse, her heart ripping into shreds.

  Shadow growled, and she released Cord reluctantly, her beautiful pairing partner’s face pale.

  Tears flowed freely down her cheeks.

  Moonsilver knelt next to Cord and placed its horn on the mortal wound, and a blue-green light radiated from the beast to her partner.

  Time stilled.

  No ticking of Earth’s clock.

  No sounds in the forest.

  Cord gasped for air and bolted upright.

  Kaduntz clapped her hands, then drew him to her chest again. “Are you alive?”

  Slow rumbling laughter rolled deep out of his chest. “I will be if you stop squeezing me to death.”

  She released him.

  Nature’s spirits, the Heraldic army, and the Ellauroa cheered.

  Cord looked at Moonsilver, reached up, and rubbed his muzzle. “I owe you my life.”

  Moonsilver shook his head from side to side, then disappeared along with the magical beings, leaving Shadow, Cord, and Kaduntz.

  Shadow said, “Luc and his army disappeared when the AAF Legion descended from the sky.”

  Cord swiped his hand over his brow. “So, the battle is over?”

  Kaduntz kissed him. “For now.”

  “Let’s go home,” he said.

  Home.

  “I have a home?”

  “With me, always.”

  About D. F. Jones

  D. F. Jones began her career as a broadcast consultant at the ABC Affiliate in Nashville, which led her to open an advertising agency over twenty years ago. Writing is a source of creative expression and takes her to a place where anything is possible, and fiction is a place made of dreams.

  Her books have garnered attention from 2017 IRC Book Awards for Best Paranormal Romance, 2019 Best Weekly Cover InD’Tale Magazine, and TaleFlick Discovery 2020.

  Whether it’s angels, demons, time travel adventures, witches and wizards, or ghosts, her books are action-packed with supernatural, suspense, and romantic elements with Southern flare.

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  Also By D. F. Jones

  Read the Ditch Lane Diaries

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  May Love Light the Way.

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  Anna’s Way (Ditch Lane Diaries 2)

  Sandy’s Story (Ditch Lane Diaries 3)

  Lee’s Lesson (Ditch Lane Diaries 4)

  Spinning Time (a time travel romance)

  The Witches of Hant Hollow

  Happily Ever After, Again

  Tis the Season: Sweet Romance Novelettes

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  Dragon Rules by Tia Didmon

  Chapter 1

  “I claim you. Come with me now.”

  Robin choked on the coffee she was sipping but didn’t look up. Well, that’s a new approach. Clearly, the ‘How Not To Pick Up A Woman Handbook’ needs a new entry. She blew on her cup, ignoring the prying eyes of the Colorado Cafe patrons. “I have many admirers, most are eloquent, flattering and sickly sweet. One even wrote me a song. So, your Neanderthal pick up line, although original, is crude in comparison. Move along.”

  He cleared his throat. “Do you not know who you are?”

  She had to hold back her laugh. “Everyone knows who I am, but you shouldn’t believe everything you read.”

  “I have read nothing about you. I saw you for the first time this morning,” he said.

  Robin believed him. Her usual repugnance for the opposite sex was failing her. She could convince any man anywhere that swimming naked in a piranha pool was preferable to being around her. At least that’s what one scorned gentleman told her after she’d compared his appearance to a blowfish. She had even suggested a renowned hairstylist counteract the ridiculous spikes in his coif and an excellent plastic surgeon to alleviate the puffed nature of his cheeks. Try as she might, he was not interested in her suggestions. Reminiscing about her fish-faced admirer made her seem disinterested before facing her newest suitor.

  He moved in front of her, resting his hands on the empty chair. “Are you going to look up?”

  Noting the sheer size of his lower body, Robin contemplated the easiest way to rid herself of the behemoth before her. Her sarcastic tone was in place before she looked up. “Dear God, your mother must have screwed a Clydesdale…” Her brilliant reply died on her lips as she met his bright copper eyes. Her heart squeezed and missed a beat.

  What in contemptuous Hell?

  She sucked in a breath, holding it in an attempt to bring her body under control. Releasing it sent fire racing through her bloodstream to pool between her legs. Her nipples hardened and peaked so quickly she thought they would slice through the thin lace of her bra. Her womb clenched so violently she had to cross her legs. Static energy crackled along her skin, leaving her scorched. Hot. When she realized control was beyond her grasp, she looked down and pinched her forefinger and thumb to her brow. To any onlooker, she would appear to have a headache. Only she knew her body had betrayed her.

  “Are you all right?”

  Robin looked up while clearing her throat to cover the effect he was having on her. He was the largest man she had ever seen. His angular features and crystalline metallic eyes were unearthly in beauty. His eyelashes were long and luscious as was his hair. A masculine man shouldn’t be more beautiful than a woman. He was. His large frame was hidden behind a long black leather jacket. That too was classic in style. While the weather was too warm for such a garment, he seemed unaffected. She searched for a reason to hate this guy. A way to save him and herself. Nothing. “Sorry, I’m prone to migraines and you are giving me a headache.”

  She watched his eyebrows arch. Yeah, he doesn’t b
elieve me. So what? Pissing me off only makes this easier. “I appreciate your offer, caveman, but I have a boyfriend.”

  He glanced at Eddie. “That thing in the corner?”

  She pursed her lips to prevent her laughter. It wasn’t what he’d said. It was the tone of his voice. As if her bodyguard was only a bug. “Yes, that’s my fiancé. He may not look like much but he’s a rock star in the bedroom.” I’m going to hell for that one.

  “Since your slack-eyed rock star is drooling over a man dressed as a woman, I feel it necessary to offer you a better solution. I offer me.” His voice held no inflection, as if he were stating a fact.

  Robin slapped her hand to her mouth to stifle the laugh. She glanced at Eddie to see if her suitor was telling the truth. Eddie was chatting up a yellow chiffon-wearing beauty with an Adam’s apple, and size thirteen shoes. She released her mouth but felt the tears of hilarity resting on her lashes. This brazen man intrigued her. He was the most arrogant bastard she had ever met but her attraction to him bordered on lunacy. It was raw. Powerful. That meant she should get rid of him. Now.

  “Let’s go,” he insisted.

  Robin laughed. Her facade slipped. She smiled at him in a rare show of real emotion. “Well that explains why your body is bigger than a buffalo. It’s the only way you could contain an ego that size.” She shook her head before her entertainment gave way to suspicion. “Who are you?”

  “My name is Ash Rule, and I am your mate.”

  “Well, in that case, my name is Robin Dark, and you may refer to me as the one that got away.” She motioned toward Eddie, grabbing his attention.

  The hot ones are always crazy. Bummer.

  She sighed. Part of her wondered if living with Ash’s delusion would be worse than her future with Samuel.

  Doubt it.

  “You should not have done that. It will change nothing,” Ash growled as Eddie approached the table in the middle of the cafe.