Westmore Wolves Series: Shapesifter Collection Bks 1-5 Page 18

  He sucked in a breath and felt the bones begin to shift and move, every part of him breaking down and rebuilding to a being more than twenty times larger than his human form. Red scales slipped over his skin and a wisp of smoke pushed past his lips as his body changed. Opening his wings, Dante threw back his head and roared, a gout of fire spraying from his maw.

  Wings out, he pushed himself up and over the engine, grabbing the large tank of water from the back of the passenger compartment. He headed straight for the inferno, dumping the tank over the door so the others could get inside. Flames licked at his skin as he tore through the large warehouse window into the flames, searching for anyone trapped within the confines of the blaze.

  The fire crackled around him, hissing and spitting like a live thing. And it was. Any fireman knew that. So did his dragon. Fire lived in his belly and he was raring to get it out. Dante pushed the blaze back with one of his own, suppressing the onset of the fire. Shouts from the men outside alerted him and he retreated as bursts of water tamped down the raging flames, reducing them to smoke and soggy ashes.

  No one had been in the building. If there had been, his superior hearing would have alerted him.

  Someone was playing games. His dragon rumbled in displeasure knowing just how fast a fire could turn ugly and kill the very men sent in to serve and protect. Dante and Carter and the dragons in the crew could withstand a lot but the other shifters and humans on the force? They could have been killed if something had gone wrong.

  More shouts sounded from outside and he was directed to fly over the field next to the abandoned building. Flames licked along the dried grasses, raging ahead toward town.

  No.

  The hell it was.

  His dragon threw his head back and roared and he dove ahead singing the grass and creating a barrier between the blaze and the remaining area of the field. He chortled loudly, signaling to his fellow dragons on the crew and in moments they had taken flight, their flames beating back the threat of a more serious fire as one of the engines made its way over to the secondary fire.

  Dante chuffed as Carter flew in close, the great green dragon clutching a tank of water. He released the water and let fly a gout of fire, signaling to the next dragon. Dante swooped down and collected another tank, spraying it over the remaining area of the blaze, stomping it out in its tracks.

  He landed near the engine, giving Carter a nod. They’d done it. The town was safe. For now. But one thing was becoming more and more clear. They had themselves a firebug.

  Chapter Four

  “Here you go, Sir. Have a nice day.” Violet passed a lidded beverage cup onto the top of the counter and glanced over at her new boss as she juggled a tray of pastries, knowing full well that Sage was watching and assessing her every move. After a couple of mishaps with the steaming pitcher, Violet was feeling more confident. It helped that she hadn’t burned herself in the last fifteen minutes. Her forearm still smarted from brushing against the steam wand when the hot milk exploded all over her first thing this morning, and she was fairly certain she’d gotten caramel sauce in her hair. Twice.

  She tried to turn down the erratic fae magic that threatened to break free, especially when she was stressed. But she was here and it felt…right. Seth had been true to his word. He told her in Westmore she’d find her destiny and set her on a path to a having a life. Now, she just wanted to fit in and hoped to goodness the Fates were done playing with her long enough to maybe stay in her job or even her new apartment for more than a day.

  So far, this position was almost like her work at home at the Gingerbread Shack and for a second she let herself get almost wistful. Montblank, Alaska had been a winter fae haven for a long time…but not for her. Not anymore.

  She could still feel the chill wind on her face as her skates touched down on the frozen lake on the afternoon that everything changed, and for a moment her winter magic flared, making the milk in the pitcher in front of her start to freeze.

  Crap.

  She hurried to the sink behind her and listened with a thud as the frozen block of milk plopped into the stainless steel sink. Violet flipped on the hot water and melted the offending evidence in the hopes that no one had witnessed her erratic magic.

  Her coworker Melissa zoomed on the register, taking orders and snagging pastries faster than any human she’d ever seen. But one sly side look and she knew the girl had seen her foible.

  Double crap.

  But Mel wasn’t a human either according to Sage. Part demon, the girl was a whirlwind of activity and, without even thinking about it, Violet’s natural completive nature took over and she jumped in, working the steam wand on this new machine like she’d been doing it all her life. It was a lot like the one she used at home and before she knew it, her goof was forgotten, replaced by the need to crank the wand and push the drinks out faster and faster.

  Part of her wondered if the demon was her connection to Seth. It would be odd, but from what she’d seen of the Grimare so far, she wouldn’t be surprised by anything.

  Her first day at the Hot Whips Café and she had been nervous as a cat. But not after a good four hours of steady frothing and pulling shots. The earthy scent of coffee and the repetition put her scattered mind into a rhythm and that made her happy as a cat that got the cream.

  She choked back an unladylike snort that came out as a nervous giggle. Her new boss Sage was a cat. Well, in her off hours she supposed. Here she was a force of nature.

  “Good work, Vi. I think you’re getting the hang of things.” Sage beamed at her and slid a tray laden with cinnamon scones into the pastry case.

  “Thanks.”

  “I knew I was right to hire you.” Sage snapped the case shut and turned her head to the front door. Nose twitching, her grin turned almost evil. “Look out, girls, it’s our competition.”

  Mel sighed and leaned forward on the register. “Oh, goody. And he’s wearing those butt hugger jeans today too. I can’t wait to see this thing. It’s all over the town Facebook page.” She rang the last customer up and the woman shuffled down the line to wait for her latte, not even paying attention to the banter of the two women behind the counter.

  “What thing?” Violet asked absently, cleaning up a spill on the counter.

  “The new firemen calendar. We did our own last year to try and spice up business and word is the boys are trying to get in on the action.”

  “Oh my God.”

  “You should see it.” Mel pointed to a display on the counter next to the register, a devilish grin on her face. “Creative placement of all things pastry.”

  A nervous giggle erupted from Violet’s lips. “Really?”

  “Yup.”

  “Did it work?”

  “It sure did. We all got bonuses and one of the waitresses got engaged.”

  “Wow.”

  Another rush of lattes came through. Violet didn’t have time to observe the newcomers as she dipped the steam wand into the milk and let her fly, frothing and heating it till it was to temperature. Wiping the wand, she pulled the shots into the paper cup and poured the milk, topping it with froth. She lidded the drink and slid it across the counter to the customer.

  “There you go. Have a great day.”

  A mumbled response and the woman was out the door.

  Violet glanced around the café and tried to tamp down the energy that had plagued her since she’d woke that morning. She had to find her purpose and hoped that whatever Seth had in mind would put her in the path of her destiny—minus the Fates and their plan for her demise.

  Pasting a happy smile on her face, she turned to take the next order from Mel, but instead caught the eye of her own personal Angel of Death as he arranged a scone on his plate, making himself at home at one of the tables. When did he get here? And why didn’t she see him pass through the line?

  Because he hadn’t. That meant he was here either to watch over her or to meddle in something. Neither prospect held much appeal. All she wanted was
to get through her first day with no mishaps. That meant no visions. No weirdness. Just coffee and finding her place.

  The enigmatic coffee shop owner would never let on that she was anything, but a tattooed Goddess mated to the Alpha of the city, however, one touch of her hand told Violet everything she needed to know. There was pain…but there was also joy in her newfound happiness. And in Hot Whips and the girls who rallied around her like a den mother. Sage came out from behind the counter and was talking to the men to the side of the pastry case and, despite her determination not to get involved, Violet had to admit she was curious.

  This was a place she wanted to fit into. This was going to be home. Now, she just hoped she stayed alive long enough for them to maybe overlook some of her oddities.

  The prickle of tears made her blink and she found Seth staring at her with a smirk on his pretty boy arrogant face.

  Look out, Princess. It’s coming.

  Shit.

  “Great. Not today.”

  “Talking to yourself already, Vi?” Mel raised an eyebrow and gave her a salacious grin, promptly turning her attention to the two men at the counter talking with Sage.

  Violet didn’t even spare them a passing glance. Joseph had been a looker too and where had that gotten her? Almost dead and talking to angels. Oh, and now apparently herself.

  She frowned and wiped the counter, the sense that something was about to change sliding through her veins like a raging summer storm.

  No. She wasn’t going to look. It just wasn’t worth it.

  But she had to.

  Butterflies attacked her stomach and her pulse jumped. She hated it when Seth spoke to her in her mind, but as she took in the newcomer, all thoughts fled and her flesh burned, desire rolling through her blood.

  There was no way she could take the look back. Not now. Not ever. His well-muscled physique and chiseled jaw made him look like someone she wouldn’t want to cross, but his gaze when they met hers and held.

  Oh.

  Smoldering heat sizzled through her and she almost dropped the milk pitcher. And that’s when she knew.

  Her mother lied.

  Winter fae did mate and hers was standing right across the room. Setting the metal pitcher on the counter, she smoothed her hands down her hips and made her way over to him, just focusing on trying to breathe.

  Chapter Five

  Dante stood with Reggie next to the pastry case in the Hot Whips Café holding the damned stack of calendars his Captain had saddled him with, and for the second time that week wanted to crawl in a hole and just die. He felt eyes on him and a scent he couldn’t quite place.

  His Captain had posted images all over the Internet and now the whole town knew what he looked like practically naked. Well, except for the hose. Everywhere he went there were catcalls and women flinging themselves at him. The rest of the guys laughed it off, but his dragon was getting testier and testier the longer he went without a mate. And now he had the pup trailing him too. That was just perfect.

  “Dante…” He turned to find a gaggle of women standing at the door to the café, each with a calendar in their hand. “Can you sign these for us?”

  “And I want him to sign something else too.” One of the women held out a sharpie pen and pushed her tee shirt covered breasts in his direction, the nipples showing through the thin cotton.

  Dante recoiled, nearly slamming into the pastry case.

  His dragon chuckled darkly and he frowned.

  Bastard fucking thing.

  “I’ll sign it.” The puppy stepped in when Dante hesitated.

  “Who are you?” The blond woman in the middle frowned, her gaze clearly on Dante.

  “I’m Mr. March.” Reggie grinned. “And I’ll sign anywhere you want.”

  Oh thank God.

  Sage, the quirky tattooed redhead that ran the place, and the new Alpha’s mate, sauntered up dusting her hands off on her apron. “What’s up, boys? You need some muffins?” Sage grinned and straightened a basket of pre-packaged cookies on top of the pastry case.

  “Um. Sure.” Reggie swallowed, his eyes darting to the dark haired girl behind the register.

  Dante started to speak, but whatever words had been forming in his mouth vacated as he took in the black haired beauty standing behind the espresso machine. Her porcelain skin was fair and her eyes, when they met his, were a startling almost purple color. Her mouth fell open in a surprised expression, then promptly closed again.

  He’d seen her before and, if he wasn’t mistaken, he’d seen a spark of recognition in her eyes as well.

  Wait. Where? Not in the throng of annoying cling on women. He would have remembered that.

  No.

  He thought harder.

  The girl in the water.

  The dream.

  Holy smoking crackers. It was real. She was real.

  His dragon sat up and took notice, his scales scraping beneath Dante’s skin.

  Mate.

  Dante almost stumbled as his beast uttered the word, but even as his human side fought against it, he knew in his gut it was true.

  She’d been floating beneath the water in the dream. And she’d almost died. He was certain of it.

  What was she doing here?

  “Violet.” He hadn’t realized he’d spoken aloud until Sage responded, giving him an odd look.

  Sage gestured for the young woman to approach. She’d come out from behind the counter, her eyes never leaving Dante’s. “Yes. This is Violet. She’s our newest hire. Just started today, in fact.”

  Her eyes cast down, the curvy raven haired beauty approached. “Did you need me, Sage?”

  “I did,” Sage nodded. “This is Dante, one of the firemen down at the station.”

  “A pleasure.” He held out his hand and drew in his breath, his blood pounding in his veins as her spicy pine scent reached his nostrils. She smelled of winter and pine trees…and gingerbread.

  He liked gingerbread. A rumble started low in his belly and he covered it with an awkward cough. She was mesmerizing and he wanted to bury himself inside of her. Right there. Right now.

  A wisp of smoke slipped from his lips.

  Fuck.

  He closed his eyes and tried to get his shit together but the closer he got, the more his dragon wanted to revel in their new mate’s presence.

  So this was what it felt like?

  Nothing even close to the random hook ups he’d had over the years. This was a gut feeling that all but socked him between the eyes.

  Carter told him he’d know when the right one came along and Dante had laughed. Now with his cock ready to leap out of his jeans, he didn’t find it funny. Not one bit.

  “Nice to meet you, also.” She slipped her soft, small hand into his.

  When his hand reflexively tightened around it, drawing in her energy and strength heated pleasure tripped up the inner scales of his arm.

  The young woman jerked her hand away, nervously she tucked a strand of hair around her ear and he noted it was pointed at the top.

  Elf? Fae?

  It was hard to tell.

  God. He hoped she didn’t notice his public display of um…yeah. He lowered the package of calendars to cover the front of his jeans. That was all he needed for the social media hounds to catch a glimpse of him with a hard on in the middle of the café.

  Or the pack of hyenas talking to Reggie. A cock shot to go with the fire hose. That’d be just damn near perfect in making his week.

  He moved his head and he took in aroma of woman underneath the pine and swallowed. His dragon wanted this female like no other woman before her and he was going to make her his. No matter what it took.

  The force of his wanting shook him to his very core and he had to shift his body, the jeans he had on becoming more than a little constrictive in his aroused state.

  Violet hesitated, glanced shyly at him again and he was lost.

  ***

  Violet knew better. She shouldn’t have done it but she couldn
’t help herself. Touching people lately only led to seeing things she wasn’t prepared for. When she had laid her hand in the buff fireman’s palm she wasn’t equipped for the images that assailed her. She knew him. From somewhere.

  Dante.

  Just the touch of his name in her mind made her want to taste his mouth and claim him in front of everyone in the room. Her panties dampened and there was a chance they might have caught on fire. The excitement surging through her system blasted her, making her weak in the knees. Her folds slickened and her lips parted in abject invitation.

  She wanted him.

  Now.

  His scent rolled around her. Masculine and spicy, it enveloped her as surely as if he had covered her with his body and claimed her for all to see.

  Violet took a shuddering breath and she blinked. Was the angel doing this? Was it another one of his tricks?

  Oh my God. She wasn’t a slut monster. Her eyes met Seth’s and he shook his head, holding his hands up in a “not me” gesture.

  She refocused her attention on Dante, seeing his dragon shining at her through his eyes. His heat called to the dormant ice goddess hidden inside of her and an elemental piece of her broke apart, shattering like the ice she’d encased her heart to help shoulder the hurt. The disappointment about not being perfect enough. For anyone. Even the man who was supposed to love and cherish her for the rest of her life.

  But him. Dante. He was different.

  His dragon shimmered, reaching out to her, and she knew he was hers as much as any shifter mating. As if the Fates themselves had wound the cord, binding them together.

  Oh. If only it could be true.

  Those eyes. So hard and soft and oh…her body remembered and the heat slammed into her a second time, his voice trailing through her memory.

  “Live. You have to live.”

  He was earth shatteringly handsome, with long legs and body built from what she was sure had to be hard work. Short black hair and gray eyes that flashed fire, she fell into his gaze like she was falling.