Warring magic, p.1
Warring Magic, page 1
Warring Magic
Iron Serpent Chronicles Book Three
Sadie Jacks
© 2020 Sadie Jacks
All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, at “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at sadie@sadiejacks.com
Cover by Natasha Williams from DAZED designs. www.dazed-designs.com
Editing by Niki Trento-Spencer
1st Edition
Note to the Reader
I can’t thank you enough for continuing on this journey with Kiema and her gang. The antics, the feels, these guys and girls know how to lead me on a merry chase.
The sex…steamier.
The Asherisms…Asherier.
The snark…more hilarious.
The feels…right in the belly.
Since I don’t do any plotting, I get to see the story unfold just like you do. Although, I get to argue with the characters a bit more. And my butt tends to get numb after a certain number of hours in the chair. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Iron Serpent Chronicles
Caged Magic (released February 19, 2020)
Wild Magic (released March 25, 2020)
Warring Magic (this book you’re reading right now)
Broken Magic (releasing May 27, 2020)
Magic Freed (June 23, 2020)
Dedication
While writing can feel pretty isolating, none of what I produce would be in your hands without a ton of help from people behind the scenes.
First and foremost: a truly awesome God who loves me (and you!) from the bottom of his heart.
Next: Niki, you’re a goddess in your own right. The work you do, the shoulder you lend, the sanity you bring are all immeasurable and so very appreciated. Love you, sis!
Next Next: Cherrie, I hope this version of you satisfies your heart to finally snag that book boyfriend, Asher.
Next Next Next: Val, Ashleigh, Mary, you ladies keep me on my toes, make me laugh, lift my spirits, and you’re the best book pimps I know. Keep it real, Dragons!
Next Next Next Next: to the late minute additions of Katrina, Cali, Karly, and Justine. Ladies, you caught the errors none of the rest of us did and made sure I was readable. Much love!
Finally: Mom and dad, even though I know you’ll never read this, thanks for your undying support, love, and encouragement. (PS. Dad, thanks for letting me use one of the names you were going to use if you and Mom had had another kid.) (PPS, thanks for not having any more kids.)
Glossary
Setting:
Azica (rhymes with Africa) is an Alternate Universe
Iashira (EYE-AH-sheer-rah) - similar to North America
Sheocreth (SHE-OH-creth) - similar to the UK/Ireland
Adune (AH-dune) - similar to EU
Olon (OH-lon) - similar to Africa
Upari (YOU-pair-ee) - similar to Russia/Middle East
Characters:
Kiema Feuer (KIE [rhymes with pie] -eema FOY-ah)
Ransom Kolefni (RAN-sohm KOH-lef-nee)
Saint Smok (SAY-nt SMOH-k)
Asher Kandma (ASH-er CAND-ma)
Atlas Wilks (AT-less WILL-ks)
Xander Kandma (ZAN-der CAND-ma)
Taryk Panterri (TARE-ek PAN-ter-ee)
Lukas Niala (LOO-kus NEE-al-ah)
Scarlet Orein (SCAR-let OAR-in)
Kord Sova (KORD SO-va)
Alok Trisgella (AH-lock TRES-gella)
Chapter 1 – Saint
“Saint?” Kiema asked, her delicious ass pointed up into the air, her head near my lower back as we rushed across the street to the warehouse.
“Yeah, honey?”
“You have a seriously fantastic ass. I’m going to bite it one of these days.”
Ransom laughed behind us.
I felt her wiggle, brace herself on her hands that were on my hip bones. “Yours, too, Ransom.”
His laugh turned to smoke. “Anytime, anywhere.”
Next thing I know, Kiema is snaking her hands under my shirt, down my pants. Her nails dug into the muscles of my ass.
I spanked her, the sound loud as we passed through the back entrance of our home. “No touching.”
Her hand disappeared. “Sorry. I need your skin. I need it against mine. Hurry, Saint.”
We pushed into the elevator. Ransom stabbed the button for my fifth-floor home. Pulling Kiema from my shoulder, I lowered her to her feet.
She sank to her knees, hands searching out my zipper as her breathing grew ragged and her eyes flickered with heat and lust.
My hands sank into her black locks. I still couldn’t believe my luck in finding my mate. She was fucking amazing.
With a hiss, my dick sprang free of the confines of my pants. Just as the cooler air brushed my skin, wet heat enveloped me as Kiema slid her mouth over me. Bobbing her head up and down on my cock, I watched as she reached over and began fiddling with Ransom’s pants. He pushed her hands to the side and opened his fly for her.
The elevator rocked to a halt. None of us bothered moving from the car.
As Ransom’s cock was exposed, Kiema lifted from my groin and fitted herself to Ransom’s length.
Her hands, skilled for such an inexperienced woman, wrapped my shaft and began jerking me off.
She was moaning against Ransom’s cock, her cheeks hollowed as she pulled her head back to his tip.
With a soft pop, she switched her oral attention back to me. I liked her hands on me. But I fucking loved having her mouth on me. I held her head in my hands lightly, making sure not to force her head down over me. My hips picked up a hard and fast rhythm as I fucked her mouth.
My head tipped back against the wall of the elevator car as she took me to the back of her throat.
The sound of her gagging had a dark smile ripping across my mouth.
Dingdingding. The elevator was called to another floor.
Ransom, cursing, reached out and slammed a hand on the DOOR OPEN button.
Regretfully, I pulled Kiema up from her knees as the door opened onto my floor.
“Fuckers,” Ransom said.
Kiema giggled as she walked between Ransom and me as we passed through the doorway into my home. Ransom and I both had our pants in our fists, shuffling along behind the woman who’d lovingly tortured us.
I slammed the door behind us. Ready and more than willing to pick up where we’d left off. I pulled Kiema into my arms. I looked down into her face. Her silver-gray eyes were still hers.
I wasn’t really sure I was ready for whoever else was inside her to come out and play. Or if anyone even would. But if both Anda and Ten thought Kiema would need Ransom and me, we were here to the fucking end.
“Let’s get some water,” Ransom said, pulling both of our attention.
I looked at the man like he was insane. Water? Now? I was about to get balls deep inside our mate, and he wants some water?
He stared back at me, one hand holding his jeans up to his waist. “Hey, you want to get dehydrated partway through the show, that’s your loss. I’ll be ready to go for the duration.” He walked over to my fridge, pulled out two bottles.
Kiema pulled my cock into her hands, gave it a little squeeze. “It can’t hurt.” She leaned forward, pecked her lips against mine.
Having her walk away from me fucking hurt.
She walked over to Ransom, kissed him as she took the bottle he held out.
I wasn’t about to be left out because I was too low on fluids. Fuck Ransom.
He laughed at me as I stole the bottle he’d just opened. I tipped it towards him in a toast.
Just as he leaned down to get another bottle for himself, a wash of heat and desire flooded the room.
I almost choked on the mouthful of water.
Kiema’s eyes widened, her head still tipped back. She flicked her gaze to me as she guzzled the water. Two matching streams of water slid from the corners of her mouth. They slid down her neck right where I was going to put my tongue on her skin.
I tipped my head back and chugged the water down.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ransom doing the same thing.
Another wave of burning lust swept over us.
I shivered.
When I looked at Kiema again, her eyes were completely silver. No iris, no cornea. All silver. Corner to corner.
I stilled.
She tossed the empty water bottle over her shoulder and walked the few steps over to me. Her hips had a distinct swish as they moved side to side.
I worked to keep my gaze on her face.
“Saint.” She stopped directly in front of me. Licked her lips. She pulled the bottle from my hand. Tossing it over her shoulder, it landed on the floor next to hers. “You know those rules you were talking about before?”
I nodded. I couldn’t seem to get my voice to work.
“I think we’re going to need those.” She leaned forward, bit my chest through my shirt.
The sound of another bottle hitting the floor floated through the room.
“Kiema, angel,” Ransom started.
Kiema turned, a snarl lifting the corner of her mouth. An elongated canine tooth peeked from between her lips.
Ransom mirrored her snarl. “Bring it on, angel. Who’s in there with you?”
&nbs
She looked at me. She looked more confused than anything else.
I looked at Ransom.
He didn’t notice, too consumed with watching our mate.
I cleared my throat. “Honey, do you remember the first time we were all together?”
She laughed. “Of course, I do. It’s not something I think I’ll ever forget.”
I smiled. “Me either, honey. Me either. Do you remember anything…being off…about yourself that day?”
Her head tipped to the side, long black hair sliding over her shoulders into a curtain on the side of her head. “No. Did something happen to me?”
Ransom snorted softly. “You went a little dominatrix on Saint, angel.”
Kiema looked back at me, her eyes wide.
I nodded. “It’s true. Your eyes were pure silver and your voice had changed.”
She jerked back, this time out of touching distance. “No way.”
Ransom and I just watched her.
She looked between us. With a huff, she crossed her arms. “Seriously?”
“Truth, angel. They did it again right now, right before I asked who was in there with you,” Ransom said.
Kiema shut her eyes. A look of intense concentration crossed her face. “I don’t feel anyone else in here with me.” She opened her eyes, looked at us again. “I don’t even feel Anda.”
“Okay. I just wanted to make sure,” Ransom said as he moved to my side. “Saint has rules for a reason. A reason he’ll get into when he’s ready. We—he—needs to be able to trust you to follow those rules.”
Kiema looked at me, a look of grief on her face. She appeared on the verge of bursting into tears. She nodded. “Of course I can do that. You can trust me. You know that right?”
An arctic blast blew through me.
I nodded at her, even as I shivered. This time the shivering had nothing to do with sex or desire. I rubbed my hands up and down my arms. “Do you guys feel that?”
Kiema and Ransom looked at me.
“I got a chill, but nothing that feels like what you’re feeling, Saint,” Kiema said. The flesh on her arms was covered in goosebumps.
I turned to Ransom. He didn’t react at all.
Ten pushed to the front of my mind. “You are reacting to her emotions. This close to final power ascension, we will be more closely tied to her than even she realizes. I repeat my earlier words to you, dragons are beings of pure magic. You are standing beside a woman with enough magic to host a goddess. Prepare yourself.”
I repeated what Ten just said to Ransom and Kiema.
“If I’m this close to a power ascension, shouldn’t I be able to feel it?” She poked and prodded at her own body. Another look of confusion crossed her face.
“I don’t know, honey. But if you’re still here and clear headed, I’d like to go over the rules with you. Just in case we get hit with the lusties.”
Kiema giggled. “Lusties? Channeling your inner Asher?”
I nodded, enjoying her laughter.
“Sure, Saint.” She turned toward the bed.
Almost as if I could tell when her eyes landed on it, a wave of lust and sex poured through the room again.
She stopped moving. When she turned back to me, her eyes were half normal, half mercury. “I think you should tell me while I stand here.” She wrapped her arms around her body.
Ransom moved toward her.
She held up a hand. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Now that I’m aware of it, I can feel it inside me. I actually felt it that time.” She turned to look at me. “Hurry, Saint baby. I don’t know how long I can hold it off.”
“You can’t touch my back or abs when I don’t have clothes on. Legs are fine. Arms are fine. Chest is fine.”
Her gaze flicked down to my groin.
“That’s obviously fine to touch, with or without clothes on.” I smiled at her.
Ransom chuckled.
Kiema licked her lips. “You’ll tell me why later?”
I nodded. “Anytime you want to know, you just ask.” I felt my belly knot with the promise. But I wasn’t going to hide anything from her. Certainly not something like this. She needed to be aware of the darkness I kept locked inside. What could break open its cage.
She shuddered, her eyelids falling closed.
I held my breath.
Lust swirled through the room once more.
“It’s pushing at me. Like a wave of water slamming against the barriers inside me.”
“Let it loose, angel. We can swim,” Ransom said. His body shifted, but he stopped himself before he took a step.
“We’re here for you, Kiema. No matter your form, your power, your change. We love you. All of you. Always,” I said.
Beside me, Ransom nodded.
Her eyelids opened. Liquid silver ebbed and flowed in her eyes like a tide coming in on the shore. “Then prepare yourselves, mates.” Her voice sounded layered, as if there were more of her using her voice at the same time.
My body stiffened; my cock jerked to a hard, lethal length. “Fuck,” I breathed.
With no movement that I could detect, Kiema stood before Ransom and me naked. Her clothing seemed to simply disappear.
The golden brown of her honey skin gleamed in the weakening sunlight filtering through the wall of windows.
“Come,” she said, lifting both hands to us.
We were touching her before she finished saying the word.
The wave of lust tapered off as if pulled back with the ocean tide. I looked down at her face. Silver eyes faded to normal gray and white.
“It’s strong, guys. Are you sure?” Kiema asked us.
“Fuck yes,” we both said.
Kiema nodded. “I think you’re going to need to tie me up, Saint. Actual ties. Make them strong.” The word ended on a groan as her eyes melted to sterling once more. Her body danced and flowed like a snake moving across the earth.
“She speaks the truth,” the entity sharing Kiema’s body answered.
“Who are you?” Ransom asked as I raced to my closet.
I shucked my pants, leaving my boxer briefs on. I kept one ear on their conversation as I grabbed my box of meticulously ordered gear.
“And where’s Anda? She’s the one usually riding with Kiema.”
“You would be unable to pronounce my name. But have no fear, I will not harm your mate. I will not be here very long. As to Anda…” Kiema’s head tipped to the side. “She is young compared to me. Her gifts are great, but they are lacking.”
Fuck. We had another fucking power player riding shotgun in our mate’s body, mind, and spirit.
“What do we call you?” Ransom asked as I came back to the bed. He still had his pants gripped in a white-knuckled fist.
Maneuvering Kiema around on the bed while someone else used her body had my belly clenching in grief.
“You can call me Heppni.” Kiema’s head bowed slightly.
“What are you the goddess of?” I asked as I slid Kiema’s wrists into the pop-lock cuffs. Anything went wrong, one simple button push, and she would be free.
Heppni chuckled, the sound like sex against my skin. “Many things for many humans. They cannot decide which version of me they would like to worship.”
I looked at Ransom. That didn’t sound good.
“Are you a Prime?” Ransom asked as he helped me strap Kiema’s ankles down with the under-bed restraints.
Heppni smiled. “That would be the closest your mind could understand.”
“Why are you inside our Mate?” Ten asked through my mouth. I hadn’t even felt him take control of our shared body.
Heppni peered at me. “Ah. I wondered why you shone like a star. What do you house, human?”
“I’m a dragon from Earth, my goddess,” Ten bowed our head low. “This world, this Azica, is not a place for magical beings.”
The goddess trilled a laugh that was both harsh and silky smooth. I felt ruffled and sanded by the sound.
“This world has more magic in it than any other. There have simply been no vessels to carry it from its core.”
