Renegade (Shadow Realms): An Urban Fantasy Dragon Shifter Romance Read online

  Renegade

  Shadow Realms

  Amber Ella Monroe

  Renegade (Shadow Realms)

  Copyright © July 2017 by Amber Ella Monroe

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, places, incidents, and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or person, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

  Contents

  Newsletter

  Other Paranormal Romance Titles

  The Realms

  The Glossary

  Book Summary

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  Message from Amber Ella Monroe

  What’s Next

  The Dresdan Coven Trilogy

  Bonus Book ~ The Dresdan Coven Trilogy Summary

  Prelude

  Preface

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Epilogue

  Donor

  Preface

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Epilogue

  Requiem

  Preface

  Interlude

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Epilogue

  Dresdan Coven Glossary

  Newsletter

  About the Author

  SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER

  If you enjoy romance with an edgier side, subscribe to Amber Ella’s newsletter HERE, and be one of the first to be notified of new releases, current contests, giveaways, and book-related news.

  For paranormal romance novels, visit Amber Ella Monroe on the web at http://amberellabooks.com

  For contemporary romance novels, visit Ambrielle Kirk on the web at http://booksbyambrielle.com

  Other Paranormal Romance Titles

  CAEDMON WOLVES

  Wolf’s Haven

  Wolf’s Promise

  Wolf’s Touch

  Wolf’s Desire

  Wolf’s Strength

  Wolf’s Honor

  Wolf’s Temptation

  DRESDAN COVEN

  Prelude

  Donor

  Requiem

  The Dresdan Coven Trilogy

  WOLF IN EXILE

  Captured

  Unchained

  Ascend

  Reclaimed

  Bound

  Wolf in Exile: The Complete Edition

  ASPEN VALLEY WOLF PACK

  Shifter Untamed

  Wolf Unbound

  Outlaw Unleashed

  Omega Unmasked

  Rebel Unveiled

  Mountain Wolf

  Rogue Wolf

  If you enjoy romance with an edgier side, subscribe to Amber Ella’s newsletter, http://smarturl.it/amberellas-list, and be one of the first to be notified of new releases, current contests, giveaways, and book-related news.

  For paranormal romance novels, visit Amber Ella Monroe on the web at http://amberellabooks.com

  For contemporary romance novels, visit Ambrielle Kirk on the web at http://booksbyambrielle.com

  The Realms

  The Glossary

  The Shadow Realms World

  The glossary will give you a brief overview of the realms, terms, and factions used in this installment of The Shadow Realms.

  The Realms

  Empyrean ~ a heaven-like realm for gods, angels, & spirits

  Highacré ~ a secondary heaven-like realm for gods, angels, & spirits. a sanctuary for those who are granted entry

  Ivory Court ~ a realm for mostly light fae, elves, & wizards

  Ice Court ~ a realm for mostly dark fae, elves, & sorcerers

  Nimroid ~ home of the ice-breathers (a realm of mostly dragons)

  Kastanbul ~ home of the fire-breathers (a realm of mostly dragons)

  Bursgate ~ a supernatural prison

  Lochhaven ~ a supernatural haven

  Earth ~a realm inhabited by humans and other supernaturals

  Ucrath ~ a realm of mostly gargoyles & gryphons

  Dolath ~ a realm of mostly goblins & orcs

  The Void ~ a barren realm

  Blackwald ~ like Hell (a realm of demons, hellions, & evil spirits)

  Terms/Glossary

  Sirix ~ a poison that causes temporary paralysis

  Trillium Coven ~ a coven of witches

  Nightshade Coven ~ a coven of witches

  The Shadows ~ a coven of witches

  Book Summary

  A World in Chaos…

  When demons ravage earth, they destroy all in their path. Serving a Demon King, a monster without morals or mercy, the fiends leave their enemies with two choices.

  Fight or flight.

  A Devil’s Bargain…

  Dragon Guardian, Carrick Dragoe lives life on a supernatural prison realm. Falsely accused of being a traitor years ago by the Dragon King, Carrick longs for freedom and to return to combat, battling the demon horde. If he only he could take up arms once again, he could regain his honor and defeat the scourge that threatens Earth. The King offers him a bargain – kill the Trillium Queen and win his freedom.

  The Duty of a Young Queen…

  Earthborn witch, Leona Thévene
t lives life in a precarious balance. Her world lies in ruins, overrun by the barbarous villains. Worse yet, her beloved mother is missing. Leona vows to solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. But the coven has other plans. They intend for Leona to take her mother’s place on the throne as the new Trillium Queen. To prove that she can live up to the title, she embarks on a dangerous journey searching for the one thing that could restore the balance between humans and supernaturals.

  The Assassin becomes the Protector…

  When Carrick first comes upon the young queen, he knows the price of freedom is too high. Proud, lovely and brave, Leona steals his breath. His heart too. Leona can't seem to keep her distance from the irresistible renegade. Nor does she want to. When she discovers the truth about his mission, will she still believe their love is worth fighting for?

  Chapter 1

  Leona

  "You keep insisting that I stay here like I'm your prisoner. Why?" I threw my hands up in irritation. I was at wit's end trying to get my point across to my Uncle François, an elder of the Trillium Coven.

  "Leona Marceau Thévenet, you're here for many purposes, but your survival is of the utmost importance to all of us."

  Uncle Franc almost never used my full name unless he was hella furious. But so was I. I was hella tired of remaining idle and feeling useless when I knew I could do so much more to help.

  "I'm scheduled to lead the coven in under a month. I'm here to defend it, not to cower behind a protection spell. I want to join the crusade. Send me out in search of the grimoire," I said.

  "I don't know what you're trying to prove, but you're not a seeker or a hunter. You won't leave this sanctuary to join any such crusade," Uncle Franc said, pounding his fist down on the oak desk as he spoke the last few words.

  My veins filled with red-hot emotions and the open window to the right of us slammed shut. I wasn't interested in containing my powers, yet neither was Uncle Franc. He used his magic to reopen the window.

  I battled the urged to test my uncle's patience. This wasn't a showdown over who was strongest. I was only trying to warn him. "I'm not trying to pro—"

  "What now? Do you want to throw down with the demons? Wage war with dragons? Queens don't grapple on the battlefields or argue with their elders. Your energy is best used on strengthening your craft."

  Folding my arms across my chest, I blew outward in frustration and turned my back on him. He was beyond reasoning with. He was using his position as the interim leader of the coven to proceed with his plans. For the last few months, he'd made nothing but last minute, desperate decisions that only threw us back further from the goal. I wondered if he was the one making all the decisions or if the other elders had guided him.

  "Well, maybe I'm not fit to be a queen," I told him. "It's clear with the way things are going that I would never appease the elders. I should call off my initiation."

  "Absurdité," Uncle Franc grumbled. "That is utter nonsense. You're the strongest of us all. If you step foot outside those borders, one mishap could put you in the hands of those Blackwald demons. They'll drain your soul and your magic. Your mother damned our cov—"

  I put up my hand, silently begging him to stop talking. "Don't ridicule my mother and what she did to save us."

  "I don't want the same fate for you," Uncle Franc said, his voice filled with anguish.

  "Too bad my fate is inevitable," I told him.

  "Nothing is inevitable. Circumstances can be changed," Uncle Franc countered.

  "Every day we all worry about if our magic will be strong enough to hold the protection spells. Every day we face the threat of infiltration. We have news that the queen of the Nightshade Coven has aligned herself with a higher power. What do you think they'll do once they break the protection spell?"

  "They won't break it," he said.

  "If they get the 9th Grimoire before I do, they will."

  "That's what our hunters are for, dear niece," he said, more calmly this time. "Let them do their jobs."

  "The hunters have searched all of Earth and still come up with nothing. You and the elders have said it yourself; the Grimoire has been known to conceal itself from those who cannot wield its power. It doesn't care who inherits it. It just wants to be used. I will use it to cleanse our realm of demons. Time is running out. Thousands of people are being murdered in towns and cities where there are no protection spells."

  "We can't save them all," he replied.

  "We can save as many of them as possible.”

  "You forget that many humans and some of the weaker supernatural races chose not to accept our offer of protection. Thus, they will reap the consequences," he chided, his eyebrows furrowing as he spoke.

  "Perhaps they knew that living in a little bubble in which they cannot escape is equal to being in prison. They chose freedom, not death," I countered.

  "Did they? I bet most of them would rather be protected by Trillium magic than confined within the walls of Blackwald where their souls will be eaten by the demons."

  "We're running out of time," I urged. "I can feel it. I wouldn't have come to you if I wasn't certain. I had another vision. It was awful. If the wrong witch gets her hand on our Grimoire, we'll all burn alive."

  Uncle Franc frowned. "How much time do we have?"

  "A few weeks. Probably less than that. If this vision plays out, I won't even be here for my initiation. And neither will you."

  A sour look cross over my uncle's face. He scratched the top of his balding head and then dropped his forehead into his palm. For a moment, he seemed to contemplate what I told him.

  "If I'm as powerful as you say I am, why won't you trust me? Why won't you believe me when I tell you about my visions?"

  "Do you mean the same visions that predict you will die by the hand of our enemy before this is all over?" he asked.

  "Maybe circumstances can be changed if you only let me do what I have to do," I told him. "Our human hunters are limited in what they can do. They certainly can't enter every realm. With my blood magic, I can."

  Uncle Franc frowned and narrowed his gaze. "Are you saying the Grimoire might be on another realm?"

  "I'm saying that I'll go wherever my visions take me."

  His shoulders slumped, and then he lifted his gaze. "Give our hunters three more days to locate the 9th Grimoire. I'll try to send them into the realms that we've been given access to. If they come up short, I'll cast a spell that will release you from the sanctuary...but only temporarily."

  "Okay. Three days. After that, I'll find the Grimoire myself."

  Chapter 2

  Carrick

  I kneeled near the edge of the bank and pulled a flask out of my sack. As I pushed the spout down into the stream, cool water washed away the dirt from my skin and beneath my fingertips. I removed the thin cloth that shielded the lower half of my face from the dry and harsh conditions of this realm and lifted the flask to my parched lips. I drank every last drop and then refilled it.

  No longer on the verge of dehydration, I rested back on my heels and peered out across the barren landscape while I remained alert of my surroundings. By my calculations, there were only a few hours left of daylight. Before the demon breeds and other night creatures emerged, I'd be back in my cave on higher ground.

  For almost half a decade, I had been a prisoner inside the realm of Bursgate, a supernatural prison where only the strongest survived. Bursgate prisoners were more likely to become the victim of a fellow inmate than they were to die from malnourishment, sickness, or pure insanity. It was a dog eat dog world out here, so to speak.

  My kind—dragonkin—were at the top of the food chain on every realm. But if caught off guard, I could fall prey to the bloodthirsty creatures locked up here. Demons, vampires, shifters, and even cross breeds. Supernaturals accused of committing acts against the laws of their realms were locked away here, banished by kings and queens who wished for their demise. The ultimate aim was never survival. Unfortunate criminals were sent her
e to suffer and then die. Since the majority in Bursgate were immortal, the leading cause of death was murder.

  I could have given up years ago, but I chose to remain a warrior and fight alongside my brethren on humanity's side. My will to live cost me my freedom and landed me here on this Godforsaken realm. My name is Carrick Ryvolus Dragoe, and I'm not ready to die.