Shadows & Secrets (Lick of Fire Book 4) Read online

  Shadows and Secrets

  Lick of Fire Series

  JANE HINCHEY

  Illustrated by

  JACQUELINE SWEET

  Shadows and Secrets © 2018 Jane Hinchey

  This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  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, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor to be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  Book Cover Design by Jacqueline Sweet

  Warning: HOT reads ahead

  Enter this supernatural world of fire and heat, magic and adventure, and get lost in everything DARK, delicious and FIRE.

  The Lick of Fire Series is a collection of 12 bestselling authors brining you a new story every week. With three books per author you'll have plenty to keep you busy!

  This must-read series is edgier, hungrier and action-packed with tales of Dragons, Phoenixes, Vampires, Berserker Dragons, Pyromancers and Hellhounds that will leave your heart pounding and your pulse racing.

  Click here to join Lick of Fire Reader Group

  Acknowledgements

  When the incredibly talented Kim Faulks first approached me about this project my first thought was “are you crazy?” Just kidding, I was in, boots and all, I’m so glad they included me, I’m honored to be a part of such awesomeness.

  I have a lot of people to thank, but first and foremost is Kim for even thinking of this and putting it all together. Organizing authors is like wrangling cats. Or nailing jelly to a tree. Neither of those things is particularly easy, so to you Kim, I join my fellow authors in saying ‘thank you.’

  Second on the list are my buddies, my authors, my sounding boards, my partners in crime: Mila, Katie, Jacqueline, Julia, Emmi, Elianne, Kara, Bianca, Kallysten, and Daniella. Make sure you swing on by our website for all the info on each of these incredible ladies and what they have to offer the Lick of Fire series: www.lickoffire.com/books

  Of course, no book is complete without a cover and the cover artist for the entire series just so happens to be one of our authors too! So, a bigger than big thank you to Jacqueline Sweet for making our totally brilliant covers. I’m in love with each and every one of them.

  And my writing is never fit for public consumption without the mad skills of my editor, Alicia from iProofread and more. As per usual, you make my words sing and I’d be lost without you! Thank you.

  And finally, or course, my readers. Thank you for picking up this book. If you’re new to me, thank you for taking the chance. Make sure you check out the back of book stuff for different ways to connect and nab yourself a free book.

  This is an unedited pre-order version of Shadows and Secrets. If you are reading it, then there has been a snafu with Amazon and the incorrect file has been sent out. If that is the case, please contact me so I can make sure you receive the correct version – you can do that via my website www.janehinchey.com

  Chapter One

  I had to hand it to Grandma, her trump card was pretty epic. She’d been trying to get me to return home to Maxxan for years and I was adamant it wasn’t going to happen. Then she pulled this. Her trump card. She died. Now here I was travelling in a bus that reeked of body odor, mostly mine, and stale junk food, also mostly mine, on my way home to the one place on earth I did not want to be, to attend her funeral.

  Resting my forehead against the window, the vibrations of the engine jarring me, I peered outside. We’d just passed the Maxxan city limit sign. Population twenty-one thousand, one hundred and eighty-two. Three long days, three different buses, four thousand miles. All bringing me back to the town that hated me. The town I’d sworn I’d never return to.

  Maxxan is hot, just the way fire demons like it. Only I had always had trouble controlling my demon and had left Maxxan just before my eighteenth birthday – not of my own volition. The judge decided I was certifiably insane and I’d been incarcerated in the Spirit Fields Psychiatric Institution for three long years. When they finally released me I’d fled to Fairbanks, Alaska, the coldest place I could find. My plan? To keep my demon frozen. For if it loved the heat it would surely hate the cold. And I’d been right. In Fairbanks I’d led a relatively normal life. Until now.

  On the empty seat next to me was the heavy coat I’d worn when initially boarding the bus in Fairbanks. It had been dark but then we got very few hours of daylight. Already I missed the white landscape, the crystal forests, the biting cold. The air-conditioner on the bus battled with the heat, the further we moved into Texas, the hotter it got. I may as well have been travelling to Hell.

  Navigating through the streets, the bus eventually pulled in to the depot, a run down grey building that was one lit lightbulb away from looking abandoned. The bus rumbled into the parking lot, pulling to a halt with a shudder and groan. The door swung open with a hiss and the driver stood.

  “Maxxan, Texas.” He announced. Sweat stained his once crisp shirt, leaving dark patches under his arms. He looked from me to outside and back again.

  “Thank you,” I replied. I was the only one disembarking here, which isn’t unusual when you’re in the ass end of nowhere. Grabbing my backpack and coat I made my way down the aisle, nodded my head at the driver and stepped down onto the rough surface of the parking lot.

  “Looks like you have a welcoming party.” The driver said.

  “I wouldn’t expect anything less.” For there on the sidewalk, leaning against a post and arms crossed over his chest, was the Sheriff. Why wasn’t I surprised? I’d never had a good relationship with law enforcement and they clearly knew I was returning. What did take me by surprise was suddenly being grabbed from behind and swung face first into the side of the bus, a male voice shouting in my ear, “hands against the bus Shelton. Don’t move!” and then being frisked.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” I could see the sheriff from the corner of my eye, saw him shake his head and straighten up before calling out to his deputy, “that’s enough Harvey.”

  “What? But Sheriff, it’s her! That Shelton girl. You said she was trouble.”

  “Deputy.” The growl from the Sheriff was low but held authority. The deputy released me, stepping back and looking to his boss for instruction. He was new, he had that new, eager to please vibe about him. But the Sheriff, I remembered him well. We had not parted on good terms, maybe because I’d put laxatives in his coffee that one time. Or was it twice?

  “Errr, any luggage?” The bus driver cleared his throat and stuck his head out the door.

  “Nope. This is it.” I kicked the backpack I’d dropped when the deputy had pounced on me, “won’t be staying long.”

  “Okay m’am. Good luck.” The door hissed shut and the engine revved before beeping, indicating he’d put the bus into reverse. Slinging my backpack over my shoulder and scooping my jacket from the ground, I stepped onto the sidewalk out of the buses path.

  “We don’t want any trouble here.” The Sheriff stepped in front of m
e, halting my progress. I blew out a breath.

  “Am I being charged with something? Because riding that bus was punishment enough.” Sarcasm dripped from my tongue, it was a natural talent, one that continually got me into more trouble than I’d care to admit.

  “Apologies for his over enthusiastic greeting.” The Sheriff bowed his head. As if that made everything better. As if they hadn’t been waiting for me for a reason.

  “Say what you need to say and then get out of my way. I’ve got places I need to be.”

  “Problem here Sheriff?” Glancing up I saw sex on two legs walking towards us. Suddenly Maxxan got a whole lot more interesting. The newcomer approached, casual in jeans, work boots, button down shirt and baseball cap. But there was an air of authority about him and my internal antenna started going berserk. He was law enforcement, had to be. He stopped, standing between me and the Sheriff, so close I could smell him, and he smelt delicious. Musk and chocolate. He was tall, over six foot, broad shoulders, strong arms, his hair was hidden by his hat but what I could see it was brown. His eyes were hidden behind sunglasses, his jaw cleanshaven. I finished cataloging him and I felt my lips curl in a smirk. A sexy lawman. Maybe things in Maxxan had changed after all.

  “We don’t want any trouble here, and from what I remember, she’s trouble with a capital T.” The Sheriff puffed, his cheeks taking on a lovely pink hue.

  “I’m sure she’s not here to cause trouble.” The man cocked his head to one side, studying me. “Are you?”

  “Not on purpose.” I shrugged. I couldn’t make any promises, trouble did have a tendency to follow me around.

  “I’ll take it from here Sheriff.” The man dismissed the Sheriff and his deputy and judging by both men bristling at the dismissal I could only assume this guy who’d just taken hold of my elbow and was guiding me out of the bus depot was superior to them.

  “SIA Agent Jordan Buchanan.” He introduced himself, flashed a badge from his wallet before shoving it back into the rear pocket of his jeans.

  “SIA? What’s that? A cousin to the CIA?” I tugged my arm out of his grip and he let me go, keeping pace easily by my side as I headed down the street. Already the heat of the day pounded down on us and I worked up a sweat.

  “Supernatural Investigation Agency.” He replied. I stopped. Supernatural Investigation Agency? What the ever living hell?

  “That’s a thing now? Because you know, they had me committed. They had me sent away. For telling about the vampires.” I narrowed my eyes and looked him over again. Was he a nutjob, like me, or was he taking the piss. I couldn’t decide.

  “Yeah, it’s a thing. Only it’s not a thing most people know about. Take the local law enforcement for example. They don’t know what SIA stands for, only that I’m in town working on a case and they’re to give me their full cooperation.”

  “Are you shitting me?” This sounded too far fetched, even for me.

  “Nope. I know about you Rae.” The way he said it, complete confidence that he knew me upside down and inside out had me bristling. I felt a momentary pang of sympathy for the Sheriff and his deputy.

  “You know nothing about me Agent.” I began walking again. I didn’t like this, not one bit.

  “I know you’re a Fire Demon.” He said conversationally. I glanced around to make sure no-one had heard him. Thankfully the streets were pretty empty.

  “Part. Part Fire Demon.” I muttered.

  “And I know you killed a vampire when you were five.”

  “I did no such thing.” How the fuck did he know this stuff? My heart rate picked up, my skin tingled. My demon was stirring, picking up on my agitation. The bloody heat wasn’t helping either. Clenching my fists, I ignored the small zap of static electricity that shot out.

  “I know your cousins are also Fire Demons but none of them have the unique abilities you do.”

  “Listen.” I spun, placing my hand against his chest, halting him, “I don’t know where you got this bullshit from, but it ends, here and now.”

  “Deny it all you like Rae. You don’t think the SIA knows about all supernaturals? Just because you’ve never heard of us doesn’t mean we don’t exist.”

  “Why are you telling me this? I won’t be staying long. I’m here for my Grandmother’s funeral and then I’m outta here. I don’t want to be in this godforsaken pit hole any more than the townsfolk want me here, so let’s end this little charade hmmm? I don’t have the time.”

  Spinning on my heel I walked away. I had a funeral to get too. One I didn’t relish. I’d been keeping a tight lid on the grief that was waiting for me, didn’t want to think about Grandma, remember the good times, for after the good memories, came the bad. Fingers wrapped around my wrist in a steely grip, halting me and I looked down to the tanned fingers against my white skin and then back up at SIA Agent Jordan Buchanan. He released me as if I’d burnt him. Which I could have, if I wanted to.

  “I need your help.” He said.

  “For what?”

  “People are being killed. We think it’s vampires.”

  “You’re the one working for the supernatural fancy pants agency,” I taunted, “I suggest you do something about it. Pretty sure you don’t need little old me getting in the way.”

  “You’re right. Vampires I can deal with. But there’s something else.” Oh how I wished he hadn’t said that, for immediately I was intrigued. Something else besides vampires? I opened my mouth to demand he tell me everything, then closed it with a snap. No, I scolded myself. I am not staying. Don’t get involved. And don’t trust this man – if he’s who he says he is, where was this Agency when I was locked away and labelled crazy?

  “You laid hands on me. As did the sheriffs deputy. With no cause. That could be classed as assault at the worst, intimidation at the least. I’m not here to put up with your shit. And believe me, if this harassment continues, you’ll get more than you bargained for with me.”

  “Is that a threat?” He sounded incredulous and I laughed out loud.

  “A promise,” I said under my breath, not caring if he heard or not. SIA Agent Jordan Buchanan may be one sexy lawman but one thing still remained. All lawman were assholes who abused their power. I didn’t know what game he was playing with all this talk of vampires and other things, but I couldn’t let myself get dragged into it. I had a plan and it was imperative I stick to it, for my own sanity if nothing else.

  Chapter Two

  I had misjudged Agent Buchanan. I’d fully expected him to let me walk away, instead he’d hurried to catch up, once more matching his long strides to my shorter ones.

  “It would go easier on you if you cooperated.” He said conversationally. I ignored him. I could feel the sun burning my arm, I held it out to see a light tint of red staining my pasty white skin.

  “You’re burning.” He stopped, grabbing my wrist once again and examining my arm. I ignored the way my skin tingled from his touch, telling myself it was my demon getting riled up. “Come on.” Tugging me with him he did an about face, steering us back toward the bus depot. Parked out the front was a big, black SUV.

  “Subtle.” I snickered. I’d decided to save my own skin and let him give me a ride, it was after all, bloody hot and I was no longer accustomed to the conditions. Once I’d had tanned skin and rarely burned. Now I was sweating like a pig and figured I looked a sight.

  “Was that so hard?” He muttered, sliding in behind the wheel and starting the engine. Cool air immediately blew through the vents and I adjusted them to blow on my face.

  “Look Agent,” I swiveled my head to look at him, taken aback momentarily by how handsome he was. It had been a while since I’d had a lover, clearly, I was in need. “If this Agency of yours really does exist then I’m sure you have all the resources you need to deal with Maxxan’s vampire problem. You don’t need me.”

  “Your Grandma said you were stubborn.” Pulling out from the curb he kept his attention on the road, missing the sight of my mouth dropping open and my
eyes widening.

  “You know Grandma? Knew.” I corrected myself. I still couldn’t fathom that she was gone, couldn’t even bare to think about it lest the pain consume me.

  “Yes m’am.”

  “Don’t call me m’am.”

  “Okay.”

  “How did you know her?”

  “Researching Fire Demons led me to her. She had a lot to say about you. She’s the one who convinced me you could help.”

  A wave of exhaustion swept over me. Tired of the conversation I turned my head to stare out the window. Agent Buchanan didn’t need directions, he knew exactly where Grandma’s house was. I was grateful he’d followed my lead and had shut up about the vampires. My mind was spinning enough as it was, and dread was starting to build at the thought of facing my family once more.

  All to soon we pulled up outside the big old house a few miles out of town. Flinging open my door I tossed an offhand “thanks,” over my shoulder relieved when he didn’t follow me out of the SUV, instead merely nodding his head and then driving away as soon as I’d slammed the door shut. I stood looking at the two-story plantation style home that needed a lick of paint. This house held so many memories, both good and bad. It had been the start of it all but that was one memory that wasn’t going to see light of day, not today.

  The front gate squeaked as I pushed it open and headed down the path toward the front door, which stood open. I could hear voices inside, knew most, if not all of my family were already gathered here. My grandparents had three sons, all of whom had married and provided them with nine grandchildren in total. I was the eldest, had meant to be an example to the others. More like an example of what not to do I thought with a grimace. I longed to see my family, yet I was hesitant. So much had changed.

  Climbing the steps, the veranda provided welcome relief from the sun and I wiped the sweat from my face with the back of my arm, cringing at the stench of perspiration coming from my armpits. There had been no opportunity to shower in the three-day journey to get here and I was sorely in need.