book #2 Ice Queen: the snow dragon shifter ***completed***

#9 witching hour

Liam and Scarlett slept entwined in each other's arms. Liam knew it would be hard to resist his animal inside him wanting to fully mate Scarlett but he would fight his beast until she was ready. waking up with her wrapped in his arms was pure pleasurable torture. he knew he would do it every single night. she was his and he was hers and they had become equal in everything in life. " good morning little rose bud." he kissed her nose as she stirred.

"I need coffee so badly!" Her icy blue eyes remained closed as she grumbled into his chest. he chuckled kissing her forehead. " ugh! I don't want to wake up! can't I just wake up after six in the morning?"

" Come on princess. we have to start training." liam got up out of the bed. " I'm going to take a shower. he closed the bathroom door looking into the mirror her mark was already forming a beautiful dragon on him. it was a silvery mark that almost changed colors with different angles. he smiled briefly as he turned the shower on. letting the water cascade down his body a sharp pain radiated through his body. falling to the shower floor grabbing his side calling out in agony. a woman appeared in front of him. he jumped up swiping at her but she disappeared. " what the hell was that?" He turned off the water and grabbed a towel to wrap himself in. " Scarlett?" there was no answer when he called out to his mate. " scarlett?" he called again making his way to the bedroom.

there on the bed was a note. Scarlett wasnt there. he quickly ran to the bed snatching the note from the pillow.

she is mine to have not yours

maleek

panic spread throughout his body as he raced out the door. two gaurds lay on the palace floor as if asleep. their eyes open. their bodies still alive but they lay there staring into nothing. " a witch! he has a dark witch. crap!" liam ran down the hall to her father's office bursting through the doors. " maleek took her! he has a witch working for him!" Scarletts father jumped to his feet.

" guards! maleek took my daughter! find them now!" his voice roared out echoing through the palace halls. Liam ran out of the office and back to the room. the gaurds finally coming to and not remembering how they were attacked. Liam snaked his tongue into the air smelling for any sign of her. he couldn't smell her. it was as if she was never there. he could feel the anger coursing through his blood fueling him to find her.

it had been three days since they had heard anything. Liams heart was aching. they had brought in a warlock to see what magic had been used. it was black magic. now they needed to find out who the witch was that was helping maleek. they found two separate spells used. one lingering in the room was a cloaking spell that covered her scent so they could not smell her. the other was a paralyzing spell that rendered the gaurds useless. they figured the pain Liam felt was Scarlett being given something to knock her out. Liam was going crazy. he could feel her. the woman in the shower must have been scarletts way of showing him who she was. the witch. Liam knew they needed a lead and fast. Scarlett was in danger and if maleek found her marked, her life was in even more danger. the warlock was still there trying to see if there was a way to find who the magic came from. they all sat in Dantes office going over ideas when one came to Liam. " what if we can follow the trail of magic? is magic like how we follow a scent? maybe we can follow it to an area at least they might be. I thought all magic leaves a trail?"

the warlock drago paused looking up from his spell books. " this could actually work. each spell and use of magic leaves a trail for a short time. we can use this trail to find out where they took her. it is a possibility. it has never been done before and we must be ready to move fast because once the trail is revealed it will disappear fast. it would be like igniting a long fuse." everyone in the office looked at each other before Liam spoke up.

" get the warriors ready we are doing this now." drago nodded in acknowledgement and stood up from the table they all sat around. looking at Liam knowingly.

" you marked each other. her aura is mixed in yours. I sense you both are very rare. her blood could be used to enhance magic and make black magic more dangerous. I sense the reason maleek wants her is as a dragon he needed her consent to take her blood. he wanted her to be under his control. without being able to mark her he will need to figure out another way to make her consent. he needs her blood. I can be ready by this afternoon. give me that time to get the correct spell. " liam nodded leaving the office. he knew they had very little time. that maleek would do whatever it took once he realized she was marked. it was then he felt a searing pain burning at his mark. he fell to his knees in pain. he could feel the pain moving its way down his arm. he removed his shirt looking at the burning pain moving slowly down his arm. there were two black lines moving down his arm as if it were boiling his skin. he called out in pain as the warlock came running out to his side. " they are using magic trying to remove her mark." drago placed his hand on liams mark and started chanting in Latin. " hoc angustos praesidium malum" he repeated the words several times until Liam felt the burning go away. when he looked down at his arm the lines had gone away and his mark was back to normal. " this will only be temporary. for now there is a blocking spell protecting you and Scarlett from the evil. We must move fast and prepare." drago walked past Liam disappearing down the hall. Liam knew that they would not give up until the bond was broken. he had to find Scarlett as fast as possible. her life depended on it. Liam went to her room looking around for anything they might need. on a small table next to the sitting area sat a picture of Liam and Scarlett as kids. Liam picked up the framed picture remembering the day it was taken. they were happily playing. it had been a warm day. he smiled sweetly at the memory. taking the picture from the frame and slipping it into his pocket. he needed to be ready for anything and he wanted to keep her close to him.

Liam could sense the warlock behind him. taking a deep breath steadying his nerves Liam turned around. his emerald eyes staring at Drago. drago shook his head. " let's get my little rose bud back." they knew this would be risky and there was a chance that some would die but Liam would sacrifice himself to make sure that Scarlett was safe. they walked out to the front of the palace. Liam took in a deep breath as if it were his last. His heart was heavy and he shook his head to clear his mind. There was nothing more important than getting Scarlett back.

" when the magic is revealed we must move fast. Beacuse it will go fast following the trail. once the trail is gone it is lost forever so keep your eyes out for it. don't lag behind or we lose it forever. I can not emphasize this enough." the warriors sounded out their battle cries. Liam moved from leg to leg warming his muscles for the sprint. he knew he would need to shift in an instant to his wolf. he would do anything to get her back. Liam let out a long howl. howling out for battle as the dragons roared in unison. they were ready to find Scarlett. looking at her father as he got into his stance Liam let his wolf share his body but not fully take over. drago nodded at the pair as he began his chant. "verum revelare" over and over again the words were spoken out into the mid afternoon light. dragos eyes were closed as his hands fisted at his sides. his words were falling like silk and swarming around him. the wind started to pick up and the trees began to sway. drago became suddenly quiet and his eyes shot open. there was a glow in them then suddenly his voice rang out in the silence. " it is time! remember follow it swiftly as soon as the path is revealed!" a spark appeared in front of him starting a fire in the air. out of nowhere a trail began to blaze a path. " now!" warriors and Liam alike began to chase the path in which it burned racing into an unknown they did not question. they were going to bring Scarlett home even if it meant their death.