Smolder (#26) (Dragon's Fire)

By Danielle Kazemi

Annabel has joined with the dark man controlling the Unseen in an attempt to free the people of the city from becoming these horrible creatures. She didn't count on being linked to them for eternity. Her best hope is for the dragons to arrive and help her destroy every Unseen. With the help of Mark, they should be capable of saving everyone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Danielle Kazemi
• Release date: Dec 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370705726

Danielle Kazemi

Danielle Kazemi is the author of the YA series Dragon's Fire, The Fire Journal, and The Phoenix Token. She's a native from south Louisiana and spends her day balancing between kids and writing.

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Dragon's Fire

Smolder

Danielle Kazemi

Copyright 2016 Danielle Kazemi

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

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Dragon's Fire

Smolder

Danielle Kazemi

Table of Contents:

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 1

Annabel frowned as she looked at the rows of Unseen standing in front of her. Each one seemed to be taking in every movement she did, wanting her to make a mistake. She knew that’s what they were trying to do. They swirled about, moving fast with the atmosphere in the room getting thicker with anticipation.

One Unseen stepped forward, the darkness of its cloud swallowing the entire room into dark. Only small specks of light shone through its mist. My mistress, what do you want us to do? The voice spoke in a cold whisper, capable of sending chills through a human’s body yet the effect was lost upon Annabel.

She frowned and looked at the ones standing in the area. They needed direction and she had to give it to them. When she became an Unseen, she did it for the reason of stopping them from causing destruction upon the world. From now on, no more feeding on people. Ever. And you have to stop attacking dragons and everyone else. You will let yourselves be destroyed.

The Unseen swirled about three times as if attempting to understand her order before sprinting back to where it had stood in line moments before. The remaining dark creatures swirled about as well, seeming to talk with one another yet she was incapable of understanding what they were saying. She frowned.

She knew it wasn’t a popular order but that’s why she did it. It was what needed to be done for people to be saved. She’d make the same decision again if she had to. She’d do it again and again until they listened to her.

Interesting decision, the dark man said from her right side, continuing to judge her even though he gave her control over the Unseen. I wonder how long your command will be followed. Will they be capable of killing themselves for the sole purpose of justifying your rule?

It’ll be followed. They have to listen to me. I’m in charge of them.

She made this agreement with the dark man and there was no way she was giving in to anything regarding the Unseen. They were under her command and they needed to understand this was the way things went. If they didn’t like it, there was nothing they could do about it. They were on borrowed time.

The man nodded. Yet when they are destroyed, what will you do with yourself?

Who cares. She turned and glared at him. Now, where’s Crispin? Your Unseen better not have touched him. She felt tempted to destroy him.

The man raised his hands. You judge me too quick. I am a man of my word. He’s safe now. Take a look for yourself. The man clicked his fingers together and an image of Crispin appeared in front of them. He was safely sitting back home, staring at the screens in front of him. His hand guided a mouse, clicking through a random assortment of camera shots.

Annabel felt her anger rising. He’s home.

Yes.

So when you threatened to have your Unseen kill him earlier, you knew he was safe already. You just wanted me to join your side. This was all a trick.

He smiled, his face twice as large as normal. No doubt he was pleased with himself for what he convinced her into doing. She was stuck forever to these Unseen.

I should order them to kill you, she threatened behind clenched teeth. She wanted to see him ripped to shreds in front of her for how he manipulated her into joining his side.

If there was one positive thing to come from all this, at least she stopped the Unseen from harming anyone. She gripped her fingers into her palm tight, her nails digging into her skin. His smirk needed to be scraped off his face.

The man leaned his head back and laughed. The coldness from his voice ricocheted off the walls of the room, amplified by the darkness. There is nothing you can do to stop me. You think you have some sort of power – well remember, I’m the one who created them. I made sure under no circumstances are you capable of harming me.

There is always a way to stop you. As she spoke, she felt a sharp stabbing pain in her chest. She winced, gritting through the pain, as it continued happening over and over. She didn’t see anyone attacking her but the wounds felt real.

He smiled and moved himself closer to her. His deathly look peered into her as he spoke. Her body became colder as he remained standing next to her.

I know you feel the pain already – the pain shared by the Unseen and you.

She narrowed her eyes at him and wanted desperately to attack him. If she had been a dragon, she would’ve destroyed him in a minute.

He continued. If you think about destroying me, you’ll feel every strike, every cut. As it stands, by ordering the Unseen not to attack humans and feed, you will get weaker. The hunger pains will strike and no amount of food eaten will satisfy it.

Annabel knew she agreed to feel the same pain – a condition she had to eventually embrace to destroy the man. It was worth it. She couldn’t let him continue. She swung her hand back and punched him in the face. It hurt her but it felt much better to get out the anger building within her body than letting it fester.

The man stumbled backwards two steps, regaining his senses quickly. He raised his head and looked at her with a smile. Good. That’s the first step in controlling these creatures. Let your emotions run it. Make them obey you no matter the cause.

She hit him again. She shook her hand; it hurt. I’ll make sure you’ll never think you’re in control anymore. I can deal with starving. I won’t let people die. Never.

She made up her mind and she was following through with it. It was more important to save people than worry about herself. This would make the world a safer place once she got rid of all the Unseen. It had to. It’d at least be better than it was now.

The man laughed and continued through the room, strolling to the exit. He turned