Phoenix Protected: Mythical Alliance: Phoenix Team, #2

By Claire Luana

A craven enemy. A compelling ally. A legendary creature in danger…

 

Zariya Chanji agreed to join one of the Mythical Alliance's covert Special Forces teams, as it's the only way to secure a chance at revenge against the bastards that killed her father. But life on Phoenix Team is more than Zariya bargained for—from her delectable vampire commander, to her four deadly teammates who have demons of their own.

 

When a group of dangerous poachers called the Collectors organizes a hunt to claim the head of one of the world's most iconic mythical creatures, it's up to Phoenix Team to protect it. But the Collectors' treacherous network runs deep—perhaps even back to MASC itself. There are answers to be had—if Zariya and her teammates can stay alive long enough to claim them.

 

Phoenix Protected is the second episode of a SERIALIZED urban fantasy tale.  Approximately 30,000 words or 120 print pages. Cliffhangers ahead...

 

The Mythical Alliance series is perfect for fans of Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Lindsay Hall, and B.R. Kingsolver! Scroll up and one-click today to sink your teeth into this urban fantasy tale filled with fierce heroines, non-stop adventure, and irresistible romance! 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Live Edge Publishing
• Release date: Jun 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781948947046

Claire Luana

Claire Luana grew up in Edmonds, Washington, reading everything she could get her hands on and writing every chance she could get. Eventually, adulthood won out and she turned her writing talents to more scholarly pursuits, graduating from University of Washington School of Law and going to work as a commercial litigation attorney at a mid-sized law firm. While continuing to practice law, Claire decided to return to her roots and try her hand once again at creative writing. Her first novel, Moonburner, was published in 2016 with Soul Fire Press, an imprint of Christopher Matthews Publishing. She is currently working on the sequel,Sunburner. In her (little) remaining spare time, she loves to hike, travel, run, play with her two dogs, and of course, fall into a good book.

Book preview

Prologue

Warrick Mason hated unicorns.

He stood just outside the pen, peering at the three shimmering white beasts. The stallion tossed its pristine head with a scream of displeasure. He stepped in closer and it shied back, its black eyes rolling wildly.

His presence made the beasts nervous—the bony stretch of his antlers, his tall, thin form. They could sense he was a predator.

He hung his hands over the railing, his long talons clicking together.

One of the mares reared away, her pearlescent spiral horn hitting the low ceiling.

He gave her a tight smile. You’re afraid. Well, you have every right to be. This isn’t going to end well for you. Unicorns were beloved by the fool humans—some of the only supes that they cherished. Never mind that the creatures were no better than beasts, lacking in intelligence or true power. Perhaps that was why the humans liked them so much. They represented a type of magic that was safe. Controllable. Unicorns were recognized as Class H-NV. Herbivore, Non-Verbal. Just the way the humans liked it.

Well, unicorns were also worth a fucking fortune. And that was the way he liked it.

Boss, I’ve got something on our back channel. Finn came up beside him, a laptop in his webbed hands.

What’s the word?

Looks like MASC is on to us. They’re getting ready to spin up a mission. Contact confirmed they’ll be headed our way in less than six hours, the green-haired merman said.

Warrick frowned. Any word from the buyers for these nags?

Finn grinned, revealing a row of shark-like teeth. Affirmative. We have confirmation, and the wire transfer.

What did they end up buying?

Only the horns. They said we can do what we want with the rest.

Warrick turned back to the pen with a grim smile, his cavernous stomach letting out a low growl. Looked like he’d be eating well this afternoon. Let’s leave a surprise for MASC.

What kind of surprise?

The exploding kind. Then he launched himself over the fence, his talons outstretched.

1

Istood at the base of Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park, soaking in the weak morning sun. There was a bite in the air, and my cold-blooded body needed a boost. I shoved my hands in my jeans to keep them from shaking. My nerves were going haywire.

I couldn’t believe it. I’d agreed to join Veil Force, a covert unit of supe commandos run by the Mythical Alliance of Supernatural Creatures, or MASC. My life now would be weapons and intel and…I didn’t even know. What had I gotten myself into? Today I was going on my first mission. I could get shot at. I could get killed.

When I’d agreed to be a Veil Force Phantom, I’d been thinking about my dad. The fact that these supes had been on the trail of the men who had killed him, and I needed to be on that trail too. But this decision meant so much more. It changed everything. Was I was ready for that?

The United Nations compound stood just across the Hudson from us. In the center of the cluster of tall buildings, I could just make out the statute of the Lupine Offensive, depicting a two werewolves fighting side by side with a human soldier. It was the moment the human world had first learned of us. Supernatural creatures.

We’d been fighting for our place at the table ever since.

I smelled him before I heard him. A smell like starlight and empty night air.

Konstantin Bauer. Ancient vampire. Veil Force Phantom. Friend of my father’s. My new boss. There was no simple box to fit him into. Konstantin Bauer defied categorization, even setting aside the fact that his presence happened to make my insides go as gooey as grilled cheese.

Konstantin came to stand beside me. He wore dark-washed jeans and a soft gray sweater today, and his sandy blond hair was pulled into a knot at the nape of his neck. It wasn’t fair, how effortlessly handsome he was. Blue eyes and long lashes and chiseled jawline and killer body. I mean, resistance was futile. I was fewer than five kilometers away.

I looked at him with a blink of surprise. During the Offensive? Really? It didn’t surprise me that Konstantin had fought in World War Two; he’d told me he’d been turned into a vampire in 1423. But to be that close to history…

He nodded. I couldn’t believe it, when the reports came out. Werewolves had revealed themselves and they were fighting for the Allies. We were sure it was a German trick designed to throw us into chaos. But it strengthened us. A sign that God himself was rallying nature for our cause. It was brave of them to take a stand like that.

Did you reveal what you were?

He paused. Not for another three years after the war.

If I remembered my history, that meant he’d come out one year after vampires had been officially recognized by MASC. The delay surprised me, but I said nothing. Those were different times.

A smile curved the corner of his perfect lips. Some might call it cowardly.

I doubted calling your new commander a coward on day one was a particularly good idea, even if he’d said it first. So I pushed back. I imagine caution served you well over the years. It’s not always wise to throw it to the wind.

He looked at me appraisingly. Change can be hard.

I straightened, trying not to mind being appraised. Trying to ignore the way his glacial blue eyes made my knees weak.

I can tell you’re cold. Let’s go inside. I’ll show you the cages. And your special gear.

I have special gear? I shoved down my excitement as I trotted after him. Was it so obvious that I was cold? It won’t be a problem.

I don’t hold my team members’ physiology against them, Bauer said. We all have unique needs. Nagas like you are no different. It’s MASC’s job to accommodate them. Our Equipment Officer is excellent, if not a little…quirky. He’ll ensure you have all you need.

We made our way to the tip of the park, where the portal would take us down to MASC’s secret Tartarus base. Konstantin practically glided beside me. His gait was smooth and steady, every movement perfect. He was a marvel. A deadly, beautiful killing machine.

This is for you. Konstantin held out his hand, revealing a slim silver ring. I hope you…like it. He cleared his throat.

I picked it up, examining the engraving. A sinuous snake wound its way around the delicate band, a nod to my half-naga heritage. It was a delicate version of the ring Dad had worn. I hadn’t known its true purpose back then. A lump grew in my throat. It’s perfect.

It’s your key into the base. There’s the entrance here, but there are two more entrances as well that you can use if this is too crowded. I’ll show you those when we get to the Ops Center.

Thanks. I hesitated. Should we go…separately? I didn’t know how the portal worked.

Together is fine.

Konstantin stepped in close to me and as we moved into the portal, I did my best to steady my heartbeat, to ignore my rising desire. Vampires could smell human pheromones and the last thing I needed was my new boss knowing that my half-human side was seriously crushing on him.

The portal whisked us down together, into the alcove with the elevator down to base.

The Ops Center is on the third floor. Today we’re going to the fourth, where the team supplies are. He pushed the button and leaned back against the metal wall. His muscles rippled beneath the cotton of his gray sweater. Is there anything you wish to ask me about vampires? I find that even with modern education, unhelpful rumors abound. I’d rather you ask your questions now.

I considered as the elevator opened and I followed him into the hall. He’d already told me that he was Derived, meaning he’d been human before he was turned into a vampire. You eat…

I supplement my human diet with animal blood. It is one of our vulnerabilities—needing to eat frequently. One of the unique parts of my physiology we account for.

So you get hangry when you haven’t eaten?

Not even a laugh. My joints start to lock up and it becomes difficult for me to move.

Ah. Not a laughing matter then.

I do feed on the job sometimes. It’s a matter of practicality. Will that be a problem for you?

I furrowed my brow at his question until I realized what he meant. That he sometimes ate the bad guys. Clearing my throat, I ignored the lurch in my stomach. As long as they had it coming, no need to put a meal to waste.

Precisely. Ah. Here we are. Konstantin shouldered open a door and flipped on the light. The Phoenix Team cages.

The dingy yellow paint and the flickering fluorescent lights didn’t dull my excitement. It was a large rectangular room, lined on two sides with three large metal cages each, one for each of the six team members to keep their gear in.

Konstantin walked to the end of the room and pulled open the last door.

This is yours. Hamish provides and manages all our equipment, and he’s made some special modifications to the standard kit. Take a few minutes to look through everything. Hamish will be in to answer any questions. Unless you have any now.

Poking my head in, I looked over the pile of weapons and black gear. I recognized everything thanks to Dad’s memories—he’d used a spell to store his twenty years of military and intelligence knowledge in his talwar blade—and I’d