Hex Me All Night Long: Magic and Mayhem Universe: Hex Drive, #5

By Renee George

When your love life is laggin', and you're crushin' on a dragon, it's time to practice safe hex.

 

Shirley Brothers, the head of the Rogue Magic Control Agency (RMCA),  has one mission on her mind. Find a dragon's heart and don't lose her own in the process. Falling for the dragon isn't part of the plan. 

 

Plans fail. Andrak the dragon is big, he's sexy, and he doesn't have to breathe fire to get her hot. He's also single-minded when it comes to getting what's his.

 

Andrak searched for the pieces of his broken heart for thousands of years. He's finally closing in on the prize, and nothing will stop him from reaching his ultimate goal. 

 

Well, nothing except a 200-year-old witch. She's a little bit bossy, and he finds that a lot sexy. 

 

But when the fragments are taken by a cult of necromancers and the witch council call for Shirley's arrest, the two of them go rogue for a  mission that puts their romance and their lives in jeopardy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Renee George
• Release date: Jun 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201472337

Renee George

Join Renee's Newsletter and never miss another new release! Sign Up Here--> https://www.renee-george.com/about-renee/newsletter About Renee: USA Today Bestselling author Renee George writes paranormal mysteries and romances because she loves all things whodunit, Otherworldly, and weird. Also, she wishes her pittie, the adorable Kona, could talk. Or at least be more like Scooby-Doo and help her unmask villains at the haunted house up the street. When she’s not writing about mystery-solving werecougars or the adventures of a hapless psychic living among shapeshifters, she is preyed upon by stray kittens who end up living in her house because she can't say no to those sweet, furry faces. (Someone stop telling them where she lives!) She resides in Mid-Missouri with her family and spends her non-writing time doing really cool stuff...like watching TV and cleaning up dog poop. Connect with Renee George! Join Renee's Rebel Readers (Facebook Group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/reneesunusualsuspects/ Like "Renee George, Author" fan page: https://www.facebook.com/authorreneegeorge Follow Renee on Twitter: @reneegeorge2008 Website: http://www.renee-george.com Instagram: author_renee_george Author Note: For readers who have enjoyed reading my books and taken the time to share their love in reviews, thank you so much! I can't tell you how much it means to me to know my work is valued. Hugs, Renee George

Book preview

Chapter One

It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart. —Katniss Everdeen in The Mockingjay by Susan Collins.

---

Fuck falling apart. Who has time for that shit?

—Shirley Brothers, 200-year-old creator witch.

—Shirley—

In the Verkhoyansk mountains, trying to keep my agents alive. They don’t make it easy...

Time Bomb, a Bear Shifter who had transitioned into his warrior form, punched the silver dragon with one paw while he dug into the scaly chest with his other.

Ieeee-hah! I shouted as I rode my broom at their flank. I circled around them, hitting the dragon with every ounce of energy I could muster, throwing barrages of lightning bolts, fireballs, and major zaps at the beast without result.

Behind me on the broom sat my ride-along, Dee, a tall, thin vampire with flowing black hair and blue eyes bright enough to light up the night sky.

Jump, baby! Dee shouted.

It’s too dangerous.

According to Gigi, Time Bomb’s team leader, Dee was the Shifter’s mate. I’d never heard of a Shifter-Vampire pairing, but Dee was certainly acting like someone with the world to lose.

The bear roared then shouted, Jumping seems pretty freaking dangerous.

The dragon said something, but I couldn’t hear him with the wind beating at my ears.

Time Bomb punched through the opening he’d made in the scales, and the dragon howled in pain. I was horrified when he reared back his head to blow fire on the bear, but all that came out was a trail of smoke.

I did it! Time Bomb yelled triumphantly. I got the sucker.

That’s great, Dee shouted at him. Now let him go.

Uh oh. I watched the dragon’s eyes go milky white, and the next thing I knew, both he and Time Bomb were plummeting to the earth.

Goddess on a hot spit! I waved at Time Bomb. Jump. I’ll catch you.

Can’t get away from him, he shouted. Can you use your magic to float us down or something?

I could see now his paw was trapped inside the dragon’s chest. Son of a crone. This wasn’t good at all, and there was nothing I could do to help. I knew this because I had thrown all my best tricks at the beast. All the bombs, fireballs, and zaps had dissipated the minute they touched him. I was very good at what I did. There’s a reason I’m the head of the Rogue Magic Control Agency for Baba Yaga and the witch council. Not to toot my own horn, but I can handle my business. Unfortunately, the dragon had proven impervious.

I could for you, but magic has zero effect on the dragon. Zip. Nada. None. As long as you’re attached to him, I can’t help you either, I yelled back. The wind kicked up, and it made it hard to hear anything. Get mad, big guy, and get yourself out.

Time Bomb, one of my Rogue Magic Control Agency agents, had a berserker gene. I knew he’d had to give up a lot because of it, but he sure came in handy during a fight. Still, I could see the bear was struggling. Maybe the dragon’s magical null worked on his berserker gene. I’d always believe it was strictly inherited, but maybe there was a magic component as well.

Time Bomb turned human, but I watched with futility as he yanked and yanked but still couldn’t get loose.

Fuuuuuck! He kicked at the unconscious dragon. Let me go, hornbreath.

His name’s Andrak, Dee shouted. I could hear the panic in her voice. Andrak! she pleaded. Wake up. Stupid bastard, wake the hell up!

We were plummeting to the ground, and there was no way out for the Bear Shifter. I wanted to stay with him as long as I could, but I knew if I didn’t pull up the broom, his fate would also be Dee’s and mine.

Time Bomb smiled as he looked at Dee. I love you.

No. She reached out. Don’t you dare, Time Bomb. Don’t you fucking dare leave me!

I nodded at him. He knew the score, and he was saying his goodbye. I peeled off from the descent. Dee’s angry cries ate away at me as we watched Time Bomb and the unconscious dragon smash into the cold, hard and unforgiving ground.

I swear to the Goddess that if you don’t take me to him right now, I am going to tear you a new asshole, Dee threatened. Why did you let him do that? Why didn’t you stop it?

Because I’m not a miracle worker, kid. I felt wretched and heartbroken, but I’d done everything I could do to save Time Bomb. He was her mate. I knew that made the pain so much greater. But he was my agent, and I would have to find a way to live with not being able to save him. I told you, I shouted over the wind to Dee, the dragon isn’t affected by magic. Like at all. Which means no amount of spell casting was going to make that go any other way.

I flew Dee on my broom toward the crater that the dragon and Time Bomb had made.

Dee jumped off the broom and ran to the two fallen figures. Andrak was on top of him, and Time Bomb was back in his human form.

Help! Dee called out. Drag Jones, Baz Delgados, Brita Davis, Cas Connor, Gigi Wise, and Monty Abadose—all either agents or with ties to the RMCA—were there in seconds, and it took all of us to move the dinosaur-sized dragon far enough to free Time Bomb’s body.

Drag, an ex-RMCA agent, choked out a sob, and I knew why. Time Bomb was her best friend. They’d been team partners for a long time, and now, he was gone.

Two red-headed witches, Brita and Monty stood by Drag. The witch and warlock were both healers.

Help him. Save him, Dee begged them.

Monty knelt beside the fallen Shifter and checked for a pulse. Meanwhile, Brita waved her magically sparking hand over his body. Her stark expression when she glanced at Dee was hard to watch.

Time Bomb was dead.

Dee cried out with grief and pain, and I sent up a prayer for the Goddess to bring her peace that I was certain wouldn’t come on its own.

I was startled when Dee screamed and then vaulted onto the dragon’s chest, punching him in the face. Die, you bastard. Just freaking die. She sobbed. Why won’t you die? She looked at Time Bomb, then back to Andrak. Why him and not you?

The dragon didn’t try to defend himself. I am very difficult to kill. He set his gaze upon Time Bomb. He was a worthy opponent. He does Veles, the bear god, proud.

I don’t want his honorable death, Dee snapped. I want him alive. I want him with me. She poked at her chest. All this for a book? He’s dead because someone borrowed a book from you and didn’t return it? He rolled onto his clawed feet, easily dislodging Dee from his massive, scaled chest. Tell me what was so important that you caused all this. The vampire spread her hands to indicate the destruction and death. For a book.

It is my heart. The way Andrak said heart struck me as profound. I could feel the longing in his words, along with an emptiness that made my chest squeeze. And I have been searching for it for almost three thousand years.

Your heart? I asked. You mean the witch’s soul that was cursed into the book? The Book of En-dor had reportedly been a means to trap a witch’s immortal soul. After the trap was sprung, it had turned to stone. It was then broken into seven pieces that were hidden all over the world. Had Andrak been in love with her? Why did the idea that he had this great love make my stomach hurt? Was she your love or something?

No. Andrak shook his head, his silver gaze meeting mine. His expression was somber as he transitioned to his human form. He lay naked, and his impressive physique aside, his skin was pallid, almost gray, and his eyes were slightly sunken in as if he’d been suffering for an extremely long time. My actual heart. The seventh piece. The one Desma found in the Bering Sea.

How did you know to find me there? Dee asked him. Did you bribe Paxton? Our guide? Or someone else in the king’s court?

I didn’t have to bribe anyone, the dragon said flatly. When you found the first piece and let it dry, it called to me. I’ve been tracking you ever since. It wasn’t hard to learn your routine of finding the fragments and then going to a local bar to feed. He turned and met my gaze. Now. Can you get it for me? It’s in the tallest castle tower.

I searched the castle and found a tower with what looked like a giant lightning rod mounted on top. I pointed. That one?

A strange look passed over his face, as if for a moment he were uncertain, then the dragon inclined his head. Yes. That’s the one.

I snapped my fingers and apparated inside the structure as Andrak had asked. The room was barren except for a locked box. I was only slightly disappointed. I think I hoped there would be something personal in the room that would give me a glimpse at the dragon’s inner workings.

I apparated back into the same spot with the box in hand.

Don’t give it to him, Dee ordered. She crawled over to Time Bomb and curled up next to him. He doesn’t deserve to have a heart.

I was heartbroken for her and for all our group. Time Bomb would be extremely missed. But I wouldn’t let it stop me from doing what was right.