The Pieces Around Us: Shadow Dragon Series, #2

By Leigh Ferguson

The world was different ever since Denver. Two and a half years ago, no believed in dragons and knights. They were just part of some fairy tale. But now? Now dragons terrorize our world looking for power and wealth.

Maddie Palmer wants nothing to do with the Order, but when her boss at the FBI reassigns her as a liaison can she really say no? And can she trust the Knight, Jesse Daly, when he won't share all he knows with her?

Jesse can't help but to be curious about this new liaison sent to help track down the worst of the worst, Celeste. But certainly not curious enough to give up his own secrets.

But secrets come out all the time, and they only ever hurt. Maddie struggles to put the pieces together. Can she find Celeste before she strikes again? Can she figure it out and save the ones she loves?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leigh Ferguson
• Release date: Jan 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798224467006

Book preview

Prologue

Six months earlier…

Y ou can’t keep doing this, man, Nick commented as he dragged Simeon out of the bar. I don’t care how many times you want to start a fight. This isn’t okay.

Simeon glared at the hand on his arm and sent white fire down as a warning. Nick jerked away from him and stomped toward the car, throwing his hands in the air. You’re on your own, man. It’s been two years, and I’m done with this.

It’s not like anyone could blame him. Ever since Simeon woke up in that mountain cabin two years ago, he wouldn’t be the same. A deep ache he couldn’t explain permeated his being like a toothache he couldn’t escape. Ever since the golden tether unraveled in the desert outside Las Vegas, he was so empty. The vodka at least made both the pain and the emptiness manageable.

Simeon stumbled down the sidewalk with no clear direction in mind. Didn’t matter. He was the most dangerous being on the planet, anyway. Somehow he found himself in front of a cathedral encased in mosaic glass. Funny. He hadn’t stepped inside a holy sanctuary in two centuries. He couldn’t help but be curious. Would God still be there? Would He even care?

Dragging himself up the four steps to the door and his feet weighed down from the liquor, he pushed over the threshold. It was locked, but that didn’t stop him. Something was drawing him here. Something bigger than him. Simeon staggered down the aisle toward the wooden altar on the stage. The stained glass behind the podium cast multi-colored shadows across it. Kneeling before the altar, he found it ironic that he was there. But where else could he go? God gave him the cord. He had tethered Sybil to his very soul. Her rejection had cost him more than he had ever thought was possible. Her death was unimaginable, although there was a strange sense of relief.

Staring up at the altar at the wooden cross, Simeon roared angrily while a tear slipped down his face. I’m done with you, he screamed. Disgust filled his belly as mists of saliva and hatred coated each word. I’m done with this pain. How could you have given her to me to have her tear my soul to pieces?

Rising to his feet, he turned to leave, but even in his drunken stupor, Simeon sensed a heavy presence stealing the air away from the room. Something burned in his lungs. He fell against a pew under the pressure of this unearthly presence.

A noise caused him to look up, and he saw Nick standing at the doorway. Simeon allowed his dragon to the surface and planned to remove Nick from his path when something caught his attention. A damned golden cord stretched tight from his chest out into the world.

No, he whispered. It can’t be. Simeon stormed past Nick, his mind confused with rage and alcohol.

Sim, what’s going on? Nick called out.

Staring at the cord that thrummed in his chest, something inside him clicked. She’s back. And I’m going to ruin her this time, he murmured.

Nick looked at Simeon, exasperated. Huh? Who’s back?

Simeon raised an eyebrow at Nick. I’m done with having you as my babysitter. Go back to the Mountain Warrior.

Simeon turned to leave, but Nick caught his arm. Sim, you can’t just leave. I’m with you for a reason, Nick pleaded.

Simeon jerked his arm from Nick’s grasp and continued to the sidewalk. I have some unfinished business to take care of. Oh, Simeon paused to look directly at Nick, And tell Jenna not to follow me. Tell her she better not dare touch the cord. I won’t hold back if she does.

Nick’s eyes grew wide, and he reached for his phone. Raising his hand, Simeon sent white flames into Nick’s chest and flung him into a tree. It wouldn’t kill him, but Nick would hurt when he woke up. Snatching the keys off Nick’s body, Simeon ran to the car and sped off toward the golden cord. He had no idea how Sybil was back, but this time would be different. This time, he would kill her himself.

Chapter one

Glancing from screen to screen, my thoughts raced, trying to keep one step ahead. My fingers scrambled furiously across the keyboard.

Are we clear? The deep baritone voice filled my headset.

Yes. All cameras locked down.

My knee bounced impatiently while I glared at the screen and willed my team to safety. The seconds dragged on like hours. Holding my breath, I held perfectly still while I waited to hear Jason’s voice come through the headset.

We’re out, Jason responded. I let out my breath and closed my eyes, slowly rolling my shoulders to let the tension out. This was always the hardest part of my job: keeping the team safe. But I was the best.

Live feed is back up, I chirped back. My voice always grated me a little in the headset, like it was too high-pitched.

Thanks, Maddie. I’ll see you tomorrow, Jason responded just before the line went dead. I pulled the hot pink headset from my ears and repositioned my feet under me on the chair. Grinning to myself, I spun the bedazzled gamer chair in a circle. Another successful mission. What more could a girl ask for?

Without meaning to, my eyes strayed to the glitter-filled frame holding my family’s picture. My chest ached with how much I missed them. They were proud of me, though. They knew even early on that I wanted to make a difference in the world.

I sniffed and pushed my glasses and my thoughts back up in place. Padding to the kitchen, I turned my iPod on shuffle and reached on top of the fridge to grab the box of magical goodness. I poured the Lucky Charms into the bowl while my hips swung in time to the beat. Before I could pop one of those precious marshmallows into my mouth, resounding bangs echoed in my kitchen.

Mrs. Weston wasn’t a fan of my late-night shenanigans. Whoops! I scrambled to stop the iPod music, but it went tumbling to the floor, followed by my bowl of cereal. Rainbow deliciousness scattered across the floor while I fumbled to get the music to stop. I gathered my courage and stood close to the wall by my fridge. Sorry, Mrs. Weston! I forgot what time it is!

I was already in bed, Maddie! Don’t let it happen again!

Sighing, I turned and grabbed the broom to sweep up my spilled snack. I let my hips sway to the music that lived inside my head. Soon I was back in my gamer chair with a new bowl of Lucky Charms, pulling up Netflix and trying to wind down from my late-night mission.

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I’ve been working so hard…

Ugh, I groaned.

I’m punching my card…

Where is it? I patted my hand around, feeling for my phone.

Eight hours for what? Oh, tell me what I got? Kenny Loggin’s voice blared from my alarm.

I’ll tell you what I got… I grumbled, squinting at the phone. I picked up my head and wiped the drool from my lips. Son of a sparkle fairy! I’m going to be late! My legs pushed me back from the desk that I apparently tried to use as a bed last night. Footloose was still playing on the phone.

The pain in my neck forced me to twist it back and forth. I reset the giant glasses on my face and sprinted for the shower. No way I was going to make it to yoga before being in the office this morning. I really needed to make time for all these hobbies I wanted to try. I’m sure my body would appreciate getting stretched out after my sleeping arrangements.

Racing through the shower and spiraling through my closet, I settled on a knee-length pencil skirt and a green blouse. Furiously, I wrapped my hair in two little space buns and ran down the stairs. Glitter bomb! I forgot to get something to eat. Turning midstep, I raced back up the stairs and grabbed the cherry pop tarts I kept by the door. The ones I kept there just in case I was running late and needed to eat.

I tossed my phone and purse in the passenger seat of my car. Normally I would bike to work, but I was already running late. Sorry Earth, I’ll do better tomorrow! My phone chimed with a new message. The screen lit up Sam’s name, but it would have to wait. According to Google maps, what should have only taken me ten minutes took closer to forty thanks to Norfolk morning traffic.

Scrambling out of the car with my phone and purse after I parked, I quickly dusted the red cherry sprinkles off my chest and chin while I raced toward the elevator. I struggled to keep my purse together while all the things tried to jump out in my rush. Thank goodness there were no incidents between the parking garage and the lobby of the FBI building. I waved a cheerful good morning to Lisa at reception as I passed and headed toward my office.

A note was scribbled across yellow legal paper attached to my door. Meet me in my office when you get here. -Luke, it read. Ignoring it, I made my way around the desk and turned on the computer. Another note was taped to the computer monitor with the same message. I ripped it off and tossed it in the trash before noticing a blinking light on my voicemail. Hitting the button, I groaned when Luke’s voice echoed the same message written on my office's two notes.

Snatching up my pink legal pad and my pen with the flower attached to the top, I glided down the hall to Luke’s office. Bursting open the door, my boss didn’t even acknowledge me, his dark hair falling over his bent head while he typed on his phone. You’re late, he said calmly.

I know. I know. I fell asleep at my desk after the mission last night, and then I had a crick in my neck so I thought I should go to yoga downtown. But you know, it was late, and I didn’t want to be late, again. So I showered and got dressed and then ran out of the house but then I forgot my breakfast and so I had to run back up the stairs to get something to eat… I trailed off when I found he was grinning at me. Umm…. Okay, I’ll stop talking now. What did you want to see me right away for? You know the multiple messages aren’t necessary right? I would have come and seen you. And you really should get some colored legal pads. They are way more appealing than dirty old yellow.

Luke stared at me for a minute until I got uncomfortable and asked, What?

He chuckled. Maddie, you’re the best we have when it comes to technology and coordinating field missions, but you are a mess. You would have come and seen me several hours from now, if not tomorrow, had I not left those messages.

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Luke was right, though. I really was a mess.

His face softened when he took in my expression. I called you down here to tell you that you did a great job with the field mission last night.

Thanks, it was no biggie. I probably could have done it in my sleep. I waved off the praise and sat more comfortably in the seat.

Luke’s eyes wrinkled a little. Good. We are going to be changing up your routine. You have a new assignment.

My eyes widened. A new assignment? What was wrong with the assignment I had? I had a good thing going right now. I didn’t need anything different.

Luke continued, oblivious to my inner monologue. The Bureau wants you to start working as a liaison with the Order. Are you familiar with it?

I nodded a brief yes as my brain started rapidly firing off everything I remembered about the Order. Who hadn’t heard of the Order in the last two and a half years? Almost everyone who was paying any sort of attention knew of them. Two and a half years ago, everyone believed that dragons were part of fairy tales and Knights were only from Medieval times. We were wrong. And every news station, politician, and celebrity shared their ideas on who the dragons were, where they were now, and how the Knights failed, and mostly they talked about the fall of Denver. That was something I tried really hard not to think about.

The Bureau is going to lend you out to the Order. They are trying to track down some dragons and need some technical help. I’m going to take you over to their base later today and get you settled in, Luke continued.

A small sound snuck out of my throat. I really didn’t want to get wrapped up in any of that dragon and Knight nonsense. Better to leave that in the fairy tales. Maybe I can get out of it somehow. Before I could open my mouth, Luke held up his hand.

I know you dislike change, Maddie, but it’s a temporary assignment. And you don’t have a choice.

Well, fishsticks.

Chapter two

My knee bounced recklessly in the passenger seat. Do you have to do that? You’re probably jerking the tires out of alignment, Luke teased gently.

Sorry, I just can’t help it when I’m nervous, I admitted as I bit my cheek to keep from bouncing my knee or talking. Remembering that Sam had texted, I pulled out my phone. Momentarily distracted by the lava lamp-style case I had gotten last week, I watched the pink and purples slowly drift up as I tilted the phone. Focus, Maddie!

Turning over the phone, I tapped my finger on the screen until I got to Sam’s text.

Just got back to town. See you tonight?

Eek! I squealed because I loved seeing Sam. It had been lonely the last two weeks.

Need 2 C U ASAP! Off @6.

I watched the little bubble pop up, and my heart lightened when the response came in.

Deal! I’ll bring food!

The car jerked to a stop, and the grin that resided on my face while texting Sam disappeared. We had pulled up to a large military-style base that I really wanted nothing to do with. I followed Luke after we parked, trying to keep my head down and not trip. My clumsy feet habitually became little traitors and stuck me with the embarrassing aftermath.

We went through a dozen security checks, and I was given a temporary badge on a lanyard. Finally, a straight-faced man dressed in military clothes led us to an empty conference room. It was all tan and gray, totally sucking out any personality this place might have had. I went about unpacking my bag on the table while Luke took the seat next to me and buried himself in his phone.

My brain zipped through all the possibilities for being here like a flip book. Finally, the doors pushed open, and three people filed in. Luke rose to his feet next to me, and I followed suit. My eyes bounced from person to person. I couldn’t help but be mistrustful of each of them. They were part of some secret society. I mean, I worked for the FBI, but everyone knew who we were.

My body froze when my eyes fell on him. I sucked in air, momentarily stunned. My brain was fried, like completely stalled out and stuck. His blue eyes raised to mine. His hair looked soft and gently swooped back in layers, which reminded me of the beach. A thick purple scar around his temple disappeared under his hair and beard. Most people would probably miss this at first glance but not me. I notice the details. One side of his mouth ticked up in a playful grin. Oh I was so done. I was going to die right here from embarrassment.

Luke’s hand on my shoulder finally broke my rising panic. I looked down at the table. Maddie, this is the team that you will be working with. He gestured around the room. "This is Heidi Mack, she’s