Her Fire Mates: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance (Shifters Of The Elements) Read online

  Her Fire Mates

  Shifters Of The Elements

  Lark Sterling

  Meg Ripley

  Copyright © 2020 by Lark Sterling & Meg Ripley

  www.redlilypublishing.com

  All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be used or reproduced in any form without written permission from the author, with the exception of brief quoted passages left in an online review. This book is a fictional story. All characters, names, and situations are of the author’s creation. Any resemblances to actual situations or to persons who are alive or dead are purely coincidental.

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only; this copy is not available for resale or to give to another reader.

  DISCLAIMER

  This series is intended for readers age 18 and over. It contains mature situations and language that may be objectionable to some readers.

  Contents

  Her Fire Mates

  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

  Epilogue

  Indra

  Preview Of Her Earth Mates

  Chapter 1

  ABOUT THE AUTHORS

  ABOUT THE AUTHORS

  Her Fire Mates

  Shifters Of The Elements

  Chapter One

  Brighid released the magic that cloaked her as she soared over the open ocean heading toward the Enchanted Islands. She could see them in the distance, lush, full, and green. She had just made the long flight from the castle, dispersing from her sisters, and holding back the grief that she had over her mother’s passing. She was glad to get back to the islands, clear her head, and try to figure out what the clue that the Shifter Council had given her truly meant. She had known that she was destined to be High Alpha her entire life, but it didn’t feel real until she had taken flight. In her head, her mother was going to live forever, and she would continue touring and living on the island that was once her father’s.

  But things were different now, complicated, and she wasn't quite sure she was ready for any of it. Ready or not, though, it was coming at her full steam, and she knew that she had to wrap herself around it and take the position that was passed down to her through fate and the stars.

  As she grew closer to the island, she noticed that Thomas' small boat was still moored to the pier. She figured he didn't take the main boat back, unsure of when she would return. She cloaked herself once again, and circled the island, giving herself one last breath of air before stepping foot back on land. She knew as soon as she did, everything would begin to move. Life would change, and though it wasn't a bad change per se, she was still nervous about it.

  Her Dragon lifted its wings high and lowered her down gently onto the ground. As her claws touched down, her Dragon's body shuddered, the low-lying sun shimmering off its scales as its body twisted and turned, morphing back into her human. When the change was done, she sat, knelt down in the sand, her eyes shut, letting the last of the pain simmer off of her. The heat from her Dragon rose from her body even though the island itself was warm. Brighid took a long deep breath and stood up, cracking her shoulders and her neck as she walked forward to the hiding spot, she had left a bag of clothes before she left the island.

  As she dressed, the cool ocean breeze wrapped around her, and she could smell the mixture of plants and sulfur, a smell that was all too familiar to home. She laced up her boots and threw her bag over her shoulder, heading for the trail a quarter of a mile up the beach. Her house sat in the center of the island, up a steep climb to a crest that overlooked the forest below. She was used to that climb, and her Dragon's strength pushed through when her human body would've been exhausted. She was fit and tan, her body a product of island life, her muscles strong and toned.

  She took her time as she climbed the steep hill, glancing up at her small mountain cottage at the top of the crest. A warm glow radiated from the windows, the lights on inside. She wasn't sure if she was going to have to send Thomas down to the small cabin by the water or if he would head back that night. Still, she really didn't care, she just wanted to get some sleep and wake refreshed and ready to face the day. Whatever was safest for him was what she cared about.

  When she reached the door, it flung open, and Thomas stood in his hiking gear with a grin on his face. "Welcome back! I wasn't sure when you would be back, and I didn't want to leave the island without having someone watch over it. I slept on the couch and brought my own food, so don't worry, I didn't use any of your things."

  Brighid chuckled as she walked past him, finding the cabin cleaner than when she left it. “That’s fine. I appreciate you taking the initiative. I’m sorry I ran out of here so fast. I hope I didn’t put you out.”

  Thomas scoffed nervously, staring at his feet as he talked to her. He was always so awkward. "No, you didn't put me out. I didn't have any plans, and it was nice to be in the quiet of the island for a little while. Where did you head off to anyway?"

  Brighid paused as she stared down at her mail, biting the inside of her cheek. She had to think fast. “I had to go up north for a family emergency. We had a death in the family.”

  “Oh,” Thomas said with apprehension. “I’m sorry about that. You really didn’t have to rush back, everything’s under control.”

  Brighid plastered a smile on her face and turned toward him. "I didn't rush back. I was ready. I missed the place. How have the tour's been going?"

  Thomas fumbled over his words for a moment, giving a playback of the last few days. "Nnn… Not too bad. I only had three. They were small ones, and everybody was thrilled by the end of it. I'm pretty sure they were tired of hearing me talk, though. I'm not very good with the stories, not like you are."

  Brighid chuckled. "I'm sure they were all delighted. I appreciate it."

  Thomas stared at Brighid for several moments and then went about collecting his things and shoved them into his bag. "I still have time to row back to shore. The waters are really calm, and it will only take me a few hours."

  Brighid furrowed her brow. "Are you sure? You can stay in the guest cottage. I don't know how you're going to cover all the distance by rowing."

  Thomas cleared his throat nervously. "Oh, I installed a small motor on the back of the boat. It'll move me pretty fast. And I'd really like to get home, I've got some plants that have to be watered and I gotta clean-up my little house. But I'll see you tomorrow."

  Brighid walked over and gave Thomas a hug, something she didn't normally do. She felt that between her lies and his effort, he deserved it. His cheeks glowed bright red, and he tightened the straps on his bag before hurrying out the door. Brighid chuckled as he slammed the door behind him.

  There she stood, all alone in her cabin, happy to be home. She put a kettle of water on and brewed some tea before grabbing an old photo album stuck on her bookshelf, and sat in one of her overstuffed chairs. The photo album had been left in the cabin, one of the first things that she'd found when she first got there. As she flipped through the pictures, she smiled, looking at herself as a little girl, playing on the island.

&n
bsp; In every single picture, she looked absolutely thrilled, but Brighid had no idea when the photos were taken or who took them. She couldn't remember the exact occurrences or even the place where they were on the island. As she flipped the page again, she paused, her fingers running over one of the pictures on the next page. Her brow furled, and she flipped back several pages, pulling the book up and staring into the background of each and every picture. She had never noticed it before, but in every single one of them, there was an animal in the background.

  Sometimes there was an antlered creature, white, but too hidden to tell precisely what it was. Sometimes it was just a pair of enormous yellow eyes, standing taller than a normal four-legged animal. And sometimes, off in the distance, Brighid could make out the wisps of yellow and red high in the air. It looked like some sort of bird. She flipped back through the pictures, finding it so strange that across the span of four years, as a small child, every single one of them had one of those three animals in it.

  She also found it incredibly strange that until that specific moment, she had never noticed it.

  The phone rang loudly on the table next to her, startling her. Brighid jumped and put her hand to her chest, shaking her head. She reached over and grabbed the phone, putting it to her ear. “This is Brighid.”

  “Hey, it’s Thomas.”

  Brighid wasn’t really sure how he was getting service on his cell phone or how he had even gotten down to the boat so fast. “Hey, everything okay?”

  Thomas stuttered a bit. "Yeah, I just forgot to tell you about tomorrow. I ran out of your house so fast and I… Anyway, there's a group of twenty coming in the morning for a tour. I was going to take it myself if you weren't here, I had prepped for it all night long, but now that you're here it'd probably be better if you took it. That's a lot of people to look after."

  Brighid silently rolled her eyes, not a fan of getting up early and dealing with non-magical people who just wanted to traipse all over her island. At the same time, though, a little bit of normalcy sounded really lovely. Everything had been so upside down over the last week or so, and a mundane tour through the island would do her good.

  "Sounds great," she replied. "Just come on up to the house when you get here and make sure that I haven't overslept. You know how it can be having a long flight."

  "Sure thing," he said quickly. "Have a good night, and be safe."

  The last line took her a bit by surprise, seeing as he didn't usually remind her to be safe, but before she could ask about it, he had hung up. She shrugged her shoulders and put the receiver down, turning back to the pictures. As she reached to flip the page again, there was a strong tingle in the pit of her stomach. She placed her palm against her abdomen and looked around. It was nervousness, a feeling as if she were expecting something, or someone. She scanned through her mind searching for any appointments that she might've made, but there were none. Everything seemed quiet and normal on the island, and she couldn't figure out what would make her nervous like that.

  She took a sip of her tea, and finding that it had gone cold, let out a sigh and pushed her thoughts back as she closed her photo album and placed it back on the shelf. She stashed her bag in the closet and poured herself a fresh cup of tea before heading outside onto her porch.

  As Brighid stepped out onto the creaking wood deck, she closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air. Plopping down in her Adirondack chair, she put her feet up. She sat silently, listening to the familiar sounds of the island. She had been listening to those sounds for years, and it was better than any radio, CD, or television show she could've been watching. The silence helped her. The animals and live magical beings on the island sang in a chorus every single night. It was always in those moments that she realized just how lucky she was to have the life she had. No matter what was going on that day, grumpy tourists, problems with the boats, or anything else, she knew she could sit on her porch late at night and listen to the sounds of nature.

  As Brighid sat comfortably in her chair, her mind wandered off into the lush landscape below. Three pairs of eyes, hidden between the branches of the trees, strong and firm, stared up at her without her even knowing.

  Chapter Two

  Between the warm air and the exhaustion from flying back from the castle, Brighid only stayed outside for about an hour or so before heading to bed. Her soft, comfortable mattress felt like heaven, and she quickly drifted off to sleep. However, as soon as her eyes were shut, and her mind was clear, her conscious and her soul began to stir. What started out as a feeling of whimsy quickly escalated, and Brighid opened her eyes to find herself deep in the forests of the Enchanted Island. The sun was bright, the trees were green, and she stood in a flowing white gown, barefoot, joy emanating from her.

  A smile curved onto her lips as she took off running, dodging in and out of the trees, leaping over the fallen stumps, and letting the wind whip through her hair. It was the same thing she had done as a child, and despite her adult body, her mind felt as if she were back in time, running through the forest as she did when she was little. Even her laugh sounded young and gay, and it echoed up toward the canopy, sending in-flight birds of all different colors.

  She turned the corner and came to a stop, rubbing her feet in the leaves beneath her. She looked all around with wide, childlike eyes, taking in all the beauty and enchantment of the forest. It was just as she had done when she was a child, she was in awe of every single color and spark of light. Above her, the sky was a bright blue with light, fluffy clouds blowing over toward the ocean. In the distance, she could hear the roll of the tides, and hear the squawking of the seagulls. Taking in a deep breath, she could smell that familiar scent of saltwater, sulfur from the lava pits, and the blooming flowers all around her.

  She took off again, this time at a jog, paying attention to everything around her. Up ahead, she could see a clearing in the forest, and she slowed as she reached the edge of it, sensing the presence of someone else. Carefully she stepped forward, putting her hands on the rough bark of a tree, and peering into the clearing where tall lush green grasses grew. In the center stood a Stag, its body strong and white, its antlers full and frosted. Its eyes shifted to her, and its ears flickered, battling against the flies that swooped through the forest.

  Brighid gasped lightly, never before having seen such a beautiful creature. She had heard about them in fairytales, magical stories that were told to her as a child, but she had never actually laid eyes on one. It’s muscles tensed and relaxed, and it stared at her with curiosity and wonder. She watched as its tail flipped up and back down, small pieces of white fur drifting off in the breeze around it. The sun tumbled in through the canopy creating a spotlight that reflected shimmering silver in the Stags undercoat.

  The Stag shook its head, snorting before beginning to slowly walk off out of the clearing. When it reached the other side, it looked back at her, and she couldn't help but feel as if it were telling her to follow it. She followed her instinct and moved through the clearing, fearful that she would scare the Stag off if she moved too quickly. But from ahead of her, it continued to look back, making sure she was following it closely. She giggled and laughed, the sounds of her inner child echoing all around her.

  For a moment, Brighid feared that she had lost the Stag, but as she emerged from the trees into a large clearing filled with flowers and tall grasses, she found the Stag again. It stood there, larger-than-life amongst the tall blowing weeds, staring at her. She continued forward, putting her hand out toward the Stags nose. There was no fear in her heart, and for some reason, she felt almost connected to the animal. She hesitated only a moment before laying her hand on its snout and rubbing it up and over its head.

  As they connected, she felt a tingle run up her spine and through her chest. Flashes of the forest moved through her mind like a movie. They were images from the Stag, things that it had seen and felt. The connection between them was unmistakable, and though Brighid didn't pull her hand back, she began to feel w
eary of the power that was behind the animal in front of her. She didn't know if the Stag itself held extraordinary powers or if it was a combination of their connection. Either way, it was intense and breathtaking, and she wondered what the Stag was feeling in those moments.

  The Stag snorted and ground its hooves into the dirt. Brighid quickly pulled her hand back, but still, there was no fear. As the deer calmed again, it stepped forward toward her and rubbed its face against hers. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the softness of its fur, the electrifying connection flowing through her, a unity that she had never felt before in her life. She had no idea what it was about this animal, but she was drawn to it, and she feared that when it finally left, part of her would disappear with it.

  As their heads connected, she ran her hands over its shoulders and through its fur. The Stag nudged her, and she giggled, pulling back and looking at it with curious eyes. From a distance, she could hear a sound, like a voice singing through the breeze. But the voice was so quiet and muffled that she couldn't make out what it was saying. The Stag nudged her again, this time a bit harder. Her brow furrowed, and she took a step back, shaking her head. The voice came fluttering through her ears again, this time louder, but she still couldn't make out what it was saying. It was mumbled as if whoever was speaking was right there, but her mind wouldn't allow it to enter it. At the same time, she could feel her Dragon trying to open up, and she didn't understand that. Her Dragon had always been very careful and looked to her when it came to allowing other people in her mind.