Shred of Darkness

© 2022 J. Kearston All rights reserved No part of this work may be duplicated, reproduced, or transferred by any means, without the written approval of the author. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual people (living or dead), places, or events is purely coincidental. Please note: This series is meant for adults and contains descriptive sexual scenes (all consensual), flashbacks of physical abuse, graphic violence (our heroes aren’t exactly saints) and stalker themes. While I would love for you to read my work, never do so at the risk of your mental health. –––––––– *Cover by Nichole Witholder at Rainy Day Artwork* Table of Contents Copyright Page Shred of Darkness | Dragons in the Wind Book 2 Recap of Spark of Desire Chapter 1 | Amara Chapter 2 | Kodiak Chapter 3 | Amara Chapter 4 | Amara Chapter 5 | Amara Chapter 6 | Amara Chapter 7 | Raiden Chapter 8 | Amara Chapter 9 | Amara Chapter 10 | Amara Chapter 11 | Stone Chapter 12 | Amara Chapter 13 | Kodiak Chapter 14 | Stone Chapter 15 | Raiden Chapter 16 | Amara Chapter 17 | Amara Chapter 18 | Kodiak Chapter 19 | Raiden Chapter 20 | Amara Chapter 21 | Amara Chapter 22 | Stone Chapter 23 | Amara Shred of Darkness Dragons in the Wind Book 2 Recap of Spark of Desire Amara, a dragon shifter that can’t shift and has barely any abilities to speak of, has been on the run from her abusive stalker for nearly a decade. (He’s convinced they’re fated to be together and carved homemade mate marks into her skin/ tattooed her, but she burned over it.) A robbery gone awry puts her in the hospital where she meets Stone, gains 1/3 of a mate mark, and from there she meets Raiden and Kodiak. After some more running and a car bomb, she finally accepts their help and moves in with them, where they work on breeching her defenses and showing her that not everyone is out to hurt or take advantage of her. Raiden and Kodiak get marked, the latter her choice as she comes around to the idea of a legion and actually having a life with them as her mates. Stone gives her a belly button ring with a gem infused with his blood to help amplify her abilities (Huge deal because the last time he gave a girl one of his creations, she imprisoned every demon either underground or in the nearest human vessel, resulting in the creation of shifters.) The four of them went to help some wolves, and came face to face with her stalker. -deep breath- Aaaaaaaaand here we go! Chapter 1 Amara ––––––––Blood coats my fingertips, growing hotter by the second. Burning, branding me with every drop as my heart threatens to beat out of my chest. Even with adrenaline battering against my muscles, I can’t make a single one respond, can’t so much as a draw in a breath. Not when I'm face to face with the monster nightmares are made of. “Don’t worry, darling, we’ll find her together.” Another slice of the blade tearing through my skin. “You’re a dragon, my dragon. We just need to dig a little deeper.” An eternity later, wild green eyes look down on me in sympathy before Malcolm turns the blade on himself, replicating every wound he inflicted. “Don’t be discouraged. Every time we try, it brings us closer together, see? Someone only needs to glance at the two of us to see that we were made for each other; a perfect match.” “Amara?” Stone’s soft breath skims over the shell of my ear, startling me out of my internal spiral, and my legs nearly give out beneath me. Only his arm banded around my stomach keeps me upright, his hold tightening even as I sink my nails deeper into his skin. My lips part, but nothing comes out. Not a whimper, not so much as an exhale. I’m caught in the emerald gaze of the man standing a stone’s throw away, the one that’s haunted me for nearly a decade, suffocating as icy terror freezes my lungs. Malcolm’s smirk drops into a concerned frown, flicking his attention above my head to Stone. “It's a bit hypocritical to come out here criticizing how men treat their mates when the woman in your arms is afraid to even speak, don’t you think?” Kodiak and Raiden turn to face me as a dangerous rumble escapes Stone at my back, echoing around the clearing. Voice dripping with disdain, Stone growls, “And who do you think she’s afraid of, Malcolm?” It couldn’t have been hard for him to put together between my death grip at the appearance of the blonde haired, green eyed stranger, but the other two look genuinely surprised. Slowly, realization dawns, and Kodiak’s face contorts with rage, while Raiden reins in his anger, emotions carefully concealed once more. Only the rigid set of his jaw and the volatile storm in his eyes prove he’s affected at all. As Kodi takes a step in my direction, though, Raiden snaps out a hand and grips his shoulder, pulling him to a stop. Turning to Malcolm, he drawls, “Mason, what are you doing here?” He knows him. He works with the guy that drugged me in Khalida, and is on a first name basis with the bane of my existence. It’s never been so abundantly clear that I hardly know the men the Fates signed my life over to. Malcolm -Mason- cocks his head with a frown, attention rapt on me. “I was passing through and heard the commotion, so thought I’d swing by to see if I could help. Good thing, too. I’d heard some nasty rumors about what was really happening to the women you’d ‘saved’ in that playground of yours that I didn’t want to believe, but, well...” Beneath the facade of sympathy is a flash of anger,