Page 2 of His Fiery Mate

As she continued her journey south, Melisandre encountered the vast expanse of the Susitna River, its waters wide and slow-moving. The river's surface was dotted with small islands that were home to nesting birds and other wildlife. Her powerful wings beat rhythmically as she glided over the river, her body casting a long shadow on the water below.

The landscape began to change as she approached the Talkeetna Mountains. These smaller, but no less majestic, peaks rose up from the surrounding forest, their rocky slopes dotted with patches of snow. Melisandre navigated the narrow passes between the mountains with ease, her wings expertly catching the updrafts that carried her higher into the sky and the cover the clouds offered her.

Beyond the Talkeetna Mountains, she reached the lush, green Matanuska-Susitna Valley, dotted with farms and small towns. The valley was a stark contrast to the wild, untamed wilderness, with its snowy peaks and icy glaciers she had left behind. Like her life, the fields of crops seemed to beckon to her as if to say she too had another purpose; she was not destined to live the life that others wanted to assign to her. She looked down to see the occasional farmhouse nestled among the trees.

As she neared Anchorage, she spotted the gleaming waters of Cook Inlet, a vast body of water that separated the city from the Kenai Peninsula. The inlet was dotted with small islands and rocky outcrops, and Melisandre could see boats moving slowly across its surface, their wakes leaving long trails in the water.

Finally, she began to search for a place to land and to shift back into a human. She descended towards Anchorage, her massive wings creating powerful gusts of wind that rustled the trees below, slowed her speed, and allowed her to approach what appeared to be a safe landing strip. The city, nestled between the waters of Cook Inlet and the towering Chugach Mountains, was in view, and she hoped to be able to find a ride into the city.

She landed with the same grace, skill, and power as she had when she’d taken off, her massive claws touching down gently in a field on the outskirts of the city, where the wilderness met the urban landscape. Her journey from Denali to Anchorage had come to an end, but her new life was only just beginning.

“Melisandre.” She was alerted to the presence of a shifter by the distinctive scent that reached her nostrils only a few moments before a female voice called from behind her. Melisandre whirled around, almost knocking the feet from beneath the woman who approached. “Easy. Raine told me she thought you might end up landing here.”

“How would she know that and who are you?” Melisandre asked suspiciously.

“She mentioned this was where your kind often landed when coming to Kodiak. I’ve been searching the sky for any sign of your presence. As to who I am, I’m Nicole Wells. My mate is Asher Wells. He’s the chief park ranger for this region. I thought I’d offer you a lift into town, something to eat, and a place to stay while you get on your feet.”

“Why would you do that?” asked Melisandre warily, looking around to ensure there was no threat posed by others.

The woman smiled. “Because it’s the nice thing to do, and Raine asked me to help if I could. For what it’s worth, while Asher can understand where Cooper is coming from, he is not one to force females into doing something they would not choose for themselves. I see you have a bag; do you have clothes you can change into? If not, I’ve got a sweater, leggings, and mukluks in the SUV. They’ll be warmer than what you brought with you.”

There was something about Nicole Wells that made her seem trustworthy. Everything she’d said resonated with Melisandre, and she realized she was tired.

“I’d appreciate the loan of the clothes.”

“Come along, then. I parked the SUV closer to a big rock to give you some privacy while you shift. I think it’s fascinating that dragons can speak even when they’re shifted. I would think it would give you a big advantage over others.”

Melisandre smiled. “The teeth, claws and ability to breathe fire doesn’t hurt.”

Nicole laughed. “No, I’ll bet it doesn’t.”

Once Melisandre had shifted and was dressed in the clothing Nicole had bought, she slipped into the passenger side of the SUV.

“I understand you’ve trained as an arson investigator,” Nicole began.

Melisandre nodded. “I did. I have an interview with the guy in charge of the AIU…” Nicole raised her eyebrows. “Arson Investigative Unit…the day after tomorrow.”

“Asher and I actually live over in Kodiak, but we keep a place here in Anchorage. You are more than welcome to stay. For what it’s worth, Asher put in a good word for you. He and the chief aren’t especially close, but they’ve worked together for a number of years and respect each other. Maybe it’ll help.”

“I suppose I should get all snarly and say I want to do this on my own, but I’m happy to accept any help I can get, as long as there are no strings attached.”

“Only one.”

“What’s that?” Melisandre asked, the hairs on the back of her neck coming up.

“Call Raine and let her know you arrived safely. You don’t have to do anything more than that. I just know she was worried about you and hearing from you that you made it will make her feel better.”

“I can do that.”

Kodiak, Alaska

Present Day

Two years had passed since that fateful day when she’d taken her future into her own hands and left Denali and her clan for a life of her own choosing in Anchorage. She’d aced the interview with the chief of the AIU and had been steadily building a reputation as one of the best arson investigators on the team. It didn’t really surprise her. After all, who better than a dragon to understand and interpret fire?

Recently, there had been several fires on Kodiak, and Melisandre had suggested to the chief that she thought they might be connected.

“What makes you think that?” the chief had asked.

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