Christina Bauer - Clockwork Igni: Kick-ass epic fantasy and paranormal romance

Clockwork Igni

Book Nine of the Angelbound Origins Series

Copyright

Dedication

For All Those Who Kick Ass, Take Names

and Read Books

Collected Works

Angelbound Origins

About a quasi (part demon and part human) girl who loves kicking butt in Purgatory's Arena

1. Angelbound

2. Scala

3. Acca

4. Thrax

5. The Dark Lands

6. The Brutal Time

7. Armageddon

8. Quasi Redux

9. Clockwork Igni

10. Lady Reaper

11. Angry Gods

12. Phantom Corsairs

Angelbound Offspring

The next generation takes on Heaven, Hell, and everything in between

1. Maxon

2. Portia

3. Zinnia

4. Rhodes

5. Kaps

6. Mack

7. Huntress

Angelbound Lincoln

The Angelbound experience as told by Prince Lincoln

1. Duty Bound

2. Lincoln

3. Trickster

4. Baculum

5. Angelfire

Fairy Tales of the Magicorum

Modern fairy tales with sass, action, and romance

1. Wolves and Roses

2. Moonlight and Midtown

3. Shifters and Glyphs

4. Slippers and Thieves

5. Bandits and Ball Gowns

6. Evil Queens and Goblin Kings

Pixieland Diaries

Sassy pixie Calla loves elf prince Dare. Too bad he hasnt noticed her. Yet.

1. Pixieland Diaries

2. Calla

3. Dare

4. Winter Prince

5. Ley Queen

Dimension Drift

Dystopian adventures with science, snark, and hot aliens

1. Scythe

2. Umbra

3. Alien Minds

4. ECHO Academy

*This is a completed series.

Beholder

Where a medieval farm girl discovers necromancy and true love

1. Cursed

2. Concealed

3. Cherished

4. Crowned

5. Cradled

*This is a completed series.

CLOCKWORK IGNI

This novel includes an appendix with a family tree, definitions, and related summaries.

Myla

Age Eleven

I m about to play Barbie Doll Death Match. Yes!

Its all thanks to Miss Kits, a black cat with six tails and enough magic to make my Barbies fight, pro-wrestling style.

But there is a catch.

Before doing anything, Miss Kits wants what she calls a dainty dolly tea in the backyard.

Not my ideal playdate.

Still, I need battle training and no one else can help. To begin with, Im an only child. Also, Mom freaks when I mention fighting, my fathers not around, and my neighbors are all of the lazy-n-judgy variety. Its Miss Kits or zip. So I dig out toys and do as my magical cat demands.

Dainty dolly tea.

Which brings me to where I am now.

My backyard is a square of yellowing grass. Our single-storey ranch house takes up one side of the lawn. Bare hedges surround everything else. All in all, its a lot of dying plants under a cloudy sky. Typical Purgatory.

And my dolls are finally ready.

In the center of the mangy yard, four Barbies sit around a small plastic table. Their tea stuff comes from a larger toy set, so the dolls could wear the cups as tiny battle helms. And thats super tempting to do. I even set the pretend helmets on their heads, just to see how itd look.

Pretty badass, actually.

Beware the rules of dainty dolly tea, Myla. Better fix it.

Biting back a groan, I reset the cups in their proper places. This way, the death match can begin once Miss Kits gets here. Excitement pounds through my veins. The big moment is so close!

Mom eyes me through the kitchens back window. Theres no missing when she spies the dolls. My mother waves toward the little table. I shoot her a thumbs up.

Yup, Im playing with Barbies.

Mom smiles her face offshes a huge fan of dolls. So far, Ive only used them for target practice.

Slam!

The back door opens with such force, it wallops against the house itself. Two shingles tumble down as Mom rushes toward me.

Oh, Myla. Mom beams. Are your Barbies having tea?

I shift my weight from foot to foot. For now, yeah.

As natives of Purgatory, Mom and I are quasi-demons (mostly human with a little demonic DNA). Moms tall and curvy with red hair. Im a smaller version of her, only Im hipless and boob-free. We both wear gray sweats, since thats the only uniform allowed by our evil ghoul overlords. Like all quasis, Mom and I also have tails. Ours are long, thin, and covered in black dragon scales.

After rushing across the lawn, Mom crouches beside the little table. Tea with your Barbies. I cant believe it. Have they eaten their cucumber sandwiches yet?

I nibble my lower lip. Not sure I get the question.

Its a tea thing, remember? Mom talks about tea time a lot. I try to pay attention, but its not easy when theres so much to punch in the world.

Oh, I only have teacups. I snap my fingers in an aw shucks move. No plates for sandwiches. Dang.

That doesnt matter. Mom claps. Well play dolls together at last! Lets make little mud pies and pretend theyre canaps. Then we can create fake salmon tarts out of leaves. After that, you and I will share a real pot of tea in the kitchen. Mom mimes holding up a cup with her pinky out. Thisll be so much fun!