Ashes of Blood: The Dragon Mafia Chronicles

by Lela Grayce

  Kreed was suddenly in front of me looking down into my face. The dude needed a bell!

  “Do you remember how you felt before? You were nearly out of control. Never feel guilty for taking care of yourself first,” he stated.

  He was right but the guilt was still there. It must be my human side.

  A loud crash sounded just above our heads and I shrieked in alarm. A body dropped into the cellar. Kreed turned while pushing me against the wall. Gwenna stood quickly looking around for us.

  “Lazateth is nearly here, they can’t hold him much longer. We need to get Nik out of here, fast,” she said wearily. She had used lots of energy and power. Magic always had a price and she was paying for it with her stamina.

  “Bayard said the entrance is behind the barrels labeled ‘Fae Wine’.” Kreed pointed further into the cellar.

  We rushed into the darkness tripping over all sorts of random crap. You’d think, with how pristine upstairs was, that everywhere would be as nice, but nope. This was a death trap for a clumsy person, and let's just say I’m not super graceful, but Kreed kept me from breaking my neck. We really needed to have a discussion about what was between us.

  “I found them,” Gwenna called.

  Working together we moved the stack of barrels revealing a wall with a very obvious door shape. Gwenna and I dug our fingers into the space and pried the door open while Kreed stood watch. The gust of air that came from the tunnel smelled of wet dirt and we all knew that wet dirt was actually mud. Ick.

  A roar shook the building above as dust and other things rained from the ceiling.

  “We need to go!” Gwenna yelled, covering her head with her hands.

  The sound of wood being torn apart filled the space as we all covered our ears.

  “He’s found the cellar,” Kreed whispered, looking back the way we’d come, his eyes blazing in the darkness. “Go with Gwenna. I'll hold him off.”

  “What?! Kreed, no,” I protested. He didn’t understand what sort of power he was dealing with.

  “I’ll be fine. I’ve been building toward this for a long time.” He tried to sound smooth but it only freaked me out more. I grabbed his sweatshirt pulling him to me like I stood any chance of preventing him from going to face that dragon. “This is what I’m here to do, protect you. Nik, you need to trust me.” He covered my hands with his. “I’m going to be alright.”

  I was worried for him, yes, because somehow in the last week I’d grown to care. I’ve seen how he handled himself and I knew he would be alright. But at what cost? He had proven that he takes my protection seriously. Is it worth his life? I’m sure if I asked him he’d say yes but didn’t that defeat the whole purpose. He was protecting me until his healing was complete and the bond faded but this was extreme.

  “You’ll be right behind us?” I asked because I did trust him. With my life I trusted him. That realization hit me in the gut. The fire inside hummed which I had no idea what to make of.

  “I’ll meet you there,” he promised, placing a gentle kiss on my cheek. “Now go.”

  Gwenna grabbed my hand and pulled me into the tunnel, then shut the door behind us. Thumps from the other side told me that Kreed was stacking the barrels back against the door. Another roar rattled my bones and my heart beat faster as the sound of a predator grew closer.

  A light blazed in the dark. Gwenna held a glowing ball in one of her hands. She held out her other hand and I took it, thankful that I had someone with me facing this secret tunnel. The darkness spread out in front of us and looked thick enough to touch.

  Gwenna took the first step and I followed closely behind.

  “The floor seems to be smooth. Bayard said that it’s only a quarter mile long. Think you're up to running?”

  That would be a fuck no.

  “I think I can handle it,” I lied.

  This was going to suck.

  We broke into a run, Gwenna leading the way while I ran behind her. The light was nice. I let go of Gwenna and grazed my fingers along the dirt wall just in case.

  After what felt like an eternity we stopped for a break. There was a stitch in my side that throbbed with every breath I took. Gwenna was breathing hard too but she wasn’t in pain like I was. I was so out of shape.

  “How much farther?” I panted, not sure how long I could keep this up.

  “I think we’re about halfway,” she replied.

  Mother-Shifter!

  “Let’s get going.” Gwenna motioned the way we were heading.

  Just then the ground shook and the echo of a large roar reached our ears.

  “Do you think he’s found the tunnel?” I squeaked.

  “I'm not sure but we should keep moving.”

  I nodded feeling adrenaline kick in and I knew that some how I’d make it because the alternative was something I couldn't let happen.

  “Let’s go.” We started off in a jog this time before speeding up gradually.

  My legs burned but I fought through it just like I did the stitch in my side that started up again. I read somewhere that once you got past the wall, everything would just even out. My question was how do you know when you’ve hit it? Would it feel like hitting a wall because I already feel like that. Running was stupid!

  Gwenna started to slow. I followed her lead until we were creeping forward. It was dark but the light in Gwenna’s hand shone in front of us, revealing a doorway. Dousing the light, we crept forward as quietly as possible.

  “I’m going to try to sense if anyone is nearby,” Gwenna whispered in the darkness.

  I nodded my head then remembered it was dark and she couldn’t see me. “Okay.”

  Silence fell and I waited patiently for the Witch-Fae to give the all clear.

  “There’s no one in the immediate area,” she said, moving toward the exit.

  Cool air brushed against my heated skin and it felt wonderful. The tunnel was stuffy especially when running.

  Peeking out there was an open area that was graveled but no vehicles around. I frowned having sworn Bayard said there would be a vehicle here.

  “Bayard told me that they have a small, covered building just through there,” Gwenna whispered, pointing at a space between two hills.

  Looking around again I noticed that there was no easy way to get a vehicle this close unless it had off road capabilities. Which, judging by the state of the bar, the Gold Skulls could definitely afford it. Something didn’t feel quite right but I brushed it off. It's not like I knew Bayard very well so who's to say what I could and could not trust with him.

  We set out at a fast walk, Gwenna taking the lead while I followed behind. The sounds of night around us was comforting but I knew that if a predator didn’t want to be seen or heard then they wouldn’t be. I also worried about Kreed and my friends. I hoped they were alright.

  There was a well-worn path through the hills which made it more likely that this was all completely normal. Which meant I hadn’t heard or understood what Baryard said. Wouldn’t be the first time.

  The stars shone brightly overhead and I could see them clearly, something that couldn’t be done in the city. Looking at them like this made it feel like all my worries and misgivings were inconsequential. The universe was so big and I was just a tiny piece within it.

  “We’re almost there. I can see a building,” Gwenna spoke quietly, her voice carried in the peaceful night.

  I didn’t have night vision like most Mutts did so I had to trust Gwenna.

  “What's the plan once we get there?” I wondered. Kreed said he’d be right behind us so waiting for him and the others sounded like the best course.

  “We’ll reevaluate our options when we reach the vehicle.”

  That made sense. No use talking while we were trying to slip away into the night. I had no idea how good dragon hearing was but if it was better than Kreed’s then we had a problem.

  The path twisted down into a valley and I could make out the roof of a building against the star strewn sky. So fa
r it seemed like we had gotten away without notice, which I was thankful for. My friends would be fine. They were more ‘super’ than I was and I knew they could take care of themselves.

  We rounded the corner of the building, not bothering with being stealthy anymore. Three vehicles were parked inside, all beefy and like they could pick a fight with a mountain. They were wide and fit. I was half-way in love with them.

  “Should we wait here for the others?” I asked, checking out the large vehicles. They were definitely dudes. They had to be with all the muscles.

  “I don’t think your friends will be coming,” a dark voice said from the shadows.

  I spun, searching for Gwenna so I could warn her but what I saw didn’t make sense. She was pressed up against the scary dark skined Witch-Fae hybrid from the club who had been attacking the bar when we left. When I saw the malicious grin on her face fade, everything fell into place. Gwenna had been the mole. She had access to everything and being powerful enough to perform the spells needed at the club and probably the ones at the penthouse. We’d trusted her and all along she was working against us.

  “Surprised, Nik?” The evil hybrid cackled.

  “Yes,” I answered, nothing like being completely honest with a psychopath. “Just confused now.”

  “There’s so much history that the races keep from us. We are far more powerful than we realize and we’re going to bring down the tyranny of the races. They’ve been in power far too long. It’s time we raise the new generation and bring this world into a new era,” she monologued.

  Why did everything she just said sound so familiar? Oh, yeah, because it’s literally what every delusional power-hungry, mindless goon says to justify their master’s actions. I bit my tongue not wanting to insult them at this point in the game. Might get me killed quicker.

  “So, what now?” I asked apprehensively.

  The toothy grins they both aimed at me promised pain. I weighed my options of making a run for it. I’m pretty sure they could both outrun me so I wouldn’t get far but there was a small bit of hope in that Kreed would be coming for me soon. I had to believe and trust that he would save me but until then I was on my own.

  I tried to drum up some fire, stoked that small ember deep inside hoping to goad it into rising up into an inferno so I could burn them into ash. Except for a tingling warmth, nothing happened. Why did it have to be shy now when I really needed it?

  My heart pounded and my instincts screamed at me to run but I was frozen in place too scared to act on any of the options.

  A roar echoed off the surrounding hills, followed by the steady rhythm of flapping wings. Lazateth was almost here. That thought unlocked my muscles and I bolted.

  Sprinting as fast I could, hoping I had enough speed and strength to make it back to the tunnel. Best place to hide from a dragon was underground right? Why did no one teach us how to survive a wild dragon’s obsession?

  I couldn’t hear any footsteps behind me and I wondered why the hybrids weren’t coming after me. I was what their master wanted, and they were just going to let me escape?

  The sound of flapping wings grew louder as I ran faster. A massive, clawed foot wrapped around my torso and plucked me from the ground like you would a dandelion. I tried to scream but the rushing wind stole the breath from my lungs.

  I looked around trying to get my bearings and saw that the earth was approaching quickly. I wanted to close my eyes but couldn’t. The ground rushed up and while we were still ten feet from the ground the claw opened. I managed a scream before I hit the dirt.

  I bounced and skidded over the rocky surface feeling the pain of scrapes, cuts, and broken bones. There was nothing I could do. I had too much momentum.

  When my body came to a stop, I tried to draw a breath, but a claw tipped hand wrapped around my throat, pressing me into the dirt. I couldn’t move. The red eyes of Lazateth glowed in the darkness, revealing a sadistic grin on his handsome face. My heart did a weird somersault in my chest. I was both terrified and entranced by him. He was so beautiful. I knew he held no such regard for me.

  “There you are, my little fire,” he growled around a mouthful of pointed teeth. “It took far too long to get my hands on you again.”

  He leaned down, running his nose up the side of my neck. I trembled as conflicted emotions assaulted me. I remembered how it had felt back at the club, having him under me and between my thighs. The exquisite heat that he invoked hit me, as he bit my neck and stole it all away. I wanted him. I hated him.

  The fire from deep inside started to rise inside me like it was being called and all too eager to answer. I tried to claw at his hand, but I was weak and close to losing consciousness if he didn’t let go of my neck soon. The heat built and I fought to push it down to save it. Didn’t it realize that he would steal it all?

  “It was a chance that I found you in that club playing human but now that I have you, you’ll make me infinitely more powerful.” He was so close and the fire burned so hot inside me that I thought my skin would combust.

  Just when I believed I couldn’t contain it anymore, Lazateth struck, biting into my neck. His hand loosened and I screamed as his teeth receded and were replaced with his lips. The first draw had me arching my back and doing everything to push him off of me, but he was too strong.

  The heat was sucked from my neck and I grew weaker and colder with every pull and swallow. My body had gone numb from my injuries, or from blood loss, I wasn’t sure which.

  I looked above at the stars and wished with everything I had that death would come swiftly, to take away the pain and violation.

  My heartbeat slowed. The dragon continued to drink from me, determined to drain every last ounce of inner power I had.

  This was my end.

  I closed my eyes and fell into the stars.

  Acknowledgments

  This book has been a labor of love and heartache. After my baby I hit a creative wall and just couldn’t seem to get my mojo back. I finally sought help and found that post-partum depression can take affect months after the baby was born. I love my baby and I love my family but sometimes you need to take care of yourself. Selfcare is so important as is reaching out. If you feel you need some extra help or someone to listen who is unbiased you can call this helpline 1-800-662-HELP. They are available 24/7 and it’s completely confidential and free.

  I’d like to say a quick thank you to my husband, my girls, and my parents. They’ve all been so helpful and loving and didn’t make me want to pull my hair out, ever ;-P Also, a big thank you to my friends Joy, Courtney, Kelly, and Daniel who have supported, read, and probably cried with me on occasion. You guys are the absolute best!

  Would also like to thank those special few in my reader group who helped me name some of these characters. Joann Stearns who named my Witch-Fae, Ruthy Simpson for the ex- boyfriend, April Stacey for the incredible Mob Boss’s name, Amanda Curley for the potential love-interest, and Tina Merritt for naming the Vroom app.

  Thank you for giving this book a try and I hope you loved Nik, Kreed, Brutus, and especially Zazu.

  Coming soon!

  Book Two in The Dragon Mafia Chronicles Ashes of Flame Releasing April 30th 2021.

  hyperurl.co/AshesofFlames

  Book Three in the Dragon Mafia Chronicles Ashes of Starlight Releasing May 28th 2021.

  hyperurl.co/AshesofStarlight

  Other Books By Lela

  The Lunar Medallion Series

  Areion

  Scylla

  The Lunar Medallion Short Stories

  Child of Water

  Child of Earth

  Blood of the Sea Series

  Co-Written with Heather Renee

  Crimson Horizon

  Pale Horizon

  Obsidian Horizon

 

 

  n Archive.