The Dragon's War

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The Dragon's War Page 1

by Lila Jean




  The Dragon’s War

  The Goddess’s Harem Book 3

  Lila Jean

  J. A. Cipriano

  Edited by

  J. B. Garner

  Copyright © 2018 by Lila Jean & J.A. Cipriano

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

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  Also by Lila Jean

  Also by J.A. Cipriano

  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

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Thank You for reading!

  Author’s Note

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  Visit J.A. on Facebook or on the web at JACipriano.com for all the latest updates.

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  Also by Lila Jean

  Billionaire Security Shifters

  The Mountain Lion’s Secretary

  The Grizzly Bear’s Heiress

  The Dragon’s Gym Buddy

  Goddess Harem

  The Tiger’s Offer

  The Wolf’s Hunt

  The Dragon’s War

  Also by J.A. Cipriano

  Starcrossed Dragons

  Riding Lightning

  Grinding Frost

  Swallowing Fire

  Pounding Earth

  The Goddess Harem

  The Tiger’s Offer

  The Wolf’s Hunt

  The Dragon’s War

  Justice Squad

  Miracle’s Touch

  Her Angels

  Heaven’s Embrace

  Heaven’s A Beach

  The Shaman Queen's Harem

  The Pen is Mightier

  The Pen is Mightier: Company Ink

  Star Conqueror

  Star Conqueror: Recompense

  Super Human

  King Justice

  King of the Gods

  Falcon Punch

  World of Ruul

  Soulstone: Awakening

  Soulstone: The Skeleton King

  Soulstone: Oblivion

  Bug Wars

  Doomed Infinity Marine

  Doomed Infinity Marine 2

  The Legendary Builder

  The Builder’s Sword

  The Builder’s Greed

  The Builder’s Pride

  The Builder’s Wrath

  The Builder’s Throne

  The Builder’s Conquest

  The FBI Dragon Chronicles

  A Ritual of Fire

  A Ritual of Death

  Elements of Wrath Online

  Ring of Promise

  The Vale of Three Wolves

  Crystalfire Keep

  Kingdom of Heaven

  The Skull Throne

  Escape From Hell

  The Thrice Cursed Mage

  Cursed

  Marked

  Burned

  Seized

  Claimed

  Hellbound

  The Half-Demon Warlock

  Pound of Flesh

  Flesh and Blood

  Blood and Treasure

  The Lillim Callina Chronicles

  Wardbreaker

  Kill it with Magic

  The Hatter is Mad

  Fairy Tale

  Pursuit

  Hardboiled

  Mind Games

  Fatal Ties

  Clans of Shadow

  Heart of Gold

  Feet of Clay

  Fists of Iron

  The Spellslinger Chronicles

  Throne to the Wolves

  Prince of Blood and Thunder

  Found Magic

  May Contain Magic

  The Magic Within

  Magic for Hire

  Witching on a Starship

  Maverick

  Planet Breaker

  * * *

  Ghosts and Grudges

  1

  Tina

  Tina was done running.

  As the hot Indonesian sun beat down on her, she stood at the edge of the water out front of her temple, staring down through the gentle ripples at the glowing white metal lotus at the bottom of the manmade lake. Its power brimmed in her blood, fueling the final and ultimate connection she had made with Damara, reminding her of the incredible magic that burned through her veins.

  With all this power simmering in her body, Tina was amazed that there were still people after her, still people who thought they could control her. She looked around Epara, feeling the invisible shield that protected her and everyone within its walls, fueled by her and Damara’s magic. They were safe for now, but there were plenty of people outside these walls who wanted Tina dead.

  Well, she would get to them first. As she stared down at the beautiful glowing lotus on the lakebed, she made a mental list of the people she had to defeat.

  King James. The eagle king wanted her dead and had from the beginning. As much as she wanted to reconcile with Killian’s father, she figured that feud would end with the king in a coffin.

  King Edward. The dragon king had tried several times to kidnap her, and his attempts seemed to be getting increasingly desperate. He wanted her magic, even if it meant kidnapping his own son’s mate.

  King Frederick. Tina rolled her eyes in exasperation, especially since the demigod king was supposed to be on her side. She was a goddess, the only one on earth, and yet the king sworn to protect the gods had tried to kill her.

  King Alexander. The cat king made Tina nervous, since his cold blue glare seemed to hide a vast intelligence and a cunning mind. He was one of her least favorite foes, especially since he was capable of anything.

  King William. Ugh. She wrinkled her nose in disgust at the wolf king’s name, the man who had forced Damara into this world for the sole purpose of sleeping with his army and infusing them with the enhanced powers she had instead given her princes. The way he so ruthlessly came after them, he would likely end up in a coffin, too.

  Noxxom Corporation. If not the corporation itself, she had to at least put an end to the employee who kept trying to frame her for their murders.

  “You’re going to bow to me,” she said softly, thinking of each of the men on her list as she stared through the rippling water at her beautiful lotus. “Or you’re going to die.”

  Tina balled her hand into a tight
fist and inhaled a deep steadying breath as she looked over her beautiful temple. Her home. Her haven. As much as she loved to stay here, as much as she would have loved to spread out across her soft mattress and pretend the world was sane, she wouldn’t be able to stay here much longer. In fact, she likely wouldn’t be able to return until things were settled … if she was able to come back at all, of course. Outside these walls, anything could happen, and everything was at stake.

  All Tina wanted was peace, the freedom to simply be and love her men, to have a happy life and unite the five kingdoms who insisted on trying to kill her. One way or another, she would defeat them all, regardless of how much she had to bleed to finally earn her freedom.

  2

  Draven

  Draven reclined in a brand new armchair, the seat angled out over the beautiful gardens in Epara, the ones Ares had burned nearly to a crisp in their fight to the death, though thanks to the magic of the temple, the flowers and vines had been restored to their former glory. The hot day felt comforting to him since dragons liked the humid heat, but even after sparring Anthony for most of the morning, he still felt tense, on edge, like his world was about to implode around him unless he figured out some puzzle that was weighing on his subconscious.

  He hated that feeling.

  One of his two phones vibrated in his pocket, and he fished them both out. Damn, just a text from Zane’s new number, nothing unusual. He unlocked the other phone, his burner phone, the one he kept only to contact his father, and checked the text messages once more. As he scrolled through the text chain, he noted that the dates of each message had become farther and farther apart and that his father still hadn’t responded to the last one.

  We must stop wasting time, Father. Tina is my mate and always will be. Just accept this.

  Draven knew better than to think his father would see reason. He could feel his connection to his father slipping, the work he’d made toward peace ruined by his father’s pride and greed. It was especially frustrating when the answer to all their problems was staring the old fart in the face, offered on a silver platter with damn bows tied to it and a giant flashing sign lighting the way. Deep down, Draven was starting to wonder if he had ever really made progress with his father at all, or if it was all a ploy on his father’s part to get him to let down his guard. Either way, it didn’t matter, since Draven would never let anyone hurt his woman or his brotherhood. This was his family now, his father’s pride be damned.

  The door opened, and Tina walked in seconds later with Anthony and Flynn in tow. Draven forced a playful grin, but true to form, his mate seemed to see right through him. As Flynn and Anthony chatted about swords, Tina raised one suspicious eyebrow, staring at Draven as though waiting for him to fess up and admit what was bothering him.

  She sat on his lap while the other two gabbed on about weapons and war strategy. “Since when does my darling dragon brood?”

  “I always brood.” He chuckled. “Dark and mysterious is my thing. Anthony just copies me, really.”

  “Hey,” the wolf shifter said. “I heard that.”

  “Where are Killian and Zane?” Flynn peeked out the windows onto the gardens, rubbing his mighty beard. “They’re always off debating something, but we need to—”

  “We’re here, Mom,” Zane said with a chuckle, pushing open the door that had been left ajar. Killian walked in after him, a charming smile on his face.

  Draven grabbed Tina’s thigh, rooting her in place on his lap, happily drinking in the sultry perfume of roses and fresh air that was her scent. She smiled and kissed his cheek, playing with his hair as everyone else settled into the couches.

  “It’s time we talk strategy.” Flynn was the only one standing and set his hands on his hips, a familiar tone of let’s get down to business sucking all the fun out of the room.

  “We beat three gods,” Draven said, groaning, exaggerating it a bit for effect. “Can’t we get even a mini vacation?”

  “What do you call the last three days?” Killian crossed his arms, chuckling. “I’m pretty sure all I’ve seen you do is eat and spar.”

  “And play.” He winked at Tina, who blushed a bit, and he loved the adorable way her cheeks turned pink whenever he made innuendos. Knowing he could make a badass goddess blush made him want to see it as often as possible.

  “Yeah, well, King William isn’t playing.” Zane’s smile faded, and he chewed his lip a bit. “I’ve been getting worrisome reports about the wolves’ activity and intentions.” The tiger shifter cast a wary glance toward Anthony. “He’s getting desperate.”

  “Of course, he is,” Anthony said, voice low and dark. “He’s seen how many others are after Tina and now he’s worried he won’t get there first.”

  “And William isn’t the only king after Tina, of course,” Flynn said, his arms crossed, the bulky biceps pushing against his chest, giving him the look of a bouncer. “All of our fathers are still at large, and with the budding war over the missing dignitaries, even those that wanted Tina dead will probably come after her for her magic.”

  “I’ve been thinking about that, Flynn.” Tina frowned. “Now that I’ve connected fully to Damara, now that I have all of her power and memories, how could they get my magic even if they somehow defeated the six of us?”

  “There are ways,” Flynn said, his voice lowering and trembling a little with concern. “Ancient artifacts, designed by gods to destroy other gods.” He sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration. “It’s not a new concept, and you must be careful. There are those who can drain your magic, block it, do who knows what to it, all with these artifacts.”

  “Duly noted.” She frowned, glancing out the window, and Draven tightened his grip on her thigh protectively.

  “Which brings us to Noxxom,” Zane said. “Or rather, to whoever is kidnapping and killing the dignitaries.” He stood, pacing, glancing now and then at his phone. “It may not be Noxxom at all, but yet another frame job. We have to be careful because whoever this is, they’re well connected, rich, and heartless.”

  “Ray was definitely working for Noxxom.” Tina rubbed her jaw, eyes glazing over a bit as she seemed to lose herself in thought. “For whatever reason, they wanted me alive and framed for murder. That was important, but we still don’t know why.” She stood, and Draven reluctantly let her go, his lap cold now that she’d left to pace by the windows. “This vendetta of theirs is personal, now, and we need to track down whomever is responsible.”

  “I agree.” Killian nodded. “We can’t let this go on any longer. Noxxom should be our first target, even over the kings.”

  “I don’t know.” Tina frowned. “I’m actually worried more about Amy.”

  “Have you heard from her?” Anthony asked, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees.

  “Not a peep.” Tina ran a hand through her hair, clearly concerned. “I mean, last we heard from her she said she had to disappear and told me to lie low, but it’s been ages.” She gently bit her bottom lip. “I need to know she’s okay.”

  “Amy’s clever, Tina.” Anthony stood and gently grabbed both of Tina’s hands, looking into her eyes as he spoke. “She has the resources to hide and stay hidden. You don’t need to—”

  “Shit,” Zane said, a hand running through his messy hair. “This is bad.”

  “What?” Draven frowned, his nerves on edge, the instinct that he’d need to punch someone’s teeth in suddenly overwhelming. “What’s going on?”

  “You need to see this.” Zane gestured for them to follow, and after a few tense moments of jogging through the halls, the tiger threw open the door to his suite to reveal a room filled to the brim with monitors and wires. Before Draven could open his mouth to comment, Zane pointed his finger at the dragon and shook his head. “Don’t.”

  “I didn’t say anything.” Draven shrugged sheepishly, though he couldn’t hide his grin.

  Zane tapped a few keys on the nearest keyboard, and a monitor sprang to life, a news broadcast on a
n American news channel. While the woman droned on, talking about something out of context, Draven’s eyes shifted to the one-line summary in the headline below her.

  Eagle dignitary found, Tina Andrews suspected.

  “Shit,” Draven said, both of his hands resting on the top of his head as he just stared at the newscast in disbelief.

  “What …?” Tina gaped in horror. “But how …?”

  “The following footage of the incident is deeply disturbing,” the woman said, tapping her papers on the desk. “Be warned, this is tough to see.”

  With that, the screen cut to blurry security footage of Times Square. The time stamp showed that it was roughly four in the morning, and while the street was fairly quiet, it wasn’t empty. A few groups of people took photos along the sidewalks while taxis sped by, blaring their horns at each other.

  Quick as a whip, a van sped into frame, tires screeching. The back doors swung violently open, and a woman kicked a body out onto the street. A man helped her push him over the edge and grabbed the handles on the door, both of them looking up toward the security camera for a fleeting second before slamming the doors shut as the van sped away.

 

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