Dracones Boxset Books 1-5

by Sheri-Lynn Marean

  “Thank you,” Jax whispered, dipping his face into her neck and inhaling her scent. “Let’s go home,” he said and Sami chuckled at them.

  As upside down as his emotions and feelings were, he was still glad that they had finally figured their shit out. Now, he walked in front of them to the house.

  “Who is she?” Tierney asked Jax, but Sami heard her question.

  “She’s my sister,” Sami said without thinking as he glanced around the yard.

  A strange feeling as if someone was watching them rushed over him once again but he knew that Serena couldn’t have followed them here. Then he remembered where he was. I am so bloody losing it! Of course, someone is watching. Wolves trying to keep us safe surround us. Only his senses told him this was different. It felt like the same fierce need for his mate, for Hellfire that he felt in the sky. This is bullshit. I so don’t need this right now. I need to get over that bitch.

  Pissed at his thoughts, Sami shoved the need away and strode to the house.

  Sami could feel Tierney’s eyes drilling into his back with questions. “His sister?”

  “Yeah, and he may have a brother named Daryell, as well. Somewhere,” Jax replied.

  “Holy fuck, Jax.”

  “Exactly,” Jax said. “Damn Tiern. I really missed you. It’s been a very long few days.”

  “I missed you too,” Tierney told him and Sami could imagine the love in her eyes as she looked up at Jax.

  Sami groaned, aching for that same love. He needed to see Goldy.

  “You…you’re my b-brother?” the girl in his arms asked, looking up at Sami with large eyes, her pupils once again slits. Sami swallowed and nodded.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to tell you that way…”

  “Dimitina,” she whispered.

  “Excuse me?” Sami frowned, not sure what she was saying.

  The girl smiled and even amid the grime and dried tear tracks, she was beautiful. “My name, it’s Dimitina. I’m really glad you found me.”

  Sami smiled down at her. “Me too.”

  After they got Dimitina a change of clothing and settled into one of the rooms, Sami wandered out to the great room where Bastien was trying to teach Thaniel how to play Mario Kart on the Wii. Thaniel watched quietly but didn’t participate. Goldy sat watching them until she spotted Sami.

  “Hey, how are you doing?” she asked, jumping up and coming over to him. Sami shrugged, feeling emotionally weary and overwhelmed.

  “You must be tired,” she said and put her arms around him, giving him a hug.

  “I am.” Although he ached for Hellfire, Goldy’s arms around him, and having someone care about him, felt wonderful.

  “Will you stay with me tonight?” he asked quietly, rewarded when Goldy gave him a big smile, and a squeeze.

  “Of course,” she said. After saying goodnight to Bastien and Thaniel, they went upstairs.

  “Are you okay?” she asked when they closed the door to his room. Again, he shrugged. He wasn’t, but didn’t want to talk about it. “C’mere Sami,” Goldy said and pulled him over to the bed. Sensing his mood, she slipped her jeans off and left her T-shirt on, then she helped him undress and pulling back the covers, she climbed in. When he slid into bed, Goldy wrapped her arms around him and held him close.

  “Thank you,” he said and turned towards her.

  “I know a lot has happened, but, I’m here for you Sami,” she said. Sami’s emotions were beginning to catch up to him as he thought back over the last week.

  A lot had happened, but they had come through it. Now he had a sister, possibly another brother somewhere, and a beautiful woman who seemed to care about him. Sami knew he should be grateful and he was, but a part of him still yearned for what he couldn’t have. Get over it buddy! You are damn lucky that this sweet, kind woman wants you.

  Pushing thoughts of Hellfire from his mind, Sami snuggled in against Goldy and inhaled her sweet fragrance. He thought about what Jax had said to him just a little while ago about forgiving himself. But he didn’t know if he’d ever be able to do that. He pushed the worries away and leaned close to Goldy. A moment later, their lips met. Sami relaxed and let himself savor her sweetness, and let everything else go as Goldy ran her hands over him. He savored the feel of her skin next to his as he slipped inside of her. They made slow, gentle love and Sami could feel a tiny part of his soul filling with light as if willing to let someone who wasn’t his mate in. Later, he lay with his head on her smooth belly, listening to the sounds of life inside of her. Feeling Goldy run her fingers through his hair, before long, Sami was asleep.

  ***

  GOLDY STOOD ON THE BALCONY overlooking the lake and mountains the next afternoon. It is so incredibly beautiful here. Then, her smile suddenly died as she thought about the reason she’d come here. A vision of her mother’s sweet smile filled her mind, making her sad. I miss you, mom.

  The sound of voices drifted to her, and she turned in their direction. It was Bastien hiking up a trail with Kyrian, who was teaching him how to build shields. At first, the idea of her brother even stepping foot outside terrified her but Tierney and Kyrian both assured her that he’d be fine.

  They had enough wolves on watch duty that nothing could happen to him. Goldy prayed they were right. She couldn’t bear it if something happened to her brother as well. Bastien seemed to be adjusting somewhat, although he alternated from liking her to hating her. She couldn’t and didn’t blame him for that. She only wished Summer could have known her son, and Bastien his mother.

  With a heavy heart, she turned away and caught movement from the corner of her eye. Turning back around, she studied the trees and brush but didn’t see anything. She was about to turn away again when she saw a definite shift in the foliage. I did see something! Heart pounding, she glanced inside thinking she should tell someone. Tierney and Jax had gone into the city earlier on some kind of errand. They said they’d be back in a few hours, and Sami was up in his room, doing computer stuff.

  Goldy spun back around when a faint yell caught her attention. Was that Bastien? Are those goons back, trying to take him? I will fry their asses if they are.

  “Bastien?” she called out as she hurried down the staircase and rushed up the trail she had seen Bastien and Kyrian take earlier.

  ***

  SAMI, BUSY TRYING to locate Val Jean’s hiding place, almost missed seeing the two guys hiding in the woods on his monitors. He was used to seeing fleeting movement as the wolves moved about, but now something made him glance back. A shiver ran up his spine and he froze. No way! It couldn’t be, but it was. Marcius was back.

  What the hell? It looked like he was trying to approach the house. Sami watched as three of Kyrian’s wolves headed him off. Man, the guy was a sucker for punishment. Heart pounding, Sami grinned at the thought that he’d finally get the chance to end his father’s life once and for all.

  “Sami, we have a problem. There are men on the property,” Kyrian informed him.

  “I know, keep an eye on him, but don’t do anything. I’m heading out, he’s mine.”

  “Which one, there are three of them?”

  Three? Sami’s gaze swept all the monitors and another shiver of fear rushed down his spine. Goldy had been on the balcony earlier. She had asked Sami to join her, but when he woke up this morning the feeling of guilt for leading her on had made him decline her offer. Instead, he stayed holed up in his room with work as an excuse. Now as he looked for her, he regretted that decision. Where is she now? Gods, if Marcius gets a hold of her again.

  Then another thought entered his head. Was Marcius after Goldy or Dimitina? Dimitina was safe in the house as long as the wolves kept Marcius away.

  He scanned all the monitors of the outside, but didn’t see Goldy. Damn, what an idiot I am. If he hadn’t been moping over his feelings for Hellfire, he would have realized how lucky he really was to have another chance with someone so wonderful. Why did it take until now to understand that? Maybe fate hadn’t be
en fucking with him. Maybe they gave him Goldy because of Hellfire not wanting him.

  Furious with himself, and with hate for Marcius pumping through his veins, Sami ran through the house. He almost slammed into Genna munching on some raw garlic scapes like they were some kind of green licorice, as he rushed into the kitchen. He stopped. “Have you seen Goldy?”

  “Yeah, she’s outside. Saw her heading up the trail calling that punk little brother of hers. Why?”

  “Shit. Marcius is back,” he said as he stepped around Genna and hurried through the kitchen. Genna tossed the rest of the garlic scapes on the counter and followed him to the mudroom.

  “I told you that dirty little weenie needs to die,” Genna growled making Sami glance back at her.

  “Genna, please, stay here. Someone needs to protect everyone in the house.”

  Genna’s glowing eyes flashed with a ring of red and she huffed, letting out a thin plume of steam. “I never get to have any fun anymore. The fire in my hands is going to dry up if I don’t fry someone with it soon. This sucks!”

  Sami raised his eyebrows and she grinned, the red glow fading from her eyes, leaving the dark blue that was so eerily like Jax’s when he became angry or emotional.

  “Genna—”

  “Okay, fine. I’ll stick them in some cold water, besides I do need to protect Caden. But don’t let little weenie take my pretty sister-cousin or…”

  Sami would have laughed if he weren’t so pissed. Genna was such a contradiction.

  “Thanks Genna,” Sami said and hurried outside where he glanced around before heading up the trail to where he had last seen Marcius. He was halfway there when Kyrian’s voice filled his head.

  “We had them cornered, but they shot at my wolves.”

  “Shit, is everyone okay?” Sami asked, horrified. He knew that with all the recent attacks Kyrian had lost some of his best warrior wolves and couldn’t afford to lose any more of his pack.

  “They will be fine, but the two Daywalkers took Goldy. They’re heading down towards the highway. The other guy, the Fallen that I believe is your father—Marcius—he took off down the valley towards that little cut-off road a mile away.”

  “Damnit! Where is Bastien?” Sami asked, slowing as he tried to decide which way to go.

  “He is here with me. He’s safe,” Kyrian said and Sami let out a breath of relief.

  “What are you going to do, Sami?” Kyrian asked and it was a good question. If he went after Marcius and finally killed that bastard, like he deserved and like Sami craved, then the Daywalkers would get away with Goldy. But if he went after Goldy, then Marcius would get away—again. Shit! He just couldn’t seem to win.

  “Do you have anyone close by to intercept the Daywalkers?” he asked Kyrian, fearing he knew what the answer would be.

  “No.”

  Double damn! “What about Marcius, is there anyone near him?”

  “Again, I am sorry, but no.”

  Shit. The idea of Marcius getting away again made him beyond sick, but the thought of losing Goldy filled him with a different kind of panic. Suddenly he knew—he couldn’t lose her. She was the only bright thing in his miserable life. Why did it take until now to realize how much she meant to him? Fuck!

  Sami stopped running. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and then tried to shift into his dragon. Nothing happened. What the hell? Okay, just chill. Breathe.

  After taking a few more calming breaths and knowing what he was going to do, he drew on his power and shifted into his dragon, kicking himself for not thinking of it as soon as he got outside. But his mind had been too fucked up to shift then either. With a last look in the direction that Kyrian said Marcius was heading, he shot into the air and turned the other way. No matter how badly he wanted to make Marcius pay, he couldn’t do it at Goldy’s expense.

  Sami spotted the two Daywalkers and Goldy a few seconds later. Goldy was struggling against the men.

  “Change, shift into your dragon,” he called to her telepathically, but either she didn’t hear him or her shields were up. As he got closer, Sami watched one of the Daywalkers hit her in the face with the butt of his weapon. Rage clouded his vision as Goldy’s head snapped around and she dropped to the ground. Sami let out a furious roar, calling for blood. Just then, Jax’s voice filled his head.

  “Genna called us, told us what was happening. We’re almost there.”

  “Yeah, don’t think you’re going to make it in time,” Sami said, fury and hate filling him. He could feel his power swirling angrily around him. The two Daywalkers had stopped and looked up when he roared. One of them picked up Goldy and slung her over his shoulder and then they were running—fast.

  Sami swooped around and a few seconds later, he began to descend, making the two Daywalkers pull up sharply. Using his wings, Sami stirred up a cloud of dust and dirt, pelting them as he landed, glad that Goldy’s head was hidden behind the guy’s back. The other Daywalker, the one who had hit Goldy, raised his gun, and emptied his clip at Sami. Bullets pinged off him and if he could have, Sami would have grinned at the shock and fear on their faces.

  Yeah, you should be scared. You’re about to become toast!

  The Daywalker holding Goldy shoved her off his shoulder. She hit the ground hard.

  Sami’s volatile mood spiked at the sound of her head smacking into a large rock. That Asshole! Sami roared but Goldy didn’t so much as move.

  “Goldy,” he yelled telepathically but she didn’t respond. No. She has to be okay.

  With his dragon heart racing, Sami let out another loud roar and fire shot from his mouth. He aimed at the two fleeing Daywalkers and watched them catch fire. Their screams lasted only a second before they turned to ash and crispy clothing.

  Sami shifted back into human form and dropped to his knees beside Goldy’s still form. “Goldy, are you okay? Wake up, please tell me you’re okay.”

  Sami gently pulled her into his arms. Blood poured from a wound at the back of her head and a dark bruise covered the side of her face where she’d been hit. No. No. No. He cried and felt for a pulse. He let out a sigh of relief when he found it, faint though it was. Oh, thank the gods.

  With her cradled in his arms, Sami stood and began to walk home.

  “Sami, I’m close to Marcius, what do you want me to do with him?” Soroyan’s gruff voice filled his head.

  Sami glanced down at Goldy’s bruised and dirty tear-streaked face. The bruise was already fading. Although he had panicked at first, he was pretty sure she’d be fine. They were immortal after all, and other than knocked out, she didn’t have any other wounds, and head wounds were notorious bleeders. So, while he knew rationally that he could take her home and someone would take care of her, he also knew he couldn’t leave her. He wouldn’t leave her. He had chosen her over Marcius and the bastard could rot in hell. Jax was right. He wouldn’t lose another second worrying over the guy.

  “I need information from him on where my half-brother, Daryell is, and you might want to find out what he knows about Toren. After that, I don’t care, just make sure he dies, preferably in a lot of pain,” he told Soroyan.

  Once back at the house, as Sami gently eased Goldy down onto the couch, her eyes fluttered and then opened. When she saw Sami kneeling on the floor hovering over her, she smiled at him. “Sami. You came after me. You found me.”

  Sami felt bad at the surprise in her voice. He nodded and wiped at his eyes. “Of course, I did. I couldn’t let them take you. You mean to much to me.”

  Goldy smiled then a shadow crossed her face and her hand went to her stomach. Sami thought she was either worried about the baby or thought he was only worried about the baby. When she spoke, she confirmed the latter.

  “I thought you’d go after Marcius,” she said then winced as she tried to sit up. Sami helped her to sit and slid a pillow behind her back.

  “Is that better?”

  She nodded and he watched her, then for the first time, he was suddenly worr
ied for the baby. “Do you think he, or she is okay?” he asked guiltily.

  Goldy smiled and rubbed her still flat belly some more. “I’m sure he or she is fine, but…” She frowned up at him. “What’s wrong, you look upset?”

  Sami shook his head. “I’m sorry, it’s just, well, I totally forgot about the baby,” he said, looking ashamed. Goldy’s face seemed to light up for a moment and she gave him a tentative smile then frowned.

  “Is Bastien okay, what happened to Marcius?”

  “Your brother is fine and as for my father, well, Soroyan is taking care of him for us. He’s not worth my time anymore.”

  Just then, Tierney and Jax rushed into the room.

  “Oh good, you’re all okay.” Tierney breathed in relief.

  Sami smiled at Goldy’s surprise when Tierney pulled her into a hug. “Are you hurt? How’s the baby?” Tierney asked and Goldy chuckled.

  “We’re both fine.”

  With one last pat on the back, Tierney released Goldy, and turned to Sami, “You. Are you okay?”

  Sami gave a little nod and allowed Tierney to wrap her arms around him, giving him a huge relieved hug as well. “I was so fucking scared when Genna told us what was happening!”

  “Speak of the devil,” Jax said, patting Sami on the shoulder as Genna walked in and looked at all of them.

  “I heard you, little brother,” she said with a fiery glare.

  Jax frowned at her. “I’m older than you, so I’d be your older brother.”

  Genna shook her head. “Age doesn’t matter. I’m made of Magic and can do more cool things than you, so that makes me older.”

  Jax blinked and shook his head. “Well, you hatched after I was born, so to me you are my little sister!”

  Genna growled at him then she grinned. “I may have hatched after you were born but I was conceived hundreds of years before you, so there!”

  Jax snorted and rolled his eyes, while Tierney grinned. Genna turned to Goldy who had been watching them and listening with amusement. “And, my sister-cousin is two-years older than me.”