Dracones Boxset Books 1-5

by Sheri-Lynn Marean

  Reluctantly and ignoring her betraying body, she left the warehouse and climbed into Sami’s truck. They needed to find Nix.

  “Home then?” Brimstone finally asked after they searched all the places they’d stayed at but to no avail.

  Hellfire nodded, her stomach churning with anxiety. Their childhood home was the last place she wanted to go. Hellfire grew quiet as the horror and guilt from the day they left their home for good consumed her.

  When Sami pulled up outside the two-story ranch house Hellfire shivered. Though the yard needed work, it felt like she’d hardly been gone any time. Climbing from the truck, she stiffened her shoulders. I may not want to be here, but can do this.

  Hellfire pushed the memories of her parents away and studied her old home. Other than the overgrown yard, it looked the same, only sadder. As if it was waiting for its family to walk back in and fill it with love and laughter again. That was something she’d once taken for granted. Now, it was something that was never going to happen, and it was all her fault.

  “I’ll get the door.” Hellfire walked around to the back and gazed around the yard, remembering the barbecues they’d had. She used to play basketball with her dad. Now the basketball net was ragged and tattered, forlorn. Tearing her gaze away, Hellfire walked over to the overgrown rose bush, pushed the dead weeds aside to see a border of rocks—rocks that they had collected from various places on their travels. She toed one of the dirt-covered ones out of the way. Underneath lay the spare key, still hidden five years later.

  Hellfire opened the door, drew in a deep breath for courage and then walked inside and closed the door behind her. The place felt so desolate she instinctively knew Nix was not there. A dirty glass sat on the counter beside Nix’s high school report card. School photos were stuck to the fridge with magnets, along with various other pictures of them all in different places.

  Tearing her gaze away, Hellfire rushed through the dusty kitchen and yet still a memory rose up. It was of them all eating dinner that last night before her parents died. She, Nix, and Angel—her older sister—had cleaned up the kitchen while her parents went out to the living room with their wine. Brimstone and Damnation, had cleaned up the night before so they had both gone to play video games, talking about how they were going to kick each other’s asses.

  Hellfire shoved the memory away and made her way into the living room. She avoided the huge rust colored stain on the carpet and went to open the front door for Brimstone and Sami.

  She tried not to look at everything, but it was impossible. Her dad’s newspaper lay scattered on the couch and carpet, yellowed with time. Her gaze skimmed the chair her mother liked to sit in and spotted the book her mom had been reading on the coffee table. Her chest tightened with guilt.

  “I’ll check down here,” Brimstone said, heading for the main floor bedrooms. Hellfire nodded and walked woodenly up the stairs where she checked each of the bedrooms. They were all empty, dust covered and just as sad as the rest of the place. Finally, she entered her old room. Nostalgia swept her up in its clutches as she thought of how innocent and naive she’d been back then. No, how utterly stupid and arrogant she was.

  Shaking, she’d picked up a framed photo of her whole family at the Oregon coast. It was the last trip they had taken together. They were all dripping wet from horsing around in the water. Hellfire’s mom had asked a stranger who was walking by to take the picture for them.

  Hellfire swallowed at all the happy grins. Nix had been the youngest at fifteen. Hellfire and Brimstone were both nineteen, and their older sibs were twenty-three. None of them had any idea the horror that awaited them, two days after they would arrive back home.

  Hellfire’s hand tightened on the frame as she remembered the nightmare that drove her from her sleep so long ago.

  ***

  Noise drifted up from the main floor. Her mother and father’s voices, meant to warn their children. Some voices she’d never heard but it was the familiar one that drew her to the top of the stairs wearing only her nightgown, giddy with excitement.

  Her parents had forbidden her to see Deacon. They said that he was dangerous and not to be trusted, but they didn’t understand. He loved her and she loved him. At night when everyone went to bed, Hellfire would sneak out and go see her boyfriend. But her family was very close and she hated lying to her parents so finally, when the sneaking around had worn her down, she told Deacon that she couldn’t do it anymore. He’d kissed her, said how much he loved her and that he’d talk to her parents. He promised to make them understand how much they loved each other.

  Hellfire had been impatiently waiting for him to follow through with his promise but nothing could have prepared her for the moment when he did show up. There was nothing she regretted more in her whole life than getting involved with him.

  Eager to see Deacon and make her parents understand, she started down the stairs only to freeze. Fear and horror consumed Hellfire as she stared down at her parents. They were both kneeling on the carpet, hands tied behind their backs. The words her father and mother were shouting didn’t register at first.

  “Run!”

  The betrayal was so sharp she’d been unable to grasp what was happening as the men shot first her mother and then her father in the head. She’d watched them fell, slumped against each other to stare vacantly up the stairs at her. Finally, her older brother grabbed her.

  “Helly, we have to go, now,” he’d hissed at her from behind.

  Hellfire glanced blankly up at him. Four years older than her, tears ran down Damnation’s face at what was happening. Frozen in shock Damn had to forcibly drag her though her bedroom to the balcony.

  “Shift, Helly, shift,” he said frantically as he opened the doors. By some miracle, he got her to change into her Phoenix form and they flew away, following her siblings into the night.

  They’d spent that night in the forest, scared and heartbroken. The next day, Hellfire went to confront her secret boyfriend. A part of her hoped, believed even, that it was all a misunderstanding. Deadly hatred for the man who had lied and betrayed her, filled what was left of her heart.

  Hellfire knew the truth the moment she stepped into Deacon’s room. He’d never loved her, only used her to get to her parents. To this day, she still couldn’t believe how bad a judge of character she’d been. How easily she’d fallen for his lies and allowed herself to be duped by him. Never again, she’d never be so stupid to allow it to happen again. Ever. She didn’t need anyone.

  Chapter Two

  Hot and Sexy

  AS THE GLASS IN THE PICTURE FRAME shattered beneath her hand and fell to the floor, Hellfire snapped back to the present. With a cry, she bent to pick up the pieces just as Sami rushed in.

  “Are you okay?” he’d asked, his eyes widening at the jagged shard embedded in her hand. He bent down to help her. “You’re cut.”

  Hellfire’s heart was thumping in fear and excitement at Sami’s proximity and concern, but she knew better. She could feel the heat in his gaze when he looked at her. She knew what all men wanted. She’d had enough experience with her ex and her horny brothers to know. “I’m fine,” she growled and hating her reaction to him, waved him away. Then she felt bad. He was only trying to help.

  Hellfire winced as she pulled the glass from her hand and then watched it heal. Why was she burning for a complete stranger? Even more, why was she dreaming of him?

  “This was your house?” he asked as he moved away.

  Hellfire tensed up at the question. She’d learned over the years to be cautious with her answers, but then she glanced at the torn photo in her hands and realized there was no point. It was pretty obvious.

  “Yeah,” she answered, setting the broken frame on the nightstand. She sat down on the edge of her bed, weary of it all.

  “Why don’t you guys live here?” Sami asked, surveying her room.

  Hellfire stared at him. He really was toe curling sexy. But she’d had a good-looking boyfriend before and
look where that had gotten her.

  She wanted to ignore him, but just being in the same room with Sami sent fire singing through her veins. Hellfire found herself answering him. “Our parents were murdered downstairs. I saw the Ilyium and ah … when they killed them. My oldest sister had already gotten Nix and Brimstone out.” She glanced to the doors leading out to a small balcony. “But my older brother had to drag me away.”

  “Shit, I’m sorry,” Sami said and she could feel his sincerity.

  Hellfire nodded. “We still own the house, but we never stayed here after that.” Then she looked up at him quizzically with a frown. “You seem like a nice guy.” He seemed like a really nice guy, but she knew better. Still, if she gave him what he wanted, maybe he’d go away and leave her alone.

  Sami shook his head and snorted.

  “What?” Hellfire asked, surprised at his reaction.

  Sami shrugged. “Nothing.”

  Now she had to know. “Tell me.”

  Sami looked at her and Hellfire wondered if he was going to answer.

  “Nothing,” he finally said and Hellfire remembered why she needed to keep her distance from him.

  “Yeah, I know. You’re a cold-blooded killer.” She wanted to smirk at the shock on his face. It would have been funny if it hadn’t been so serious. No matter how attracted to him she was, she refused to put any of her siblings’ lives in danger and that was exactly what would happen if she didn’t watch herself.

  Damn, it didn’t help that she was drawn to this sexy male in front of her. No one had ever affected her this way. What was it about Sami that made her want to crawl all over him? Touch and taste every inch of him. Stop! Shit—fuck…yeah, fuck him. Hellfire almost groaned at the direction her thoughts had taken.

  Sami blinked at her. He seemed so … normal. Her next words fell out of her mouth, and Hellfire had no idea why. “Anyway, besides that you just seem, I don’t know … nice. Good. How can that be?”

  Again, Sami shook his head. “Well, you’re wrong.”

  “Why don’t I believe you?” Hellfire had never felt so in tune with anyone before, and sensed there was a lot more to Sami. She shivered, wishing for just one little taste. Just to see if it would quench the thirst inside her. Surely, one wouldn’t hurt, would it?

  Sami shrugged and turned to leave, and though she should have been relieved, suddenly, she didn’t want him to go. “What are you doing here, Sami?” she’d asked instead, breathless at the emotions he stirred up inside of her.

  Sami turned back and leaned his six plus foot body up against the wall.

  Hellfire sauntered up close, staring into his green eyes. She just wanted to kiss him, even if it was insanity. Yet as their lips touched, the fire inside her became an inferno. They quickly shed their clothing.

  Never one to have random sex with a virtual stranger, there she was doing it up against the wall of her old bedroom.

  “Faster, harder,” she urged, then a strange magic took over. Hellfire had never ever experienced anything like it. How he affected her, and the magic, although strange, was also intoxicating. Heady. Miraculous actually.

  A faint noise up on the roof suddenly snapped Hellfire back to reality and a brutal memory sent dread shivering through her. It was of a head rolling on the ground. She could still smell the blood as Deacon kept his vow to her. A reminder of what he’d do to anyone she got close to, and she’d only gone for supper with the last guy she’d been stupid enough to try to date. He’d been an innocent and yet Deacon still murdered him. What would Deacon do if he found out she’d been with Sami?

  For some reason, even despite her dream, she couldn’t let anything happen to this sexy male in front of her. She’d rather die.

  Well, that was a given, if her recent dream came true, and they always did.

  Ugh! Stop! What was she thinking? No matter what, she knew better than to let her guard down. Disgusted at her weakness, anger and guilt flooded her system. You know better, Sami is dangerous. Those you love will die if you don’t stop.

  Beyond angry with herself, Hellfire glared at Sami. “There, you got what you came for, now leave me alone.” She should never have let things go so far.

  Hellfire steeled herself against the raw anguish on Sami’s face. It felt like she was ripping her own heart out.

  Yeah, like you have a heart …

  She ignored Sami and opening the door to her balcony, hurried outside.

  Recriminations flooded her as she shifted and flew away. It’s just sex, she tried to tell herself in defense.

  It was more than just sex, and you know it!

  It didn’t matter what her heart wanted, the voice of reason was right. Sami was a distraction, and one she couldn’t afford. All that mattered was finding Nix. Her sister needed her. Her whole family needed her. She had only been gone for a day when she’d been thrown into the fire, but still everything had fallen apart. Her brother was taken, and then her baby sister disappeared. She needed to get over Sami.

  As she flew away from her home for the second time, Hellfire fought the urge to cry. Even after all that Deacon had done to her, she hadn’t cried. No, back then she’d only lay broken and bleeding, in mindless agony, wishing for death.

  Although for some reason, leaving Sami felt like the biggest mistake of her life. Yet wasn’t protecting herself and her siblings worth any mistake? Her family couldn’t lose another member. They wouldn’t survive it. So how could that be a mistake?

  You will always be alone, get used to it.

  A sob tore from her throat at the wave of intense longing for a life she could never have. All she’d ever wanted was a home, a man to love, kids. Hellfire shook her head and pushed the stupid ideas from her mind. Dreams! I don’t deserve any of it.

  ***

  Hellfire thought she made a clean break until she walked into Club Purgatori a short time later. Shit. She groaned and felt like kicking herself. What the hell is Sami doing here? Here I tell him to get lost then I show up in the same club he’s at? He’s going to think I’m a certifiable stalker.

  She shivered at the pain burning in Sami’s eyes as if it pierced her soul. She hated how she had treated him and wanted nothing more than to go to him, apologize, and beg his forgiveness. Wait! What? No, never. She never wanted someone that way again. She couldn’t. No matter how much she ached to climb into his lap and feel his lips on hers once again. Feel his hands on her body …

  No. Stop it! What the hell is wrong with me?

  She turned away, remembering why she was at Club Purgatori. Brimstone mentioned hearing a female Phoenix had been in the club around the same time he’d been taken. Hellfire needed to check it out. Besides her family, there were only about fifty other Phoenixes in Spokane, and she knew most of them.

  She had already contacted Nera, the head of Deacon’s flight of deadly Ninja Phoenixes. A kill squad. Nera had fought her way, claw and blade to the top of the ranks. Hellfire always wondered if it was by choice. Deacon had bullied all of the surrounding flocks into joining his gang. Only Hellfire’s parents had held out on him. Then he had them killed. Now, she knew that everything he did was nefarious. Five years ago, she hadn’t understood that.

  Hellfire hadn’t talked to Nera since the woman saved her life and calling Nera now was dangerous for both of them. Luckily, Nera had been the one to answer her phone. She wasn’t always. Sometimes others, Deacon included, answered Nera’s phone. Hellfire didn’t even want to guess what might be happening to Nera that she was unable to answer herself. With Deacon, it was never good.

  Nera hadn’t seen Nix.

  “No, I take it she’s missing?” Nera asked.

  “Yeah. Are there any new Phoenix’s in town?” Hellfire asked.

  “Not that I’m aware of,” Nera answered, then aware of how worried Hellfire was, she quietly asked others in the gang if any of them had seen Nix. It was a big fat no.

  Hellfire sighed. Either there was a new Phoenix in town or it had been Nix in the club. I
f she’d been snatched as well … No, she couldn’t even contemplate that last idea. It was too terrifying to imagine.

  The memory of Deacon’s betrayal rose up strong in her mind and Hellfire had to push the panic away. Whether he took her sister, or it was this Val Jean character, either scenario didn’t bode well for Nix. Hellfire shivered. She had no idea what the Nightwalker would want with her sister but she knew all too well what Deacon wanted. The twisted fucker liked to hurt others, her especially. He wanted Hellfire to pay, suffer for being the one to escape … and if it meant hurting her sister to do so, he wouldn’t hesitate.

  The thought of Deacon putting his vicious hands on Nix made Hellfire’s stomach churn and it was too much. He just couldn’t have her. There had to be another reason for her sister’s disappearance. Not understanding why Nix might set foot in the club, Hellfire needed to check it out anyway. She needed to know for sure but still, she wished Brimstone come instead.

  Hellfire surveyed everyone in the club, annoyed at the itch that burned in her. It drew her to Sami like the pull from a super-sized magnet. Why the hell is he even here? Did he follow me and slip inside before I could? Okay, now I’m being ridiculous! Whatever the reason, she wished he’d just go away already, before her willpower dissolved. The feel of his eyes boring into her caused horrible guilt.

  I can do this, just don’t look at him. Strengthening her resolve, she headed over to the bar.

  “What can I getcha?” the young bartender asked with a smile. He looked around twenty-five, and was completely human.

  “Tequila on the rocks,” Hellfire said, needing it and more as she felt Sami’s eyes drilling into her back. She tried not to squirm. After downing the whole drink in one hard swallow, Hellfire looked at the bartender. “You here every day?”