Dracones Boxset Books 1-5

by Sheri-Lynn Marean

Sami blinked. No. She couldn’t die. He wasn’t ready for that. Then he remembered something else he wanted to ask Sasha.

  “Wait,” he said, stopping her. “I meant to ask, you checked out my sister, Dimitina, last night.”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, I know you said that physically she was fine, but, she hasn’t spoken a word to anyone since she arrived and told me her name. I’m just—” Sami ran a hand through his hair and shrugged. “I don’t know what to do, how to help her.”

  Sasha’s gaze softened on him. “She needs time, peace and quiet to heal.”

  “Oh. Okay.” Sami nodded, wishing for some way he could help his sister. “Well, I know we share a father, making her part Fallen and part Dracones, but do you have any idea what else she is?” he asked, remembering how the pupils in Dimitina’s eyes had become vertical slits briefly the night before.

  Sasha shook her head. “No, I’m sorry.” She looked like she was going to say more, but instead she just turned away.

  Sami turned his attention back to Hellfire. He felt pulled in so many different directions. At least physically, his sister was okay. Mentally, he didn’t know if she would ever be all right, not after how his father had hurt her. Just look at him and his brother. Both he and Jax were a mess due to their father.

  Don’t go there!

  Sami stared at Hellfire, terrified she’d stop breathing. She looked so tiny in his huge bed. His eyes drew up to the chunk of pink in her black hair. Really? He wouldn’t have thought she’d be the type to dye her hair pink, although it was kinda cute.

  As he devoured her with his eyes, Sami wondered what happened when she went into that room with the Were-cat. Had she changed her mind and the cat got angry then tried to rape her? Oh gods, what if he had, and Sami had been sitting mere feet away while she fought for her life? The familiar guilt that he hadn’t felt in days began to resurface.

  “How is she doing?” a voice asked, startling him.

  Sami hadn’t even heard Goldy come in. Shit, Goldy. Guilt flooded him as he realized he’d forgotten all about her.

  Goldy gave him a gentle smile but he could still see the hurt in her eyes.

  “Ah, she’s ah, she’s not good. Sasha said if she lives until morning—” Sami looked away from her all too knowing gaze as more guilt swamped him. He focused back on Hellfire and he felt Goldy lay her hand on his shoulder, and squeeze.

  “She’ll be okay, Sami.”

  He fought to keep his emotions from exploding and nodded his head. “Yeah, she’s tough.”

  “I’ll leave you alone, unless—” Goldy hesitated but he knew what she was offering.

  Sami nodded. “I’ll see you later.”

  He hated to hurt Goldy but he needed to be alone with Hellfire, and with his emotions.

  He pulled the cover back and glanced at Hellfire’s wound. It was still healing. Then he looked at the scars all over her. What the hell had happened to her? Consumed with hatred for whoever had hurt her so badly, Sami covered her back up. Guilt and anger surged within him, wanting out. If only he hadn’t had his head up his ass, he might have sensed what was happening with her that night at the club. He might have been able to help. Instead, he had let her down and now he’d let Goldy down as well, and he had no idea how to fix any of it.

  Familiar black spots began to form in front of his eyes and he struggled to breathe. Gods, he’d thought his confession to Jax about what their father, Marcius, had done when they were younger, had fixed his problem. It obviously hadn’t.

  No, not now, please.

  He tried to will away the pain and guilt but it wasn’t going anywhere and instead grew worse. Still new to his Dracones power along with the anger and guilt he’d held inside for so many years, it was no wonder it hadn’t just disappeared.

  Sami grabbed his knife off the bedside table and closing his eyes, took a deep breath. He hated doing this, but at least Hellfire was asleep and no one else was around. He started to shake as he tried to fight it, to hold it back but the guilt was all consuming, and only one thing would help right now. Sami swiped the blade across his forearm and the external pain cut through the internal, offering some relief. It wasn’t enough though. He started to swipe again, when he heard a voice softly say his name. It was like music to his soul.

  Sami shivered and his eyes flew open to see Hellfire staring at him, silver eyes glowing. Sami froze as horror and shame filled him—ramping up the guilt. No! Oh shit, he hadn’t wanted her to see him doing this to himself.

  His trembling increased and power began to sizzle around him. Even his dragon was screaming inside. He needed to cut himself again before something bad happened. He started to swipe the knife across his arm once again when Hellfire’s hand closed around his, stopping him. If he’d been standing, Sami would have fallen to his knees. His soul felt exposed, wide open for whatever she chose to deal him. Then a soothing calm began to fill him. His shaking slowed and Sami sucked in a deep breath. All of his guilt, pain, just dissolved into nothingness. A sweet calm filled him that left him wanting to weep with relief.

  “Samarias, don’t hurt yourself,” she whispered and her eyelids slid closed again.

  Sami sat perfectly still, waiting for her to remove her hand. She didn’t. His heart beat erratically as he thought about what had just happened. Shame filled him that she’d witnessed his depravity, but he couldn’t bring himself to move away, or stop staring at her. He’d been wrong about what she did at Club Purgatori, but it still didn’t change the fact that she told him to get lost. She wasn’t interested in being with him. She’d made that crystal clear. Sami sucked in an agonized breath. Hellfire coming here had only been to ask for his help, not because she had changed her mind about him.

  Chapter Six

  Obsession

  AMELIS TUCKED A STRAY STRAND of red hair back behind her ear. She was surprised that Val Jean, the narcissistic King of the Walkers, had summoned her. It had only been a week since she last saw him—since he’d fucked her then called on his golden pet Were-tiger, Seville, to fuck her too.

  A flutter began in her belly at the thought of the passionate sex with the Were-tiger that had blown her mind. How had Seville managed to make her come when Val’s Nightwalker compulsion had forbidden her from orgasming with anyone but him?

  She refocused on Val Jean’s arrogant hazel eyes again. He was handsomely beautiful with long bronze hair and pale porcelain skin. Although he had a fine sculpted body, he no longer held the same appeal that he had the last time she’d seen him. In the past, he had refused to see her but once a month, but now he wanted something from her. She tried to stand still and not fidget under his shrewd gaze.

  “Have you heard anything from your people in Tartaria about the Phoenix girl yet?” he asked, leaning back in his chair and staring at her while his servants cleared his dishes off the table. He made her feel as if she were under a microscope.

  She hated being at Val Jean’s Night and Daywalker stronghold. However, since her two main bases of operations; the Liberty Lake compound, and the mine had been compromised, she didn’t have much choice.

  Amelis shook her head. “Nothing yet, but I will,” she said with an air of confidence she honestly didn’t feel.

  “Daddy,” Serena, Amelis and Val’s twenty-four-year old daughter whined, trying to get her father’s attention. Val Jean ignored Serena, not taking his gaze from Amelis.

  “What was her name again? Nim? No, Nix,” he said, with a triumphant gleam in his eyes.

  Amelis shuddered as she imagined him bedding the young virgin Phoenix. Before, the idea would have sent jealousy rushing through her, but ever since Seville…now she couldn’t bring herself to care about Val anymore. Oh sure, she still needed him, that hadn’t changed, though she wished it had. How wonderful it would be to be free of Val’s compulsion over her. Free to fuck and finally orgasm with anyone she wanted, and then her thoughts shifted to the hot, sexy Seville and her mouth began to water.

  “Yes, Nix,�
�� Val said, licking his lips in anticipation. Then he narrowed his gaze on her once again. “You had better follow through if you want me to give you your freedom,” he said, and the look in his eyes let her know what would happen if she failed. “Though why you want to be free of me has me curious.”

  Amelis bit her cheek to keep from saying something she’d regret. Instead, she ignored his last comment and just nodded. “I should be hearing from them anytime now,” she said, referring to her people, the Ilyium druid witches in Tartaria.

  She knew Val Jean would still try to find a way to keep her. He hated to let any of his pets go, much less lose control over her. In fact, she’d been surprised he had even agreed to the deal. But in the end, he knew it was too good of a deal to say no. He didn’t have anyone else who could get him what he wanted.

  Somewhat at ease now, she glanced around and wondered where the Were-tiger had gone. Seville wasn’t in his usual spot in the middle of the floor.

  “Daddy,” Serena shouted again, interrupting them. She tossed her napkin on the table as she pushed her plate away, eyes flashing in irritation.

  Val Jean turned to her at last and Serena ran her hand over her perfect, long dark locks and smiled, shooting Amelis a smug look. “What is it, my dear?” Val asked, making Amelis want to roll her eyes.

  “Please Daddy, Marcius should’ve been back by now, I need to find him.”

  “What do you see in that sniveling idiot?” Val asked her, wiping his lips with his napkin.

  “Daddy!” Serena glared at him.

  Val grinned. “He’s been nothing but trouble.” He sighed at the pout on Serena’s face.

  “Please. I just need to borrow Taraven for a little bit in order to find him,” Serena whined.

  Val Jean frowned as if he wanted to say more, then decided against it. Instead he barked at one of his servants. “Fetch the boy, now.”

  “Thank you, Daddy,” Serena said jumping up from where she sat, and wrapping her arms around her father, she gave him a kiss on the lips. “I love you so much!” Her dark eyes gleamed with happiness now that she had what she wanted.

  Amelis felt ill at what her daughter had become under her father’s care. Leaving them to their sickening display, she slipped from the room planning to wander past Seville’s quarters in case he was there.

  “Master,” Samuels said from behind her, making Amelis flinch. After her recent meeting with Val Jean, she was still a little jumpy. Still, Val hadn’t yet figured out she was pregnant, which was a very good thing. She absently rubbed her belly, then realizing what she was doing, let her arm drop to her side.

  She never knew if Samuels was mocking her or not, and while that wasn’t something she’d ever take from any of her minions, Samuels was different. He wasn’t someone she ever wanted to cross. There was just something about him that warned her to leave it alone. She glanced around nonchalantly, trying to act cool and hoped no one else had seen her lurking near Seville’s quarters.

  “What is it, Samuels?” she snapped for his timing couldn’t have been any worse.

  “I just thought you might like to know that the Were-wolves are no longer cooperating,” he said.

  Amelis frowned and shook her head. “Fine, whatever. They served their purpose, let them do what they want.” She had more pressing matters than worrying about mule headed Were-wolves.

  “Very well. It is probably better this way. It seems they are planning a raid on the Dracones to retrieve one of their pack, along with a Were-leopard,” Samuels said.

  Hearing of their plan perked her attention. “Wait. What? They found where the Dracones are living?”

  None of her minions had told her this bit of information. She’d need to do something about that. Just thinking of her minions immediately started her thinking about her next fix. She needed to get to her room. She still had some of Zander’s blood left. One shot should do it.

  “—was wondering if you had heard from your people in Tartaria, whether they caught the Dos-Phoenix,” Samuels was talking and it took her a moment to understand what he was asking since her mind had wandered.

  Amelis frowned, wondering why everyone suddenly cared about the Phoenix girl, but the sound of approaching footsteps distracted her. She glanced about nervously. “No, I haven’t heard a thing.” The footsteps grew louder. Ugh, everywhere she turned were people she couldn’t trust. Oops, not people, walkers. She almost smiled as she imagined Val’s ire at her calling them people. Then she thought of all of Val’s spies and imagined them all watching her.

  Three Daywalkers turned the corner.

  “Come,” she hissed to Samuels and began to walk away. It wouldn’t do for any of Val Jean’s people to think she was stalking Seville. With no love for her, they would tell Val immediately and she couldn’t have that. If Val found out, there was no telling what he’d do. His idea of punishment was extremely twisted and she’d had enough lately to last for the rest of her life. Although, the last punishment hadn’t turned out quite so bad after all.

  Ah, Seville …

  Amelis had asked Seville how he had given her an orgasm, but he had refused to tell her. In fact, the one time she cornered him, he’d hardly spoken with her at all. Now, as she and Samuels turned a corner, she gasped when she ran into what seemed like a solid wall. It was Seville’s wonderfully muscled chest.

  By all that’s holy, it’s him. The memory of how he’d made her feel, how he’d held her after, made her breathing speed up.

  Seville steadied her. “Are you okay?” His soft, shivery voice made her toes curl.

  “Yes, I am,” she said, completely forgetting Samuels was standing there. She licked her lips, eyes riveted on the Were-tiger. “Seville,” she whispered then cleared her throat as the Daywalkers behind her walked on past, giving them all an annoyed glance.

  Seville’s gaze raked her then he glanced at Samuels before pinning her with his golden-eyed stare once again.

  “I need to talk to you,” Amelis said, trying to act like it was all business.

  “Yes?” Seville said with no expression.

  Aware of Samuels beside her, Amelis shook her head. “Not here. Meet me where we last spoke, in half an hour.” Then she continued past him with Samuels beside her.

  Samuels showed no reaction to what had just happened. Not fully Ilyium, he was a man of very few words. She’d often wondered exactly where his loyalties did lie.

  “I want to know exactly where the Weres are going and when,” she said.

  Samuels nodded. “I will see what I can find out.” With a slight incline of his head, he turned and walked away. Amelis watched him for a moment before hurrying to her room.

  After fortifying herself with more of Zander’s blood, Amelis lay back on her bed, reliving in detail her all too brief time with Seville. Oh how she wanted him, but right now, she needed information even more than sex. Sitting up, she adjusted her hair and clothes and left her room wondering if he’d meet her. He’d wanted nothing to do with her the last time she sneaked into his room.

  Amelis glanced both ways down the hall before letting herself into Seville’s room for the second time in a few days.

  “Seville?” she whispered as she shut the door behind her.

  The room was dimly lit with only a bedside table lamp on.

  “What is it you want, Amelis?” Seville asked standing up from where he sat on the edge of his bed. Just the sight of him gave her pause. Knowing what he was capable of and what he looked like without clothes almost had her drooling.

  “Ah, I—” She moved closer, wanting to run her hands all over him.

  “Amelis?” Seville said his voice a little harsher.

  Amelis sucked in a breath. Focus, Damnit. She tore her eyes from his chest and met his molten-eyed gaze. That didn’t help. He was so yummy and he always seemed to capture her, like deer caught in the headlights, making it difficult to move. She felt like she was drowning in honey, the sweetness slipping over her, covering her body in a caress.
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  “I just wanted to talk to you about what happened the other day,” she said, stepping even closer. Seville didn’t say a word as she gazed up at him. “You know, about how you—we— You gave me an orgasm. After Val’s compulsion prevented me from having one. How? How did you do that?” she asked breathlessly.

  Seville let out a little sigh. “Amelis, you really shouldn’t be here. If Val finds out, there’s no telling what he’ll do to either of us.”

  “Seville, please,” she pleaded in a whisper. His words said one thing, but the familiar heat in his eyes spoke of other desires. Taking a chance, she moved closer and raised her hand to his chest. “Seville,” she breathed, aching for him in a way she never thought possible.

  “It was just a mistake, a fluke,” he said.

  “No.” She shook her head. “I don’t believe you.”

  Seville took a deep breath and glanced around the room before looking back at her. “Is this what you really came here for, Amelis?” Seville asked, his voice was hoarse and fire burned bright in his golden eyes.

  Amelis, her heart racing, licked her lips as her pulse quickened. “Definitely,” she breathed, and then he pulled her against him and his lips came down on hers.

  Her bones began to melt and her knees grew weak as he set her on fire. His groan was like music to her ears. Then with a cry, he pulled away and left her feeling bereft. Amelis stared up at him, waiting for more but he stepped away from her.

  “No, I can’t do this with you, not again,” he said and the pain in his eyes startled her.

  “Seville?” she asked, suddenly confused. It didn’t feel like he was just talking about their recent lovemaking, but more like something from the past. He didn’t answer her, but just backed away.

  “What do you mean, again?” she pressed.

  The way he was acting tickled a long-forgotten memory, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Amelis frowned as the door closed behind him as he left. What did he mean by again? Her gaze took in his bare room. It felt so lonely. Not sure what drove her, Amelis crossed the room and opened the top drawer of Seville’s dresser. It was his sock and underwear drawer as well as where she’d previously seen the photo he kept hidden—a photo of three children and an exotically beautiful woman.