“You need to hurry. Dax is about to be caught soon.”
Sable’s eyes widened in surprise, and she whispered, “Dax?”
Lily nodded solemnly. “They are going to hurt him.”
5
Daxton stopped the truck in front of what was left of the mansion that used to be owned by Colombian drug lord Philip Perez, cursing loudly at the sight of piles of mass destruction. He knew the bastard was dead, but had held out hope that there would be something left behind to point them in the right direction. By the looks of it, there wasn’t going to be anything left to find. It was all destroyed.
His hands tightening on the steering wheel, Dax growled lowly, fighting a losing battle with the beast inside him. It wanted to break free and tear through the rubble in front of him searching for his sister, even though he knew Raven was long gone.
Rubi swore softly as she opened her door and stepped out. “What are we going to do now, Dax?”
Lowering his head, he took a deep breath as a shudder racked his body, a deep groan emerging as tiny beads of sweat appeared all over his body. Shoving his dragon ruthlessly back down, he gritted his teeth tightly until he knew he was back in control.
“Dax?”
Slowly, raising his head, Dax looked over at his sister. She was once again dressed in leather, which seemed to be her choice of clothing now. The Glock was at her waist, and he could see the handle of a knife peeking out of each boot. What surprised him today, was the sword at her back. They trained weekly with swords when she was a child, but it was all for fun. Dragon warriors used them to defend the king, but normally, the women never trained and fought. He’d included his sisters in his lessons, approved by the trainer, because he wanted them to be able to take care of themselves when he was called upon to serve the king. He never thought they would ever really have to defend themselves with one.
Rubi cocked an eyebrow, her long, light blonde hair spilling over one shoulder as she asked, “What do we do now?”
Before he could reply, the sound of male voices reached him. They couldn’t have been more than a few yards away, coming through the woods behind what was left of the mansion, but with his shifter hearing, he could understand them clearly.
“What are we doing back here, man? Perez is dead. There’s nothing here.”
“This is where we were told to be.”
“I know, but why? I don’t get it.”
Opening his door, Dax slid out of the vehicle, his eyes narrowed on the trees, trying to spot exactly where the men were. Maybe they’d found something that would lead them to Raven after all.
“I’m not questioning the General. I’m just doing what I was told. That’s what I get paid for.”
“The General said to meet his men here,” another voice broke in. “That’s all we need to know. We are on his payroll now.”
“All I’m saying…”
“You don’t get paid to think,” a cold, unyielding female voice broke in.
The hair on the back of Dax’s neck stood up, and his hand went to the gun at his hip.
“I’m sorry! No, please!”
A gunshot cracked in the air, and there was no doubt in Dax’s mind that the person who had been reluctant to meet the man called the General was now dead.
“Rubi, get in the truck,” he growled, his eyes trained on the woods. “Now!”
“Sorry. Too late for that.”
Dax spun around to see men coming out of trees all around them, their guns raised, pointed at him and his sister.
“I would suggest that you remove your hands from your weapons if you want to live.”
Dax stepped back, closer to his sister, his gaze slowly tracking in a circle around the woods.
“Dax,” Rubi whispered, closing the distance between them, “who is the General?”
Debating on if he could take them all in dragon form, or if it would be a futile effort, Dax muttered, “I have no idea, but something tells me that our parents might.”
He looked into Rubi’s stricken eyes as a woman stepped through the trees, walking toward them. “Your father was right, Rubi Dreher. You look almost identical to your sister. The General will love you.”
“What do you know about my sister?” Rubi snapped, raising her arm to train her Glock on the woman. “And who the hell are you?”
A slow smile crossed the woman’s face, her dark eyes cruel and holding no mercy as she replied, “I’m Ebony. The General is my father. And you, Rubi, are about to be introduced to the hell your sister has been in since we acquired her a year ago.” Her eyes straying to Dax, she purred, “Although, I do like your brother.” Wetting her lips, she raked her gaze over him, “Maybe I will keep him for myself for a while.”
“Fuck you,” Dax snarled, sliding his gun from its holster. “You have nothing that interests me, bitch.”
“Awe, that’s too bad,” Ebony said, crossing her arms over her chest and widening her stance. “I guess you will both go to the General, then.”
Dax’s finger tightened on the trigger, but before he could finish the job, he felt something sharp sink into his neck. Reaching up to yank it out, a low growl vibrated in his chest when he realized it was a tranquilizer dart. He let out a roar when several more imbedded into his skin, and his gun slipped from his fingers, falling uselessly to the ground. His eyes went to Rubi, and he reached out to her, horror filling him at the sight of two darts in her neck, and another in her chest. His legs gave way, and he collapsed, his sister ending up next to him on the hard dirt. He stared into her eyes, watching them flutter, and then slowly drift shut, useless to help her. The last thing he heard was the sound of Ebony’s cruel laughter as someone slammed a boot into his gut, and then her order, “Take them to the facility in northern New York. I’m flying in to see my father. I will contact you when I’m ready for you to bring him my…gifts.”
6
“Another dead end,” Sable growled, crossing the wolf pack in New York off their list. So far, they’d been to Virginia, Delaware, D.C., New Jersey, and now to the first place in New York, without any luck. There was no sign of Aiden and Xavier’s sister, nor had she run into the mysterious Dax that Lily spoke of. She couldn’t get him off her mind. If Lily was right, and from past experience, there was no doubt in her mind the little girl was, chances that Dax was her mate were high. The thought of someone hurting him was tearing her up inside.
She stiffened when she felt a hand on her shoulder. “We will find him, Sable,” Charlotte promised quietly.
Fighting back tears, Sable whispered, “What if we can’t? Lily didn’t know where he was for sure. Just that he is in trouble.” Sighing, she placed the list back in the folder and leaned her head back against the leather seat of her car, before voicing her main concern. “What if it’s too late?”
“I don’t believe that,” Silver said, and Sable could hear the honesty in her words.
“Why not?”
“I’ve seen people have visions before, Sable. You need to remember everything Lily told you.”
Sable’s brow furrowed as she glanced back at Silver. “Which part?”
Silver grinned, “She said that Dax will make you happy again, and soon. She also told you not to be afraid of him and his fire. That means two things to me.” Sable held her breath while she waited for her friend to continue. “One, you will meet him someday, which means that he is not dead.”
“And two?”
Silver’s eyes lit up with mischief when she said, “Your man is going to be one hot, sexy dragon!”
“Dragon?” Sable whispered in awe, shaking her head slowly. “No, those creatures are a myth. There isn’t such a thing as a dragon shifter.”
“Are you sure?” Charlotte asked, as she took the folder Sable still held from her. “Just because we’ve never seen one, doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”
“True, but…dragons?”
“Can you think of any other shifter out there who has fire?” Silver asked, cocking an eyebrow
as she leaned closer. “I can’t.”
“Maybe Dax isn’t a shifter,” Charlotte said, sifting through the papers on her lap.
“What else would he be?”
“He could be a witch.”
Sable’s jaw dropped, and Silver laughed as she reached up and tapped the bottom of her chin. “Whatever he is, the sex is going to be amazing. I mean…fire! I wonder if he has any brothers.”
Sable’s eyes widened, goosebumps appearing on her skin as she fought back a shiver. Sex with her mate would be amazing no matter who, or what, he was. That was the way it worked. Fate paired all shifters with a mate, someone who held the other half of their soul. And, as far as Sable knew, fate didn’t make mistakes. She and Dax would be compatible, in all ways.
“Okay, the next stop is about three hours away,” Charlotte interrupted. “I say we find a place to get some food and sleep. Tomorrow we scope out the pack during the day, and then we can hit them late at night if we need to.”
Sable wanted to keep going, but she knew Charlotte was right. They needed to eat and get some rest before moving on. The three of them had been pushing hard for close to two weeks now, and they were all exhausted. Still, the need to find Dax was pressing on her, almost suffocating her.
“How about we drive a ways now,” Silver suggested, sitting back in her seat. “We can stop a couple of towns over from where we are going. That way, we won’t have far to go when we are ready to start stalking our unsuspecting prey.”
Sable slid the key into the ignition, glancing into the rear view mirror and letting a small smile slip free at the devilish expression on Silver’s face. “Sounds good to me.”
“Me, too,” Charlotte agreed, slapping her hand on Sable’s thigh. “And, I agree with you, Silver. Sex with a fire breathing dragon would be fucking hot! Maybe Dax has two brothers.”
Sable couldn’t hold back the laughter that bubbled up, even as worry for the man she had still yet to meet consumed her. Putting the car in gear, she vowed to herself that she would not stop until she found him. No matter how long it took.
7
Dax opened his eyes just wide enough to peer through hooded lids. Pain swamped him, and he bit back a groan as he slowly turned his head looking for his little sister. She was chained to an iron post across from him, and didn’t seem to be faring any better than he was. The fucking coyote shifters the General’s men left them with three days ago beat them on a daily basis, acting as if it were a game to see who could inflict the most pain. One they definitely enjoyed. The only time the agony stopped for him was when he was unconscious, and he knew it was the same for her.
He’d tried to let his dragon out a couple of times, but the bastards shot him with tranquilizer darts every time, effectively stopping his shift. He saw them do the same to Rubi. They were all going to die for what they did to his baby sister. When he got free, and he would if it was the last thing he did, he was going to tear them apart, piece-by-piece.
They were being held in an old barn, surrounded by trees, out in the middle of nowhere. There were a few houses, no more than small huts, spread out near the barn, but not much else. This was good, because when he was finally able to let his beast free, anyone near him was going to die.
Dax stiffened when he heard the door to their prison open. Seeing his sister’s eyelids begin to flutter, he whispered, “Rubi, keep your eyes closed, sis. Someone’s coming.” To his relief, she seemed to listen, her head lowering slightly, her limp, dirty hair dropping down to hide a portion of her face.
Glancing back toward the door, he watched someone slip inside, and quickly shut the door behind them. It was a woman, petite, with dark brown hair that hung to her waist. She wore a loose, baggy dress that touched her ankles, and her feet were bare. Inhaling deeply, his brow furrowed at the scent of fear that wafted from her. Not only that, but this woman was definitely not a coyote shifter. Not even close. She was a wolf. What the hell was she doing with the fucking mongrels who held him and Rubi?
“Who are you?” Dax demanded roughly, through clenched teeth.
Intent on peering out a small crack in the wood beside the door, the woman jumped, slapping a hand over her mouth to muffle a squeal of surprise as she swung around to look at him. Putting a finger to her lips, she whispered, “Please, you need to be quiet, before someone hears.”
She turned back to look through the crack in the wall again, waiting a few more minutes, before quickly crossing the floor to Rubi. Dax bared his teeth at her, growling lowly, “I don’t know who you are, but you better get your ass away from my sister.”
The woman spared him a glance, before pulling a bottle of water out of her skirt and removing the lid. Holding the bottle to Rubi’s lips, she whispered, “Drink.” When Rubi raised her head and glared at her, refusing, she gently cupped his sister’s jaw in her hand and said, “You have to drink. You both need to be strong so that I can get you out of here before tomorrow night.”
“What happens tomorrow night?” Dax snarled.
She looked back at him, the fear evident in her topaz eyes. “The General’s men are coming for you. After that, there is nothing I can do.” He saw a tear escape as she whispered, “Please, I can’t sit back and let them hurt anyone else. I can’t watch them send you to your deaths. Please, let me help.”
“They will kill you if they find out,” Dax said gruffly, the idea of an innocent person’s death on his hands not sitting well with him, no matter the reason.
She lifted her head, her steady gaze meeting his. “I would gladly give my life, if it meant you and your sister lived.”
Dax stared at her, in awe of her courage even as she trembled before him.
“Dax?”
At his sister’s unspoken question, he nodded, and watched Rubi smell the liquid, before opening her mouth and letting the woman help her drink it.
When it was his turn, Dax drank slowly, relishing the feel of it sliding down his dry, aching throat. After he was done, he asked, “What’s your name, little one?”
She shrugged, sliding the empty bottle back in her pocket. “Greta, the woman who watched over me before she died, called me Maya. Everyone else…” she paused, “well, they don’t really call me anything.”
“Are you a prisoner, too?” Rubi asked softly.
Maya shrugged again, before nodding slowly. “I guess I am, in a way.”
“What way?” Dax questioned, trying to figure out how this sweet woman, so willing to give up her life for others, fit in with the coyotes that held them prisoner.
Sighing, Maya ran a hand through her hair, and then wrapped her arms around her waist. “Greta told me that my parents died when I was young, and there was nowhere else for me to go, so she took me in.” Taking a deep breath, she whispered, “But, she was lying. I could smell it on her. I have heard others say things when they don’t realize I’m around.” Swallowing hard, she said, “I was given to them by someone who killed my family. There is no one else out there for me. I’m alone. If I leave, I have nowhere to go.”
“You do now,” Dax informed her. “When we leave, you will come with us.”
Maya shook her head, slowly backing toward the door. “I can’t. If they find out, they will hunt you down and kill you. I can’t let that happen.”
“Why?” Rubi asked. “If you aren’t family, why would they care if you left?”
“Because, in their minds, they own me.”
“We do own you, wolf,” a voice growled, as the door was flung open and the alpha of the coyote pack entered the room. “You aren’t going anywhere.”
A rough laugh followed as the alpha’s mate walked in. “I disagree, Jasper. Greta’s gone now, and I’m tired of the bitch. I say we send her to the General with these two.” Sliding up next to him, she slipped her arm around his waist and leaned close. “I bet they would give us some money for her. What do you think?”
The alpha threw back his head and laughed, hugging her close. “I like the way your mind works, baby. A
nd, you know I love money.” Nodding his head to where Maya stood in shock, he said, “Tie her up and throw her in the back of the truck. She can sit there until Ebony and her men show up tomorrow night.”
“What if she runs, Jasper?”
The alpha laughed again. “She ain’t going anywhere. She knows better. Don’t you girl?”
Maya’s eyes widened and she nodded, before quickly lowering her head to the ground. “Yes, sir.”
Dax growled, fury filling him at the thought of what Maya was going to endure at the hands of the General for trying to help them.
Jasper grinned, waving a hand to three other coyote shifters who stood nearby. “Show this asshole what happens when a lowlife like him growls at me, boys.”
Dax snarled, straining against the chains that held him, his fangs dropping and claws lengthening as he fought to get to the man in front of him.
“What the fuck is he?” someone whispered.
“Who cares? Tranq the bastard and beat the shit out of him!”
Dax roared as he watched one of the men grab Maya and shove her toward the door. She glanced back, tears streaming down her face as she mouthed, ‘I’m sorry’. She was shoved again, harder this time, and she stumbled out of the barn, falling to the ground.
Rubi screamed her name, fighting against her bonds, her eyes darkening to a dark ruby red color, before someone yelled, “Tranq her, too! Now!”
“No! Stop!” Maya cried, struggling against the men who held her. “Leave them alone!”
Dax called to his dragon, roaring again in outrage, but it was too late. The darts hit him hard and fast, and within seconds he felt his strength leave him. “Rubi,” he whispered, worry for his sister flooding him when he heard her scream in pain, before succumbing to the darkness that called to him.
Sable's Fire Page 3