High House Draconis Box Set

by Riley Storm

  But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

  “The Court,” Francis said, speaking to the entire room.

  “The what?” Jax said, his brain not having caught up yet.

  “The Court. The Shifter Court. You can go there,” Francis said excitedly.

  The other dragons stirred as they realized what the steward was talking about.

  “They’re having a meeting. Two days from now. I know because I deal with the correspondence,” he explained at a curious look. “Since none of you is an official member of the Dragon Council, you aren’t actually invited. But you could go anyway,” he said to Jax. “Make your speech there. To all the Houses at once. Convince them of the urgency behind our alliance.”

  Jax saw his brothers slowly nodding in understanding and agreement.

  “It is a bold strategy,” Aaric admitted.

  “But it could work,” Valla countered. “Everyone would be there. In a place of peace. We would not have to storm in. And like Francis said, the vampires may not even know of its existence yet. The three of us could provide a distraction while Jax gets there undetected.”

  Jax started to protest. To tell them that he wasn’t the right person to do it.

  But before he could say anything, Sarah turned to face him.

  “You have to go, Jax,” she said quietly. “You have to.”

  Chapter 32

  He was on a precipice. On the edge of despair, and Sarah knew, in her gut, that none of the other shifters could pull him out of it. Only she could do that, and only if she stopped being scared.

  Stopped being afraid of the world she was now a part of. There was no going back, only forward, and so she needed to start accepting it. To accept the fact that, even if she wanted to leave Jax behind, her mind, body and soul would stop her. They wanted him. She wanted him.

  And it was time he knew that, as scary as it was for her to open up to anyone, let alone someone so new in her life. But she couldn’t deny the way she felt.

  “It needs to be you,” she said, chewing on her lip nervously, knowing all the eyes on the room were focused on her now. “The others are right.”

  Jax needed her. Remember that.

  “If the vampire danger is as real as the others say it is, then you can’t not do this, Jax. You can’t simply sit still, and let people suffer. They are taking people and turning them into their creatures. Into their pawns. Stealing lives, and trying to recreate their empire of old, if I’m understanding things right. How can you simply give up now, when a golden opportunity lies in front of you?”

  The room was very quiet now, the others giving her a chance to speak, an opportunity to perhaps convince Jax, where they had been unable to. Sarah knew she had to get him to buy in completely, that he needed to believe in himself as much as the others did. Which meant she had to be sure she believed in him too.

  “From listening to what you’ve told me, what you have been discussing here before we got onto this topic, it sounds like you were awoken for a reason, Jax.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked, eyes downcast, despondent and barely responsive.

  “Well, the others were all awoken when the dragons before them tried to awaken someone else. Except for you, Aaric, I guess. The others knew they didn’t have the energy to awaken an elder dragon and live through the process long enough to fill them in, am I right so far?”

  Aaric nodded. “Yes. Very astute of you.”

  She smiled sheepishly. “I’ve been told by a very good source that, unless I come to terms with and accept the world I’ve become a part of, I’ll never go home again. I kind of want to see my grandmother again. So it made sense to listen, and learn all I could.”

  Aaric smiled. “I’m sure I’m not the only one glad to hear you’ve adapted that angle.”

  “No, you’re not,” Jax said quietly, his head coming up now, copper eyes looking into her with something she’d not seen much of lately.

  Hope. It was the barest of slivers, yet she could see it. Sarah chose her next words carefully, hoping to stoke that slim hope and perhaps even spark a fire.

  “So, you see, Jax, they tried to awaken you, and it worked. Which means that the magic chose you. Can’t you understand this? It didn’t choose someone else, it chose you. Which meant that Valla and Liv, they were on to something when they decided to awaken you next. You can’t just ignore that!”

  Jax frowned. “I…I never thought of it that way, I guess.”

  “Of course not. Like your brothers, you’re almost humble to a fault, unwilling to admit you have skills and talents that can be put to use.” She smiled. “If you were able to convince me to abandon my disdain for men like you in just a matter of days, I’m sure if you put your mind to it, that you can make these other shifters see the reality that is coming for them!”

  The big dragon—earth dragon, she reminded herself, having started to learn some of the terms and knowledge—was nodding to himself. “Maybe,” he said quietly.

  “You are meant to go to this Council, Jax. They will hear your words and heed your warning. I can feel it, I believe it.”

  Sarah did believe it. But only if Jax was at his best. Only if he went in there expecting to come out with an alliance. Only then would he succeed.

  She needed to do whatever it took to ensure that. Everything she could give of herself, she would, Sarah realized, all at once feeling like she too was integral to the cause. That she had a part to play in something far grander than herself.

  If she was asking Jax to put aside his fears, his doubts, and embrace the reality of the situation in front of him though, shouldn’t she be willing to do the same?

  Jax was still lost in thought, staring off into nothing. Sarah looked away slowly, meeting Aaric’s eyes. Giving him a little toss of her head and a flick of her gaze to the door, she managed to get her point across to the other dragon.

  Looks were exchanged around the room, and the others left. When Jax realized what was going on, he turned to her for an answer. “Where are they going?”

  “To leave you to think,” she said, reaching out, taking his hand in both of hers, caressing the top of it with her thumbs, feeling the power in his body.

  “Are you going too?” he asked nervously.

  Sarah shook her head. “No Jax,” she said softly. “I’m going to stay. With you.”

  She felt the tremor move up his arm, and squeezed it tighter, trying to reassure him that this was no act. Her own hands were shaking. She was terrified of opening herself up, of admitting the truth beating within her. But she couldn’t hold back. Jax needed it, his brothers needed it. And if she was honest with herself, Sarah probably needed it too.

  “I’m going to stay as long as you’ll let me,” she whispered, lifting his hand to her chest, so he could feel the frantic thudding of her heart there, broadcasting her nerves to him as clear as daylight. “And do you know why?”

  Jax shook his head but didn’t speak. She stared into his face, admiring the square, hard lines of it, but ultimately, as always, falling deep into his odd, yet fascinating eyes. The little lines of copper in the iris seemed to swirl and spin, drawing her in further and further. Sarah never wanted to leave.

  “I’m so scared,” she continued, somehow finding her voice. “This terrifies me, Jax. It’s been so long, and now here I am, moving so quickly. Yet it feels so right. How is that possible?”

  “You feel it too,” he whispered. “Fate.”

  “Fate?”

  “It works in mysterious ways but has always been the ally of the dragons. Our bond is strong with our mates. To the point of being tangible. It’s okay to be scared.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked.

  A second hand reached out, covering both of hers. Suddenly, Jax was the one doing the reassuring. He squeezed gently. “I am. But if you aren’t ready, then I underst—”

  “I love you, Jax,” she said, the words spilling out. Even as they did, every nervous twitch and beat of her heart stilled a
s one.

  She’d said it.

  All the barriers were gone, and she was completely and totally open to him. A raw nerve, exposed for the first time in many years, to a man she’d met barely two weeks ago if that. It was insane.

  “I love you too, Sarah Mingott,” Jax rumbled, never flinching, his eyes never straying from hers as he spoke.

  Insane. Yet it felt so right.

  “You’re going to that meeting,” she whispered. “I hope you know that. You’re going to go there, and you’re going to show your brothers why the magic woke you. You’re going to show them why earth dragons are the talkers of your species. You’re going to march into that Council, and they are going to listen, do you understand me?”

  Jax nodded. “I will.”

  “Good,” she said, nodding both to him and to herself. “But you can’t do it with any jitters. You have to be calm. Collected. Thoughts only on the meeting.”

  “I will try.”

  She slid his hand down from her heart to where it could cup her breast. “You’re going to do more than just try, mister. You’re going to get every other thought out of your head before the meeting.”

  Sarah forced herself not to laugh as sudden understanding of the point she was making blossomed across Jax’s face.

  “And you’re going to take as long as you need to ensure that,” she instructed him with a devilish smile.

  “But of course,” the earth dragon said, and pulled her into him tightly.

  Chapter 33

  She fell into his kiss, and with a twitch of her body had Jax on his back on the spacious couch. A quick glance showed that Aaric or one of the others had been thoughtful enough to close the door on their way out, giving the two of them some privacy in the lounge area.

  “I’m going to need your entire focus on me right now,” she said, sitting up straight, slowly peeling her shirt off, revealing her covered breasts for his hungry eyes. “I mean your entire focus,” she said throatily, grinding her hips slowly against him, watching his face tighten.

  “Trust me,” he said, licking his lips as she reached behind her back. “You have it.”

  “Are you sure?” she demanded, letting the bra’s clasps fall free, but using one arm to keep the fabric over her breasts.

  “Oh yeah,” Jax rumbled, his eyes fixated, waiting for her to set them free.

  She teased him for a few seconds further, moving her hips continuously until Jax’s fingers tightened around her waist. Then she dropped the bra, enjoying the way his eyes drank in the sight of her body despite its curves and cellulite. Jax had always made it clear he appreciated her womanliness and now was no exception. She could feel him grow harder as he looked upon her, and that was a powerful feeling indeed.

  “You had better give me your best efforts tonight so that you can give the Council your best efforts tomorrow. Am I understood?”

  Jax frowned playfully. “And here I thought that I was the boss.”

  Sarah laughed. “You just like to think that. But let’s be real, I’ve had you wrapped around my finger. After all, who chased who down the hallway at first sight?”

  The big shifter looked mildly chagrined, but he wasn’t giving up yet. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said innocently.

  “Oh, is that so?” Sarah asked, arching her back and letting her body sway side to side.

  Jax’s eyes moved like a pendulum, perfectly in tune with the motion of her breasts. She laughed again. “I thought not.”

  “Not fair,” he pouted, his hands climbing her sides slowly.

  “Who said anything about being fair?” she purred, lowering herself down to him, kissing her man thoroughly.

  My man. Sarah liked the sound of that. She liked it a lot.

  Underneath her, Jax growled, his hands sliding over her back and gripping her backside firmly.

  Sarah liked that sound too, she decided, working her hips and biting her lip every time Jax groaned some more. It was like a drug, and she wanted to hear his pleasure. Seeing his eyes roll back every time she ground against him just right was filling her body with fire. A fire only he could quench.

  Jax seemed to sense that the time was coming, and he casually stood up, holding her tight to his body, a display of strength that left her body shivering in anticipation and arousal. She had never in her life been so easily manhandled, and it was hot.

  He could have ripped her clothes off and plunged deep into her right then and there, and Sarah would have begged for more. But Jax wasn’t in such a rush. He kissed her body, hooking his thumbs under her waistband and dragging her pants down with agonizing slowness.

  “Stop it,” she begged as he settled between her bare legs, only the warmth of his breath actually reaching her peak, doing little more than stoke her fires and build anticipation.

  “Stop what?” Jax asked, purposefully pausing every motion, including the delightful run of his fingers up the inside of her legs.

  “Teasing me,” she growled, reaching out to grab the back of his head, trying to pull him closer to her aching, throbbing clit. Just a bit of pressure. Just a bit…

  Jax resisted most of her strength, but that didn’t stop her from thrusting her hips at him. He realized this a moment too late, and suddenly she was right there, her clit an inch or two from his face, and she knew she had him. After all, Sarah wasn’t the only one who enjoyed giving.

  She moaned loudly as he wasted no more time, his tongue sliding its warmth across her opening, finding her clit and circling it playfully, wracking Sarah’s body with shakes each time he went up and over. He knew just where to go, and just how to play her body, and the pressure built swiftly.

  A moment later, a finger slid deep inside her, and shortly after a second followed. Her moans doubled in intensity as she writhed against his face, practically riding him as he did his best to stay with her.

  “Holy fuck,” she cried out as a third finger entered her. It stretched her slightly but felt so good. “Faster,” she said, slapping at that same arm as he moved it in and out. “Yes, like that, like that. Oh, God.” Her cries became wordless as her body swiftly built to a climax.

  Clamping a hand over her mouth, Sarah tried to keep quiet as she came, shuddering violently. Jax’s other arm was wrapped around her inner thigh and his strength kept her clit where he wanted it, and even as she crashed through the orgasm, he didn’t stop. The pressure lightened, but he moved faster with his tongue.

  “Wait,” she moaned, barely able to breathe, her vision blurred. “Jax, wait, I…”

  But he wasn’t waiting. He wasn’t stopping. Her body couldn’t take it for long, and in seconds she knew she was going to cum again a second time, back to back.

  “Holy fuck!” she half-shrieked as the orgasm tore through her body like a shockwave, a thunderous roar that blinded her and blasted the air from her lungs, leaving Sarah as little more than a shivering, gasping ball on the couch.

  Jax stood up, and in seconds, her eyes—only just returning to working function again—watched him undress in a flurry. His cock was already rock hard, stiff and thick, and she moaned in mixed anticipation and dread as he gently pushed her legs apart. How much more could she take?

  Then he entered her. Sarah’s eyes rolled back into her head and she nearly went limp. It felt so good, but a different good. A fullness that reinvigorated her body. She could handle this.

  Jax thrust deep, and she moaned loud yet again. A hand clamped over her mouth. Looking up, she saw Jax shaking his head.

  “You need to keep quiet,” he rumbled, his fingers barely leaving room for her to breathe through her nose.

  He was in complete control of her now, and Sarah surrendered herself willingly, letting him do whatever he wanted to her as long as she kept getting his cock. Her body was his playground, and Jax made it do as he wanted.

  At one point, he turned her onto her side, leaning over her, still keeping her quiet. She shivered at the thrill of being his, and that shiver strengthened as
he thrust into her, picking up speed now, the head rubbing against her just right as he pulled way back.

  Her hands came up, fingers trying to tear him away from her mouth, but he was too strong, too overpowering. Even that too was hot, and she came hard, her scream dying against his palm as he rode her into submission.

  It seemed Jax couldn’t handle much more either, because just as she sagged into post-orgasm weakness, he tightened his grip on her, and she felt him swell. Nodding frantically, she urged him onward, moaning loudly as he filled her with his warmth. The feeling sent tremors through her body, nearly causing her to orgasm one last time.

  But they were both spent now, and seconds later Jax collapsed over her, breathing hard, unable to speak.

  She had no words either. No sarcastic saying about his focus being unbelievable, or that he had better give the same effort to his speech as he had to fucking her. Nothing, because her brain wasn’t working properly, and even if it had been, she was too happy.

  Far too happy.

  As she let herself realize that, and accept it, Sarah found a few words did come to her. Three, in fact. Just three.

  But they would be enough.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  Jax twisted his head to the side, looking at her out of the corner of one eye that for just a moment appeared very dragonlike.

  “I love you,” he replied.

  Sarah sighed happily.

  Yes, they could do this, she thought to herself, feeling a confidence she hadn’t felt earlier.

  They could do it. Together.

  Chapter 34

  Jax stood outside the Court with Sarah at his side.

  “The ride home is going to be a lot rougher,” he said quietly, trying to dispel the awe he felt looking up at a building that meant so much to his kind.

  Not just dragons, but shifters as a whole.

  “We’ll make it,” she assured him, though he could feel the nervous tremble in her hand. Not from what was to come in the building, but after.