Copyright 2017 by J. S. Striker - All rights reserved.
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Dragon
The Clan Legacy Series
By: J. S. Striker
Tables of Contents
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The Clan Legacy Series
Dragon - Robbie - Book 1
Dragon – Finn – Book 2
Dragon – Charlie – Book 3
Dragon – Henrik – Book 4
Teaser of Erik – Band of Bears
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The Clan Legacy Series
Dragon - Robbie - Book 1
PROLOGUE
The party was at its peak, with the crowd going wild as beer was served all around and the so-called famous band everyone was waiting for finally stepped onstage, armed with their instruments.
A girl with blue hair screamed in utter rapture, calling out an, “I adore you,” before the band's vocalist could even get a single word out. Said declaration roused the crowd, stirring the cheers louder and leaving everyone in anticipation as the first note from the electric guitar finally vibrated.
Francesca thought it was the lamest thing ever.
The party started out great, she supposed – a decent crowd, great burger and fries, and her friends were with her as they explored New York nightlife for the first time. There was also the promise of Aaron being here, and Francesca wanted to grab her chance before skanky Mandy sank her nasty claws into him.
Aaron was the hottest guy in school, and perhaps one of the nicest too, and a friend of a friend mentioned that this was one of his favorite bands – a tidbit that her friends didn't let go of as they put all of their efforts in convincing her to sneak out of her house past curfew and come here to bump into Aaron. After all, that's what friends were for, right?
Right.
If only they didn't abandon her while they were at it, things would have been wonderful.
But said friends had gotten too into the scene and they forgot about her minutes after they got there. They disappeared sometime around ten, she couldn't find them, and now the band was playing an unbelievably loud song that was giving her a slight headache.
And Aaron was a no-show.
And the crowd had gotten larger, almost rowdy in its size.
Really, she could go on and on.
Disappointment filling her, Francesca allowed herself one last look at the crowd, then the band, before deciding that it was time to leave. Shit, her mom was going to freak when she found out about this – an incident Francesca wanted to avoid altogether. She turned around.
A tap on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks.
“Don't leave.”
The voice was low and very male. Francesca turned, a sharp retort ready on her lips at such arrogance.
It died as she stared at the guy gazing at her.
He was, perhaps, the most gorgeous guy she'd ever seen – blond hair, blue eyes, and a sexy mouth that made her think of kissing him. He gave her a knowing smile, as if he'd read exactly what she'd just thought.
Francesca blushed, suddenly out of her league.
“Excuse me?”
“Don't leave,” he repeated, his voice filling her senses. Aaron was completely forgotten as the guy pulled her closer, and she found herself unable to resist. “I'd love to eat you.”
She was going to get her first kiss – there in the crowd, in front of everyone. Her first kiss, and it was going to be from this gorgeous stranger. His face was already coming closer, blue eyes gleaming in anticipation.
Then his words registered.
Francesca blinked. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?”
“I’d love to eat you,” the guy purred, tongue coming out and hands making a move to grab her.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God!
Her hand moved before she could stop herself. There was a loud smacking sound as her palm connected with his cheek, and the impact sent him staggering backward. The crowd ignored them, attention fixed on the band onstage as Mr. Gorgeous and Francesca stared at each other in dawning recognition.
Mr. Gorgeous pointed a finger at her accusingly.
“You’re not human,” he hissed, his friendly gaze now turning sharp.
Francesca merely shrugged. “Same as you, idiot. That smack would have sent a human flying through the air.”
“I was just trying to have a little fun.”
Francesca scoffed. “Well, next time you decide to do so with me, I'm going to kill you.”
Then she was out of there before he could say another word.
*****
Francesca was being followed.
She was tired and miserable and lamenting the waste of a night – and Aaron not being there, damn it – when she first sensed someone following her. She couldn’t scent anything, couldn’t even determine how far away the creature following her was.
Just a tingling feeling.
The alley she’d chosen to pass through was dark, with only a sad excuse of a lamppost illuminating her way. Francesca quickly trudged along, trying not to think about the movies she'd watched where the victims always got attacked in alleys.
A crunch on gravel reached her sensitive ears.
Francesca gritted her teeth and ignored it. Mr. Gorgeous was either too stupid or too full of himself. He wasn't a rogue vampire by any means, and obviously he was from some clan if he was able to walk New York as freely as he did. Plus, what would he do with her, anyway?
Vampires preferred the taste of humans.
Obviously, she didn't meet his standards, based on his expression earlier.
With the alley behind her, Francesca walked faster until she reached a small neighborhood with rows of apartment buildings. A quick pass on the sidewalk led her to a shortcut in the park, then to another alley that was more desolate and darker than the last.
Her ears picked up steps.
Irritated, Francesca threw her hands up in the air.
“For real? You followed me all this way? I don't taste de
licious, you idiot. Go away.”
Her yell was met with silence. Ha. Probably got scared. He was a young one, anyway. She was pretty sure she could take him if it came down to a fight.
Unless he brought reinforcements.
Suddenly uneasy at the thought, Francesca made a move to continue walking and hurry the hell home.
Her heart leapt in her throat at the shadow that stood in front of her. A quick recognition that it wasn't a vampire put her heart back in place as she confidently took a step forward to give the creature a tentative smile.
“Sir, I'm sorry, but I thought I was being followed...”
The words died in her throat as the creature growled – a sound that sent ice racing through her veins.
The last thing she saw was the creature leaping for her, then its dark-red – crazed – eyes.
Then it was all pain and darkness.
CHAPTER ONE
The council meeting started at exactly seven in the evening, and only a few of the shifters were late.
Dylan Masters looked at all the leaders in attendance, noting that the seating arrangement he'd assigned wasn't exactly to everyone's liking. Hans, leader of the bear clan, had a sour expression on his face as he sat beside Moira, leader of the rat clan, who had on the most serene expression on her face. He couldn't exactly blame Hans, considering Moira's latest antics of trying to wrestle power from him – and when that didn't work, seducing one of his best shifters to join the tiger clan and contribute an offspring for them.
The most notable pair who didn't seem to mind sitting beside each other were Wesley, leader of the tiger clan and Tashi, sister and representative of the fox clan's leader. There was a certain tension brewing there, and not of the fighting kind. If something was to blossom there, it was certainly going to make a strong alliance.
The seating arrangement was for them to set aside their differences, especially at a time like this.
A quick glance at his clock indicated that they were already five minutes past meeting time. He took one last moment to frown at a notable absence before he cleared his throat.
All conversation stopped at once.
Dylan nodded his head in greeting.
“Glad to see a good turnout this time.”
A few murmured in agreement.
“I'm guessing most of you already have an idea as to why I've called this meeting.”
Some nodded their heads.
“The recent murders in town have been splashed all over the front page of the local papers, and I believe it is only a matter of time before it goes national. I believe it's time we do something about it.”
Hans frowned. “Why should we do something about it? It's the vampires' doing – hence it's their problem.”
The leader of the jaguar clan, Jack, looked Dylan in the eye before quietly shifting his gaze to the small crowd. He was the one in charge of the investigation, and had seen the exact aftermath. Somber, Dylan followed his lead and delivered the news.
“We have reason to believe it was a shifter who was responsible for the most recent incident.”
As expected, the news didn't exactly sit well with the crowd. Hans immediately protested, saying it was impossible. Moira's serene expression disappeared as she pursed her lips in disapproval. Tashi took Wesley's hand before realizing she shouldn't have – she let him go as if burned, and Dylan saw it happen in the span of less than a second.
The leader of the crocodile clan, Marc, looked at him with yellow eyes and finally spoke calmly.
“Can you let us know what happened with the last murder?”
Dylan nodded his head before slowly recalling the incident based on Jack's report. A fifteen-year-old, still not fully bloomed, but from a prestigious shifter family, walking home at night. Stronger than most new vampires, could probably take on even a rogue one.
Mauled and attacked with no defense.
“Is she alive?” Tashi asked in concern.
“Barely,” Dylan said. “The killer thought so and left her alone to kill three more humans.”
“And how do we know it's been done by a shifter?” Wesley asked.
“My investigative team did the necessary tests,” Jack supplied. “No vampire bites or traces. Only shifter.”
“What kind?” Hans demanded.
“Undetermined,” Jack replied.
A hush fell in the room, and Dylan let it stand as the leaders absorbed the information. After a few seconds, Moira finally spoke up.
“I still believe the vampires have something to do with this.”
Hans, who never really agreed with any of Moira's opinions – no matter what it was – grumbled reluctantly.
“Be that as it may, we need to have this investigated further.”
Moira smirked. “Typical. You're only disagreeing because you don't like me – only I can't seem to figure out why.”
The grumble from the bear shifter turned into a growl.
Inwardly sighing at the fight already starting to brew, Dylan opened his mouth to stop the argument before it could flourish – and was interrupted by the door opening, then slamming shut.
“Sorry I'm late. And yeah, I'm agreeing with Moira on this one. It's the vamps. They can never be trusted.”
Everyone turned to stare at the newcomer, who looked like he'd just gotten out of bed and thrown on whatever clothes he could find – in his case, last night's outfit of black jeans and a black leather jacket. He reeked of last night's scent as well – alcohol, sex, and fun.
Moira eyed him appreciatively. “I'm glad someone here agrees. What do you say, Dylan?”
Dylan's gaze never left the newcomer – temporary leader of the most absent clan so far.
Robbie stared back, leaning on the wall and arms crossed as he waited for Dylan's words of wisdom.
“All I can say is whoever is doing all this will be dealt with accordingly,” Dylan finally said, voice turning hard and eyes taking an almost violent edge. He normally had complacent, brown eyes, but the most recent event had brought the wolf close to the surface, restless and wanting vengeance. “Vampire or shifter, we will show no mercy.”
Silence.
“Are there any questions?”
There were questions, of course. Dylan tried to field them and answer as much as he could, only calling the meeting to a halt once the leaders were satisfied the investigation was going to continue. One by one they left the room, some giving the latecomer a glare, while others acknowledged him with a nod. Once Jack was the only one left on the table, and Robbie made a move to leave, too, Dylan finally spoke again, keeping his voice low.
“Not you two. Close the door. We have things to discuss.”
*****
Robbie Sebastian didn't like being in shifter headquarters, but it was part of the job.
So was standing by as Dylan and Jack waited in silence until absolutely every shifter present had gone and could no longer hear whatever they were about to say.
Which didn't seem good.
Normally, Robbie liked Jack fine, because the jaguar shifter had a sense of humor that was both morbid and sarcastic. He was, however, in a very grim mood today, judging from the grave expression. Those dark eyes were practically bleak.
Dylan was always serious, no question there. The man definitely had a stick up his ass and didn't know what fun was, but that was to be expected of the ultimate head of all shifters.
As Robbie mused all this in his head, Jack finally spoke.
“So how was your party last night?”
Robbie grinned. “Pretty awesome.” Yeah, that chick screaming his name with pleasure was pretty awesome indeed. It wasn't the season yet, but he hadn't had a woman in months – not since his friend's death – and he wasn't about to let an opportunity slip. Thoughts of his friend plummeted his mood, and suddenly Robbie didn't feel like making small talk.
“Care to tell me what this is about?”
Dylan nodded his silver-blond head, then indicated for Robbie to sit. Rob
bie sat fluidly, putting his whole weight into it and casually waiting for Dylan to speak up.
“You were right about the vampires having something to do with it.”
Robbie listened in silence as the wolf shifter discussed his suspicions and what they were planning to do about it – they, as in him and Jack. Then they discussed the sub-plan, which involved going into vampire territory and checking things out for now.
Robbie took it all in before stating the obvious. “If the initial suspicion was correct, why keep it from the others?”
Dylan grimaced. “We don't want to cause an uproar.”
Jack cleared his throat. “What Dylan here is trying to say is we don't want some of our more...closeminded shifters blowing things out of proportion and going over there with their pitchforks ready – not after the uneasy alliance that we've already formed with them.”
Robbie had heard about that alliance, and hadn't really agreed with it – but he was one of the few who wasn't going to make a big deal about it, even with his dislike for vampires and anything related to their kind. The old dragon leader, Malik Heard, had believed that peace could still be achieved.
And then he died.
And Henrik had run away, leaving Robbie with the leader spot.
That had been three years ago.
“So why exactly am I here?”
Silence. Then Dylan leaned forward. “Still no sign of Henrik?”
“Nope.”
“And still no plans of permanently taking his place?”
“Hell no. It's all his, if the bastard ever decides to come back.”
Dylan leaned back again, apparently satisfied with the answer. Robbie was definitely not liking the sudden gleam in his eyes. “Then you're the perfect candidate.”
“For?”
“Entering vampire territory. Quietly.”
From the corner of his eye, Jack smiled, canines showing. “Congrats, man.”
Well, damn.
Dragon: The Clan Legacy Series Page 1
