by Lia Davis
Sons of War, book three
by
Lia Davis
Chaotic War
Sons of War, book 3
Published by After Glows
© 2015 Lia Davis
ISBN: 978-1-62322-164-5
Cover Art by Scott Carpenter
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All characters in this book are fiction and figments of the author’s imagination.
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Chaotic War
While Zavier Sullivan may be the calm, reserved brother, his dragon is not. Especially since the beautiful, unorganized demi-goddess, Danielle Roberts—a.k.a Elle—moved into the mansion and into his life. She disturbs his OCD and makes him yearn for things he shouldn’t, but he can’t stay away from her. Nor can he deny her anything. Including his blood.
Ever since arriving at the home of the Sons of War, Elle has been plagued with dreams of the past and future. The visions are taking a toll, causing her debilitating headaches and ruining her sleep, but she doesn’t know what it all means. Her mother, Nyx, the Goddess of Night, has never bothered to show up and explain things to her. Until she arrives and unlocks Elle's powers, promptly transforming her into a half-daimon, half-goddess. Now, Zavier may be her only hope of holding onto her humanity, but can she bond with him after everything she’s seen? Especially in the midst of everything the Sons and their mates are going through.
Chapter One
Elle paced the small cage, her hands fisted at her sides. Somehow, Garrick had muted her powers or cast a spell around the cell that kept her from using any of her magic against him. A low snarl escaped from her as she smelled the male at the door to the room he kept her in. “Where is Zavier?”
An evil laugh sounded through the room before he stepped into view. “He will be with us soon.”
“You will burn in Tartarus.”
Garrick moved to a laptop set up on a counter to her right as if unfazed by her taunt. Bastard. Just then, two Imperials—descendants loyal to Garrick—drug a half-unconscious Zavier through the door. Elle’s heart stilled for a moment. Cold fear raced through her, chilling her to the bone.
She gripped the bars and growled. “Let him go.”
The sound of a drawer opening drew her attention to Garrick. The male pulled out the Divine Dagger and smiled. Evil flowed from him. He couldn’t have the Dagger. “That’s the wrong one.”
“I think not. You see…the guardian in charge of protecting the Dagger is insane and easily persuaded.”
He’s lying. Of course, he was. He was an evil, greedy asshat. When she opened her mouth to tell him just that, he faced Zavier, the Dagger fisted in one hand. Elle’s whole body tensed and her blood froze. Before she could get a scream out, Garrick plunged the Dagger into Zavier’s heart.
“No!” Elle jerked awake, her heart pounding, the beats resounding in her aching head. A dream. No, it had been a vision, she realized with a lump in her throat. Zavier. She swallowed a sob and listened. Relief flooded her when she heard the male’s office chair creak on the other side of the curtain that separated her studio from his office.
A sharp pain exploded in the back of her head and arched like electric currents to the font, settling behind her eyes. Ugh. She pressed her palms to her temples and squeezed her eyes shut. The headaches got worse with each vision.
“Elle? Are you okay?”
The smooth, husky tone filtered through the cotton barrier, relaxing her. But only a little. “I’m fine.”
Forcing herself to stand, she willed the pain in her head away. More like wished it away. The headaches never left her. They were constant reminders of the dark power that lie within her, waiting to be unleashed.
She stumbled to the worktable and searched for the brush she always used to paint her dream-visions. It wasn’t there. Frowning, she grabbed a new one then set up her palette. Tears stung her eyes as the images whirled in her mind. Zavier was going to die.
No. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—allow it. The future could be changed, right?
Absently painting the final scene of her vision, she let her mind wander. She would find out how Garrick had gotten the Dagger, or if he even had the right one to kill Zavier. There was one way to ensure that she got the Dagger first. Call her mother and ask the goddess of night to unlock her powers. Only then could she go into the Underworld and retrieve the Dagger from the drakon, Zander.
Drakons, as opposed to shapeshifting dragons like the Sons of War, were born dragons. They could take a human form, but most preferred not to. As she understood it, Zander was a two-headed drakon who guarded the gate to Tartarus. He was also the current keeper of the Dagger.
Once it was in her possession, she’d have to figure out a way to keep Zavier from facing Garrick. How? She didn’t know. She didn’t even know how Garrick would capture her in the first place.
“Damn it, Elle.” Zavier’s annoyed tone made her drop her shoulders as she remembered where she’d left her paintbrush.
***
“Are you kidding me?”
Zavier let out a low growl as he picked up the paintbrush, coated with stinky paint. Didn’t the female know what boundaries were? Sharing his basement office with her was a mistake. She was messy, unorganized, and a huge, beautiful distraction.
Rising from his chair with the brush between his index finger and thumb, he marched to the thin curtain separating his space from hers. Not that the cotton barrier helped much with privacy. He jerked the drape open and froze.
Elle stood in the middle of her studio, staring at an unfinished painting. Her long, black hair was twisted in a messy bun on the top of her head, and a few thick strands fell on either side of her face. The green of her irises was slightly darker than their normal pastel shade. Dark circles rimmed her almond-shaped eyes.
“When was the last time you slept?”
She glanced at him, but he could tell she wasn’t really focusing on him. Fuck. Her dream-visions must have gotten worse for her to skip sleep. His dragon snarled and urged him to move closer to her.
It didn’t matter how annoyed he got with her messes, there was no denying what was fated. Danielle Roberts—Elle to her friends—was his. And he was going to claim her one way or another.
Closing the distance between them, he stroked her face with his empty hand. She released a soft sigh and leaned into him. A single tear rolled down her cheek. “Headache. The visions cause headaches. It’s worse when I sleep.”
He narrowed his gaze on her. There was something she wasn’t telling him, but he’d let it go. For now. “Does it ease when I touch you?”
She backed away from him only to stumble over her own feet. He tossed the paintbrush on her already chaotic table, grabbed her hand, and led her to his side of the room. After picking up his tablet, he moved them to the sofa. “Sit.”
When she did as he said, he sat next to her. She curled up to his side and laid her head on his shoulder. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he whispered back, but she had already begun to snore lightly.
Smiling, he clicked on the tablet and searched through phone directories for Rayna Winters, the next female on Garrick’s list.
Zavier worked his jaw at the thought of his brother and his evil plot to build an army of demi-gods to stand against Zeus a
nd the other Olympians. In recent months, Z, Markus, Drake, Ty, and Seth had discovered that Garrick’s plan wasn’t to start a war, but to take the god king’s throne.
They couldn’t let him do that. Life on Earth would be forever altered. Humans would become slaves to Garrick’s commands.
As much as he hoped his brother could be redeemed, that he’d come to his senses and be the loyal, kind soul he once was, Zavier knew better. Garrick had gone to great lengths to prove to everyone that he had indeed lost his humanity. He had to be stopped, and possibly killed. Although Zeus would probably banish Garrick to Tartarus for an eternity of suffering.
The soft sound of bare feet against the concrete floor of the basement drew his attention to the opened door to his office and Elle’s studio. A small smile tugged at his lips and his heart warmed at the sight of Gwen, Markus’s mate and Elle’s best friend. The physical reaction to her wasn’t sexual. Zavier had no such feeling for anyone except Elle.
No, Gwen was the granddaughter of Aphrodite, goddess of love and desire. The feeling of peace and love had always settled over him whenever Gwen was around. The emotion had only grown since the female became pregnant.
She wore a long, pink gown that reminded him of something the goddesses wore in Olympus. He guessed that Aphrodite had given it to her. Her long, blonde hair was braided over one shoulder. But it was the worry in her gaze that made him frown. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just worried about Elle.” Gwen sighed and rubbed her slightly swollen belly. “Do you know what it would do to her if she took your blood?”
He stilled, not at all surprised that Gwen would know he and Elle were mates. The goddess of love always knew those things before the couple did; therefore, it wasn’t surprising that her granddaughter would, as well. Besides, Gwen was also a descendant of one of the Fates. It was possible that she’d known before her grandmother.
Releasing a breath he hadn’t realized he held, he answered her question. “I’m not sure, really. I’ve been researching Nyx and even asked Ash what she knew about the goddess. Since Nyx is the night, and her powers extend to every aspect of it, it’s hard to tell what Elle’s powers will be. Then there is the question: will her powers come to her gradually, or all at once?”
Gwen nodded but remained quiet while she watched Elle sleep, cuddled next to him.
Unsure what to say, Zavier asked, “Have Markus or Drake found anything on Zander?”
“No. And I’m afraid the clock is ticking. I suggested to Markus that Blair and Rayna should be the number one priority.”
“I told him the same thing. I know Ares wants the Dagger, but if Zander has it, he’s not giving it up.” He glanced down at his tablet and there it was. Out of what must be three-dozen or so R. E. Winters in California, there was only one Rayna E. Winters. It had to be her.
Tapping on the name, he pulled up her public record and found an address. After a copy and paste, he sent the address to Markus.
“You found her?”
He glanced to Gwen and nodded. “I believe so. It’s possible she’s moved since the listing. Or it isn’t her at all.”
Gwen stared back at Elle. “I know. But it’s more than we had a moment ago.”
Zavier sensed Markus a moment before he moved in behind Gwen and wrapped his arms around her waist. “My mate worries too much.”
Gwen rolled her eyes and said, “It’s the hormones.”
“You going to take her to her room to sleep?” Markus nodded toward Elle.
Zavier shrugged, but Gwen spoke with a frown. “No, better not. She’d just wake up and be annoyed. Besides, she’ll be more comfortable down here anyway.”
Gwen drew her brows together, and Markus scooped her up in his arms. “That’s it. I’m taking you to bed and pleasuring you until you stop worrying.” Before leaving, he added, “Get with Drake about the address.”
Zavier shook his head as his brother took his mate upstairs. Although he was overjoyed that Gwen and Markus had one another, he was sad at the same time. Not sad, really. Maybe a little bit jealous. He and his dragon were attracted to Elle, but they were unsure whether it was just chemistry or fate.
Elle’s breathing came quicker a moment before she jerked awake, sitting straight up beside him. She glanced around as if dazed. After a few moments, she glanced to him and frowned. “How long was I asleep?”
“Not long. Maybe twenty minutes.”
After scrubbing a hand down her face, she stood and walked to her side of the room. He let out a sigh at her attempt to put space between them. There was no amount of space that could stop him from smelling her, sensing her strength and passion for painting. He was betting she’d had another dream. What worried him was that he couldn’t tell how bad it was because she’d shut him out emotionally.
“I’m going upstairs to talk with Drake and Seth. I think I found Rayna.” He waited for her response, which was immediate.
“Really? That’s great.” She spoke through the curtain. Her silhouette moved toward the table, and a few moments later, she picked up her paint palette and a paintbrush.
“Did you need me to bring you anything?” he stood and moved to the door.
She sighed. “No. Just need some time alone.”
He almost argued that she spent too much time alone, not eating like she should and not sleeping. But he let it go, for the moment anyway. However, his dragon wasn’t going to wait much longer before the beast insisted they claim her.
But he couldn’t do that. Not yet.
Without another word, he forced himself to leave her and crossed the basement to the stairs. He’d work in Markus’s study for the rest of the afternoon so he wouldn’t be tempted to drag Elle up to bed. They’d only end up arguing. Elle clung to her independence like a security blanket. Every time he tried to help her, she got mad and they ended up in a fight.
How in Hades was he supposed to woo her into a mating?
Once on the first floor, he sent a telepathic request to Drake and Seth to meet him in the study. He wasn’t surprised that the males were already there. What did shock him was Seth’s hair standing on end. When Seth glanced up at him, Zavier narrowed his gaze. The male had dark circles under his eyes. Eyes that held his dragon in them. “You all right?”
A low growl rumbled from Seth, then he cursed and threaded his hands through his hair, fisting handfuls along the way. “No.” He stilled and cocked his head as he stared at Zavier. “You found her.”
Holding up a hand, Zavier said, “Possibly. What’s wrong with you?”
Seth was the playful one. Next to Zavier, the male was the calmest of the five of them. However, in that moment, he made Ty seem like the gentle dragon. Power fueled by his emotions swirled in the room and thickened the air around him. Seth got up from his seat at the small, round table next to the window and advanced toward him. “Give me the address. I have to go to her now. Before it’s too late.”
Zavier stood his ground. He didn’t like to be ordered around. And he typically liked to avoid conflict, but Seth clearly needed—or wanted—an ass kicking. “It might not be her. Then what? We waste time chasing a ghost?”
“Show. Me. The. Address.” Seth growled out each word, his eyes going complete dragon.
Snarling back, Zavier stepped forward, only to have Drake step between them and grab the front of Seth’s shirt. “Get your shit together. Don’t let your dragon think for you. It’s a lonely life having to hide from others because you let your dragon rule your emotions.”
Seth stared at Drake, blinked once, and then focused on Zavier. “Fuck.” He stepped back with his hands raised. He dropped his shoulders and paced the room, his body still tense and a little twitchy.
Glancing at Drake, Zavier raised a brow. That was the most the male had spoken at one time while not actively searching for Garrick. Drake especially didn’t talk about his past. Ever.
With a shake of his head, Drake returned to the armchair a few feet from Markus’s desk. “I f
ound Gary’s latest hiding place.”
Zavier advanced to Drake, the desire to find where Garrick hid Blair rushing through his veins. Though not as strongly as it did in Seth, apparently. Seth beat him to Drake’s side to hover over their brother’s shoulder.
Drake held up his hand then growled at Seth in warning. “Seth, so help me… I’ll nail your wings to the side of the mansion if you don’t calm the fuck down.” After taking a deep breath as if he were trying to rein in his own dragon, Drake looked at Zavier and continued. “The idiot—Garrick, not Seth—did exactly as I’d hoped he’d do.”
Just then, Markus, Ty, and Ash entered the study. Markus nodded to them as he spoke. “Garrick has a facility in the Rocky Mountains. Aphrodite just popped in to let Gwen and I know. I swear the goddess has the worst timing.”
Amusement made Zavier’s lips twitch until he noted the location Drake pointed to on his tablet. His anxiety rose several levels; worry for the teenage girl Garrick held in hopes of luring her sister to him escalating. “That’s too close to where I believe Rayna is.”
“That’s why Ty and Seth will go check out the address you got for Rayna, and you and I will go after Blair. Ash and Drake will watch the house. I want this to be an in and out, no fighting with Gary right now. I hate being away from Gwen for long periods of time.” Markus worked his jaw.
The tension in the room spiked. Each of them hated to leave the pregnant goddess. Gwen had wormed her way into each of their hearts, as had Ash and Elle. They were family now, and no one messed with the Sons of War and their family.
Not even one of their own.
Chapter Two
You’re fucking weak.
Elle painted while her mind reeled with thoughts of Zavier holding her as she slept. Usually, his touch muted the invasion of the visions, but not this time. Images that she didn’t recognize, which had grown more and more fuzzy the longer she was awake, had disturbed what would’ve been a peaceful sleep.
