Claiming Carina

by Khloe Wren

  Evernight Publishing ®

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2014 Khloe Wren

  ISBN: 978-1-77130-992-9

  Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

  Editor: Karyn White

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  To Amber and the tribe at NBC, thanks for all your support. You guys rock.

  CLAIMING CARINA

  Dragon Warriors, 3

  Khloe Wren

  Copyright © 2014

  Legend

  Legend tells of a time, many moons ago, when there was just one plane. Humans, dragon shifters, and liaths all lived together. But it was not in harmony. The mystical liaths wanted to dominate the others. Magic fought against magic, causing great fires to rip through the land. The Goddess used her Great Wind to come and take the innocent to new planes, separating them so peace could reign. Humans were placed on Earth, while the dragon shifters were given the Land of Feury. The Goddess wanted them to thrive in their new homes, so she gave each new plane the same fruits, vegetables, and livestock. All they needed to live healthy happy lives.

  The liaths, who had started the war, were left in the burnt out plane of Dubhghlas. The Goddess did not replenish their lands. She left them to recover on their own, hoping they would grow to understand the importance of peace over war.

  Alas, over time this legend has been lost, its knowledge sinking in the mists of time…

  Chapter One

  I have to tell them. They're my closest friends, they won't judge or blame me like my university friends did.

  Carina sat watching the campfire crackle and spit as she mentally warred with herself. This camping trip she and her four best friends had embarked on was to reconnect with each other. They had all concluded that they didn't see each other often enough anymore, and a trip away together would be the perfect way to remedy the problem. Surely they'd listen to her troubles. They may even have some idea on how she could move on from it. Her mind decided that moment was the perfect time to inundate her with her memories of that horrid evening. Her body shuddered as she did everything she could to hold the memories down below the surface of her consciousness. She felt eyes on her and looked up in a panic to see who had caught her in her weakest moment. Eilagh.

  "You know, Carina, you can tell us anything. There is no need to hide or be ashamed. We all love you. Please, let us help."

  Eilagh's quiet words cut straight through all the defensive walls Carina had built since the attack. She shook her head and closed her eyes as she felt the sting of tears. As they slid down her cheeks, she knew all her friends would be able to see their tracks glistening in the firelight.

  Her breath caught on a sob as her four friends all crowded in around her and wrapped her in a group hug. She laid her head on Skye's shoulder and let go. Her sobs were loud and echoed off the great rocks of Kata Tjuta—she didn't care. Her soul was bleeding. She'd kept all the pain in for so long she felt like she was slowly dying inside.

  Carina clung to her friends as she wept, and once she'd taken the edge off her pain she knew she had to tell them about the attack. She kept her face buried in Skye's neck. She needed to tell them, but she didn't want to see their faces while she did. She'd never get through it if she saw either pity or blame on any of their faces.

  "Ten months, three days." She paused for a deep breath to steel herself before she could continue.

  "Ten months and three days ago, I was coming home late from university. It was already pretty dark, but I've walked that road hundreds of times and never had any trouble. I noticed this group of guys move in behind me. They gave me the creeps, so I started walking faster. I got my phone out to call the police. I nearly had the third number entered in when a man coming from the opposite direction walked straight up to me, forcing me to stop." She paused to let a sob escape her throat and felt one of her friends begin to stroke her hair. It felt nice, soothed her enough so she could continue.

  "I went to finish dialing just as the man in front of me shoved me back. My phone fell from my hand and skidded away. I went to lunge for it, but the guys that had been behind me grabbed me. They covered my mouth so I couldn't yell and dragged me down an alleyway. There were five of them. They took turns … it hurt so much. At first, I was scared they wanted to kill me. After they all raped me, I wanted them to kill me. It hurt so bad. They finally stopped when they'd had enough and left me there in the alley." She stopped as the sobs wracking her body became too much to talk through. She was back in that alley, could feel their rough hands on her and could smell the alcohol on their breaths. Skye's hand gently rubbing circles on her back helped her ground herself.

  "Shhh, honey. It's okay. You're safe now. We've got you." Skye kept repeating her words. Eventually the chaos in Carina's mind slowed, and she heard the words. She was safe; it was over. Her friends had her now. She wrapped her arms tightly around Skye's neck.

  She closed her eyes against the memories, but couldn't stop her body from shaking. Would she ever feel better? Would she ever heal from this?

  Eilagh pushed her hair behind her ear. "Why don't you move to Darwin and live with me? Get a fresh start away from Sydney and all its big city crap."

  Carina looked up into Eilagh's blue eyes as she thought about her offer. Why hadn't she thought of that?

  "Um, that would be great. But I don't know what I'll do. I couldn't go back to university after … I tried, but I couldn't do it. I had to pull out. I've got no degree, no real work experience. In the last ten months I've used up all my savings." She stopped to sigh and shudder in a deep breath. "My whole life is a mess, and I don't know how to fix any of it."

  "You will lean on us, and we'll help you, every step of the way. That's how." Becky's voice was strong with determination. How on earth Carina thought keeping the attack from her friends was a good idea she'd never know.

  ****

  Sitting high on the back of his favorite horse, Phelan looked over the land in front of him. The cattle were grazing on grass as they wandered around. He and his brothers had to round up six of them for slaughter, just as they did twice a week, every week. Their herd was massive. No one had ever done a head count because they had such a large area to roam it had always been too difficult. That and as long as they kept breeding well so they had enough to eat, it didn't matter how many there were. He heard his brother Denver's horse approaching. He waited for Denver to reach him before he rode down to where the cattle were grazing to round up those they needed.

  It didn't take long for the six fully grown animals to be rounded up into the yards ready for slaughter. Phelan was glad he didn't have to do that part. He could never kill a defenseless animal, even if it was to feed his family and friends. Denver normally got the task, but even he didn't enjoy it. His youngest brother, Hart, was so damn softhearted he couldn't even bring himself to round up the animals. He took care of the crops and was bloody good at it.

  Phelan led both his and Denver's horses back to the stables and brushed them down before settling them in with a bag of feed each. Once done, he headed back to the slaughter house—hoping Denver was finished. Before he got there he heard Dimitri, their clan leader's, voice rumble through his head.

  All warriors to the orchard. The Great Wind has returned, and Max is out there alone.

&nb
sp; Denver came running out of the slaughterhouse and just about cleaned Phelan up. With a bright flash of light they both shifted to their dragon forms and flew to the orchard. Hart joined them in the sky, and they all landed together with eight other warriors. They flashed back to human when they saw Max in human form, slumped over what appeared to be a female. Looking around, Phelan saw she was one of five unconscious females scattered around near them.

  "What did they do to you, brother?" Dimitri's concerned voice rang out as they all ran to the newcomers.

  Phelan felt drawn to one of the women. She was so tiny. She'd only come up to his chest, he'd guess, by the look of her. Her black curly hair was glossy and beautiful as it shone in the sunlight. Her facial features were delicate and fine. Her skin was a gorgeous light shade of brown, like a pale colored caramel. He knelt beside her at the same time as both his brothers did. Phelan reached for her, stroking his fingertips lightly down her cheek. The second he made contact he gasped as his eyes flew wide.

  What is it, Phelan? What did she do to you? Denver's concerned voice floated through his mind.

  She’s ours. Our Desired. Touch her and you will see for yourselves.

  They both looked at him in shock before reaching out to touch her for themselves. Phelan watched as each of his brothers closed their eyes and shuddered as they felt the connection with their Desired.

  We need to get her to the clinic, make sure she's not injured in any way.

  Hart's gentle voice came back at him.

  They gently peeled her large bag from her shoulders before Denver, who as the eldest had first right, picked her up. Just as he stood, Drake spoke loudly, "Let's take this inside and get these females seen to. Then we'll decide what to do about all of our instincts flaring."

  At Drake’s voice, Phelan looked around and saw each woman had a family of brothers surrounding them. Except for one. She only had one out of two brothers, but Baxter would be in the clinic waiting for them. Were these women the answers to all their prayers? Did five families now have their Desired? He guessed only time would tell. He slung the woman's bag over his shoulder and followed his brothers, and their Desired, up to the castle.

  ****

  Carina awoke with a scream lodged in her throat. She sat bolt upright as her hands flew to cover her face. She focused on getting her breathing under control before lowering her hands. It was only a nightmare, just like all the others, it wasn't real.

  It. Wasn't. Real.

  She lowered her hands, opened her eyes and froze. Three huge half-naked men stood in front of her, all frowning at her. She scooted back on the bed until she ran into something warm, and she spun around to find Skye there.

  "It's okay, Carina."

  Carina just shook her head. It was not okay. Her memories came rushing back to her, hiking through the Kata Tjuta, smelling honey, the sudden powerful cyclone-like wind tunnel, the lightning, then passing out. When Skye attempted to embrace her, Carina wriggled her way around Skye’s body so she sat behind her. She wanted as much distance as possible between her and those big men with their muscular bare chests, honey golden hair, and sparkling emerald eyes.

  "Sweetie, can you drink this? It's just water."

  Carina focused on swallowing and trying to get her heart rate and breathing to calm down. She emptied the cup and was feeling calmer—until she looked back up and saw all the big men again. There were six surrounding her and Skye. The three with the golden hair she'd noticed first, and three others, equally big but with blue hair and magenta eyes. She tried to move further behind Skye as another large man came into the mix, carrying Becky. He placed her on the bed and stepped back, like he didn't want to spook her. She felt Becky's hand on her leg moments before she began to speak.

  "Carina? Honey, it's okay, these men are big, but they will never hurt you … especially not like those assholes hurt you."

  Carina looked her friend over, noticing the bright white bandages on her ankle and wrists.

  "But you've been hurt, Becky."

  "Not by them. They came and rescued me before I was really hurt."

  Pain sliced through her heart at the thought of her friend being raped like she was. She sat frozen in her pain as Becky turned to the man who had carried her over. "Drake, make them promise. Make the men promise Carina she will not be harmed or forced to do anything she doesn't want to do."

  Carina moved her focus onto the man Becky had called Drake. He looked her straight in the eye and vowed, "Carina, I can promise you that no male inside this castle's walls will ever cause you or any of your friends harm or force you or them to do anything you or they don't want."

  She turned her head as each of these big men held her gaze and vowed her protection and safety. The last three men, who must be brothers as they all had the same emerald green eyes and beautiful honey golden hair that hung around their shoulders, looked to be in pain as they made their vows. Carina frowned in confusion.

  She vaguely heard Becky ask Drake to get all the men to leave. When they were alone she loosened her grip on Skye and took some deep breaths.

  "Where are we? What's going on?"

  "Well, what do you remember?" Skye's gentle voice pulled her attention her way.

  "I remember the cyclone thing and being hit by lightning … then nothing."

  "They call that the Great Wind. It brought us through a portal from Earth to The Land of Feury."

  "Who are they?"

  "The men?" Skye sighed. "You're not going to believe us, but they have proved it. We've all seen it with our own eyes."

  Carina frowned at her friend. What on earth was she going on about?

  "They're dragon shifters. They can be either dragons or men."

  Carina's head snapped up to Becky's gaze so fast her head spun. "What did you say? Shifters? Seriously?"

  Becky nodded. "Seriously, I've seen a few now. The men's hair color is that of their scales, and their eye color is that of their underside and wing webbing."

  Becky sighed. "Your men are going to be stunning dragons, with their golden scales and green fronts."

  Skye shuddered. “Dragons are too much like crocodiles for me.”

  Carina winced as she watched Skye rub her thigh where it was scarred from where she’d been attacked as a child. Carina wasn’t the only one of her friends with scars.

  "Hang on, what do you mean my men? I have no men—man. Nor do I want one."

  With a finger under her chin, Becky moved her head up from where she’d been staring at her toes so Carina looked into Becky’s serious stare.

  "You need to know some other things, Carina. Things that are going to be very hard for you to hear, to adjust to. These men? They share a woman. The brothers of a family take one woman to love. Fate chooses a woman for them, and they call that woman their Desired. Apparently all five of us are Desireds. These men are big, but they would never hurt you. They are very different from Earth men. When Eilagh and I were kidnapped earlier, the men dropped everything and came straight to our rescue. They are noble and honorable—none of these men would ever take you by force. Those stupid dragons that kidnapped us are a different case. Stupid dickheads."

  "What? You got kidnapped?" Carina stiffened in anger that her friends had been treated in such a manner.

  "Yeah, earlier today Eilagh and I got taken by some rogue dragons. These four moronic dragons flew off a few days before we arrived in search of females. They obviously got word that we had been found and decided to come back and take a couple of us for their own. Told us they were going to breed with us. Thankfully, our men came in time to rescue us—in my case, they arrived in the nick of time. Any later and I would have been really hurt, like you were."

  "I'm glad you didn't get hurt like I did." Carina's voice was small, but she knew her friends had heard her when they wrapped her in a hug.

  "How long have we been here? And how long have I been out?"

  "We arrived two days ago, and we all woke up this morning. You've only been out abo
ut half a day longer than the rest of us."

  As her friends loosened their embrace, she moved away from them and noticed a metal band around her upper arm.

  "And what on earth is this metal thing?"

  "They're Truth Bands." Skye's band glowed green. "When we answer a question it glows green if it's the truth and red if we lie."

  "But why? It seems a little extreme."

  Becky answered, "My men told me over our meal. It's quite sad really. The Great Wind has brought visitors here before. They call them liaths. They came and created a virus to kill off the dragons so they could take all their land for themselves. But it backfired, and it only killed the women and the young. These liaths were nice to start with, but then they started hiding out in their labs. The dragons believed their lies, that they came in peace, and paid a heavy price for it."

  "So there are no women or children here?"

  "Nope, just us five."

  Becky sighed. "I better get out to my men before they come barreling in here to take me. They are wonderful, but can be pushy as anything."

  Carina grabbed Becky's arm before she could get up off the bed. "I don't think I can ever let one man touch me again, let alone three. I just can't. It will trigger memories. What if I never can?" Carina could hear the fear in her own voice.

  "Just be yourself, honey, and see where it goes. How I understand this whole Desired thing, the men will be patient with you, give you whatever you need without pushing you beyond what you can give. They would rather die than cause you any pain."

  Carina watched as Becky limped out of the room. At the doorway Carina got a glimpse of a large man picking her friend up and scolding her for walking on her sore ankle. The love for Becky was clear on his face. Could Carina push past all her damage to be able to have that bond with a man, or men? She seriously didn't think it was possible.