Dracones Boxset Books 1-5

by Sheri-Lynn Marean

  “Hey, Helly.” The bed dipped as Nix climbed up beside her.

  Hellfire was usually the one in charge but this time it was Nix who wrapped her arms around her sister in comfort. “Tell me what’s happened.”

  That only brought more tears to Hellfire’s eyes. Pissed with her foolishness over Sami, Hellfire growled. “I’m pathetic.”

  “No, you’re only humanish,” Nix said, making Hellfire snort at their old joke.

  “Don’t make me laugh,” Hellfire said then slowly, she told Nix about Sami. When she was done, Nix hugged her tight.

  “I don’t understand how this happened,” Hellfire said, meaning her feelings for the Dracones male.

  “I do,” Nix said and grinned. “He’s your soul mate.”

  Hellfire snorted. “Soul mate! I don’t believe in soul mates, and guys are all jerks. They only want one thing,” she said and then began to cry again.

  “Well, you should believe it. I do, and obviously not all guys are like that,” Nix said.

  Hellfire stared at her a moment. “When did you get so smart?” she asked her younger sister.

  “I’ve always been smart, you just didn’t want to admit it,” Nix said.

  Hellfire nodded and hugged her sister. “I missed you,” she said, getting weepy again.

  “I missed you too,” Nix said then she pulled away. “So, when do we go back for your Sami, and Dawson?”

  Hellfire frowned at her. “What?”

  “We need to go get your man, and I need to get my friend out of there.”

  “We can’t, it’s too dangerous. You could get recaptured,” Hellfire said.

  “We both have someone stuck in that hellhole, so we go get them and just don’t get caught. It’s a no brainer,” Nix said.

  Hellfire stared at her little sister who sounded so very grown up all of a sudden. “What happened to you? Are you really okay, they didn’t—?”

  Nix shook her head. “No, they didn’t touch me, but only because I have a friend back there. Every time they started to take me, he would draw their attention and anger them so much, that they would take him instead. He was tortured for me, Helly,” Nix whispered, tears filling her eyes. “I have to go back for him and you need to go get your man.”

  “He’s not my man,” Hellfire said.

  Nix let out a big huff and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sure. Whatever.”

  Hellfire stared at her sister a moment longer then she wiped at her face, embarrassed at having fallen apart so badly. “Yes, that’s what we’ll do, we’ll go get them.”

  With that, Hellfire got up. Feeling shaky and sick, she stepped out into the main room and looked at her brother. “Brim, I’m going back for Sami. I can’t leave him there.” She expected her brother to give her a hard time but instead, he nodded.

  “Okay,”

  “First you should eat,” Hinah said, setting a couple bowls of food on the table.

  “Oh, that smells good—” Hellfire started to compliment her on her cooking when she suddenly felt like throwing up. Eyes wide, she rushed outside to the outhouse. When she walked back in, feeling like she hadn’t slept in a month, everyone frowned at her.

  “What?” she asked, wondering how badly her hair was sticking out on all sides of her head—not that she actually cared—although the pink still pissed her off. No one said a word, and Hinah simply indicated again that she eat something. Hellfire shook her head. “No, I’ll ah, just go lay down until you are all done.”

  As she walked to the bedroom, she heard Nix ask Brimstone what was wrong with her.

  “She got into it with a Were-cat, and got hurt really bad. She didn’t tell me of course.”

  Hellfire tuned him out as she crawled up onto the bed and pulled the covers over her.

  I’ll rest. Just a few minutes, while they eat …

  Sleep quickly overtook her.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Rescue

  HELLFIRE’S EYES OPENED and she noted that it was dark out once again. Sitting up, she glanced around the small bedroom and suddenly, it all came back to her. Sami had given himself up for her sister. Hellfire gasped, and an incredible sadness filled her. No. Thoughts of the horrors he could be going through filled her mind. Fuck, she needed to get him out of there, like now. Why did he do that?

  This is what you wanted, isn’t it? You didn’t want him because you are a chicken. Scared. Scared to feel, to love. It’s all your fault. The voice in her head screamed at her as guilt once more filled her. You let one man ruin you for all others.

  Hellfire threw back the covers, knowing she was going to be sick again. Quickly, she dashed out of the cabin, barely making it to the outhouse in time. Having eaten little in the past few days, it was nothing more than dry heaves. When they ended, Hellfire straightened up. She knew she couldn’t leave him there a minute longer, even if he never spoke to her again. Then she frowned realizing she hadn’t seen either Brimstone or Nix on her rush out of the cabin. Hurrying back inside, she glanced around. They were nowhere in sight.

  “You should eat something,” Hinah said from where she stood in the kitchen.

  Hellfire ignored her and went to the bedroom she had shared with Sami. It too was empty. What the hell? What did they do? They were both gone.

  Hellfire spun around. Hinah stood in the kitchen cutting up some vegetables as she watched Hellfire.

  “Where are they?” Hellfire asked.

  With a sigh, Hinah set the knife she was using down and stepped towards Hellfire. “They left an hour ago, as soon as it got dark.”

  “No,” Hellfire said and started for the door.

  Hinah shook her head and stepped into Hellfire’s path, blocking her. “They wanted you to stay here,” she said. “I knew you were sick, but then your brother told us how sick you were. They are worried about you and think you are too emotional, that you might do something stupid.”

  Hellfire blinked at her and then shook her head. “Hinah, move out of my way,” she growled at the wolf shifter. Hinah didn’t move.

  “I can’t leave Sami with those assholes, I have to get him out of there,” Hellfire said as tears filled her eyes. Her blood was pumping with worry for Sami, but Hinah still didn’t move. With a sigh, Hellfire shook her head and ran a hand through her short hair.

  “Please, Hinah. Don’t do this.” If she had to, she’d shift and fight the woman.

  Hinah stared into Hellfire’s eyes a moment longer then she shocked Hellfire when she grabbed her, giving her a tight hug. “I tried to stop you, but I’m no match for you. Now go, go get your man,” she said and stepped aside. “But you need to be careful,” she yelled from the doorway as Hellfire shot outside.

  A moment later, flames engulfed her as she shifted to her Phoenix form, and then she shot up into the night sky.

  Hellfire was surprised when she didn’t run into Brimstone or Nix. She flew over the place where they had made camp, but there was no sign of anyone. Next, she headed to the spot they’d watched the fortress from but still there was no sign of her siblings. Maybe they were already inside. No. She dismissed that idea. If they had been, there would be some commotion from within the fortress. But there wasn’t a sound. Everything was quiet—perhaps a bit too quiet.

  Hellfire flew lower and a shiver rushed over her because there was a feeling of magic in the air, or was it someone watching her? She wasn’t sure which. Without knowing where her siblings were, or what they were doing, she circled the fortress again. There was no sign of them anywhere she could see.

  Fuck! Where the hell are you two?

  For the first time, she wished she had Sami’s ability to speak to her siblings telepathically. Finally, feeling frustrated, she let her invisibility go.

  Fine, I will do this without them.

  She began her descent. Landing about ten feet from the ugly metal fortress’s gates, she drew closer to the magic from the wards, which were encouraging her to go away. It took some effort, but she wasn’t about to leave—not w
hen Sami was still inside.

  Two black-robed Ilyium guards stared down at her looking stunned, while another two began to shout. Hellfire heard responding shouts and knew it was the other Ilyium who kept watch from other positions up on the wall. Hellfire could hear a couple of them start down a ladder.

  “I want to speak to whoever is in charge here,” she demanded, drawing her wings into her sides but staying in Phoenix form.

  There were murmurs of disbelief from above her and the two Ilyium, now on the ground, cast a quick glance her way before rushing inside the building. Hellfire could hear a lot of whispers and murmurs, and almost smiled. She couldn’t imagine they often had people showing up at their gate like this, and definitely not twice in one day. It would have been funny if she weren’t so scared for Sami. Finally, the original two Ilyium hurried out of the building with four more guards hot on their heels.

  “She claims to want to talk to Master,” they told the newcomers who stared at her.

  “What do you want?” one man asked as he watched her through the bars on the gate.

  “I already told your pals up there, I want to speak to your Master,” Hellfire said.

  The men glanced uneasily at each other, and then the man who had spoken, motioned to two other men who stepped forward and unlocked the gate. It creaked as they pulled it open.

  “Who are you?” he asked while the rest of them glanced suspiciously around outside of the gates, as if they expected an attack.

  “My name doesn’t matter,” Hellfire said, staring at the man.

  “Why have you come here?” the man asked again.

  Hellfire narrowed her eyes and wondered which man was Isoul’s mate. It didn’t matter. Hellfire raised her chin. She’d come here to get Sami and she wasn’t leaving without him.

  “How many times do I have to say it, I want to speak to your leader, the one who is in charge here. Now,” Hellfire repeated, starting to get angry.

  A moment later, she felt the tingle of magic as they let the wards down, then they beckoned her inside. When one of them attempted to grab her, Hellfire ducked and swung a wing out, cutting him with the razor-sharp edge of her wings.

  “Don’t touch, asshole,” she growled. The other robed men backed off but they kept her surrounded as they led her inside the large building.

  Hellfire followed the hated Ilyium down a corridor. Rooms with closed doors lined the long hallway and Hellfire wondered what was behind the doors. Finally, they led her into a large square courtyard that was open to all three levels of the building.

  “Wait here,” the man who had questioned her said, and walked away.

  Hellfire watched him for a moment, then she gazed around and as she turned, she gasped. She had learned from Nix that the cells holding the prisoners were located at the far north side of the building on all three levels. She expected that to be where they’d put Sami—but she was very wrong.

  Hellfire’s stomach lurched as her gaze rose. The sight in front of her made her want to gag. Chained, naked, and spread eagle on a cross that hung on the wall just out of reach above the ground was Sami. Dried blood covered his whole body in a crisscross pattern, an indication of the whipping they’d subjected him to again, and again. Nausea roiled through her and Hellfire had to fight not to throw up where she stood.

  Oh shit, no. Sami!

  Tears welled up in her eyes and Hellfire fought not to break down.

  Not yet. Keep your cool.

  Hellfire knew Sami healed really fast, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be hurt. And oh, it looked like they had hurt him so badly. Her heart ached at what he’d already been through in such a short time. His head hung to the side, his eyes closed. She prayed he was still alive. He had to be alive, he was immortal so he couldn’t be dead, could he?

  Oh, please be alive …

  Hellfire swallowed the bile that rose in her throat. “Sami,” she whispered.

  “My men tell me you are a Phoenix,” a nasally voice said and Hellfire whipped around to see a man approaching. Another man followed behind him, a slightly bit taller but mostly hidden by the man in front. Both were wearing black robes but while the one in front had his hood down, the one in back had his pulled up. All Hellfire could see of his features, was a pair of pale blue eyes. The one in front was older with grey hair. He was the one speaking to her. A sword hung at his side, along with a couple daggers. Though he acted as if he were in charge, Hellfire wondered if she was only supposed to think he was.

  She nodded. “I am. And who are you?”

  “I am Erdal, and how lucky. Two Phoenixes in one day,” the man said, a smile on his lips matching the evil gleam in his eyes. Hellfire fought not to shudder for he was practically salivating.

  “I’d like to propose a trade, Erdal.” Hellfire said, and nodded up at Sami. “Me, for him.”

  SAMI HAD BEEN FEELING the soul stone choker around his neck tingling for a while now. Before she died, Tierney’s mother had made and given each of her family one. She had also given one to her friend, Latia, as well as one for each of her son’s—Sami and Jax. The chokers, spelled with magic, each had a differing number of precious stones in them representing their loved ones—both alive and not yet born. Sami could still remember his friend’s mother and her sad smile as she attached them around their necks. He also remembered her words.

  “With these, you will always be able to find each other.”

  Recently, Tierney had learned how to tap into the magic of the soul stones. She used the stones to locate Jax when the Ilyium on Earth had him. Then later that same day, while trying to save Jax’s life, Tierney had inadvertently summoned Adariasthorn. Adarias was one of the few sons left of their mutual forefather, Skulla—the original dragon from which all Dracones were descended. To their surprise that day, they had discovered Adarias was also Jax’s true father, which explained so much. Mainly, it explained why Marcius had always hated Jax so much.

  Sami had also recently used his soul stones to locate Goldy since she was pregnant with his child, and then later he was able to find Marcius. His evil father who had stolen Latia’s choker after she died.

  Sami unconsciously knew Tierney was seeking him. He could feel her magic as she sought to connect to him. He could feel her worry but there was nothing he could do. He’d made a promise and besides, he no longer had the will to fight. The magic continued to seek, probing but Sami ignored it, and soon it was only a buzzing at the back of his mind.

  He was drifting on an ocean of pain, his body on fire though it was slowly fading. Suddenly, Hellfire’s voice pierced his mind, making him believe he was dreaming. Until he heard her sweet voice again…this time much clearer. Sami tried to push the cobwebs from him mind, but they wouldn’t go way. They’d beaten him unconscious and he couldn’t escape the darkness.

  Then Sami caught Hellfire’s scent. It drifted his way and filled him with an unquenchable longing. It was so sultry, so filled with life, and with fire. Her scent was so completely Hellfire.

  It can’t be her. I’m imagining. Hallucinating …

  But then Hellfire’s voice drifted to him again. “Me, for him.”

  Her voice rang out loud and clear, full of steely determination. A stubbornness that Sami knew all too well. As her words registered, his blood began rushing through his veins and suddenly he was imbued with a strength he didn’t know he still had. His head snapped up and his eyes opened. Oh shit, no, she can’t be here. He couldn’t have given himself up, taken their gleeful whipping, and torture only to have her here, and not heading back to Earth, or somewhere else safe.

  But it was her. Hellfire stood below him in Phoenix form, eyes flashing silver. She looked every bit as formidable as when he first saw her. Only this time, she was trying to barter herself for him.

  Wait a second. What? Why would she do that?

  “No.” Horrified, the word burst from his lips.

  This couldn’t be happening. She’d given him up, wanted to trade her sister for him, so w
hy was she here now? Sami’s heart began to pound. No, she couldn’t give herself up for him. She had to be up to something. It had to be some kind of stalling tactic but still, this wasn’t good. Just the thought of these assholes laying one single finger on her set him on edge and made him want to destroy them all. He began to growl.

  “Shut him up,” Erdal shouted, pointing up at Sami.

  One of his underlings, another guy in robes grabbed a whip off the wall and began to lower the cross on which Sami was attached.

  “Don’t touch him,” Hellfire yelled.

  The man ignored her and continued to lower him until Hellfire rushed over and knocked the guy out of the way. Stunned, the man went to grab for her and Hellfire used her wings to slash at him, cutting his arm and one hand.

  “I said stop,” she shouted as the man cried out. He held his hand cradled against his chest and looked to Erdal for instruction.

  “Grab her,” Erdal motioned to the guards who had brought her inside. Nervous, the men stepped forward at the same time that a bunch of robed Ilyium rushed into the room.

  “It’s a trap,” they shouted as more men followed hot on their heels, only these weren’t wearing robes.

  Erdal leaped forward while Hellfire was distracted and Sami watched, heart in his throat as he grabbed her. In one swift move, he had a knife pressed to her throat while his men began to fight.

  Rage fueled Sami to such a degree he didn’t even notice who the Ilyium were fighting. His vision began to turn red and his blood was on fire. When he gave himself up for Nix, he’d promised not to use his power. No magic. He wasn’t to try to get away, or hurt any of his captors, but at the sight of his mate in trouble, all bets were off. Blind fury consumed him. How dare the bastard lay a hand on his mate, threaten her life?

  Not happening.

  Without conscious thought, Sami drew his power around himself pulling on all the pain, guilt, and anger that had been festering inside him for so long. A furious, ear-shattering roar erupted from deep within him.

  Erdal’s eyes widened with fear as he glanced at Sami. “You promised not to use your magic, not to fight or break free,” he shouted as he began to back away taking Hellfire with him.