Dracones Boxset Books 1-5

by Sheri-Lynn Marean

  “Are you sure we’re … ahm, s-safe here?” she asked, a tremor in her voice.

  Tierney nodded. “Yes, you are safe from all of us here,” she said, reassuring the woman.

  “Oh, I don’t know. Lilly, she’s … well, she’s different,” she said, uncertain.

  “Really? You are worried about her being different?” Tierney asked, raising her eyebrows.

  Chloe blushed. “Well, ah, o-okay,” she said, nodding her head like she was trying to convince herself.

  “Tierney,” Zander said, and she could hear how much pain he was in, but knew he wanted her to warn Chloe about the dangers of staying with them.

  “What?” Chloe asked, looking between the two of them.

  “Tell her,” Zander rasped.

  Tierney sighed. “We do have enemies; people who want to hurt us. I can’t see anyone bothering you or Lilly, and I know that everyone here will do their best to protect you both, but you do need to be aware.”

  Chloe processed that for a moment, then she nodded. “Okay, but if I decide I want to leave later, you’ll let me?”

  Tierney nodded.

  “Oh course,” Zander said, then moaned in pain.

  “Oh. All right, but … we need to get you something for the pain.” She looked at Tierney pointedly.

  “What?” Tierney asked, then realized that she meant medicine. “No, that doesn’t work on us.”

  Chloe stared at Tierney and then Zander in disbelief. “What do you mean?” Then she stiffened her shoulders. “What are you people?” But before they could answer, she shook her head and held up a hand. “Never mind, I don’t want to know. Not now. This is all too much.” Then without another word, she leaned over and wiped at Zander’s brow with the cool cloth again before pouring him a glass of water and holding it to his lips.

  “Gods … I feel like such an invalid!” Zander said to Tierney who gazed at him sadly. She knew he hated not being able to take care of himself.

  Tierney looked at Chloe. “Can you give us a minute?”

  Lips pursed, Chloe nodded, turned and left the room.

  “That was nice of you, and we could use her help,” Tierney said.

  “Yeah, I—” Zander moaned again, then he looked up at her with panic in his eyes. “Tiern, I need to be put back under.”

  Tierney nodded. “I’ll get Kyrian,” she said and telepathically hailed the wolf king.

  “Tierney,” Kyrian replied, sounding out of breath and upset.

  “Are you all okay? Jax said some of your wolves might be injured,” she asked, then winced as another small groan slipped out from between her dad’s lips.

  “Yes, that is correct,” Kyrian said softly.

  Even speaking telepathically, Tierney could sense the Okami leader’s despair. “I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do for any of your wolves?”

  “No. Well, maybe. We need somewhere safe to gather and care for our wounded,” he explained.

  Fucking Were-wolves and Ilyium! Why couldn’t they just leave everyone alone? “Kyrian, please, bring your people here. We have lots of room,” Tierney said, feeling bad and worried about the wolves now too.

  “All right. Thank you. I’m guessing you need me to put your dad back under?” he asked.

  “Yes. Sorry, I know you are busy, but please.”

  “We will be down in a couple minutes,” Kyrian said.

  Tierney stared down at her dad. “Kyrian will be here in a few minutes. I told him to bring his injured wolves inside.”

  Zander nodded. Pain and sadness filled his eyes. “Yes. Good. Is everyone else okay? What about Thaniel?”

  “Thaniel’s shaken. He’s with Jax. Kyrian’s wolves helped us, but unfortunately, they suffered some losses.”

  Her dad nodded. “Damn. I’m sorry I couldn’t help. Give them whatever they need. They’ve helped us out so much already.” Then he groaned in pain once again.

  “They have, and don’t worry, I will. You just rest. Heal. I’ll get Kyrian in here right away.”

  Her dad nodded and closed his eyes.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Injured Wolves

  TIERNEY HURRIED outside and saw Kyrian and his pack emerging from the trees. Some were in wolf form, others in human, helping the injured.

  “Thank you, Tierney. We lost a good wolf and have a bunch of injured, and I don’t want to leave the pregnant females alone out here,” Kyrian said as he drew near. He had his arm around a young man who was limping beside him.

  “Of course, anything I can do to help,” she said as she led them inside the house and into the great room. The wolves who weren’t injured, pregnant, or helping someone else stayed outside. “They don’t want to come in?” she asked.

  Kyrian shook his head. “No, they will keep an eye out for any more of the enemy, although after what Jax did, I don’t think we need to worry anytime soon.”

  Tierney nodded, wondering what all Jax had done. Through their bond, she’d felt his anger and despair. She could only assume that he had shifted and kicked some major ass. “What do you need? Rooms? Beds?” she asked, looking at all of Kyrian’s people milling close together in the great room.

  Thankfully, Lilly was now nowhere in sight, but Bastien was and he came over to her. “Chloe took Lilly for a nap,” he said to Tierney’s relief. Bastien stared at the group. “Is … is there anything I can help with?”

  “I don’t know.” She turned to Kyrian as Goldy came down and joined them. “I can get bandages, water for cleaning wounds, food. What do you need?”

  “No, thank you. Most of my wolves are not comfortable in people homes. We’re too used to living in nature, making caves our den. They will heal where they are. They just need a safe place to rest for a few hours. The cave we were staying in has been compromised.”

  His gaze swept his pack and Tierney caught the anger and defeat in his eyes. Sighing, he looked back at her. “I had hoped that we’d be able to stay in this area longer,” Kyrian said sadly. “I didn’t see this coming—”

  “Sami had a vision of the wolves coming for Thaniel and Mark, but he didn’t see this either.”

  Kyrian nodded and then focused back on her. “Let’s go take care of your dad now.”

  Tierney nodded at Goldy and Bastien. “See if anyone wants food or water.” Then turning, she led Kyrian down the hall. She thought about what Kyrian had just said and an idea began to form.

  ***

  THANIEL’S MIND seemed to be working very slowly. He’d grab onto a thought, then it would drift away. The only thing he knew was that he was no longer scared, and for the first time in his life, he felt safe. Then as soon as that thought would slip in, he’d remember a terrifying fire-breathing dragon and knew he should be scared, but he couldn’t seem to summon the emotion. He felt Jax petting him as they lay on the bed, and it felt good. Really good. So good that he didn’t want to change back into his human form. Jax’s words continued to drift through his mind. I will always come for you … No one had ever been there for him like that, not even Real, and the thought did something to him. It made him sad and happy all at the same time.

  He stayed in leopard form. It was as if subconsciously he knew that once he did shift back, he’d have to deal with everything that happened, and for once, he liked where he was. He didn’t want to deal with any of it. He just wanted to stay like this. Forever. His leopard was purring. This was good—felt right. Before long, he was asleep.

  ***

  TIERNEY EXITED her dad’s room a little later to find Chloe hovering in the hall.

  “I wanted to thank you, and ah, I noticed you have others here who are injured.” Chloe’s eyes unfocused for a second as she surveyed the great room, and Tierney wondered if she was really okay with everything. Somehow, she suspected not, but couldn’t deal with anymore at the moment.

  Then Chloe shook her head and nervously looked at Tierney. “Maybe I can help them. I can also help cook meals as well as clean.”

  Tierney smi
led reassuringly at the woman. “Great. But the people in the great room are ah … a close group. Still, doesn’t hurt to try. If they’d like your help, that would be good. As for the cooking … well, we usually take turns, so you are welcome to take yours, though I have to warn you, Thaniel seems to like doing the cooking these days,” Tierney said as she thought about the Were-leopard.

  “I’m really sorry about your dad. Was he a POW?” Chloe asked.

  “What?” Tierney frowned, unsure what she was talking about, then it clicked and she understood. POW––prisoner of war.

  “Oh, yeah.” Tierney guessed he was a POW of sorts, just not like Chloe thought.

  “I’ll help take care of him. Make sure he’s comfortable. Anything that needs to be done. I promise.” Chloe told her earnestly and Tierney nodded. Of course, as Zander’s limbs started to grow back they’d have to explain the truth to Chloe, but in the meantime, Tierney thanked her.

  Nodding, Chloe walked into the great room and nervously surveyed the crowd. A moment later, Tierney watched her straighten her shoulders and walk up to Kyrian who stood guarding his pack. Somehow, if she didn’t bolt with Lilly, Tierney had the feeling Chloe was going to fit right in around here.

  Upstairs, she found Jax on the bed beside Thaniel. He was whispering to the Were-leopard. Thaniel’s eyes would flicker open for a moment and then close again. The love in Jax’s touch as he tried to soothe Kitty gave her pause, and made her heart ache.

  Sad eyes rose to meet hers. “I really scared him. I don’t know if he’s going to be okay,” Jax said.

  “I’m sure he will be okay. You weren’t the only one who scared him,” she said, loving her mate even more for his compassion.

  “Thaniel,” she murmured as the leopard’s eyes opened and stared at her. She climbed onto the bed on the other side of him. Reaching out, she gently stroked his silky, soft white-and-black spotted fur and watched his eyes drift closed again. “You’re okay now. They’re all gone. No one’s going to hurt you.” She spoke in a low, soothing voice as she ran her hands over him. She had hoped he’d have changed back by now so that they could talk, but wasn’t really surprised that he hadn’t.

  “He saw me change into my dragon, and I … crisp-a-fried a bunch of ‘em,” Jax said, guilt shining in the depths of his eyes.

  Tierney’s heart went out to him. “You did what you needed to do, and I’m sure Thaniel knows you were protecting him.”

  “Fuck, I hope so. I’d never hurt him. I just hate that he found out this way,” Jax said and Tierney nodded her head in understanding.

  “Can you connect to his mind, ask him to change back?” Jax asked her. “I tried, but his shields seem to be back up.”

  “I can try,” Tierney said as she studied the cat lying between them. Closing her eyes, she opened her senses and drew on her power. Using her mind, she reached out and tried to connect with Thaniel, only to run into a solid wall. The last time had been easy, but this time the barrier was impenetrable.

  After a moment of trying to find another way in, to no avail, she withdrew and opened her eyes. Thaniel’s eyes were open, but he wasn’t making contact with either of them, making her wonder if he understood but just didn’t want her in his mind. She looked up at Jax’s brilliant-blue eyes, unable to keep the shine of tears out of her own as she shook her head.

  “Shit.” Jax blinked and lowered his eyes and Tierney could feel how worried he was about their friend. He then told her about what he’d heard Thaniel say and his vow in return. Tierney’s heart thrummed with love for the both of them and she ached to hold them both tight and never let them go. Instead, they stayed cuddled together for a little while, each petting and reassuring Thaniel when Tierney looked at Jax again.

  “Hey, I want to ask you something.”

  “What is it?” he asked, and Tierney told him her idea for the wolves.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  The Offer

  TIERNEY FOUND KYRIAN pacing the great room. “How is everyone?” she asked, looking around. A few of Kyrian’s wolves had left, while others were sleeping or resting on the floor. “Wouldn’t they be more comfortable on the couches?” She felt bad for the wolves.

  Kyrian shook his head. “We are used to sleeping on the ground, and besides, they didn’t want to get your furniture bloody.”

  Tierney started to protest. “The furniture can be cleaned—”

  “But they are getting better. I don’t know how to thank you,” Kyrian said.

  Tierney could feel how upset and disheartened he was with what had happened, and that was something she hoped to change. “Kyrian, you have all helped us out so much,” she began, and searched around for the big bad wolf but didn’t see him. In fact, she hadn’t seen Soroyan in a few days, but she’d ask about him later. Right now, she had something else on her mind. “Can you come with me for a moment?”

  Kyrian nodded and Tierney led him down the hallway past numerous rooms. “These are all bedrooms?”

  Tierney smiled and nodded. “Yes, the suites are upstairs.” She pushed open a door and led him down a short flight of steps.

  “This place really is very large,” Kyrian said as they passed the room where the washers and dryers were.

  “Yes, that’s the laundry room, and over there—” She pointed out a large room across from them, “that used to be the kitchen when they had a full staff, but we’ve never used it. And over here,” she said, and walked past a large door that was different from the others. “This is the walk-in cooler, and that one is the walk-in freezer.”

  “Why are you showing me all this?” Kyrian asked.

  Tierney just waved him on. “You’ll see.”

  To their left was the workout room and in front of them, the pool and hot tub. She led him to another door and down two more flights of stairs.

  “Here,” she said and pushed open a door, then stepped through into the dark. A faint light that was motion activated lit up the area where she stood as Kyrian followed her in.

  He took in the darkened space before looking back at her questioningly. “Why did you bring me here?”

  Tierney reached up on the wall and flicked on a switch and waited while lights began to come on, row by row, until the whole parking structure was lit up. “This is the parking garage. Our home, this place, used to be a resort, but we only have six vehicles, well, seven counting my bike, but as you can see, there is a ton of unused space.”

  Kyrian studied the area curiously then followed Tierney as she led him to a small man-sized door leading outside. Again, she hit a switch and they both turned to watch a much larger door begin to rise.

  “I don’t know if you want to stay in the area anymore after what happened today, and I know this isn’t a cave, but … if you would like to, you and your pack are welcome to make this your home.” She walked outside and pointed out the other entrances, along with a panel on the wall beside the door. “We have a great security system, and Sami keeps it updated, so it would be safe, or … safer anyway.”

  Kyrian turned to her with a thoughtful look on his face then went back into the garage. Tierney followed him in. “The ventilation is really good and we can put up a dividing wall, we can make it comfortable, if you want. You would all be welcome in the house as well, to use all the facilities, if anyone wants to use the rooms—”

  At that, Kyrian shook his head.

  “Or, we can get mattresses, or whatever you need, or want—anything. If you want to stay here, that is,” she said, and held her breath, hopeful.

  After looking all around, Kyrian finally turned to her and his eyes glittered with unshed tears as he gave her a little smile. “I really did not want to leave this area. I—” His gaze swept the garage once again and he sucked in a deep breath. When he let it out, he met her eyes. “A vision brought me—us, here to you.”

  Tierney frowned, not sure what he meant.

  “I saw you, Jax, Sami, and your dad as allies in this war we are fighting. My brother has had many
reservations about this, but I believe in what I saw.” Kyrian held her gaze. “Are you sure about this? We would try to find something else soon and we’d keep to ourselves and try not to bother any of you.”

  Feeling his emotions, Tierney laid a hand on his arm. “Kyrian, we owe you so much, but besides that, I think of you as a friend, and I think we can all help each other. You are all welcome to stay as long as you like, as long as it suits your needs. Like I said, we only use a tiny fraction of this space, and if there is anything I can do to make this even more comfortable, please, let me know.”

  Kyrian nodded and they headed back inside, Tierney turning off the lights as they left.

  “Just no mattresses, okay?” Kyrian said with a teasing light in his eyes that made her laugh.

  “Sure, but why?” she asked, curious. “Have you never slept on beds, in human form?”

  “Yes, we have, and many like it, but we usually do sleep in wolf form. Besides, I don’t want you going to that expense,” he said, but Tierney had a feeling he really just didn’t want anyone getting used to the comfort.

  ***

  Tierney slid back into bed and Thaniel, still in leopard form, shifted a little closer to her. Tierney glanced over him to see Jax watching her.

  “Is everything okay? Did Kyrian accept?” he asked.

  Tierney nodded. “Yes, he did. I think this will be good.”

  “Is this weird?” Jax asked, indicating his arm over Thaniel as he repeatedly stroked the Were-leopard’s silky coat.

  Tierney smiled. “Maybe a bit,” she teased. “But it just makes me love you even more.”

  “Tonight … scared me. We could have lost Thaniel, and I—” He stopped speaking, but Tierney could feel his emotions. His fear, worry, and confusion over what he felt for Thaniel.

  “But we didn’t,” she said, trying to reassure him.