Dracones Boxset Books 1-5

by Sheri-Lynn Marean

  “I know, but I really scared him when I changed and when I fried everyone. I just … when I saw that Were-wolf hold a knife at his throat, I lost it.” Jax looked at her with so much sadness.

  She reached over Thaniel and cupped her mate’s face in her hand. “I know, but it’s only because you care about him, just like I do,” she said, though she sensed there was even more to it—even if she didn’t understand what it was herself.

  “I never wanted to scare him,” he repeated and Tierney stroked her thumb over his cheek.

  “I know, my love.”

  Jax swallowed hard and stared down at Thaniel. “I’ve ah, grown attached. I really like having Kitty around here,” Jax said and she could feel his embarrassment. Then he smirked, trying to make light of things.

  Tierney smiled and rolled her eyes at him but still let the love she was feeling flow through their link. “I love you, Jax.”

  “I love you too, Tiern. I kinda wish—” He motioned at Thaniel and didn’t say anymore. She knew exactly what he was wishing.

  “Tomorrow night—your room.” She smiled.

  “It’s a date.” He grinned back.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Cold Reality

  THANIEL, HAVING CHANGED back into his human form sometime in the night, felt a warm golden glow inside and out as dawn’s rays seeped into the room where he slept. It was a nice, soothing feeling. One he was not used to, having been cold, scared, and alone most of his life. Brain still fuzzy and languid, he felt like a kitten cuddled in a pile of kittens. Slowly, his brain started to notice things and he realized he was sandwiched between Jax and Tierney. Jax behind and Tierney in front and it felt good. Really good.

  With the comforting sound of a beating heart in his ear making him want to purr, Thaniel remembered the evening before. Even now, it still stunned him that Tierney’s dad, a male he didn’t even know, would be so willing to accept him into their home. He’d been so overcome with emotions it caused him to lose control of his leopard.

  Still, it had been stupid to run out of the house, but he’d been afraid he’d change right there in Zander’s room. Surely then, if he’d seen how little control Thaniel had, Zander would have changed his mind. Thaniel hadn’t been thinking of the Were-wolves when he ran out. Or when his leopard took over. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid! He’d known the Were-wolves were looking for him.

  Then Tierney, Mark, and Jax showed up and fought the wolves. He thought he was okay until that wolf grabbed him. Freaked, he had just reacted. It scared him how easily his leopard killed, and seemingly without any remorse.

  A few times he’d thought he was done for, and now, as he thought about how everything had played out, how his friends fought for him, his heart warmed. He still had a hard time believing that Jax was a dragon. That whole episode seemed surreal, but it had happened and he shouldn’t have been so shocked. After all, he’d seen the scales on Jax’s back. He just hadn’t thought dragon. Who would? But wow, he was sure one scary son of a bitch in dragon form.

  He wondered if Tierney was a dragon as well. She must be, but he’d never seen scales on her, though Sami hadn’t had them at first either, not until after he came back from Calgary.

  Man, he’d been terrified when Jax had pulled him out of the bush. Jax’s gentleness and the fact that he barely even flinched when Thaniel’s cat took a swipe at him was what finally satisfied his leopard.

  He remembered the blood welling up on Jax’s arm and felt bad at how he had hurt his friend. Because there was no doubt whatsoever in his mind now that Jax was his friend.

  Especially after the large male had carried him all the way home, reassuring him the whole way. No one had ever taken care of him like that before and it left him feeling humbled and loved. Could they really care about him that much?

  As his brain caught up with him, he realized how much he really loved his new friends in return.

  Slowly, Thaniel opened his eyes and reality set in like a bucket of cold water being thrown on him. He was bare-ass naked! Why can’t I be like the Okami wolves, or Jax, and be fully clothed when I change back into human form? Thankfully Jax and Tierney were dressed, but it still didn’t change things.

  The warmth of Jax pressed up against him from behind, along with Jax’s arm across his waist to lay on Tierney, made him feel safe, protected, wanted. His breathing picked up.

  Tierney was also pressed against him. Her leg lay over him and hooked around one of Jax’s legs. One of her arms was under Thaniel’s neck while her other arm curled around Thaniel, holding him close. Then his eyes adjusted and he realized what the twin mounds in front of his eyes were. Oh shit! His head was resting just above Tierney’s breasts and one of his hands was tucked between the two mounds.

  Heart pounding and suddenly nervous, he licked his lips as blood shot to his already hardening dick. No, no, no! This can’t be happening! Feeling trapped, he darted his eyes around the room. He needed to get out of here, but there was no way he could move without waking either Tierney or Jax. He really didn’t want them to wake up and find him with a hard on pressing against Tierney.

  As if sensing his dilemma, Tierney took a breath and moved the tiniest bit, but it was enough to make him bite back a moan. Her breasts rubbed against him. Damn, she smells so wonderful, like wildflowers. Dick throbbing and pressing against her, Thaniel ached for a taste, just once.

  Trying to take slow, even breaths, Thaniel willed his dick to behave, but it had a mind of its own. It liked the close proximity of Tierney and being sandwiched between her and Jax. No, it wasn’t about to obey him. He needed to get away, somehow. Slowly, Thaniel inched his hand down and moved his head back and away. Then, to his horror, Tierney’s breathing changed. Without looking up at her, he became aware the instant her eyes opened. Thaniel stilled, but as his dick pressed against her again, he heard her suck in a breath.

  Raising his eyes to a pair of beautiful purple ones, he cringed. Shame filled him as his horny dick kept pushing at her. Closing his eyes, he wished he could will himself somewhere, anywhere else. “S-so sorry,” he whispered.

  “Hey, sweetie, it’s okay,” she said, her hand gently stroked his hair. “It’s perfectly natural.”

  At her words, his dick throbbed painfully, wanting something that wasn’t his to have as it pushed against her. Thaniel shook his head. “N-no I gotta get out of here. I’m sorry. I––”

  ***

  TIERNEY FELT THANIEL’S PANIC and tried to reassure him that everything was all right. It was just nature. Strange as it was, she wasn’t the least bit offended either. Then Thaniel’s other emotions––horror, shame, guilt, and lastly desire filled her, she sucked in a small breath as she finally understood. Oh … knowing she had no other choice, she let him go, even though she wished she could hold him forever. “Shh, okay sweetie, okay,” she said, trying not to cry as she moved out of the way. Then, lifting Jax’s arm away, she freed Thaniel.

  ***

  THANIEL SCRAMBLED out from between them, waking Jax. He grabbed the throw blanket from the couch and covered himself as he hurried out of the room and down the stairs. Once in his own room, he quickly pulled on some clothes. Then, heart racing, paced around for a bit. What would they do? Would they ask him to leave? What he’d done was unacceptable, disgusting. Tierney was with Jax. They were soul mates, and here he was, lusting after her—them. Wait. Them? He wasn’t gay, so why? Realization set in and he understood that his feelings had nothing to do with being gay or not.

  He couldn’t help that he was in love with them. No! Thaniel groaned and sat down on the edge of his bed. A bed he’d never even slept in, and he hated himself more than he ever had before.

  If they kicked him out it sure wouldn’t surprise him one little bit. He deserved it. He also knew it was only a matter of time before Tierney was able to feel how he felt. If she hadn’t already. Surely she’d be disgusted, wouldn’t she? Thaniel lowered his head into his hands. He wanted to stay and hide in his room, but that was the co
ward’s way out.

  He’d just stepped into the great room when Tierney came down the stairs.

  “Thaniel,” she said and he stopped.

  Knowing his face was bright red, he kept his head lowered, letting his hair cover his face as he waited for whatever she decided to do about him. His heart was pounding with anxiety as she walked up to him.

  “I want to talk to you,” she said and his heart plummeted. “I’m really sorry about what happened upstairs.”

  Thaniel blinked, stunned that she was apologizing to him. He shook his head. “No, you, it’s not—” he said.

  Tierney cut him and held her hand up. Her head was cocked to the side a bit, letting him know she was listening to someone. “One sec,” she said to him and Thaniel knew he was correct when she scowled.

  Suddenly, a tingle rushed over Thaniel and he raised his head and sniffed. Dread consumed him as the doorbell rang, then turned to fear and finally rage. A frown creased his own brow and he turned toward the kitchen.

  “No Thaniel don’t—” Tierney said, but he didn’t—couldn’t stop. Tierney followed him through the kitchen and into the mudroom. His skin crawled as he pulled the door open. He sucked in a deep breath of musk and jasmine, and stared at the last person he ever expected, or wanted, to see—ever again.

  Elianna stood outside on the doorstep.

  He’d once thought her waif-like and homeless. How mistaken he’d been. Dressed in crisp new jeans and a white turtleneck sweater under an open black jacket, her straight black hair shone. Bright gold eyes drilled into him.

  How could he have ever thought she’d been homeless? Although, in his defense, she’d kind of led him to believe that falsehood. He knew it had to have been a ruse to get close to him, but he still didn’t understand why. Did she get her kicks by turning people into Weres?

  Fear licked through his insides. Why? What is she doing here? He had hoped to never see her again. Pain-filled memories swamped him and he took a step back when Tierney’s hand landed on his shoulder. Thaniel stiffened up and eased to the side, letting Tierney’s hand slide from him as Jax walked in behind them.

  “Who’s this?” Jax asked, looking out the open door.

  Thaniel’s mouth opened but it was a second before he could speak. “It, that’s—” His throat went dry.

  “I’m Elianna, Thaniel’s mate.”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Hell No!

  THANIEL SHOOK HIS HEAD as hatred chased the fear away. “Hell no. I’m not your mate,” he spat out, unable to believe she had the nerve to claim him as such.

  Elianna lifted her chin and turned her defiant stare on Jax, then Tierney. “I came to get him, he’s mine.”

  Jax and Tierney both gaped at her, wide-eyed with shock, while Thaniel trembled. As angry as he was, he was also suddenly afraid that Tierney and Jax would make him go. Especially after what had happened this morning, he couldn’t imagine them wanting him around.

  He glared at Elianna. “I’m not yours and never will be. You bit me. Turned me into a monster.”

  At his words, Tierney and Jax both gasped and he caught the glint of anger in their eyes.

  “You agreed to be my mate,” Elianna said to him once again, golden eyes also flashing with anger as she watched Thaniel.

  Thaniel could feel a familiar power shiver over him as Tierney moved forward. Her purple eyes had begun to glow.

  “He said he’s not your mate, so you need to leave him alone.”

  Thaniel relaxed. They’d never let Elianna take him against his will.

  Elianna huffed and shook her head. “Fine, we can talk about that later, but I need him to come with me. He needs to join the clan—meet his father.”

  “Clan?” Tierney questioned with narrowed eyes that glittered dangerously.

  Jax, looking equally as threatening, moved up beside him protectively. Thaniel had been about to tell Elianna no again, when her words registered. “My f-father?”

  Elianna smiled triumphantly at Tierney before looking back at Thaniel. “Yes, your father. You do want to meet him, don’t you? I imagine you might even have questions for him?”

  Wow, she sure as shit knew how to get his attention.

  “Thaniel is not going anywhere with you. This is his home. He belongs here, with us. Not with some Were clan he doesn’t even know, and who suddenly has taken an interest in him,” Tierney bit out.

  Thaniel’s heart filled with some emotion he didn’t understand as Tierney fought for him.

  He’d seen what she was capable of when angry, but right now, he just wanted to know more about his father. Which father? The one who left him, or his bio father? He turned to Tierney. “It’s all right.” The worry in her eyes made his heart flip. He turned back to Elianna. “W-what do you know about my father?”

  “I know he left you when you were four,” she said, ignoring Tierney who was glaring daggers laced with poison at her. “But if you want to know more, or see him, you need to come with me.”

  “We told you, you aren’t taking him anywhere,” both Tierney and Jax said at the same time, and Thaniel had to bite back a smile. Oh how he loved them both! Then he turned his attention back to Elianna.

  So, the father who left him, not his bio dad. “He’s not my real father,” he said, heart sinking as he remembered his father’s parting words to his mother. You are a lying, cheating whore. And that is not my son. Words that had changed his life forever.

  Elianna laughed, which only made him angrier. “What is so funny?”

  She sucked in a deep breath and stopped laughing. Then she shook her head. “You’re funny, that’s what. If you saw him, you’d know. There’d be no way you could ever think he wasn’t your father.”

  As Thaniel stared at her, trying to make sense of what she was saying, together with what his father had said that night, Elianna gave a snort.

  “He’s your father. You are the spitting image of him.”

  Confused, Thaniel’s heart raced. How? If what she said was correct, then why would his father leave? Why would he have said the things he had? Though he didn’t want to go anywhere with Elianna, he suddenly had to see for himself, face his father and ask why.

  “Thaniel, no,” Tierney said at the same time as Jax.

  “Kitty, buddy—”

  The fact that they didn’t want him to leave filled him with happiness. Then his heart sank. He’d always had a driving need to see his father, question him, get answers, and of course there was that tiny, impossible hope that it was all a mistake, that his father really did love him and hadn’t meant to leave.

  He thought about his life here with Tierney and Jax. What exactly did he have here? If they hadn’t figured out how he felt about them, they would soon, and while he didn’t know how they’d feel about that, it was getting impossibly difficult being around them and yet not a part of them.

  Oh, he knew they cared about him. It had finally sank in, and that warmed his heart, but they had each other. They were soul mates, and while he didn’t begrudge them that, it also made him ache for that which he’d longed for all his life. Love.

  Besides, look at what happened this morning. He couldn’t let something like that happen again and yet, he couldn’t keep away from them. He also understood that he’d never be able to stop how he felt about them. No, the only way was to go away. Get the answers he needed. Put some space between them. Maybe one day, if he was lucky, he’d find a mate, a real mate of his own, not one who wanted to use or deceive him.

  Tierney sucked in a breath and he wondered if she’d caught his feelings.

  “Thaniel, you are a Were-leopard. The clan is your home. You need to come with me,” Elianna said, pulling his gaze back to her.

  With a growl, Tierney stepped forward. “No, this is his home.” She turned to Thaniel, her eyes begging him not to go. “Please, I’m really sorry about this morning.”

  Tears stung his eyes as he averted his gaze. He didn’t want to hurt either Tierney or Jax. In
fact, all he wanted to do was curl up in their arms. He ached to tell them how he felt, but couldn’t. Looking back at Elianna, he nodded. “Okay, but I’m not your mate and I never will be.”

  “Whatever.” She rolled her eyes.

  Eyes lowered, he turned to Tierney and tensed up when she reached for him. At the last second, Jax pulled her back into his arms.

  “I have to go,” Thaniel whispered without making eye contact—if he looked at them, he’d chicken out and stay.

  “All right, Thaniel,” Tierney whispered back and wiped at her eyes.

  Thaniel turned away and then hesitated a moment before he gathered his courage and walked out the door.

  “You better not let anything happen to him,” Jax shouted at Elianna as they walked away.

  Oh god, how can I leave them? His heart ached and he felt like crying under the weight of Tierney and Jax’s gaze as they watched him walk to Elianna’s little red beater car. When they drove away, the desire to look back almost drove him crazy. Instead, he forced his eyes straight ahead.

  Inside, he felt sick to his very soul, unable to believe he was actually leaving them. The agony he caught in Tierney’s eyes had felt like a knife stabbing straight to his gut, and he hated that he had just hurt his friends, especially after all they had done for him.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Heartbroken

  TIERNEY SHOOK AS SHE WATCHED Thaniel drive away. He’s gone … Crying, she grabbed at Jax as her legs gave out. “No,” she whispered as Jax pulled her close.

  “Shh …” He tried to sooth her, but her heart was breaking.

  “I don’t understand why it hurts so much,” she whispered.

  “I do,” Jax said.

  “Why? Tell me,” she demanded, wiping at the tears streaming down her face.