Dracones Boxset Books 1-5

by Sheri-Lynn Marean

  “I am. If you’ll have me.”

  Soroyan deepened the kiss, moaning his pleasure as he pulled her tight against his body. “I am never letting you go,” he whispered into her mouth, his whiskers tickling her chin and jaw.

  Raven felt herself getting lost in him and suddenly pulled back. He had to be aware of what he was in for. He had to accept all of her. “What about my other half that I didn’t tell you about. You aren’t angry, or disgusted?”

  Soroyan frowned. “Why in all the worlds would I be angry or disgusted?”

  Raven shrugged and looked away. “I was run from my village when—”

  “When what?” Soroyan asked, taking her chin gently in his hand, rubbing his thumb over her lips as he tilted her head up.

  Raven sighed and dread filled her as she remembered that horrible day. Not only had she lost her mate and unborn child, her people suddenly hated her and wanted nothing to do with her. People she cared about. Trusted. Still, Soroyan had to know it all.

  She swallowed her fear and met his gaze. “Lukkah Rayventhorn was the son of a very powerful ancient dragon. When Lukkah died, his soul wouldn’t leave me. I had been stabbed, our baby killed, and he should have gone to the heavens, yet he still tried to protect me.” Raven took a breath and averted her gaze. She fought not to cry as the past caught up and swamped her, bringing all the feelings and agony with its storm of emotions that threatened to consume her.

  Soroyan didn’t speak, but his hands on her shoulders grounded her and offered support.

  Raven looked at him again. “Lukkah’s power was so vast. His dragon soul entered and enveloped me. He was giving me a last gift. I knew I had to let him go, but I couldn’t do it. Crazed with grief, I hung onto him with everything I had. And he stayed. When I finally came to my senses, I tried to make him leave. He refused.” Raven paused and he pulled her to his chest. “Everyone in our village, even those I called friend claimed I was the devil for being able to hold his soul captive inside me.” She pulled back and met his gaze. “They wanted no part of me after that. I scared them.”

  Soroyan’s anger filled eyes quickly turned to desire. “I don’t care if you are the devil, an angel, a dragon. If you have two souls, ten, or none. I love you. I love all of you,” he whispered with such intense sincerity that her heart clenched.

  Raven blinked back tears, stunned. “You do?”

  Soroyan nodded. “I am empty without you. When I thought you were gone for good—” He paused and she could see the shame in his eyes. “I was selfish. Before you came along, I wanted to end it all. I was lonely, tired. Done. Then you brought me to life and while my emotions had recently been awakened, you made me want more. Then you left.” He stopped speaking.

  It was Raven’s turn to comfort him. “I’m so sorry, I never meant to hurt you.”

  Soroyan swallowed deeply and his wolf gazed out of his suddenly red eyes. “I fell in love with you that day in Zander’s bedroom.”

  Raven smiled up at him and wiped away the tears that his words elicited. “I … I love you too, even before I met you,” she said and when Soroyan frowned, she shook her head. “Never mind, I’ll tell you later. Let’s just say, you are much more stunning in person.” Then she grew serious. “You say you love all of me, but my dragon, I can’t always control him. I … he’s done some terrible things.”

  “Doesn’t matter. It can’t be worse than what I’ve done. I love you. I want to spend the rest of eternity with you, and nothing is going to change that,” he said, claiming her lips once again. Fire exploded in her veins and Raven groaned. She wrapped her arms around him and rubbed up against him, letting him know just how he made her feel.

  When they finally started back down to the house, Soroyan kept an arm around her waist. “I won’t let go, ever,” he warned.

  Raven’s heart flip-flopped at his words. “I have one condition.”

  Soroyan raised an eyebrow. “What?”

  “I will tell you when we are in our room,” Raven said and licked her lips seductively.

  ***

  “What is this condition of yours?” Soroyan asked as they lay naked and sated in bed. Raven rested on top of Soroyan, with her head tucked into his neck and breathed in his masculine scent. She could already feel him growing hard in her once more.

  She’d refused once to bond with her mate and it had cost him and her unborn child their lives. Slowly, she sat up and gazed down at the wild male she held like a prisoner captured inside of her. “Will you bond with me?”

  Soroyan’s eyes widened and he stilled. A pit opened up inside as she felt his fear. “Raven, I cannot.”

  She tensed up and started to climb off of him, when his hands landed on her waist. “No, wait. It isn’t what you think.”

  Raven stilled and waited, not sure what else it could be. He claimed to love her, yet didn’t want to bond with her.

  Then his next words made her want to weep.

  “My love, you own my heart, but I only have half a soul. I am afraid my darkness is so hungry that it would suck all the light from within you. Besides, if something were to happen to me, then I’d take you with me. I can’t live knowing I could be the death of you.”

  Raven smiled sadly for all they had both been through, all that had been taken from them. “You may have only half a soul, which still stuns me, by the way. As you have discovered, I have two souls. I think I can handle sharing.” When he started to object, she put a finger over his lips. Soroyan began to nibble on her finger and Raven almost lost her train of thought. “Stop that,” she scolded then continued when he obeyed her. “Neither of us will know if your dying would kill me as well, just look at you and your mate. Besides, the point is moot, I wouldn’t want to live without you.”

  Soroyan swallowed and there was moisture in his eyes. “I’d love nothing more than to bond with you, but—”

  Raven caressed his lips with her finger, drawing a groan from him. “I need this. I refused to bond with Lukkah because it was against angel law to bond with another. If I had …” Sudden insight filled Soroyan’s eyes and she nodded wryly. “If I had done so, we could have combined our power and while victory couldn’t be guaranteed, Lukkah and our baby might have lived. I’ll never know, but I never want to be in a position like that again.” A tear ran down Soroyan’s cheek. Raven wiped it away and he reached up and did the same to her. “And I mean it. What I feel for you, I don’t want to live without you.”

  Soroyan swallowed and held onto her. Then he sat up with her in his lap. She wanted to smile as she felt him stirring inside of her again.

  “Raven, would you be my bonded mate, for now and ever?” he asked her with such solemnity that she fought not to cry.

  “I would love to be your bonded mate, my big bad wolf.”

  Soroyan pulled her close and hugged her. Then he began to move. Each thrust sent shocks of wildfire through her.

  Raven pushed him back down onto the mattress and heart pounding while red-hot fire spread from her core outward, she gazed into his eyes and began to ride him once again.

  Instead of telling him how badly her souls yearned for him, she let him feel it. “Join with me,” she said, losing herself to the love shining in his eyes.

  “I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven,” he whispered when she drew on her angel power.

  “So soft,” he murmured, touching her black feathered wings as they rose up behind her.

  Raven groaned and began to move faster, bringing them both close to the edge. “Now,” she hissed. She bit her lip and sucked in a sharp breath when his wild power hit her. The orgasm ripped through her, making her scream as his magic sought and then encompassed the light of her souls.

  Soroyan’s eyes turned red and began to glow. The man and wolf both watched her. “Love you,” he growled, control fraying as he thrust harder and deeper, keeping the momentum going when she couldn’t.

  Body quivering, she drew on all of the power inside her and let it out. It flowed over the bo
th of them, mixing and mingling.

  “Raven!” Soroyan shouted, suddenly wild. He quickly took them both over the edge. Power swirled, carrying them up and out of their bodies until they floated in a vortex of feeling, lost to the moment and each other.

  The bond took over. Soroyan’s wild masculine scent mixed with Raven’s sweet yet spicy aroma, winding through them both, drawing them irrevocably together in a bid for eternity.

  Raven leaned close over Soroyan. “We need to mix our blood.”

  “Do it,” he breathed, voice heavy as he finished spilling his seed into her. Raven’s incisors lengthened and then she sank her teeth into his shoulder. Soroyan cried out and thrust into her again, magically hard once again.

  Soroyan’s lifeblood was an unruly-powerful essence that tickled her senses. Raven’s body jerked as every molecule of her being cried out at the gift being offered and accepted into her. When she withdrew her teeth, she licked at his skin and smiled at the violet eye, filled with the power of her angel and dragon. The design was like an intricate tattoo.

  “Claim me?” she asked, and as a part of her worried he’d refuse, her wings disappeared.

  She needn’t have worried. As if he couldn’t wait, Soroyan rolled them both so she was on her back and then slid inside her body. Eyes wild and yet filled with love, he began to thrust wildly. Raven smiled and let him carry her away.

  “C-can’t get enough of you!” he rasped, sweat dripping down his face, and breathing ragged.

  Caught up in the inferno, her orgasm grew, then wave after wave shot through her. Soroyan clenched his jaw and moved ever faster as he drew on his power. His teeth lengthened.

  Then he lowered his head and nuzzled her neck.

  Raven moaned when he began to lick and suckle first one breast, drawing it into his mouth. His tongue was liquid fire on her skin and pierced straight to her souls. She began to writhe, not sure if she could take anymore as her orgasm grew to a fevered pitch.

  “Soroyan!” she screamed as he let one breast go and took the other into his mouth. Then, he bit down. Hard.

  “Yes!” she whimpered, head thrown back as words spoken in a language straight from the heavens echoed through both their minds, binding and weaving them together as one being, one soul—for all eternity.

  Soroyan let her breast go, licked at the punctures and then threw back his head. His howl, a passionate, rugged cry of happiness was loosed from his very soul as his own orgasm sent him careening over the jagged edge in shock waves. Raven clung to him, feeling the energy of each and every soul they owned as they became one.

  When it finally dissipated, Soroyan let his hunger and satisfaction show in his eyes. “It’s a black wolf with red eyes,” he said of the mark on her breast.

  Raven was breathless. “I love you.”

  “And I you,” he said.

  “Good thing you used a sound spell,” she said, her eyes drooping. Then they lay cuddled, limbs entwined as they savored the feeling of being together.

  “I don’t think I have ever been happier. Thank you,” Soroyan said, kissing her tenderly. They talked for a little longer, until the sound of Soroyan’s deep, even breathing told her he was asleep.

  Raven closed her eyes with a smile on her face and slept.

  ***

  “What of your job, the work you were anxious to get back to?” Soroyan asked later after they woke up and made love again.

  Raven shrugged. “I called Zales. Told him I was staying here.”

  “Zales?” He arched a brow. “This Zales is another rebel?”

  Raven nodded. “Yes. But we’ve known each other a long time.”

  “And he wasn’t angry?” Soroyan asked.

  Raven smirked. “No, he’s actually been trying to get me to stop for a while.”

  “Why would he do that?” he asked, feeling an unfamiliar zing of jealousy for the other male and the fact that he knew things about Raven that Soroyan didn’t.

  “He is, er … was my brother-in-law,” she said sadly, then she reached up and smoothed the creases between his brows. “He lost his brother that day, and over the years has lost other brothers and most of his family. He is part of the rebel group I worked with.”

  Zales had told her that they were keeping an eye on that contraption she’d found on Norvafellan, though they still didn’t know what it did, or how it worked. Yet.

  Raven had a momentary twinge of worry for the kids on Norvafellan and leaned up on her elbow. “Would you take a quick trip with me? I left some kids on a dying planet, I’d like to go and make sure they are okay, maybe bring them back here,” she said tentatively, a question in her voice.

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Strange, Wonderful Family

  Soroyan nodded. “Of course, when do you want to leave?” he asked and grinned as she sagged against him in relief.

  “Thank you,” she said, kissing him.

  “What, did you think I wouldn’t go?” he asked, aware he’d do anything she wanted. He, the big bad wolf who was submissive to none, was more than happy to let Raven dominate him.

  “Can you get away with all that is going on? I know that you are the enforcer and now king—”

  “Kyrian is king as well. He can rule. Besides, there are enough powerful Supes here to protect everyone. I think it’s time I take a vacation,” he said.

  Raven smiled. “Okay, we’ll go after you pleasure me some more.”

  Then she whooped when Soroyan growled and flipped her onto her stomach. He felt her eagerness as he pulled her up onto her knees and entered her from behind. He still marveled that she could take all of him. She’d proven it time and again.

  “I love being inside you,” he breathed and nipped her shoulder.

  Raven cried out and ground herself against him.

  “Especially this way,” he said as he thrust inside of her.

  “Make me yours, my wild wolf,” she said, looking back at him.

  ***

  When they went downstairs, they found the great room full. Genna was playing video games with the kids. A few wolfling pups were toddling around. Brimstone sat with his two older siblings, while Hellfire sat on Sami’s lap, eating breakfast off his plate. Sami’s arm rested protectively around her, hand lightly rubbing her belly. Soroyan heard Tierney and Jax in the kitchen at the same time he spotted Lucian sitting alone, watching everyone.

  Lucian rose to his feet when he saw his father and made his way across the large room. A smile lit his face. “You bonded,” he said.

  Raven smiled. Soroyan nodded, but the sadness on his son’s face dimmed his own happiness. “We did,” he said. “But how are you?”

  Lucian shrugged and glanced around at the chaos.

  “Raven and I have to take a quick trip,” he said, wanting his son to be the first to know.

  Surprise and then anger flashed across Lucian’s face for a moment, then was gone. In its place was acceptance. “Maybe I’ll see you later then,” he said and started to turn away.

  “Luce.” Soroyan touched his son’s arm, stopping him.

  Raven smiled and leaning up, she gave him a quick kiss. “I’m going to get some food, I’m really hungry for some reason,” she said with a twinkle and a knowing look as she motioned toward the balcony.

  Soroyan received the message.

  “Can we talk?” he asked his son.

  Lucian hesitated for a moment, then sighed. Taking that for acceptance, Soroyan led the way to the french doors.

  “I am really happy you are here,” he said once they were outside.

  Lucian didn’t say anything for a moment. Then he moved close to the thick log railing and gazed down at the lake.

  “I’m glad I came,” he finally said.

  “What’s going on?” Soroyan asked, feeling the weight on his son’s shoulders.

  “It’s nothing,” Luce said.

  “Is it anything to do with the choice you have to make?” Soroyan asked, sure it couldn’t be easy having to mate a str
anger, especially after having lost the mate you loved.

  “No. Well, maybe,” Lucian said, then let out a deep frustrated sigh. “They are both beautiful, twins … and Willsa is sweet, shy, gentle, and willing.”

  Suddenly Soroyan had a feeling he understood the problem. “The other one?” he asked, wanting to make sure.

  Lucian let out a breath. “Yeah, Fiya. She’s … angry at the position she has been put in, and is … not so willing.”

  “And you find yourself attracted to her?”

  Lucian swallowed deeply and then shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I refuse to force her into something she doesn’t want.”

  Soroyan stood with his son, a son he’d failed once before. The idea of failing him again, was almost unbearable.

  “I am sorry you are in this position as well,” he finally said, feeling inadequate and helpless.

  Lucian didn’t reply.

  Suddenly, a raven flew into sight. They both watched the bird dip and dive, until the sound of laughter from inside drew their attention.

  As one, they both turned and looked through the window into the big room.

  “Well, it makes no difference. I was going to mate someone I didn’t know, it may as well be the one who is willing,” Lucian said and without a backward glance, he walked back inside and over to Willsa who was happily chatting with Tierney and Raven.

  Soroyan watched his son for a moment longer until an echoing caw caught his attention and made him wonder if it was Taraven flying around. The bird wasn’t close enough for him to tell if it was just a bird, or the wizard shifter.

  The sound of the door opening behind him drew his gaze to Tierney.

  “Hi,” she said, looking like she had a lot on her mind as well.

  “Hi. Is everything all right?” he asked.

  Tierney smiled at him and then up at the raven. “Yeah. For now anyway.” Then she chuckled.

  She studied the bird who was lazily circling overhead and her smile slipped away. “I still need to figure out how to break his bond with Val Jean.”