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  She’d never be able to erase from her mind his expression of shock, followed by fear at her words. His look pierced her deep inside. He blinked and shook his head. “No, I’m not,” he finally said before turning and walking towards his car. “You need to forget about me, find someone else.”

  She’d pushed things too far, and now she regretted it. She should never have said what she did, and though she really believed they were soul mates, Jax didn’t agree, or wasn’t ready to accept it. Maybe he never would. The thought sent a lance of pain, along with sadness, straight to her very soul.

  Now, the bees in her gut were stirring. “I need some of that.” She snatched the vodka from Sami. “You add Nectar to it?”

  “No.”

  Due to their metabolism, any buzz they got from alcohol lasted mere minutes, but add a few drops of Nectar from Tartaria and wowzer. Getting ripped became super easy. So, when they infused their liquor with the stuff, it was only a few drops at a time.

  Relieved, since she didn’t need to get drunk, Tierney chugged the last bit, and winced at the fiery burn in her throat. Sami snorted and rolled his eyes. Though desperate to see Jax, Tierney also dreaded it. What if he hated her now?

  They used to be so close that Jax wouldn’t even sleep unless she was beside him, but that changed a few months after she turned fourteen and Jax fifteen. He’d begun to muscle up and fill out, going from scrawny to a super-hot guy. Her attraction to him grew, making her ache to be around him, but in return, he became distant and evasive.

  Once, when she grabbed his arm to tell him something, his eyes flared dark blue and he jumped, reacting as if scalded. Afterwards, he made sure they never touched, and they became like strangers. His reaction hurt. She did her best to hide it, until he stopped talking to her.

  Oh sure, he talked to her about work, the weather, that kind of stuff. But unable to handle his rejection, she soon became angry with everyone, and began to act recklessly. She quickly learned that the adrenaline from taking crazy-assed risks, felt freaking-amazing, and it quickly became her escape.

  Now, she tried not to panic at the thought of seeing Jax.

  Chapter Four

  Tension

  TIERNEY TURNED TO SEE Jax standing in the doorway.

  “Hey,” he said and his husky voice sent a tingle straight to her core. Heart pounding, she gave him an uncertain smile. Her dark mood brightened, though the bees continued to buzz. Six feet of sexy filled the doorway, making her heart race even faster and knees weaken as Jax raked her with scorching blue eyes filled with the pain of his past.

  Tierney ached to wrap her arms tight around him and feel his warmth and closeness. She wanted to run her hands through his short black hair and pull his sweet sexy lips down to hers. Instead she smirked at the faint stubble on his face. Though he shaved daily, within a few hours the shadow of a beard always appeared, making him even sexier.

  His brown leather jacket hung open, revealing a black tee stretched taut across a well-defined six-pack. Blue jeans hugged lean, muscular legs, which Tierney imagined wrapped around her. Desire swirled low in her belly. A pair of worn hiking boots added an extra inch to his six feet, as he walked into the kitchen.

  “Whose crotch rocket?” His eyes darkened as they traveled over her body, making her shiver. Then his brows pulled into a severe scowl, and his eyes narrowed in anger at the sight of her helmet. “Yours?”

  “About time you came home,” Sami piped up and gave his brother a tight smile, changing the subject.

  “Yes, mine—” Then she caught sight of the well-endowed blonde behind Jax. Pain swamped her. He brought a date home?

  “Hey, this is Cassandra. Cassie that’s my brother Sami, and ah … sister, Tierney.” Jax introduced them to the smiling blonde with big blue eyes.

  Sister? What the fuck? Suddenly angry, Tierney glared at Jax. He did not just say we are siblings! “Really? I’m your sister, now?”

  Cassie rushed forward with a huge smile. “Oh, I love your eyes! Are those contacts?” she gushed.

  Demons, Blondie makes me want to hurl. Angry and hurt, Tierney turned away and practically flew from the room.

  “Tiern!”

  “Fuck off, Jax,” she yelled, striding through the great room to the stairs leading to their bedroom suites.

  What the hell? Was he trying to prove he wasn’t her soul mate, or did he care about Blondie? “Suck it up!” she muttered, refusing to let the threatening tears fall as she hurried into her room. She stalked past the cream couch in front of the small fireplace, dropped her phone on the bed, and made her way to her dresser.

  She snatched up her brush with a growl, and pulled it through her mess of curls, yanking harder when the bristles snagged. Angry and frustrated, she tossed the brush down, and studied her reflection in the mirror. Her one unique feature—amethyst eyes. Nothing more.

  She may be immortal, and when her dragon awakened she’d be kick-ass, but there was no way to change how plain she appeared in human form. With an unappealing face, average boobs and more muscles than curves, it was no wonder she didn’t attract Jax. Oh, get a grip. You should be used to seeing him with other girls. In school, Tierney ignored the girls who chased him because he never got too involved, which made her happy, though the reason he didn’t did sadden her.

  A year after he took them, Marcius returned the boys back to Tierney and her dad. The sight of Sami’s neglect, and Jax’s mangled body made her cry. Though it wasn’t clear what happened, the horrible abuse inflicted on them was painfully obvious.

  Zander, enraged, had nearly killed Marcius. But instead, he let the male go, threatening his life if he ever set eyes on him again. Tierney suspected her dad relented because Marcius was the boy’s father and Zander cared for the boys. Otherwise, she knew he wouldn’t have hesitated to kill the bastard.

  Together, Tierney and her dad cared for Sami and Jax. Sami was painfully thin, withdrawn, and obviously worried about his brother who hovered on the brink of death. Tierney liked to think it was due to their care and love that made Jax pull through. With the healing ability of an immortal, Dracones aren’t supposed to scar, but not all scars are always visible. For some reason, not only did Jax scar, but he healed much slower than the rest of them. Over the years his constant nightmares, and inability to sleep served as a reminder of the hell he survived. After they came back, Jax allowed no one but her to touch him, though that ended when he turned fifteen. Now, she wondered if he’d overcome his aversion.

  ***

  SAMI GLARED AT JAX as they followed Cassie into the great room. “What the hell?” he asked telepathically.

  “What?” Jax feigned ignorance as Cassie eagerly checked everything out.

  The great room, with its high-beamed ceiling, contained only comfortable furniture now, none of the uncomfortable fancy stuff that it originally did. Cassie bounced from one spot to the next, stopping to admire Zander’s beautiful angel sword resting above the mantle of the large stone fireplace.

  Sami’s gaze followed her as she went over and knocked a couple of pool balls together, before sashaying over to the French doors. “What the hell you doing, bringing her here?”

  “What’s the problem? She’s a date,” Jax said, though he kept his gaze averted.

  “Either you’re an idiot, or a complete ass. And I don’t believe you’re an idiot.” Sami shook his head. He hated how Jax always pushed them away, but at his wistful glance toward the stairs, Sami’s anger turned to guilt. Oh Jax, why? Sami’s heart ached for his messed-up brother. Jax had done his best to protect Sami from Marcius’ brutality in the year they’d lived with their father, and it had cost him dearly. “Go. Talk to her. She’s been waiting for you,” he encouraged.

  “I can’t.” Though Jax tried to hide it, Sami glimpsed the pain in his eyes.

  “Yeah, you can.”

  ***

  JAX KNEW HE fucked up big time bringing Cassie home. He had hoped she’d distract him from Tierney, keep him from doing somethin
g stupid. Yeah, brilliant idea—not! What the hell did he think would happen? Oh right, he hadn’t thought. Well, not of anything except Tierney. Her, he couldn’t keep his mind off of, and instead, he ended up hurting her. He should’ve thought everything through better.

  Tierney’s smile always brightened his day. With her, he felt like he could do anything. But his attraction to her when he turned fifteen was like a light bulb being turned on. He already knew he loved her, but when she began to change from a gawky teenager into a sexy woman, his feelings intensified.

  Her appearance, combined with her touch and pure soul, never failed to drive the darkness inside him away. She always filled him with light, making him forget his past. His desire for her grew so strong he started to avoid her, which only made it worse. Like an alcoholic craving the bottle, he ached to get close to her but was afraid if he gave in, he wouldn’t be able to tear himself away. And she deserved more than a piece of shit like him who couldn’t even control his emotions.

  Now, over six years later, he still had a hard on for her, making it near impossible to concentrate on anything else. Her declaration the last time he saw her, had scared the hell out of him, and like a piece of crap sissy, he took off. But nothing had changed. He’d never be good enough for her and as much as it killed him, he needed to let her find someone else.

  Tierney deserved someone who could give her kids, something he’d never be able to do, and yet, she never even so much as looked at anyone else. Granted, there were only humans around, but even so, at least with a human she had a chance of a family of her own.

  The next best choice would be his brother. Sure, Sami couldn’t have kids either, but he was good, kind, decent and smart. Most of all, he wasn’t messed up like Jax. He’d make a decent mate for Tierney. So, Jax hid his desire and kept his distance. Their fight turned into a perfect opportunity to get out of the way and give her and Sami a chance.

  That didn’t mean he didn’t miss her like crazy, even if all they did lately was fight.

  Seconds later, unable to stop himself, Jax took Sami’s advice and ignoring Cassie, headed upstairs to Tierney’s room. He stopped just outside her open doorway and stared. Desire tore through him as his eyes devoured her. He ached to pull her into his arms, run his fingers through her long, curly black hair, and never let her go. A frown marred her features as she cursed at the phone in her hands, and if he hadn’t known how worried she was, he’d have smiled.

  Damn, whether happy, frustrated or angry, she was always just so beautiful. Her toned, willowy body that curved in all the right places, only added to her attraction, and never failed to make his blood run hot. Jax swallowed as he caught her fresh scent of wildflowers. He tried to control his breathing as his cock stiffened, pushing against his jeans. Fierce need ripped through him like wildfire. Tierney always affected him like that. Dressed all in black, her tight leather pants defined her hips and shapely legs like a second skin. To peel those off her. Stop it, asshole! Jax reprimanded himself as he continued to gaze at her with longing.

  Under her black biker jacket, she wore a tight black tank top, with a scooped neckline, showing off a perfect swell of breasts. Breasts he dreamed of tasting. Jax licked his lips and swallowed a groan. His eyes swept up and down, and he imagined her kicking his ass in her sexy motorcycle boots.

  However, the fear on her face finally drove all sexual thoughts away, making him cringe. Sami sure pegged him, when he called Jax an ass. “Hey, Tiern, how ya doing?” He stepped through the door, his heart racing as he fought the need to go to her and offer comfort. Her brilliant amethyst eyes met his, and his breath caught in his throat, paralyzing him.

  “Jax.”

  His name on her tongue filled him with arousal and he stared at her inviting lips. Would they be as delectable and sweet as they seemed? Guilt consumed him as he caught the hurt in her eyes, before they darkened with anger. He ached to pull her into his arms and tell her everything would be okay. Yet if he did, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from wanting more.

  Eyes narrowed, her anger scorched him. “What do you want?”

  What did he want? Damn. What a loaded question. You, of course! He wanted to touch—kiss—every inch of her. He wanted to feel her arms around him, forget the darkness that was steadily overtaking his soul. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay,” he said, suddenly uncomfortable under her scrutiny. Her glare stung him deep in a part of himself he tried to forget even existed.

  “No, I’m not okay. Dad’s missing and you—you obviously don’t care, or you’d have come home sooner.”

  The bitterness in her voice made him flinch. He did care. Staying away from her damn near killed him, though he couldn’t tell her that. Frustration—then anger—that she’d think otherwise, filled him. “Look, I’m sorry. I do care about you, and you know Zander is like a dad to me.” Jax glared, hurt that she’d even say such a thing.

  They both fell silent as with the worst timing in the world, or maybe the best, Cassie came up behind him.

  “Jax,” Cassie said, and he wanted to cringe. He hadn’t found her bubbly voice annoying until now. “Show me your room.” The blond wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

  ***

  TIERNEY FOUGHT BACK her anger when Blondie reached for Jax. But when Jax tensed up and grabbed Cassie’s hand to prevent her from touching him, Tierney could sense his momentary panic. So, nothing’s changed. Why did he bring the girl home?

  “Please, Jax?” Cassie purred and wiggling her eyebrows, she giggled.

  Cassie’s words and actions made Tierney grit her teeth. She wanted to wrap her hands around Blondie’s neck and squeeze, until the life drained from her body. Jax, obviously recognizing the fury glittering in Tierney’s eyes, stepped back into the hall and pulled Cassie with him. Yeah, you’d better get her out of my face!

  With a snarl, Tierney slipped past them. “I’m outta here.” She headed for the stairs, shoving her phone into her pocket.

  Her anger boiled over as she hurried outside for some much-needed fresh air. Not wanting to think about Jax, and what he might be doing with Blondie, she thought about her parents instead. Zander refused to talk about his past, and Tierney didn’t know if he was a descendant of the Fallen, or one of the original angels who fell from the heavens. Not that it really mattered. Still, she didn’t even know her own dad’s age, and whenever she asked, he gave his standard reply.

  “I’m very old.”

  Tierney’s mother, Ahryanna, had been a Dracones who foresaw the future. A few weeks before she died, Ahryanna seemed sad and quiet. She hugged Tierney and her brother a lot, repeatedly telling them how much she loved them. Later, Tierney wondered if her mother saw her own death. What she wouldn’t give to be able to talk to her now, to see her smile. To be hugged by her once more, while Ahryanna reassured her everything would be okay.

  Although smaller dragons lived in other dimensions, all of the larger Dracones were descended from two ancient dragons. Skulla and his mate, Kiah-thorn. Unfortunately, they were all cursed.

  A thousand years ago, Skulla had helped the Ilyium fight off demons from another world. As they closed the portal into the demon world of Kalesia, one of the demons who had been hiding, sprang out and rushed through the portal with two children, before it snapped closed. The children were the Ilyium’s most powerful witches to be born in thousands of years, so of course Skulla was blamed for the catastrophe. The leader of the Ilyium, a druid witch named Herasa, was also the children’s grandmother. She cursed Skulla and all of his offspring. All Dracones would be hunted by the Ilyium until the time Herasa’s grandchildren were returned to Tartaria. The only problem with that was, it would be a thousand years before the portal could be opened again.

  As if that wasn’t enough, the other part of her curse prevented any of Skulla’s male descendants, from his grandchildren onwards, from fathering young. If Tierney mated to a Fallen or human, or anyone besides another Dracones, she could have children, but her friends, Sami and
Jax, could not. Whenever they talked about it in the past, the boys said they didn’t care, but she was sure that they did in fact care, and very much so.

  After Kiah-thorn and seventeen of their thirty-two children were brutally killed, Skulla turned to the Fallen to protect his remaining offspring. Most of his fifteen children ended up finding love among the Fallen, took mates and even had children of their own, which led to the birth of the Dracones. Unlike full blooded dragons, which could change form at will, Dracones were born and lived in human form, until their dragons were awakened during their twenty-first year.

  Sometime within that year, as long as the Awakening was triggered, they went through a painful change that could last anywhere from twenty-four to forty-eight hours. But after the Awakening they could shift into their dragon form at will.

  Once their Awakening was triggered though, in order to survive it, they needed to be around another Dracones or Fallen. Alone, the chances of survival were not encouraging. More than a few Dracones had died because they tried to transition alone. If the Awakening wasn’t triggered by the end of that year, they lived as an immortal. Tierney couldn’t imagine living forever, unable to change into her dragon—another reason she worried about Jax. In two months, he would turn twenty-two. Didn’t he want to transform?

  With a shiver, she hurried past the spot where the raven died, disappeared or …whatever. What the hell had that cryptic message meant anyway? With excellent night vision, along with the moon to illuminate her way, she raced down the steep cliff on agile feet, and headed west around the lake. Years of training let her walk soundlessly along the rocky, needle and leaf covered path. Once they didn’t care how much noise they made.

  Memories of her and Sami’s seventh birthday loomed heavy on her mind. The Ilyium attacked their village that day, killing so many, while the three of them laughed and played innocently in the forest. But when sounds of the attack reached them, Jax shoved her and Sami into a cave, and went to find out what was happening. He promised to bring their mothers back.