Bk 1 Dracones Awakening Read online

  “T-Tiern,” Jax whispered and tucked his head into her neck.

  “Yeah, I got ya.”

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered again.

  “I know, Jax.”

  When the shaking finally stopped, he lay quiet, snuggled up against her, his skin warming hers. “I screw everything up.” The depth of his shame and disgust made her ache.

  “Shh.” She fought to keep his feelings from overtaking her as she tried to calm him.

  Don’t deserve her help … she heard, even though she wasn’t meant to, and his anguish damn near broke her heart. “Shh. No more of these thoughts. I’m here.”

  Please don’t give up on me …

  Tears finally streamed unchecked down her cheeks, and Tierney knew she never would. It wasn’t in her to ever give up on him. He was her other half, whether he acknowledged it or not.

  Then a sharp lance of pain ripped through Jax like a hurricane, making her suck in a deep breath at the intensity, amazed that he wasn’t screaming. Sami dragged a chair over beside the bed, and his face blanched with horror and fear, reflecting her expression.

  “Hey, shh,” she tried to sooth Jax, but it wasn’t helping. Starting to feel inadequate to the task, her panic began to spiral out of control.

  Then a new, but familiar voice popped into her head. “Tierney, I know how you can help Jax.”

  “Wolf?” She started to tell him to get the hell out of her head, when his words registered.

  “Yes, it is I. My name is Kyrian.”

  “What do I do?” Tierney pushed her anger away, desperate and willing to accept any help at all.

  “Open your shields, and concentrate on his pain.”

  That Kyrian knew their names barely registered in Tierney’s mind, her fear for Jax completely consuming her. Doing as Kyrian said, she closed her eyes and dropped her shields, letting all of Jax’s pain in. Damn, how can he stand this? Suddenly overwhelmed, she fought to push it away, but nothing happened.

  “Concentrate,” Kyrian repeated.

  “I am.” Frustrated and scared at the brutal depths of the agony, she tried to do as he said, but another bolt of agonizing pain ripped through Jax, bowing his body up in her arms. Tierney hung onto him and ran her hands over his back. Her heart broke even more at the horrific raised scars underneath her fingertips.

  “Concentrate!” Kyrian snapped, and although he drew her back to the moment, he was beginning to make her angry. But he wasn’t the problem. Working on focusing, she willed the pain away.

  “I know it hurts,” she said aloud, but Jax didn’t respond, and his shallow breathing made her panic. “Kyrian, please. Help me, tell me what to do,” she begged, as pulsing waves, deadly shards ripped through Jax, making her cry out.

  “I’m done Tiern,” Jax’s words whispered through her mind, making her scared for him. “No Jax, no—you fight this!” she said, desperately shaking him as he passed out. “Kyrian—please!”

  “Think of yourself as a conduit,” Kyrian said.

  “Jax.” Sami climbed up on the bed and patted his brother’s face, trying to wake him.

  Tierney closed her eyes and concentrated on the growing pain, then sucked in a sharp breath when the pain veered course and made its way to her. Ow. That freakin’ hurts!

  “Samarias, put one hand on Jax and the other on Tierney—help her to focus,” Kyrian instructed.

  Sami did and when he touched Tierney, their power combined with a sizzle and directing the pain became much easier. Intent on what she was doing, Tierney almost missed what Kyrian said next.

  “Think of Jax’s pain as layers. Peel them back, but don’t forget to take it into yourself as you do. Keep going, until you get to the source.”

  Doing as instructed, Tierney peeled back layer upon layer, like an onion, pulling everything into her and absorbing it. The thick gelatinous waves, with thin cobwebby-veins— zipped here and there like bolts of lightning. She reached inside the goop and yanked, tearing at the strands. Jax’s chest barely moved, which didn’t help her concentration, but she knew if they stopped, that would be it.

  As she continued to grab and twist each strand, pushing it aside, the agony eased a little, allowing her to break through. She was surrounded by dull, throbbing waves that rushed at her, then rolled away again, before she managed to grab onto them.

  “Now, imagine a dial, and crank the pain back,” Kyrian instructed.

  A dial, crank—okay. As Tierney did just that, Jax sucked in a breath and stopped breathing for a moment, causing her to flinch. C’mon. I can do this. Nothing happened.

  “Tierney, picture Samarias beside you,” Kyrian said.

  So she did, grateful when Sami appeared in the connection of her and Jax’s mind.

  “Together, use your power to uncover the dial.”

  Focusing their combined power, Tierney imagined a flat disk that looked a lot like a clock, and let her power loose. The sand swirled around, blowing away until a shiny golden surface appeared, about as big as a dinner plate with a raised handle. She bent down and grasped the handle, turning the dial, shocked when the waves of pain began to recede.

  She wanted to cry with glee when they grew smaller and the pain finally disappeared. She opened her eyes and gazed at Jax fearfully. His chest rose slowly, steadily, breathing now normal, as he slept. She grinned at Sami in relief. “We did it.”

  “No, you did.”

  Tierney shook her head. “No. I couldn’t have done it without you and Kyrian.”

  “You did well,” Kyrian said.

  “Thank you.” Tierney had never been so grateful for a stranger’s help in her life.

  “You are extremely powerful, Tierney. You just need to learn how to use your power.”

  The praise left her uncomfortable. “Well, thanks. I don’t know why you helped us, but we’re grateful.”

  “You’re welcome, but I should like to speak with you about something later,” Kyrian said.

  Huh. “Okay.”

  “Goodnight, Tierney.”

  “Goodnight, Kyrian.”

  Chapter Ten

  Understanding

  TIERNEY, FEELING EXHAUSTED, wiped her eyes and before long she and Sami dozed off. About an hour later she awoke to find sad blue eyes staring at her. Jax’s self-loathing was overwhelming. But as he became aware of her gaze, something else filled his eyes, making her heart miss a beat.

  “Hey.” She smiled and started to say something, when his eyes darkened and the pain hit full-force once again. Jax sucked in a ragged breath as his body bowed in agony.

  Closing her eyes, Tierney concentrated. Her power built until it surrounded her and with a ferocity she hadn’t had before, she beat the unwanted pain away. When she opened her eyes, Sami smiled at her.

  “You did it.”

  “Tierney.” Jax’s voice was raspy.

  “I’ll get you some more water,” Sami said, then got up and left the room.

  “I’m here,” she said, looking at Jax. Even with her arms around him, he seemed to need more and snuggled in closer to her. But the smoldering heat in his gaze made her blush, suddenly self-conscious at how close they were. Jax was no longer the skinny little kid he used to be. At six feet tall, his solid, muscular body sent heat rushing through her. Her skin tingled and her heart beat faster. She began to pull away, put some distance between them, when he shivered.

  “You’re so warm.”

  Tierney relaxed, closed her eyes and savored being next to him.

  When Sami came back, Jax guzzled the water and handed the glass back to his brother. “Thanks.” Turning back, he snuggled into Tierney’s arms once again, unfurling desire inside her. Sami, without looking at them, refilled the glass with the pitcher he brought with him, and then set both on the bedside table.

  “I’ll ah, be in my room if you need me.”

  “Thanks Sami.” Tierney was sure that her face was bright red.

  Jax sighed with contentment and she lay there, mind swirling. Then, be
lieving Jax to be asleep again, she started to get up. She planned to go put on pajamas, but Jax’s arms tightened around her, stopping her.

  “No, don’t go, please,” he whispered, his breath felt a warm caress on her skin.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” she reassured him, glad when he relaxed in her arms once again.

  “Thank you. I never meant for that shit to happen earlier. Serena used a spell of some kind on me. I know it’s no excuse, but I can’t let you think I wanted her.” His revulsion shivered through her. “I don’t know how I ever thought she was you.” He stopped and his arms tightened around her.

  Stunned and angry, Tierney’s hatred of Serena blazed as she felt the truth in his words, along with his self-loathing. I’d love to get my hands on that bitch, just once! Things made sense now, and guilt ate at her for not seeing what was happening. “I’m sorry too Jax, I should’ve known.”

  “You couldn’t, and besides, you came back for me. Thank you. I don’t deserve—”

  Her anger spiked even higher. “Stop. I’m sorry I didn’t realize what was happening, but don’t ever say you don’t deserve anything, because that’s not true. And as far as coming back, I’m sorry I took so long to get home, I should have been here, no matter what. I’d never let you go through this alone.”

  Tierney felt Jax swallow against her, and his next words made her frown.

  “I didn’t know if I wanted this.”

  “Want what?” But even as she asked the question, what he said finally sank in. He didn’t mean—? “What are you talking about?” Dread began to fill her.

  “The Awakening. That’s part of why I stayed away.”

  If the Awakening was part, what was the other part? Her? And what the hell? “Why?” she asked, completely perplexed.

  “I fear my dark—” He paused for a moment. “Tiern, I need you to promise me something.”

  “What?” she asked, wary of the warning screaming inside of her.

  “Promise me … if I can’t control my power, or my dragon, you’ll do what needs to be done?”

  Oh hell no! “What are you talking about? Why wouldn’t you be able to control your power?” She was trying not to freak out.

  “Please, Tiern. Just promise me.”

  “No. I can’t. You know that. Besides, even if I could, I wouldn’t without knowing why.” He didn’t say anything. “Please, tell me why you are asking me to do this, I need to understand Jax.”

  “I may not be able to control my power—my dragon.”

  “Why would you even think such a thing?” She was sick at what he wanted from her.

  “Because there’s this darkness—this rage—inside me,’”he admitted, and she remembered the inky black cloud from last night. I figured that came from inside him, but what the hell?

  Jax nuzzled her neck, making her bite back a moan, her senses going wild at his proximity. Everything made sense now. Though her heart broke to realize what he’d been going through. “Jax, you’ll be fine. I know it.” She wanted to promise him but couldn’t say the word. Instead, she caressed the side of his face, making him shiver. Her fingers trailed around to the soft hair on the nape of his neck, something she’d dreamed of doing for so long. He’ll be fine. I can’t lose him. “I’ll be here with you. I’ll help, whatever you need.”

  “Thank you.” His eyes closed.

  Tierney lay awake and thought about what he had just asked her.

  They both managed a few hours of sleep before the pain reared its ugly head once again, stronger and more powerful than before. “I’m here,” she said, but Jax didn’t hear her, he was blocking her with his shields. “Jax,” she called through their connection.

  He stood with his back to her between two walls, a thick brick one in front of him, and a glass one behind, blocking her. Pain beat down on him like golf ball sized hail, and no matter how loud she called, she couldn’t seem to attract his attention.

  Tierney forced herself to relax and breathe. Physically, he was still snuggled up against her. She opened her eyes and drank in the sight of him sleeping. With a gentle touch, she ran her fingers through his hair. He shivered. Closing her eyes, she connected to his mind again. “Jax?” Nothing happened.

  With the mental connection open, she trailed her fingers over his brow, down his face and around to his neck. He shivered and moaned. As the physical stimulus worked, the pain started to relent. Tierney ran her hand down his shoulder and over more scars to his arm. “Jax, let me in,” she called, and in his mind, he turned. The passion blazing in his eyes made her bite her lip in anticipation.

  The pain let up even more, so she continued to physically run her hand up and down his shoulder and arm. In his mind, the glass-wall shattered, and suddenly he stood in front of her, heat in his gaze. “Tierney.”

  “Jax.” Mine! She thought, shocked at her possessiveness as molten heat in her veins made her tremble with desire.

  The scenery changed and Tierney gaped as she glanced around. She’d been here before but had long forgotten this place. She took in the familiar cotton-candy clouds. The beautiful sunset bathed everything in a warm, soft light, and the soft green grass under their feet. Birds twittered in trees that swayed gently in the breeze. Off in the distance, a snow-capped mountain range reached as far as the eye could see, and a perfect little stream ran just a few feet away.

  It was paradise, and also the place where she had visited Jax all those years ago. When Marcius took him away. How could I have forgotten this? Except, it hadn’t been a real paradise. Although it was warm and inviting, the spot where Jax’s soul called her to each night for about six months, had been devastating. She would sit for hours, holding him, and soothing all his pain and fear away.

  Overwhelming sadness filled her as she remembered that time, but the glint in Jax’s eyes pushed the memories aside. The next second, when their clothes disappeared, she jumped. Startled, she grinned at the stunning sight of Jax standing tall and proud, and butt naked in front of her.

  He pulled her into his arms and the pain turned to intense pleasure. Tierney moaned at the searing heat of his skin against hers, while scorching blue eyes raked her with unbridled hunger. “Tiern.”

  “Jax.” Pleasure swirled as his thick arousal pressed against her belly.

  “I want you so badly.” He lowered his lips to hers, searing her with a kiss and drawing a sigh from her at the sweet brush of his lips. He set her blood on fire as he trailed fiery kisses down her neck, nibbling along the way.

  His cock strained, making her wet between her legs as she hungered to feel him. Jax scorched his wicked way along her throat and across her chest, licking hungrily, searing her. “Oh baby– Jax.”

  She whimpered as he touched her in all the right places. “Don’t stop.”

  “Want you,” he groaned and gently squeezed her breast, lightly tweaking the pink nipple and making her moan before moving onto the other. Soon she was writhing against him. His fingers sent shivers through her as they trailed over her stomach, down her thighs and to the sensitive flesh between her legs. She groaned and spread them apart to give him more access. Part of her couldn’t believe she was doing this, but another part prayed he wouldn’t stop.

  Her eyes flew open at the press of his arousal against her for real. Though he still slept, his breathing had also picked up. She closed her eyes and clutched him as she focused on what was going on in his mind. Jax sucked her breast into his mouth, and she arched against him with a moan as he swirled his tongue around the tip, before doing the same with the other. Never had anything felt so amazing.

  Tierney ran her hands all over his body, while his mouth and fingers worked their magic. A fierce pressure began to build, and though she’d never experienced an orgasm before, she had read a lot of books, and knew she was close. “Jax.”

  “Need you,” he said, rubbing his cock against her.

  Hesitantly, she reached down and wrapped her hand around him, marveling at his size. Thrilled when he shuddered
at her touch, she ran her fingers up and down his length.

  “Tierney, I ache for you,” he groaned.

  “Gods, Jax, you make me—”

  “What? Tell me how I make you feel.” His tongue traced a hot trail from her breasts up to her lips.

  “You make me crazy.” She felt ready to explode. “Please,” she whimpered, as his tongue teased hers. Pulses of pleasure continued to build inside of her. “No, I can’t take any more,” she thought, until he took his fingers away, making her whimper again.

  Jax lowered her to the soft ground, gazing at her with such hunger he set her heart racing. Then he knelt between her legs. Her whole body ached for more.

  “Jax!” she cried out as his tongue tasted her. “Oh yes!” Her body writhed out of control as waves built then crashed, exploding inside her, leaving her breathless at her first orgasm.

  “Tierney, I want you. I ache to be inside you.”

  She moaned as her body continued to pulse from the pleasure he’d given her.

  “You taste so wonderful,” he said, then covered her body with his, arms on each side of her, supporting his weight as she continued to ride the waves of her orgasm. The tip of him nestled at her core, and he shook at the intensity. “Need a minute, about to lose control.” But his throbbing cock, lightly touching her, brought her to orgasm again.

  “Oh baby!” She wanted him inside of her more than anything. “Please!” Claiming his lips, Tierney felt as if she were being consumed by fire, but in a good way, while Jax struggled for control. Tierney bit the sweet, fleshy part of his ear, hissing, “I want you inside me.” Her fingers dug into his ass, as his cock slid deep, making her moan at the pleasure as shock waves pulsed through her.

  “C-can’t hold out much longer.” Jax buried himself all the way inside her while she raked him with her nails. He moaned, their whimpers of pleasure combining. Pressure built and she arched up off the ground, meeting him as he thrust deep.

  She held him when he lost all control, and thrust furiously in and out, his tongue warring with hers. Being in his mind, his hunger consumed her as well.