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  Sagittarius

  Zodiac Dragon Guardians, Book VII

  Kim Faulks

  Edited by

  Angela Kelly

  Illustrated by

  Jacqueline Sweet

  Copyright © 2017 by Kim Faulks

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  For Ryan and Rebbecca

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Kim Faulks

  1. Lucas

  2. Lucas

  3. Lucas

  4. Eva

  5. Eva

  6. Lucas

  7. Eva

  8. Eva

  9. Lucas

  10. Lucas

  11. Eva

  12. Lucas

  13. Eva

  14. Lucas

  15. Lucas

  16. Eva

  17. Lucas

  18. Eva

  19. Lucas

  20. Eva

  21. Lucas

  22. Eva

  23. Lucas

  24. Eva

  25. Lucas

  26. Eva

  27. Lucas

  28. Lucas

  Ace

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to my editor, Ang for your kickass edits, thank you to Kristy for always supporting me, and for being my sounding board for all these crazy ideas. For Eden, who is always there for me, no matter what. I couldn’t have done this without you.

  You all mean the world to me.

  ALSO BY KIM FAULKS

  The Zodiac Dragon Guardians

  Taurus - Book 1

  Aquarius - Book 2

  Cancer - Book 3

  A Roaring Fire - Christmas novella

  Aries - Book 4

  Alpha - Book 5

  Virgo - Book 6

  The Submissively Ever After Series (Dark Fairytale Retellings)

  Beast

  Gretel

  Vampire Blood Courtesan Romance

  Bitten - Book 1

  Taken - Book 2

  Resurrected - Book 3

  The Fire and Ice Series

  Reclaimed - Book 1

  Seductive Sands - Book 2

  Enslaved - Book 3

  Emergence - Book 4

  Yesterday’s Ashes - Book 5

  The Underworld Coven

  Part 1

  Part 2

  DARK FANTASY

  End of Dreams

  Secrets Room

  Hells Angel

  1

  Lucas

  One day before

  “You up for an adventure?” I licked my lips and stared into the darkness.

  Isaiah parted the blanket of ivy with the swipe of a hand. His blond mane shone, catching the muted flicker of a fire as he turned his head. “You mean other than walking into a superpack’s den with you as my backup?”

  Through the gap of evergreen the wolves and the forest waited. They could wait a damn minute longer. “We should meet up with Bastian and North, go after the Hellhounds, and then all of us could come back here.”

  He shook his head and leaned in. “Don't tell me the mighty Archer's afraid of a wolf?”

  The muscles along my neck tensed as Isaiah chuckled and surged through the tangled vines.

  But the sound didn’t linger, dying on his lips as hulking shadows closed in on all sides.

  The Phantom pack’s warning echoed, slipping between the thick trunks of this primordial forest to stand the hair on the nape of my neck.

  I swept my hood backwards and inhaled the choking stench of wolf. We were hundreds of miles from home, and at least a day’s drive from our kin. If the Alpha of this pack decided not to be courteous, well, I was more than happy to leave with a hide or a hundred.

  But dead wolves couldn't talk, and right now we needed information more than a show of damn strength.

  Home hovered at the edge of my mind as I stepped through the vines.

  I'd thought we'd found peace—until the Huntress tore my family apart.

  Now we wanted retribution. Now we wanted blood.

  But how the Hell can you seek vengeance on a ghost?

  The darkness clung to its secrets—no matter how many men tracked. No matter how many wolves hunted. We still couldn't find the blonde bitch anywhere.

  Afraid of a wolf?

  No, more like a Dragon…

  The sudden sound of a breath filled my ears. The Archer drew me inwards, past the memories, and the hurt. Down to where the infernal beast roamed.

  I kept to the outside of his walls, venturing far enough into the depths to see but not touch. This was our dance—this elusive connection we shared. To me he was an illusion. A beautiful, perfect midnight illusion hidden behind the four inch-thick wall of ice.

  I could hear him, see him. But not become what I once was all those years ago.

  It was best this way. For both of us.

  He turned, pacing the darkened hallways of my mind. Thick round haunches shimmered with black scales. Muscles rippled down to where solid fetlocks of moonlight fire shone with silver flames. Rear hooves clipped the ground, leaving nothing but an echo behind.

  But it was the upper half of his body that stole my breath. Haunches and hooves turned to honed plates of armor. He shook his head, and long, wicked spikes quivered, driving out from a wild midnight mane.

  I followed the movement to the silver flames that danced in his eyes. He was the Archer, half horse, half dragon and all beast, straight and true, spearing himself toward the one connection he yearned for...me.

  His black coat glistened, silver and white danced against the shine behind the ice. I pressed my fingers to the packed, cold surface, and caught the flinch.

  He stilled, turned, and then slowly raised those brown eyes to mine.

  Lucas...

  Massive wings shuddered, shook, and then settled hard against his side.

  You’re worried.

  I cast the image of the forest through the ice wall and whispered. “You could say that.”

  The Archer dragged in the frigid air. Silver flames lapped the edges of his nostrils as he answered. Then let me out. I can help you.

  I flinched with his words, and watched my brother. “We have to find the child. Zadoc and the Wretched depend on us. We can’t afford…”

  Can’t afford, what? My Dragon growled and shifted his gaze behind me. Go on, say something witty while your brother walks into a wolf’s den…

  The Archer paced his cell wall. He wanted out. He wanted retribution. He wanted to carve a path through this forest and pave it with blood. He was a beast, one who’d almost cost me everything. “You stay where you are,” I whispered. “Where you can’t murder, where you can’t maim—for all eternity.”

  They’re coming, my Dragon snarled. And this is only the beginning. You’ll need me before it’s over. Because there’s only one thing that will stop our enemies. An arrow…right through their goddamn hearts.

  The outline of a wolf cut through the trees, as the first of the pack stepped into the arena. White teeth bared, dark eyes missed nothing. Thick haunches rolled as he stalked forward and skirted the fire.

  He wasn’t alone for long. Men and wolves crept in behind us, closing off our escape, but silver eyes glinted from under every leaf and every tree.

  The Phantom pack had become bigger and meaner in the years we hid from the world.

  A flash of white fur against the dark turned my head. She was a young wolf, small, scrawny, barely an adult. Tattered white fur was blackened at the edges with mud. She lowered her head and flattened her ears.
Her low growl reeked of fear. I gave the young wolf a nod and kept moving.

  There had to be fifty—no, sixty of the beasts here. But I had a feeling this wasn’t anywhere near the size of the pack.

  Hundreds of wolves watched us, just waiting for one word from their Alpha.

  I licked my lips and stood my ground.

  We weren’t here for a war.

  But that didn’t mean I wouldn’t take solace in the violence.

  I’m ready, urged the Archer and flared the spikes around his head. Let me out, Lucas. Let me out and I’ll fight. You need me…

  “You’re a long way from home, Guardian.”

  A warped snarl came behind me. I dropped my gaze at the feral growl behind me and caught the hulking shadow move. The beast stood high on its legs, hips curved as though it was desperate to shed the last of its human form.

  “Thought you were dead.” He sneered.

  The dumb shit waited for a response. Sorry, no habla fucktardo.

  “Thought you were all dead.”

  I opened my mouth as Isaiah wrenched his gaze to mine. Yellow sparks danced inside black pupils. Not one word, he warned without moving his damn lips. Not one fucking word. You know what’s at stake.

  I ground my teeth as the rest of the pack arrived. Branches snapped. The forest floor rumbled. Three of the biggest fucking wolves I’d ever seen slipped through the undergrowth to circle us from each side.

  “So, the Guardians have finally come to me?”

  Slippery words followed the wolf warriors. I stared into the edge of the tree line, waiting for the vicious bastard, Haruin, to show his face.

  He shouldered his way through, pushing in front of the lower caste to divide his attention between my brother and me. I caught the shudder of those he passed as they turned their gazes to the ground.

  The years hadn't been kind to this barbarian of wolves. I stared at the thick, heavily muscled frame and caught the limp—no they hadn't been kind at all. Brown leather pants looked new and unmarred, and the thick bearskin cloak rode over thick, well-worn muscles making him seem five times bigger than he was.

  And the bastard was big.

  Haruin ruled by two things he did well—intimidation and inflicting fear—but this was the old way—the weak way.

  Haruin and the other alphas that ruled like he did were coming to an end—he captured my stare in cold unflinching eyes—and deep down he knew it.

  For a second I wished I hadn’t fought as hard and let Xael come here instead. All I needed was a damn chair and a fresh bag of popcorn and then I could settle in for dinner and a show.

  My lips curled with the thought. She would’ve nailed his ass to the goddamn ground.

  “Haruin.” Isaiah dipped his head. “I appreciate your time.”

  The ego-driven sonofabitch climbed the mound at the edge of the arena to sit in his throne of dirt. Lanterns of fire flickered on either side, casting the orange glow around us.

  “I’m sure you've heard by now we’re looking for the Huntress.” The slow rush of his breath filled my ears. “She's taken someone that belongs to us...and we want her back.”

  Haruin ran a filthy hand along the thick mohawk down the middle of his skull. The shaved sides of his head were marred by thick, ugly scars and one too many blows to the damn head.

  Cold, calculating eyes seized Isaiah’s. “This female alpha I keep hearing about, is she under your protection?”

  Isaiah stiffened. He licked his lips and took his sweet ass time responding. “She is mate to my brother.”

  One slow nod from Haruin gave me the goddamn chills as behind me the wolves circled.

  “Mate, hmm.” He reached for his chin and dragged filthy nails through the gray-speckled bristles. “That does pose a problem then, doesn’t it?”

  “The Huntress,” Isaiah growled. “We know she’s taken shelter with your pack before. We're here to make sure that doesn't happen again.”

  The alpha leaned forward. His lips curled from crusted yellowed teeth and spat. “Tell me, which one of the forgotten Guardians decided to breed? Don't tell me it was you who made this runt, Lion?”

  A nerve twitched at my temple.

  “No,” Isaiah whispered and then met the bastard’s glare with his own. “It was Zadoc.”

  The smirk in Haruin’s eyes faltered. For a second fear shone through.

  “Which is why we’re here and not him.” The threat seeped into Isaiah's voice as he took a step.

  The warning snarls echoed around me. But this was no game—this was no request.

  This was an ultimatum.

  I surged forward—brother to brother.

  We were here to make ourselves heard.

  We were here to make ourselves known.

  There’d be no more running. There’d be no more defending.

  The Guardians were on the hunt and God help those who stood in our way.

  “The Wretched,” Haruin murmured and scanned the green as though the mere mention of his name would summon the beast.

  With the demon blood raging in his Dragon, Zadoc was one Guardian Haruin didn't want to meet—not now, maybe not ever.

  “Is calling for blood,” I growled. “We're all calling for blood. Make no mistake, wolf. We will tear through anything and anyone that stands in our way.”

  His sloped forehead creased with a frown. “The blood oath, does that still stand?”

  The corner of my lip curled with the mention of our blood pact. I scanned the wolves, making sure I was heard before I turned back to their alpha. “I guess that depends, doesn't it?”

  His skin turned a sickly shade of yellow. “We'll give her no sanction.”

  “And you will send word if she comes to you.”

  Haruin shoved from his throne of sticks and mud to rise. The earth thundered with heavy steps as he climbed down. He covered the distance, standing nose to nose with me. “Times have changed while you slept in your little castle. The Phantom pack is bigger and stronger. We're the force to be reckoned with. We're the law ’round here. The old way—our old way is the only true way. Let it be known I'll have no woman as my equal.”

  A nerve at my temple twitched. Underestimate us—that would be fun, look how it turned out the last time.

  Lucas... The Archer growled inside my head. Drop the wall...

  I knew what he wanted—knew the hate that seethed inside. I gave a slow nod and then lifted my gaze to the Phantom pack Alpha. “Noted. And you can let it be known we'll burn cities to the ground, and anything else that stands in our way of protecting what's ours.”

  “And what is that?” He sneered and turned to the rest of his pack, lifting his hands high. “You've nothing but a camp full of women and the weak. Is that why the mighty Guardians have returned? To wipe asses, and kiss twats? No wonder you’ve been considered fair game…” He turned to hold my stare. “The Huntress is only doing what she does best—weeding out the weak and carving a path for the strong. Tell me Guardian, how does it feel to be hunted by her? I’ve always wanted to know.”

  Let me show him what it feels like to be hunted. The Archer crammed my head with whispers of death. Let me show him what weak is.

  His power burned like fire—cold, silver fire…reaching up through the very center of me.

  Let me bring this dog to his knees.

  Let me take everything he's built and burn it to the fucking ground.

  And burn this piece of shit along with it.

  Something scurried through the trees to my right. I opened my eyes and tracked the movement. The growl behind me was deep, sudden, reverberating through the air to dance along my skin.

  Isaiah took one slow step toward me.

  Easy, brother. Easy.

  Flames danced behind the wall of ice inside my head. Pain flared, driving unseen talons into my temple as the Archer pushed against that wall, desperate to get through.

  The sheen of sweat glistened, catching the orange haze of the fire. A young shifter barreled thro
ugh the thick overhang to stop at the edge of the arena. He turned a panicked gaze to mine, and then sought Haruin and sucked in deep breaths. “Alpha.”

  The old leader lunged, closing the distance. He gripped the young shifter by the shoulders and leaned in. Whispers slipped through the air, too far away for me to hear, until with a slow, deliberate breath Haruin pulled away.

  “Behind me, Isaiah,” I murmured. “Now.”

  But the stubborn Lion refused to move, standing reckless beside me. Goddamn stubborn sonofabitch. My heart picked up pace. The boom rocked my ears until the deafening sound was all I heard. My fingers skimmed his arm and found a hold. He was all I had…didn’t he know that? I’d fight to my last breath to save him.

  “Steel,” Haruin barked and stared into the forest.

  The hulking wolf padded forward. His coarse coat glistened silver and midnight blue. The big bastard turned his head, cutting me a glare as he passed.

  I could take him…even without the Archer I could take him…I scanned the leaves and the trees and all the fucking pairs of silver eyes as the Archer whispered behind the wall…

  But can you take them all?

  “Escort the Guardians across the border. It seems their journey to find the Dragon child is over.”

  Only then did Haruin turn and give me a cold stare. “Go home, Guardians. Your family needs you.”

  My heart lunged, slamming against the confines of my chest. I yanked my gaze to the shifter and searched his gaze. What did that mean, was the child alive or…dead?

  “She's safe and well,” the alpha snarled. “And that’s the only courtesy you’ll find here.”