Dragon Born

  Book Two

  Edition 1: 2019

  Copyright © 2019 JN Moon

  Edited by Samantha at Proofreading by the Page Facebook

  Cover art by Danielle Fine at Design by Definition

  Table of Contents

  Copyright Page

  Dragon Born (The Blood Moon Series)

  Siren.

  Taste of Sea.

  Abyss.

  Fire and Earth.

  Angels, Demons & Dragons.

  Orkneyjar.

  The Legend of the Selkies.

  Heart of a Dragon.

  Bound for Seven Years.

  Ancient City of Aegae.

  Leviathan.

  Broken Legends.

  Ghost.

  The Sea Ran Red.

  Wrath of the Gods.

  Author Notes and Book 3 Shadow Born Sample below.

  Shadow Born | Book 3 The Blood Moon Series

  Other books

  About.

  Dedicated to my friends who are my family and to story tellers everywhere. To all the people who helped me get this far. Thank You.

  Carole, Trish, Twenty, Victoria, Gina for believing in me and the DDD family xxx

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  Siren.

  Emma

  Hard, pounding rain mirrored my emotions as I arrived with Luke at the remote cemetery to bury my uncle. Ethan, my uncle, had wanted a formal funeral, laid to rest alongside his wife. Now the day had come and I dreaded it, now it would all seem more real. I’d killed the monster who’d taken Ethan’s life, but now that seemed almost irrelevant.

  Guiding me under his umbrella, his arm wrapped around me, Luke was a blessing. We’d spent time together after the tragedy and his presence was soothing, although I’d been warned not to arrive with him.

  I was breathless as I saw the amount of people crammed into the tiny cemetery, the place was heaving. Ethan had always seemed like a solitary man, and a humble one but people, or rather supernaturals of every kind, stood under umbrellas or wearing top hats murmuring quietly, turning to look as Ethan’s family, me and my mum, arrived.

  I had insisted Luke ride with us, as my mum had her boyfriend, Jon, who I barely knew but she had apparently known him for years.

  Silence fell over the mourners as we walked towards the church. As I looked around, I noticed it was a spectacle. Ghost white faces of vampires, some of whom when I made eye contact, tipped their hats, tight lipped with eyes as dark as obsidian. Tall and beautiful, they all wore bespoke suits or dresses and had a harsh beauty. Then there were others, I had no idea what they were, but they looked like sculptures come to life, ethereal, towering over the others and wearing white, which blended so close to their skin, it almost merged. Squeezing Luke’s hand, trying to hide my shock at these creatures. I spied some that stood at the back. They raised their eyebrows, smiling slightly in acknowledgment. I noticed peeking behind them, wings, huge, feathered glacial white wings. I felt the blood drain from my face but then I was dating a dragon shifter, but what were they? Another man similar to them, stood alongside a vampire who was shorter than the others, but this winged man had black, crimson tinged wings that offset his pewter eyes. He was staring wide-eyed at us, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned but not sneering. The vampire next to him with dark hair tumbling down to his shoulders, smiled as I made eye contact, Luke clasping my hand.

  But some looked on with disgust, sneering as they narrowed their eyes, twisted their faces and clenched their jaws at me and Luke, but turning to look with sad eyes at my mum.

  Yes, I’d been warned, wolf shifter and dragon shifter were not accepted by other Wolf Born - other werewolves. It seems in the supernatural community, at least, bigotry is rife.

  Most of the werewolves looked just as bespoke as the others, maybe I’d been expecting lumberjack shirts or bikers’ leathers, but many of them, if they did make eye contact, it wasn’t friendly.

  I didn’t really give a shit, I was here burying my uncle, and I wouldn’t be told who I can or cannot date.

  So, I ignored their sneers, their disrespect. I was surprised to see Conor, although he and Ethan had been close friends, Conor was still in wolf form, unable to shift back into human form, and he wasn’t the only wolf. These wolves were massive. Though, our lineage being a blend of preternatural mix and human and wolf were more akin to the ancient Dire wolves that had been extinct for thousands of years. Sitting nearly as tall as a human, they were formidable creatures. There were several others who I hadn’t noticed standing on the edge of the cemetery and as everyone now moved to enter the tiny ancient chapel, they walked alongside human shifters. They were huge, one grey and two black wolves with their eyes coal red.

  It was the strangest collection of people at a funeral, and now this was my reality. If I hadn’t been overwhelmed with grief, it would be scary, funny even. Surreal, though, knowing that I was one of them, not human. My boyfriend, not human.

  I could sense the vicar was a shifter, wolf- his scent unlike humans, musty and earthy. Graciously he gestured with his hand to me, my mum, Jon, and Luke, we took our places at the front.

  Seeing my uncle in that box, a weight bore down on me, on my soul, in there lay his lifeless body. Never again in this lifetime will I feel his hugs, hear his laughter or listen to his tales told by the fire.

  My uncle had, in life, prepared his funeral and as they brought the coffin in, his favourite music played, the song called A Forest. It’s light guitaring that slowly intertwined slow strums, plucking then getting quicker a song that weaved you into it just like the many times I had wandered under the canopy of trees, their emerald green leaves, lush scents covering like a natural roof, a canopy where sunlight dappled down to reveal the natural beauty of the natural world.

  Clenching my jaw, tensing to hold back the tears, I stood like a sentry. As much I wanted to burst for the release, I hated showing emotion in public, but I was betrayed as tears rolled down my cheeks. I’d loved that song since I first heard it as a kid, the music warming my heart, traveling through my body like warm wine. Gripping Luke’s hand, I thought I’d break.

  Mum was stood next to Jon and wept quietly into his shoulder, murmurs and heaviness filled that tiny room, almost ready to burst.

  The vicar was sympathetic, can you have a good funeral? I think so, his earnest smile cast over the congregation as he informed everyone that we were here to remember Ethan and celebrate the life he lived, full and to his best and that we could take this, a part of his spirit into our hearts and minds and look kindly onto others.

  At that statement, Luke squeezed my hand tighter, maybe there was a bit for us? He was certainly kind towards us, not a hint of malice, unlike some others.

  Thirty minutes later it was finished and we made our way outside to bury him alongside his soul mate, my late aunt.

  The supernaturals whispered, mumbled whilst I avoided eye contact. Pete and Coral, two from my clan, came up to offer their condolences. I was surprised Steve made it and wanted to thank him but he didn’t look at me, the anger in him pent up, I doubt he’d ever forgive me, or that I could forgive myself. His wife had become possessed and threatened to kill us, I had tried to break her possession, but I’d killed her in the process. Not a day went past when I didn’t relive that. Over and over in my mind, I replayed it
with a different outcome, an outcome that meant she lived.

  We went back to Ethan’s home, though I didn’t want to socialize after this, I didn’t have the heart to leave it all to my mum. She and Jon busied themselves putting out food, helped by Coral and Pete.

  Strained is how I would describe the situation. My mum had freaked the hell out when she found out I was with Luke a week earlier. Killing the demon and saving the werewolf community didn’t seem to matter anymore. The fact was we weren’t supposed to be with other species!

  Christ, I never knew she was so prejudiced and I’d endured her rant for about ten minutes before hanging up the phone. “What if you had a child! What would it be... half wolf, half dragon!” Her horror was evident, even when I explained we’d only been dating a week and I don’t even want children.

  She hadn’t spoken to me since. The joke is my mum isn’t even a shifter, she’s human. It had skipped a generation with her. That missing gene, though, turns out it had been in me.

  Looking around, my heart lifted as I saw Sabian coming over to me and Luke, with warm smiles and sad eyes.

  “I’m so sorry Emma, Luke we haven’t seen you for a while?” Sabian spoke softly.

  “I’ve been with Emma and also given the current anger at us being together, I didn’t want to bring that kind of problem to your community,” Luke replied honestly.

  “Oh, that!” Sabian made wide eyes, smiling again, “Not at all, you are family, both of you, so you must both come and stay with us soon. I’m not asking, I insist, not everyone is backward in their thinking and, on that note, I’d like you Emma to meet some friends of mine.”

  In the South West, Sabian’s shifter community was one of the biggest and one of the most formidable. They had a fierce, terrible reputation but as Luke had explained, that was for show. In reality, none killed but ran free, harming none, neither human nor animal. Tearing an animal to pieces is hardly humane, let alone a human. They had businesses in the area. One was a café in Wells, a tiny city and their cafe was actually a cover for a sanctuary for those dispossessed or alone needing help, community. But he did train all his shifters in combat. Shifter life it seemed was volatile to say the least. Other packs were not the same, some still hunted and savaged humans, were violent and bigoted and had nearly exposed the supernaturals to the mortal world. But things were changing, a new forward- thinking Council was forming, to survive they had to adapt.

  “Emma, may I introduce Anthony, Marcus and Acacius, my friends from Bath. Guys, this is Emma, you know Luke obviously.”

  “A terrible tragedy, we offer our deepest condolences, I’m Acacius. I’m sorry to meet you under these circumstances.”

  Acacius was wildly tall, with an angelic face but his eyes betrayed his age. Long white hair fell below his shoulders. I knew from what Luke had whispered earlier that he was Nephilim, a warrior of God, which surprised me as his friends were vampires and shifters!

  With a rich smell of blood and sex and by the cold touch of his flesh as we shook hands, Anthony was a vampire. He was much shorter with very dark hair, longish and curly, his full red lips contrasted his ice white skin and dark eyes. He was dressed so immaculately he didn’t look real. Even as a shifter, his pull was strong. Something about him, a charisma, almost made me blush but he was respectful. I could imagine him not being, in a wild way. Quickly composing myself, the next friend to take my breath away was Marcus. As tall as Acacius, but where Acacius was light, Marcus was dark. His skin brown, he had a short-cropped beard and piercing grey eyes, muscular with a classical face. I’d seen these men earlier, up close, to touch... breath- taking. Marcus would probably look good in rags, but that was as far as I thought, I knew he was different because he drank the blood of vampires and humans, a rogue Nephilim.

  As the thought entered my head, he winked, putting his hand out to shake it and whispered, “Rogue indeed, I could be!” And he laughed, gently breaking the silence.

  Luke tilted his head to me, “They can hear your thoughts, well Marcus and Acacius anyhow. You can’t Anthony, I don’t think?”

  “Only with those I’m connected to by blood.” He seemed cautious, sensing the atmosphere in the room, but nodded in his reply.

  We could all feel it, a few other vampires and shifters came over, friends of these people but none from my community, outcast in my uncles’ home.

  Rocks churned in my stomach and I couldn’t stand it anymore.

  “I’m going, I’m not wanted here by these ingrates and frankly, as much as I love my dead uncle, I’m not staying to be shunned and dishonour him.”

  “You’ll come stay with us then, we have a place ready for you both, but more of that later.”

  “Thanks, that’s really kind, I appreciate it but I’m not going to be scared out of my home,” And as I said this, Luke touched my arm. “No, what do you think they’re going to do, kill me? They should be ashamed of their behaviour, I saved their bigoted community! I killed the Nuckelavee so they could live, I won’t be driven away,” I spoke firmly but kindly. I really didn’t have to fear them. My hands held their burning light, but I was shaken up by the coldness and discrimination, and my own mother!

  Flinching out of shock, I looked down to see Conor, the wolf, nestled up beside me. A victim of the evil spirits who’d possessed him. He’d attacked me under their spell, I’d retaliated with that light shooting out of my hands and he’d changed from werewolf to wolf and had remained a wolf ever since.

  Since then, though, I’d had no heart to learn how to wield this light, or flame, whatever it was. I wanted to forget I was some macabre creature like them. I managed with Luke’s strength, with his kindness and affection to start to regain my life. Everything had been foreshadowed by Ethan’s funeral, now all I wanted was time away from everyone except Luke.

  I watched as they exchanged glances, eyebrows raised. It was Anthony who spoke first, his sharp eyes boring into mine, “Well, I think we can agree that the two of you make a formidable couple, and I’m glad.” He didn’t speak quietly, he wanted the rest of the room to hear. “It’s shocking how you’re both being outcast. Christ, it’s no wonder the supernatural community is dying out, they’re wiping themselves out! It’s like the Middle Ages,” Shaking his head he continued. “Know that there are those of us who stand beside you and you are always welcome and if you want our support- in any way- just call, we’ll be by your sides in minutes!”

  “Easy words for one so young, what do you actually know of the Middle Ages, did you live through them?” A gruff shifter replied looking dagger- eyed at Anthony.

  Anthony smirked and rolled his eyes, “Seriously, if I have to listen to an elder of any kind ramble on one more time, I think I’ll eat him. Emma, supernaturals, let me tell you, in the main are suspicious of each other to the point of paranoia and hatred, it is archaic and pathetic. Then you get the... wait to you’re my age speech and it’s as boring as if you were human.”

  Spluttering a laugh, I nodded. I liked Luke’s friends, it’s interesting who we have as family, blood doesn’t mean shit sometimes.

  “Thanks guys, that means a lot, we’ll definitely come visit for sure. This is the first time I’ve met vampires and Nephilim,” I grinned.

  Acacius spoke next, I realized after a few seconds he was trying to speak softly, his voice was so deep it almost reverberated around the room. “Well you will have to come and stay sometime at any rate, things are changing and we’d like to get to know you better. Both of you.”

  “Thanks, Acacius, we’d like that,” Luke smiled. “Sabian, we’ll pop over and see you in the next few days. How’s Lauren, I thought she’d be here?”

  “She’s well thanks. I knew there’d be some animosity, so I asked her not to come, that wasn’t easy,” He winked. “She’d like you two to stay as well, but we’ll catch up when you visit.” Frowning and rolling his lips, there was something he wasn’t telling me, but I didn’t blame him to be honest. The others in the room chatted amongst themselves
but a heaviness on my shoulders and in my gut told me that the shifters, some of the other supernaturals there were listening, watching and I guessed that’s why Sabian and his friends had come, to show support.

  Getting home, the loss, the hurt erupted. Luke held me close, whispering to me, soothing me. Looking at him, his face was tired, worn with worry, so I grabbed his hand and we went off to sleep.

  I woke up with a start to someone pounding on the front door, which sent me into two modes, ignore them, then worry.

  Luke bolted out of bed, glanced at me, his eyes scrunched up and hair messy, fumbling, nearly tripping as he grabbed his t-shirt but I was just ahead of him.

  “Let me,” He insisted, then gave up knowing I wouldn’t listen. But as I stumbled down the stairs, I heard voices, gravelly and deep. Looking behind me with worry, I saw Luke was by my side.

  “I knew it!” He sighed. “They won’t leave you or me, alone.”

  Fury swelled inside me, quietly I unlocked the door, ready to fight. “Yes?”

  It was Steve and Pete and a few of their mates. As their eyes registered me and Luke, they altered their stance, almost posturing.

  Making no eye contact with Luke, they stared hard eyed at me, “Emma, you have to come home, you’re the leader of the community now, especially with your gifts. We aren’t asking, it’s your duty, your birth right, you have an obligation to your people. You’re with the wrong man, you’re meant to be with Conor!”

  I couldn’t help it, I spat with laughter, “You want me to marry a wolf?”

  That angered them, Steve continued, his hate evident as always, “We’ll fix that, this isn’t a joke.”

  “My people? Your leader? Conor told me you had no leaders, that you had a community?”

  Shifting around on his feet, he was confused. I hadn’t refused but I had challenged what he was saying.

  Then looking at Pete, I suspect to calm the situation, Pete continued, his voice softer, “Emma, no one wants you to leave- not even Steve.”