Drantos Read online

  Drantos

  VLG – Book One

  Vampires, Lycans, Gargoyles

  By Laurann Dohner

  Drantos by Laurann Dohner

  For most, a plane crash means the end of life. For Dusti Dawson, it’s just the beginning…

  Dusti and her sister Batina survived the crash, thanks to a couple of brothers who are equal parts menacing and muscled. She’d be grateful…if they hadn’t turned out to be delusional kidnappers, who believe Dusti’s grandfather is some monstrous half-breed creature bent on murder. Turns out Vampires, Lycans, and Gargoyles do exist—and they’ve been crossbreeding to form two hybrid races. Drantos, the man Dusti can’t stop lusting after, is one of the most dangerous of all.

  VampLycans Drantos and Kraven were sent to eliminate a threat to their clan. But when that threat turns out to be mostly human women, clueless of their lineage, plans change—especially after Drantos gets a taste of Dusti’s blood. Now, he’ll die to protect her. Even if that means walking away from everything he knows to keep her at his side.

  Is her strong desire for Drantos reason enough to endure danger coming from all sides? Or should Dusti cut and run the first chance she gets?

  Author Note: VLG stands for Vampires, Lycans, Gargoyles…and breeds in between. Living in Alaska’s harsh, pristine territories, these creatures live and love fiercely. These are their stories.

  Dedication

  Always and forever - I have to thank Mr. Laurann. He's my hero in all ways. He took those vows of 'in sickness and in health' and stuck to them, big time. He's always had my back and my front. I love you, baby. I couldn't do what I do, without you.

  Kele Moon - Not only is she the best friend a person could ever have but I love her like the sister I always wished for. We're family in my heart. She rocks as a critique partner too. Now she's holding my hand and steering me through a new adventure in the wonderful world of writing.

  Kelli Collins - I was nervous and scared going out on my own. You were there for me. Thank you for being a kickass editor and giving it to me straight. You made this book so much better. Always a fan!

  Most of all, I'd like to thank you, the people reading this. I was a housewife with a love for writing and I had a dream. You made it come true. You have stuck with me through every obstacle life threw at me. I might write slower but I'm still here! Thank you. I hope you enjoy this new series. Happy reading.

  Drantos

  Copyright © December 2015

  Editor: Kelli Collins

  Cover Art: Dar Albert

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-944526-00-9

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this *crane copyrighted work is illegal, except for the case of brief quotations in reviews and articles.

  Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter One

  “Brace for impact!”

  The pilot’s voice sounded high-pitched for a man, his fear obvious.

  “Tighten your belts, remove all sharp objects from your pockets, and bend forward.”

  Dusti clutched her sister’s hand tightly while her heart beat erratically from adrenaline and terror. She turned her head to stare into Bat’s terrified blue eyes. Her older sister, usually so calm, appeared as panicked as Dusti felt. Bat’s aloof attorney façade had fled, replaced by sheer fright.

  The small plane engines droned loudly as the cabin shook violently. The overhead compartments rattled, a dull background noise that made the grim situation more realistic. Dusti peered through the window to her left. It revealed dense foliage far below, a testament that they’d flown far from civilization.

  The pilot came back on the speaker to make another announcement, as if telling the twenty-some passengers the plane was going down hadn’t been bad enough.

  They’d reached Alaska, but it seemed they’d die there too.

  “Mayday, mayday!” The pilot yelled now. “This is Brennon Twelve. Mayday.” The plane took a sudden nose dive after a loud pop tore through the cabin. “Fuck!”

  People in the seats around Dusti cried out and one woman in the row behind her frantically began to pray aloud.

  It was just a guess, but Dusti figured the pilot wasn’t aware he’d left the microphone on as the conversation between him and his copilot was broadcast throughout the cabin via speakers.

  “Pull up, Mike! Fuck, she’s fighting me. Help!”

  “I am!” the other pilot responded. “I don’t see a place to land, do you? Christ! The yoke feels like it weighs a thousand pounds. We’re going to break apart before we ever hit the ground.”

  The nose of the plane leveled off somewhat but the plane was definitely losing altitude. Dusti glanced out the window again to notice the trees had become more defined now, instead of similar to a distant carpet of green bushes. Her gaze swept the ground to confirm there wasn’t a clearing within sight for the pilots to try to use as a runway.

  “I’m so sorry,” Bat whispered. “This is all my fault. I love you.”

  Hot tears filled Dusti’s eyes when she turned her head to lock eyes with her sister’s fearful gaze. “I love you too—and don’t you dare blame yourself.”

  “Fire in engine two,” one of the pilots yelled. “Shit! The extinguishing system is offline. It’s not responding. We’re only twenty miles out but we’re not going to make it to the airfield.”

  “Level off,” the second pilot harshly demanded.

  “Got it.” The pilot cursed. “Do you see anything? Do you?”

  “It’s just trees. We’re going down too fast. Why in the hell aren’t they answering? I know it’s a tiny airport but Jesus! Where are they? Maybe we lost communications and they aren’t receiving our mayday.” The copilot sounded both angry and frightened.

  “Damn those cheap bastards for not giving us a backup system,” the pilot hissed. “Shit! We’re definitely going down. Seventeen hundred feet and falling.” He paused. “Sixteen hundred.” He paused again for several long seconds. “Fifteen hundred. Oh damn!”

  “It’s been good knowing you, Mike.”

  “You too, Tim. Drop the landing gear but I don’t know why we should bother. We’re going to be shredded to hell and back.” There was a pause. “Oh shit. Cut the mic!”

  Movement from the aisle startled Dusti when two tall, massive-bodied men wearing leather jackets and faded blue jeans suddenly stumbled next to their seats. They used the chair backs to keep themselves upright on the slanted floor of the plane by gripping the edges.

  She immediately recognized them from the Anchorage airport. She and Bat had to change planes there to catch the smaller connecting flight. The two burly men had stepped out of one of the bars they’d passed while walking from one concourse to another. To Dusti, it had seemed as if the guys were following them. She’d even pointed them out to her sister, fearful that the men might be planning to mug them.