Ancient Protector

(Ancients Rising #1)

Katie Reus

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Release Date June 30, 2020

Even as he fights for their future…

With the world still rebuilding after massive dragon attacks, famous singer Star isn’t willing to rely on a stranger to protect her family—though dragon shifter Lachlan is difficult to resist. Something about him is strangely familiar, but she doesn’t understand why. He’s already helped Star rescue her sister from a recent abduction, but trust doesn’t come easy when his kind has nearly hunted her race to extinction. When her sister’s kidnapper launches another violent attack, Star has no choice but to accept Lachlan’s aid. But no matter that he’s stepped up to protect her, she’ll never allow the ancient Scottish dragon into her heart.

They’re bound by the past.

Lachlan lost the woman he was meant to mate millennia ago. Unable to live in a world without her, his pain drove him to hibernation. He never thought he would move on—until Star. He’s well aware the feisty shifter is his new destiny, so if tailing her to New Orleans is what he has to do to be near her, then so be it. When Star is attacked, Lachlan resolves to protect her at all costs. And he won’t have to do it alone. It will take Lachlan, his clansmen, and Star’s misfit band of friends to rain fiery vengeance down upon their enemy if she and her sister are to ever be truly free. Only then can he claim her and discover the shocking truth that lies buried in their past.

FIRST IN NEW SERIES

Star is a famous singer and something else she keeps hidden to protect herself. She is guarded and untrusting, and rightly so since she and her sister are some of the last of their kind. And now she and her motley crew of friends are on a mission to rescue her kidnapped sister. 

Lachlan is an ancient dragon shifter alpha recently out of hibernation and a reclusive billionaire. He was still in mourning of his first lost love, but then he heard Star sing. Something about her called to him so he showed up at her concert during the escape and subsequently was able to provide some help. Since he is an ancient, he is a bit lost, awkward, and not used to how things work in the new world. And the whole world just went into upheaval anyway as the supernaturals were outed and are being hunted.

But now she and her group are hiding out in New Orleans and he seems to keep showing up. He is sure she is his new destined mate...but it might be hard to convince Star of that since she is an alpha herself. She is used to being in charge and making decisions for her group and they take care of each other. She does not think she needs another protector even though his help was nice. She has her own agenda and does not want him messing up their plans. But there is also an odd pull between them she does not understand.

There is a whole lot of turmoil going on in New Orleans. They will make new allies and have plenty of enemies to deal with. There is suspense, action, and serious fire between them. Lachlan is determined to break down Star's walls,  find out her secrets, and make her his.

But will they survive attacks coming from various sources? And if they do, will she agree to mate with another alpha?

I have not read any books of the previous Darkness series this one spins off of and the author did a good job explaining the pertinent information. Fans of the previous series will apparently see some familiar faces based on what I saw on Goodreads. I was captivated by this rich, intricate world of all kinds of supernatural beings and hybrids. The characters all have quirky and interesting personalities to go along with their various shifter traits. It was a fun escape for me and I am looking forward to the other books in this series...and I am hoping we get some more with King too. I  may even go in reverse and read some of the Darkness books when I have time since I liked Reaper and Greer. 

Star has built her singing career until she is easily recognizable, but despite her stardom, she is hiding a secret. She and her friends are using her stardom to travel as they search for Star’s sister, who has been kidnapped. 

Lachlan is an ancient dragon shifter, recently awoken from a forced hibernation. He forced himself into hibernation in reaction to losing his first love. In the present day, he is working to bridge the world he knew when he went to sleep with the world as it is now. A lot has changed in all that time, including the outing of supernatural beings. There is a power struggle as the shifters and humans work to set the world to rights again.

Lachlan is drawn to Star after he hears her sing. Something about her pulls him, and because he is so interested in her he ends up being in the right place at the right time several times to help Star and her friends out of dangerous situations. Star isn’t sure what to do with this old dragon who keeps turning up, especially because she doesn’t trust dragons entirely. 

These two have a fantastic chemistry. Both are alphas in their own right, and as such they have to learn when and how to compromise and let go of control. Star’s group may not all be the same type of shifters, but they have formed a family that looks to Star for their guidance. Lachlan is used to having his orders followed, so when Star challenges him it takes him some time to get used to the idea of another with power so close to him. This makes for both great teamwork (when their goals are the same) and epic sparks when they challenge each other. 

Somehow I have missed Katie Reus’s entire backlist of PNR, but that is something I will be remedying in the near future. Even though I hadn’t read any of her Darkness series, from which the Ancients Rising series spins off, there is enough of the world built here that I was not lost at all. This had all the imagination and fantasy I love from PNR and was a great change of pace from my usual. I look forward to more from this world.

“Lachlan,” she murmured, the feel of his name on her tongue familiar. 

“I like it when you say my name.” His Scottish accent got just a little bit deeper, and a whole lot sexier. 

She fought off a shudder as something echoed inside her. Damn it, she needed to shut this down now. “Look, tonight was pleasant—” 

“Pleasant? Already giving me the brush-off, lass?” 

“Not the brush-off. Lachlan—” 

He groaned. “I told you I love it when you say my name. Are you just trying to drive me mad now?” 

His Scottish brogue was so crazy sexy and damn did she feel that all the way to her toes. “Fine, I won’t say your name again.” 

“Oh, I want you to say my name. Particularly while my head is between your legs—” 

“Lachlan!” She turned to stare at him. No one ever talked to her like that. People usually kissed up to her, and on the occasion a man or male worked up the courage to ask her out, they were usually douchey frat bro types. Or mega-rich assholes who assumed she would say yes. This… She had not expected this boldness. 

He shrugged his broad shoulders, looking more delicious than she could handle. “I believe in honesty.” 

“I don’t care,” she spluttered. “You can’t just say stuff like that.” 

“Why not? I know you want me.” 

“You’re a very maddening, arrogant dragon,” she muttered. “What?” she asked when he gave her a strange look and stopped. “That can’t be the first time someone’s said that to you. I feel like you probably drive people crazy all the time with your ‘honesty.’” 

“No…it’s not the first time.” Still, the look he gave her was almost guarded. 

She looked away for a moment as they stood in the alley that ran behind shops and restaurants. It was quiet, though she could hear people in the distance—laughter, little strings of music coming from somewhere. But here in this moonlit alleyway, there was only the two of them. The knowledge that it was just the two of them here heated her blood. 

She wanted to say his name but didn’t want him to drop another sensual statement on her. Instead she pressed her palm to his chest, intending to… She wasn’t sure what her intentions were. But the instant her fingers curled against his shirt, he let out another groan and dipped his head toward hers. He didn’t pause, didn’t wait as he brushed his lips over hers. 

As if he had every right to. 

She was the one who deepened the kiss, grabbing onto his shirt and tugging him closer. As she did, it felt like a dance they’d done a thousand times before, like coming home. Something inside her broke free as she sank into this teasing, the sweep of his tongue against hers. 

Immediately he took over, a low rumble emanating from his chest as he hoisted her up, as if he couldn’t get close enough to her. She wrapped her legs around him as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She had the feeling he wanted to pin her to the brick wall, but instead he simply wrapped his arms around her, cupping her ass and pulling her tight to him as he delved his tongue into her mouth. 

Teasing, tasting, tantalizing. Triple Ts, and the man was making her crazy. 

Heat flooded between her legs as he kneaded her ass, again in a way that felt so damn familiar. She didn’t question it but grinded up against him instead, rolling her hips against him as they made out like teenagers. Even as they kissed, she hated that there were clothes in the way. Her nipples tightened against her bra cups, the friction sending another rush of heat through her. God, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d simply made out with someone and it was invigorating and—

“Holy shit,” she heard someone mutter from nearby and pulled back. 

That was when she realized she was glowing. Well, her purple fire was flickering all across her body and her hair. And her skin had a soft, violet glow to it. Oh goddess, no. No, she hadn’t felt the change come on at all. 

Ancients Rising Series on Goodreads

Covers linked to info on Author's website

Spin-off of the Darkness Series

Katie Reus
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