Darkest Flame, page 30
part #1 of Dark Kings Series
Rhi couldn’t exactly ignore it.
“What are they fighting over?” she asked instead.
Tristan cut her a look. “Do you really need to ask?”
“Denae,” she said with a nod. “Con wanted her gone.”
Neither King responded to her comment. What was there to say?
“He shouldn’t have pushed Kellan,” she said.
Banan sighed loudly. “Nay. I’ve already tried to break them apart once. I doona think this will end until one of them is dead.”
“Kellan challenged Con?” she asked in shock. Her stomach had fallen to her feet in dread.
Tristan drummed on the boulder with his fingers. “No’ exactly. He never outright challenged him.”
“Did he bring his sword?”
Banan’s face was grim as he motioned with his chin to a wall near the entrance where the sword rested. “Tristan told me what happened. Con overstepped. He didna do such a thing to me, Hal, or Guy. Why would he do it to Kellan?”
“Because he’s a turd,” she said, feeling a sense of dread she couldn’t dispel.
“If someone doesna stop this, one of them will die,” Banan said. “We lost so many Kings during the war when we were taking sides with Con or Ulrik. We doona have our dragons anymore, Rhi. We can no’ lose any more Kings, not with a war coming with the Dark.”
She knew he was right, but her hatred for Con was clouding her judgment. She could announce herself, which would most likely halt the fight—for a time at least.
But Con …
“Set aside your loathing this once,” Banan said. “For Kellan, because I think you know where Denae is.”
She pulled her gaze away from the bloody fight to Banan and stared into his eyes. “I do this for Kellan and Denae.”
“Agreed.”
Rhi swung her head to the other side and stared at Tristan until he gave a nod. “Of course. This conversation will go no further than the three of us.”
She winked at the handsome King. “I like you, Tristan. Do me a favor and don’t turn into an asswipe.”
“I’ll try my best,” he said and winked in return.
Rhi swallowed and took a breath before she cleared her throat. Instantly, Con’s black eyes jerked in her direction. He frowned, and with his attention diverted, he didn’t see Kellan’s fist coming.
She didn’t bother to hide her smile as Con was knocked on his arse. Rhi began to clap loudly, the sound piercing in the cavern that had grown suddenly silent.
Kellan was leaning to the side as blood and sweat covered his face. His long hair blocked a portion of his face, and his clothes were torn and bloodied. With as fast as the Kings healed, neither of them sported any wounds.
“Well done, Kellan,” she said and let out a loud whistle.
“Rhi,” Banan whispered crossly.
She leaned to the left so he could hear her whispered words. “I said I’d do it for Kellan and Denae. I didn’t say I was going to be nice about it.”
Kellan’s head swiveled to her and his celadon eyes narrowed. “Rhi.”
That one word contained everything within Kellan. His fury, his worry, his sadness, his … hope.
Tears pricked her eyes. She remembered that feeling of hope. It had gotten her through so much. Up until it had been squelched out—emphatically and vigorously.
She remained atop the boulder as Kellan hurried to her. Con was close behind as he jumped to his feet.
“What are you doing here?” Con demanded before Kellan could talk.
“Go bugger yourself. Idjit,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
Con’s frowned deepened in confusion as he reached her. “What?”
Rhi ignored him and focused on Kellan. She wanted to tell him everything, but most needed to be said in private. His affection for Denae had grown into something amazing and wonderful. It didn’t need to be sullied by Con.
She looked over Kellan’s head to the other Kings in the cavern. “I’m here because my queen sent me. She is readying her army to fight the Dark. My queen wants the Dragon Kings to know that the Light Fae won’t stand by and watch the Dark destroy this world.”
“Well. That’s good to know,” Con said with a hint of sarcasm.
“The Kings need to be on alert,” Kellan said to his brethren. “The Dark want one of us, and they will do anything they can to trap us.”
Guy ran a hand down his face. “We need more intel. What we really need is a spy.”
“Already in place,” Rhys stated and then broke into a wide smile. “Why do you think Kiril remained behind in Ireland?”
Banan pushed away from the boulder. “I’ll contact Henry again. We can also use the computers to track movement around the globe and alert us to anything odd.”
“Which could be numerous,” Tristan said. “Let’s get started on that now.”
As the Kings began to file out of the cavern, Rhi waited, hoping Con would also leave. She should’ve known better. In no time she was left alone with Kellan and Con.
“Why are you still here?” Con demanded.
She kept her focus on Kellan. “Denae is fine. I helped her erase any evidence that she was ever involved in MI5. They have no record of her, no picture, nothing. And I then wiped her boss’s mind as well.”
“Others will remember her,” Con said.
Rhi shrugged as she glanced at him. “They’ll think they made her up or are remembering wrong. MI5, as an intelligence organization, keeps everything on computer records. To cut down on paper, all the reports are done electronically and stored on their servers.”
“And you say she got it all?” Kellan asked.
“Everything in London. Then we had to go to their remote locations and destroy evidence there as well. Denae is quick, resourceful, and smart. MI5 made a wrong move wanting to get rid of her.”
Kellan let his chin drop to his chest. Out of the corner of her eye, Rhi saw Con watching him. She wondered what was going through the King of Kings’ mind. Did he realize how very much Kellan loved Denae?
Did he even care?
When Kellan lifted his head, some of the wildness had left his gaze. “Do you know where she is?”
“I do.”
“Take me there.”
Con reached out and grasped his shoulder. “Kellan—”
“Nay,” Kellan said and jerked away. “I am still prepared to challenge you, Con. At this moment, I’m focused on Denae. If you want me to fight you to the death, I will. Just say the word.”
“I didna send her away,” Con said.
Rhi lifted a brow. “Didn’t you? You went to her, asking her what she was going to do. You asked how you could help when she said she was going to leave. What you should’ve done is convince her to stay until Kellan had time to talk to her. But wait,” she said with wide eyes and a sarcastic voice. “That’s the point, isn’t it? You didn’t want them to talk. You wanted Denae gone. Regardless of what it did to Kellan.”
Con held her gaze for several heartbeats. He then looked at Kellan. “Denae is a target. She might have taken care of MI5, but the Dark have her on their radar. They’ll come for her.”
“Let them try,” Kellan stated calmly.
“If she agrees to return with you.”
Kellan’s smile was cold. “If she does, I want your word you’ll accept her. Or I will challenge you.”
Con gave a bow of his head and walked from the cavern.
Rhi slid off the boulder as Con’s form turned the corner, leaving her alone with Kellan. “Let’s go, sexy. I love happy endings.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
South Padre Island, Texas
Denae walked onto the porch with her tall glass of iced tea and sat on the swing. With one foot tucked beneath her, she idly rocked the swing with her other.
The air was hot and sticky with the humidity, but the breeze coming off the Gulf of Mexico helped to cool her. The AC was on inside, but the porch had always been a favorite of her parents. She recalled so many nights as a child when they would all come out onto the porch after dinner and stare at the stars.
Her parents would sit in the swing holding hands and smiling at each other as if they had been together months instead of years.
Denae and Renee would be on the floor playing with their dolls or cards. Those lazy nights had been her entire world, and she’d taken them for granted.
In one summer, her idyllic life had been torn to shreds.
Denae blinked against the wash of tears that threatened and drank deeply from her sweet tea. It was hard being back in the house. Every room she went into brought forth memories. Some good, some bad.
A buzzing sound drew her attention to her right. The crepe myrtle tree her mother had planted was in full bloom. The delicate limbs drooped with the weight of the bright pink flowers, and the bees, as well as the butterflies, were taking full advantage.
It made her smile. Her mother had loved working in her flower gardens. They had been her pride and joy. The crepe myrtle, she had told them, would offer shade and beauty when it grew.
“She was right,” Denae said.
She sighed and turned her head forward. And nearly dropped her glass when her gaze landed on Kellan standing on the walkway, staring at her.
He wore black jeans slung low on his hips and a steel-gray shirt. His hair looked damp, as if he’d just gotten out of the shower.
Seeing him again made Denae realize how much she loved him. It had been the hardest thing of her life leaving Dreagan. What was he doing there? Didn’t he realize she wouldn’t be able to leave him again?
He took a step toward her, and that propelled Denae to stand. Her bare feet were silent as she walked to the steps.
She drank in the sight of him, the power, the virility, the sheer sexiness. She knew just how well those lips of his kissed, how gentle and coaxing his hands could be, and how mouth-watering his body was.
He put one foot on the bottom step and then slowly smiled.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, finally able to form words.
He looked around. “This is where you grew up?”
“Yeah,” she said absently.
“It’s nice. Needs a coat of paint.”
Denae frowned, taking offense. “I know. I’ve had someone looking after the place while I’ve been gone.”
“Why no’ just sell it?” he asked, his celadon gaze landing on her once more.
“I was going to. I just couldn’t let go. I had to make MI5 think I did, however, so I transferred the title into my aunt’s name.”
“Smart girl.”
She shifted and finally stepped to the side. “Would you like to come in?”
Kellan climbed the steps onto the porch. His caramel-colored hair tempted her to run her fingers through it and drag his head down for a kiss.
Somehow, Denae managed to keep her hands to herself. She lifted her glass. “Would you like some sweet tea?”
“Nay, lass.”
“A tour, then?”
“Nay.”
Denae fiddled with her oversized cutoff denim shorts that hung precariously on her hips. Her red tank top suddenly felt too small and clung to her dampening skin.
That’s what Kellan did to her. He sent her reeling, listing whenever he was near. She couldn’t form a coherent thought or say a complete sentence because her mind—and body—were attuned to him.
“What do you want?”
“You.” His voice was soft, low. His eyes were intense and watchful.
She melted on the spot. With one simple word she was ready to throw herself into his arms. Hell, who was she kidding? She’d been ready to do that the moment she spotted him.
“Why did you leave?” he asked.
Denae felt a drop of condensation from her glass drip onto her foot. “It was for the best. I have a plan.”
“A plan you didna share with me.”
He sounded offended, which made her raise her brows. “Why should I?”
“Because we’re meant to be together. And you know it.”
She shook her head slowly. “No. I don’t know it. You’re immortal. I’m not. You’re a Dragon King. I’m … well, I’m a human. You know, the ones you despise.”
“I did despise humans,” he said as he closed the distance between them. “Until I met an American working for MI5 who snuck into my cave and woke me.”
Kellan wasn’t sure if anything he was saying was right. He’d never wooed a woman before, but he was willing to do anything to bring Denae back to Dreagan with him. Even if it meant he had to get on his knees and beg.
She looked delectable in her faded shorts and tank top. Her hair was down, the full length of it brushing the backs of her arms. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen—or ever would see.
“I took care of MI5. I’ll find a way to take care of Taraeth.”
Kellan knew she was capable of a lot of things. Dealing with the Dark Fae, however, wasn’t one of them. He wouldn’t tell her that, not in so many words at least. She was a proud woman, and she had every right to be.
“The Dark are different than anything you’ve come up against before,” Kellan said. “You got a taste of them in Ireland. The difference is, their attention was diverted between the two of us. Taraeth is going to be hunting just for you. You’ll never see him coming.”
“I’m not a fool,” she said and glanced down. “Taraeth and all the Dark scare the hell out of me.”
This was the in he’d been waiting for. He took her hand in his, and said, “Then let me help protect you.”
In an instant, she jerked her hand away. “Is that what this is? Are you still deluded into thinking your promise holds? You saved me, Kellan. You got me away from MI5 and the Dark Ones. Your promise is fulfilled.”
“Bloody hell, woman, you’re maddening,” he said and then let out a loud sigh. “I want to protect you because I love you. I want to make sure no one can ever harm you again, and if you are ever fool enough to get yourself in trouble, I’ll be there to pull you out of it.”
She blinked. “What did you say?”
“I said, I’ll always be by your side.”
“No. That first bit.”
“That you’re maddening?” he asked. He knew exactly which part she wanted him to repeat. He hadn’t intended to blurt it out so casually. He’d wanted to do it with finesse, which had all gone out the window as soon as he’d laid eyes on her sitting on the swing.
The pulse at the base of her throat was erratic. “No. That middle bit.”
“Oh. Where I said I love you?”
She nodded. “Yep. That one.”
“I love you.”
“You can’t.” She paused and swallowed. “You can’t come here and say that.”
He didn’t think he’d ever understand women. She obviously liked hearing it, so why was she fighting it? “Explain it to me then.”
“You don’t like humans. You slept for centuries so you wouldn’t have to be around us.”
“I did,” Kellan admitted. “I never counted on you, lass. You are strong, honorable, clever, shrewd, beautiful, and resilient. You doona ever quit, and you doona ever give up. So why give up on me?”
She turned her head away, but Kellan saw the tears gathering. He pulled her into his arms and held her as her shoulders began to shake.
There was so much about this woman that he didn’t know, but he comprehended enough to understand that she was meant to be his. He knew he loved her, and if he realized nothing else, that would be enough.
Then it hit him that she might not love him. She’d enjoyed their lovemaking, but she’d never hinted at anything else.
“If you doona feel the same, I willna walk away. I will remain here and pursue you until I win you over.”
Denae lifted her head, her lashes spiky with tears. “You would stay?”
“Aye. I need you, Denae.”
“Con doesn’t want me there.”
“Con can go sod himself,” Kellan said flatly. “We had a … chat … before I left. He’ll welcome you.”
“By ‘chat,’ you mean you had a fight.”
Kellan glanced at the ceiling and shrugged. “You could say that.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought he’d sent you away.”
“Silly man,” she said and touched his cheek. “How could you not know I left because I love you? I wanted to make sure MI5 would leave y’all alone, and I wanted to lead the Dark Fae away from you.”
Kellan took her mouth in a scorching kiss, pouring all of his love, his desire, and his need for her into it. He wanted her to know through words and touch just how much he had to have her with him.
When he finally ended the kiss, her lips were swollen and he was backing her to the door of the house. He took her glass and set it on the arm of a chair before he opened the door and was hit with a blast of cold air.
Denae wrapped both arms around him and kicked the door closed as they entered the foyer.
“Will you come back with me to Dreagan?” he asked.
She nodded while jerking his shirt over his head. “Yes. Now, shut up and kiss me.”
Kellan was smiling when their lips came together.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Denae shouldn’t have been surprised when Kellan rented a private jet to fly them back to Scotland. Not that she paid much attention to the inside on the eight-hour journey. If she wasn’t sleeping, she was in Kellan’s arms.
Once they arrived in Inverness, Tristan was there to pick them up and drive them back to Dreagan. Denae didn’t know what to expect upon her arrival at Dreagan, but it wasn’t Con waiting to greet her.
“I told you, he and I had an understanding,” Kellan said as he held the Range Rover’s door open as she climbed out.
Denae walked to Con with Kellan by her side. “I told you I would take care of MI5.”
“So you did. With Rhi’s help, I hear. But I’m beginning to think you’d have done it on your own,” Con said.
“I would have.”
One side of his mouth lifted in a grin. “Welcome to Dreagan.”
And with that, he turned on his heel and walked away. Denae looked at Kellan who shrugged wordlessly.
