Smoldering Hunger

by Donna Grant

  His smile caused her heart to miss a beat. “You were born to heal people. It was chosen for you.”

  “So the dragon was decided for you?” she asked.

  “It was.”

  “I didn’t take you for a man who was rooted in fantasy elements.”

  He nuzzled her neck. “I never said I was.”

  “But you’ve a dragon on your back,” she said as her eyes slid closed and her arms wrapped around his neck. His lips were doing wonderful things to her neck and throat.

  “Enough talking,” he murmured.

  Sophie forgot what they were discussing when he tweaked her nipple with his fingers. She ran her hands through his thick hair as he kissed down her throat to her neck and down to her breasts.

  A sigh escaped as she dropped her head back and gave her body once more to his skillful mouth.

  Dark Palace, Ireland

  Taraeth drummed his fingers on the arm of his throne. He’d been waiting for Balladyn for over an hour. It wasn’t like his right hand to not come when summoned.

  Then again, Balladyn had been acting strange of late. Ever since he kidnapped Rhi and tortured her. That wasn’t true. Balladyn showed his true worth as a Dark Fae when he tortured her.

  It wasn’t until Rhi somehow broke out of Balladyn’s dungeon and escaped that he changed. Balladyn was determined to get her back. He promised Taraeth she would be Dark, but as the weeks passed, Taraeth was beginning to wonder if Balladyn would even be able to find Rhi.

  Taraeth rubbed the stump of his left arm. None of his considerable magic was able to stop him from feeling as if his arm were still attached. That’s how powerful a Fae blade was. The strength of the steel was unmatched, but it was the Fires of Erwar where it was crafted that gave the weapons the power to destroy a Fae as no other weapon could.

  Except dragon fire.

  Taraeth refused to think of that. The Dragon Kings were the Dark’s greatest enemy. The Kings not only had magic that was unmatched, but their fire burned hotter than anything.

  Just as Taraeth lost patience and was about to send men to find Balladyn, the throne room doors opened. Balladyn walked in with his head down. He didn’t stop until he kneeled before Taraeth.

  “My king,” Balladyn said.

  Taraeth leaned forward and braced his right arm on his leg. “You better have a damn good reason for keeping me waiting.”

  CHAPTER

  THIRTEEN

  Balladyn clenched his teeth together. He’d given his full loyalty to Taraeth. He’d proven himself time and again, and the first time he was late, Taraeth dared to threaten him.

  It was with great effort that Balladyn didn’t reach for his sword and sever his king’s head from his body. Balladyn instead rose to his feet and met Taraeth’s gaze.

  “You wanted me to watch Mikkel.”

  “I said we needed to watch him. I never put you on that duty,” Taraeth said, his red eyes filled with contempt.

  Balladyn rested his hand on the hilt of his sword and smiled. “I’m your right hand. I know what you want before you give me the order.”

  “You’ve always been too cocky for your own good. Even as a Light Fae you thought you could get away with anything.”

  “Because I did,” Balladyn answered. “It’s why you wounded me and turned me Dark.”

  Taraeth turned his head away and replied grudgingly, “True. Are you going to tell me what you found?”

  “I wasn’t able to get close enough to Mikkel.”

  The king’s head swiveled back to him, anger radiating from his red eyes. Taraeth stood, his long black and silver hair flowing loose down his back. “You kept me waiting for nothing?” he asked in a furious tone.

  “I never said that.” Balladyn shifted his feet. “What I did see was Con and another Dragon King attacking one of Mikkel’s manors.”

  “Why?” Taraeth asked with his brow puckered.

  Balladyn shrugged. “I don’t have an answer, but I can assure you that Con still has no idea he’s been fighting both Mikkel and Ulrik.”

  “Was Ulrik there?”

  “As if Mikkel allows him too far out of his sight.”

  Taraeth nodded as he returned to his throne. “Mikkel doesn’t trust his nephew, and he’s wise not to.”

  “Ulrik doesn’t trust him either.”

  “Another wise choice.”

  “Who’s going to win?”

  Taraeth smiled wickedly. “That will depend on who I choose to help.”

  “Ulrik knows you’re aiding Mikkel, but has Mikkel figured out you’re helping Ulrik as well?”

  Taraeth gave him a droll look. “Mikkel is too caught up in his plans to realize that. Yet. He will soon enough. It’s why I’m playing things very safe for the moment. I’ll not always be able to do that. Knowing what those two are up to at all times helps to keep me ahead.”

  “Who’s watching Ulrik?”

  “A female Dark I sent to him the last time he was here. She’ll discover all that I need without Ulrik comprehending what she’s about.”

  “Be careful with him, sire. Ulrik’s need for vengeance far surpasses what Mikkel is about.”

  Taraeth sat back in the throne and sighed. “That I know. Ulrik is calculating and cunning. If I guess right, he’ll take out Mikkel before I ever have to make a decision.”

  In Balladyn’s mind there was no decision. He would get behind Ulrik because he was the stronger of the two. “Is there really a choice?”

  “There’s always a choice. Ulrik might be ahead a little, but Mikkel brings other things to the table that Ulrik doesn’t. Either choice is a good one, but which one is the best for the Dark?”

  What Taraeth really meant was which one was better for him. Balladyn was no fool. Taraeth had been on the Dark throne far longer than most Dark Fae who claimed it, and if Balladyn had anything to do with it, Taraeth wouldn’t be there much longer.

  Balladyn just had to bide his time a little longer. He could take Taraeth now, but why get in the middle of a war between Ulrik and Mikkel if he didn’t have to?

  He’d already made his choice, though it hadn’t been easy. Balladyn would help Ulrik if only because Ulrik would become King of Kings and then wipe out all the other Kings. That would free Rhi to love again.

  Mikkel claimed to want to kill all the Kings as well, but if he did, he would have no one to rule. Mikkel wanted others to bow before him. His younger brother, then Ulrik, had been King of the Silvers.

  Whatever magic or being decided who would be King never chose Mikkel until he was the last Silver on the realm after Ulrik had his magic bound. For those few minutes, Mikkel had been a Dragon King.

  It was a taste, and he yearned to have it all. Though Mikkel wasn’t a complete fool. He knew he could never defeat Constantine. That’s where Ulrik came in. Ulrik wanted to kill Con anyway for his betrayal.

  But if Ulrik did manage to slay Con, that made Ulrik King of Kings, which would never do for Mikkel. There would be another betrayal to Ulrik if he wasn’t careful. Then again, Ulrik sniffed those things out well enough. Who in Mikkel’s circle would dare to take on Ulrik?

  There were plenty of Dark Fae that Mikkel paid to be by his side, and Taraeth allowed it to happen. Ulrik didn’t pay any of them. He indebted the Dark to him so they either willingly helped or he forced them.

  It showed the Dark who was the stronger dragon—Ulrik.

  Some might say it was Mikkel because he used money instead of brawn. But Ulrik used his intelligence and shrewdness and muscle when need be.

  Balladyn blinked and focused, realizing that Taraeth had been talking.

  “That’s where I am,” Taraeth said. “Mikkel edges out Ulrik by a hair, but in the end we want this realm. We have prime feeding by the billions waiting for us. The mortals are a weak race. They were made to be dominated. The Dragon Kings were fools not to enslave them from the beginning.”

  Balladyn thought of Rhi and how many times she had helped out the humans. She wouldn’t want
them enslaved by anyone, but most especially the Dark.

  “What’s your opinion?”

  Balladyn hesitated for a moment, then said, “I still think Ulrik would be the better bet. As for the mortals? They’ve been ours for thousands of years. It’s time we have free rein over them.”

  Taraeth smiled and leaned to his right where his good arm was braced against the arm of the throne. “I thought you hated all Dragon Kings.”

  “I do, but as you said, this is for us. We need the strongest one who will give us what we need.”

  Taraeth nodded, approval shining in his red eyes. “Next time, don’t keep me waiting. I won’t be so lenient in the future. What of the Light Fae? Have you found her?”

  “I’m still trailing her. She’s been at Dreagan for a few weeks. She was with Con battling Mikkel. She was wounded with Dark magic.”

  “Is she strong enough to mend?”

  “Con took her with him. He’ll heal her.”

  “Good. I want her before me within a month, Balladyn. Now go.”

  Balladyn turned on his heel and walked out of the throne room. There was no way he was bringing Rhi before Taraeth. He’d lock her up in his dungeon, and Balladyn might never get to see her again.

  That meant Balladyn would have to move up his plans to be king of the Dark. He had a month to plan how he was going to kill Taraeth.

  * * *

  Con stared out of the window of The Balmoral Hotel. Ulrik was out there somewhere. Darius spoke with Ulrik and hadn’t bothered to alert him.

  Was he losing his men? Were they turning against him as they once had?

  The thought made his stomach sour.

  Ulrik had been responsible the first time, and it infuriated Con that he was guilty yet again. Con wouldn’t lose his men. Not again.

  If he had to take out Ulrik in the middle of Edinburgh, he’d do it. Anything to be rid of such a troublemaker that had ruined their lives.

  He took a drink of whisky, letting the liquor slide down his throat. Dreagan. The best whisky on the planet. Despite the distinction of the company, every move one of them made was being watched and recorded.

  MI5 had six people following Con, and it wasn’t the faction of the group of spies loyal to Ulrik. Not even Henry could convince them to lay off, and Henry had tried.

  To think that Con trusted a mortal as much as he did Henry. It still boggled his mind, but there it was. Henry had proven himself on many occasions, and his connections to MI5 had helped them out in the past. No more, however.

  Even now Henry was being called back to London. When he refused to go, he was notified that he, too, would be watched.

  Con pretended to ignore the imbecile across the street taking pictures of him. Con went centuries without being photographed, and now MI5 would have record of him.

  That would never do. One way or another, Con was going to destroy every picture, every recording, and every documentation of him that any government agency had—regardless of what government it was.

  At least the room hadn’t been bugged. It took Con a good hour to thoroughly check his room and the ones on either side of his that he’d also rented for the night.

  “Why the long face, lover?”

  Con closed his eyes at the sound of Usaeil’s voice. He slid the curtains closed and turned to face the Light Fae queen. “You know I’m being followed. You can no’ be here.”

  She smiled from her position on the bed. Usaeil was on her side wearing absolutely nothing. Her long black hair fell behind her in a curtain of onyx. She patted the bed and winked at him. “You’ve kept me waiting for days.”

  “I told you I needed some time. You know what’s going on,” he said and softly set down his glass of whisky. “You being here is risky. MI5 is searching for anyone connected to me.”

  “You think I’m worried?”

  Con raised a brow. “You should be. The entire world knows you as an American actress. Can you imagine if you’re connected to me?”

  “I could think of worse things. Besides, I believe it’s time others knew.”

  Others, meaning the Dragon Kings. “You know how your people reacted when Rhi was caught dallying with a Dragon King. Do you think they’ll accept you repeating her mistake?”

  “I’m their queen,” Usaeil stated in a regal voice. “They’ll do what I command. And I don’t want to talk of Rhi.”

  Con kept his distance from the bed, even when Usaeil ran her hand over her breasts to tempt him. It was time Con figured out how much Usaeil knew about Rhi. “Has she done something again?”

  “You mean besides walk away from me and her duty?” All desire vanished from Usaeil as she sat up and glared at him with her silver eyes. “I’ve not seen or heard from Rhi, and I’ve sent plenty of Fae out looking for her.”

  “Why? Are you going to punish her for leaving the Queen’s Guard?”

  Usaeil scooted to the end of the bed and crossed one bare leg over the other. “Why are you so concerned?”

  “Because the Fae love her. If you go against her so publicly, it could be bad for you.”

  The queen rolled her eyes and fell back on the bed with her arms spread. “You worry too much. I’m queen, and have been for millennia. There’s not a single Light Fae able to take my place, and every one of them knows it.”

  “If they discover we’re lovers and you go after Rhi for leaving the Queen’s Guard, you might verra well lose your people.”

  “Never going to happen.” She turned her head to him. “Now are you coming to bed, or must I come to you?”

  When he didn’t immediately move, Usaeil swiped her hand in the air, removing his clothes. She smiled when she lowered her eyes and saw his erection.

  “Just as I thought,” she purred.

  CHAPTER

  FOURTEEN

  Sophie woke to the most exquisite pleasure. Darius’s fingers were between her legs, stroking her. She opened her eyes to find him watching her.

  His dark eyes burned with desire that made chills race over her skin. Could he really want her that much? It seemed impossible, and yet the thought of it made her own passion blaze hotter.

  She lifted her face to his and pressed her lips against his mouth. He moaned as he kissed her with such abandon that it left her breathless.

  As his fingers filled her, his thumb circled her clit in agonizing slowness. Almost as if he knew she was ready to peak, but was drawing things out.

  She gripped his arm, silently begging him to give her more. It didn’t budge him.

  Sophie gasped at the pleasure and tore her mouth from his as it overwhelmed her. Her lungs couldn’t draw enough breath, but none of that mattered as the desire coiled tighter and tighter within her.

  “I need you inside me,” she begged him.

  He smiled. “Oh, I will be.”

  She tried to stop him, but it felt too good. He held her gaze, refusing to release her as his experienced hands brought her to the brink of climax, holding her there for a few seconds, and then gently pushing her over the side.

  Sophie opened her mouth to scream, but it was locked in her throat from the sheer force of the orgasm. It rocked through her, seizing her body as it washed over her as powerfully as a waterfall, as fiercely as the sun.

  When she was able to draw breath into her lungs again, he was kissing her. It was slow, sexy. Sensual.

  And it totally rocked her world.

  The Silver Dragon, Perth

  Ulrik sliced off a sliver of the apple with his knife and brought it to his mouth. He chewed it as he glanced at the open folder on his desk.

  He walked around the shop, but he wasn’t looking at the antiquities he’d purchased throughout the years. No, he was thinking of Sophie Martin.

  Dr. Sophie Martin.

  He’d wanted to know her story from the moment he learned she helped Thorn. It took only one call to discover all the details.

  Ulrik expected to find something he could use to blackmail her into doing what he wanted—as it wa
s with anyone he dug into. But Sophie was different.

  She was a loner, mistrustful, and wary of any man. And knowing what her fiancé had done to her, he understood it.

  Her past also explained why she left London, though there was no reason as to why she chose Edinburgh other than one of her old professors from Oxford practiced medicine in Edinburgh. At the Royal Victoria Hospital.

  Sophie had no family in Scotland. She had no family anywhere.

  Knowing all of this before he met her, Ulrik went to his first meeting with Sophie intending to be just the right amount of charming without making her suspicious. He was going to play on her sympathies of helping the less fortunate. Yet she’d turned it back on him and brought his past into the conversation.

  For a woman who didn’t date and rarely paid attention to the opposite sex, Ulrik had expected a certain reaction from her.

  He hadn’t gotten it.

  It meant he was going to have to change tactics.

  Ulrik cut off another slice of the apple and paused to study the file. There was a connection between the beautiful doctor and Darius. Ulrik just needed to find it.

  With the other Kings, they hadn’t been able to stay away from the mortals. But so far, Darius was also doing the opposite of what Ulrik expected.

  Ulrik thought back to seeing Darius and Sophie having sex. It had been so wild and rough that it was born of a clawing hunger between them that wouldn’t be denied. They had to have each other, to experience pleasure.

  The way Darius had kissed her though … Ulrik was going to have to keep a closer eye on Sophie. If he knew anything about Darius it was that he took his responsibilities seriously. Even if Sophie were nothing more than a quick shag, Darius wouldn’t leave Edinburgh without ensuring that Ulrik left Sophie alone.

  Ulrik smiled and wondered what Darius would think if he knew Ulrik had coffee with the lovely Sophie. It made Ulrik chuckle just thinking about it.

  It was so easy to rile the other Kings. Just threaten a mortal, and they lost their minds. How pathetic did they have to be?

  He continued his walk around the shop, his mind returning to Sophie once more. Ulrik wanted her working for him. She could be a great asset. Even more so if he could get her to spy for him. Darius trusted her. The trick was convincing Sophie it was the right thing to do.