Smoldering Hunger

by Donna Grant

  She followed the paw—claw—upward to a thick forearm. Her gaze kept moving upward to even more scales and a chest. Her head tilted backward when she reached the long neck and followed it to the head.

  Of a dragon.

  Sophie knew she was looking at Darius. She blinked as he spread his wings and his lavender gaze was focused on the Dark who tried to rape her.

  He was enormous, his wings immense. No wonder he’d said he would destroy her flat if he had shifted when she’d asked. As she gazed at him, she recognized the dragon. Because it was the same one tattooed on him.

  Out of the trees came two men running from opposite ends of the valley. One shifted right before her eyes into a dragon with burnt orange scales. Sophie turned her head to look at the other in time to see him change into a yellow dragon.

  Then all hell broke loose.

  * * *

  Darius wanted to tell Sophie that it would be all right, but he couldn’t. Not in dragon form. All he could do was protect her from the Dark Fae.

  Kiril went after the Dark who were trying to have sex with Claire while Rhys kept another group of Fae from reaching the girls.

  Darius’s gut clenched when he saw the way she stared up at him with her eyes wide and lips parted. She’d wanted to see him. He wished he knew what she was thinking.

  They should’ve known the Dark would take matters into their own hands. Con had tried to stop him, but nothing was going to keep Darius from Sophie.

  He motioned to Claire with his head. Sophie quickly nodded and scrambled to her feet. She touched his forearm before she rushed to her friend while the Dark were now focused on him.

  The Dark had their teeth bared and were gathering their magic, ready to blast him with all they had. Darius was ready to kill more Fae, especially those who’d tried to force his woman.

  With Claire’s clothes gathered, Sophie got her to her feet. Half-dragging, half-running, Sophie finally reached the trees. It wasn’t until Darius heard the Mercedes engine roar to life that he drew in a deep breath and let loose a blast of fire that killed the Dark closest to him.

  Darius swiped at a Dark with his wings, knocking the Fae backward, right into Kiril’s blast of fire. Dark Fae were pouring out everywhere, keeping Darius, Kiril, and Rhys occupied. And all the while Dark magic was slamming into Darius.

  He wanted to take to the sky and make sure Sophie had gotten away, but there wasn’t a chance. All he could do was hope that the girls were clear.

  Darius caught a few glimpses of Ulrik and Con. Whatever words passed between them were over quickly as the two were now fighting in hand-to-hand combat.

  A blast of Dark magic hit Darius on his left side. Almost simultaneously, he was hit on his right side with a double strike. He shifted back into human form, unable to stop the transition.

  With his body wracked by pain, Darius pushed himself up on his hands and knees and stood. He wasn’t as powerful in human form, but he could still take down a Dark.

  Unable to take to the skies, it was only a matter of time before Kiril and Rhys were both back in human form. Until then, the two of them were eradicating dozens of Dark Fae at a time with their dragon fire.

  The slaughter of the Dark continued in brutal form until—finally—there were none but a handful left. Those soon scattered to the wind.

  With a sigh, Darius looked to Rhys and Kiril. He hurt everywhere, but Sophie had gotten away. That alone made it all bearable.

  Darius turned to find Ulrik and Con locked in battle, neither able to take the advantage over the other. Darius had always known Ulrik could’ve challenged Con, but to see Ulrik’s power displayed so was a reminder of what was at stake.

  “Shite,” Kiril said as he walked up beside Darius.

  Rhys’s bare feet crunched in the snow as he stared at the duo. “I knew this day would come.”

  “This isna the battle,” Darius said. “This is merely the beginning.”

  Kiril nodded slowly. “Darius is right. We’ll know when they fight. They’re testing each other’s strengths.”

  “It’s still a day I knew would come,” Rhys replied in a soft tone.

  Darius looked over his shoulder as he wondered about Sophie. He couldn’t leave the city without one more visit to her.

  “Shall we take Ulrik?” Kiril asked.

  Rhys smiled and wiggled his eyebrows. “Try and stop me.”

  The three spread out and circled Ulrik and Con. Several times Darius tried to catch Con’s eyes, but the King of Kings was too intent on his nemesis to notice them.

  When they were in place, the three grabbed at Ulrik. As soon as they laid hands on him, he vanished.

  “Son of a bitch!” Kiril bellowed in anger.

  Rhys looked around. “No fucking way. This can no’ be happening.”

  Darius stared at Con who stood with his chest heaving and eyes blazing. The heat of battle was still upon Con, which was why the three of them kept their distance until he finally turned away and let out a string of curses.

  “That could’ve gone better,” Darius stated.

  Con stood with his hands on his hips as he looked at nothing. Several minutes passed before he faced them, once more the calm, collected man he always was. “No, it didna.”

  “I really hoped to end this tonight,” Darius said. He would’ve, had the Dark not attacked Sophie.

  Rhys put his hand on his shoulder and gave a nod. “We all did.”

  Seeing the Dark Fae on Sophie had sent Darius over the edge. No one touched his woman. He wasn’t supposed to shift. He’d gone out of his way not to. Until those bastards touched her.

  “I know,” Rhys said.

  Darius looked at him strangely. “What?”

  Rhys raised a dark brow. “You do ken that you said that aloud, aye?”

  Darius glanced at Kiril and Con, both of who seemed to be absorbed in something else. He then eyed Rhys. “I didna.”

  Rhys blew out a breath. “I’m glad you’re no’ fighting it the way I did. I tried, and it wasna worth it.”

  “I didna even know it was happening.”

  “You deserve some happiness, Darius. Take it without question.”

  Darius looked toward the city where Sophie was headed. “She’s a doctor, Rhys. A damn good one. She has a career. If I take her as my mate, she’ll have to give that up.”

  “Should that no’ be her decision?”

  “She asked me what would happen when all this with Ulrik was finished,” he said as he looked at Rhys. “I told her I’d return to Dreagan. The look on her face said it all. She’ll no’ leave.”

  Rhys’s lips twisted. “And we need you at Dreagan.”

  “Aye.”

  Con and Kiril walked toward them then, halting the conversation. Con’s reticent fury was as frigid as the snow. Kiril exchanged a silent look with Rhys, an unspoken message passing between them.

  Something Ulrik and Con had once shared.

  Darius looked around at the scattered bodies of the Dark Fae. Looking back, it didn’t feel right that Con and Ulrik had ended up like this. Two of the closest Dragon Kings now attacking each other.

  He slid his gaze to Con, but Darius wasn’t fooled by Con’s calm exterior. The King of Kings radiated rage like the sun emitted heat.

  “We doona have Ulrik, which means this war willna be ending,” Kiril said. “No’ to mention all the dead Fae.”

  Rhys shrugged. “The Dark are easily taken care of. Kiril and I will be in charge of that.”

  “Will we?” Kiril asked with a flat look.

  “Aye.”

  Kiril raised a brow. “We cleaned up Edinburgh earlier.”

  “Quit your bitching, jerk.”

  Kiril punched him. “Dick.”

  Darius shook his head as he started toward the closest Dark. “I’m used to it. I’ll do it.”

  “No,” Con stated. “You have other business.”

  Darius halted and closed his eyes. Sophie. That was his business. Without turning to Con,
he stated, “I might be awhile.”

  “I’m no’ talking of Sophie.”

  Darius pivoted toward Con. “What then?”

  “Wipe all traces of yourself from Edinburgh. Then head back to Dreagan. We’re finished in Edinburgh for the time being.”

  Darius watched Con walk away. The three of them stood naked in the snow as the King of Kings walked amid the dead as if they weren’t there.

  “Go to Sophie,” Rhys urged.

  Darius didn’t feel the snow on his bare feet. He didn’t feel the cold as it swirled around him. But inside … inside he was hollowed and chilled to the marrow of his bones.

  Because he knew he was going to have to say good-bye to his mate.

  Sophie had been a means to slack his body’s yearning. Her strength and intelligence only made her sexier. But it was his hunger for her that did him in.

  Her beauty first captured his attention. Her body entangled him. Her mind and spirit ensnared him fully.

  There was no doubt that she had called to him on a level he hadn’t known existed before her.

  Kiril walked up on Darius’s left side. “Rhys is right. Go to her.”

  “I doona want to leave her,” Darius admitted.

  “You shifted in front of her,” Rhys said with surprised look. “Even when Con forbade it. If that doesna prove she’s your mate, then I doona know what will. Let her decide what she wants.”

  Kiril scratched his cheek. “You love her. Doona pass that up. You once thought you lost your mate. If you let Sophie go, you really will lose your chance at happiness.”

  “I’m no’ sure that was such a good idea.”

  Rhys shoved against Darius’s shoulder. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

  “Just that.” Darius held out his arms. “Take a look around. Ulrik and the Dark are knocking at our door. Con may win, but he may no’. Have each of you thought about what will happen to your mates if Ulrik defeats him?”

  Kiril lowered his chin to his chest. “Of course.”

  “Nay, you have no’,” Darius said. “If you had, you’d never have allowed them to get close to you.”

  “Unbelievable,” Rhys said as he glanced at the stars. “After all you’ve experienced with Sophie you say this? You know who you sound like? Con.”

  “He’s no’ wrong,” Darius stated angrily. “I doona want Sophie anywhere near this pile of shite we’re stuck in.”

  Kiril crossed his arms over his chest. “I think that choice is out of your hands.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. Her memories will be wiped, and she can go on with her life.” As hard as it was going to be, it was the best for Sophie.

  Darius loved her so much he was willing to let her go.

  Rhys gave him a look of outrage. “Have you really lost your mind? Darius, whether her memories or wiped or no’, she’s in this. If you think Ulrik or the Fae will leave her alone, you doona realize the situation.”

  “I realize it perfectly. I’m going to exit her life.”

  “Good luck with that,” Kiril said cynically.

  Darius was going to do it. For Sophie. Because she deserved more. Because he wanted her to be happy.

  Because he loved her.

  The very thought of it was like a knife in his heart. Twisting and turning each time he imagined the Dark trying to take her. Their hands on her, their red eyes alight with excitement at touching her body.

  Darius would love her from afar. He’d keep watch and ensure that she was always safe from the dangers in the shadows of their world.

  It would be enough.

  It would have to be enough.

  CHAPTER

  FORTY-TWO

  Sophie drove like a madman. She kept looking in the rearview mirror expecting to see the Dark Fae. With every mile that passed behind them, the more relaxed she became. She turned up the heat.

  Claire groaned and grabbed her head. She sat up and blinked, looking down at herself in horror. “Why am I undressed? And why the bloody hell does my head hurt so?”

  “Clothes are there.” Sophie pointed to the floorboard. She didn’t want to attempt to fill in the blanks for Claire.

  “I was on my way to your place to check on you. A man stepped out in front of me, and that’s all I remember until I woke up in the snow.” Claire turned her head to her and stared. “You hit me. Twice.”

  Sophie shot her an apologetic look. “I had to wake you up.”

  “So tell me why I was asleep in the snow.”

  “It was Ulrik. You didn’t talk to him again, did you?”

  “Now look here,” Claire said as she began to dress. “Keep that snobby British tone to yourself. He’s a gorgeous man who showed interest. I’m a semi-attractive woman who is tired of being alone.”

  Sophie squeezed the steering wheel and prayed for patience. “Claire—”

  “I didn’t talk to him. I didn’t see him,” Claire interrupted her as she fastened her jeans and put on her jacket, wrapping it tightly around her.

  “Good.” Sophie was grateful for that. She knew how lonely Claire was and how charming Ulrik could be, so she’d had a moment of fear.

  “I’d have thought you’d give me more credit than that.”

  She winced at Claire’s sullen tone.

  “It wasn’t Ulrik who I saw before I blacked out.”

  “Did the man have red eyes?”

  Claire was silent for a long moment. “You mean like those creeps that were on the street before Halloween?”

  “Yes.”

  “No. I do remember he was incredibly gorgeous.”

  “I think he was working with Ulrik,” Sophie explained.

  Claire looked out the window and shrugged. “Makes sense. Did they drug me?”

  “I’m guessing.” Probably it was magic, but there was no need to tell Claire that.

  “What else happened?”

  “I got you away.”

  There was a beat of silence before Claire said, “You mean those other men didn’t help?”

  Sophie kept driving, her heart missing a beat. “Men?”

  “I’m thinking one must have been Darius. I saw him talk to you.”

  “Darius was there.”

  “So he helped,” Claire said.

  Sophie nodded mutely. She’d thought Claire was out of it and hadn’t seen anything. Was she wrong? Had Claire seen Darius shift? What about the other two dragons? And the Dark? Did Claire see Darius fighting the Dark?

  “Did I … did I get raped?” Claire asked in a broken voice as she turned to her.

  Sophie glanced at her. “No. We didn’t let that happen.”

  “Good.” Claire once more looked out the window.

  Sophie flattened her lips. She prayed that Claire didn’t ask anything else. At least not until Sophie talked to Darius and found out what she could tell Claire.

  She thought of Darius in dragon form and wanted to smile. He’d been utterly gorgeous. She never imagined a dragon could be so beautiful. She was in love with a Dragon King. Sophie wanted to dance and shout it to the world.

  Her smile faded as she realized she couldn’t tell anyone who Darius was. It would all have to be secret.

  “Sophie, you’ve gone pale.”

  She swallowed and swerved as she parked the Mercedes in front of her flat. After throwing it in park and turning off the engine, Sophie turned to Claire. “Hurry inside. Do you hear me?”

  “Do you think they’re still after us? What’s going to keep them from getting into your flat?”

  Claire had to be practical at that moment. Sophie squeezed the keys to the SUV in her hand. Darius had held them not that long ago. How pathetic that she thought she could feel the warmth of his hand on the metal.

  “Sophie?”

  “We must get inside.”

  “Whose car is this?” Claire asked.

  Sophie looked out her window, checking the area around the Mercedes. “Darius’s.”

  She opened the door and got out,
slamming the SUV’s door behind her as she hurried to her building. With a click from the key fob, Sophie locked the doors as Claire followed her inside.

  Even as Sophie entered her flat, she knew she wasn’t safe. Because sitting in a chair at her dining table was none other than Con.

  Sophie noticed he’d changed clothes. There was no blood or torn sweater as before. He stared at her curiously while Claire gaped in astonishment. Sophie could understand why, since Con was a gorgeous specimen of a man.

  “Hello, Dr. Martin,” he said in a smooth voice as if she hadn’t seen him surrounded by dragons taller than most of the buildings in Edinburgh.

  Sophie closed the door behind her. “I don’t suppose I should ask how you got here?”

  “It’s of no consequence,” he replied.

  Claire raised blond brows as she looked between the two of them. “Umm. What the hell is going on? This isn’t Darius, Sophie. And tell me how you’re meeting all these magnificent men.”

  Con stood and bestowed a smile to Claire. “You’ve had quite the ordeal. Perhaps you’d like to rest?”

  “Rest?” Claire looked him up and down before shooting him a level look. “I think that’s a fabulous idea.”

  Sophie had a hard time containing her grin when Claire removed her coat and tossed it at Con as she walked to the couch and sat down. She made sure to face them, her gaze locked on Con.

  The long-suffering sigh Con expelled was enough to make Sophie smile, no longer trying to hide it. Then it faded as she realized why Con was there. An image of a massive purple dragon filled her mind.

  His scales had been metallic. The color so vivid and deep that she had to touch him.

  “Is Darius all right?”

  “Yes.” Con laid Claire’s coat on the back of the chair. “He’s fine.”

  Sophie sank into a chair, happy to know that he wasn’t hurt. “Good. That’s very good.” It was the jingle of the keys in her hand that prompted her to set them on the table and scoot them toward Con. “These are for Darius.”

  “We’ll get the SUV soon enough,” Con said without so much as looking at the keys. “How much does Claire know?”

  “Claire is right here,” Claire said acerbically from the couch. “Ask me yourself.”

  Con looked as if he were being summoned by a thousand screaming infants as he turned his head to Claire. “How much do you know?”