by Donna Grant
Con had suspected as much.
“I want nothing more than for you to walk this world for millennia in human form, unable to shift, as I did. But I’m no’ that stupid as to leave you alive. I’m going to sever your head from your body and take the position I should’ve taken from you long ago,” Ulrik said in a low tone.
Con shook his head in a slow motion. “I ordered you to fight me when I claimed the position. You were too afraid.”
At this, Ulrik let out a loud laugh that had everyone in the bar area turning to them. Con remained where he was, his gaze never leaving Ulrik.
When Ulrik quit laughing, he ran a hand over his mouth and pinned Con with a look. “I find it amusing how you remember things. I wasna afraid of fighting you. I was afraid of beating you, you insufferable, conceited bastard. I didna want to be King of Kings, but you so feared I’d change my mind that you tried to order me to challenge you. Tell me, Constantine, who was afraid of what?”
There was no sense in answering. No matter what Con said, Ulrik would never admit that he was wrong and Con was right. “I learned long ago it doesna pay to argue with a madman.”
“Madman?” Ulrik said, looking amused. “When this is all over, we’ll see who the real madman is. If all you wanted was to tell me to stay away from the Kings, then you’ve wasted your time and allowed me to know that you care about them so much you’ll set up a meeting with me.”
He rose to leave, but Con wasn’t finished. He asked, “If you wanted to hurt them, why did you save Lily?”
That stopped Ulrik in his tracks. He swung his gaze back to Con and snorted. “You think I saved her? Do you honestly believe that a life with a Dragon King is better than death?”
“I think you didna want Rhys to suffer as you did.”
Ulrik’s silver gaze hardened. “Doona pretend to understand what I endured. I know better than anyone that there is no soul mate out there for us. Humans and dragons were no’ meant to be together. The mortals who mated with the Kings will learn soon enough how long the years become. What will you do, Con, when the mates begin to go insane from the endlessness of time?”
It was a question Con had been asking himself from the moment Hal took Cassie as his mate, and again each time a King found love.
He had no doubt the Kings loved. But the humans? Did they love like a Dragon King? The mortals proved time and again that they married and loved as easily as they divorced and cheated. Few took vows seriously, and he feared that all of his Dragon Kings who mated would discover that for themselves.
“Ah,” Ulrik said as he put his hands on the table and leaned forward. “You’ll do what you do best, will you no’? You’ll kill the mates, saving the Kings from having to do it themselves.”
Con lifted his chin. “I always do the difficult tasks.”
“Nay. You take the easy way out. You did it with me, and you’ve done it with the others at Dreagan. You allow them to mate the humans, knowing what’s ahead. Instead of telling them what could happen, you hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”
“I’m a King.”
“You’re shit on the bottom of a shoe,” Ulrik said contemptuously. “A real leader would’ve told them the truth. A true leader would’ve forbid the mating until the mortals had been with the Kings for several years to understand what life was like.”
Con wasn’t going to justify his actions to anyone, least of all Ulrik. Con had his reasons for the decisions he made, and in the end, he’d be the one to answer for all of them—good and bad.
“And what of Rhi?” Ulrik asked.
Con ground his teeth together. Why did Ulrik have to bring her into it? It was bad enough she was at the table listening to their conversation, her gaze moving between the two of them.
“Nope, handsome,” Rhi told Ulrik as she finished her drink and set it on the table. “Leave me out of it. I can handle my own with Con. I don’t need you fighting my battles for me.”
As if he hadn’t heard her, Ulrik ask, “Did you know he was in Balladyn’s dungeon? He saw you chained and looking like death, but he didna release you.”
Rhi’s gaze narrowed on Con as she smiled tightly. “That’s not surprising.”
Ulrik straightened and buttoned his suit jacket. Without another word he walked away.
Con waited until Ulrik was out of earshot before he looked at Rhi. “Why did you answer his summons?”
“Summons?” she repeated with a laugh that held a heavy dose of sarcasm. “You have so much to learn about me if you think I can be summoned.”
“That’s right. You only answer certain people at certain times.”
She looked away, a flash of pain on her face. Con wanted to hurt her, and he had. It should make him feel better. Then again, Ulrik always brought out the worst in him.
“Ulrik wanted the conversation on record,” Rhi said. “I thought it was a good idea. It doesn’t matter who wins between the two of you, now the Kings will know what happened here.”
“And you’ll be willing to state the truth?” he asked doubtfully.
Rhi uncrossed her legs and gave him a smile. “I don’t do it for you or Ulrik. I do it for the other Kings who are my friends.”
“He was wrong, by the way. I was coming to help you in the dungeon.”
Rhi pushed back her chair from the table. “I know you want nothing more than to never see me again. Perhaps you’ll get your wish one day.”
As she walked away Con tossed back his whisky. None of this had gone as he intended. It felt as if everything and everyone now stood against him.
But then again, Con had always been alone—standing against evil and those who would hurt the Kings.
He rose, intending to return to his suite. Except when he looked up Darius stood before him.
Read all four parts of this sensational e-series—and look for the full volume of Smoldering Hunger in January 2016 from St. Martin’s Paperbacks.
Don’t miss
The Reapers
A New Series in the Dark Kings world!
Dark Alpha’s Claim, available 11/17/15
Dark Alpha’s Embrace, available 2/1/16
Dark Alpha’s Demand, available 5/1/16
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. She’s the author of more than thirty novels spanning multiple genres of romance including the bestselling Dark King stories, Dark Craving, Night’s Awakening, and Dawn’s Desire. Her acclaimed Dark Warrior and Dark Sword series novels feature a thrilling combination of Druids, primeval gods, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her husband, two children, a dog, and four cats in Texas.
Want to know when Donna’s next book is available? You can sign up for her newsletter at www.DonnaGrant.com, follow her on Twitter @donna_grant, or like her Facebook page at facebook.com/AuthorDonnaGrant. Or sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the autho
r’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
“Smoldering Hunger Part 2” Copyright © 2015 by Donna Grant.
All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover design by Crystal Ben
Cover photograph © Herman Shorox/Shutterstock
Author photo © Kim Rocha
Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at [email protected].
eISBN 978-1-4668-8377-2
First eBook Edition: December 2015
