by Donna Grant
How could she have been so wrong about Kiril? She scooted along the wall away from him until she moved into the entryway. It wasn’t until she took another step back that she saw his expression shift again.
His green eyes sparked once more, his gaze … ravenous.
“Doona do it, Shara. Doona run,” he whispered.
She glanced down at his hands to see them fisted at his sides, his body practically vibrating as he fought to remain in place. Desire coiled deliciously through her.
With just a thought she could vanish before his eyes and reappear somewhere else thousands of miles away. But that wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted Kiril—his hands, his mouth … his body.
She turned and ran through the house, around furniture and through doorways until she caught a glimpse of the pool through the windows.
It had stopped raining, leaving the night blanketed in almost complete darkness with the heavy layer of clouds. With the ruckus in town, Balladyn and Farrell both would have gathered their men.
Which meant no one was watching the manor.
Shara burst through the door, the humid night air sucking what little breath she had from her lungs. She started to go around the pool when strong arms wrapped around her middle and jerked her off her feet.
She had a split second to hold her breath before she hit the water. Beneath the water, Kiril unceremoniously turned her around and yanked her against him.
Her heart missed a beat when she felt his arousal against her stomach before his lips claimed hers. Shara wrapped her arms around his neck and floated beneath the cool water as she was kissed senseless by the only male who could turn her body molten with just a look.
A Dragon King.
They broke the surface, treading water, as he ended the kiss. She clung to him while he maneuvered them to the side of the pool where he trapped her between it and himself. Shara noticed that he had taken off his jacket and his shoes, leaving his white shirt to mold to his rock-hard body. She couldn’t wait to run her hands over all that sinew, to feel the muscles move and bunch beneath her hands once more.
His hands roughly wrenched up her skirt as her hands fumbled with undoing his pants. He shoved them down his hips and was inside her in the next instant.
The breath left Shara in a rush. She sank her nails into his shoulders, shuddering at the feel of him filling her while she locked her ankles around his waist. How could she have even thought of allowing any other man to touch her?
As impossible as it seemed, she was Kiril’s. He could play her body with masterful hands, honeyed words, and skillful lips. No one else could bring her to the edge of an orgasm with just a look.
Neither moved. He gazed at her, pleasure and ecstasy there for her to see. They were the same emotions filling her.
There were no words, because none were needed. The craving, the hunger to claim each other hung heavy between them. It spoke more clearly than words ever could.
He held onto the edge of the pool and used that for leverage as he rocked his hips. She slid a hand into his hair and buried her face in his neck. With every thrust the rhythm quickened, driving him deeper each time.
Water splashed around her. Their breaths were harsh and ragged, their bodies gliding easily against the other. Shara wanted to stop time and live in this moment for eternity.
She was so focused on remembering every second of Kiril and how he felt inside her, that the orgasm took her by surprise. She jerked, the scream locked in her throat it was so fierce.
A smile formed when she realized Kiril had climaxed with her, each feeding off the other, dragging the pleasure out until both were boneless and clinging to the other.
Perth, Scotland
Ulrik looked up from his paperwork at his desk when the Dark Fae appeared before him. He set aside his pen next to the six mobile phones, the accounting for the Silver Dragon forgotten as he focused on the Dark.
“What do you have for me?” he commanded.
The Dark smiled, his red eyes glittering with delight. “I just came from an … interesting … scene. The Dark female sent to seduce Kiril? It appears she has done just that.”
Ulrik chuckled. “A Dragon King succumbing to a Dark Fae? Does he know what she is?”
“Yes.”
“That is interesting, and possibly something I can use to my advantage.”
The Dark clasped his hands behind his back. “There’s more.”
“More?” Ulrik asked with wide eyes.
The big male nodded, causing his long ruler-straight black and silver hair to move with him. “I followed the female yesterday as she visited Balladyn.”
That caused Ulrik to raise a brow. The famous Light Fae warrior who had turned Dark. “And?”
“As I informed you earlier, he’s the one who kidnapped Rhi.”
“I know.” Ulrik got to his feet and came around the front of the desk to lean his hips back against it as he crossed one ankle over the other. “Did he turn Rhi over to Taraeth as you suspected he might? Or did he keep her as I thought?”
“He’s keeping her.”
Ulrik took a deep breath and slowly released it. “Where is she?”
“Balladyn is holding her in his compound on the Fae realm.”
“Draw every detail of this place.”
The Dark Fae hesitated. “It’s too late. Once a Light is taken by the Dark they’re never the same.”
Ulrik moved with lightning speed as he grabbed the Dark by the back of the neck and forced him to bend over the desk. “Draw!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Kiril stood staring out the windows of his bedroom without seeing the magnificent sunrise and the fusion of colors scattered across the sky. Any moment now he would hear Con in his mind. The question was, did he tell Constantine his plans? If he did, Con would likely come to Ireland just to ensure Kiril didn’t carry them out.
He looked at the bed, still rumpled from the hours spent in it with Shara. It had been only a few minutes since she’d left, but he felt her absence keenly.
In between their bouts of toe-curling sex, he and Shara had come up with a plan. She’d be waiting for him at her family’s house to let him in so he could reach the doorway to Balladyn’s.
No longer did he doubt her. At least his heart didn’t doubt her. His mind was another matter entirely.
Kiril sent a quick text to Phelan telling him he was headed back to Dreagan and that he should also return home. Hopefully Phelan would buy the lie, because Kiril didn’t want to have Phelan’s capture by the Dark on his conscience.
“Kiril?” Con’s voice asked.
He sighed deeply and opened his mind to the King of Kings. “I’m here.”
“Any news?”
“I know where Rhi is being held.”
There was a pregnant pause before Con asked, “Where?”
“In Balladyn’s fortress somewhere on the Fae realm.”
“I feared as much,” Con said wearily. “It was too much to hope they had her in Ireland.”
Kiril ran a hand over his jaw. “Everything has gone to hell in a matter of hours. Balladyn discovered what Farrell had planned for me and stepped in.”
“Has Balladyn come for you?”
“He will soon.”
“Get home. Now.”
Kiril hated lying to any of his brethren, but what he was going to do was better done alone. “I’ll be there soon.”
“If you’re no’ here by noon I’m coming for you,” Con threatened.
“The Dark female that was sent to seduce me? Her name is Shara. She is the one who found Rhi and told me where she’s being held. If Shara comes to Dreagan, I want your word that you’ll protect her.”
“A Dark? You want me to protect a Dark Fae?” he asked incredulously.
“Aye, Con, I’m asking that.”
“Do you love her?”
“I think I could love her.”
Con blew out a harsh breath. “Kiril, the Dark can no’ be trusted.”
“You said the same about the Light at one time as well. And yet we’ve always trusted Rhi.”
“Rhi is different.”
“So is Shara. Your word, Con.”
“Dammit, Kiril. Please.”
Kiril remained silent.
“Fine,” Con said despairingly. “You have it.”
“Thank you.”
“You can thank me when your ugly arse gets home.”
Kiril smiled despite himself. “You better have that ninety-year-old bottle of Dreagan out when I do.”
“Consider it done. Now hurry home.”
Kiril remained at his window long after the link between him and Con had been severed. He glanced down at the pool remembering the night. Never had a woman ever looked so good in the water.
He turned and exited his room and then descended the stairs. Soon, Dark would descend upon him. He could battle them, but they would eventually overwhelm him, and then he would find himself as their prisoner.
That couldn’t happen, not if he was going to rescue Rhi.
It wasn’t in Kiril’s nature—or any Dragon King for that matter—to run, but he had to consider the options because more was at stake than his pride. Kiril looked around the house noting all the places the Dark would enter and surround him. There was nowhere for him to go that they wouldn’t find him except for one place—the cellar.
Dragon magic kept the door hidden from everyone that wasn’t a Dragon King. The Dark could search the entire house and never find him. No matter how much he wanted to battle the Dark, he was going to have to bide his time and wait until he had Rhi.
Then he would unleash hell.
Kiril walked to the hidden cellar door and entered. He put his hand on the door and infused it with more magic so that no Dark Fae magic would penetrate it. Kiril turned and descended six more steps and removed his clothes. He folded them and set them on the bottom stair before he walked to the middle of the cellar.
Any moment now the Dark would flood his home in an attempt to find him. When they finally gave up, he would go to Shara who would lead him to the doorway to Balladyn’s where he would locate and free Rhi.
It was a good, solid plan.
Why then did he have a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach that something was going to go wrong?
* * *
Shara was veiled for all of two seconds as she appeared in her bedroom. It was the longest she could remain veiled, although she knew there were a few special Fae who could stay veiled for long periods of time.
Fortunately for her, those two seconds were all she needed to know that no one was in her room. She yanked off the cold, and still damp, black dress from the night before and threw it in the corner.
She hurriedly dressed in black jeans and a sheer, billowy black shirt before she brushed out the knots in her hair. There wasn’t time to put on makeup to look her absolute best, but if she was going to fool Balladyn, she had to make an attempt at looking decent.
It wasn’t until she checked herself one last time in the full-length mirror that she heard the distant screams. She stilled, realizing they were coming from inside the house.
Shara slowly opened the door and stepped into the corridor. The screams were louder then. She followed the sound as she walked the hallway to the stairs leading to the first level. There were words spoken through the screams, but she couldn’t make them out.
She paused when she reached the bottom. Usually the house was full of her family and extended family, but she hadn’t seen a single one of them. Which meant they were all in her father’s office.
Her head turned in that direction to hear another bout of agony-filled screams that came from his office. She started toward the double doors, unable to keep away. After what she had done by going to Balladyn, there was a chance they would lock her away again.
Or worse, kill her.
Still, she walked until she stood at the doors, her hand on the knob. From within she could hear a voice and recognized it as Farrell’s as he begged for mercy.
A Dark Fae begging for mercy. Not even she had done that when she’d stood before her family awaiting justice.
She drew in a deep breath and flung open the doors. No longer would she try to slip anywhere unseen. She was strong and confident, and she didn’t have to do evil to be either. It had taken only a few hours with Kiril for her to come to that understanding. Too bad she hadn’t realized that six hundred years before.
Every head in the office swiveled to her, including Farrell’s. He kneeled before their father, blood covering his face and clothes from various wounds.
She held her head high as she walked into the room. A path cleared for her leading to where her father stood with Farrell. She barely gave her father a look as she stopped beside her brother.
“How does it feel to be on trial before the family?” she asked.
He whimpered and tried to reach for her leg. Shara deftly moved aside, astounded by the crying, sniveling Dark before her.
“Please,” he begged her. “Please, Shara. Tell Father what Balladyn said is a lie.”
Shara laughed wryly. “You mean the part where you told others what I had done, what every Blackwood was supposed to never speak of to anyone outside of the family?”
“I didn’t,” Farrell wailed.
“Then how did Balladyn know of it? More importantly, why did you announce it in an Doras last night? You wanted to kill me because I’m not good enough for this family. Now is your chance. Brother.”
“Shara,” her father began.
She whipped her head around to him. “Stay out of this.” She didn’t wait for him to consent before she turned back to Farrell. “Well? Here’s your chance. You’ve hit me enough times. Get to your feet and act like a real Dark.”
Farrell bowed his head, his shoulders shaking as he cried harder.
“Now who’s the one that doesn’t belong?” she bent over and asked.
Shara was disgusted with the entire scene. She straightened and turned to walk out when her mother stepped in her path.
“Where are you going, dear?” her mother asked sweetly.
Sweet and her mother were never mixed in the same sentence. There wasn’t an ounce of kindness in her mother, or forgiveness for that matter.
“None of your business,” Shara stated and tried to go around her.
Her mother remained in her way. “We have a ceremony to prepare you for. Balladyn wants to claim you immediately.”
Shara hid her frown. She’d expected to spend the day explaining her absence to Balladyn to cool his anger while Kiril rescued Rhi. It wasn’t part of Kiril’s plan, but someone had to occupy Balladyn. As soon as Kiril and Rhi were out of the compound, Shara planned to leave as well. Kiril wanted her to go to Dreagan, but she still had reservations about that. It wasn’t something she was going to think about until their plans came to fruition.
“Balladyn came here last night,” her mother continued in her silence. “He wants you as his immediately.”
Shara just bet he did. It might have taken her awhile, but she had figured both Balladyn and her brother out. For that matter, she had figured out her family as well. One more regret that she realized too late after having put herself in such a position.
She looked around, comprehending that it was a show everyone was playing. The “trial” Farrell was on was just for appearances. He would be dead within a few hours.
And he knew it.
Her mother’s tight smile was an appearance of trying to become friendly with a daughter she had scorned now that Shara was set to be claimed by the second most powerful Dark and Taraeth’s right hand.
The rest of the family was following her parents’ lead.
Shara pivoted to look at her father. He watched her with eyes now filled with interest and a hint of respect. Of course he would. Balladyn wanted her, and in his mind she had to be something special to get a man such as Balladyn to stake his claim.
She wanted to roll her eyes. But she wo
uldn’t. She would play the game with them. She had learned from the best, after all.
“The Claiming will have to wait. We have a Dragon King to find,” she stated to the room at large.
Her father’s eyes widened. “I thought Balladyn was going after Kiril?”
“Oh he is,” Shara said with a grin. “I’ll be joining him. I did all the work, after all.”
Her mother’s cold fingers wrapped around her wrist as she used to do when Shara was younger. It was her way of putting Shara in her place. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Shara looked down at her wrist before she lifted her gaze to her mother. She waited a heartbeat to see if her mother would release her before she purposefully, determinedly removed her mother’s hand from her arm. “Don’t touch me again.”
Her mother took a step back, a look of fear flashing in her red eyes.
Shara turned her back on her mother and looked to her father once more. “Do you have anything else to say?”
“Will you return to us?” he asked.
She considered his words, drawing out the silence to stretch to an uncomfortable length. “I’ve not decided.”
“We’re your family, Shara,” he said calmly. “It wouldn’t look right if we’re not with you at the Claiming. Besides, you’re my only child out of nine left.”
She glanced at Farrell who sat huddled in a ball. “You have other things to worry about. There were many who witnessed what Balladyn did to Farrell, and what is done to one of us is done to the family. The Blackwood family appears weak now. I’m not sure I want to be a part of such a family.”
Her father frowned. “You would disown us?”
Shara turned and walked out of the room saying, “I’m considering it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Kiril dozed as he waited to hear the voices of the Dark above him. Hours went by with nothing, yet he lingered in the cellar. The house remained as silent as a tomb, and Kiril began to feel that it might very well end up that way for him. He closed his eyes and drifted back to his night with Shara.
Despite the wonderful hours spent holding her in his arms, nothing had changed. He knew she would never come to Dreagan with—or without—him. He knew it with the same certainty that his carefully thought-out plan was somehow going to go wrong.
