Scorned his affections.
The fact that he’d dared to help a Dark was something that would remain with him for all eternity. Shara had reminded him that none could be trusted, that the Dark were evil to their very core.
Some were just better at hiding it than others.
“Kiril,” she squeaked.
He squeezed harder, but dammit, he found he couldn’t harm her more than that. No matter how much he wanted to hit something, it wouldn’t be Shara.
“Rhi,” she wheezed.
Kiril instantly loosened his grip, his anger dissipating. “What about Rhi?”
Shara coughed and sucked in huge breaths, but she held his gaze. “I saw her,” she whispered.
He briefly closed his eyes before he released Shara and turned his back to her. Looking at her hurt too much. He remembered the taste of her lips, the feel of her smooth skin, the heat of her sex clamping around his cock.
Why couldn’t he forget her as he had every other woman that he’d had sex with? The simple truth was that Shara was different from any other female across all time. Her fake innocence and passion had caught him more securely than any kind of trap.
“Rhi. Where is she?” he demanded.
“Balladyn has her in his fortress.”
“How do I get there?”
There was a pause. “I don’t think you can.”
Kiril should have known she would try some kind of trick. He laughed hoarsely. “Of course no’.”
“You don’t understand,” she said hurriedly.
How he had missed the sound of her sweet Irish accent. Kiril took a step away from her, but turned to face her. “Explain it.”
“I went through a Fae door in my family’s garden. Balladyn’s fortress is hidden. There is another doorway near the pub, but it’s heavily guarded in Balladyn’s compound. I don’t know of any other way to reach it.”
“Then take me through the doorway that you do know.”
“Are you insane?” she asked, her voice rising. “If I bring you to my family’s home, they’ll try to take you captive.”
“The operative word there is try, sweetheart.”
“Kiril, please.”
He braced himself as she came closer. She licked her lips, her arms wrapped around her middle. Her back was hunched a little and she looked frightened. Good. She should be afraid of him after what she had done. It was all a ruse on his part though. As cunning as she was, she would most likely discover very soon that he wouldn’t—couldn’t—hurt her.
“Every Dark is going to be hunting you by morning. If Farrell survives Balladyn’s attack, then he will come here himself. You must leave.”
He raised a brow. “If you think I’m going to let a Dark—any Dark—take me as a prisoner, then you doona know me at all.”
“I know you,” she said softly. “I know you’re an honorable male who is trying to save your friend. Balladyn brought me to her cell. I saw the form that was Rhi. She’s … broken, Kiril. No Light can survive what the Dark do to them. Think of yourself and the other Dragon Kings and return to Scotland.”
“I’ll leave soon enough, but no’ without Rhi.”
“You’ll never get to her,” Shara said with a small shake of her head.
Kiril advanced on her, making her backpedal quickly. “Do you forget who you’re talking to, Dark? I’m a Dragon King. I’ve been alive since the dawn of time. We were the ones who won the Fae Wars. We’ve been the ones protecting this realm. We’re the biggest badasses around. Perhaps the Dark need reminding of that fact.”
“I know.”
“Nay. You doona. Tell me, when is the last time you saw a King in dragon form?”
She swallowed loudly and whispered, “Never.”
“Shall I show you?”
“You do and they’ll come for you in an instant.” She straightened her spine and lifted her chin. “Be angry at me, but think. You want to hurt me, then do it, but don’t be foolish.”
Her words helped to cool his growing ire. There was something about Shara that made him protective, obsessive even. Yet, with a touch or a word she could calm him—or send his desires into overdrive.
She dropped her arms to her sides. “Balladyn has an entire army at his disposal. They’re waiting at his fortress for when he brings you. He didn’t tell me specifics, but … he’s put things in place to ensure that the next Dragon King he captures doesn’t escape.”
“How many men does he have?”
“Hundreds. Thousands,” she said with a shrug. “I only got a glimpse. I didn’t have time to count.”
He walked around her to the front room and poured himself a glass of Dreagan whisky. Kiril didn’t have to look to know that Shara followed him into the room, though she only stood at the doorway.
“Why are you telling me this?” he asked.
“What Balladyn is doing to Rhi … it’s not right. No one should have to suffer that way.”
“And yet you tell me that I should leave her.”
“Because she’s lost to everyone.”
“She’s a friend. We doona leave friends behind no matter what.”