CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Denae reached up without thought and touched Kellan’s cheek. The surprise that flared in his eyes caused her body to smolder.
Before she could gather the courage to kiss him, Kellan sat her up and turned his head out his window. When she faced forward, her gaze clashed with Banan’s as he looked at her through the rearview mirror.
A glance behind her showed the cluster of rocks that had caused the commotion as they sped across the land.
Denae didn’t know what it was about Kellan that triggered her heart to beat faster or why she was drawn to him in ways she couldn’t begin to discern. All she knew was that she wanted his arms around her, wanted his lips on hers.
She didn’t understand why his appeal robbed her of thought and words, or why the fact his lips didn’t curve upward made her want to do crazy things just to see if she could get him to crack a smile.
The ride continued in silence for the next hour as Banan took them over increasingly more dangerous terrain. Every once in a while either Kellan or Banan would look at the skies.
It didn’t take her long to realize they were looking for dragons. Denae could only imagine how easily a dragon could take out a chopper or plane with a single swipe of a paw.
“We’re almost to the road,” Banan said.
Five minutes later he slammed on the breaks when they reached a small grove of trees, causing all of them to fly forward. The seat belt dug into her chest for the second time that day.
“What is it?” Henry asked.
Kellan didn’t say a word as he opened his door and stepped out of the vehicle. It was when he closed the door softly behind him that Denae knew he was going after something in the trees.
She reached for her door handle when Banan clicked the locks, preventing her from getting out. “Unlock the door,” she said.
“No’ going to happen,” Banan said.
“Then go help him.”
Banan snorted. “If you think he needs help, then I doona think you understand who he is.”
“Oh, I understand. What if he…” Denae trailed off as she recalled how the only way a King could be killed was by another Dragon King.
Banan met her gaze in the mirror again and nodded as realization dawned on her. “Exactly,” he said.
“Exactly what?” Henry asked in his British accent. “I’m getting the feeling I’m left out of some important fact.”
“Denae just remembered that Kellan can easily take care of himself,” Banan said to his friend.
Henry inhaled deeply. “Riiiight.”
Denae didn’t have to wait long for Kellan to return. He walked back to the Range Rover as if he’d simply gone for a stroll. When he was once more seated beside her, she noticed the few drops of blood on his shirt.
“It’s taken care of,” he said.
Banan pressed the accelerator to get them moving again. Denae stared at Kellan for three miles until he finally looked at her.
“How did you know?” she asked.
He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “You’re easy to pick out.”
She didn’t know if the “you” meant MI5 or humans, and either way, it was meant as an insult. Though she couldn’t blame him after what he had told her humans did to his dragons. If she were in his place, she would hate humans too.
It wasn’t long before they reached a road and they were able to go faster. The scenery sped by as Denae stared out the window. A light smattering of rain fell while pale gray clouds cloaked everything in a somber mood.
They passed few cars on the narrow road, and at the rate of speed they were traveling it was a good thing. The farther away from Dreagan they got, the more worried Denae became.
Kellan might have given her his word, but what did she really know of him? He saw her fight in his cave, and he had taken her to the manor. He told her a bit about his bronze dragons, and even a bit of his past, but she knew nothing of him.
What kind of man was he? What made him laugh, what made him angry? What would spur him to protect someone? And what would make him leave?
He had walked into the trees and killed at least one operative without so much as breaking a sweat. Then again, he admitted to killing a man for raping and killing a girl. Was everything black and white to Kellan?
She glanced his way to find him watching her with his celadon eyes, a hint of anger showing. “Still doubting me?”
“Can you read minds?”
He lifted a brow. “Nay, but I can read you.”
She had hurt him with her mistrust. Which was laughable. It wasn’t as if he trusted her much. Then again, he was trying to help her. At least she assumed he was. This trust thing was beginning to wear her down. “Where are we going?”
“To the sea.”
The fact he answered without hesitation relieved some of her distress. It also helped that Henry was there. He obviously trusted Banan a great deal.
Unless Henry was in on it.