Darkest Flame

To his bitter disappointment, his plan had taken careful arranging and a millennia of preparation. Then he had to account for the modernization of the mortals and their ever-changing technological advancements.

 

If he’d had his way, his revenge would have happened before the dragons were sent out of this realm. Instead, he had been … incapacitated.

 

But no longer.

 

He turned off the A9 toward Perth. The Dark wanted retribution against the Kings for the Fae Wars. He happened to want his own revenge. Rarely did one of his plans go wrong, except when the Kings were involved.

 

In London a year before, he’d wanted to see how far they would go. To his surprise, one of the Kings had found a mate. It had been … eons since something so remarkable had occurred with the group.

 

It had given him pause, but only for a little while. Soon, it became apparent just how far the Kings would go for their mates. Which would be their downfall.

 

He drove into Perth and pulled into a parking spot on the side of King’s Street. Millennia after millennia had passed as he planned out his revenge.

 

His spider’s web of influences, acquaintances, and networks took generation after generation to build. He was so rooted in some families now that they would do whatever he asked of them at any time.

 

Infiltrating MI5 had been just as easy.

 

However, his web wasn’t contained to just Great Britain. It extended all over the world.

 

He had many names, many faces. No one knew he was the one controlling things. And no one lived who ever dared to refuse an order—or cross him.

 

The planning to take down the Dragon Kings had been meticulous, right down to waiting until now to form an alliance with the Dark Ones.

 

The Kings would never see him coming.

 

He laughed and reached for his mobile to dial a number. There was one ring before a male answered.

 

“Well?” he asked.

 

“It’s just as you said, sir,” the male answered in a British accent. “They got Denae away from the port quickly and met up with another vehicle.”

 

Ah, but the Kings were predictable, even after all these years. They were supposed to protect the humans, and that’s exactly what they were doing.

 

“Where are they taking her?”

 

There was a short pause before the man said, “The Merc is on route west, sir.”

 

“West? Do you have eyes on them?”

 

“We do, both on the ground and in the air.”

 

He smiled. “Good, good.”

 

“When do we attack? MI5 is anxious to retrieve Denae and learn how she’s been tortured and what those at Dreagan did to Matt.”

 

“You will do nothing,” he ordered harshly. “Do you understand me? You will stand down.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

“Call me as soon as they reach their destination. Is that understood?”

 

“Of course, sir.”

 

He disconnected the phone. It wouldn’t be MI5 who paid the human and Dragon King a visit.

 

*

 

Kellan didn’t think they would ever reach Raasay. They had to wait over an hour just for the ferry, and then the ferry ride itself.

 

Once on Raasay, Kellan directed Denae north to the plot of land the Kings had claimed as their own two thousand years before. It was Kellan who had found it. He had known then that they might need places outside of Dreagan.

 

Con had agreed, and immediately the Kings set up places all around the world.

 

The last time Kellan had seen the place on Raasay it was nothing but a small cottage. It brought to mind once again how long he had been asleep and all he had missed with his brethren.

 

All because of his hatred.

 

He looked at Denae as she drove up the dirt road constricted on either side by thick forest as they climbed in elevation.

 

Kellan loved the shoreline of Raasay, but it was always important to have a good lookout, which is why he had chosen the plot of land high up in the mountains.

 

“How much farther?” she asked.

 

“I’m no’ sure. It’s been awhile since I was here.”

 

“What brought you to the isle?”

 

“I often stayed here in between exploring Skye and the other isles.”

 

The SUV rocked violently as it rolled over a large rock protruding from the road. Denae winced. “Sorry. Didn’t see that. I was too busy gawking at you.”

 

“You always say whatever is on your mind.”

 

“Not usually, but I’ve learned the only way I learn anything about you is to say what needs to be said.”

 

“That was a statement before, no’ a question.”

 

She shrugged and gave him a quick look with her whisky-colored eyes. “Does that bother you?”

 

Oddly enough, it didn’t. He was used to mortals being frightened of him even if they didn’t know what he was, and yet, Denae was different in that regard as well. He found he … liked it. “You’re no’ afraid of me, are you?”

 

“I have a healthy respect for you,” she stated. “Fear? That I reserve for the Dark Fae. Now they’re the stuff of nightmares. But, no changing the subject. Back to your visits to Skye. Why there?”

 

Kellan pointed to a sign that said Private Property with a faint dragon on the right lower corner. “Turn here.”

 

“Are you sure?”