Darkest Flame

Denae held back a shudder, but she refused to cower. She might later, but not now, not when this had just begun.

 

“Love,” he said. “It’s like a beacon.” He spun her around until she faced him, and then he gently ran the backs of his fingers down her cheek. “You are a lovely one, Denae Lacroix.”

 

“Go away.”

 

His shocked expression soon gave way to anger. “You dare tell me to go away? You are mortal. Your feeble mind and body will break under my onslaught.”

 

Denae lifted her chin defiantly. “Never.”

 

It was most likely a foolish move, but she was tired of being told she was inferior. Humans had been doing just fine, and she might not have magic or be immortal, but she refused to go down without a fight.

 

The Dark glanced at Kellan before he leaned into her and ran his tongue down the side of her ear. “I’ll have you on your knees begging me to take you,” he whispered in a dark, seductive tone.

 

That only made her angry. How dare he think he could make her do anything he wanted? It infuriated her to know that humans were nothing but playthings to the Fae. To the Dragon Kings, they were interlopers the Kings had to protect.

 

Damn them both.

 

She was going to save herself.

 

Denae stepped away from the Dark. She didn’t bother to say anything, because it would only further irk him, but it was on the tip of her tongue to tell him to go fuck himself.

 

It was obviously the right move when the male smiled and grabbed her breast and gave it a squeeze. She felt nothing. Not an ounce of pleasure or need.

 

The male’s lips peeled back in a snarl when she didn’t respond to his touch. “What magic is this?”

 

“I have no magic,” she stated with a voice as sweet and innocent as she could make it—all the while seething inside. “I’m a feeble mortal, remember?”

 

*

 

It was all Kellan could do to stand there and watch the Fae put his hands on Denae. He was more than shocked that she wasn’t ripping off his clothes the first time he touched her.

 

The more he watched Denae, the more Kellan realized she really didn’t desire the Dark Fae. How was that possible? There wasn’t a human alive who had ever been able to reject a Fae—Light or Dark.

 

What made Denae special?

 

Whatever it was, it could end up costing her her life. The Fae wouldn’t handle being refused well at all.

 

“Leave her for now, Emil,” the first Fae said. “There will be plenty of time for you to play with her.”

 

Kellan didn’t know their game, but he was surprised the Fae were going to leave them. Something wasn’t right. It settled like lead in his stomach, knotted and bulging.

 

Emil gave Denae one last look before he turned on his heel and walked back to the other two. Then all three simply vanished.

 

The only sound breaking the silence was the continuous dripping of water. Kellan wasn’t sure they were really alone. It would be just like the Dark Ones to hang around and listen to his and Denae’s conversation.

 

He couldn’t chance it, no matter how much he wanted to go to Denae and see if she was all right. They couldn’t talk of plans, couldn’t speak of anything really.

 

Kellan yanked on his chain, despising anything that kept him from shifting into his true form. The rusted iron bit into his flesh, cutting him. Blood ran down his hands to his fingertips before dripping onto the floor.

 

“Don’t.”

 

He stilled and slowly turned his head to Denae. “What?”

 

“Don’t hurt yourself just because you can’t die.”

 

“Does the sight of blood bother you?”

 

She rolled her eyes. “You know it doesn’t.”

 

Now that he was looking at her, he couldn’t tear his gaze away. Her hair was mussed, her shirt hanging off her shoulder once more, and dirt smudged her cheek. And still he thought she was beautiful.

 

“Doona infuriate them,” he cautioned her.

 

She lifted a dark brow. “So you want me to let him fondle me? I don’t think so, bud.”

 

“They’ll get into your head.”

 

“I’m sure they already have.”

 

Kellan didn’t like the note of uncertainty he detected in her voice. “What do you mean?”

 

“Nothing,” she hedged. “What now? Are they still here? Are they still listening?”

 

“Probably.”

 

“They’re going to use me against you.”

 

Kellan swallowed and stared into her whisky-colored eyes, hating the distance separating them, and the fact that sometimes she was too smart for her own good. He could still taste her on his tongue, still feel her skin beneath his palms, still hear her cries of pleasure ringing in his ears.

 

“They’ll soon learn how little I mean to you.”

 

He saw her forced smile and how it wobbled a bit. Just as he expected, she had figured things out. Her intelligence was surprising and welcomed.

 

“I mean, I’m human,” she continued. “Everyone knows how the Dragon Kings hate humans. It’s all well and good to use us for sex, because who else are you going to go to?”

 

“They may no’ be able to kill me, but they can kill you.”