Darkest Flame

“I was running ops before you were a twinkle in your father’s eye, son. Don’t be telling me what to do.”

 

 

Henry ran a hand down his face and glanced over when Banan’s phone beeped. Banan then handed him his mobile. Henry quickly read the text. “One more thing, Stuart. I’ve got a number that needs to be traced.”

 

“Give it to me.”

 

Henry read off the number and listened as Stuart punched it in. A few minutes later Henry said, “It comes up blank. Are you sure it’s the right number?”

 

“Yeah. Thanks, Stuart. Call me as soon as you know something.”

 

Henry disconnected the call and shook his head as he handed the phone back to Banan. “Dead end on the number. What is it?”

 

“An MI5 agent dialed it and spoke with someone as Kellan and Denae were being attacked. Rhys heard the agent giving details to someone.”

 

“Whoever it was got their number changed quickly enough. Whoever this bastard is, he’s good.”

 

“No’ that good, no’ against us.”

 

Henry watched a car drive around them. “This goes back to when I helped you in London, doesn’t it?”

 

“It does.”

 

“If you want my help, I need to know all the facts. I can’t keep trying to fill in the gaps.”

 

“Fine. We’re dragons.”

 

Henry blew out a breath. “I need you to be honest, Banan. I want to help.”

 

“I am being honest.”

 

He looked at Banan to see his friend wasn’t jesting. “A dragon?”

 

“Aye. I’ll prove it later. Right now we need to get to Dreagan. Several are going to Ireland to try and find Kellan.”

 

“How do they know Kellan and Denae are in Ireland?”

 

Banan eased back onto the road. “Because that’s where the Fae are.”

 

“Of course. Why didn’t I think of that?” Henry sat back, wondering how he was ever going to look at the world the same again.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

 

 

Denae’s stomach rumbled with hunger, but she wasn’t going to ask for food. There was no telling what the Dark Ones would give her anyway.

 

“Drink the water,” Kellan said.

 

She glanced at the water leaking down the wall and knew she needed to stay hydrated. Without water, she was dead. She cupped her hands and let the water fill up before she brought her hands to her lips.

 

Once she drank her fill, she wiped her mouth with the back of her arm and asked, “Are they still here?”

 

“Probably. Maybe. I doona know.”

 

“You can’t feel them or anything?”

 

Kellan shook his head and yanked on the chain, trying to pull it from the wall. “Nay.”

 

She didn’t know how much time had passed since the Fae had paid them a visit. It seemed endless, but at least they had left the lights on, or whatever it was that kept the room aglow.

 

Denae walked to the opposite side of the room from Kellan and sat against the wall. “We’re never getting out of here, are we?”

 

When Kellan didn’t answer, she looked at him to see him still pulling on the chain.

 

“A non-answer is as much of an answer as a verbal one.”

 

“I willna lie to you,” he said and gave another hard yank.

 

She leaned her head back. “Silence is the best you got? I’d rather have honesty.”

 

“Stop thinking about it. Concentrate on staying alive.”

 

“Why?” she asked. “What do I have to go home to? I have no job now, not after MI5 turned on me. I don’t have any family. I don’t even have a home to go to.”

 

Melancholy suddenly overwhelmed her, sinking her into a pool of despair that was as thick and cloying as tar. Her life was going nowhere. She had achieved all she was ever going to, which wasn’t much of anything.

 

She was alone. Her chest tightened with the swell of desolation. There were no friends who would mourn her. No coworkers, especially since they’d betrayed her. The only lover she had taken in years couldn’t stand that she was human.

 

“I have nothing. I am nothing.”

 

The misery was deep, the hopelessness profound.

 

The anguish bottomless.

 

She should just give up. What had she been thinking in rejecting the Dark Fae? He could give her a little pleasure, maybe even some happiness.

 

When she saw him again, she was going to throw herself at him and beg his forgiveness.

 

“Denae.”

 

She turned her head away from Kellan. “Leave me alone. What do you care anyway? I’m just a human.”

 

“Denae, they’re in your head.”

 

“What do you care? Give me one good reason.”

 

“Just listen to m—”

 

She sighed over his words. “Just as I thought. You can’t give me a reason, because you don’t have one. You couldn’t care less if I die in here, and I will die in here. You know it. You just don’t have the balls to tell me.”

 

“Denae, doona let them control you.”

 

“He’s right,” someone whispered in her ear. “The Dark Ones are messing with your head. And you’re seriously demented if you think the Dark are sexier than your Dragon King. Have you so quickly forgotten your explosive night together?”

 

Denae lifted her head and frowned. She couldn’t see anyone, but she recognized that voice. Rhi.