Darkest Flame

Denae swallowed and focused fully on the Fae before her. He was a nuisance, a pest who could do untold damage to her body and mind if she wasn’t careful.

 

“Are you sure it’s Kellan I’m thinking of?” she asked with a sly look.

 

Emil’s lips peeled back as he reached for her shirt. In one yank, he ripped her oversized shirt in two, leaving it hanging precariously on her arms.

 

The only things separating her bare skin from the Fae were her cami and yoga pants. In mere seconds, even those were gone.

 

Denae was plastered against a wall, bare-assed and unable to defend herself against her would-be attacker. It was humiliating.

 

And infuriating.

 

Denae had never felt such rage, such sheer ferocity. It replaced the fear, leaving her cold and calculating. She let her gaze rake over the Dark Fae in contempt.

 

“How sad. You can’t even make one insignificant human want you in the smallest way. Your two friends witnessed it before. I bet they’re talking about you now. How quickly do rumors spread among your people, I wonder?”

 

The laughter and desire instantly faded from his eyes, replaced with evil intent. His hand wrapped around her throat and began to squeeze.

 

Behind them, she caught a glimpse of Taraeth looking over his shoulder. His eyes glowed red right before he bellowed Emil’s name.

 

“She is mine!” Taraeth shouted.

 

Emil’s hand dropped and he stepped away from her, but in his gaze, he promised retribution.

 

If Denae thought she would be released to have control over her own body again, she was dead wrong. With Taraeth’s attention now on her, he faced her and smiled wickedly.

 

“Ah, but I knew your body would please me, little human.”

 

Denae might be afraid of Emil, but she was terrified of Taraeth. There was something about the Dark leader that made her want to huddle into a corner and cover her head with her hands.

 

He was the evil in the darkness, the malevolence lurking in the shadows waiting to snatch unsuspecting females. He was death in disguise as pleasure, but she saw him for who he truly was.

 

And it terrified her.

 

She wished her clothes were still on. Denae felt powerless and incapable, helpless and weak. Instantly she thought of her sister and how her eyes had pleaded with Denae to believe her about her stalker.

 

Denae’s chest constricted as emotions tumbled upon her like an avalanche. Instantly, she shut off those memories and focused on herself.

 

There had to be a way for her to turn Taraeth off from her. Name-calling hadn’t helped. Neither had her aversion to them. In fact, that had seemed to set them off. The only thing left for her to do was to pretend to give in.

 

Taraeth took three steps toward her, his red eyes raking her from head to toe and back again.

 

“Are you done with me already?” Kellan asked.

 

Taraeth stilled, his advance halted with Kellan’s words. Denae had a reprieve, but she wasn’t sure it was going to be much of one based on the eagerness in the Dark leader’s eyes.

 

“Rest, Dragon. I’m going to take some enjoyment,” Taraeth stated with a wide smile directed at her.

 

Denae wrinkled her face. “I think you might be disappointed.”

 

So much for her pretending to give in. The thought of his hands on her made her physically ill, and the words tumbled from her lips before she could think better of them.

 

“Not in you.” Taraeth let the swords in his hands disappear and cupped his engorged cock. “I think we’re going to have a lot of fun, little human.”

 

“You misunderstand me. You’re going to be disappointed because I don’t want you.”

 

Taraeth was undeterred. “Maybe at first, but you won’t be thinking that after I pleasure you.”

 

Denae didn’t have time to form another response as he quickly closed the distance between them and kissed her.

 

*

 

“What do you mean you came for me?” Phelan asked Rhi.

 

The Fae had dark circles under her eyes and her skin was pale. The lines of fatigue around her mouth were another indication that she had pushed herself to the limits.

 

“You’re part Fae, Phelan,” she explained. “You can find the doorways and get inside.”

 

He turned his gaze to Aisley who looked at him with unblinking fawn-colored eyes. It was her silent way of telling him she would back him on whatever decision he made.

 

“I’ve never found a doorway before. How are you sure?” he asked.

 

Rhi’s smile was small. “The doorways were closed in Scotland. There are one or two in England, but if you really want to find one, you must go to Ireland.”

 

Phelan had never met Kellan or Denae, but the Dragon Kings had come to his aid, as had the other Warriors and Druids from MacLeod Castle on several occasions. How could he turn them away now?

 

“What do I need to do?”

 

Rhi briefly closed her eyes, relief pouring from her in waves. “This isn’t going to be easy, stud.”

 

“When has battling evil Druids been easy?” He gave her a wink and held out his hand atop the table to Aisley. Once she had taken it, he linked their fingers. “I thought you said the Dark Ones were in an abandoned manor?”