Taraeth ended the kiss and looked down at Denae as he tested the weight of her breast in his hand. “You kiss well, little human. I’m going to enjoy my time with you.”
Denae’s smile was wide as she gazed adoringly up at him. “Release your hold on my arms. Let me touch you,” she begged.
Taraeth chuckled and squeezed her nipple. “All it took was one kiss and now you’re mine.”
Nay!
Kellan held back the bellow. Barely. Many times he had seen human females fall helplessly under the Fae’s spell, but this time it cut deeper than any blade could.
After the fight Denae put up, Kellan had somehow expected her to continue resisting them. Had it really only taken one kiss? Was Denae now theirs to play with sexually and mentally until they destroyed her?
“I saw her first,” Emil stated. “I want her, Taraeth.”
Taraeth didn’t pay him any heed. “You can have her when I’m finished. If I ever tire of this little human. I think I may keep her for eternity.”
Kellan fisted his hand behind his back and imagined finding one of the Fae’s many enemies and handing Taraeth over to them. Let him see how it felt to be kept as a prisoner and tortured for eternity.
“Taraeth,” Emil began, his voice loud and hard.
Taraeth whirled on him, his red eyes glowing. “Dare you question my orders?”
“I want her,” Emil continued while his anger grew.
Taraeth glanced back at Denae. “But she didn’t want you. Remember? She turned you away.”
“You as well.”
Kellan smiled. It was so easy to divide the Dark Ones. If only the argument would evolve into a battle, and then perhaps Denae would be granted another reprieve.
When he looked to her, Denae’s eyes were on him. She stood with her head held high while the two Dark Fae argued over who would get to use her body.
Her whisky-colored eyes were clear as she held his gaze coolly. It was then he realized she had been acting with Taraeth. She had done such a good job that she had even convinced him.
Then she winked at him.
Kellan wanted to return the wink, but suddenly the argument ended and both Dark Fae were looking at him. He stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed his ankles. “It’s no’ a good sign when one of your men question you, Taraeth. No’ for someone who claims to have absolute control.”
“You like to pretend you don’t care for my little human, but I think you do,” Taraeth said. “I think you care a great deal. You go out of your way to bring our attention back to you time and again. Tell me, Dragon, how does it feel to know that you might have taken her, but I’ll be the one that remains in her mind?”
“You willna leave her a mind to have,” Kellan said succinctly.
Taraeth turned back to Denae and began to play with her hair. “I think I might. She’s exceptional, rare. She will please me greatly.” His red eyes shifted to Kellan. “I’ll wipe every memory of you from her until she believes she is a Dark Fae.”
Apprehension settled in Kellan’s gut. Once, so long ago it was just a distant memory, Kellan recalled the mention of a Fae wanting to turn a human. Kellan didn’t know if it was successful or not, but the mere fact Taraeth brought it up didn’t bode well for Denae.
“She would make an excellent queen,” Taraeth said. “But that is on your shoulders, Dragon.”
“How so?”
“You give me the answers I want, and I won’t have to hurt her. The more I hurt her, the less likely she’ll survive. I can’t make her my queen if her mind is gone.”
Denae was again looking at Taraeth as if he hung the moon just for her. Kellan knew Denae was strong, both mentally and physically, but under the onslaught of Dark magic? In the end, she was still mortal and weaker than a Fae. Could she stand against him?
“I willna tell you anything,” Kellan stated.
No matter how much he wanted to protect her, he wouldn’t betray his brethren. There was too much at stake. The very idea of the Dark Ones aligning with humans to capture him told Kellan something big was about to happen, and it hinged on knowledge that was hidden.
“Oh, but you will. One more chance. Tell me where it’s hidden.”
Kellan knew exactly what Taraeth was asking about. The very first King of Kings had found it and hidden it away. Not long after he was killed, so were the next three in quick succession until Constantine took over.
There were only two Dragon Kings who knew what the Dark searched for—he and Con. But Kellan had a suspicion the Dark—or whoever it was who aligned with them—wanted the Silvers who were caged and remained sleeping. The havoc those dragons could wreak upon the world would be catastrophic.
Keeping the Silvers sleeping was one of many reasons none of the Dragon Kings ever ventured far from Dreagan for any length of time.
“Nay,” Kellan answered.
Taraeth put his hand on Denae’s head, and she immediately went white, her body shaking as she began to scream and jerk weakly against the magic holding her in place.