Darkest Flame

“I can hurt her. Painfully,” Taraeth said. Then he yawned and dusted off his boots.

 

Kellan ground his teeth together while he somehow remained where he was. Everything inside him bellowed to go to Denae and save her from the suffering he could only imagine she was enduring.

 

At that moment Kellan couldn’t grasp how he had ever thought he could hate Denae. It seemed like centuries had passed since she had come into his life. He had changed so much, and yet the change had been so slow he hadn’t recognized it until now.

 

To see her in such pain was worse than finding his Bronzes dead. It was unfathomable, immeasurable.

 

Kellan tried to swallow as he kept his gaze on her, hoping to give her strength any way he could. She had to endure it, because if she didn’t, Kellan wasn’t sure what he might do.

 

After another few seconds Taraeth lifted his hand and her screams stopped. “Or I can do this.”

 

Kellan barely had time to register that Denae was no longer in pain before Taraeth slowly ran his hand across Denae’s breasts, down her stomach to her sex. His hand stopped at the black curls, and a low moan fell from Denae’s lips.

 

Her head fell back against the wall and her chest heaved. With her hips rocking forward slightly, her moans grew louder and louder until she screamed as a climax rocked through her.

 

Cold, deadly fury filled Kellan. Denae was his. And the Dark had dared to not just torture her, but to give her pleasure against her will.

 

Kellan was going to kill him. He would enjoy watching Taraeth die. Perhaps he would let Denae help and let her get revenge on the Dark who’d invaded her mind and body. It might help her heal.

 

He wouldn’t even allow himself to think what might happen if she didn’t come out of everything herself. She was strong, a survivor. He kept repeating that silently to himself. It gave him hope—hope he hadn’t known he even needed.

 

“That was beautiful,” Taraeth told her as he nuzzled her ear. “That’s the first of many, little human.”

 

Kellan didn’t know which was harder to watch—the torture or the pleasure. Both affected him in ways he wished he could ignore, but he couldn’t. Both would haunt him long after he escaped the confines of the room.

 

“Are all the dragons gone from this realm?” Taraeth asked.

 

Kellan smiled coldly. “Of course no’, you imbecile. You’re looking at one.”

 

“Not a King,” Taraeth said harshly. “Your dragons. Are they gone?”

 

“Aye.”

 

“All of them?” Taraeth pressed.

 

Kellan gave a single nod.

 

“How many Dragon Kings remain?”

 

“As if I would tell you.”

 

“You told me of the dragons.”

 

Kellan began to laugh. “Because that, you sodding fool, is common knowledge. There was no secret about that. We sent our dragons away to protect them.”

 

“And what would you do if your dragons were no longer protected?”

 

Kellan tried to keep his smile in place, but he knew it fell. There was no anger, just a coldness that settled around him as it always did right before a battle. He was focused, intent.

 

And ready to kill.

 

“You’ll never find them. However, if so much as one dragon is harmed, you’ll know what it feels like to have every Dragon King hunting you and your Dark Ones, Taraeth.”

 

His words didn’t seem to faze Taraeth who used his magic to make Denae moan again. “The first time I made her peak with just magic. This time I’ll make you watch as I put my mark on her and claim her body as mine, Dragon. Tell me where the object is being hidden.”

 

“Keep him talking,” a voice whispered in his ear, a voice he recognized.

 

Rhi.

 

“Help is coming, but you need to get him out so I can help free you and Denae,” she continued.

 

Kellan glanced around him. He could feel Rhi’s presence now that she had made herself known, but he wasn’t sure how she was able to keep herself veiled for such a long time.

 

Denae moaned again, her eyes focused away from him. She was embarrassed, and trying to fight something she couldn’t. Kellan had just thought he hated humans. Now he realized true revulsion—and it was focused solely on the Dark.

 

“You know the location,” Taraeth said as he let his fingers slide into Denae’s black curls. “You can stop this if you’ll just tell me.”

 

Kellan wasn’t that stupid. Taraeth was going to take Denae no matter what he said. A glance at Emil showed the Dark’s growing rage as he watched Taraeth taking the human he wanted.

 

“I’m no’ so sure taking Denae in front of Emil is a good idea.” Kellan didn’t hide his smugness when Taraeth’s gaze landed on him. Anyone looking at Emil could see his fury and the death he wished upon Taraeth.

 

Taraeth turned from Kellan to Emil. All thoughts of Denae were severed as Emil let out a low rumble and attacked. Taraeth blocked the first assault, but in a matter of seconds, magic was flying everywhere.