Darkest Flame

“Good. I’d hate to become a bore. Now be quiet so I can figure this out.”

 

 

His hands covered both of hers. “The longer you remain, the higher your chances of being caught. Rhi risked her own life to help you.”

 

Denae wouldn’t let go of the chains. She gave them another hard squeeze. His hand squeezed with her, and Denae heard a crack.

 

Her eyes jerked to him. “Did you hear that?”

 

He nodded woodenly, surprise making his face go slack. “Let me try.”

 

Denae released the chain and stepped back, but no matter how he tried to use his magic, nothing else happened. “My turn,” she said and moved his hands out of the way.

 

She took the chain in the same spot as before and squeezed, but it was as if she were a flea trying to move the Great Wall of China.

 

“It’s going to take both of us,” they said in unison.

 

Kellan moved to the other side of the chain so they were facing each other and once more covered her hands with his. She gave him a nod as she tightened her grip and he used his magic.

 

There was another loud crack before several more smaller ones, and then the chain broke in half.

 

Denae covered her mouth to hide her laugh. “We did it.”

 

He looked at the broken chain and quickly grabbed her hand. “We can celebrate later. We need to get out of here.”

 

“Shift into a dragon.”

 

He held up his wrist that still held the manacle. “No’ possible.”

 

Denae rolled her eyes and put her hand on the cuff. “Don’t be stupid. Put your hand on mine. If we’re going to get out of here, you need to be able to turn into a dragon.”

 

There was a moment’s pause before he covered her hand. The manacle took longer than the links. Denae’s fingers began to cramp, but she refused to give up.

 

It felt like an eternity later when the manacle popped open and fell to the floor. Denae wiped the sweat from her brow and tugged Kellan to the wall.

 

He grabbed the fallen manacle and they ran through the wall, stopping once they were in the dark tunnel.

 

“Why did you bring that?” she asked and pointed to the manacle.

 

Kellan lifted the iron in his hand. “I want them to think I’m still hindered.”

 

“I like the way you think. Now, which way?”

 

“Left.”

 

She fell into step behind him, her feet splashing in the edge of the stream. An urgency pushed her hard, making her feel as if the hounds of Hell were nipping at her heels.

 

Denae crashed into Kellan’s back when he came to a sudden halt. She looked around his shoulder and spotted what appeared to be a solid white moth the size of a Fiat with some type of glow about it perching on the side of the tunnel blocking their way.

 

It was stunning, an exact replica of the moths she would chase in the summers when she was a little girl. Except those moths could fit in the palm of a child’s hand.

 

The giant moth moved its wings in one heedless flap that sent a gust of wind so strong it would have knocked Denae off her feet if Kellan hadn’t been standing in front of her.

 

Denae took a step back and her foot slipped into the water, making a loud splash. The moth raised its head and looked right at them. Then it opened its mouth to show razor-sharp teeth.

 

It let out a roar with spittle flying. Denae was shoved to the ground by Kellan as he launched himself at the moth just as it pushed off the wall.

 

Denae couldn’t take her eyes off Kellan as he advanced deftly, his body moving fluidly, nimbly as he dodged the moth’s claws that tried to scratch him.

 

The darkness of the tunnels prevented her from seeing everything, but her eyesight was accustomed enough to witness Kellan’s impressive attack.

 

He rushed the moth, then diverted toward the wall. Just as he reached it, he turned and dove, rolling to his feet behind the giant creature.

 

With the moth limited in its movement because of its size, Kellan cleverly kept out of its reach. He jumped on the moth’s back and grabbed its head, giving it a hard jerk to the side.

 

The creature fell into the stream dead.

 

Kellan leapt off as it fell and landed on his feet near her. He held out his hand, one corner of his lips lifted in a smile.

 

“Shall we continue?”

 

Denae took his hand and stared at the huge moth as they walked past it. “That was impressive.”

 

“I know.”

 

She made a sound in the back of her throat. “Anyone ever told you that you’re conceited?”

 

“Many times.”

 

Denae wouldn’t want to be in the tunnels with anyone else by her side. Kellan might be conceited, but with moves like he just displayed, he had every right to be.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

 

 

Kellan’s skin felt too tight, his irritation too great.

 

His fury too boundless.

 

He wanted to shift into dragon form, but it wasn’t time. In order to have his retribution on the Dark Ones for taking Denae, he wanted as many gathered as he could before he shifted and wiped them out.