Darkest Flame

Denae tripped, and with his hand holding hers, he was able to keep her on her feet. She let out a string of curses that made him grin.

 

“You’re smiling, aren’t you?” she ground out as she came to a halt and gingerly touched her bare foot. “Laugh at the human because I can’t see in the dark.”

 

He frowned as he considered her words. “I could light the way.”

 

“No,” she said with a shake of her head, her copper brown hair sliding sensuously over her shoulders. “It would alert them we’re here.”

 

“If they listen closely enough, they’ll hear us coming anyway.”

 

“It’s not smart to alert them to exactly where we are just because I’m hindered in my eyesight.”

 

Normally, Kellan would have agreed. As he stared at her, he found his way of thinking was changing when it came to humans—rapidly. And all because of Denae.

 

“The Dark Ones willna touch you again. Ever.”

 

Kellan was shocked at the vehemence of his words. And the truth of them.

 

Denae’s face softened as she put a hand on his cheek. Whatever she was going to say halted before it passed her lips. She dropped her arm and looked down the tunnel they were traveling.

 

“Is Rhi near?”

 

“I doona know,” Kellan said as he fought against begging her to say the words she kept from him. “Why?”

 

“She could stay with me so you can go ahead. You’ll move quicker without me slowing you down.”

 

“Nay.”

 

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t get mad. I’m trying to be practical. I do have some training in this, you know.”

 

“No’ training in dealing with Dark Fae.”

 

“True,” she grudgingly admitted.

 

He grabbed her hand again and started walking. “We’ve lingered long enough. We must keep moving.”

 

She didn’t argue as her strides lengthened to keep up with him. Not once did she complain of the grueling pace, the awful stench of the place, or the fact he didn’t stop to rest. She kept pace with him while he did his best to keep them moving quietly and helping her not to stumble or run into anything.

 

They walked for another half hour before he paused as something evil and furious rushed through the tunnel that even she felt.

 

“What was that?” Denae asked as she shivered.

 

Kellan glanced down at her, wondering how it was she felt the Dark Fae magic. “They know we’ve gone. Taraeth will be combing the tunnels looking for us.”

 

“Now is the time to shift into a dragon. You can get us both out.”

 

He glanced above them. The tunnel was high, but he didn’t know where they were. “There’s a chance we’re beneath a city. I could kill dozens of humans as I explode from the ground. And if it’s during the day, they’ll see me.”

 

“And if it’s just a field we’re under?”

 

“I can no’ know for certain. We’ve remained hidden all these millennia because we didna take such chances.” Even when he wanted to do just that to get Denae away from the Dark.

 

Damn but it was hard not to give into his need and shift.

 

“Then we best get moving,” Denae said and took off running.

 

Kellan caught up with her and jerked her away from an outcropping in the tunnel that she nearly ran into. They kept that pace as he moved them from one tunnel to the next.

 

“How do you know which way to go?” she asked breathlessly.

 

He couldn’t tell her it was all by chance. Instead he said, “My magic.”

 

A soft chuckle came from her. “Liar. You’re just guessing.”

 

There was a distant sound ahead that caused him to stop. He pulled her into his arms and whispered, “I am. Scared now?”

 

“I’ve been terrified since the moment I saw my first Fae on the docks.”

 

She had hidden it well, which made him appreciate her even more. It would be almost impossible to get them out if she were hysterical.

 

“What is it?” she whispered.

 

He bent his head near her ear. “I hear something ahead at the bend.”

 

She gave a nod to tell him she understood the danger and waited as he moved in front of her. It amazed Kellan how easily they worked as a team. She seemed to know exactly what he wanted or what he would do without any words spoken between them.

 

He released her hand and relaxed when he felt her fingers grab one of his belt loops. She didn’t pull or tug while she walked behind him. It allowed his hands to be free and to keep her safe. The only drawback was they moved slowly.

 

The closer Kellan came to where he heard the sound, the more his muscles bunched, ready to fight. They moved step by step, soundlessly, stealthily.

 

Just before they reached the location, Kellan touched her hand. Instantly, she released him and stayed behind while he continued on to the slight bend in the tunnel.

 

Kellan fought to keep from shifting into dragon form. He hoped it was Dark Fae. He wanted to kill every one of them for the torture and groping Denae had endured at their hands.

 

He fisted his right hand and lunged around the corner at the same time two males came at him. One male grabbed him by the throat while the other had gold-colored skin.

 

“Kellan?” said the male who held his throat.