Darkest Flame

Kellan ended the kiss as his mind focused on killing one Dark Fae in particular.

 

“Good luck,” Denae said before he turned on his heel and strode away.

 

Kellan stood beside Tristan as they opened their minds and called to any Dragon King nearby. If the Dark Fae wanted a war, they were going to get one.

 

Tristan jerked off his shirt and kicked off his boots. There was a smile of anticipation on his lips that Kellan understood all too well.

 

“You crave battle,” he said.

 

Tristan chuckled. “In a way most wouldna understand.”

 

“You just came to us, so doona get caught by those arses. I’d rather no’ have Con in my face because you didna return to Dreagan.”

 

“Ditto. Except it would be Denae in my face. Personally, I’d rather deal with Con than her.”

 

Kellan grinned as he glanced at his woman. She was a force to be reckoned with. He took in a deep breath and felt the dragon within him stir, rouse.

 

He couldn’t wait to feel the wind beneath him, to stretch his wings and soar upon the clouds. It had been so long. He wouldn’t fly for pleasure, but a purpose a long time coming.

 

The Dark Fae had been a scourge upon the realms that had dared to travel to Earth. The mistake had been trusting that the Light Fae could keep the Dark in check and push them out of the realm of Earth.

 

With the Kings being intent to remain secret, the Light had stopped fighting the Dark.

 

And the Dark … they had grown into a powerful group.

 

Tristan glanced at him before he jerked off his jeans and leapt into the air, shifting into the form of an amber dragon as he did.

 

Kellan watched as Tristan’s wings spread and caught on a current that propelled him up. There were few clouds to hide in, but then again, Kellan didn’t plan on doing any hiding today.

 

He shifted his gaze to find Phelan concealed near Denae, his gaze focused on the doorway.

 

Denae had her whisky-colored eyes trained on him as he put the manacle over his wrist so it appeared as if it was still locked. The need to protect, to defend and secure what was his swallowed him like a tidal wave.

 

He didn’t fight against the tide. He simply let it take him, accepting that somehow, someway a human had opened his eyes.

 

And taken his heart.

 

His gaze jerked to the doorway as Taraeth stepped through with his red eyes blazing.

 

“I figured you would’ve run,” Taraeth said when he spotted Kellan in the field. “Do you miss your room already? Are you waiting for me to bring you back, perhaps?”

 

“I’m here to kill you,” Kellan said.

 

“Kill?” Taraeth laughed as he looked around at his fellow Dark Fae that were steadily filling out around him. “You can try, but we all know our chains prevent a Dragon King from shifting. You’re nothing but an immortal who can die over and over again at our leisure. Just as the last two Kings we had.”

 

The Dark Ones laughed at Taraeth’s words.

 

A pleased, confident look stole over Taraeth’s face. “I’ll have you back in your prison with more chains added. Then, I’ll find that pretty human of yours and take her repeatedly in front of you until she no longer remembers your name.”

 

“You can try, but you willna succeed.”

 

“And why is that?”

 

Kellan smiled just before he shifted.

 

He stood in the open field and roared his fury. His wings opened and flapped as a dozen Dark rushed him. The force of the air from his wings sent them tumbling back.

 

Just as they got to their feet Tristan suddenly appeared out of the sky and clamped his huge jaws around half of them. The other half tried to rush back to their comrades, but one swipe of Tristan’s tail cut them in two.

 

“Kill them!” Taraeth bellowed.

 

Kellan kept his eyes on Taraeth even as he worried about Denae. The Dark Ones were too intent on him and Tristan. And Kellan was going to make sure they remained that way.

 

Kellan waited until the Dark were close before he jumped into the air only to swoop back down, his claws tearing through the Dark like a hot knife through butter.

 

He tucked his wings and spun before shooting up to the sky. As he did, he felt a blast of magic narrowly miss him.

 

It only made him angrier.

 

*

 

Rhi jumped to the field to discover a battle. She was glad she had remained veiled, especially with the Dark all around her.

 

She easily meandered through the thick throng of Dark Ones until she spotted Phelan in a grove of trees, his face a mask of fury for being kept out of the battle.

 

But that was because he was the last line of defense for Deane.

 

Rhi used her magic and appeared next to Phelan, dropping her veil as she did.

 

He glanced at her, his face still grim. “About bloody time. Where have you been?”

 

“Learning more than I wanted to.”

 

His gaze jerked to her as he frowned. “Are you all right?”

 

“Yep.” She plastered a bright smile on her face. “Remember, stud, I’m Fae.”