Darkest Flame, page 13
part #1 of Dark Kings Series
It had given him pause, but only for a little while. Soon, it became apparent just how far the Kings would go for their mates. Which would be their downfall.
He drove into Perth and pulled into a parking spot on the side of King’s Street. Millennia after millennia had passed as he planned out his revenge.
His spider’s web of influences, acquaintances, and networks took generation after generation to build. He was so rooted in some families now that they would do whatever he asked of them at any time.
Infiltrating MI5 had been just as easy.
However, his web wasn’t contained to just Great Britain. It extended all over the world.
He had many names, many faces. No one knew he was the one controlling things. And no one lived who ever dared to refuse an order—or cross him.
The planning to take down the Dragon Kings had been meticulous, right down to waiting until now to form an alliance with the Dark Ones.
The Kings would never see him coming.
He laughed and reached for his mobile to dial a number. There was one ring before a male answered.
“Well?” he asked.
“It’s just as you said, sir,” the male answered in a British accent. “They got Denae away from the port quickly and met up with another vehicle.”
Ah, but the Kings were predictable, even after all these years. They were supposed to protect the humans, and that’s exactly what they were doing.
“Where are they taking her?”
There was a short pause before the man said, “The Merc is on route west, sir.”
“West? Do you have eyes on them?”
“We do, both on the ground and in the air.”
He smiled. “Good, good.”
“When do we attack? MI5 is anxious to retrieve Denae and learn how she’s been tortured and what those at Dreagan did to Matt.”
“You will do nothing,” he ordered harshly. “Do you understand me? You will stand down.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Call me as soon as they reach their destination. Is that understood?”
“Of course, sir.”
He disconnected the phone. It wouldn’t be MI5 who paid the human and Dragon King a visit.
* * *
Kellan didn’t think they would ever reach Raasay. They had to wait over an hour just for the ferry, and then the ferry ride itself.
Once on Raasay, Kellan directed Denae north to the plot of land the Kings had claimed as their own two thousand years before. It was Kellan who had found it. He had known then that they might need places outside of Dreagan.
Con had agreed, and immediately the Kings set up places all around the world.
The last time Kellan had seen the place on Raasay it was nothing but a small cottage. It brought to mind once again how long he had been asleep and all he had missed with his brethren.
All because of his hatred.
He looked at Denae as she drove up the dirt road constricted on either side by thick forest as they climbed in elevation.
Kellan loved the shoreline of Raasay, but it was always important to have a good lookout, which is why he had chosen the plot of land high up in the mountains.
“How much farther?” she asked.
“I’m no’ sure. It’s been awhile since I was here.”
“What brought you to the isle?”
“I often stayed here in between exploring Skye and the other isles.”
The SUV rocked violently as it rolled over a large rock protruding from the road. Denae winced. “Sorry. Didn’t see that. I was too busy gawking at you.”
“You always say whatever is on your mind.”
“Not usually, but I’ve learned the only way I learn anything about you is to say what needs to be said.”
“That was a statement before, no’ a question.”
She shrugged and gave him a quick look with her whisky-colored eyes. “Does that bother you?”
Oddly enough, it didn’t. He was used to mortals being frightened of him even if they didn’t know what he was, and yet, Denae was different in that regard as well. He found he … liked it. “You’re no’ afraid of me, are you?”
“I have a healthy respect for you,” she stated. “Fear? That I reserve for the Dark Fae. Now they’re the stuff of nightmares. But, no changing the subject. Back to your visits to Skye. Why there?”
Kellan pointed to a sign that said Private Property with a faint dragon on the right lower corner. “Turn here.”
“Are you sure?”
“There’s a dragon on the sign, of course I’m sure.”
She turned and then brought the vehicle to a stop at the closed and locked gate. Kellan got out and walked to the gate. The lock wasn’t a human one. There were no keys to use or numbers to punch. It was a lock that couldn’t be blown up, sawed off, or cut.
The only way to open it was by being a Dragon King.
Kellan put his hand on the lock. As soon as it sensed his dragon magic, it unlocked with a click and the gate opened.
When he climbed back into the Mercedes, Denae stared at him. He motioned for her to proceed forward. She did so after hesitating for a minute.
“Have you ever heard of the Book of Kells?” he asked as they drove down the winding drive.
“Of course. I don’t think there are many who haven’t. Why?” Her eyes widened and her lips parted suddenly. “Kells? As in Kellan?”
Her shocked expression brought his lips up in a smile that he quickly hid. He wasn’t ready for her to know just how deeply she affected him—not when he hadn’t worked it all out himself. If only the desire didn’t complicate matters he might figure it out. “That was me.”
She laughed, the sound music to his ears. “You sound so humble. The Book of Kells is an important part of history. That’s amazing. Did you ask them to name it after you?”
“Nay,” he said, affronted that she would think he would do something like that. “They did it on their own. So it is still around?”
“Most certainly. There are disputing theories as to its origin. Many say Ireland.”
He made a disgusted sound at the back of his throat. “That’s the Fae’s influence. They’ve always had a stronghold in Ireland, just as we do in Scotland.”
“I have to ask, the book contains the gospels from the Bible. Why that? Why not something else?”
“It was important to humans.” He hadn’t cared about what was inside the book, but he had been impressed with the work the mortals had wanted to accomplish. It was the reason he had helped them to begin with. To have that book survive all these centuries was something he had never expected.
“And you don’t believe?”
He thought back to that turbulent time when the humans were learning more and more about themselves. “It matters no’ what I do or doona believe. Humans did.”
“Did you begin the book?”
Kellan wanted to end the conversation before she saw how much he loved the written word and all it held, but he couldn’t since he’d introduced the topic. Damn him for wanting to see if any of him had remained while he slept through time.
“It’s all right,” she said suddenly. “You don’t have to tell me.”
He briefly closed his eyes and wondered why he found Denae so easy to talk to. Had sleeping through time helped to heal his hatred? No. He was sure it hadn’t. There was just something unique and exceptional about Denae.
“I urged them,” he said. “I also did most of the drawings.”
Her smile was genuine when she glanced at him. “Wow. Just … wow. Why wasn’t it ever finished?”
Kellan caught sight of the stone house as it came into view. It was larger than the cottage he had built, but the pale stone and gray roof matched the surroundings nicely.
Denae stopped the car at the back of the house and shut off the engine. Being back on Raasay brought forth a ton of memories involving the Book of Kells and his trips to Iona visiting the monks.
He wasn’t sure if the memories were good or bad. Nor did he quite know how he felt about being so close to where everything had fallen apart for him. Was that why Con had sent them here? Was Con pushing him to see if he would repeat history?
Kellan looked at Denae. He wanted to be in the vehicle on Raasay with her. The realization was like a punch in his stomach. Never did he think he would want to be so near a mortal.
But it wasn’t just being near to her that he wanted. He hungered for her—all of her.
“I’d grown weary,” he finally answered. “I assumed the monks would finish the book and illustrations.”
“Was it so awful being around humans? They were monks. How bad could they be?”
Her eyes held a sadness he felt like a punch to his stomach. It hurt her how much he despised her kind, because she thought it also included her.
He could tell her she was excluded from his view, but to give her that information would be giving her a way into his mind. In the past he wouldn’t have dared.
Things were different now. All because of a beautiful spy who emerged from the water in his cave.
Did she even know how she kept him tied in knots? Did she know how much he wanted to pull her into his arms and ravage her mouth for hours before exploring her body?
He looked away from the sorrow reflected in her eyes and wished he knew something to say to make her smile again. Instead, he opened the door and got out with Denae doing the same. With her by his side, they walked around the side of the house. As soon as he saw the view of the water with the sun setting, he remembered why he had chosen such a spot.
“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Denae said.
He faced her then, wanting her to know the truth. “The monks didna drive me away. I missed my dragons, I missed flying whenever I wanted. I missed hearing the roars. And answering them. Every time I looked at a human I saw my dead Bronzes.
“Each day it was a chore no’ to lash out at them, to yell … to kill. And then, the man raped and killed the young girl. I didna even stop and think. I just reacted.”
“I think I’d have done the same. The man gave you his word. He lied and killed.”
Kellan looked to the skies. “The dragons are gone. Forever. You can no’ possibly know what it means to lose something you love.”
“Right, because you Kings have a monopoly on grief, sorrow, and anger.” Her words were clipped and full of annoyance.
He took a step toward her. “How would you feel if your family was sent away and you were left behind?”
She smiled wryly, the iciness of it slamming into him like a fist to his jaw. “Do you ever listen to me? Or is it just background noise you hear when I talk?”
“I doona know why you’re getting defensive.”
He was trying to calm her, but his words seemed to set her off instead. Her chin lifted and her shoulders squared, much as they had done when she was fighting Matt in his cave.
“You don’t know…” She trailed off and pursed her lips together. “My family is gone, dead, you asshole. I’m all that remains.”
Kellan couldn’t believe he had forgotten that fact, but it still didn’t measure up to him losing his dragons. It might be the same if the entire human race disappeared, leaving only her, but he didn’t think mentioning that now would be in his best interest.
“Denae,” he started.
She gave a shake of her head and turned on her heel to start back to the vehicle. “Don’t even try it.”
He glanced at the sunset and knew the peace he wanted to experience with Denae would have to wait. Kellan lengthened his strides to catch up with her.
She altered course and went to the back door, but it had the same lock as the gate. He reached around her and unlocked it.
“Denae…”
Without a glance, she pushed past him and walked into the lodge. Anger rose within him. He had promised to protect her, had even used his dragon magic to pull the bullets from her. How had she repaid him? By getting upset while he had been trying to explain his love of the dragons and how much he missed them. He had shared with her what he hadn’t spoken about with a single individual. Just her.
Kellan knew he should go to the opposite side of the house. Instead, he followed her up the stairs and into one of the bedrooms.
She reached for the door as she passed it, but he caught it before it could slam in his face.
“What—” she started when she turned to find him there.
Kellan grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her against the wall. Desire surged, rose like a tidal wave. It engulfed him, consumed him.
All the raw emotions he hadn’t known how to sort through turned into a blinding, dazzling flame of yearning. And it was focused on one woman.
As soon as her lips parted, he knew he was lost. He took her mouth in an unrestrained, brutal kiss full of burning need and alluring desire.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Denae wanted to push him away. She wanted to turn her head. But she couldn’t. Because she was getting what she had wanted since the first moment she’d laid eyes on Kellan—and let him into her head.
Her body melted against his, her lips eagerly parting for his kiss. His hard body trapped her against the wall while he deepened the kiss.
It was fevered, frenzied. He stole her breath the same time his kisses aroused and enthralled. Denae dug her fingers into his shoulders to remain upright.
Her world was spinning out of control, and at the center was Kellan—steady and solid.
Never had a kiss been such sweet seduction, such tantalizing persuasion … such enticing inducement. All that potent virility about Kellan was unleashed fully upon her. She was no match for his commanding potency, his masterful touch.
Her chest heaved when he lifted his head and his celadon gaze speared hers. No longer were his pale green eyes cold and devoid of emotion. They burned with desire, scorched her with the intensity of the need he let her see.
Chills raced over her skin, but it didn’t frighten her. It only made her passion rise higher.
He confused and confounded her. He made her long for his touch, crave his kisses. He made her ache for something she didn’t dare voice, something she thought could never be hers.
Denae couldn’t keep her hands off him. She traced the hard line of his jaw and his square chin. And, finally, she gave into the need and slid her fingers into the cool strands of his long, caramel-colored hair.
There were no words between them.
There was no need.
Everything could be felt, sensed … and shared.
She instinctively knew the flare of attraction, of undeniable longing between them was rare and special. Whatever gripped them, held them was both wonderful and frightening.
Her stomach quivered in anticipation when his gaze dropped to her mouth. But he didn’t kiss her again. Instead, he ran his fingers over her bare shoulder where her wide-necked shirt had fallen.
His caress was tender and possessive, gentle and sensual. Her eyes slid closed when his hand traveled across her chest and then down between her breasts to her waist.
A moan pulled from her as his lips found her neck. Denae turned her head to the side to give him access. While his lips worked their magic, his hands had taken her wrists and pinned them above her head.
Her lids lifted and she breathed in the scent of him—a heady combination of spices, rain, and danger. He held her wrists as he lifted his head and gave them a slight squeeze.
Then, slowly, he ran his hands down her arms to the hem of her oversized shirt. Denae’s body was primed for him. She was about to yank the shirt off herself, but she kept her arms above her, impatiently waiting.
He didn’t jerk off her shirt. That wasn’t Kellan’s style. He slid his hands beneath the hem and rested them on either side of her waist on top of her cami. With her oversized shirt gathered at his wrists, he leisurely ran his hands up her sides.
Denae sucked in a breath when he paused to rub his thumbs at the undersides of her breasts. A small smile played at his lips, but it was the darkening of his eyes that made her knees weak.
He continued upward, his hands sliding over her breasts in a frustratingly slow movement. Denae bit her lip and groaned when he passed over her nipples.
They were instantly hard, her breasts swelling and aching for more of his touch. He persisted in his unhurried removal of her outer shirt until his hands reached her shoulders, moving up her raised arms and past her hands.
Her shirt was casually dropped in a nearby chair. And his gaze lowered to her breasts, where he could see the outline of her turgid nipples.
She lowered her arms and gripped the wall with her hands as he moved one finger around her nipples, but never touching them, teasing her mercilessly.
Her breathing was harsh, even to her own ears. She was quickly becoming a puddle of need, and she hadn’t even gotten to touch him as she longed to do.
With that in mind, Denae grabbed the hem of his shirt. Kellan’s eyes crinkled at the corners as if daring her. She laid both hands flat on the warm skin of his waist. There was steel beneath her fingertips, and she wanted a good look at it.
Denae wasn’t as slow in her removal of his shirt. She pushed it up to his shoulders and then over his head as quickly as she could. His shirt remained in her hand as she let her gaze wander over his chest and the impressive, unique dragon tattoo that met her.
She absently tossed his shirt as she glanced at his face. He was watching her intently, waiting to see what she would do.
There was really only one thing to do. She reached out with her right hand and placed it over his heart, on the dragon’s large head where its mouth sat open as if on a roar.
Her other hand flattened against the hard muscle of his chest while her right hand followed the rare mix of black and red ink over the tat. She frowned as she swore that the image moved beneath her hand.
Denae took in the whole of the tattoo. It was situated more on his left side, with only half the body of the dragon visible on Kellan’s abdomen. The other half was inked on Kellan’s left side.
However, it was the dragon’s wings that were astounding. They were spread open wide with one covering the entire right side of his chest and the other extending onto his left arm so that when his arms were by his side, it looked to be a seamless image.
