Burning Desire (10 page)

She might be considered young by some Dark, but she wasn’t naïve or stupid. “You mean you will actually torture me.”

Her father shrugged nonchalantly. “We’ll have to prove to him we’ll be willing to do anything to you. The Kings are meant to protect humans. It’s in his nature to protect the very woman he believes is human that he cares for.”

“And then?” She wasn’t about to tell him that Kiril knew she was Dark.

“We break him. We’ll have to fake your death, of course, but he will feel as though he failed. That will speed his descent. Once he’s broken, he’ll tell us anything we ask.”

Shara had longed for her father to bring her into the fold of the family. He was giving her that chance. “I want to be there when we find whatever the Dragon Kings have hidden.”

“I can arrange that,” he said with a nod of pleasure.

Her mind drifted back to the breathtaking kisses and toe-curling sex she’d had with Kiril. “How did you know Mother was the right woman for you?”

“That was easy.” He began walking along the stone path again, keeping ahold of her arm. “When it came time to marry I had my pick of women because of the family and the name I’d made for myself, much like Farrell is doing. Your mother was one of many.”

“Why did you choose her?”

“She had a quick, devious mind that far exceeded any other, and her desire to advance to the top was as great as mine. We had the same ambitions.”

Was it as simple as that? Is that how she was supposed to look for a husband? No. She was to stand meekly, but confidently, and wait for her husband to choose her.

“Don’t worry, Shara. Farrell has already lined up men that I’m considering for you. Many wanted you before, but now that they know what you’re doing, more are clamoring for your hand. I’ll choose wisely.”

It was how it had always been done with their people. Why then did she wish she had a choice in picking the male who would share her bed?

Silence in the wake of such a statement was rude. Shara smiled tightly. “I trust your judgment, Father.”

“Farrell told me he hit you hard enough to bruise. Did the Dragon King take note of the bruise?”

Shara focused her mind on the conversation. The last thing she wanted was to be caught in a lie, and that’s what her father was trying to do. “He wrapped his arm around me, and I pulled away. When he asked if I was hurt, I thought it prudent to let him know that I was bruised.”

“Did he ask how you had been hurt?”

“He did. I told him that I ran into a counter, but I made sure the lie was told badly enough that he saw through it.”

Her father patted her arm. “Very good. Aye, very good indeed.”

She nodded expectantly when he looked at her. “I want to fully be a part of this family. I’m proving myself, Father. Please tell me everything.”

His lips pursed as he considered her words. Seconds stretched into minutes as he remained quiet, their stroll circling back to the house. The closer the house came, the more anxious Shara was to learn all the Dark were planning. For herself, of course.

“I thought you said I was proving myself? I made one mistake, and I served out my punishment. I’m bringing a Dragon King to you.”

“You did serve out your punishment with dignity. However, I’ve told you all there is for now.”

Shara gave her cheek to her father to kiss as they reached the doors to his office. “Thank you for your approval, Father.”

His red eyes went hard as he stared. “Now that you have it, if you botch anything up, Shara, only your death will make up for it.”

“I won’t disappoint you.”

With a nod, he released her arm and walked back into his office. Shara turned to look at the sea once more. It stretched endlessly before her, and yet, Scotland wasn’t that far away.

Why was she even thinking of Scotland? Just because she had felt good in Kiril’s arms? He was a Dragon King, enemy to the Dark. Her family was all she had, and she had to remember that. At the end of the day, if Kiril had to choose, he wouldn’t choose her. It was a dose of reality that she needed. She would do as her family asked.

But she also knew her brother was a first-class arse. He hated her, had always hated her. No matter what he said, he would do his utmost to ensure that she failed somehow while still managing to capture Kiril.

That meant she had to think for herself. Farrell would likely strike before she could ever have her father’s ear, which meant she needed someone with more power than her family.

She briefly thought about Taraeth, but quickly dismissed the idea. As ruler of their people, there were countless females looking for his favor. No, she would need something more immediate, someone who would notice her sooner.

Her mind immediately snagged on a candidate who had power that even her father feared—Balladyn.

It was a huge chance she was taking, and he might not even notice her. Yet she wouldn’t know unless she tried. First, she would need a look at him and his infamous fortress.

A part of her thought about asking for Kiril’s help, but she knew there was nothing he could do for her. If she was to come out of this at all, she had to have the help of a Dark Fae.

Shara turned on her heel and walked around to the back of the house where a lone Fae doorway was located. It was kept separate because it would bring her right inside Balladyn’s compound. She hesitated for just a moment before she stepped through.

Gone was the brightness of the sun. There was nothing but darkness and shadows and gloom. A Dark Fae’s perfect world. She ignored the looks of the Dark soldiers guarding the doorway. They knew exactly what family that doorway led to on Earth, and because of that, they didn’t stop her.

She kept her shoulders back and her head high even though she didn’t have a clue where she was inside the fortress. It was time she learned what was going on. Being kept locked away for centuries made her ill-prepared, and that was the worst thing for a Fae in her position.

Her wandering through the hallways brought her to the great hall, reminiscent of the castles dotting Ireland, which was crowded with Dark Fae. Tall, slender cages hung from hooks on the walls or dangled on chains from the ceiling. Inside the cages were humans—males and females.

They were naked, waiting for a Dark to take notice of them. The males were in a constant state of arousal as they desperately tried to reach out to any female Dark to take pity on them and have sex.

Many of the human females stared blankly around them, a sign that a Dark had already begun to suck out their souls. They weren’t the worst. The worst was seeing the human females sitting huddled in the cages crying as they begged for someone to help them. Those were the females that every male was focused on, because they hadn’t yet been touched by a Dark.

In the middle of the hall stood a Dark she didn’t recognize. His black-and-silver hair was trimmed short as he shouted to the occupants. And then the bidding for the newly kidnapped human females began.

That could be her up there except for the fact that she was born a Fae. The Dark weren’t particular about the humans they snatched. Pretty, ugly, fat, skinny, old, young. It didn’t matter. Because a Dark male would kill just for the taste of a human soul.

Shara shifted her gaze to the grouping of Dark females as they looked at their choices of caged males. The Dark females rarely took the souls of the humans as the Dark males did. A Dark female had more … refinement in how it was done.

They were slow in their taking of the soul, just sipping at it. It helped the human males last much longer than the females.

“Find something to your liking?”

She turned to see a handsome male with black-and-silver hair that hung down to his waist. This wasn’t a Dark warrior. This was a Dark used to power, money, and influence. A Dark who let others steal what he wanted.

He smiled and bowed his head. “I’m X.”

“X?” she asked. “An odd name.”

“It’s a nickname. Put an X on it, and I find a way to get it for you. I wondered when you might find your way into Balladyn’s fortress, Shara Blackwood. I had been hoping.”

“I’ve been … away.”

“So your family has said. I’m glad you’re back.”

Shara drew in a deep breath and returned his smile, making it as seductive and inviting as she knew how. “So much has changed while I’ve been gone. I’ve heard whispers of Balladyn. Is his legend as great as they say?”

“Greater,” X said and held out his arm for her.

Shara eagerly took it. “Tell me everything.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Kiril knew if he remained in Cork he wouldn’t be able to remain away from Shara, and he needed to have a clear head if he was going to keep out of any kind of trap. He dressed and left the estate in short order. Kiril didn’t have a destination in mind at first until he spotted a sign mentioning the Jameson whisky distillery. Kiril turned down the road and drove toward the distillery.

Dreagan whisky was the most sought-after Scotch in the world, but he wanted it to be the number one whisky—Irish, Scots, or American. It was Dreagan that began making whisky well before any human ever thought to. Because the Dragon Kings didn’t like to leave Dreagan, and because their methods for whisky were proven, they hadn’t taken any other company seriously.

Yet Kiril needed his mind occupied with something other than midnight hair and red eyes. If he had to visit every distillery in Ireland, he would. It was imperative that he get a handle on himself.

Kiril drove down the winding roads with the top down. His mind drifted to Shara as he wondered what she was doing.

And wished like hell that he could trust her.

He pulled into the Jameson distillery and parked. The sheer size of the distillery was impressive. The tour didn’t take as long as he’d hoped, and the fact that he couldn’t focus on what was being said didn’t help. Even when it came to tasting the whisky, he couldn’t remember it since his mind was so ensconced with Shara.

After three more distillery tours, Kiril gave up and just drove. Hours passed as he meandered around Ireland, never venturing too far from Cork—and Shara.

Kiril eventually pulled over and chuckled as he found himself at a tourist spot. He shook his head as he took in the view of the beautiful cliffs. They weren’t of Scotland, but they were majestic just the same. Across the wide expanse of dark blue waters of the Celtic Sea was Wales. It wasn’t near enough to being Scotland to calm his restless heart however.

“It’s pretty enough, I suppose, but it isna Scotland.”

Kiril briefly closed his eyes as the voice registered as belonging to Phelan. Kiril turned his head to look at the Warrior. “What are you doing here?”

“No hello or anything?” Phelan asked with feigned hurt. “I should’ve expected that from a Dragon King.”

“Phelan,” Kiril said in a low voice, his anger rising by the second.

Phelan signed dramatically. “Tristan called, but never said why. A day later so did Con, giving me the same response. It was Rhys arriving at my home that got me worried.”

“What did Rhys tell you?” He prayed it was nothing about Shara, though if anyone could understand it was Phelan. He had taken a
drough,
or evil Druid, as his mate.

Aisley had saved her own soul from Satan and reverted back to being a
mie,
a pure Druid, but before that happened Phelan caught all kinds of hell from his fellow Warriors and their Druid wives.

Phelan crossed his arms over his chest and faced him. “It wasna so much what Rhys said as what he didna.”

“So you came because you think I’m in trouble? Please remember that I’ve been alive since the beginning of time.”

“You think way too highly of yourself, Dragon,” Phelan said with a flat stare. It vanished a moment later. “The truth is, all three are worried, but when they wouldna tell me why, I knew then it had to be bad.”

“I can no’ find out anything on Rhi.”

“I might care for Rhi as if she were my sister, but that’s no’ the entire reason I came.”

Kiril watched the continual roll of the sea hoping it would help calm him. It didn’t. It was Rhi who had found Phelan and told him he was part Fae. They had developed a strong, unbreakable bond, a bond Kiril understood fully.

“The Dark are onto you,” Phelan stated. “Everyone is worried.”

“I’ve been handling things.”

“No doubt. It’s just … things can get out of control quickly.”

Kiril narrowed his eyes as he swung his gaze to Phelan. His words held a deeper meaning. “Rhys told you about her.”

“Only after I pestered him. He’s concerned. The Dark managed to get their hands on two Dragon Kings recently. It was by pure luck and strategy that both Kellan and Tristan were able to get away. And here you are smack in the middle of the Dark Fae nest, almost daring them to try something.”

Kiril shrugged. “Dreagan must be protected, as all the Dragon Kings should. Our enemies are growing, and I can no longer sit idle and hope that the few allies we have discover something for us.”

“Your fellow Kings want to be here with you, but it isna safe. No’ the same for a Warrior. I’m no’ saying what you’re doing is wrong. I’d be doing the same.” One side of Phelan’s lips quirked in a smile. “Besides, I loved to irk Charon as often as I could.”

Kiril laughed. He couldn’t help it. Phelan had spent most of his immortal life away from MacLeod Castle where the Warriors resided. He had a different take on life than they did, but he also understood what it meant to be a part of a family.

They sat in silence listening to the wind swoosh around them and inhaling the sea air. Kiril closed his eyes and relaxed for the first time in days. He didn’t know if it was because Phelan had arrived, or if it had something to do with Shara. Either way, it allowed him to push past the blinding need and clear his mind.

“Who is she?” Phelan asked. “More importantly, how significant is she?”

“Her name is Shara, and she’s a Dark Fae.” Kiril met his gaze to see a frown form on Phelan’s brow. “She tried to use glamour to hide that fact, but I saw through it.”

“So you knew she was Dark?”

“Aye.”

“Did you walk away?”