Darkest Flame (39 page)

“But there was nothing,” Con finished.

Rhi shook her head of black hair. “Nothing. She’s as mortal as they come.”

“They why wasn’t she affected?”

“I can only think of one reason—Kellan.”

Con frowned as he leaned his arms on his desk. “Something Kellan did?”

“No. Their feelings for each other. Denae and Kellan made love before the Dark Fae grabbed them. I think it was during their time alone that the bonds of their growing love took root. I think that’s what stopped the Dark from gaining a hold on Denae.”

“I’ve seen women completely in love with their men forget they were ever married as soon as they encountered a Dark.”

“True. But none of those men were ever Dragon Kings.”

Con blinked and slowly sat back. “If the Dark have an advantage with their magic to prevent us from shifting to dragon, then it only makes sense a woman in love with a King might not be affected by the Dark’s seduction.”

“Exactly,” Rhi said with a grin. “I wouldn’t want to test my theory on Cassie, Elena, or Jane, but it’s something to keep in mind.”

Con regarded the Light Fae for several minutes. “You didna have to tell me any of this. Why did you?”

The seriousness fell from her face, replaced with the disdain she kept for him. “Trust me, Con, you won’t be the only one of the Kings I tell.”

“Does your hate for me go that deep?”

“I could ask you the same question.”

Just as countless times before, they were at a stalemate. “Thank you for the information, Rhi.”

“Don’t say I didn’t ever do anything for you,” she said right before she disappeared.

Con ran a hand down his face just as his door was thrown open. He lifted his gaze to find Kellan and Denae standing in the doorway.

“She’s agreed to be my mate,” Kellan said, a wide smile upon his lips as he gazed adoringly down at Denae.

Denae laughed up at him. “I did.”

If Con tried to stop them, Kellan would challenge him. Con could either lose another King, or he could give in. It wasn’t much of a decision to make. He had to keep his Kings united at all costs.

He rose to his feet. “Congratulations. When do you want the binding ceremony?”

“Tomorrow,” Kellan said as he walked out of the office, the door shutting behind him.

Everything Con had been fighting against was coming to fruition. The hold the Kings had on this realm was slipping. Perhaps too quickly for him to alter the course they were rushing toward.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Kellan had never been so nervous. Or excited.

He was being bound to the most wonderful, beautiful woman, and he couldn’t stand to wait another minute until she was officially his.

To his right was Con. There might be a smile on Con’s face, but Kellan knew he wasn’t happy about the mating. Not that Kellan cared. He was finally, truly happy—something he hadn’t felt since the last time he had flown with his dragons around him.

Not all of the hate for humans was gone, but Denae had healed so much of him that it was just an annoyance now. Besides, how could he hate mortals when he was in love with one?

“Are you sure?” Con whispered.

Kellan caught a glimpse of Denae walking down the corridor of the mountain. Con had repeatedly asked him if it was the right decision to make Denae his mate. Kellan had one nerve left, and Con was firmly on it. “Ask me that one more time. I dare you.”

He forgot all about Con and the other Dragon Kings that lined the cavern once he had focused on Denae. Her long coppery brown hair was down and fastened in large, thick curls.

Kellan smiled when he noticed the curve-hugging dress in a bronze color. The gown was strapless and floor length with a split up her right leg.

It was customary for Con to give the females a gift, a sort of welcome offering. Kellan was about to get angry until he saw a gleam of something through her hair. That’s when Kellan saw the long dangly earrings with large-faceted, smoky-quartz stones.

Kellan glanced at Con to find him looking. Kellan gave him a small nod to show he approved of the gift.

And then, finally, Denae reached him.

Kellan took her hand and they shared a smile as he walked her into the cavern that was used solely for binding ceremonies. He watched her eyes look upon the walls where the light from the torches reflected. He inwardly beamed when he heard her soft gasp as she spotted the intricate etchings of dragons of all sizes on the walls.

He brought her to a stop as they faced Constantine who stared at them for long moments while the others fell into place.

“We lived through eons without finding our mates, and yet here we are in another binding ceremony with Kellan and Denae. Denae has proven she is worthy of being mated to a Dragon King by her fighting a Dark Fae—and taking his arm.”

There was a loud cheer that made Kellan squeeze her hand. Denae beamed at him, her love shining in her eyes.

“Now, we will officially welcome Denae as mate to Kellan.” Con’s voice rang out in the cavern.

Kellan faced Denae and took both of her hands in his. It still boggled his mind that he had found Denae. What might have happened had she gone into another cave instead of his? He didn’t even want to think of it.

“Kellan, do you bind yourself to the human, Denae Lacroix?” Con asked. “Do you vow to love her, protect her, and cherish her above all others?”

“Most definitely,” he answered, causing Denae to flash him a bright smile.

“Denae,” Con said. “Do you bind yourself to the Dragon King Kellan, lord of the Bronzes? Do you swear to love him, care for him, and cherish him above all others?”

“I dare anyone to try to stop me,” she vowed.

Kellan wanted to kiss her right then, but he held her gaze instead. A second later, Denae’s eyes widened and her left arm jerked as the tattoo only a mate of a Dragon King bears was seared upon her flesh.

Denae looked down at her arm. Kellan couldn’t wait to run his fingers over the eye of the dragon and the flames surrounding it. The tat was about the size of Denae’s fist and done in the same red and black ink as his own tat.

“The proof of your vows and your love. There’s no turning back now,” Con told them. He then raised his voice to the crowd. “Denae is officially marked as Kellan’s!”

They were deafened by the cheers. Kellan pulled his mate into his arms. “There’s no escaping me now.”

“I never wanted to escape you,” she whispered seductively.

Kellan sealed their binding with a kiss that left her clinging to him.

EPILOGUE

MacLeod Castle

Charon strode into the castle and paused long enough to find Ian sitting at the long table with his wife, Dani. Ignoring calls of hello, Charon hurried to him.

“I need to talk to you,” Charon said as he stopped in front of Ian, the table separating them.

Ian’s brown gaze landed on him, a frown marring his features. “What is it?”

“It’s something private. Something you may want to hear without the others around.”

Ian rose and pulled Dani up beside him. “She comes.”

“Of course,” Charon said as he turned and retraced his steps. He only got halfway to the door when Fallon MacLeod stepped in front of him. It was but a beat later that the two other MacLeod brothers, Lucan and Quinn, stood on either side of Fallon.

“What’s going on?” Fallon asked.

Charon ran a hand down his face. The castle was the MacLeods’, and had been opened by them for any Warrior and Druid. Because of that, Fallon was the unofficial leader of the group.

“Charon,” Quinn urged.

Damn, but Charon didn’t want to lie. He had done enough of that to Quinn while they had both been in Deirdre’s control. But what he had to say was for Ian’s ears first. Afterward, it was Ian’s decision what he did.

Lucan put his hand on Charon’s shoulder. “You look like you have no’ slept in days. Is everything all right with Laura?”

“Aye,” Charon said and looked at the torc Lucan wore. All three MacLeod brothers wore the ancient necklaces given to them by their parents. “Everything is fine with Laura.”

“Then what is it?” Quinn asked.

Charon glanced over his shoulder to find Ian and Dani approaching. “I must tell Ian first. It’ll be his decision after that.”

Lucan’s sea green eyes were filled with worry. “Is there anything we can do?”

“Be here for him,” Charon said before he walked around the brothers and out the door.

It wasn’t long before Dani and Ian met him in the bailey. Charon looked around the cobblestones beneath his feet. “Odd that this place used to be filled with horses and carriages and people. Now, it is used for the vehicles.”

“You’re scaring the hell out of me,” Dani said. “Please, tell us what it is.”

Now that Charon stood before Ian, he wasn’t so sure he should share his news. Perhaps Phelan had been right, and it was something that should just happen.

Ian glanced overhead as thunder rolled. “Spit it out, Charon. What has you so upset?”

“Duncan isna dead.”

Charon thought it might be better to just blurt it out, but as Ian’s face lost all color, he was beginning to doubt everything.

“How can you say that?” Dani shouted to him as she stood in front of Ian and touched his face.

Charon rubbed the back of his neck. “Because it’s the truth.”

“How?” Ian asked, his voice harsh and croaky.

This was the part Charon didn’t want to share. After becoming allies, things could splinter depending on how Ian took the news. “Phelan just found out and shared it with me.”

“Wait. What?” Dani asked as she shifted to look at him. “You’re not making any sense. If Phelan discovered it, why isn’t he here?”

“Because he didna think I needed to know,” Ian surmised.

Charon shook his head. “Phelan didna want to tell you the way I am, and since I’m making a complete muck of it, he was right.”

“So, Phelan found out. How?” Ian’s voice had gone hard, his eyes steely.

“He was helping the Dragon Kings. That’s when he met Tristan.”

“Who’s Tristan?” Dani asked.

Charon briefly closed his eyes. “Duncan. It seems that Duncan was made into a Dragon King.”

“He’s alive?” Ian asked quietly, shock making his face go slack even as delight shone in his eyes. “My brother is alive? Why did the Kings no’ tell me?”

“Because Tristan has no memories of his former life as your brother.”

The excitement that had filled Ian’s face crumbled with Charon’s words. And he hated himself at that moment. He’d thought coming to Ian was the right thing to do. Now he knew it hadn’t been.

“I want to see him,” Ian said. “Does he know of me?”

“Phelan spoke with him at length. He does know of you now. And that’s all I know.”

Ian looked down at his wife. “I must go see him.”

“I know. I’ll be beside you the whole time,” she vowed as she caressed his face.

Charon watched them walk back into the castle as the rain began to fall. He waited another few seconds before he got into his car and drove back to Ferness.

Cork, Ireland

Kiril opened the front double doors and stepped inside his new home with a smile. It needed a bit of sprucing up, but it would fit his needs perfectly. Especially the cellar.

He’d just stepped into the foyer when his mobile rang. Kiril answered without looking at the screen, since he knew it was one of the Dragon Kings.

“Hello?”

“Con blew up, just as you knew he would,” Rhys said.

Kiril laughed. “It does him good to lose that infamous cool of his every now and again.”

“What are you doing?”

“I just bought a house.”

There was a pregnant pause. “You did what?”

“I bought a house,” he said as he wandered the main floor. “Think about it, Rhys. We have houses all over the world, but no’ a single one in Ireland.”

“That’s because of the Dark. Or do I need to remind you?”

“I refuse to live out of a hotel for however long I’m here. Besides, if things come about like we want, you know as well as I that we’re going to need this place.”

Rhys sighed through the phone. “You’re right. I still doona like you there by yourself.”

“I have to be by myself if I’m to spy on them.”

“You going back to the pub?”

“Of course.”

Rhys mumbled something Kiril couldn’t make out. Then Rhys said, “Any potential problems?”

“There’s one guy who has been staring. Of course, he could just want my body.”

Rhys laughed, but both knew things could turn quickly from bad to worse.

“Call me before you go into the den of evil, and I want a call when you leave.”

“Aye, Mum. If I’ve got the female, I’ll text. Calling might be a bit difficult.”

“You’re walking into Hell and intentionally messing with demons.” Rhys’s growl rumbled through the connection. “I doona like it.”

Gone was any jesting from Rhys’s voice. Kiril stopped in the kitchen and leaned against a wall. “Someone has to do it. You were too noticeable the last time. It had to be me. I’ll be fine. And if I’m taken, I’ll get out. Kellan did.”

Rhys grunted. “Be safe, jerk.”

“You too, bitch.”

Kiril disconnected the phone and laid it upon the counter. He
was
willingly walking into Hell, because someone had to do it. Con wouldn’t have agreed to it on the chance a King could be taken.

He knew that was exactly what could happen, and if it would give him the information he needed to help the other Kings to discover who was after them, then Kiril would readily surrender himself to the Dark right at that moment.

There was a knock behind him as a male voice with a thick Irish accent said, “Mr. Kiril. Where would you like me to put your luggage?”

And so the deception began. Kiril pocketed his phone and put a smile on his face as he walked back to the front door. “The master bedroom, of course.”

Read on for an excerpt from

FIRE RISING

Coming soon from Donna Grant and St. Martin’s Paperbacks!

In that place between waking and sleep, Sammi found herself thinking about Tristan and the dragon, until they became one and the same.