DarykHunter (29 page)

No. Ketera would never be defenseless, but at the very least he wanted to be with her one more time. Touch her. Taste her lips. Know that she was unharmed. If he had to, he would beg Drakus to keep her safe. To never harm her. He sighed. By the god Draconus, he never wanted to do this. The desire to fight raged high inside him, but there were too many rogues against him.

With that realization, he stepped out of the bush and headed directly for the enemy camp. He made certain to keep his weapons stowed, his hands at his sides and fists open. He didn’t want anyone to think he planned to attack. Less than fifty yards later three Daryk Ones came out of the bush. He’d never seen these men before—they weren’t familiar to him.

“Stop!” one called out to him.

All three rogues kept some distance between them, and he knew they planned to block him from the camp. He stopped.

They approached, swords at the ready. All he could hope was that they didn’t plan to cut his head off right there and then. If they had orders to kill, he’d fight to stay alive, but the odds were damn high against him. His muscles twitched with the desire to save his own life, to attack first. The other men paused, their eyes boiling red. In the dark, with his eyes glowing as red as theirs, it was easy to see their hard expressions mixed with curiosity.

“You risk much, Daryk One,” the rogue to his left said.

“Are you the one they call Charger?” the one to his right said, and took a step forward.

Dane nodded. “I am.”

“What are your intentions?” the rogue in the middle asked.

Dane held his hands palms up in surrender. “I am here to speak to Drakus Fina.”

All three men looked surprised and didn’t try to hide it. Finally the middle rogue nodded. “Come with us.”

Dane expected them to fight him, and when they gave in to his idea with ease, he wondered if perhaps this had been the right thing to do. As they walked into camp, the few men standing about watched him, flanked at the sides and in back by their compatriots. A few men sharpened their swords while others ate or shined their breast plates. He watched them with caution. Some allowed their eyes to burn red, others didn’t bother. Their complacency, their acceptance of him, did more than surprise him, it flabbergasted him.

The large tent loomed in front of Dane and he wondered what the next few minutes would bring. In those moments his life felt on a precipice, the balance shaken, his desire to fight all but drained. For the first time in his life he wanted peace. After so many years—all his life—he needed quiet. He was tired of fighting. So damn tired.

But for Ketera he would fight.

He would fight until his body was raw. Broken. Destroyed. She was worth every sacrifice.

In front of the tent three rogues took up position. Dane’s heart hammered, and he took a deep breath.

From the darkness, around the side of the tent, Drakus stepped out.

Chapter Nineteen

Drakus looked much as he ever had, their family resemblance evident. Dane wished they didn’t share a mother’s blood, but they did. They seemed two sides of a coin and that couldn’t be changed.

Dane nodded in acknowledgement. “Drakus.”

“Dane. Welcome to my camp.” Drakus gestured to the three guards who watched Dane’s every move. “Begone. Six of you are too many.”

“Are you sure?” Dane asked with sarcasm. “I could maim and maybe kill all three of your other guards.”

“You could.” Drakus smiled. “But you won’t. I have something you want.”

Dane couldn’t deny the truth. “Where is Ketera?”

“She is well.”

Dane’s anxiety and anger turned to a full boil. “I swear to Draconus, if you’ve harmed her—”

“Enough.” Drakus gestured, the hand signal abrupt. “I would never harm her. At least not until I’m finished with her.”

Dane snorted in disgust. “Finished with her? You mean to take her against her will, make her your slave and concubine. Then you’ll feed her to one of your dragons. I know how you think.”

His half brother laughed. “You know me too well, brother. But, if she gives herself to me willingly and bears me a child, there is no reason to make a sacrifice of her. She could prove useful to me as a breeder for the people. To replenish our diminishing land. If she chooses to defy me, then I shall feed her to the dragon. The people will demand it.”

“That is full of shite, Drakus, and you know it.” Dane pointed at his brother, using his index finger to stab point after point. “It’s your will and twisted need for power that demands it.”

Throughout Dane’s angry sentences, Drakus had remained calm-looking. He folded his arms. “The people of this land are imbeciles, my brother. Without people like me, they will crumble to their own violent impulses and eventually destroy the land.” He lowered his arms and took two steps forward. “They need you and me to show them how it should be.”

Dane grunted. “Plain shite, Drakus, and you know it.”

Drakus smiled and nodded. “You, my brother. I would give you this chance to join with me. If you vow to renounce Grimnald Castle and become a part of my group, we can rule this land together.”

Dane hadn’t expected this. His mind spun in a thousand directions with disbelief his first emotion. “You’re asking me to rule jointly with you?”

“Yes. Consider it my first gesture of brotherly love. With our two minds ruling this country, there is nothing we couldn’t do.”

More anger built inside Dane, but he kept a maintained composure. “You think I would renounce my integrity to join you merely because you are my half brother?”

“I considered it as a possibility. I thought I would offer it to you. Of course if you refuse the consequences will be severe.”

“How severe?”

“You will die and your beautiful mate will be sacrificed to the dragon. Or, perhaps if I am feeling the need for entertainment, I will feed her to the dragon and make you watch.”

Dane’s mind raced as his stomach roiled at the ugly image. Dane’s fists clenched. The one subtle movement caused the three guards near the tent entrance to move forward almost as one.

Drakus held his hand up. “Halt. Dane is understandably angry.”

Dane’s breathing quickened. “And if I join you on this ridiculous quest, you’ll still take my mate?”

Silence stayed supreme, and Drakus’ face said he pondered the answer. “She is your true mate. That I can see. I would let you have her as long as you remained loyal to our cause.”

Dane’s lips curled. “You believing in true mates? Difficult to imagine.”

“Not difficult. Just not important. You would be allowed to get her with child. Fuck her as much and as often as you willed it. If you did not get her with child within a month, I would fuck her. My seed is apparently more fertile than yours.”

Dane’s mouth dried up at the thought of this man laying one hand on her. Instead his mind turned to one certainty. One objective he would certainly accomplish. He would fuck her repeatedly, giving her more pleasure than she’d ever imagined until they had a child. Dane’s primal needs roared into existence, filling him body and soul. “She is mine. You will not touch her. Ever.”

Drakus’ eyebrows lifted. “Why is she so special? You have copulated with dozens of women over the years. Not a one has borne a child. It is unlikely that a few times bedding you would make the difference necessary to bring about a child.”

“Watch me.” Dane wanted to curse until his throat was raw. “As far as other women, I have always taken precautions. There are ways.”

Drakus smiled, his eyes brightened from within by cold amusement. “Coitus interruptus? A skin over your cock?”

“What difference does it make?”

Drakus shook his head. “It doesn’t.”

Silence fell down upon them, and Dane felt what seemed like a hundred eyes staring at them and listening to the discussion. Jungle sounds crept in—creatures called, insects buzzed, the wind rustled. The jungle’s thick smell filled his nose.

Dane couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you this way, Drakus? Have you ever considered the answer? Was your life so unworthy as a child that you felt you needed to change the path of everyone on this planet?”

Drakus’ eyes stayed cool. “Not everyone, Dane. There will always be a few holdouts. Like you.”

“Why would you give me Ketera?”

“As a gift to my only brother. But it is a temporary gift.”

“She is not property.”

“To you, perhaps not.” He shrugged. “To me… You have one night to accept or refuse my challenge. Accept that you must help me in my quest and you get to keep Ketera. She must be pregnant within a month. If not, I will take her. After having taken her, you will never have her again. If I choose, she will be sacrificed to the dragon.”

Dane’s mind rebelled, his heart following easily behind. The ultimatum was horrible, but so was the alternative.

Drakus stepped away from the tent flap and swept his hand toward it. “Your quarters for the night, my brother. You are required to stay here for now. Inside is a welcome surprise.”

* * * * *

Dane is alive.

Ketera heard every word as her mate and Drakus discussed her future, Dane’s future, outside the tent flap. Her heart pounded furiously, her mind whirling like a wheel. By Magon, she couldn’t believe this. They bargained for her like chattel? At the same time, her heart soared at the sound of Dane’s deep, beloved voice. He was alive, and Ketera knew she’d never been happier in her life.

She stood by the side of the bed, riveted. Dane swept aside the tent opening and stepped inside.

His eyes widened with undeniable surprise, his lips parting as he drew in a sharp breath. His composure as a warrior slipped from view and left behind a joyous expression. Her eyes teared, and all her inhibitions exploded as she ran toward him. He went to her, scooped her in his arms, buried his face in her hair.

“Dane, what—”

His mouth covered hers. His kiss wasn’t tender—he thrust his tongue and possessed, each stroke between her lips a hot invader that conquered and demanded and set her on fire. Liquid heat swept into her womb. Her body knew his, yet the long length of his body refused to acknowledge her softly. His chest pressed into her breasts, and her nipples went hard, achy for his touch and tingling. Wild longing sent a liquid rush to the sensitive tissues between her legs. She felt open to him. Waiting. Wanting as if she’d not seen him for a millennium. His hands plunged into her hair, searched her shoulders and then ventured to her breasts. As her hands went around his shoulders, he cupped her breasts through her tunic. She shivered and moaned, hips moving to search out his erection. Solid as stone, his length pressed into her stomach. She writhed, and his fingers brushed over her nipples. She gasped into his mouth, and he took full advantage. His hands went under her buttocks and lifted her. Her legs went around his hips and he broke their kiss.

As their ragged breathing filled the tent, she managed a few words. “You came for me.”

“Always.” He pressed kisses to her nose and forehead. “Did you hear my conversation with Drakus?”

She nodded. “I did. You mustn’t do it. You mustn’t sacrifice anything for me.”

He lowered his voice to a whisper, and when he smiled it was sad. “You are my mate. I could do nothing less.”

Tears she’d fought to hold back surged forward and fell on her cheeks. “I thought you were dead. He said you were killed during the castle siege.” She explained how she was taken captive along with Finius and how the bargain Drakus wanted to make with her. “He does not believe in making Dragonia a better place. It’s his gratification, Dane. He is prideful and willing to lie to the people. And they might believe him.”

Dane brushed hair away from her face, cupping it and pressing kisses to her forehead and lips. “Many would believe him.”

Dane quickly explained what happened at the castle during the battle, as well as Armen’s requirement that Dane safeguard the castle as Armen’s successor. “I don’t want it, but it is my destiny. You and I will return there.”

She drew in a shaky breath and kept her voice low. “Do you have an escape plan?”

“Yes. One that will have its pleasant benefits.” He smiled gently. His arms drew her tight against him and his erection stayed hot and hard, pressing into her stomach. His eyes flashed red, and she thought his body vibrated with an intense energy.

Ketera didn’t want to assume anything. “You can’t mean—”

“Yes.” He lowered his voice and whispered in her ear. “We will be together in every way possible. We will take and give to each other, and as we do we’ll discover a way to survive this. If we fight we will lose. We have to rely on our wits. Or strength.”

When the red in his eyes blazed hotter than she’d ever seen it, the answering flash low in her belly burned so high she gasped.

He kissed her mouth again, soft and sweet and slow. “I want to know that anything you give me is from your willing heart.”

She melted, her body responding with everything female inside. He released her long enough to discard his breastplate. It fell to the carpet. Lifting her into his arms, he took her to the bed and fell down on it. He cushioned her fall, making sure she fell on top of him. Instant need centered in her core. Their circumstances meant nothing under the gathering storm inside her. She’d never felt so hungry for him, and she wouldn’t waste time thinking about what might happen to them later.

She arched against his hardness and lifted up to sit on the thick column that pressed against his trousers. She slipped off the bed long enough to strip off her boots, pants and tunic. They fell to the ground. Gone was her modesty. Only animal, primal hunger remained, a reaffirmation of life. She didn’t give him a chance to pull her down on top of him. Nothing mattered but becoming complete and filling her body with his. She ached between his legs and knew she was more than ready. She pulled at his pants until they were out of the way far enough. His erection released and she held it by the root. She straddled him and did what felt right. Despite her tightness, she’d become so wet and aching for him that when his cock head touched her pussy lips, she gasped at the luscious feeling. Slow love could come later, if there was a later. Now might be their only opportunity.