Smoldering Hunger (32 page)

He snorted, looking at her as if she were the devil incarnate. “Sorry? You’re sorry? I doubt it. You’ll say whatever is needed to attempt to get out of this situation.” He leaned close, but his gaze went to Darius. “The fact is, lass, I’m going to kill you and make Darius watch. Then he’ll know what it really means to lose a mate.”

Claire was moaning constantly now, her body moving on the snow. Her jeans were bunched down at her ankles and the Dark had his finger inside her.

“I hear it was difficult for Kellan to watch Taraeth force Denae to climax in front of him,” Ulrik said as he faced Con and Darius. “I’m curious as to your reaction, Darius.”

“This is your last chance,” Darius said. “Release them or you die.”

Ulrik shot him a fake smile. “Be a good soldier and remember your duty.”

Darius had never felt the need to kill as he did at the moment. It didn’t matter what Con wanted, Darius was going to kill Ulrik slowly, enjoying every moment of his pain. “I remember my duty.”

Ulrik’s gaze slid to Con. “Nothing to say? Worried that you’re going to lose? The thing is,
old friend,
you lost the moment you bound my magic and banished me from Dreagan.”

“You made your decisions,” Con said. “You knew the consequences of ignoring my calls.”

“It was time you learned no’ everyone will always do your bidding.”

Con’s black eyes were as cold as the north. “Someone tried that once. He was banished, unable to shift.”

“Perhaps the rest of the Kings should know the true you. The Constantine who didna let anyone—or any
thing
—stand in the way of being King of Kings.”

“I challenged and won.”

Ulrik simply laughed. It caused Darius to wonder just what Ulrik wanted them to know and what Con didn’t. Obviously there was something in Con’s past that Ulrik thought might turn the others against Con.

If it was bad enough, it just might.

That in itself worried Darius. Con had his faults, but his main concern was Dreagan. Like the others, Darius didn’t always agree with everything Con did, but no one else stepped up to do what Con did. Hard to judge a dragon when none of them wanted all the worries and stress of being King of Kings.

Darius looked at Sophie who was staring at Claire. Claire was practically naked, and any moment now the Dark would take her. Sophie would never forgive him if he allowed anything to happen to Claire.

“You know I’m no’ going to allow that arse to take Claire,” Darius said.

Ulrik glanced at the pair. “I believe you’re already too late. You’re welcome to try and stop them.”

In the old days, Darius would’ve waited for Con’s command, but this involved his mate. There was no waiting.

Just as Darius was about to make a grab for the Fae with Claire, Sophie slammed her fist into the balls of the Dark holding her. He bent over, a strangled cry emanating from him.

Sophie made a dash for Claire, knocking over the Dark touching her. Darius rushed the Fae when he snarled and turned to Sophie. Darius shoved him into the snow with a bellow and ripped out his heart.

He turned to Sophie. “Run!”

CHAPTER
FORTY-ONE

Sophie scrambled to her hands and knees and leaned over Claire, protecting her. She couldn’t believe what she’d just done, but the opportunity had been there—and she took it.

“Run!” Darius shouted.

Sophie slapped Claire’s face to get her to wake up. She gave her another smack on the other cheek while trying to pull up her jeans.

“Soph?” Claire asked, blinking up at her as if coming out of sedation.

“Get moving,” she told Claire urgently. Sophie helped her sit up. “Now.”

Claire was on her feet, yanking up her pants as they began running. Sophie hooked an arm around her friend to help keep her balance and looked around, waiting for Ulrik to come after them. Their feet sank in the thick snow, hindering their progress.

“What the hell happened? Where am I?” Claire asked as she finished fastening her jeans. “And why the hell is my sweater cut?”

Sophie looked over her shoulder at Darius. “Later.”

“Yeah,” Claire said sarcastically. “I’m getting that vibe.”

They only got a few steps before two Dark Fae suddenly appeared in front of them. Sophie had no idea they could move that quickly.

She slid to a halt, but she couldn’t keep Claire on her feet and they both fell into the snow. There was a commotion behind her, but Sophie was more concerned with the two Dark in front of her.

Claire began to moan, reaching for the men. Sophie went into protection mode. She shoved Claire’s hands away and leaned over her so the Dark couldn’t get to her.

But there were two of them against her, and their hands were everywhere. On her, on Claire.

Somehow Sophie was flipped off Claire, and one of the Dark was kissing Claire. Sophie scrambled through the snow to get to her friend. Her fingers were numb, but she ignored it. Sophie shoved the guy off Claire, but Claire followed him, throwing herself at him.

“Claire!” Sophie yelled.

Then she was grabbed from behind. Hands cupped her breasts as a mouth began kissing her neck.

That’s when she heard a furious bellow behind her.

Everyone stilled, including Sophie. She heard someone shout Darius’s name. Sophie tried to get the Fae off her so she could see Darius and find out what had happened.

The harder she tried to get away, the tighter the Dark held her. Sophie elbowed him, but it didn’t even faze him. Claire, however, had already removed her jacket and cut sweater with the Fae kissing down her throat to her exposed breasts.

There was more shouting, and Sophie could hear Con and Ulrik. But she couldn’t make out Darius’s voice. The thought that he might be injured renewed her efforts to get free.

Sophie was tossed onto her back as if she wasn’t fighting with all her might. She looked up into red eyes and lifted her knee toward his groan. The man deflected her blow easily, much to her annoyance.

“Darius!” Con yelled.

Sophie saw Darius loom over her and, with little effort, toss the Dark Fae away. Darius glanced at her, then stalked toward the Dark who had jumped to his feet.

Her lips parted when the Fae’s hands drew apart and a large iridescent bubble appeared. When it was about the size of a bowling ball, he threw it at Darius. Darius effortlessly leaned to the side to avoid it.

Sophie followed the bubble as it landed in the snow a few feet from her. The snow melted instantly, and there was a sizzling sound as the bubble evaporated into the ground that turned black.

“Shit,” she mumbled.

She swiveled her head to Darius to find him and the Fae facing off. Sophie caught a glimpse of Ulrik and Con who were standing toe to toe and talking, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Sophie twisted to find Claire and spotted two Dark Fae coming toward them. She tried to get to her feet using her numb hands. Stumbling, Sophie fell into Claire and the Dark. Instead of getting angry, he tried to take off her jacket.

She shoved his hands away and shook Claire to try and snap her out of it. The next thing Sophie knew, another set of hands grabbed her.

This time there were too many trying to disrobe her. As soon as the cold air hit her stomach, she knew real fear. This was going to happen. She was going to be raped.

Sophie kicked and screamed to no avail. She heard Darius shout her name. Through the bodies, she spotted him. His face was contorted with rage, then her vision was blocked.

The sound of a low, deep growl reverberated around them and shook the ground. Everyone paused. Sophie used the chance to scramble out of the pile of men holding her and saw a deep purple paw—or was it a claw?—covered in scales. It was beyond huge with talons that looked almost black in the night.

She followed the paw—claw—upward to a thick forearm. Her gaze kept moving upward to even more scales and a chest. Her head tilted backward when she reached the long neck and followed it to the head.

Of a dragon.

Sophie knew she was looking at Darius. She blinked as he spread his wings and his lavender gaze was focused on the Dark who tried to rape her.

He was enormous, his wings immense. No wonder he’d said he would destroy her flat if he had shifted when she’d asked. As she gazed at him, she recognized the dragon. Because it was the same one tattooed on him.

Out of the trees came two men running from opposite ends of the valley. One shifted right before her eyes into a dragon with burnt orange scales. Sophie turned her head to look at the other in time to see him change into a yellow dragon.

Then all hell broke loose.

*   *   *

Darius wanted to tell Sophie that it would be all right, but he couldn’t. Not in dragon form. All he could do was protect her from the Dark Fae.

Kiril went after the Dark who were trying to have sex with Claire while Rhys kept another group of Fae from reaching the girls.

Darius’s gut clenched when he saw the way she stared up at him with her eyes wide and lips parted. She’d wanted to see him. He wished he knew what she was thinking.

They should’ve known the Dark would take matters into their own hands. Con had tried to stop him, but nothing was going to keep Darius from Sophie.

He motioned to Claire with his head. Sophie quickly nodded and scrambled to her feet. She touched his forearm before she rushed to her friend while the Dark were now focused on him.

The Dark had their teeth bared and were gathering their magic, ready to blast him with all they had. Darius was ready to kill more Fae, especially those who’d tried to force his woman.

With Claire’s clothes gathered, Sophie got her to her feet. Half-dragging, half-running, Sophie finally reached the trees. It wasn’t until Darius heard the Mercedes engine roar to life that he drew in a deep breath and let loose a blast of fire that killed the Dark closest to him.

Darius swiped at a Dark with his wings, knocking the Fae backward, right into Kiril’s blast of fire. Dark Fae were pouring out everywhere, keeping Darius, Kiril, and Rhys occupied. And all the while Dark magic was slamming into Darius.

He wanted to take to the sky and make sure Sophie had gotten away, but there wasn’t a chance. All he could do was hope that the girls were clear.

Darius caught a few glimpses of Ulrik and Con. Whatever words passed between them were over quickly as the two were now fighting in hand-to-hand combat.

A blast of Dark magic hit Darius on his left side. Almost simultaneously, he was hit on his right side with a double strike. He shifted back into human form, unable to stop the transition.

With his body wracked by pain, Darius pushed himself up on his hands and knees and stood. He wasn’t as powerful in human form, but he could still take down a Dark.

Unable to take to the skies, it was only a matter of time before Kiril and Rhys were both back in human form. Until then, the two of them were eradicating dozens of Dark Fae at a time with their dragon fire.

The slaughter of the Dark continued in brutal form until—finally—there were none but a handful left. Those soon scattered to the wind.

With a sigh, Darius looked to Rhys and Kiril. He hurt everywhere, but Sophie had gotten away. That alone made it all bearable.

Darius turned to find Ulrik and Con locked in battle, neither able to take the advantage over the other. Darius had always known Ulrik could’ve challenged Con, but to see Ulrik’s power displayed so was a reminder of what was at stake.

“Shite,” Kiril said as he walked up beside Darius.

Rhys’s bare feet crunched in the snow as he stared at the duo. “I knew this day would come.”

“This isna the battle,” Darius said. “This is merely the beginning.”

Kiril nodded slowly. “Darius is right. We’ll know when they fight. They’re testing each other’s strengths.”

“It’s still a day I knew would come,” Rhys replied in a soft tone.

Darius looked over his shoulder as he wondered about Sophie. He couldn’t leave the city without one more visit to her.

“Shall we take Ulrik?” Kiril asked.

Rhys smiled and wiggled his eyebrows. “Try and stop me.”

The three spread out and circled Ulrik and Con. Several times Darius tried to catch Con’s eyes, but the King of Kings was too intent on his nemesis to notice them.

When they were in place, the three grabbed at Ulrik. As soon as they laid hands on him, he vanished.

“Son of a bitch!” Kiril bellowed in anger.

Rhys looked around. “No fucking way. This can no’ be happening.”

Darius stared at Con who stood with his chest heaving and eyes blazing. The heat of battle was still upon Con, which was why the three of them kept their distance until he finally turned away and let out a string of curses.

“That could’ve gone better,” Darius stated.

Con stood with his hands on his hips as he looked at nothing. Several minutes passed before he faced them, once more the calm, collected man he always was. “No, it didna.”

“I really hoped to end this tonight,” Darius said. He would’ve, had the Dark not attacked Sophie.

Rhys put his hand on his shoulder and gave a nod. “We all did.”

Seeing the Dark Fae on Sophie had sent Darius over the edge. No one touched his woman. He wasn’t supposed to shift. He’d gone out of his way not to. Until those bastards touched her.

“I know,” Rhys said.

Darius looked at him strangely. “What?”

Rhys raised a dark brow. “You do ken that you said that aloud, aye?”

Darius glanced at Kiril and Con, both of who seemed to be absorbed in something else. He then eyed Rhys. “I didna.”

Rhys blew out a breath. “I’m glad you’re no’ fighting it the way I did. I tried, and it wasna worth it.”

“I didna even know it was happening.”

“You deserve some happiness, Darius. Take it without question.”

Darius looked toward the city where Sophie was headed. “She’s a doctor, Rhys. A damn good one. She has a career. If I take her as my mate, she’ll have to give that up.”

“Should that no’ be her decision?”

“She asked me what would happen when all this with Ulrik was finished,” he said as he looked at Rhys. “I told her I’d return to Dreagan. The look on her face said it all. She’ll no’ leave.”