Smoldering Hunger (33 page)

Rhys’s lips twisted. “And we need you at Dreagan.”

“Aye.”

Con and Kiril walked toward them then, halting the conversation. Con’s reticent fury was as frigid as the snow. Kiril exchanged a silent look with Rhys, an unspoken message passing between them.

Something Ulrik and Con had once shared.

Darius looked around at the scattered bodies of the Dark Fae. Looking back, it didn’t feel right that Con and Ulrik had ended up like this. Two of the closest Dragon Kings now attacking each other.

He slid his gaze to Con, but Darius wasn’t fooled by Con’s calm exterior. The King of Kings radiated rage like the sun emitted heat.

“We doona have Ulrik, which means this war willna be ending,” Kiril said. “No’ to mention all the dead Fae.”

Rhys shrugged. “The Dark are easily taken care of. Kiril and I will be in charge of that.”

“Will we?” Kiril asked with a flat look.

“Aye.”

Kiril raised a brow. “We cleaned up Edinburgh earlier.”

“Quit your bitching, jerk.”

Kiril punched him. “Dick.”

Darius shook his head as he started toward the closest Dark. “I’m used to it. I’ll do it.”

“No,” Con stated. “You have other business.”

Darius halted and closed his eyes. Sophie. That was his business. Without turning to Con, he stated, “I might be awhile.”

“I’m no’ talking of Sophie.”

Darius pivoted toward Con. “What then?”

“Wipe all traces of yourself from Edinburgh. Then head back to Dreagan. We’re finished in Edinburgh for the time being.”

Darius watched Con walk away. The three of them stood naked in the snow as the King of Kings walked amid the dead as if they weren’t there.

“Go to Sophie,” Rhys urged.

Darius didn’t feel the snow on his bare feet. He didn’t feel the cold as it swirled around him. But inside … inside he was hollowed and chilled to the marrow of his bones.

Because he knew he was going to have to say good-bye to his mate.

Sophie had been a means to slack his body’s yearning. Her strength and intelligence only made her sexier. But it was his hunger for her that did him in.

Her beauty first captured his attention. Her body entangled him. Her mind and spirit ensnared him fully.

There was no doubt that she had called to him on a level he hadn’t known existed before her.

Kiril walked up on Darius’s left side. “Rhys is right. Go to her.”

“I doona want to leave her,” Darius admitted.

“You shifted in front of her,” Rhys said with surprised look. “Even when Con forbade it. If that doesna prove she’s your mate, then I doona know what will. Let her decide what she wants.”

Kiril scratched his cheek. “You love her. Doona pass that up. You once thought you lost your mate. If you let Sophie go, you really will lose your chance at happiness.”

“I’m no’ sure that was such a good idea.”

Rhys shoved against Darius’s shoulder. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Just that.” Darius held out his arms. “Take a look around. Ulrik and the Dark are knocking at our door. Con may win, but he may no’. Have each of you thought about what will happen to your mates if Ulrik defeats him?”

Kiril lowered his chin to his chest. “Of course.”

“Nay, you have no’,” Darius said. “If you had, you’d never have allowed them to get close to you.”

“Unbelievable,” Rhys said as he glanced at the stars. “After all you’ve experienced with Sophie you say this? You know who you sound like? Con.”

“He’s no’ wrong,” Darius stated angrily. “I doona want Sophie anywhere near this pile of shite we’re stuck in.”

Kiril crossed his arms over his chest. “I think that choice is out of your hands.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. Her memories will be wiped, and she can go on with her life.” As hard as it was going to be, it was the best for Sophie.

Darius loved her so much he was willing to let her go.

Rhys gave him a look of outrage. “Have you really lost your mind? Darius, whether her memories or wiped or no’, she’s in this. If you think Ulrik or the Fae will leave her alone, you doona realize the situation.”

“I realize it perfectly. I’m going to exit her life.”

“Good luck with that,” Kiril said cynically.

Darius was going to do it. For Sophie. Because she deserved more. Because he wanted her to be happy.

Because he loved her.

The very thought of it was like a knife in his heart. Twisting and turning each time he imagined the Dark trying to take her. Their hands on her, their red eyes alight with excitement at touching her body.

Darius would love her from afar. He’d keep watch and ensure that she was always safe from the dangers in the shadows of their world.

It would be enough.

It would have to be enough.

CHAPTER
FORTY-TWO

Sophie drove like a madman. She kept looking in the rearview mirror expecting to see the Dark Fae. With every mile that passed behind them, the more relaxed she became. She turned up the heat.

Claire groaned and grabbed her head. She sat up and blinked, looking down at herself in horror. “Why am I undressed? And why the bloody hell does my head hurt so?”

“Clothes are there.” Sophie pointed to the floorboard. She didn’t want to attempt to fill in the blanks for Claire.

“I was on my way to your place to check on you. A man stepped out in front of me, and that’s all I remember until I woke up in the snow.” Claire turned her head to her and stared. “You hit me. Twice.”

Sophie shot her an apologetic look. “I had to wake you up.”

“So tell me why I was asleep in the snow.”

“It was Ulrik. You didn’t talk to him again, did you?”

“Now look here,” Claire said as she began to dress. “Keep that snobby British tone to yourself. He’s a gorgeous man who showed interest. I’m a semi-attractive woman who is tired of being alone.”

Sophie squeezed the steering wheel and prayed for patience. “Claire—”

“I didn’t talk to him. I didn’t see him,” Claire interrupted her as she fastened her jeans and put on her jacket, wrapping it tightly around her.

“Good.” Sophie was grateful for that. She knew how lonely Claire was and how charming Ulrik could be, so she’d had a moment of fear.

“I’d have thought you’d give me more credit than that.”

She winced at Claire’s sullen tone.

“It wasn’t Ulrik who I saw before I blacked out.”

“Did the man have red eyes?”

Claire was silent for a long moment. “You mean like those creeps that were on the street before Halloween?”

“Yes.”

“No. I do remember he was incredibly gorgeous.”

“I think he was working with Ulrik,” Sophie explained.

Claire looked out the window and shrugged. “Makes sense. Did they drug me?”

“I’m guessing.” Probably it was magic, but there was no need to tell Claire that.

“What else happened?”

“I got you away.”

There was a beat of silence before Claire said, “You mean those other men didn’t help?”

Sophie kept driving, her heart missing a beat. “Men?”

“I’m thinking one must have been Darius. I saw him talk to you.”

“Darius was there.”

“So he helped,” Claire said.

Sophie nodded mutely. She’d thought Claire was out of it and hadn’t seen anything. Was she wrong? Had Claire seen Darius shift? What about the other two dragons? And the Dark? Did Claire see Darius fighting the Dark?

“Did I … did I get raped?” Claire asked in a broken voice as she turned to her.

Sophie glanced at her. “No. We didn’t let that happen.”

“Good.” Claire once more looked out the window.

Sophie flattened her lips. She prayed that Claire didn’t ask anything else. At least not until Sophie talked to Darius and found out what she could tell Claire.

She thought of Darius in dragon form and wanted to smile. He’d been utterly gorgeous. She never imagined a dragon could be so beautiful. She was in love with a Dragon King. Sophie wanted to dance and shout it to the world.

Her smile faded as she realized she couldn’t tell anyone who Darius was. It would all have to be secret.

“Sophie, you’ve gone pale.”

She swallowed and swerved as she parked the Mercedes in front of her flat. After throwing it in park and turning off the engine, Sophie turned to Claire. “Hurry inside. Do you hear me?”

“Do you think they’re still after us? What’s going to keep them from getting into your flat?”

Claire had to be practical at that moment. Sophie squeezed the keys to the SUV in her hand. Darius had held them not that long ago. How pathetic that she thought she could feel the warmth of his hand on the metal.

“Sophie?”

“We must get inside.”

“Whose car is this?” Claire asked.

Sophie looked out her window, checking the area around the Mercedes. “Darius’s.”

She opened the door and got out, slamming the SUV’s door behind her as she hurried to her building. With a click from the key fob, Sophie locked the doors as Claire followed her inside.

Even as Sophie entered her flat, she knew she wasn’t safe. Because sitting in a chair at her dining table was none other than Con.

Sophie noticed he’d changed clothes. There was no blood or torn sweater as before. He stared at her curiously while Claire gaped in astonishment. Sophie could understand why, since Con was a gorgeous specimen of a man.

“Hello, Dr. Martin,” he said in a smooth voice as if she hadn’t seen him surrounded by dragons taller than most of the buildings in Edinburgh.

Sophie closed the door behind her. “I don’t suppose I should ask how you got here?”

“It’s of no consequence,” he replied.

Claire raised blond brows as she looked between the two of them. “Umm. What the
hell
is going on? This isn’t Darius, Sophie. And tell me how you’re meeting all these magnificent men.”

Con stood and bestowed a smile to Claire. “You’ve had quite the ordeal. Perhaps you’d like to rest?”

“Rest?” Claire looked him up and down before shooting him a level look. “I think that’s a
fabulous
idea.”

Sophie had a hard time containing her grin when Claire removed her coat and tossed it at Con as she walked to the couch and sat down. She made sure to face them, her gaze locked on Con.

The long-suffering sigh Con expelled was enough to make Sophie smile, no longer trying to hide it. Then it faded as she realized why Con was there. An image of a massive purple dragon filled her mind.

His scales had been metallic. The color so vivid and deep that she had to touch him.

“Is Darius all right?”

“Yes.” Con laid Claire’s coat on the back of the chair. “He’s fine.”

Sophie sank into a chair, happy to know that he wasn’t hurt. “Good. That’s very good.” It was the jingle of the keys in her hand that prompted her to set them on the table and scoot them toward Con. “These are for Darius.”

“We’ll get the SUV soon enough,” Con said without so much as looking at the keys. “How much does Claire know?”

“Claire is right here,” Claire said acerbically from the couch. “Ask me yourself.”

Con looked as if he were being summoned by a thousand screaming infants as he turned his head to Claire. “How much do you know?”

Without missing a beat Claire said, “I know quite a lot actually. How much do you know? Should I test you?”

“Claire,” Sophie admonished, though it was hard not to smile.

Claire signed dramatically. “As I told Sophie, I don’t remember anything after the man stepped in front of me on the sidewalk on my way here. I don’t know what they did, because the next thing I remember is waking up half naked with Sophie. You want to fill in the gaps?”

“No,” Con stated and turned back to Sophie. “And you?”

Sophie remained silent. Con knew she’d seen Darius and the others. She wasn’t afraid, if that’s what he’d come to learn. Instead of telling him all of that and causing Claire to ask more questions, Sophie returned Con’s stare.

“Oh, for the love of Pete,” Claire said as she slapped her hands on the couch and stood. She stormed past them, saying, “I’m going to take a nice long bath to help thaw out since no one will tell me what the flip is going on. It’s okay. I don’t need to know why my clothes were removed or why I feel as if I’ve been lying on a block of ice.”

The bathroom door slammed shut behind her. A moment later the water turned on. Sophie understood how Claire felt. She had been in nearly that same position not that long ago.

“Sophie,” Con called.

She focused back on his face. “Claire won’t stop until she has answers.”

“I can give her some so she willna ask again.”

“Will they be the truth?”

Con raised a single blond brow, which was answer enough.

Sophie cleared her throat. “Leave Claire to me. As for your other question, you know I saw Darius.”

“As well as Kiril and Rhys.”

She nodded. “I did. I’m not afraid, if that’s what you’re wondering. Darius told me all about the Dragon Kings and why Ulrik is doing what he’s doing.”

Con took the chair next to her and sat. “Since you were no’ surprised to see the Dark, he must’ve told you of them as well.”

“Someone is going to get hurt if this keeps up.”

“You’ve no idea how true that is.” Con looked away and placed his hands on his thighs. As if he’d come to a decision, Con met her gaze and stared at her a long moment. “Darius wasna supposed to shift. I ordered him no’ to.”

Sophie didn’t need to have it spelled out for her. Con was telling her that Darius shifted to help her. He’d disobeyed Con. For her.

“Do you love him?” Con asked.

“I do,” she answered without hesitation.

Con inhaled deeply. “I assumed as much by the way you looked at him earlier. Since you know all about us, you know how important it is that no one know our secret.”

She recalled the video Darius showed her. “It’s not so secret anymore.”

“You’re speaking of the video. Did you believe it when you saw it?”

“Had I seen it before Darius told me who he was, no.”

Con grinned. “Most doona.”

“And the ones who do?”

His smile dropped. “That’s a problem we’re dealing with that doesna involve you. I doona need to tell you that Claire can no’ know any of this.”