Treasure of the Fire Kingdom (The Elemental Phases Book 4)

by Cassandra Gannon

  Galen’s face tightened in hatred and fury.

  “You just dropped a piano on someone.”

  Hope’s hushed voice had Kingu looking over at her, concerned that he’d shocked or scared her.

  There was a palm flattened over her mouth. “A piano!” Hope shook her head, her eyes meeting his over the ridge of her fingers. “God, my family will just love you.”

  Kingu realized she was laughing. The woman just couldn’t take a near-death experience seriously. “Hope, would you at least try to…”

  “Attack!” Galen shouted to his men and several of them rushed to pull down the tarp. Almost instantly, there was a whishing sound that Kingu hadn’t heard in a thousand years.

  “Oh fucking hell, really?” He muttered just before a medieval catapult-like contraption let loose with a boulder.

  Who would still have a trebuchet lying around? Obviously, the same kind of dickheads who held gladiator fights. The wooden A-frame of the weapon supported a gigantic levered arm. When Galen’s men cut the ropes holding the counterbalance, it swished forward launching its gigantic projectile straight at Kingu.

  He didn’t even try to dodge it. Instead, he shoved Hope to the side, out of the path of the boulder.

  “No!” She shrieked as the massive stone plowed into him like a bowling ball.

  Kingu went flying backwards hard enough to crash through the wall of the nearest house. Half the building caved in around him and Kingu lay there for a second staring up at the rounded ceiling. Damn it, he had always hated those trebuchet things. Physics was a bitch, even for the immortal.

  “Kingu!” Hope sounded frantic. “Are you okay? Shit! You just hit my soul mate with a rock, you asshole!”

  “You’re the one who involved him in you traitorous plots, human monkey!” Galen shouted back. “You will pay for all the suffering you’ve… Let me go! You can’t… Ow!”

  Hope must have attacked him.

  Kingu shoved the debris from his body and staggered towards the hole his impact had left in the wall. The woman’s fearlessness would get her killed. “Hope, do not…” He reached the opening just in time to see her slam a fist into Galen’s jaw. Kingu winced.

  Galen stumbled back a step, his eyes burning with rage. “Kill her!” He bellowed at his men.

  Fucking hell.

  Kingu snapped his fingers and a thick Plexiglas bubble went up around Hope like a shield. The swords of Galen’s soldiers bounded off the protective surface before they could reach her.

  And that’s when the other Banished Phases got involved.

  The prisoners Hope and Kingu had freed. The nameless nobodies from the shops. Even one or two of the supermodel looking women Zakkery had tried to recruit for Kingu’s bride. They were all suddenly surging forward, attacking Galen’s men. The Stone Phase’s dictatorial oppression ended in a riot as his unhappy followers joined forces to overthrow him.

  “Stop!” Galen bellowed. “I’ll have you all arrested for this! You’ll all be thrown in prison and slaughtered in the ring if you oppose me!”

  No one was listening.

  Galen’s men were quickly overpowered by the masses.

  “This is your fault!” Galen screamed at Hope. “You did this to me! I’ll see you dead if…”

  Kingu snapped his fingers… and a unicorn stabbed Galen.

  He could’ve killed the man in a thousand different ways, but why not chose something that Hope would appreciate? The prancing rainbow-colored animal speared its golden horn straight through Galen’s heart and the Stone Phase tumbled to the ground in a dead heap.

  The battling Phases all stopped to gape at the spectacle.

  “Anyone else want to challenge my woman?” Kingu demanded into the hushed silence as the unicorn stomped Galen’s body into the dirt.

  There was a lot of head shaking and whispered oaths. The fight ended as quickly as it had begun.

  “I didn’t think so.” Kingu snapped his fingers, releasing Hope from the plastic bubble and making the unicorn vanish, again.

  “That dragon dude is awesome.” Someone declared loudly.

  “I could have killed that little toad Galen far faster.” Emagene arrogantly retorted.

  Hope ignored the others and dashed over to Kingu. “Are you alright?” Her hand came up to touch his cheek. “Did Galen hurt you?”

  “No.” Kingu turned his face to kiss the inside of her palm. “Did he hurt you?”

  “Of course not.” Hope’s expression remained serious even as her eyes sparkled. “I have a monster to protect me.” Her arms came up to encircle his neck in a hug and Kingu lifted her right off the ground. “And by the way,” she whispered into his ear, laughter in her voice, “I loved finally getting my unicorn.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  He may eschew the calm of domestic life; it is not his element

  Charlotte Bronte- “Jane Eyre”

  “‘I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always --take any form-- drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!’” Hope stopped reading Heathcliff’s passionate reaction to Cathy’s death and sighed. “Isn’t that lovely?”

  “I think he’s a moron.” Kingu muttered. “He should have killed the other human male and reclaimed his woman. Then she wouldn’t be dead. This is why I don’t read romances. They depress me.”

  Hope rolled her eyes. The two of them were sitting on the black sofa in his living room/torture chamber. After their triumphant defeat of Galen, she’d asked Kingu if he wanted to spend the rest of the day celebrating with her alone in the fortress. Kingu had smiled like she’d offered him diamonds. He didn’t even like Wuthering Heights and still he’d listened attentively for several hours, twirling her curls around his fingers while she read to him.

  Poor Kingu was so starved for affection, it broke her heart.

  Luckily she was here to fix that, now.

  Hope snuggled up against Kingu’s side and turned her neck to look at him. “The point is, Catherine is his soul mate. That’s what she told Nelly, remember? Heathcliff is Cathy. One self. One soul. They’re the other half of each other.”

  “Well, I don’t like either of their halves.” Kingu insisted. “There’s enough misery in this world without creating it for yourself, like they seem to relish doing. And you can live without a soul. I know, because I’ve done it every day for millennia.”

  He wasn’t getting the point. Why was this book so hard for her loved ones to understand? She should have picked a different soul mate story. Maybe Ismena. Hope set Emily Bronte’s masterpiece aside and tried another tactic. “How old are you?”

  He hesitated. “I don’t know. I’ve lost count.”

  Of course he had. His viperous mother probably hadn’t held birthday parties for him while she kept him chained, after all. Evil bitch. Hope ground her teeth, not trusting herself to speak without shouting profanities.

  One hurdle at a time.

  “I know that countless centuries have past since I was created.” Kingu’s fingers combed through her hair, studying the shine. “I must seem ancient to you.” He sounded troubled by that idea.

  “Not really.” In so many ways, he seemed very young. Compared to her, Kingu had seen nothing of life. He’d been locked in a cage with his horrible mother, kept far away from people and laughter and happiness. She had so much to teach him.

  “You deserve more than someone like me, Hope.”

  “Oh, don’t be so maudlin.” Hope wasn’t going to let this conversation veer off-track. He needed to understand that they were soul mates and he wasn’t picking up on any of her subtle clues. Time to be more direct. “Have you ever, in all your countless millennia, ever felt as connected to anyone you feel to me?”

  Red eyes flicked to hers and then away. “No.” He said simply. “You’re the only one, Hope. My only one. You know that.”

  “I do know it.” She shifted
so she was straddling his lap, one knee on either side of his body. His gaze flashed to her legs and then back up to her face. This time they stayed there. She’d noticed that Kingu dealt better with emotional conversations if she was physically close to him. “I feel the same way about you. One hundred and fourteen years, and you’re the only one I’ve ever known right down into my soul, Kingu.” She laid a palm on his cheek. “Don’t you see what that means?”

  “Destiny?” It sounded like a guess, but it was start.

  “Destiny.” She agreed firmly.

  He frowned a bit, but he didn’t outright scoff this time. Possibly because Hope distracted him by tugging his tie free of its knot and pulling it from around his neck. Kingu blinked in surprise as she tossed it over her shoulder. “Are you taking my clothes off?”

  “Yep.” Hope felt his arousal growing and she bit back a smile. “This time I should dress you, don’t you think? Sadly, that means I have to undress you first.” She shook her head in mock regret and got to work unbuttoning his shirt. “It’s a tedious step in the process of me having my wicked way with you, but it can’t be helped.”

  “You don’t have to touch me.” He sounded confused that she would even try. “I would never ask you to do that.”

  “Oh, but we have to touch.” Her eyes met his. “I need you, again, monster. I’m so tight.”

  His breathing got harsher. “Then I can ensure you’re satisfied like I did before. You shouldn’t have to put your hands on me. Your hands are so small and pretty. They shouldn’t touch…” He trailed off as she got his shirt free and bend her head to flick her tongue over his flat nipple. “Oh fuck.” He whispered thickly. “Don’t do that, treasure. It’s not a good idea.”

  Hope hesitated and drew back. If he said no, she’d stop.

  Kingu had spent too much of his life enduring things he didn’t want. Her soul mate was wounded and, when it came to their relationship, he was especially wary. On his own, he’d never, ever ask for her touch. He’d make sure she came fifteen times a day if she asked and he’d never expect reciprocity.

  Damn it.

  What could she do to push him far enough that he’d stop worrying about asking her and just take her against a wall? Losing control would be the best cure for him, really. Kingu was a natural warrior. He wanted her naked and begging. He just wasn’t sure how to let it happen. As a fellow warrior, it was Hope’s job to nudge him along.

  Kingu’s eyes filled with disappointment as she leaned away from him.

  That was a good sign.

  Hope tried a new tactic. “If I ask you for something, will you give it to me, Kingu?”

  “Anything.” This time his vow had no restrictions, at all. Not even the “except let you go” rider. Kingu clearly knew it, too, and he braced himself. “Tell me what would make you happy and it’s yours, Hope. I swear it.”

  She met his eyes. “Give me you.”

  Kingu hadn’t been expecting that. He blinked in confusion. “…Me?”

  “You.” Hoped edged closer to him, again. “I want all of you.”

  Kingu edged back. “For what purpose?” She could tell from his baffled and slightly suspicious expression that he still didn’t understand.

  “So I can touch you. Is that okay?” Hope deliberately switched her phraseology to a question. She would bet that very few people had ever asked this man for anything. They just tried to take it from him. “If I can have anything, that’s what I want, right now.”

  His eyes widened. “But, I just told you that you don’t have to…”

  “But it’s what I want and you promised me.” She gave him a pouty look. “Did you lie to me?”

  “No, but…”

  “Well, I want to keep touching you.” Her mouth trailed back up to his throat, licking the mark she’d left on his neck. “Don’t you want to make me happy, monster? I promise I’ll make you happy in return.”

  “Gods, yes.” His hand found the small of her back and he unconsciously tugged her closer. “Touch me.” His voice was guttural. “However you want. You can do whatever you want to me, just don’t stop doing it.”

  That was more like it. “Just sit still while I strip your clothes off.” Hope said. “It might take a while. After all, I’ll have to do it all by hand. Not all of us have superpowers.” She crooked a finger at him with her free hand even as she worked at unfastening him belt. “Kiss.”

  He leaned forward, his face entranced. “You have powers, Hope.” His lips brushed against hers. “I’m absolutely helpless against them.”

  “Promises, promises.” Hope pulled back so her hands could wander the bare skin of his chest, revealing in the massive strength she felt there. He was so wonderful big.

  Kingu watched her palms glide along his flesh and then looked back at her like he expected her to say something. When she didn’t do anything but hum in pleasure, he cleared his throat. “You see that most of my body doesn’t look like my face and hands.”

  “Huh?” For a moment, Hope had no idea what he meant. When he stared at her like she was crazy, she finally processed that he was talking about the texture of his skin. His chest was perfectly normal. Not at all like a dragon’s. “Oh.” She shrugged. “Okay.”

  Kingu’s brows tugged together at her casual words.

  What had he expected her to say? Whatever it was, she’d obviously disappointed him. “Ummm.” Hope quickly tried to think of a better response. “You have a lovely chest. I just didn’t notice, at first.”

  Now, his eyebrows climbed.

  Shoot.

  “I mean, I noticed the muscles and how spectacularly huge you are. But, I didn’t really notice anything else.” Hope bit her lower lip. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t like the way you look, but I do. I just don’t get why you think a warrior should be pretty. Sometimes I forget you’re so sensitive about it. To me, you always just look like… you.”

  He still regarded her with a strange intensity.

  “Are you upset with me?” She shifted, preparing to move off of his lap. “Do you want me to stop?”

  “No, don’t stop.” He held her still, his hands on her waist, and gazed at her like she might disappear at any second. “Please. Stay.”

  Hope went back to exploring his skin. Carefully, at first, giving him time to retreat and then with growing confidence. It was such a shame that they couldn’t Phaze. Such a shame that she’d been born wrong. Kingu’s children would have been so beautiful.

  “Hope.” He whispered as she moved against him. “I can live without a soul. I cannot live without you.”

  Hope stilled at his serious tone, her startled gaze finding his.

  Kingu stared back at her, his expression solemn. “Be with me always and drive me mad.” His leaned forward so his mouth hovered above hers. “Without you, the world truly would be an unutterable abyss.”

  Hope drew in a breath as his lips found hers, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. It was the first time he’d ever instigated a kiss between them. The first time, he’d ever said anything that hinted at love and not just possession. She liked the possession, but this was… more. She pressed closer to him on a moan, her arms going around his neck.

  “God, yes.” His palm tangled in her hair. “You have no idea what you do to me, treasure.” His other hand went to her breast. His thumb caressed her nipple through the material of her sweater. He swallowed thickly when he felt it bead tight at his touch. Whenever her body responded to him, he was always amazed. “If I lost you…” He closed his eyes, but not before she saw real dread in them. “I cannot lose you, Hope. I know you have a greater destiny, but I can’t lose you.”

  “Lose me?” Hope almost laughed at that idea. No Fire Phase would let themselves get lost. They always knew right where they going.

  Rule ten of being a Fire Phase: Where you’re headed is more important than where you are.

  She shook her head at Kingu’s silly concern. As if she’d ever let herself be separated from his man. They were hea
ded towards their destiny. “Who could ever be strong enough to take me away from a monster?”

  “You are.” His gaze stayed fastened on hers. “If you walk out, how could I stop you? How could I make you stay? I need you so much more than your soul mate ever could. I know he’s your destiny, but what I feel for you is deeper than anything he is capable of…”

  She cut him off by taking his face in her palms. “I told you, Kingu, you are my soul mate. We need each other.”

  “I can’t be your soul mate. I don’t have a soul.” Kingu sounded absolutely convinced of that. So convinced that he wasn’t hearing her, at all. “Hope, you have a real soul mate somewhere. I know that. I looked into your origins and… you were meant for someone incredibly special.”

  “I know.” She agreed. “You.”

  “No, not fucking me.” He swore under his breath. “I’m not ‘special’ in any way that’s good.”

  “Excellent. Let’s be bad, then.” Hope reached for his zipper.

  “No. Shit, don’t do that or I’ll never get through this.” He sat up straighter, dislodging her hand and keeping her in his lap. “It’s not fair to hold you with lies.”

  Hope squinted. “Fair? Oh, Kingu, we don’t have to start playing fair, do we?” That didn’t sound like much fun, at all. “Let’s go back to making out.”

  He hesitated, clearly wanting to do just that. “Yes… I mean, no.” He adopted a determined expression. It was the look someone who’d decided to jump off a bridge must get right before they went freefalling into the water. “No. I’ve read Phantom of the Opera, Hope. The monster lets her go at the end.”

  “Yeah, but I think time told on how brainless that was. Did you ever see the sequel?”

  “No, but I understand the story, now. I know why the Phantom did something so stupid.” Kingu sighed. “Listen to me. What do you know of your origins? Your birth parents?”

  “They abandoned me in the Agora. I don’t care to know much beyond that.”

  “What of your mother’s House?” He gently reached over to touch her bracelet, pointing at the star shaped charm. Red eyes met hers solemnly and Hope suddenly realized what this was about.