by Donna Grant
“Rhi should’ve never gotten caught up in that world!” he bellowed, his chest heaving. “I told her it was wrong. I told her it would end badly.”
“Let me guess. You were there when your predictions came true.”
“I was,” he stated with a small smile.
Shara wanted to wrap her arms around herself and try to get back some heat, but she refused to show Balladyn that tiny degree of fear. “Rhi needed you then. You did something good.”
“I vowed to her family to protect her always.” Balladyn looked at the ground, anger radiating from him. “I failed by letting her become involved with the Dragon King. She deserved better than him. Rhi was precious, important.”
That’s when it hit Shara. “You were in love with her.”
His gaze slid to hers as he peeled back his lips is a sneer. “A mistake that was rectified when the Dark took me.”
“No,” she said with a shake of her head. “You still love her. That’s why you’ve held onto your revenge. It’s why you want to turn her Dark. Then you can have her.”
His face slackened into a smile. “If that’s true, why would I go through with the Claiming with you?”
She swallowed hard as her future came to her in crystal clarity. “To gain advancement through my family connections. To be with a female who was born Dark and not turned. Even if I do become the woman you want and rule beside you, the moment Rhi turns Dark, you’ll kill me. Then claim her as your own.”
One black and silver brow lifted. “You’re much smarter than I gave you credit for, Shara. You’ll make a fine match for me during our time together.”
He walked away, his boot heels sounding on the stones. Shara barked with laughter that stopped him in his tracks. He slowly turned to her. “You find something amusing?”
Shara shifted her eyes to him, her smile still in place. “You assume that Rhi will remain here for you to turn her Dark.”
“The Light never come for their own,” he declared, the malice and hate dripping from his words.
“Those aren’t the only friends she has.”
It took a moment for Balladyn to catch on, but when he did, he spun and rushed out of the room. Shara couldn’t stop her laughter. It grew louder with each moment as she pictured Balladyn rushing to Rhi.
No matter what punishment Balladyn had in store for her, the look of hatred and concern on his face was priceless. He’d underestimated the Dragon Kings, just as her brother had done. It was a lesson she herself had learned the hard way.
The laughter died instantly as melancholy consumed her.
“Oh, Kiril,” she murmured.
She could accept her fate and remain with Balladyn, or she could make a run for it. She had no idea where she would go, and the chance that she would be killed was great. But it was better than living as Balladyn’s mate.
Shara wouldn’t wait around for Balladyn to return. The perfect time for her to do something was while he was occupied. She stood and walked to the door. There she paused for a brief moment to gather her courage before she threw open the door. Two Dark soldiers stood guard on either side of the door. She smiled at one as she leaned forward and grasped his sword.
They were so surprised by her tactic that Shara had time enough to hit the second guard with her elbow before plunging the sword into the first. Shara withdrew the blade and spun around, sinking the sword into the gut of the second guard.
If she was caught, she had sealed her death by killing two of Balladyn’s men, but she didn’t care. Shara had to get to Kiril and break him free of the dungeon.
What if Balladyn is in the dungeon?
She stumbled as the thought went through her mind, but she kept running. Her only thought was to get to Kiril who could hopefully find a way to free Rhi as well.
Shara rounded a corner and met another of Balladyn’s men. His eyes widened as he recognized her. With no other choice, she thrust the blade through his heart. He crumpled at her feet, his red eyes staring lifelessly up at her. She looked down at her hands to see the blood spray on them. It turned her stomach. She wanted to curl up in a little ball and cover her ears while she closed her eyes and pretended none of this had happened.
That was something a little girl would do. She was no longer a little girl. She was a grown woman, a Fae.
And it was time she proved it.
Shara set her shoulders and pulled the sword from the dead Fae’s body. She wiped the blade on his clothes before she continued onward. She managed to get down two more floors without incident. Most of the Dark didn’t know who she was, and they left her alone. She was one floor away from the dungeons when she heard her name.
“Sharaaaaaaa!”
Her blood froze in her veins. It was Balladyn. And he would be looking for her now.
* * *
Phelan walked the halls of Balladyn’s fortress once more in the disguise of a Dark Fae. He strode decisively toward the chamber where Shara was being held, only to pause when he heard Shara’s name yelled by Balladyn through the corridors. He grinned, because it meant Shara had managed to free herself from Balladyn briefly. He had little time to find her before Balladyn did. Phelan raced toward the dungeon, because he knew that was where Shara would be headed.
A few Dark gave him weird looks as he sprinted down the corridors. Phelan could see the stairway up ahead that led to the dungeon. It was the only way down to the lower level. He caught sight of Shara as she turned the corner and began to race ahead of him. He started to call out to her, but stopped when he heard shouts ahead of them.
He let out a string of curses when Shara slid to a halt and lifted the sword in her hand to defend herself against six Dark Ones that came at her. Phelan dropped the Dark façade he wore and called to the god within him. Immediately claws sprang from his fingers and fangs filled his mouth. He saw a Dark come at her from behind and used his speed to reach her.
Phelan’s arm came out in time to knock the Dark Fae away before it could hit her. Shara’s gaze met his for an instant before they were fighting back-to-back against the Dark.
When the last Dark hit the ground, Phelan turned to Shara only to feel the press of the blade against his neck. He held his hands up, noting how she looked at his gold skin and claws. “We doona have time for this.”
“Who are you?”
“A friend of Kiril’s.”
“You’re not a Dragon King,” she murmured, her gaze on his hands.
Phelan grinned and wiggled his gold claws. “That’s because I’m no’. I’ll explain who I am later. Right now we need to get you out of here before Balladyn finds us.”
“I’m—”
“Others are helping Kiril,” he interrupted.
She lowered the blade so that it rested against her leg. “Oh.”
“I know you didna betray him. There will be time to tell him everything once we’re all safe.”
“What’s your name?”
“Phelan,” he said and glanced around. He reached for her arm, but she moved back. “What are you doing, lass?”
“As long as Balladyn is after me there is time for you to get Rhi as well.”
“Wait,” Phelan said when she took another step away from him, half-turning as she did.
But it was too late. Shara was already running down the hall. Phelan started to follow her when he spied a group of Dark coming at him led by none other than Balladyn. He quickly altered reality again so to them he was part of the wall. He stood silently against the stones as Balladyn knelt beside the fallen Dark One.
“I’m going to kill her,” Balladyn stated angrily.
Balladyn rose and stormed off with his men behind him. Phelan waited until they were gone before he appeared and once more looked like a Dark Fae. Phelan looked to where Shara had ran off to and knew he had to go after her. She was putting herself in danger to help them. The least he could do was make sure she didn’t die.
Phelan followed Balladyn and his men as they tracked Shara through the labyrinth of h
allways. He slowed, and then halted altogether when he approached the great hall and saw the multitude of Dark soldiers lying upon the floor unmoving.
Balladyn stood in the middle of the hall looking at the devastation of his men in confusion. “Shara!”
“Shara didn’t do this,” said an ethereal voice Phelan recognized.
“Usaeil,” Phelan whispered. A smile formed when the Light Queen appeared next to Balladyn with a bright light around her. She floated a few inches off the floor, her inky hair billowing around her in slow motion.
Balladyn’s face contorted with rage when he saw Usaeil. He turned his head and spit. “You dirtied yourself to visit me finally.”
“No. I came for Rhi.”
Balladyn shifted his feet, his hands clenched in fists at his sides. Behind him, his men were fanning out around them. Phelan crept closer in order to help in any capacity that he could. Not that the queen needed it.
“Your precious Rhi. I should’ve known. I was that important to you at one time,” Balladyn said.
Usaeil never dropped her gaze. “Had I known you were being kept by Taraeth, I’d have come for you myself. Rhi would’ve as well.”
“I don’t believe you!” Balladyn shouted.
“And I no longer care what you think,” she replied calmly.
“I’ll never let you have Rhi.”
“You’ll have no say in the matter once I’m finished with you.”
Balladyn smiled confidently. “It’ll never happen.”
Phelan had witnessed the Dark Fae fighting, but he hadn’t seen the queen. Balladyn’s men began to close in on the duo, their intentions clear. Phelan’s claws lengthened and his fangs filled his mouth. No one was going to lay a hand on his queen.
He readied to leap out and attack when the light surrounding Usaeil grew, becoming larger and brighter until even Phelan couldn’t see. He raised his hand to shield his eyes while trying to squint and still see Usaeil. There were shouts around him that soon turned to screams of pain.
Then there was nothing.
Phelan opened his eyes to see the Dark who had been about to attack Usaeil lying upon the ground at odd angles, obviously dead. All except for one—Balladyn. He was missing.
Phelan straightened and lifted his gaze to his queen who turned to him.
“Find Balladyn,” she ordered and then disappeared.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Kiril ignored the blood running down his arm from the cuts on his wrists as he continued to yank on the chain from the wall. As soon as a cut opened, his body began to heal it. One of many perks of being a Dragon King.
“You won’t be getting free.”
His head jerked around to Balladyn who stood in the center of his cell. A look behind the Dark revealed that the door was still closed, which meant Balladyn had teleported in. “Always so confident. You’ll be knocked down a peg or two soon.”
“I doubt it,” Balladyn said with a smirk.
Kiril grinned as he realized there could be only one reason Balladyn would use his magic instead of walking through the door. His friends were there. “I doona.”
“Tell me, Dragon King, why did you ever trust the lovely Shara? She’s Dark.”
Balladyn’s words struck their mark, just as he’d intended. Kiril didn’t want to ever hear her name again or even think about her. And he never wanted to speak of her again. It hurt too much. But he couldn’t let Balladyn know that.
“Who says I trusted her?” Kiril taunted. “Did it never cross your tiny mind that I might’ve been using her to get you to do exactly what you’ve done?”
Kiril’s grin grew as he saw Balladyn’s expression shift from confident to a glint of uncertainty. That flicker would soon turn into a full-blown tide of doubt. He might not be able to help his brethren fight the Dark Fae, but Kiril would do all he could with what he had. Words were a sharp weapon.
“Lies,” Balladyn stated, one side of his lips lifted in a sneer.
“Are you so sure?”
“I have you, don’t I?”
Kiril held up his hands, the chains rattling as he did. “It appears that way. You went to a lot of trouble to get me here. Why no’ tell me what it is you want?”
“I want what the Kings have hidden.”
“We’ve hidden a lot of things. Treasures greater than anyone could imagine, the recipe for our whisky, the—”
“Stop!” Balladyn’s bellow bounced off the stone walls. “You know what it is I seek.”
“Keep believing that.”
Balladyn took a step closer. “Are you telling me you doona know where it’s hidden?”
“Perhaps if I knew what you were looking for?” Kiril knew Con kept it secret for a reason, but it was past time for those kinds of secrets. Especially when it put every Dragon King on the radar of the Dark Fae.
Balladyn chuckled. “Pretending won’t stop what I have planned for you.”
“It’s you who should stop pretending. You doona even know what you search for.”
Balladyn was suddenly before Kiril, nose to nose, his eyes flashing. “I know it’s a—”
His words were cut off by a loud bang at Kiril’s door. Kiril wanted to shout his frustration as Balladyn smiled coldly and vanished.
“Dammit,” Kiril said and slammed his fists back against the stones.
The door flew open on the third hit, and Con filled the doorway with a smile. “Doona look so happy to see me.”
“What are you hiding from everyone?” Kiril demanded.
Con’s face closed off, his smile wiped away in a blink. “None of your concern, and before you ask again, it’s that way for a reason.”
Kiril wasn’t surprised by the answer, and had in fact expected those exact words. “The Dark willna give up so easily.”
“Nay,” Con said as he walked to Kiril. “For now, let’s concentrate on getting you free.”
“Balladyn was just here, Con. He teleported in and out.”
Con’s hands stilled on the chains. “Where did he go?”
“I doona know. Tell me you didna come alone.”
“Of course no’.” His smile was full of retribution.
So Phelan had found them. Kiril dropped his head back against the wall and sighed while Con grabbed the chain in both hands and tried to wrench the links apart. Kiril found his mind turning to Shara. He was going to miss holding her in his arms, miss having her near. In the back of his mind, he had always known she could betray him.
“Will it ease your mind to know she didna deceive you?” Con asked as he gritted his teeth and yanked on the chains.
Kiril lifted his head and frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Shara.” Con’s gaze was on the chains, his muscles flexed as he pulled. His voice was strained, the words coming through clenched teeth as he said, “Balladyn tricked you.”
Kiril thought back to their encounter and how Shara had vehemently denied Balladyn’s words. Her red eyes had beseeched him, but Kiril had been all too ready to believe Balladyn. Just what the bastard had expected him to do. Kiril should’ve known it was a trick.
“What has he done to her?”
Con relaxed his grip and shrugged. “Phelan went after her. He’s the one who heard their exchange after you were taken and knew what Balladyn was really about. Phelan will find her. Doona worry.”
“I’ve been such a fool.”
Con caught his gaze and held it. “So you do care about her?”
“I would no’ have asked you to offer her sanctuary if I didna.”
“Aye, but that’s no’ what I’m asking, now, is it?”
Kiril turned his head away. “You’re asking if I have feelings for her.”
“Do you love her, Kiril?”
“Maybe. I doona know,” he said with a shake of his head.
“There’ll be time enough to figure that out once we’ve left this place behind.” Con lifted the chain again and pulled.
Kiril looked at the links, but despi
te Con’s strength, they weren’t coming apart. He was about to tell Con to go find Rhi when he saw something out of the corner of his eye. His head swiveled at the same time as Con’s. Kiril could only stare at Balladyn who had a satisfied smirk upon his face and a blade to Shara’s throat.
She was breathing heavily, her hair stuck to the side of her face with sweat. Kiril saw a drop of blood roll down her throat as the blade sank into her skin a fraction.
“Stop,” Kiril demanded, more afraid than he had ever been in his very long life.
Balladyn moved his gaze to Con. “You can pull on that chain for all of eternity, and you won’t ever get it off him.”
“You should know no’ to ever say never to a Dragon King,” Con stated casually.
“For years, I listened to how wonderful you Kings were, but I know the truth. I know just how dishonorable, immoral, and untrustworthy you really are. I know your secrets.”
Kiril kept his gaze on Balladyn. He didn’t dare look at Shara, because if he did and saw her fear, he would lose his precarious hold over his control. “You’re referring to Rhi.”
“You all had her fooled,” Balladyn said with a laugh. “But soon she’ll see the Dragon Kings for what you really are.”
“He loves her,” Shara said.
Balladyn pushed the blade deeper, and the blood ran faster down her neck. It was only Con’s hand on Kiril’s arm that kept him still.
“So you want to hurt us,” Con said with a shrug. “Or do you want to find something we’ve hidden? I’m confused.”
“I’m going to do both,” Balladyn stated. His gaze slid to Kiril. “First, you’re going to feel what I felt. You’re going to watch someone else destroy your woman, as you Kings destroyed Rhi.”
“Rhi wasna destroyed,” Kiril said quickly to stop whatever it was he had planned for Shara.
Balladyn made a sound at the back of his throat. “If you believe that, then you don’t know her as you think you do. Nor do you realize how deeply she loves. She loves with everything she has, holding nothing back. She gave all of herself, and what did she get in return?”
A dark mass seeped up through the stones in the floor and surrounded Shara. She jerked helplessly the moment the mass touched her. Balladyn released her and stepped back. Kiril watched in horror as the black mass suspended her above the floor.