Torched

by Donna Grant

  “I don’t want to.”

  His eyes narrowed slightly. “You have that power. You get to decide if it happens again. You got out once, you might no’ get a second chance.” His forehead furrowed slightly. “How did you get away?”

  Her lips parted, thinking of some lie. Then she realized she wanted to tell him the truth. “You.”

  “Me?” he asked, surprised.

  “I heard your voice tell me to return. I focused on you and let my magic build. Then I released it again.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Desire raged, burned within him. And Ulrik had no interest in ignoring it. Not when Eilish had been returned to him. Not when she’d heard him call to her. Not when the thought of him had brought her here.

  He reached for her arm and pulled her up the same time he got to his feet. Her lips parted when their bodies collided. He wrapped an arm around her, holding her tight.

  Or maybe he was holding onto her.

  It didn’t matter. Not as long as she was near.

  Looking into her green-gold eyes, he didn’t want to think of his uncle, Con, his revenge, or even his feelings for the Druid. All he wanted was her.

  She placed a hand over his heart. It pounded erratically. Then again, that’s what she did to him. From the very beginning.

  She broke through his darkness, pushing past it as if it couldn’t touch her. And she accepted him. All of him. His past, his present, and his future. She didn’t demand he stop his vengeance, didn’t tell him it was foolish.

  In return, she silently—and continually—showed him she was on his side. All the while, his desire smoldered and flamed.

  For her.

  Her pulse beat frantically in her throat. Her ragged breaths filled his ears. She’d been through hell and back, and came out stronger. But he was very aware of how easily he could’ve lost her.

  He ran his fingertips from her cheek down to her throat. Her gaze briefly lowered to his mouth.

  By the stars, this woman had him in such a state of need. He knew to give in to the desire that blazed would pull him deeper into the emotions he was trying to ignore.

  But he couldn’t seem to help himself when it came to Eilish.

  His hunger, the unquenchable need to sink into her body, overruled everything else. When they were together, they were the only two people in the entire world.

  The past hurts and grievances and present pain and anger couldn’t touch them. They were wrapped in a thick blanket of desire that couldn’t be penetrated by anything. Or anyone.

  Her hand that rested on his waist slid around to his back as she rubbed her body against his arousal. Longing spiked through him. He sank his hands into her damp locks and gripped her head. With a seductive grin, she removed his clothes with her magic.

  Her hands roamed over his shoulders and chest, a sound that resembled a purr falling from her lips. He didn’t release his hold on her hair as her hands continued down his body until they wrapped around his cock.

  His staff jumped and swelled at her touch. She met his gaze and slowly knelt before him. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she caressed his rod as if it were a prized possession. Then her lips parted and slipped over the head.

  Ulrik’s eyes slid closed as his head fell back. Absolute pleasure engulfed him with each soft pull of her mouth and lick of her tongue along his length. He moaned in delight when she cupped his balls.

  He stood there as long as he could before tugging her hair back and looking down at her. There were no words needed. They understood each other on a cellular level.

  She licked her lips and stood, her eyes darkening with longing. He grabbed the neck of his shirt she wore with both hands and ripped it open, sending buttons flying across the room before dinging slightly when they landed.

  Eilish sucked in a breath. He seized her by the waist and lifted her as he turned. Holding her with one arm, he swiped the containers from the table before setting her atop it.

  She pulled his head down for a kiss that made his heart catch. There were no soft caresses, no tender words. She’d gone to another place and almost got trapped. He didn’t think he’d ever be able to let her out of his sight again. The near loss made them both crazy with the need for something solid, something real.

  And the craving they felt was definitely that.

  Her ankles locked behind him as their frantic kisses became even more heated. He leaned over her, one arm around her, the other on the table. She was the one who reached between them and guided him to her entrance.

  As soon as he felt her slick heat, he thrust deep.

  She tore her face away from him, gasping for air, her head thrown back. He couldn’t look away from the pleasure that passed over her while he pumped his hips, sliding in and out of her tight body.

  He was enraptured. Completely. Totally.

  And he couldn’t care less.

  There was no stopping whatever it was that had overtaken him, and he was just fine with that. It felt too good, too … right.

  She lifted her head, her gaze meeting his. Then she threw herself toward him. It sent him stumbling backwards while holding onto her. He slammed into a cabinet before he dropped to his knees and laid her down on the floor. She then shoved at his shoulder until he flipped onto his back with her straddling his hips.

  As he looked up at her with her dark locks in disarray and need burning in her eyes, he was captivated. The beautiful, seductive Druid was his.

  He caressed up her arm, loving the soft feel of her mocha skin beneath his palm. She braced her hands on his chest as her hips rocked back and forth.

  His gaze landed on the red marks on her arm, and his chest tightened. Magic or not, Eilish was still very mortal. She could be killed by anyone. And if Mikkel discovered Ulrik’s connection to her, then his uncle wouldn’t stop until Eilish was dead.

  She leaned down and kissed him as if sensing his thoughts had turned dark. Ulrik splayed one hand on her back, and the other over her bottom. She didn’t stop moving. And now that she was leaning over him, her breasts rubbed against him, driving him wild.

  With each move of her sensuous body, he was coming closer and closer to orgasm. He couldn’t get enough of her. The more he tasted, the more he craved. She was like a drug, and after one dose, he was hooked.

  He would never be free of the addiction that was Eilish Flanagan.

  And that only gave him a brief flare of concern. Then she was kissing him again.

  Ulrik sat them up, kissing down her neck. She gripped his shoulders and rode him hard as her soft moans filled the air. His lips wrapped around a pert nipple and began to tease the tiny bud.

  Her cries grew louder, and her nails dug into him. He moved to her other breast and suckled until her body jerked and he felt her clamping around his cock.

  He lifted his head, watching the climax sweep through her. Though he tried to hold off his orgasm, the feeling of her combined with observing Eilish was too much. He was quickly pushed over the precipice into the awaiting arms of ecstasy.

  And just like the first time he’d made love to Eilish, he was transported, his worries wiped away like condensation on glass. Everything was in harmony. It was such an amazing experience that he never wanted it to end.

  All too soon, the pleasure faded. He opened his eyes to find her staring at him with a slight smile. Then she rose to her feet and held out her palm. It never dawned on him to refuse. He took her hand and climbed to his feet. To his surprise, she released him and walked to his bedroom.

  Curious, Ulrik followed. He grinned when he saw her climb into his bed and turn onto her side facing him, her gaze locked on him to see what he would do. He’d left her the first time. He wasn’t going to repeat that mistake.

  He made his way to the other side of the bed and lifted the sheets to climb beneath them. One of his rules was that he never spent an entire night with a woman. He hadn’t shared a bed with anyone since Nala.

  And yet, he wanted this. He curled his body aro
und Eilish’s and draped an arm over her waist. She snuggled back against him, sighing contentedly. Almost immediately, she fell asleep.

  But he couldn’t. Not when he could still see the red marks on her body. They were fading, but slowly.

  He needed to know where she’d gone, so if it happened again, he could get to her. Though he hoped she never went there again. It was too dangerous. Especially since the mist she’d spoken of seemed to be sentient.

  That threat was concerning, but there were other things he needed to focus on. Namely Mikkel and the Duffy family. Eilish’s aunts wouldn’t stop until they had her.

  Which wasn’t going to happen.

  As he lay there planning the different ways he could approach them, it finally dawned on him that he couldn’t help Eilish and take down Con.

  Everything was primed for him to challenge the King of Kings. If he waited, he might have to start all over. Hadn’t he waited long enough for his revenge? Hadn’t he given enough?

  With Eilish sleeping, he slowly extracted himself from her and rose from the bed. He walked out of the bedroom, summoning his clothes as he did. Just as he was about to touch his cuff, Eilish cleared her throat behind him.

  Ulrik turned to her. “You’re safe here. Rest.”

  “And what are you planning to do?”

  “Find my uncle.”

  She smiled and walked to the stack of clothes he’d laid on the couch. “He took my finger rings. I want them back.”

  “Eilish,” he began.

  Her head snapped up from pulling on her jeans. “You’d better not be about to tell me to rest.”

  “You’ve been through a lot.”

  “And I’ll go through a lot more, no doubt. Shall I do it with you beside me? Or should I do it on my own.”

  Ulrik clenched his teeth. Damn woman. She’d known he wouldn’t let her do it on her own.

  “That’s what I thought,” she replied with a grin and finished dressing.

  Once the white tee shirt was in place, her black boots zipped, and the black leather jacket on, she turned to him.

  Ulrik held out his hand. As soon as she took it, he touched the cuff and returned them to her flat. Though she said nothing, he felt her tense when she realized where they were.

  “He used magic. I’ll be able to trace him from it,” Ulrik told her.

  “Why didn’t you do that before?”

  He glanced her way. “Because I was looking for you.”

  “Oh,” she said, but her smile said she was pleased.

  Ulrik walked to the entryway and looked at the splintered wood. No foot kicked that in. It was magic. He squatted and ran his hand over the space near the door, waiting to feel dragon magic. He did, but it was so slight that he frowned. Almost immediately, he felt more—Druid magic.

  Except this magic wasn’t mie or drough. It was … wrong.

  The combination of dragon and Druid magic perplexed him. Even someone like Mikkel would have more magic than a Druid. So why would he combine it with power that was so … off?

  “What is it?” Eilish asked as she came up behind him.

  Ulrik dropped his hand as he rose to his feet. “You said Mikkel was strong.”

  “He was. I couldn’t use my magic at all.”

  “I think I know why.”

  Eilish raised her brows expectantly. “Care to share?”

  “You wanted to know about your family. It looks like you’re going to get your wish.”

  Lines of worry tightened on her face. “I’m not going to like what we find, am I?”

  “Probably no’.”

  She squared her shoulders. Her green-gold eyes eagerly met his. “Then what are we waiting for?”

  He took her hand and touched his cuff.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Paris, France

  The world looked vastly different from a great height. Rhi lounged against the metal pillar at the very tip of the Eiffel Tower. It was no wonder the Dragon Kings loved to fly. Looking down upon Paris, it was easy to dismiss the trivial issues others faced.

  But Rhi couldn’t fly. Her feet would always be planted firmly on the ground. However, that ground could be anywhere. It didn’t mean she had to remain in this realm. After all, what had Earth done for her?

  Not a fucking thing.

  It had given her a Dragon King, then took him away.

  It had given her a best friend, then took Balladyn away.

  It had given her purpose, then took that away.

  It had given her a second home, then took that away.

  It had given her hope, then took that away.

  She had no home, no family, no function, and no people to call her own.

  The only thing she had was the darkness that continued to grow within her. The hate and anger she felt toward Usaeil only made it spread.

  She feared that. But how much longer would that anxiety hold? Because once it was gone, Rhi would be the very thing she’d sworn never to be—Dark Fae.

  This was usually when she’d turn to Balladyn since she couldn’t go to Dreagan. But Balladyn had become someone she didn’t recognize. Perhaps he’d been like that all along and she just refused to see it.

  Daire wasn’t even following her anymore. The Reaper hadn’t said anything to her. One day, he was just gone. She hadn’t seen him since, and she’d become accustomed to him always being with her and listening to her.

  She thought of Phelan but promptly nixed that idea. Every time she went to him and Aisley, she brought danger with her. So far, there were only a few who knew that Phelan was half-Fae. And if Usaeil ever discovered that there was an heir to her throne, Rhi knew the queen would kill Phelan. She had no proof, just a feeling that had been there from the very beginning.

  Rhi had long kept Phelan’s identity a secret. She wasn’t going to waste everything she’d done to lose him now. Or ever, for that matter. Which meant that she couldn’t turn to him.

  There was Ulrik. As soon as she thought about him, she shoved the notion aside. Ulrik was too caught up in his quest for vengeance to do anything but use her for his own means. Although, he had been different the last time she’d spoken with him.

  But talking with Ulrik was like navigating a maze of death. She had to consider everything she said, and study each word that came out of his mouth.

  She briefly thought of Rhys. The Dragon King was a true friend, but anything she told Rhys would get back to him. Everything she did on Dreagan always got back to him.

  Why then did she continue to return there? Apparently, she liked torturing herself. She should’ve cut whatever cord was keeping her connected to Dreagan long ago, but she couldn’t then.

  And she couldn’t now.

  Which put her exactly in her present predicament.

  “What a fine mess I’m in this time,” she murmured to herself.

  She should be down on the streets of Paris, shopping and having fun. It was difficult to be so carefree after being banished. Though she’d tried.

  Her gaze drifted down to her nails. She’d gone to see Jesse in Austin. Her amazing nail tech had done a spectacular marbleized effect using a prismatic glitter shimmer called Desperately Seeking Sequins and a fabulous deep sea indigo color called Russian Navy.

  As much as she loved her nails, it did nothing to lessen the anger that kept building.

  “This isna what I expected.”

  She jerked at the sound of the Scottish brogue, but more so because it was Constantine’s voice. She gaped at the King of Dragon Kings. The wind ruffled his blond hair and caused the hem of his suit jacket to flap, but otherwise, he stood like a mountain—imposing and unmovable.

  “What the hell? How did you find me? And how did you get up here?” she demanded.

  He ignored her questions and said, “I knew if I called to you that you wouldna come. So I found you instead.”

  “I might’ve come,” she retorted crossly.

  At his raised brow, she rolled her eyes. How she loathed when he was rig
ht.

  He came to stand beside her and looked down upon the city. “Doona do this alone.”

  “Alone?” She cocked an eyebrow as she looked askance at him. “You mean, the very way you made Ulrik do it?”

  Con blew out a breath. “I expected you to bring him up.”

  “Because you know I’m right.”

  “Do you want me to say it would’ve been kinder if I had killed him?” Con asked, his head turned to her. “It would have. Immensely so. But I couldna do it.”

  She leaned her hip against the railing. “You might not have a choice now.”

  “I realize that.”

  There was a long stretch of silence while they looked over the city. Finally, Con said, “I’ve been told I’m handling too many things.”

  “Yep,” she stated. “I told you that, as well.”

  “I took care of one earlier. Mikkel’s spy has been removed from Dreagan.”

  She nodded, thinking it was a smart move. “That’s good.”

  “Ulrik could challenge me at any moment.”

  Her gaze swung to him. “You’ve known that for some time.”

  “Aye. But that was before I said I’d help you with Usaeil.”

  Rhi laughed, though there was no mirth in it. “I don’t need your help to face her.”

  “That’s no’ what I meant, and you know it. She dragged me into this.”

  “Oh, no,” Rhi said with a shake of her head. “You became part of it the minute you jumped into her bed.”

  His lips compressed briefly, but his face remained impassive. “That’s true. I’ll add that I didna jump. But do you think she’ll stop with me? If Ulrik defeats me, do you really believe Usaeil willna go after him or another King?”

  “I really do hate when you’re right.” Because he was almost always right. Though she wouldn’t tell him that.

  Con didn’t rub it in. He put a hand into his pants’ pocket. “I planned to go after Mikkel. Then I thought about all the things you’ve done for the Kings and Dreagan. I put you off with Usaeil long enough.”

  “If you get tangled in a war with her—because we both know it’s going to get very ugly—that leaves you vulnerable to Ulrik.”