Burning Desire (15 page)

“Two Dark are trailing you.”

“Spotted them already. By the way, you need to be ready to leave Ireland.”

Phelan set all four legs of his chair back on the floor. “Why? Have you learned something?”

“That’s what today is about. It willna be long before they realize who you are.”

“It’s a chance we take.”

Kiril smiled to the waitress as she brought his sandwich. He waited until she walked away before he said, “I refuse to face Aisley because you were an idiot.”

“You think I want to be the one to tell Con you were captured?”

Kiril bit into his sandwich and swallowed. The human male’s gaze was on him again. Kiril returned the stare until the human quickly looked away. “Under no circumstances let yourself be discovered by the Dark.”

Phelan’s food arrived. He chatted with the waitress, making her blush. She looked back at him when she walked away. When she was occupied with another customer, Phelan said, “Ditto. Except you can no’ get taken.”

“That’s no’ my plan.” But it might very well come to that. How else was Kiril going to learn what he needed? “If I am, contact Rhys first.”

“Fuck,” Phelan murmured.

There was nothing else to say. Kiril ate his meal, not tasting anything as his mind was on something else entirely—Shara. Even while he slept in dragon form, he had thought of her. She hadn’t come to him last night. There were numerous reasons as to what could have kept her away, but he continued to think of the worst ones.

Assuming she wasn’t lying to him and she didn’t want to have him captured by the Dark.

Then again, she could be the ultimate seductress by using timidity mixed with her sweet allure. It could all be an act to pull him completely under her spell. And damn her, it was working.

“Watch yourself,” Phelan whispered as he tossed down some money and walked out of the pub.

Kiril ordered a mug of ale and decided to remain in the pub for a little longer. He got a pen from the waitress when she brought his drink and used the back of the cocktail napkin to draw a map of Cork.

He marked with an X the places where he’d found more than two Dark. What it showed more clearly than anything was how the Dark weren’t just living in Cork—they were taking over.

Several businesses were owned by the Dark, and several more had Dark working amid humans. Why? Why would the Dark who think of humans as toys put themselves so close to them?

Kiril remained in the pub until he finished his ale. He then paid his bill and left, stuffing the napkin in his pocket. He turned to the left and continued his exploration of the city. Except this time he wasn’t just studying things.

Four Dark looked up as he walked into a souvenir shop. Kiril gave them an aloof smile. “Who can point me to the home of the Blackwoods?”

Their eyes went wide at the mention of Blackwood. Just as he’d expected. Shara’s family was as powerful as she’d led him to believe.

“Nothing?” he asked.

When they only stared at him blankly with their red eyes, Kiril walked out and went into the next building. There was only one Dark inside, and she was shopping. With a nod at the human owner, Kiril went to the next shop.

Every time he encountered Dark that were working at the businesses, he asked about Blackwood, and each time he got the same response—fear. A few Dark dared to look at him as if he were digging a hole for himself. They had no idea who he was. Kiril was fine with that. The fewer Dark who realized he was a Dragon King the better.

It would be easier for the Dark to capture him if all of them knew who he was, but it reaffirmed his suspicions about Farrell. The jackass was trying to capture him on his own. Kiril was going to make him pay for thinking it was that easy to take a Dragon King.

The sun was dipping low in the sky when Kiril walked into a store with several Dark Fae about. He made his way to the cashier and asked, “Do you know the address of the Blackwood residence?”

The female Dark quickly shook her head and disappeared through a door to the back. Kiril turned and started to walk out when a Dark stepped in front of him.

Her black and silver hair was trimmed close to her head, and she wore a nose ring. Heavy makeup covered her face, especially her eyes. She tapped the toe of her combat boots on the floor in time with the smacking of her gum. “Why do you want the Blackwoods?”

Ah. Finally someone willing to talk. Kiril knew it would happen eventually. “It’s business.”

“You know they’re a family you don’t want to mess with, right?” she asked in her thick Irish accent.

Kiril smiled. “I appreciate the warning. Will you give me the address?”

She chomped on her gum for a few seconds before she too smiled. “If you’re senseless enough to go there knowing what awaits you, who am I to stop you?”

Kiril walked out of the shop with a destination—and a purpose.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Shara woke from her position in the high-backed chair and turned her head. To lock gazes with Balladyn.

His red eyes blazed with a craving a blind woman could see. She swallowed, unsure what to say. It had been hours since he had left her to attend to his business. When he held out his hand, it never entered her mind to refuse him. In the time she had been with Balladyn she’d learned that no one refused him
anything
.

“You remained.”

She glanced at their joined hands. “You asked me to.” What else was she to do? Leave after he’d told her to stay? Return to her family? As if.

“You didn’t leave my chamber.”

Shara tilted her head as his words sank in. “You had someone guarding me?”

He was no better than her family keeping watch over every move she made. The fury that erupted within her was fierce and overwhelming.

Balladyn simply raised a black brow. “The guard was there to ensure that no one bothered you as well as to see to anything you needed.”

Shara looked away. Her chest heaved from the anger swirling within her. She wanted to believe him, but she wasn’t sure she could. Would she be trading one prison for another with Balladyn?

“There are … things … in my fortress that could harm you should you encounter them,” he said into the silence.

She smiled tightly, still refusing to look at him. The fact he wouldn’t release her hand was all that kept her next to him. “Right. Just as my family locked me away for my own good.”

Balladyn tightened his fingers on her hand and pulled her closer until their bodies touched. Then he placed his other hand against her chin and turned her face back toward him. He looked intently into her eyes. “You’ll know if I ever imprison you, Shara.”

“Because you’ll tell me?”

“Because you’ll be in chains.”

Shara held back a shudder. Barely. “Do you hold many prisoners?”

“A few. Most are Dark who have gone against Taraeth or need … persuasion of some kind.”

She couldn’t believe she was even considering asking him about Rhi, but she hadn’t been able to forget Kiril’s words. He had called the Light a friend. She didn’t think any Fae—Light or Dark—were friends with the Dragon Kings. At least that’s what she had been taught.

“What else do you have here?” she asked.

He smiled and loosened his hold on her hand. “An enemy of mine. A Light Fae.”

Her shock wasn’t faked. She had thought Kiril might be wrong in who he thought had taken Rhi. But he hadn’t been. She grabbed his arm with her free hand, her eyes widening. “Are you serious? You actually have a Light?”

“Why is that so surprising?”

“I’ve never seen a Light Fae.” It wasn’t a lie. “Are they as silly as we’re taught?”

Balladyn studied her carefully. “I was Light.”

“I know.”

“I was one of their fiercest warriors, Shara. Do I look silly?”

Of all the words she could have chosen, she had to use that one. Just great. “You’re Dark now. I assumed you became who you are once you came to us.”

“I didn’t come to this side. I was taken wounded off the battlefield,” he said softly, severely.

No wonder he considered Rhi an enemy. Had she been with him when he was injured and left him to be taken by the Dark? Shara didn’t want to feel sympathy for Balladyn, but she did. She cupped his face before she could think twice about it. “I’m sorry you were taken from your home.”

He covered her hand so that he held each of her hands in his. “A Dark who feels compassion?”

Shara looked away, suddenly fearful of the empathy she had shown him. It wasn’t what a Dark would do, should do. She pulled away from him and took several steps back. The fact that he had released her couldn’t be a good sign. She fisted her hands to stop them from shaking. Associating with someone like Balladyn could either mean good things or very, very bad things.

One little comment could seal her doom.

His arms dropped to his sides. “Stubbornness, willfulness, and compassion. The first two are traits pushed for in the males, but certainly not females. Nay,” he continued in a calm, smooth voice. “Females need to be compliant, subservient, and respectful.”

She held his gaze while trying to figure out what he was going to do with her. He was so composed and unruffled that it set her on edge.

“You, a daughter of a high-ranking family, killed human females that were in service to your family. Why?”

Not once had she ever thought she would have to defend her actions outside of her family. Yet here she was. Was it a simple question, or was she on trial? “Does it matter?”

“It does to me,” Balladyn answered and crossed his arms across his chest.

Shara had once tried to explain herself to her family, but they hadn’t wanted to listen. Balladyn would be the same, she was sure of it. No matter what, she had to give him an answer.

“I was with them on the streets of Cork. I ate with them, drank with them, and kidnapped them for my family. I knew the vivacious women that they were before they were reduced to crying masses begging me to help.”

“Begging?” Balladyn asked with a frown.

Shara laughed as she recalled how two of her female cousins had each held one of her arms to keep her immobile. “Didn’t Farrell share that part? They made me watch. Farrell thought it would affirm what it was our family did.”

“And you had never seen a Dark male take a human female before?”

“No. I knew it occurred. I just didn’t realize what it would do to the females.”

“So you killed them.”

“Yes. Farrell wanted to kill me right then and there, but my uncle brought me before my father.”

“Obviously your father disagreed with Farrell.”

Shara loosened her fingers. If she were going to die, then she would do it with courage. “Is that why you kept me with you? You wanted to know everything? To see if I would screw up and prove that I wasn’t a true Dark?”

A full minute passed in silence before Balladyn dropped his arms and turned on his heel to walk to the door. “Follow me.”

Her legs were shaky and her feet heavy, but she fell into step behind Balladyn. His strides were long, making her quicken her pace to remain with him. He took her downstairs below the great hall to the dungeon. Balladyn didn’t stop until he stood in front of a solid metal door. Shara looked from the door to him.

“Go inside,” Balladyn said in a hard voice.

So this is what was to become of her. He had said she would know when he imprisoned her. From one prison to another. She clenched her teeth when he made her open the door. Only a certified ass would make a prisoner open their own cell door.

The heavy door swung open silently. Shara peered inside the dark prison to see someone chained at the far wall. The prisoner’s head hung to their chest as they were half-lying, half-sitting up.

“Meet Rhi,” Balladyn said from behind her.

Shara was aghast at the sight of the Light Fae. She jerked her gaze to Balladyn. “Why did you bring me here?”

“To show you what I’ll do to anyone who dares to say you’re inferior.”

Shara blinked, thoroughly confused. “You aren’t … disappointed in me?”

“Quite the opposite. Most Dark go blindly quenching their needs and desires. They think of no one and nothing but themselves. You have a strong mind and a strong will to do what is right for your people.”

Why then did she want to rush back to Cork so she could tell Kiril she knew where Rhi was being kept? That had nothing to do with the good of the Dark, and everything to do with … Kiril.

“You think instead of just acting on what is expected of you.”

Shara looked back at Rhi. The Light Fae was covered in filth, her black hair hanging limply around her. At first glance, Rhi looked dead. She didn’t have to ask to know that Balladyn had spent the night torturing Rhi. Was that what was needed to turn a Light to the Dark side? Is that what had happened to him?

“Do you remember being Light?” she whispered.

“It’s like it happened to another person, but I do retain some memories.”

“How do you turn a Light to Dark?” She really didn’t want to know, but she had to have the information. For herself and for Kiril.

“Torture is always a good start. It takes decades, and sometimes centuries for a Light to turn.”

Shara closed her eyes. Balladyn said it with such matter-of-factness that she didn’t doubt him. “And no Light can withstand this torture?”

“It’s not just the torture. We get in their heads and learn what they care about the most. Then we use it against them.”

“Who does Rhi care about the most?”

“Her Dragon King lover.”

Shara’s eyes snapped open. So it was true. She looked at Balladyn. “Why are you the one with Rhi? Why doesn’t Taraeth have her?”

“Because I want my revenge,” Balladyn said through clenched teeth.

She took a step back and ran into the door. She knew she should leave well enough alone, and yet she asked, “For what?”

“She was my friend, the only family I had. She left me on that battlefield to be found by Taraeth.”

“Do the Dragon Kings know you have her?”

“I doubt they’ll care. Her lover left her,” Balladyn said with a triumphant grin. “They don’t care about her no matter what she might hope for.”

Shara looked at Rhi again. If only Balladyn knew the truth he wouldn’t be so cavalier. Shara had seen the look in Kiril’s shamrock green eyes. He would find Rhi. What she wouldn’t do to have someone feel that way about her.