Treasure of the Fire Kingdom (The Elemental Phases Book 4) (33 page)

“Where
are you going?”

“To
hunt a werewolf.”

“Wow.” 
Hope shook her head.  “I am so jealous… that you really got to say that.”

Kingu
was so angry he barely heard her.

Galen
had just tried to murder the only thing that Kingu had ever loved.

Hope
had saved Kingu’s life just by being in it.  She was everything he’d ever
imagined having.  More than he could have possibly hoped for.  He needed her
beyond anything in the universe and losing her would be worse than any torture
his mother had ever inflicted upon him.

And
that son-of-a-bitch Stone Phase had almost poisoned her.

There
was quite simply nowhere Galen could hide that Kingu wouldn’t find him and wipe
him from existence.  And he wanted it done as quickly as possible, before the
little fuck-wad tried to hurt her, again.  Not even a Star Phase’s luck could
hold out forever if someone wanted her dead badly enough.

Thankfully,
Galen wasn’t exactly trying to hide.  He and about a fifteen other Phases were
standing in front of Kingu’s fortress.  They were armed like they were about to
invade several small nations at once and standing next to some large object
covered in a blue tarp.

Kingu
sighted on a Chemical Phase wearing a very familiar green polo shirt.  The kid
looked like he’d seen a ghost when he gazed past Kingu and saw Hope standing
there.

“Nice
try.”  She called.  “But, I don’t die that easy.  Ask anyone.”

Kingu
had no idea why he’d even bothered to suggest she stay back and recover from
her lung attack.  Even as he’d said the words he’d known she’d ignore him.

Galen
wasn’t thrilled to see Hope there, either.  He jabbed a finger at her.  “Your
reign of terror ends now, human!  Freeing my prisoners was your last mistake. 
I expected that you might somehow escape the red frog dust with your tricks and
ungodly powers.  But not even your monster can protect you from the righteous
judgment of my loyal men.”  He waved a hand at the armed guard surrounding him.

“Can’t
I?”  Kingu challenged quietly.  He snapped his fingers and a piano fell from
the sky…  Right on the green polo shirt guy.

The
massive Steinway crushed the Chemistry Phase into a two dimensional puddle of
red goo.  There was deafening thud and a jarring clang of the keys on impact. 
The other Elementals went stumbling backwards, their eyes trained on the sunset
colored sky scanning for other flying instruments.

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.”

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
un
dress 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 headed 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.