Burned by Darkness Read online

  Passing the fighting pits that were currently empty, as well as the open cubbies for those demons who didn’t need privacy for their sex, he began pushing open doors in the hopes of stumbling across Tayla’s father.

  Hey, it could happen.

  He was at the end of the hallway when he stepped into the last room. Instantly he was confronted by a pretty fairy with a halo of golden curls and big, china blue eyes that regarded him with a wary fear. Swiftly she was trying to disguise her terror behind a forced smile.

  “Hello.”

  “Oh. Pardon.” Levet performed a small bow, allowing his tail to curl around his feet. He didn’t want her to miss how shiny it was in the dim candlelight. “I did not intend to disturb your privacy.”

  “That’s okay.” Her slender hands fluttered down her gossamer gown that revealed her naked body beneath. “Are you my next customer?”

  “Non.” Levet closed the door and stepped forward. He hadn’t forgotten his goal to locate Odel, but his instinct to play the role of Knight In Shining Armor was too compelling to resist. “You are a…”

  “Whore?” she bluntly said the word Levet had been attempting to avoid. “Yes.”

  Levet took another step forward, glancing around the barren room that held nothing beyond a bed and narrow dresser. There were no pictures, no flowers, no hint of the usual female gewgaws that turned a space into a home. “Forgive me, ma belle, but are you being held against your will?”

  “I…” The blue gaze darted toward the corner of the room, where a tiny red light was blinking. A hidden camera stuck in the paneling. How…clichéd. “No, of course not,” the fairy continued.

  Levet resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Instead he turned so he could spread his wings far enough to block the view.

  “Is there more than one camera?”

  She gave a tiny shake of her head. “No.”

  “Can they hear what we’re saying?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Bon.” Keeping his wings spread, Levet reached out to gently grasp the female’s hand. “What’s your name?”

  “Sunny.”

  “Sunny.” He gave her fingers a squeeze. “Where is your family?”

  She bit her bottom lip. “They came to this place in an effort to hide from a vampire who was hunting my younger brother for trying to seduce his mate.”

  Levet grimaced. It wasn’t an uncommon story. Fairy males tried to bed every female that crossed their paths. Regardless of whether or not she might be claimed by a possessive mate.

  “You bartered yourself to pay the bill?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you wish to escape?”

  She sucked in a shocked breath. “It’s impossible.”

  “Nothing is impossible for me,” he assured the delicate female. It was obvious the poor creature was traumatized. But why wouldn’t she be? No doubt her family had left her behind when the danger from the vampire had passed, accepting that it would be her duty to sell her body in this seedy pub. “I am a certified Knight In Shining Armor.”

  “I…” The fairy blinked, and blinked again. “I see.”

  “Not yet. But you will,” Levet assured her, pressing a light kiss to her chilled fingers. “First I need your assistance.”

  Without warning, the fairy heaved a resigned sigh. “Of course. What do you desire?”

  “Not what you are imagining,” he softly chastised. Releasing her fingers, he gave a wave of his hand, creating the image of Odel he’d found in Tayla’s picture album. “Have you seen this imp?”

  “Oh.” A flush touched the female’s cheeks as she leaned down to study the fuzzy face that was floating in midair. Without warning, she made a small sound of surprise. “I have.”

  Levet’s tail twitched around his feet. At last.

  “He was here?”

  “Yes.” The fairy gave a firm nod. “I saw him in the pub room last night.”

  “Where are the vaults?” he asked, referring to the rooms demons rented when they wanted to avoid attention.

  “If they discover I helped you—”

  “No one will discover you helped,” he interrupted. It would take very little for the fairy to work herself into a panic.

  Not that he would usually mind. A fairy in full hysteria was eager to be comforted. And he had a number of very fine techniques for calming a beautiful fey. But right now it was more important that he locate Odel. It was the only way to save Tayla from the dragon.

  “You can’t be sure,” she breathed.

  “I promise.”

  “How?”

  He gave a lift of his hands. “I swear no matter what happens I will come back to rescue you.”

  Hope briefly shimmered in the impossibly blue eyes before Sunny was sending a fearful glance toward the camera.

  “That’s impossible,” she whispered.

  “What did I say about that word, ma belle?” he scolded in light tones. Then, giving a wave of his hand to dispel the image of Odel, he squared his shoulders. He was running out of time. “Tell me how to find the vaults.”

  There was the faintest hesitation before Sunny leaned down to whisper directly in his ear.

  “Take the back stairs to the basement,” she said. “In the last cell there’s a door hidden behind an illusion of a brick wall.”

  “Ah.” Levet gave her a cheek a small pat. “Illusions are my specialty.” Turning, he headed toward the door, pausing to send her a reassuring smile. “I will return for you.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Right.”

  “I do not make promises I do not keep,” he swore, stepping out of the room before those big blue eyes could lure him into forgetting the reason he was at the nasty pub.

  First he had to get Odel.

  Then, he would come back for Sunny.

  And then…well, perhaps he would play cupid for himself and allow Sunny to enjoy the attentions of a genuine Prince Charming, aka Levet.

  ###

  Tayla wasn’t sure how long she slept.

  It felt like several hours, but time between dimensions always flowed at its own pace. It could be a few minutes or several weeks since she’d entered the cottage. And since night and day were clearly controlled by Baine, she couldn’t even use the hint of dawn that was cresting the horizon to assume it was morning.

  Still, she felt deliciously rested for the first time in years, she decided. Which was all that mattered.

  Scooting off the bed, she shoved her tangled hair out of her face and followed the thundering male power that hummed in the air.

  “Hello?” she called out, moving through the cozy living room filled with overstuffed furniture and tiny tables covered in knickknacks.

  She briefly hesitated, easily imagining herself seated in front of the fireplace, sipping tea and… She gave a sharp shake of her head. Was she nuts? Sipping tea in a dragon’s lair?

  She was clearly suffering from some strange Stockholm syndrome.

  Forcing her feet to carry her out the front door, she glanced around the seemingly empty yard with a small frown.

  “Baine?”

  There was the sound of rustling leaves, then without warning a slender form was leaping from the nearby tree to stand directly in front of her.

  “He isn’t here.”

  She sucked in a startled breath, her wide gaze taking in the stranger’s short silver hair and storm-gray eyes. The male was gorgeous, but she wasn’t fooled by his boyish smile or the casual khakis and gray cashmere sweater.

  He didn’t have the same power as Baine, but he was a lethal predator who could crush her before she could hope to escape.

  “Who are you?” she demanded, taking a discreet step backward.

  He folded his arms over his chest, studying her with a blatant curiosity.

  “Char.” He performed a small bow. “Baine’s most trusted servant.”

  A delicious heat wrapped around her, prickling over her skin like an intimate caress. Yow. If Baine hadn’t already bewi
tched her with his magic she would have melted into a puddle of gooey lust.

  “You’re a dragon?” she demanded.

  “Half-breed.”

  Ah. That would explain why his power had seemed muted.

  It didn’t, however, explain why he was in the private lair Baine had created.

  “Why are you here?”

  “I was commanded to protect you.”

  “Protect me.” Tayla frowned. That didn’t sound good. “Protect me from what?”

  Char shrugged. “Baine was a little vague on details. Something about trolls.”

  Could the trolls follow her here? It seemed unlikely. So was there some other reason he was worried for her safety?

  Or did he assume she was going to try and escape?

  Of course. That had to be it.

  The thought was somehow disappointing.

  “Where did Baine go?” she asked, stiffening as Char slowly circled her, his heat continuing to dance over her skin.

  Was he checking out her butt? Or deciding if he wanted her for dinner?

  Neither possibility was reassuring.

  At last completing his circle, the male halted in front of her, meeting her wary gaze with a mysterious smile.

  “He had to deal with a personal matter.”

  Personal matter? What was that supposed to mean?

  Tayla narrowed her eyes as her brain was seared with an unwelcome visual of Baine standing in his harem with a bevy of beautiful females kneeling at his feet.

  Not that she’d seen any hint of other females when she’d been in his harem. Or even knew what a ‘bevy’ entailed. But still…

  Everyone knew dragons had insatiable sexual appetites.

  “Personal?”

  His brows arched as he easily read the jealousy she had no right to feel.

  “Not that kind of personal,” he assured her. “He discovered he has a traitor among his servants.”

  “Oh.” She bit her bottom lip. Baine was taking on a traitor? By himself? “He isn’t in danger, is he?”

  Char studied her worried expression. “Does the thought trouble you?”

  “I…” She wrapped her arms around her waist, belatedly trying to disguise her flare of fear.

  It was bad enough to admit to herself she was fascinated by the arrogant Baine. She didn’t want it advertised to the rest of the world.

  “Only if he leaves me trapped here,” she muttered.

  Char tilted back his head to laugh with rich amusement. “I thought he’d lost his mind. Now I begin to understand his fascination.”

  The gray eyes darkened to smoke as Char allowed his gaze to slide down her body, taking a thorough survey of her too-short nightgown.

  Tayla heaved a resigned sigh. Was it some sort of dragon rule to flirt with every woman who crossed their path?

  “No, you were right the first time,” she said dryly. “He’s lost his mind.”

  His smile only widened, his nose flaring as if he was savoring her scent.

  “There’s something different about you.”

  Tayla took a step back. “Nope, just a common imp.” She shrugged. “Unless you’re referring to my baking skills. I have to admit my scones are extraordinary. You should stop by my teashop and try them.”

  “Hmm.” His gaze lingered on her lips. “I wonder what you taste like.”

  Taste? That couldn’t be good. She swallowed a lump that threatened to choke her.

  “It’s not nice to eat your guests.”

  He stepped toward her. “Not even a nibble?”

  “No.”

  “I promise you’ll like it.”

  She probably would have. If she’d met him before Baine.

  But now…

  Almost as if the thought of him had somehow conjured him into being, there was a blast of power that made the ground shake.

  “A step closer, Char, and I’ll have you skinned and made into a sofa,” a deep male voice promised.

  They both turned to discover Baine standing in the doorway of the cottage.

  Surprisingly nonchalant, considering that Baine’s eyes smoldered with an amber fire and his tattoos were swirling over his skin at a dizzying speed, Char glanced toward Tayla.

  “There’s no need to be selfish,” the half-breed protested. “She’s a delicate morsel, but there’s plenty to go around.”

  Baine stalked straight toward the male, the air sizzling with a heat that would have fried her if she’d been human.

  “When did you develop a death wish?”

  Char stood his ground. “About the same time you developed an obsession with imps.”

  With a blinding speed Baine’s arm shot out to wrap his fingers around Char’s throat. Then, displaying a terrifying strength, he lifted the half-breed off the ground.

  “Mine,” he said in soft tones.

  Char’s face reddened as the fingers bit into his neck, but the half-breed appeared strangely pleased by Baine’s violent response.

  Was he demented?

  “Got it.”

  “Say it,” Baine insisted.

  “She’s yours, my lord.”

  “Bull hockey,” Tayla abruptly muttered.

  The two males exchanged startled glances, as if surprised she was still there. Then an unmistakable hint of amusement tugged on Baine’s lips.

  “Bull hockey?” he asked, lowering his companion back to the ground.

  “I might be temporarily forced to pay for my father’s debts, but I don’t belong to anyone,” she informed him.

  “She’s going to need some training,” Char pointed out, lightly touching the burns on his neck that were rapidly healing.

  “True,” Baine agreed. “I think I’m up for the task.”

  Tayla narrowed her gaze, pointing a finger toward the aggravating dragon.

  “Your friend isn’t the only one with the death wish,” she warned.

  Char chuckled. “Is she always grumpy when she gets out of bed?”

  Heat wrapped around Tayla as Baine moved toward her, a barely leashed hunger tightening his beautiful features.

  “I suppose that’s something I’ll soon discover.”

  Excitement blistered through her, making her heart pound and her mouth dry.

  He was so exotic. And gorgeous. And gloriously male.

  Who could blame her heart for leaping with excitement at the mere thought of waking in his arms?

  “Baine,” she breathed, a flush staining her cheeks.

  Char made a choked sound as he studied her blush. “Amazing,” he breathed.

  Baine nodded in some mysterious agreement. “Yes.”

  Tayla frowned. What the heck were they talking about? It had to be some dragon thing.

  “Did you discover the traitor?” Char thankfully turned the conversation to more important matters.

  Baine’s face clenched with grim anger. “Fist.”

  “Damn.” Char looked shocked, then his eyes swirled with thunderclouds. “Is he dead?”

  “Not yet.”

  Char’s smile made Tayla’s blood run cold. “Good. It will be my pleasure to take care of the traitor.”

  Baine lifted a slender hand. “He’s in the dungeon. I want him left alive for now.”

  Char thinned his lips in frustration. “That sets a bad precedent.”

  Baine shrugged. “I might need him.”

  Accepting that his master wasn’t going to give him the green light to destroy the traitor, Char gave a grudging nod of his head.

  “Fine. What do you want from me?”

  “I want you to track down the trolls who broke into Tayla’s home,” Baine said.

  Tayla widened her eyes in surprise. Why was he interested in the trolls?

  “That should be simple enough,” Char said with a shrug. “What do you want me to do with them?”

  “Just keep an eye on them for now.”

  Char glanced toward Tayla before returning his attention to Baine.

  “And you?”

&nb
sp; “Go away, Char,” Baine muttered as he turned toward Tayla, a strange glitter in his amber eyes.

  Tayla was vaguely aware of Char chuckling as he gave a wave of his hand and disappeared into a portal, but it was impossible to concentrate on anything beyond the large dragon who prowled toward her. Especially when he swept her off her feet to cradle her against his chest.

  Ignoring her tiny gasp, he carried her into the cottage, a delectable heat cloaking around her.

  Lowering his head, he spoke directly in her ear. “Alone at last, my sweet Tayla.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Baine had possessed his share of lovers. He might not be like many dragons who felt the need to indulge their primitive urges with endless orgies, but he was a sexual animal who enjoyed the delights of the female body.

  But he couldn’t ever remember carrying a woman before Tayla. Why would he? If a female was disabled he would call for a healer.

  Now he discovered there was something utterly satisfying in having this particular female in his arms as he entered the small cottage that was a reflection of her deepest desire.

  Sucking in a deep breath of her tart scent, he felt her tiny shiver.

  She abruptly broke the silence. “Char said there was a traitor.”

  Baine frowned, studying her flushed face. He’d arrogantly assumed her shiver was one of pleasure.

  Had he been mistaken?

  Slowly lowering her to her feet in the center of the small living room, he reached to stroke a golden curl that had tumbled over her cheek.

  “Are you afraid of me?” he demanded.

  “I’m…” Her words faltered, her eyes shimmering with flecks of jade. “I don’t know what I am.”

  His fingers traced the line of her jaw and down the length of her throat.

  “Do you want me?”

  She licked her lips in an unconscious invitation, inwardly struggling to confess the truth.

  “Yes, but I don’t want to want you,” she at last muttered.

  Baine scowled. He’d lived for centuries. Females were always eager to attract his attention. He didn’t like the thought she would regret their mutual hunger.

  “Because I’m a dragon?”

  She blinked, as if baffled by his question. “What do you mean?”