Scorched by Darkness (12 page)

Why should he?

The past didn’t matter.

“You came through during the war?” he asked, referring to the recent attempt by the evil deity to return to this world.

She nodded. “There was enough chaos for us to slip through unnoticed. Once we were here we disappeared in the wilderness of Alaska.”

“Why didn’t you seek out the Sylvermyst who’d fought against the Dark Lord?”

“It’s what I’d hoped for,” she said softly. “Shortly after we arrived, I sought out information on our people. I discovered Ariyal and his tribe were already established in an isolated area in the Midwest.”

Finn frowned. “I think I heard about him.”

“He was forced to stay hidden at Avalon and serve Morgana le Fay,” she said.

“Ah. Yes.” Finn had heard stories about the reclusive fey who’d been used as sex slaves by Morgana le Fay. And the fact that they’d been instrumental in the defeat of the Dark Lord.

“I tried to convince my family that Ariyal and his people already understood this world and would have a number of allies among the other demons. Who better to help us adjust to our new home?”

Finn lifted a brow. “So why didn’t you join them?”

She grimaced. “My brothers claimed Ariyal and his people were without honor for not following the Dark Lord when he was banished. They’re determined to create a separate colony that will include only those Sylvermyst who returned at the same time we did.”

He didn’t miss her word
claimed
.

“You think there’s more to their refusal to join with an established tribe?”

“After an eternity of being mere slaves they want to be the ones to give the orders,” she admitted. “Something that would have been impossible unless they founded their own colony.”

He folded his arms over his chest, his attention locked on the delicate lines of her profile. “And you?”

Puzzled by his question, she at last turned to meet his searching gaze. “What?”

“Did you want to give orders?”

She shuddered as she shook her head. “God, no. I just want a home.” Her voice lowered to a mere whisper. “And peace.”

Her words held a compelling sincerity that eroded Finn’s attempt to convince himself that she was a ruthless adversary.

“What happened after you arrived in Alaska?”

Her gaze returned to the stream that swirled and eddied as it cut through the meadow.

“My brothers sent out word for others to join us. I think they assumed the dark fey would flock to Alaska.” She didn’t bother to hide her own opinion of her brothers’ plan. “But no one responded.”

“Shocking,” he drawled.

A gentle breeze rushed past them, tugging at her coppery curls. Finn froze. In that moment, he made the irreversible decision to see that satin hair spread across his pillows.

There.

He’d accepted it.

Good or bad. Evil or innocent.

This woman was going to be his lover.

A weight he didn’t even know he was carrying abruptly fell from Finn’s shoulders.

Thankfully unaware that her fate had just been sealed, she gave a small shrug.

“Micah, my oldest brother, decided that we needed wealth to lure our people to such a remote location.”

Finn made a sound of disgust. As a prince he understood that being a leader meant loyalty and commitment, and self-sacrifice. His people and their needs always came before his own.

A philosophy that petty dictators were never willing to accept.

“He wanted to buy a tribe?”

Her lips twisted at his flagrant disdain. “I’m not sure he thought of it in those terms.”

“I’m not sure what other terms there are,” he muttered. “How did he get his money?”

“They tried panning for gold,” she said. “And then searching the abandoned mines.”

“I assume you didn’t strike it rich?”

“No.” She glanced toward the crevice. “Unfortunately.”

This time he didn’t try to resist the need to step forward so he could cup her chin and tug her face toward him.

Instantly he felt small tingles of excitement as he savored the warmth of her skin. Her heat would be an intoxicating thrill when it was pressed against his chilled flesh.

“Why was it unfortunate?” he forced himself to ask.

She stilled, but she didn’t pull away from his light touch.

“My brothers were becoming increasingly frustrated by our isolation, and the lack of interest in joining their colony. They insisted that I use my gift to search for the riches they were convinced would solve all our problems.”

His thumb absently brushed the lush temptation of her lower lip. “Your gift is creating portals?”

She hesitated. Almost as if she feared revealing her secret talent.

Understandable. Clearly her family had exploited her for years. Maybe centuries. She would naturally assume he intended to do the same.

“More than that,” she grudgingly admitted. “I can concentrate on a particular object and open a portal that will lead me to it.”

The scent of rosemary deepened. Fear, or a response to his touch? The fact he couldn’t be sure made him snap out in frustration.

“An object like a frost sprite?” he sneered.

She lowered her lashes, flinching as if he’d physically struck her.

“Yes,” she breathed. “I can connect with people as well as objects.”

Finn heaved a rough sigh. Her rare talent was clearly responsible for the disappearance of his people, but his anger was directed at his vulnerability to her feminine allure.

A waste of energy that wasn’t getting him any closer to saving his people.

He turned the conversation to more important matters. “What did your brother make you do?”

A sadness rippled over her pale face. “They demanded I focus on finding a treasure.”

“What sort of treasure?”

“They weren’t specific so I just imagined a chest filled with jewels and gold coins.” She lifted her lashes, her platinum eyes blazing with a silver shimmer in the sunlight. “I thought it might lead us to a buried pirate booty.”

He blinked. There were thousands of bank vaults spread around the world. Not to mention museums with priceless works of art. And she chose a pirate chest?

“Are you serious?”

“I like to watch old human movies,” she muttered in defensive tones.

Finn flattened his lips. Dammit. He wasn’t going to smile.

“What happened?”

She waved a hand toward the crevice. “The portal opened into this labyrinth.” She pulled away from his light grip, wrapping her arms around her waist. “I tried to warn them that it was unstable, but as soon as they entered the lower cavern they caught sight of the piles of gems buried beneath the ice. After that they wouldn’t listen to anything I had to say.” Her lips twisted into a humorless smile. “Of course, they never listen to me.”

“Gems?” Finn muttered, trying to make sense of her words.

He’d assumed the labyrinth was a strange jumble of magic that had no purpose or meaning. But if it held gems, it changed the entire purpose of the place.

She abruptly scowled, looking oddly disappointed. “Not you, too. Is there anyone not obsessed with treasure?”

Finn jerked, instantly offended by her accusation. “I have no interest in gems.”

“But you just said—”

“I was trying to figure out who created this place,” he interrupted in stern tones. “I don’t need sparkly stones to rule my people.”

She flushed. “I’m sorry. I watched you with your tribe. You’re a very good leader.”

Her confession that she’d spied on him should have been infuriating. Instead, Finn found his anger instantly fading. Hell, he was preening at her soft words of praise.

Clearly the labyrinth was turning his brains to mush.

“My only interest in the gems is whether they’re a part of the cavern or if someone brought them here to keep them safe.”

“Oh.” Her brow furrowed. “I don’t think they’re an actual part of this place. They looked liked someone had deliberately piled them along the edges of the cavern and then iced them over.”

His brain raced. What sort of demon could create such an elaborate maze to hide his expensive baubles?

At last he gave a shake of his head.

The truth was that he didn’t have a clue.

“I know why your family is here, but you haven’t explained why my people are being held hostage,” he said, the words clipped.

She sent him a confused glance. As if the reason should be obvious.

“Because of the ice that covers the gems,” she told him. “We tried everything to get them loose. Fire. Explosions. Magic. Nothing would free the treasure.”

He clenched his hands at his side, a fine film of frost coating his skin. His people had been kidnapped because an idiotic family of dark fey needed money?

“Whose bright idea was it to use frost sprites to act as your personal miners?”

She nervously licked her lips. “It was my younger brother, Jarvis, who suggested your tribe might be the answer to our problem.”

“I’ll be sure and give him my personal thanks,” he growled.

She was wise enough not to try and plead for mercy for her brothers. They would have to pay for their sins.

“He assumed it would only take one sprite to destroy the ice surrounding the gems,” she instead admitted.

Like that was supposed to make it better?

“But?” he pressed.

“The sprite couldn’t penetrate more than a few layers.”

“So you kidnapped more of my people.” It was an accusation, not a question.

She gave an embarrassed nod. “Yes. Their combined magic has allowed a few of the jewels to be taken from the ice.”

“So why kidnap me?”

“There’s a large object in the floor,” she said, reminding Finn of the bulge he’d noticed in the center of the cavern. “My brothers are convinced it must be even more valuable than the treasure at the fringes.” She gave a small shake of her head.

Disbelief that the mystery item was valuable? Or that her brothers could be so stupid as to risk everything by kidnapping a prince? Finn couldn’t say.

“The sprites, however, haven’t been able to penetrate the magic that protects it.”

He flicked his brow upward. “And you assume I can?”

“We’ve seen that you’re more powerful than any of your people.”

He shrugged. There was no denying what she already knew. “What if I refuse?”

Her face paled. “They’ll kill your people one by one until you agree,” she rasped.

It was exactly what he’d expected, but his power still lashed out, icing over the stream.

The bastards.

“And if I agree?” he ground out.

“I…don’t know.” The platinum eyes darkened with distress. “I truly don’t.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Char returned to Baine’s lair and headed straight to his private rooms. His visit to the pack of trolls who were hidden in the mountains of Siberia had been…satisfying.

Usually he allowed his master’s younger guards to collect on overdue debts. It not only gave them a sense of purpose, but it offered the opportunity to release their aggressive nature. After all, the creature who was stupid enough to try and renege on a deal with a dragon needed to be taught a lesson.

On this occasion, however, Char insisted on taking care of the problem himself. His smoldering frustration at Torque’s continued absence was making him twitchy. Beating a handful of trolls into a bloody pulp was just what he needed to release some steam.

Now he was in dire need of a hot bath.

Something that was going to have to wait, he wryly accepted as soon as he felt the ground tremble beneath his feet.

Seconds later, Baine appeared from a portal.

For once, the dragon was wearing a formal robe in a dark jade color. Which meant he was just returning to the lair.

“Char,” the male said, stepping into the corridor next to him.

Char offered a bow of his head. “Master.” His nose flared as he caught the scent of Synge clinging to Baine’s robe. “Were you allowed to speak with your father?”

Baine’s eyes flared with amber heat. “For all the good it did.”

Sharp disappointment sliced through Char. “He doesn’t know where Torque is?”

“He claims he doesn’t.”

Char clenched his hands. “Do you trust him?”

Baine released a humorless laugh. “Not as far as I can throw him.”

Yeah. That was pretty much how Char felt. Synge was a cunning, greedy bastard who would happily sacrifice Torque if it would somehow be to his advantage.

“What about Rya?” he demanded. Synge might not give a shit about Torque, but from all reports he did have a soft spot in whatever passed as his heart for his half-breed daughter.

Baine’s expression hardened. “She’s missing as well.”

“Damn.” Smoke curled around Char’s feet as he struggled to contain his worry.

Baine reached out to lay a hand on his shoulder. “I’ve sent servants to try and locate Rya’s mother,” he assured Char. “As a Shinto she’ll have the skill to locate her daughter no matter where she might be.”

“Her mother doesn’t stay in the harem?” Char asked in confusion. Most concubines preferred to remain within the luxury of a dragon’s lair.

“No. She has a home in Hong Kong,” Baine explained.

“What if she’s not there?”