The Darkest Craving Read online

Page 31

Page 31

 

  He shoved his way through the crowd. He had to get Tink to the palace as quickly as possible. Had to summon the best physician in the realm. And he wasn’t moving fast enough, he thought, his jaw locked in irritation and frustration. He scanned the area. There was a carriage winding down the street at a slow pace—slow, but unencumbered.

  Kane picked up speed. Though Tink was cradled in his arms, her head tucked securely in the hollow of his neck, her arms and legs flopped with the force of his motions. Finally he caught up to the carriage and jumped through the opening in the side.

  Two females were seated inside; they gasped at his sudden appearance. Both women wore the same type of ruffled, lacy gown as Synda, taking up too much space, so he knew they were part of the upper class.

  “Either watch over the girl while I take over the driving, or get out of the vehicle,” he said. “But you should know that if you harm her, I’ll kill you. ”

  The two leaned toward him, pressing against him. “You’re Lord Kane! I’ve been so desperate to meet you. ”

  “Say you’ll come to my party tonight,” the other pleaded.

  They weren’t going to cooperate. Fine. He grabbed the female closest to him and “helped” her out of the vehicle. She rolled on the ground, screaming in shock and anger, dust flying all around her.

  He turned to the other girl and reached.

  She blew him a kiss and jumped.

  Casting a final glance to Tink—nothing had changed; she was in the same condition—Kane swung out the door, holding on to the roof. He had to kick up his leg to crawl to the top of the vehicle, then slide down to the driver’s seat. The scent of animal and sweat immediately assaulted him.

  The driver jolted, startled by his sudden presence, and tried to seize a weapon. Kane kicked him off the ledge and confiscated the reins. He whipped at the horses, and the carriage picked up speed. Once Tink was healed, he would leave this land, he thought. From the beginning, she’d been right. He couldn’t help her. If not for him, she wouldn’t be in this situation. He’d only made things worse for her.

  In fact, he’d made things worse for everyone.

  Once Disaster was taken care of, he would come back for her.

  While he was gone, a man might come along and fall in love with her. A man worthy of her, good for her. That man would move heaven and earth to save her; he would do whatever she needed done. Wage war on her family. Yes. Romance her. Absolutely. Delight her, thrill her. Definitely. Sweep her away to another land, somewhere safe. The two would marry, and they would make love, have the children Tink was too afraid to have now, and she would be happy. Finally, blissfully happy.

  Yes, one day.

  And then I’ll kill the male for daring to take what’s mine.

  The horses suddenly whinnied and stopped, raising their front legs and kicking in protest.

  “Whoa, whoa,” Kane said. When they settled, he saw the blonde from the forest—Petra—standing in the road, her hands anchored on her hips.

  “You shot me, and I assure you I’ll have my vengeance. But we’ll deal with that later,” she announced. “Right now, I want the girl. ”

  Get in line, female. “Too bad. She’s mine. ”

  Little golden flames exploded in her eyes. “Why don’t we bargain? You give her to me now. I’ll enslave her in the way of my people, and consider us even, then I’ll give her back in a few thousand years. How’s that?”

  Kane would die first. “I hurt you once. Don’t make me do it again. ”

  She chuckled with genuine amusement. “I’d love to see you try, warrior. You won’t catch me by surprise a second time. ”

  Mine, Disaster said.

  Kane snapped the reins, forcing the horses to plow ahead. The girl had to jump out of the way to avoid impact, but she waited until the very last second, grabbing onto the back wheel to be dragged along. Dust sprayed the air, probably choking her.

  Silly girl. What did she think she would accomplish—

  Tendrils of smoke wafted to his nose, and he coughed. Stiffening, he glanced back. The Phoenix had fallen away from the carriage, but she’d left one of the wheels engulfed by flames. That. Quickly. He grabbed the dagger hidden in his boot and cut the horses loose. As the carriage teetered to one side, Kane scrambled toward the doorway. . . teetered more wildly. . . and fell through the center door as the entire vehicle slammed into the ground.

  Impact was brutal, but he managed to wrap his arms around Tink and absorb most of the shock. And when the carriage finally settled, smoke forming an impenetrable cloud, he realized Tink had gone quiet. Too quiet.

  Extreme heat licked at him as he pressed two fingers into the pulse at her neck. A faint thump, thump greeted him, and he could have wailed with relief. Coughing, he lifted her and draped her limp body through the door frame. He pulled himself out, gaze scanning as he hefted her over his shoulder. Through the thickening smoke he saw the Phoenix racing toward them, her body a living flame, fully engulfed, just like the wheel—no, the whole bottom half of the carriage now—and crackling with menace.

  He expected to see her fellow warriors, but there were none. He made a split-second decision.

  He had to kill her, if only for a little while. As with all Phoenix, she would die and her body would burn to ash. But there was a very real possibility she would rise again, more powerful than before.

  Whatever. Kane threw the blade still clutched in his hand, and it soared toward her, flipping end over end. She jumped up and to the side, attempting to move out of harm’s way, but the dagger he’d taken from the Fae king possessed an ability she hadn’t anticipated, switching course and following her, amazing him. As high as she was, the blade found a home in her belly, rather than her spinal cord.

  She grunted, hit the ground without any grace.

  He tossed a second dagger, but didn’t stick around to make sure it succeeded where the first one had failed. He hopped to the ground, ran off the road and into the forest with Tink bouncing on his shoulder. He tried to be gentle, but gentle wasn’t possible. Thick trees surrounded him, but he pushed through the leaves and limbs, determined and angry and already planning his next move.

  “I’ll take care of the Phoenix,” he vowed to Tink. While he might not be able to do much for her before he left Séduire, he could do that.

  He found tracks created by the palace guard, the imprint of their boots giving them away. They’d clearly stopped and checked out all the singed places where the Phoenix had burned a bush or a plant or a patch of grass. But what he didn’t see were imprints of more than one Phoenix. Only the girl.

  Could she be on her own? Simply making it seem like others were with her?

  That. . . made sense, he realized. She had to think an army of Phoenix would intimidate the Fae, make them more likely to give up Tink to save their land from war.

  Not on my watch. He burst from the shield of the forest, turned a corner and made it to the cobbled path that led to the palace. Of course, the first person Kane spotted was Leopold, leading a contingent of armed guards out the front doors.

  “You’re going to pay,” the prince vowed.

  “You can try to hurt me later,” Kane replied, never slowing.

  Blue eyes fell on Tink and flared with concern, the rage completely obliterated. “What happened? What did you do to her?” The prince waved the guards away. The moment Kane was within reach, he snapped, “Give her to me. ”

  “Get out of my way!” There was enough crazed fury in Kane’s tone to startle the man. Wisely, the prince backed off. Kane barreled past him, past the double doors, and shouted, “I want a doctor sent to my room. Now!”

  Leopold rushed to his side, keeping pace. “She absorbed the abilities of someone, didn’t she? No, no need to deny it. I know her. She did. I also know one of our doctors wouldn’t be able to help her. Not with something like that. Take her to my room and I’ll—”
>
  Kane ignored him, stomping up the steps and into his own bedroom. He kicked the fancy, impractical cover away and eased her atop the mattress. She was still too quiet.

  His hand trembled as he smoothed the hair from her face. Beads of sweat dotted her brow, causing several of the strands to stick. Her cheeks were fever-bright.

  The prince approached the other side of the bed. “I could have you arrested for what you did to me, and what you allowed to happen to the princess’s blood slave. ”

  “I plan to leave as soon as she’s healed. If you want me to spend my remaining days here wedding Synda, killing your father, taking over the kingdom and ordering your torture, you’ll threaten me again. ” Actually, that wasn’t a bad plan. It was quick and easy and effective—but it meant being with someone other than Tink. “If not, you’ll shut your mouth. ”

  The prince shut his mouth.

  Kane hated that a doctor couldn’t help her, hated that only time would heal this woman who’d snuck past his defenses—if there was even a cure. But he hated the feeling of helplessness more, of doing nothing but waiting for her to awaken. . . or die.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  JOSEPHINA TUMBLED THROUGH a world of darkness, every corner offering a new chamber of horrors. Screams of agony here. The worst kind of silence there. Big, fat insects everywhere, buzzing around her, biting at her. Pangs of the most intense, bone-deep hunger she’d ever experienced, burning, gnawing at her insides. And rage, so much rage filled her; she wanted to fight someone, anyone. Wanted to conquer and destroy. But how could she do either? She was conquered herself, already destroyed.

  Her blood was molten, liquid flame. Her throat hurt, as if it had been scraped raw with a blade. Did she have any skin left? She felt peeled. . . exposed to the world.

  “Kane,” she tried to shout, but no sound emerged.

  Where was he? Where was she? What had happened to her?

  Memories of a life she hadn’t lived bombarded her. She swung a sword, beheading a demon. She stood over the dying body of a human soul, laughing. She watched a winged female with desire building in her veins. Death. . . death. . . all around her. Pain, suffering, regret. More than even a legion could bear.

    Ecstasy in Darkness Read onlineEcstasy in DarknessFirstlife Read onlineFirstlifeCan't Hardly Breathe Read onlineCan't Hardly BreathePlaying With Fire Read onlinePlaying With FireThe Queen of Zombie Hearts Read onlineThe Queen of Zombie HeartsTwice as Hot Read onlineTwice as HotUnraveled Read onlineUnraveledThe Darkest Secret Read onlineThe Darkest SecretSeduce the Darkness Read onlineSeduce the DarknessLord of the Vampires Read onlineLord of the VampiresThe Darkest Surrender Read onlineThe Darkest SurrenderEnslave Me Sweetly Read onlineEnslave Me SweetlyThe Darkest Lie Read onlineThe Darkest LieIntertwined Read onlineIntertwinedInto The Dark Read onlineInto The DarkSavor Me Slowly Read onlineSavor Me SlowlyCan't Get Enough Read onlineCan't Get EnoughAnimal Instincts Read onlineAnimal InstinctsThe Harder You Fall Read onlineThe Harder You FallThe Darkest Promise Read onlineThe Darkest PromiseThe Closer You Come Read onlineThe Closer You ComeThe Pleasure Slave Read onlineThe Pleasure SlaveThe Darkest Warrior Read onlineThe Darkest WarriorOn the Hunt Read onlineOn the HuntThe Darkest Prison Read onlineThe Darkest PrisonBlack and Blue Read onlineBlack and BlueThe Amazon's Curse Read onlineThe Amazon's CurseWicked Nights Read onlineWicked NightsTwisted Read onlineTwistedBurning Dawn Read onlineBurning DawnThe Darkest Pleasure Read onlineThe Darkest PleasureThe One You Want Read onlineThe One You WantThe Darkest Night Read onlineThe Darkest NightThe Hotter You Burn Read onlineThe Hotter You BurnDark Swan Read onlineDark SwanThrough the Zombie Glass Read onlineThrough the Zombie GlassAlice in Zombieland Read onlineAlice in ZombielandRed Handed Read onlineRed HandedThe Darkest Assassin Read onlineThe Darkest AssassinAwaken Me Darkly Read onlineAwaken Me DarklyThe Darkest Fire Read onlineThe Darkest FireThe Darkest Seduction Read onlineThe Darkest SeductionBeauty Awakened Read onlineBeauty AwakenedThe Darkest Craving Read onlineThe Darkest CravingThe Darkest Kiss Read onlineThe Darkest KissJewel of Atlantis Read onlineJewel of AtlantisThe Darkest Angel Read onlineThe Darkest AngelThe Darkest Whisper Read onlineThe Darkest WhisperEverlife Trilogy Complete Collection: Firstlife ; Lifeblood ; Everlife Read onlineEverlife Trilogy Complete Collection: Firstlife ; Lifeblood ; EverlifeThe Darkest Passion Read onlineThe Darkest PassionPrince of Stone (Imperia) Read onlinePrince of Stone (Imperia)Heartless Read onlineHeartlessThe Stone Prince Read onlineThe Stone PrinceA Mad Zombie Party Read onlineA Mad Zombie PartyKat in Zombieland Read onlineKat in ZombielandAll Write Already: Year Of Your Book Read onlineAll Write Already: Year Of Your BookSecond Chance Read onlineSecond ChanceCan't Let Go Read onlineCan't Let GoLast Kiss Goodnight Read onlineLast Kiss GoodnightHeart of the Dragon Read onlineHeart of the DragonEverlife Read onlineEverlifeThe Darkest Touch Read onlineThe Darkest TouchThe Nymph King Read onlineThe Nymph KingHeart 0f The Dragon (Atlantis Book 1) Read onlineHeart 0f The Dragon (Atlantis Book 1)The Darkest Captive: A Lords of the Underworld Novella Read onlineThe Darkest Captive: A Lords of the Underworld NovellaLifeblood Read onlineLifebloodBlacklisted Read onlineBlacklistedPrince of Forever Read onlinePrince of ForeverForbidden Craving Read onlineForbidden CravingThe Warlord Read onlineThe WarlordThe Darkest Seduction lotu-10 Read onlineThe Darkest Seduction lotu-10Shadow and Ice (Gods of War) Read onlineShadow and Ice (Gods of War)Unraveled i-2 Read onlineUnraveled i-2The Darkest Captive Read onlineThe Darkest CaptiveThe Glass Queen Read onlineThe Glass QueenThe Evil Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil) Read onlineThe Evil Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil)Last Kiss Goodnight (Otherworld Assassin) Read onlineLast Kiss Goodnight (Otherworld Assassin)After Dark Read onlineAfter DarkOh My Goth Read onlineOh My GothBlack and Blue oa-2 Read onlineBlack and Blue oa-2Wicked Nights aotd-1 Read onlineWicked Nights aotd-1The Darkest Kiss lotu-3 Read onlineThe Darkest Kiss lotu-3The Darkest Assassin: A Lords of the Underworld Novella Read onlineThe Darkest Assassin: A Lords of the Underworld NovellaAlice in Zombieland wrc-1 Read onlineAlice in Zombieland wrc-1The White Rabbit Chronicles Read onlineThe White Rabbit ChroniclesThe Darkest Promise--A Dark, Demonic Paranormal Romance Read onlineThe Darkest Promise--A Dark, Demonic Paranormal RomanceRomancing the Gravestone Read onlineRomancing the GravestoneThe Pleasure Slave i-2 Read onlineThe Pleasure Slave i-2Can't Let Go--A Bad Boy Romance Read onlineCan't Let Go--A Bad Boy RomanceFirstlife (Everlife #1) Read onlineFirstlife (Everlife #1)The Stone Prince i-1 Read onlineThe Stone Prince i-1Playing With Fire (tales of an extra ordinary girl) Read onlinePlaying With Fire (tales of an extra ordinary girl)The Darkest King Read onlineThe Darkest KingThe Darkest Prison (lords of the underworld) Read onlineThe Darkest Prison (lords of the underworld)The Vampire's Bride--A Paranormal Romance Novel Read onlineThe Vampire's Bride--A Paranormal Romance NovelBeauty Awakened aotd-2 Read onlineBeauty Awakened aotd-2Twisted i-3 Read onlineTwisted i-3Dark Taste of Rapture Read onlineDark Taste of RaptureJewel of Atlantis a-2 Read onlineJewel of Atlantis a-2Atlantis Series Complete Collection Read onlineAtlantis Series Complete CollectionThe One You Want (Original Heartbreakers) Read onlineThe One You Want (Original Heartbreakers)Last Kiss Goodnight oa-1 Read onlineLast Kiss Goodnight oa-1Wicked Nights (Angels of the Dark) Read onlineWicked Nights (Angels of the Dark)The Vampire's Bride a-4 Read onlineThe Vampire's Bride a-4The Darkest Passion lotu-6 Read onlineThe Darkest Passion lotu-6Everlife (An Everlife Novel) Read onlineEverlife (An Everlife Novel)Ever Night Read onlineEver NightHeart of the Dragon a-1 Read onlineHeart of the Dragon a-1The Darkest Whisper lotu-5 Read onlineThe Darkest Whisper lotu-5The Nymph King a-3 Read onlineThe Nymph King a-3The Darkest Fire lotu-1 Read onlineThe Darkest Fire lotu-1The Darkest Surrender lotu-9 Read onlineThe Darkest Surrender lotu-9The Darkest Lie lotu-7 Read onlineThe Darkest Lie lotu-7Tempt Me Eternally Read onlineTempt Me EternallyLord of the Vampires and The Darkest Angel and The Amazon's Curse and The Darkest Prison Read onlineLord of the Vampires and The Darkest Angel and The Amazon's Curse and The Darkest PrisonMagic at Midnight Read onlineMagic at MidnightThe Darkest Night lotu-2 Read onlineThe Darkest Night lotu-2The Amazon's Curse (atlantis) Read onlineThe Amazon's Curse (atlantis)Catch a Mate Read onlineCatch a MateThe Darkest Secret (Lords of the Underworld Book 8) Read onlineThe Darkest Secret (Lords of the Underworld Book 8)Lord of the Vampires rhos-1 Read onlineLord of the Vampires rhos-1Shadow and Ice Read onlineShadow and IceBeauty Awakened (Angels of the Dark) Read onlineBeauty Awakened (Angels of the Dark)The Darkest Torment Read onlineThe Darkest TormentLords of the Underworld Bundle Read onlineLords of the Underworld BundleThe Darkest Craving lotu-11 Read onlineThe Darkest Craving lotu-11Temptation in Shadows Read onlineTemptation in ShadowsThe Darkest Surrender (Hqn) Read onlineThe Darkest Surrender (Hqn)The Alien Huntress Series Read onlineThe Alien Huntress SeriesThrough the Zombie Glass wrc-2 Read onlineThrough the Zombie Glass wrc-2Can't Get Enough (The Original Heartbreakers Book 6) Read onlineCan't Get Enough (The Original Heartbreakers Book 6)