Dragons Of Eternity: Scorched By Darkness Part 1

Scorched by Darkness.

Dragons of Eternity.

Alexandra Ivy.

CHAPTER ONE.

Torque was in the zone.

That perfect place where he was intimately connected to his inner dragon and capable of seeing the world with a sharp, acutely brilliant focus.

Moving with liquid grace, he crossed the vast training room with a complex pattern of leaps, kicks, and lightning-fast punches. Fire danced over his skin, leaving scorch marks on the granite floor. He might be a half-breed, but his dragon was particularly strong, allowing him to create enough heat to melt through stone if he wasn't careful.

He was also capable of creating small portals, masking his presence, and killing most creatures with his bare hands. And he had a unique gift of being able to conjure tiny sparks that he could send anywhere in the world. Not a particularly valuable talent, but he'd more than once used them to distract his enemies long enough to gain the upper hand.

Turning to finish his daily routine, Torque found his concentration wavering as a flicker of movement appeared near the door.

"Not now," he growled, leaping high enough to grab the ring hanging from the ceiling.

With a fierce surge of power he was swinging forward, releasing the ring to arc through the air, landing lightly on his feet before he was spinning to kick at the punching bag attached to a steel bar.

"You're wanted," a familiar male voice drawled.

Char.

Like Torque, the male was a half-breed dragon who was in the service of Baine, but that's where the similarities ended.

Torque was a trained solider with short dark hair and brilliant blue eyes. Char was a personal companion to Baine, which meant he had the ability to partially s.h.i.+ft into his dragon-form. He had silver hair and gray eyes that turned from smoke to charcoal depending on his mood.

The older male also preferred elegant suits, while Torque wore the plain black uniform of a guard, or casual jeans and sweaters when he wasn't on duty.

Even their personalities were different. Char was sly, sardonic and charming. The sort of male who took pleasure in laughing at the world. Torque, on the other hand, was far more serious. He devoted himself to duty, and keeping his fighting skills at peak condition.

"Wanted by whom?" Torque demanded, whirling to give the bag another kick. "You?"

Char gave a short laugh. "You should be so lucky."

"Yeah, right." Another kick. "According to the harem, there's no luck needed to capture your desire. You spread your interest far and wide."

"True." Char deliberately paused. "But I draw the line at an irritable soldier who thinks a romantic night is kicking bags and lifting weights. Give me a warm woman spread across satin sheets and a cold gla.s.s of champagne."

Torque hissed in frustration, slowly turning to face the male who was leaning nonchalantly against the doorjamb. Clearly he wasn't going to get any peace until he could get rid of the unwelcomed intruder.

"Are you going to tell me why you interrupted my training?" he snapped.

Char watched as Torque grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat from his body, tendrils of smoke still clinging to his damp skin.

"Baine had a visit from his father's emissary," he said.

Torque scowled. Baine had walked away from his father, Synge, centuries ago. Dragon family dynamics were explosive to say the least. Many were downright homicidal. But since Baine had found his mate, the two had started a cautious relations.h.i.+p.

Which meant it wasn't entirely unheard of for Synge to send a messenger.

"And?"

"And now he's asking for you to come to the throne room."

"A Council meeting?"

"No. Just you." The gray eyes darkened with something that might have been regret. "I think it's that time."

A chill raced down Torque's spine. He knew the end was drawing near. His betrothed had been born a hundred years ago on this precise date. Which meant she was considered a mature female. Ready for mating.

But he'd done his best to block out the thought of his looming fate.

"Now?" he breathed.

Char grimaced. "Sorry, dude."

Torque turned away. He felt trapped. Had someone put a noose around his neck when he wasn't looking and started to squeeze?

"Tell the master I'll join him after I bathe," he muttered, making a straight line for the side door that led to the locker rooms.

Stripping off his gi, he tossed it on the floor and stepped into a pool overlaid with black and gold tiles. This room was like much of the lair.

Opulent. Lush. Br.i.m.m.i.n.g with priceless artifacts.

Dragons were jealous h.o.a.rders of beautiful objects, and their homes were a reflection of their status. The more treasure, the greater their power.

There was no doubt that Baine was at the top of the food chain.

He was also a remarkably fair master to his small army of servants. Not that he was weak. h.e.l.l, he could be as arrogant and temperamental as the next dragon. But he wasn't unnecessarily cruel.

Something that'd earned Torque's unwavering loyalty over the past century.

Which made this day all the more difficult to endure.

Walking into the center of the bath, Torque sank into the hot water and scrubbed himself clean before leaving the pool. Standing on the tiles, he released a small burst of heat, drying his skin before a robed servant managed to scurry forward to hand him the neatly pressed uniform.

Torque silently pulled on the clothing, his dark thoughts clouding his mind.

He wasn't entirely sure why he was feeling as if he'd been hit by a freight train. Actually, he'd been hit by a freight train not long after they'd returned to this world and it hadn't been nearly so stunning.

Sore. Yes. And aggravated with Char for daring him to stand on the tracks. But not shocked to the point it was difficult to think.

Now he muttered a low curse.

He was being a fool. His destiny had been decided decades ago. No. It'd been longer than that. After all, he'd known he wouldn't have control of his future after his dragon father, Pyre, had bartered him into service to pay a debt to Synge.

At the time he'd a.s.sumed he would live out his life as a guard for the ancient dragon. Not an uncommon fate for a half-breed. And one that he'd spent his younger years preparing to excel at. If he had to be a glorified servant, then by G.o.d, he was going to be a great glorified servant.

Then Synge's favorite concubine had a vision of the future and his entire life had been turned upside down.

Squaring his shoulders, he forced himself to leave the locker room. No point in putting off the inevitable.

Baine was less inclined to death and b.l.o.o.d.y mayhem than other dragons, but his patience wasn't his greatest a.s.set.

A wise servant didn't keep him waiting.

Pressing open the door, he stepped into the hallway only to come to a sharp halt at the sight of Char leaning against the wall.

"What are you doing here?"

The male straightened with a shrug. "I thought I would walk with you."

Torque scowled. "Was the master afraid I might bolt?"

Char c.o.c.ked a brow several shades darker than his silvery-blond hair. "Baine a.s.sumes that his servants are eager to obey his every command."

Yeah, that was true enough. Probably because every servant was eager to obey his every command.

Heading down the hall, Torque slid a sideways glance at the male who fell into step beside him.

"Then why are you escorting me?"

Char offered one of his most charming smiles. The one that could make an entire harem giggle like a pack of hyenas.

"I a.s.sume you'll be leaving us today," he said. "Since we've been together for over a century, I thought we should have a moment together."

Torque rolled his eyes, turning onto a main corridor lined with priceless tapestries, as well as several guards who stood at rigid attention.

"Could this day get any worse?"

Char chuckled, his gaze watching him with a keen intensity.

"You know, most males are eager to be united with their mates," he murmured.

Torque's spine stiffened. It was a subject he never discussed. Not with anyone.

But as Char pointed out, he'd soon be leaving.

There didn't seem any point in keeping it a secret.

"Rya isn't my mate," he denied. "At least not my true mate."

Char looked more curious than surprised. Unlike many immortals, dragons often chose their consorts to consolidate their power base or to increase their h.o.a.rd. They could mate on an emotional and primal level. Baine was proof of that. But the solitary nature of their beasts, not to mention their violent tendencies, made it less likely they would find true love.

"Then why are you betrothed to her?"

"Her mother is a s.h.i.+nto," he said.

Char released a low whistle. "Very rare."

They were. The s.h.i.+nto were a reclusive clan of fey who resided in the deepest forests throughout Asia. They were elusive creatures who avoided contact with the more predatory species. Especially dragons, who prized them for their ability to catch glimpses of the future.

"Yes."

"No wonder Synge was willing to offer her a home." Char's gaze narrowed. "In fact..."

Torque c.o.c.ked a brow as his companion's words trailed away.

"What?"

"Not to be a p.r.i.c.k, but Synge could have negotiated a fortune for her," Char said. "Why choose a half-breed who doesn't want her?"

"She's not a full s.h.i.+nto," Torque pointed out. Synge was an old-school dragon. He pillaged, he rampaged, and he used his half-breed children as bargaining chips. "Besides, her mother had a vision during her pregnancy that Rya would mate the son of Pyre with the eyes of sapphire, and that together we would discover Synge's lost treasure."

"You were in a vision?" Char gave a slow blink. "Nice."

Torque snorted. "Not really."

"So what's the treasure?"

"Synge refuses to say. But clearly he's convinced it's worth binding us together."

There were a few minutes of silence as they neared the towering double doors made of ebony and inlaid with gold.

"At least she's beautiful," Char at last murmured.

An odd flare of annoyance sizzled through Torque. His betrothed wasn't beautiful, she was hauntingly exquisite. Long, satin black hair that she wore in a complicated braid down her back. A perfect oval face. Skin the color of dark honey. Almond-shaped eyes that glowed with the same amber power as Baine. And a tall, slender body that moved with a mesmerizing grace.

But while he'd naturally had a brief meeting during their formal betrothal ceremony fifty years ago, and even placed his personal mark on her back, no other male was supposed to be appreciating her attractions.

Wasn't that the whole point of a harem?

"You've met her?"

Char's lips twitched as if aware of Torque's bizarre reaction.

"I've seen her from afar. She's-"

Mine.