Dragons Of Eternity: Scorched By Darkness Part 41

She went on her tiptoes to place a light kiss on his jaw.

"Did you see your mother?"

His eyes darkened, but it wasn't pain. Instead it was a bittersweet regret.

"Yes."

Her hand moved to cup his lean cheek. "And?"

"We can discuss it once we're in my lair-" He gave a sudden shake of his head. "Not my lair. Our lair."

She tried to read his expression. "At least tell me you listened to what she had to say."

"I listened." He flashed a teasing smile. "And even learned."

She widened her eyes. "A miracle."

He pressed his lips to her forehead before they skimmed down her cheek to the corner of her mouth.

"You are the miracle, my love," he murmured in husky tones. "My mother is preparing a portal for us to leave. Let's go home."

"Oh." Rya stiffened at the mention of a portal.

Torque narrowed his eyes, studying her apologetic expression.

"h.e.l.l. I'm not going to like this, am I?"

"I have to see my mother." She gave a small shrug. "She used the last of her strength to create the portal."

He heaved a resigned sigh. "Perhaps my father wasn't completely wrong to barter off his family."

She skimmed her hands down his neck and over his broad shoulders. Torque wasn't the only one anxious to return to the privacy of his lair.

"Thankfully, you will be a much better father," she a.s.sured him in husky tones.

His eyes flared with sapphire fire. "I'm more interested in being a mate."

Pulling out of his arms, she grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the waiting portal.

"We have a whole eternity ahead of us."

He stroked a finger down the curve of her back, sending sparks of fire through her blood.

"Not long enough."

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE.

Torque had been a very good dragon.

Not only had he patiently escorted Rya to her mother's lair so she could a.s.sure herself that Kai was properly resting, but he'd actually waited until they were in the privacy of his lair before he'd torn off her clothes and ravished her.

Then, as a reward for his excellent behavior, he'd carried her to his bed, and allowed her to ravish him.

Now he held her tightly in his arms and nuzzled at her throat.

Eventually he would get up and make them something to eat, but for now he intended to enjoy a slow, thorough seduction that might very well take the entire day.

Nibbling a path of kisses down the curve of her neck, he pretended he didn't hear the sharp knock that echoed through the lair.

Beneath him, Rya stiffened. "Torque."

His lips traced the dragon marque that draped over the luscious curve of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

"Hmm?"

"There's someone at the door."

He released a small burst of fire that made her squirm with pleasure.

"Ignore them and they'll go away," he told her.

She gave a throaty laugh, her fingers combing through his hair.

"You always say that."

"Because it's true," he said.

Then the knocking stopped, only to be replaced by an explosive burst of power that rattled the bed and sucked the air out of the room.

Which meant that either a nuclear bomb had just been planted in his lair, or it was Baine on the other side of the door.

"Not when it's a p.i.s.sed-off dragon," she muttered.

No s.h.i.+t.

Muttering beneath his breath, Torque reluctantly climbed out of bed and pulled on a pair of faded jeans.

"I've changed my mind," he said, his gaze captivated by the sight of Rya spread across his bed.

Her dark satin hair was spread over the pillows, her eyes smoldering with amber fire. She was sensual female temptation wrapped in glorious beauty.

Was it any wonder that he wanted to toss her over his shoulder and disappear in a puff of smoke?

"About what?" she demanded, covering her slender body with the sheet.

He barely resisted the urge to reach down and yank it back off.

Dammit. He'd just gotten her alone and naked.

He didn't want to be interrupted.

"I no longer want to live in this lair," he told her.

She lifted her brows. "You want to move into my rooms in the harem?"

"h.e.l.l, no," he growled with a shudder. "I was thinking about our own island." There was another blast of power. This one shattered his mirror. "Far, far away," he continued with a grimace.

"First you need to answer the door," she warned.

Accepting he'd pushed his master far enough, Torque leaned down to press a swift kiss against Rya's mouth.

"Don't move," he commanded.

Forcing himself to straighten, he headed out of the bedroom and across the open living s.p.a.ce. Then, not bothering with a s.h.i.+rt or shoes, he pulled open the door.

He found Baine in his usual human shape. Narrow face, Asian features, and almond-shaped eyes that burned with the same amber fire as Rya's.

Today his black hair was pulled into a tail at his nape and he was wearing a loose pair of dojo pants that revealed the metallic tattoos that swirled over his chest with vibrant color.

"What?" Torque demanded.

Baine planted his hands on his hips, his brows lifted.

"That's not a very nice way to greet me."

Belatedly realizing that being rude to a dragon was a good way to end up toast, quite literally, he gave a stiff bow of his head.

"Forgive me, master," he murmured. "I was hoping for some time alone with my mate."

Baine glanced over his shoulder, noting the overturned furniture that had happened during their frenzied arrival in the lair.

"Have you completed the ceremony?"

"Not yet. We're waiting for Kai to recover her strength." His lips twisted in a rueful smile. "And now I suppose we'll have to include my mother," he added. From the short amount of time he'd spent with Nalani, he was fairly certain she would be overjoyed to be asked to a.s.sist with his formal mating. "Not that I need a ceremony. As far as I'm concerned, Rya is mine."

"Yes." The floor beneath their feet abruptly shuddered. A sure sign that Baine was trying to control his emotions. Not his greatest skill. "Kai is the reason I'm here."

Torque hissed. d.a.m.n. He'd been so caught up in his annoyance at being interrupted during his time alone with Rya, he hadn't considered that Baine might be there to deliver bad news.

"Has something happened?"

"Not to her."

"Thank the G.o.ddess." He released a breath he didn't even know he was holding. Rya would be destroyed if her mother had been hurt. "What is it?"

"Kai traveled to Synge's lair to use her magic to keep Blayze unconscious," Baine said.

Torque nodded. "Yeah, she promised to help while Ravel seeks a way to end the curse." He studied his companion's grim expression. "It didn't work?"

"She didn't have a chance to try."

Torque felt a stab of surprise. When they'd left Synge's lair he'd been desperate to locate Kai so she could help his daughter. "Why not?"

"Blayze is missing."

Missing? Torque blinked. And then blinked again.

The words didn't make any sense. Nothing and no one could get into a dragon's lair. Well, except Baine's mate, Tayla.

Which meant she couldn't have been kidnapped.

And since she was knocked unconscious, she couldn't have walked out.

So that left...? What?

"How's that possible?" he at last muttered.

Baine shook his head. "No one knows, but my father is on a full-out rampage trying to discover what happened."

Torque shuddered. He didn't doubt for a second that Synge's fury was epic. He'd just had his daughter returned to him. Now to have her s.n.a.t.c.hed away...

Yeah. He was going to make sure Rya stayed away from her father until Blayze was returned.

Already considering the best means of convincing his stubborn mate to avoid Synge's lair, Torque was struck by a sudden thought.

"Wait," he said. "What about Char?"

Flames danced in Baine's amber eyes. "He's missing too."

"Oh, s.h.i.+t," he breathed.

Baine gave a slow nod. "Yeah, that pretty much sums it up."

KILL WITHOUT MERCY (ARES SECURITY).

BY ALEXANDRA IVY.