Scorched by Darkness

  “Like you suffered?” he demanded.

  “Yes.”

  He felt a surprising pang of distress at the thought of this woman being in pain.

  “Then why leave your lair?”

  “I had no choice,” she said. “Over the past few centuries our tribe has found it increasingly difficult to produce offspring. And the few that were born have all been females.”

  “Why?”

  “We’re not entirely sure, although it could be a product of centuries of inbreeding.”

  Torque nodded. It was a problem with those fey who demanded ‘purity’ in their bloodlines, as well as those tribes who were too isolated to encourage mating with outsiders.

  “We desperately needed a male, so it was decided we must seek help to revive our fading magic,” his mother continued.

  Torque wrinkled his nose. He didn’t have to ask his mother to explain. By ‘help’ she meant ‘sperm donor.’

  “Why dragons?” he instead demanded.

  “They’re known to produce more male children than female.”

  “True,” he said. That was one of the reasons Synge had to have been so overjoyed to have Blayze returned. She was quite likely his only pureblooded daughter.

  “Plus we hoped the dragon-magic would give our future children the advantage of not being so dependent on the magic of the volcanoes,” she continued.

  His lips twisted. His father had used him to pay a debt. Synge had used him to reclaim his lost treasure. And now it seemed the fire imps hoped to use him as a breeding machine.

  “I suppose that makes sense,” he muttered.

  “It did, but I foolishly didn’t take into account the treachery of dragons.” The blue eyes widened as his mother belatedly remembered he was half dragon. “Oh. Sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize. It’s a fair assessment of most dragons,” he said wryly. “How did you end up with my father?”

  “I sent out my offer to several dragons, but only Pyre responded.”

  Hmm. If his father responded, it was because he’d already figured out a way to take advantage of the fire imps.

  “What was the offer?”

  “A treasure chest of diamonds for impregnating me with a son.”

  He flinched at her blunt words. “That’s very…”

  “I know, but we had to do something,” she said as his words trailed away. Then, gathering her courage, she reached out to place her hand lightly against his arm. “And please don’t think for even a second that I just wanted a child to help my people. I truly, truly ached for my own baby.” Tears glistened in her eyes. “I loved you from the moment I felt you spark to life.”

  An unwanted emotion tugged at his heart. Her regret felt so sincere.

  “So why leave me?” He asked the question that had haunted him for centuries.

  “It wasn’t my decision.” The sparks returned, swirling around the bed as his mother clenched her hands into tight fists. “The contract stated that you were to leave with me as soon as you were born, but Pyre refused to let you go.” An aching sadness softened her features. “By that time, I was too weak to fight. I had no choice but to return to this lair.”

  Torque ground his teeth together. He should have suspected that his father was responsible. The cunning old bastard had devoted endless centuries to taking advantage of gullible demons.

  That’s when he wasn’t using his brute strength to get his way.

  “He lied,” he said in flat tones.

  “Yes.” His mother shook her head in self-disgust. “I should have suspected he intended to break his promise when he demanded that I remain at his lair during my pregnancy.”

  Torque glanced down at the slender hand that was lying on his arm, and tried to shuffle through his various emotions.

  Relief that this female hadn’t purposely walked away from him. Anger that Pyre was such a greedy beast. And a lingering hurt that refused to be dismissed.

  “I find it easy to believe my father would have cheated you. I was a valuable addition to his hoard,” he said in dry tones. “I even understand your need to return to your lair…” His words faltered as he belatedly realized he was revealing a vulnerability he’d kept hidden since he’d been bartered to Synge. He forced himself to continue. “But I’ve been away from my father for a very long time.” He had to know the truth. “Why didn’t you try to contact me?”

  Her eyes widened in confusion. “I did.”

  Torque shook his head. “I wasn’t hard to find.”

  She gave his arm a light squeeze. “I swear, I tried to reach out, but you always blocked me,” she told him. “Eventually I realized it wasn’t fair to keep troubling you if you were so reluctant to make contact.”

  “I—” Torque snapped his lips together. As much as he wanted to deny her claim that she’d tried to reach out to him, he suddenly remembered all the times the thought of his mother would pop into his mind, only to have him firmly shove it aside. Now he felt a stab of remorse. “I didn’t realize that was what I was doing.”

  She waved aside his apology. “It wasn’t until you reached out to me when you were in danger that I was able to make a connection.”

  He allowed his hand to gently cover her fingers that rested on his arm, holding her gaze.

  “I’m glad you did,” he murmured softly.

  “Me too.” She blinked back tears. “More than you’ll ever know.”

  ***

  Rya was trying to be patient.

  Not her best talent.

  Okay, it was at the very bottom of the list of her talents.

  Still, she did her best not to let her imagination run away as she paced the stone floor and counted the passing minutes.

  Even when she found it impossible to send a telepathic message to her mother. Or even Torque.

  Everything was fine. More than fine.

  She’d escaped near-death. Her betrothed was about to formally mate with her. And she was going to have the family she always desired.

  Even more important, Torque had the opportunity to heal the wounds of his past.

  What could be better?

  Clinging to her optimistic thoughts, she was caught off guard when she felt a sudden tingle of magic.

  Coming to a halt in the center of the cell, she turned in a slow circle.

  “Hello?” She held out her hand, trying to pinpoint the source of the magic. “Is someone there?”

  There was another tingle before the scent of granite filled the cell. Then, seeming to step out of midair, a tiny gargoyle suddenly appeared.

  Giving a flap of his fairy wings, the demon offered her a broad smile.

  “Ah, ma belle,” he murmured. “There you are.”

  Rya blinked in surprise. “Levet?”

  The gargoyle took a step toward her, his claws scraping against the stone floor.

  “You cannot imagine how difficult it has been to locate you.”

  She gave a faint shake of her head. “How did you do it?”

  “Your mother.”

  “Oh, she made it,” Rya breathed, relief cascading through her. She’d refused to dwell on the fact that the portal might have collapsed while her mother was still inside, but she couldn’t deny that there’d been a sliver of concern she couldn’t entirely dismiss. “How is she?”

  “She is fine,” Levet assured her.

  Wrapping her arms around her waist, Rya released a shaky breath.

  “What about Finn?”

  “Who?” Levet furrowed his brow before he gave a dismissive flap of his wings. “Ah. The frost sprite.” He shrugged. “I believe he is well enough, although his tribe has not yet accepted his houseguest.

  She lifted her brows. “He intends to keep the Sylvermyst?”

  “It appears so,” Levet said in bored tones. He clearly hadn’t developed a warm and fuzzy relationship with the prince. “He claims she was a victim of her family. I believe she also helped to rescue his people.”

  Rya chuckled. She truly liked Finn,
but she couldn’t deny that she relished the thought of him having to fight for his female.

  It would make him appreciate her.

  “I hope she makes him happy,” she said with complete sincerity.

  “She no doubt will.” Levet tilted his head to the side, as if considering the prince’s future with his Sylvermyst. “So long as she does not kill him in his sleep.”

  Rya made a choked sound of shock. “Levet.”

  “She is a dark fey,” he said with a faux innocence. “It is what they do.”

  Rya rolled her eyes. Finn’s future wasn’t her concern. Instead, she turned her attention to more important matters.

  “Did mother help Blayze yet?”

  Levet surprisingly shook his head. “Non.”

  Rya stiffened, concern clenching her heart. “Is something wrong?”

  Levet widened his gray eyes. “You were missing.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Obviously, your mother has devoted her energy to locating you. She has not had the time or strength to concern herself with the dragon.”

  “Oh.” Rya bit her lip.

  “It took us a great deal of power to discover that you had managed to escape that nasty mist,” Levet explained.

  “Yes. That was…” She grimaced, the memory of how close they’d come to being squished by the hideous fog still capable of sending chills through her body. “Terrifying.”

  “And even more power to track you to this lair,” he continued.

  “I tried to reach out, but the area is protected by runes.”

  “Very potent ones.” The gargoyle glanced toward the tunnel outside the open door. “I’m impressed.”

  Rya wasn’t. She might logically comprehend the need to protect their lair, but it was aggravating that she was trapped in this cell.

  “Where is Mother now?” she demanded, needing a distraction.

  Levet gave an airy wave of his hand. “She collapsed after opening this portal.”

  Rya gasped. “Oh no,” she breathed. “You said she was fine.”

  He continued to look remarkably unconcerned. Although it was hard to tell with his lumpy little features.

  “It was just exhaustion,” he said in soothing tones. “I promise she will soon recover, but she did not have the strength to come and find you.” He puffed out his chest as he spread his wings. “So, of course, I volunteered. I am, after all, the official KISA.”

  Reassured, Rya allowed her lips to twitch with rueful humor. She’d never met an official Knight In Shining Armor before, but she was fairly certain this one was the most unique.

  “Thank you,” she murmured.

  “It is what I do.” Suitably pleased by Rya’s gratitude, the gargoyle waved a hand toward the opening of the portal. “We should go. Your mother is waiting.”

  Rya gave a sharp shake of her head. “I can’t leave without Torque.”

  “Why not?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Because he’s my betrothed.”

  “If he is your betrothed then should he not be here to protect you?”

  “He’s visiting with his mother.”

  Levet blinked in surprise. “He has a mother?”

  “Everyone has a mother,” she said, ignoring the fact that there were a few demons, including vampires, that didn’t have mothers in the traditional sense.

  Levet gave a flick of his tail. “I assumed he crawled from beneath a rock.”

  Rya sent her companion a chiding frown. “Be nice.”

  “I do not know why I should.” Levet deliberately glanced around the empty space. “He has left you trapped in a cell while he is enjoying his resurrection.”

  She was briefly confused. Resurrection?

  Then she realized what he meant.

  “Reunion,” she corrected before giving a small shake of her head. “Never mind. I can’t leave the cell because of the runes.”

  Levet’s lips parted, but before he could speak he was tilting back his head to sniff the air.

  “Fire imps,” he murmured.

  “Yes.”

  He waddled toward the door, still sniffing the air. “I have never met one before,” he muttered, his wings fluttering. “Oh la, la.”

  Rya frowned in confusion. “What is it?”

  Levet moved to one side, and the reason for his sudden distraction strolled into the room carrying a tray.

  The young female had dark hair that was pulled into a knot on top of her head. Her face was thin, with pale, delicate features, and she had eyes that were nearly as blue as Torque’s.

  A pretty young creature who had clearly bedazzled the gargoyle.

  “I have brought your dinner.” Her gaze shyly moved toward Levet. “I did not know that you had company or I would have brought another plate of food.”

  “Mon dieu,” Levet breathed, his tail standing straight out behind him like he’d been struck by lightning. “Who are you?”

  The female flushed, moving to set the tray on a shelf that was chiseled in the stone wall.

  Then, slowly turning, she offered a tentative smile. “I am called Charda.”

  “Charda.” Levet heaved a rasping sigh. “Beautiful.”

  The female’s blush deepened. “Are you a gargoyle?”

  “I am, indeed.” Levet moved to stand directly in front of the imp. “Levet.” He performed a bow. “At your service.”

  She blinked, either bemused or fascinated by the silly creature. It was tough to know which.

  “Pretty wings,” she at last murmured.

  Levet turned to the side. “You may touch them if you wish.”

  “Levet,” Rya chastised, watching as the young female began to inch her way toward the door.

  He sent her a startled glance. “What?”

  “Behave yourself.”

  With a tiny giggle, the imp abruptly dashed out of the cell. Of course, she did manage to send a glance of invitation over her shoulder before she disappeared down the tunnel.

  Levet gave a click of his tongue. “See what you have done?”

  “Me?”

  “You frightened away the lovely imp,” he said in reproaching tones, heading toward the door.

  Rya conjured a mock frown. “Hey. I thought you were here to rescue me?”

  The miniature demon shrugged. “I can multi-axe.”

  “Task,” she corrected. “Multi-task.”

  His pace never slowed. “The portal is open. You are rescued.”

  Rya’s amusement abruptly faded as she realized that Levet truly intended to leave the cell.

  “Wait,” she called out.

  Levet came to a sharp halt, glancing over his shoulder to study her concerned expression. “What is wrong?”

  “You can’t go out there.”

  A wounded expression twisted his ugly features. “I will not harm the imps. I merely wish to become better acquainted with sweet Charda.”

  “I’m not afraid for the imps,” she swiftly assured him. “I’m afraid for you. The runes are too dangerous.”

  “Ah.” He waved aside her warning. “Do not fear, ma belle. I am a gargoyle. We are impervious to runes. Enjoy your dragon.” With a last smile he was hurrying away, clearly on the hunt for his pretty imp.

  Rya shook her head as she moved to inspect the tray. There were several bowls of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as a plate of roasted meat. Her mouth watered. No sense in letting the food go to waste.

  Polishing off a bowl of pineapple as well as several slices of meat, she was nibbling on a carrot when a tidal wave of heat rushed through the air.

  Torque.

  Turning away from the tray, she watched as the gorgeous male stepped into the cell.

  Instantly her dragon roared in satisfaction. Although she’d been pleased with the thought of Torque becoming acquainted with his mother, there’d been a part of her that had been unnerved to be parted from this male.

  As if he felt the same sense of emptiness, Torque instantly crossed the floor
to wrap her in his arms and brush a kiss over her welcoming lips.

  “I thought I caught the scent of granite,” he murmured as he lifted his head. “Is the gargoyle here?”

  “Yes.”

  He gazed down at her upturned face, his expression baffled. “How did he get here?”

  “My mother was concerned so she created a portal,” she explained. “Levet came through to rescue us.”

  He grimaced. “Does your mother hate us?”

  Her lips twitched. “He is a KISA.”

  Torque muttered his uncomplimentary opinion of the tiny gargoyle in his role as a hero. “Where was he going?”

  “He was chasing after a young fire imp.”

  “I hope she singes him,” he muttered.

  Rya wrapped her arms around his neck. She didn’t want to talk about Levet.

  She was far more interested in her delicious soon-to-be mate.

  “What about you?” she murmured.

  He arched a brow. “Me?”

  “Were there any pretty fire imps who caught your attention?” she teased, not really concerned.

  The one thing she could trust in this world was Torque. He was utterly and completely loyal.

  “None,” he said without hesitation, his arms tightening around her. “I am addicted to the scent of lotus blossoms.”

  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.