cottage and picket fence. “Quaint.”
Baine ignored his companion’s humor. If the cottage pleased Tayla then that was all that mattered.
“I want you to stand guard.”
Char returned his attention to Baine. “You think the imp will try to escape?”
Did he?
Baine hesitated before giving a sharp shake of his head. Unlike his private lair, this temporary bubble between dimensions wasn’t magically protected to prevent portals. But while Tayla had the magic to leave if she wanted, he trusted that she wouldn’t try to escape.
Unlike her spineless father, Tayla had a sense of honor.
She wouldn’t flee until he released her from her debt.
Something he had no intention of doing for the next several centuries.
Perhaps never…
“No, she won’t try to leave,” he said. “But I won’t allow her to be unprotected.”
Char instinctively glanced around the empty meadows. “She’s in danger?”
“She’s being hunted and I want to know why.”
The gray eyes narrowed. Char possessed a shrewd intelligence that was one of many reasons he was Baine’s closest companion.
“Does this have anything to do with your father’s visit?”
“He demanded that I give him Tayla,” Baine admitted, an ugly anger twisting his gut. Just saying the words made him want to release his flames and destroy anything that might be a threat to his female. Suddenly he understood his ancient ancestors’ habit of causing massive destruction. “In fact, he warned me that he would stop at nothing to get his hands on her.”
Char frowned. “Did he say why?”
“No.” Baine planted his fists on his hips, tiny tendrils of smoke swirling around him as he struggled to leash his fierce anger. “But I suspect it’s the same reason the trolls want her.”
“Trolls?” Char gave a choked cough. “Is that a joke?”
Baine cocked a brow. “Do I ever joke?”
“Ah…” Char cleared his throat. “No.”
“Keep her safe.”
With his warning delivered, Baine turned toward the portal only to come to a halt as Char laid a restraining hand on his shoulder.
“Wait, Baine,” he commanded. “You aren’t going to confront your father, are you?”
“Not yet.” Fire danced over his skin, hot enough to make Char take a hasty step backward. “First I have a traitor to uncover.”
Continuing through the portal, Baine entered his lair and headed directly toward his throne room. Along the way he sent out a mental command for his servants to join him.
He wasn’t a cruel master. Unlike most dragons, he was firm but fair with his staff. He found that offering respect to his people earned him far greater devotion and loyalty than trying to intimidate them with fear.
Now it pissed him off to realize he’d been betrayed.
Settling on the throne, Baine watched in silence as the various servants crowded into the long room. There were half-breed dragons, along with Weres who made up his personal guards. Then there were the flighty fey who were his household servants, and the dozen vampires who tracked down demons who owed him payment for services rendered.
Bloodsuckers were the ultimate debt collectors.
Waiting until they were all on their knees with their heads bowed, he at last spoke.
“One among you has betrayed me.”
Shock reverberated through the room like a mini earthquake.
Baine filled the air with the heavy weight of his power, not halting until he heard the distressed whimpers from the fey.
“Confess and I will make your death swift.” Baine deliberately paused, carefully watching the various demons as they kneeled before him. “Make me waste my time to discover the truth and I will destroy you so slowly you will plead for death.”
There was a long, fear-drenched silence before one of his soldiers grimly rose to his feet.
Baine felt a stab of shock as he realized that it was Fist, one of his favorite guards. Damn. It was bad enough to be betrayed without it being someone he actually liked.
“M-my lord—”
“Stop,” Baine growled, halting the stumbling words as he waved a hand toward the rest of his servants. “Out.”
Waiting until the crowd had hastened out of the room, Baine used his magic to block the door before he turned his attention back to Fist.
“Now, speak.”
The half-breed dragon lowered his head that had been shaved bald, his large body trembling.
“I plead for a quick end,” he rasped.
“Look at me.” Baine didn’t try to stifle the fire that continued to flicker over his skin or the curls of smoke that wrapped around his feet.
Fist swayed, his face paling to a pasty white as he forced himself to lift his head and meet Baine’s furious glare.
“My lord.”
“Tell me why,” Baine snarled.
“Your father holds my mate captive.”
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