Burned by Darkness - Alexandra Ivy Page 0,37

demanded.

“The trolls have destroyed it.”

“Then you have no choice.” Levet moved forward, poking the male in the center of the chest. “You will have to offer yourself.”

Odel sucked in a horrified breath. It obviously had never entered his mind that he might sacrifice himself to save Tayla.

Puke. No wait—putz. Stupid putz.

“What good would that do?” he blubbered. “They don’t want me.”

“Don’t be so hasty, imp. For once you might actually have some value,” a voice drawled as a male stepped out of a portal that opened directly behind the kneeling Odel.

The stranger had a lean face that had the finely chiseled features of a fey with long black hair, although Levet couldn’t detect the usual power that hummed around a demon.

“Shit,” Odel breathed, trying to scramble away as the portal stretched even wider, and a full-grown troll stepped into the cramped hallway, his thick head busting through the wooden beams above them. Turning back to Levet, the drunken imp scowled with open disgust. “You set me up.”

“Why would I set you up, you ridiculous creature?” Levet protested, waddling toward the first male. He had to be fey. Or at least possess some sort of magical blood. That was the only way he could create portals. Levet halted directly in front of the male, sniffing his leather pants. Hmm…he smelled like celery. Bleck. “Are you a fairy?” he demanded.

The creature took a startled step backward, glaring at Levet. “Get away from me.”

Levet ignored the male’s rudeness. Really, demons should have to take lessons in manners.

“Why are you here?” he demanded.

“The imp is coming with me,” the demon said, his gaze locking on Odel, who was crab-walking across his grubby floor.

Was the idiot attempting to escape?

“Non.” Levet placed his hands on his hips, puffing out his narrow chest. “I located him first. Finder’s keepers. He is coming with me.”

The dark-haired male regarded him as if he wondered if Levet was entirely sane, then he waved a slender hand toward the waiting troll.

“Take them both.”

Levet let loose a squeal as the behemoth of a troll reached out to grab him by the wings.

Oh…drat.

###

Tayla struggled to catch her breath as Baine slowly rolled to the side, keeping his arms wrapped tightly around her. In the back of her mind was a niggling voice of warning that threatened to destroy this moment. But even as she tensed, Baine captured her lips in a kiss that blazed through her, searing away her brief attempt at sanity.

Oh yeah, and making her toes curl in wonderment.

Snuggled against him, she tried to think of what to say. She didn’t know any pillow talk. And ‘thank you for the best sex of my life’ seemed a little weird under the circumstances.

So instead she asked the question that’d nagged at her since Baine had brought her to the cottage.

“You didn’t tell me why we had to leave your lair,” she murmured.

She felt him tense, his lips absently brushing over her damp forehead.

“My father,” he said, his voice edged with a sudden anger.

Tayla grimaced. Her brief time in the company of the older dragon had left her with the impression of an aggressive brute who ruled with an iron fist.

Thank the heavens that Baine had purchased her from the terrifying beast.

“What about him?”

“He’s…” He hesitated, as if debating the proper word. “Unpredictable.”

Tayla gave a sharp laugh. She had Odel. It was tough to top him as being the most unpredictable father in the world.

“I know the feeling.”

Baine’s lips skimmed down the length of her nose before pressing lightly against her mouth.

“Yes, I suppose you do.”

She pulled back to study his beautiful face. “The two of you don’t get along?”

He shrugged. “Dragons rarely form family bonds. We’re solitary creatures by nature, although Synge is always happy to claim me as his son when he wants something from me.”

She ignored the strange pang that clutched at her heart at his blunt claim that he was a loner.

“Does he want something now?”

A dangerous heat filled the air. “You.”

“Me?” She frowned. Was that a joke? No. Baine might tease, but he never joked. “Why?”

“I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” There was no mistaking his grim determination despite the fact he was nuzzling a line of kisses along her jaw. “Until then, we’ll stay here.”

“We?” Surprise and something far more perilous jolted through Tayla at the thought of the two of them spending days, perhaps weeks, alone in the tiny cottage. Somehow she’d assumed he would return to his lair. “You’re going to stay