Burned by Darkness - Alexandra Ivy Page 0,49

couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t double-cross him.

No. For now, he had little choice but to allow Reece to tag along.

He swallowed a low snarl of annoyance, reassuring himself that he could always kill the idiotic fairy after he was safely away from the dragon.

“Yes, I have a way out,” he admitted, wincing as a shower of rocks tumbled from the ceiling to bounce off his head. “But first I have to go to the dungeons.”

Reece jerked to the side, blood running down his forehead from a stray rock.

“Why?”

“That’s where I left the imp.”

Reece wiped the blood from his face. “An unfortunate casualty of war.”

“Bullshit,” Craven snarled. “I’ve waited twenty years to get my hands on the bitch. There’s no way in hell I’m leaving without her.”

“In case you missed the memo, we’re being attacked by an angry dragon,” Reece snapped.

Craven rolled his eyes. Yeah, like he could miss the fact the castle was crumbling around him? Or the stench of melting metal? Or the shrill death cries from the trolls who were trying to flee the destruction?

“Then leave,” he told his companion.

“Where’s your emergency exit?”

Craven halted to yank open the heavy iron door that blocked the end of the staircase. Then, with a smile, he stepped to the side and waved Reece to go ahead of him.

“Follow me and I’ll show you.”

“Shit.” Reece peered into the dark tunnel that led to the dungeons before glancing over his shoulder at the stairs that were splitting beneath the impact of the dragon strikes. “I didn’t sign up for this,” he complained.

Craven snorted. “You thought it would be easy to steal a priceless hoard?”

Reece’s expression hardened with reproach. “You promised we’d be in and out before anyone realized we were there.”

Craven shrugged. It should have been that simple. He still didn’t know how the dragon had found him. Or why he was currently destroying the castle.

Unless he knew the imp was there and was trying to kill her?

“That was the plan,” he muttered.

“What’s the plan now?”

Craven made a sound of impatience. “Get the imp and wait until the heat is off. Literally.”

Reece gave a sharp, humorless laugh. “You think the dragons are ever going to stop hunting you if they know you have a way to sneak into their lairs?”

Did he? Craven muttered a curse. Of course didn’t. If they suspected he was plotting to steal their hoards, the dragons wouldn’t stop until he was dead.

He glared at his companion. “What do you suggest?”

“Forget the imp and get the hell out of here,” Reece promptly suggested.

“And what about the treasure?”

“You’d be alive.” Reece deliberately touched the gash that was rapidly healing on his brow. “Sometimes that’s the greatest treasure of all.”

Okay, the fairy had point. Craven might be greedy, but he wasn’t willing to die to get his hands on a hoard. Still, the thought of leaving behind the female he’d spent so much time and money to track down was grating against his nerves.

“I…” Craven allowed his words to trail away, a sudden fear twisting his gut at the thick silence that filled the air. “Listen,” he hissed.

“What?” Reece’s brows snapped together. “I don’t hear anything.”

“That’s the point, you moron.” Craven reached for the gun he had holstered at his lower back. Not that it was going to do him a damn bit of good. Human technology was worthless against the more powerful demons. “Where’s the dragon?”

There was a sizzle of electric energy as a portal opened and a slender, dark-haired man appeared on the stairs. For a crazed second, Craven tried to convince himself it was a fey who’d managed to break through the barriers. Then, he caught sight of the fire that blazed in the amber eyes and he knew he was dead.

“Were you looking for me?” the dragon drawled, allowing his power to roar through the air.

“Oh…shit,” Craven breathed, scrambling backward, nearly tripping over Reece in an effort to get away.

But it was too late.

Far too late.

Slowly the dragon lifted his hand, whispering a word of power. Craven screamed as a ball of flame slammed into him, the heat searing him to his very bones.

###

Tayla hurried through the dark tunnels, well aware of the two males who prowled directly behind her.

The half-breed dragon and miniature gargoyle couldn’t be more different, but they managed to express mutual vibes of annoyed disapproval. Was it something males practiced?

They were very good at it.

Refusing to be distracted, Tayla turned down another tunnel that was lined with thick doors. Some were made out of