Burned by Darkness - Alexandra Ivy Page 0,51

trolls like some sacrificial lamb.

“Then you didn’t use me to pay your debts?”

“I…” With a low groan, Odel fell to his knees, his head bent as he covered his face in his hands. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, the words muffled. “I had to do something. They were going to kill me.”

Focused on her father, Tayla nearly jumped out of her skin when Char brushed a gentle hand over her shoulder.

“We don’t have time for this.”

The dragon was right. They were in the dungeons of a…well, she wasn’t entirely sure what Craven was, but she did know he was evil. Baine was risking himself to give them time to escape. The longer she remained, the more danger she put him in.

But even as she told herself to turn and leave the cell, she was sending Char a pleading glance.

“I need to know why,” she said in husky tones.

The dragon gave a tense nod. “Five minutes.”

Tayla returned her attention to the imp who had lifted his head to regard her with a wary gaze.

“I knew you were helpless and utterly self-centered, but I thought you loved me,” she accused.

“I do.” He looked stricken that she would even question his devotion. “I love you with all my heart, Tayla.”

“But you love gambling more.”

He started to shake his head, only to heave a resigned sigh. They both knew she’d been barely more than an afterthought when he was being consumed by his madness.

“I wasn’t always this weak, wretched male, Tayla,” he said in a mere whisper.

Char rolled his eyes, folding his arms over his chest. “Here comes the sob story.”

“True that,” Levet said, lifting his hand as if expecting the dragon to give him a high five. When Char simply glared at him, Levet blew him a raspberry. “It is rude to leave a gargoyle hanging.”

“It’s not a story,” Odel insisted, ignoring the two males who regarded him with blatant disgust. “Once I was young and handsome, and so talented that I was the envy of my tribe.” His shoulders straightened, his head tilting back as he remembered the days of his glory. “There wasn’t a male who could brew a more potent nectar. Or charm more females to his bed.”

Tayla held up a hand. “Not what I want to hear.”

“I’m just saying that I was destined to succeed, no matter what I might choose to do with my life. Which is why no one was surprised when your mother chose me as her partner.”

“Why would anyone be surprised?” she asked. Although fey often had arranged matings, it wasn’t unusual for a male and female to choose one another based on love.

“Because she was a Chantri,” he said. “She could have had any male she wanted.”

Tayla’s mouth dropped open. Odel rarely spoke of her mother. And since it was obviously painful for the older imp to speak about the female he’d loved and lost, Tayla hadn’t wanted to press for information.

Now she felt as if she’d been blindsided.

“Chantri?” she repeated, trying to wrap her head around the idea. “My mother was a royal?”

“Yes.” Seemingly unaware that he’d just dropped a bombshell, Odel gave a short nod. “A few stayed behind when the king returned with the purebloods to the fairy homeland. Arrita preferred the freedom of this world to being locked in paradise,” he said.

“That explains it,” Levet murmured.

Tayla glanced at the gargoyle in confusion. “Explains what?”

“Your ability to create portals in a dragon’s lair,” Levet said. “A few of the more powerful Chantri can open portals anywhere. Even open more than one portal at a time.”

Without warning, Odel surged to his feet. “You have your mother’s talent?” he said with sudden excitement. He’d never paid close enough attention to know what she could or couldn’t do. “Can you really enter a…arrgg—” His words were choked off as Char reached out and grasped him by the throat, lifting him five inches off the ground. Odel’s eyes protruded, his face turning a strange shade of puce. “Shit, Tayla,” her father rasped. “Call off your boy.”

She met Char’s stormy gaze before giving a slow shake of her head.

“No,” she firmly refused.

Odel made a strangled sound. “What do you mean, no?”

“Do you think I’m stupid?” she demanded. “You’re already scheming how to use my talent for your own profit.” She watched the guilt darken his eyes. “I’m warning you right now, I won’t do it. Not for any reason.”

Char snorted, a tendril of smoke escaping his flared nostrils.

“Don’t worry, babe,” he drawled, leaning forward until he could