Page 4 of Denied

Titan shifted out of motorcycle form and trotted over to Ryan. The big stallion eyed the dragon and gave Kayla what could only be called a look of disgust.

She lifted her hands in a gesture of surrender. “Okay, horses are better than dragons. The point is, he got us away from the Blackstones.” She hesitated, frowning at Fallon. “And he’s asking for sanctuary.”

Colm uttered a short laugh. “The evil fucking thing wants us to protect him? After he attacked us, and burned Christine alive?”

“He wasn’t the one who hurt Christine. Some guy named Beck forced another of the herd to burn her.” Kayla glanced at Christine. “If they don’t obey the clan, they’re tortured.”

The dancer sniffed. “He could be lying, too.”

“He can’t. Neither can the horses. I’d know the second they did.” Kayla looked into the dragon’s eyes, and the creature shifted back into a motorcycle. “Fallon is the herd leader, and he wants to save the dragons who survived the battle. He also knows everything about the Blackstones, including a lot of things that we don’t.”

Ryan had never seen a Dark Fae creature behave as docilely as a rabbit. But seeing was not believing. He crossed his arms, eyeing the bike.

“I’ve seen his memories,” Kayla said. “I know it’s a risk, but he wants to help.”

“So it says,” Colm retorted.

“He just saved Christine and I,” Kayla said. “We wouldn’t be here if not for him.”

Though that was likely true, it wasn’t what persuaded Ryan—it was Kayla. Her way with creatures was beyond question.

Ryan nodded. “Take it down to the portal–”

“My liege–”

Ryan raised his voice. “And have it crated in its motorcycle form, and spell-shielded for the jaunt.” When his second hesitated, he added, “Wrap the crate in spellbound iron chains before you send it through, and that should prevent it from shifting again.”

“Aye,” Colm finally said.

“Can I borrow one of those daggers?” Christine asked her lover. With raised eyebrows, Colm handed her one. She faced Ryan. “Did Tara tell you that she shoved Kayla into a shadow portal to send her to the Blackstones? No? I saw her do it, and then I knocked that bitch out and jumped in after Kayla. We landed in the strip club where I used to work. Dirk and his boys are using it as a flop house.”

“But they weren’t waiting for us,” Kayla tacked on quickly. “Dirk may have forced her to turn me over to the clan, but she didn’t tell them I was coming.”

“The Dark Fae wanted you, not her?” Colm’s expression grew thoughtful. “I wonder why.”

Ryan rested his hand on his lover’s shoulder. “Tara lied to us after you disappeared, and claimed you had been taken. She has been deceiving everyone since you came to Forever Faire. You cannot deny what she is any longer, my love.”

“Yeah, and that’s not all,” the dancer said flatly. “Tell him exactly who Tara is.”

Kayla swallowed hard. “Tara said she’s a Blackstone, and Dirk is her half-brother.”

“Right,” Christine said. “Now, are we all convinced that the little bitch is an evil Dark Fae changeling?” When no one said anything Christine nodded. “Terrific, it’s unanimous. Let me go take care of her ass, and then we can get out of here.”

“You can’t kill her.” Kayla turned to Ryan. “Tara told me that Dirk has been molesting her in her dreams for years. She only found out he was her brother that day down by the lake. Sending me to him was the only way she thought she could put an end to the abuse.”

Ryan thought of the teenager’s haunted gray eyes. “I am sorry for her suffering, but that does not justify her actions. Dirk would have done that and worse to you.”

“I know.” Pain darkened his lover’s topaz eyes. “But we still have to take her with us.”

CHAPTER 3

I N THE CAVES deep below the faire grounds, Kayla stepped up to the faceted stone arch of the crystal portal. The Fae’s triangular blue journey stones formed a glowing halo as Ryan used his crystal to activate the enormous device. The circle of mist in the center shimmered, shaping itself into a hazy view of a lake. Moonlight revealed a dozen rustic cottages scattered among the twisted-limbed black oaks and towering pines. The Fae warriors who had already gone through were working to set up their new camp.

Nothing looked scary, but after her experience in the shadow portal, Kayla felt her stomach clench.

“Making the jaunt will not hurt you,” Ryan said, taking her hand in his. “You will see light, and you may feel warm, but that is all.”

“Okay,” she said, not really sure that was true. But she looked up at his handsome face, and drew a little strength from the love she saw in his brilliant blue eyes. “Just don’t let go of my hand.”