Heart of the Dragon (27 page)

Blood dripped from Layel’s mouth, slashes of red against his pale skin. He looked ready to pounce again, but instead offered, panting, “What are you willing to do for me to save your woman?”

“Call off your bloodsuckers, and I will not burn down your home.”

“Burn my home and I will ensure your woman burns with it.”

Grace uttered another whimper. Darius smoothed his hand over her brow, whispering soft words in her ear, though he never removed his gaze from Layel. “My warriors will disengage as soon as the woman is safe.”

“I like having your warriors here. Easier to kill them.” As he watched them, something indistinguishable came over Layel’s expression. Something…almost human. He licked the blood from his mouth. “You love her?”

“Of course.”

“I loved once,” he said as if he couldn’t hold back the words.

Darius studied the taut lines of Layel’s features. “Then you understand.”

The vampire king gave an almost imperceptible nod, then closed his eyes for a long moment, pensive. When he refocused, he said, “To save the woman, I will allow you and your men to leave my castle in peace. But there will not always be a woman to shield you and we will fight again, Darius. That I promise you.”

“I welcome the day.”

Layel unfurled his cape and turned, but he wasn’t about to leave without offering one final blow. “I now possess many dragon medallions. Won’t be long before your home is mine,” he said, grinning over his shoulder.

Before Darius could reply, smoke erupted around him, and the vampire disappeared. Just like that, the rest of the vampires disappeared, as well, and the dragons were left in midbattle stances. Confused, they swung around, their expressions feral as they hunted for their opponents.

“Search the dungeons,” Darius called. He continued to hold and rock and coo at Grace, willing his strength into her body.

Long moments later, Renard dragged a human man by the arm. Teira raced at his side, shouting that he was not to be hurt. Alex, Grace’s brother, Darius realized. The human paled when he saw Grace.

“Grace,” he shouted and fought to free himself. Renard held tight.

“These two were in the dungeon,” Renard said. “This is the man your woman spoke of, is it not?”

“Release him.”

The moment Alex gained his freedom, he sprinted to Grace. “What have you done to her,” he snarled, trying to rip her from Darius’s arms. “Let her go.”

“If you do not remove your hand from my wife, I will remove it for you,” he snapped. “The woman is my mate.
Mine.
That you are her brother is the only reason you will live. No one touches her but me.”

Wisely Alex dropped his hands to his side. He lost his fury and desperation, both replaced by confusion. “Your mate?” He knelt beside them. “Is she…”

“She lives. She is merely weak from blood loss.”

“She’s pale.”

“Give her time,” Darius said, gazing down at this woman he loved and caressing a fingertip down her nose.

“I’m awake,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry I let them get me. I tried to fight, but…”

Relief shuddered through him, and he couldn’t hold back his next words. “I love you, Grace Carlyle.”

“That’s Grace en Kragin.” Her eyelids fluttered open, and she smiled slowly. “And I love you, too.”

Darius didn’t know where Javar’s medallion was, how many medallions Layel had or when the vampire would try and use them. Nor did he know where the
Book of Ra-Dracus
was, but he had Grace, and that’s what mattered.

“I was so afraid…”

He cupped her cheeks in his hands. “Hush. All is well. Your brother is here.”

To verify this, Alex leaned into her line of vision and grinned. “I’m here, sis. I’m here.”

“Oh, thank God.” With a grimace, she sat up and wrapped her arms around him, hugging, her grip fragile. “I missed you. God, I was so worried about you.”

Darius allowed her a few minutes to reunite with her brother, then reclaimed her in the circle of his arms, exactly where she belonged.

She glanced up at him. “So what do we do from here?”

“I want you to live here with me. We can build a life together and raise our children.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “Yes.
Yes.
”

Chuckling, he smoothed back her hair, then kissed her nose, her lips, her chin. “I think your brother will be staying, as well.”

“Really?” Grace glanced at her brother curiously.

Alex wagged his brows and motioned to the beautiful blonde. “He means,” her brother said, putting his arm around Teira, “that I’ve found love, too. Grace, I’d like to introduce my future wife, Teira.”

She and Grace shared a secret smile, then Grace turned to Darius. “We can’t leave my mom and aunt Sophie on the surface without us.”

“I’m sure Layel has room for them.”

“No!”

He smiled at her, a true, genuine smile. “I was teasing, Grace.”

She stilled. Blinked. Darius? Teasing? How…shocking.

“You do find teasing acceptable, do you not, sweet Grace?”

“Of course. I just didn’t expect it from you.”

A tender light consumed his golden eyes. “You thought I lacked humor?”

“Well, yeah,” she admitted. She drew in the masculinity of his scent, closed her eyes and savored. “But I love you anyway. You’ll adore having my mom and aunt with us.”

His lips twitched. “I’m not sure my men are prepared,” he said with an undercurrent of humor. “But for you, anything.”

“I love you,” she said again. “Have I told you the one about the dragon who couldn’t say no?”