Forbidden Craving(83)

Layel smiled with slow deliberation. He knew the reason the nymph asked. Valerian despised the demons, as he should. As all of Atlantis should. They were the scourge of the land.

"I never allied myself with her," he admitted. "I used her, and then I killed her. I haven't forgiven her people for what they did to mine."

Rapes. Tortures. Murders.

Layel's motto: Repay with interest.

"My king." One of his soldiers-Alyssa-approached. A distant relation, she had pale hair and blue eyes, just like Layel, though her features were much softer.




 

 

I am as hard as nails inside and out.

Usually Layel commanded his females to maintain distance with the nymphs. He made an exception for this one. She desired a specific male, but wouldn't kill other women simply to win him, thereby igniting a war with the only friend Layel had.

"Alyssa," he acknowledged with a nod. Not exactly a fond greeting-he liked and respected Valerian, who'd helped him through the worst time of his life, and no other-but not exactly cranky, either.

He'd just sent a dragon army running for cover. Today was a good day.

"Permission to break rank, Majesty." She avoided glancing at the warrior she'd come here to tempt, holding Layel's amused gaze.

"Granted." And good luck. Shivawn, the one she "needed more than blood," paid her zero attention.

That. That was the crux of life. What you wanted, you couldn't have. Or, if you were able to acquire it, you soon lost it, guaranteed.



VALERIAN STUDIED HIS FRIEND, the brutal, violent vampire most of Atlantis feared. Layel appeared more aloof than usual, the shadows in his eyes hiding the grief and sorrow he'd carried since the murder of his wife.

"You and yours are welcome inside. Come." Valerian strode toward the palace. The door sensed the dragon medallion around his neck and opened automatically.

Layel kept pace beside him, the others staying close to their king.

"Did you ever find the Jewel of Dunamis?" Valerian asked as they entered the main hall. "I know you were on a crusade to unearth her. Darius claimed a human now has possession of the girl."

"He's correct. She escaped us with the help of the human."

"She's on the surface, then?"

"Yes."

Unfortunate. If the girl were to stay here, no army would dare attack, even a dragon army, and Shaye would be safe. "Is there any way we can get her back?"

"None, I'm afraid. We don't know the surface world well enough."

He wished he could trust Shaye to return to her world, find the jewel and come home to him. But...

The fact that Shaye would choose to remain topside began to bother him. If she wanted to leave him, shouldn't he let her go?

He scrubbed a hand down his face. He would ponder this later. Right now, he was weak and tired. 

"Broderick," he called. "See that guards are stationed around the entire palace, top and bottom, inside and out."

"My men can help," Layel offered.

"I accept your generous offer. Thank you." He would never decline protection for Shaye. "Dorian, show the vampires to their posts."

Layel's brows winged toward his hairline. "There's something different about you, my friend."

"There is." He wanted to beat at his chest-a chest even now puffing with pride. "I found my mate."

The shadows in Layel's eyes darkened. "Then you are both blessed and cursed," he said softly.

"Yes," Valerian agreed with a sigh. "I am."

Taking pity on him, Layel waved him off. "Go. Go and be with her. There's no need to keep me company. I'll treat the palace and everyone in it as if I'm lord and master."

With any other male, Valerian would have taken the words as a threat and attacked. With Layel, he snorted.

"Your kindness overwhelms me." He slapped the vampire on the back and rushed off.

I hope you're ready for me, sweet Shaye.





  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

SHAYE KEPT HER BACK pressed against the wall farthest from the door-as far away as she could get from the prisoners. She didn't want to accidentally release them. They'd begged and pleaded relentlessly, and she'd tried to distract herself with new anti-cards. Well, not really anti. All her ideas were for a new, not-so-anti collection. Things like, I think I'd enjoy spending more time with you. And, Being with you isn't so bad.

"Let us out!" one of the prisoners called. Again.

Beasts, Valerian had once labeled them. Killers.

The handsome men-or rather, boys-didn't look like killers. They looked cold, their lips tinted blue.

Brenna paced in front of her. "They're little more than children. Can we truly leave them inside a freezing cell?"

"Can we let them out and risk the lives of the nymphs?" she countered.