Hunted by Darkness (Darkness #4) (21 page)

“I’m right here,” she muttered.

He swiveled to see her leaning against the outer wall, arms crossed over her chest, looking frustrated. She’d worn high heels, tight jeans and a filmy, feminine top that showed off all her delectable cleavage. “I wasn’t—”

“I know.” Her jaw was tight, her expression annoyed as she looked at him.

He wanted to take her into his arms, but held off, standing in front of her instead. Her sweet scent was making him crazy. “I told that female I was taken but she didn’t listen.” Something he’d never had a problem with before. Not in his own club. Of course, before Nyx, he’d never really said no to anyone.

“She’s one of your former…lovers?” Damn it, was that hurt in her voice?

“I…we had sex once. Over a year ago. Maybe longer. It meant nothing and I barely remember her.” He barely remembered anyone before Nyx. “You’re mine, Nyx. I don’t want anyone else.” God, he wanted to hold her, but her arms were still crossed over her chest.

“I know. I just got angry and didn’t want to destroy your club because I couldn’t handle my emotions. I understand you’ve had former relationships. I just didn’t like seeing someone touching what was mine.”

Which was insanely hot, even if he knew now wasn’t the appropriate time to tell her that. He liked that she was territorial because he sure as hell was. He should let it go because he didn’t want to talk about his past, but he knew they needed to get this out in the open now. Get it over with. “First, I’ve never had an actual relationship. I’ve only fucked people.”

When she winced he wanted to kick his own ass, but continued. “If I could go back and change how I was before I met you, I would. But I can’t. Sex and fighting are the only things that keep my demon at bay in this realm. Until you.”

Her arms loosened a fraction. “What do you mean?”

He stepped a little closer, placing his hands on either side of her head against the building. “As soon as I met you, I felt different. I don’t know what it is and I don’t really need to question it. All I know is, you’re mine. And I’m yours. I’m sorry you had to see someone touching me like that.” She’d seen a partial video of him kissing someone last month during an investigation and he’d never forget the hurt on her face then. The truth was, if he saw her kissing someone, touching someone, he’d lose his shit. She showed more restraint than he ever could.

She gently placed her hands on his chest. “I feel like I have no right to get jealous. Not really. But it sucks knowing you have so much experience.” Her expression was so raw, vulnerable, it sliced him up. “I worry maybe… I won’t be enough.”

Fuck it, he gathered her into his arms. The desperate need to hold her, comfort her, outweighed giving her any space. “I never imagined someone like you existed, Nyx. And definitely not for me. I feel like I’ve been living in a haze until I met you.” He wondered if he sounded as dumb as he felt admitting all this. “I know I’m not good enough for you so I get your fears because I have them too. I’m terrified you’ll wake up one day and realize you can do so much better than me.” Admitting that out loud took way more courage than he’d imagined. He didn’t want her to know these things.

“Oh, Bo…” Shaking her head, she cupped his cheek, her hand soft. He leaned into it, savoring the feel of her touching him. “That’s never going to happen. I think we both just have to get used to being in a relationship and everything that comes with it.”

He nodded, his grip on her tightening. He started to respond when the door flung open and Cynara walked out, her eyes wide.

Bo froze when a tall, dark-haired familiar looking man stepped out with her, a knife at her back, right where her heart was. It had to be a silver dagger. For a moment, his heart stopped.

The male had been in Bo’s club before, had threatened Nyx. His ears were just slightly pointed, giving away his heritage.

“What the hell are you doing, Kato?” Nyx stepped forward, but Bo snagged an arm around her waist, held her close.

He filed the name Kato away because this male was going to die one way or another.

“You refuse to listen to your father’s summons, so I’ve been sent to fetch you.” He said it so offhandedly, his tone dripping with derision.

“You think threatening my friend is going to make that happen?” She didn’t try to step forward again, but she nudged Bo with her elbow.

The male smiled evilly, dug the blade into Cynara’s back a fraction. His sister gritted her teeth and he knew she was refusing to make a sound. But he could tell she was in pain. “This is just a bonus. Come with me and no one gets hurt.”

“Fine.”

“Nyx—”

“I’m going.” Her gaze snapped to Bo’s, fire and anger burning there. “Just trust me,” she murmured. His grip on her tightened as she turned back to the male who was a walking dead man. “I’ll go if you agree not to hurt or target Bo or any of his siblings. Ever.”

The male’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “As long as they don’t attack me, I agree.”

“Swear it.”

“I swear.”

Bo wasn’t worried about some pussy fae coming after him and he wasn’t letting Nyx go without him. “I’m going with you.”

“No.” Nyx tried to step away from him, but he held her tight to him. “Don’t do this,” she growled.

“We’re a package deal.”

She let out a growl of frustration, then to his surprise flung him away without touching him. But he felt the force of her power as he flew through the air, slamming against the side of the building. He barely felt the impact, was just pissed she was leaving without him. Damn, stubborn female.

The fae male immediately shoved Cynara away.

“Nyx, don’t go with him!” Cynara shouted.

“Can you guys just trust me?” Nyx demanded, grabbing the fae male by the forearm.

Bo jumped up, raced at them but they disappeared in a whirlwind of noise that died almost immediately. He roared, his beast about to break free when Ian stormed out with three males. All fae, given the slight point to their ears.

“Found this garbage sneaking around your place.” He pointed a sword at them. “Get the hell out of here.”

One of the males stepped forward. “My sword—”

“Is now my property. Get. Out. Of. Here.”

“Now,” Bo added, growling deep in his throat. “Your friend got what he came for.” And would die very soon because of it. Bo wasn’t actually sure these fae were with the male who’d come for Nyx but it couldn’t be a coincidence that they were here tonight. Because fae didn’t frequent his place, much less four of them in one night.

The males turned and practically ran across the parking lot. Bo wanted to chase after them, destroy them, but he had more important stuff to take care of. Like finding Nyx.

“Bo,” Cynara started, but he held up his hand and pulled his cell phone out. He quickly dialed a familiar number.

“Hey,” Finn answered on the first ring. “I’m headed to your place now.”

“Three fae males just left my place. I’m guessing they don’t have permission to be in your territory. I’m not sure where they’re headed.”

Finn growled, low and deadly. “I’ll find them.” He ended the call before Bo could respond.

Not that he needed to anyway. That was one problem solved. Now he needed to take care of another.

“What are you planning?” Cynara demanded, standing in front of him with her hands on her hips. Gone was his tipsy sister. Her eyes were clear and worried. “I don’t like that look.”

“I’m going after Nyx.” He just had to find out where the hell she’d gone.

“She said to trust her. Her father won’t hurt her, you know that.”

“No, he just wants to marry her off.” And the fae prince was coming between Bo and his mate. That was the only thing his demon half registered. Wherever Nyx had gone, he was going too. He just had to figure out how to get there.

Then he was bringing her home where she belonged—and mating with her. He wasn’t waiting any longer to make things official. If she’d be his mate, he was claiming her. Every supernatural being would know she was taken.

* * *

Victoria waited impatiently as her phone rang. “Pick up, pick up,” she muttered.

“Victoria?” Arya’s supermodel face came on the screen, frowning. Probably because the ancient dragon shifter didn’t trust the cell phone—or any technology. She said it was unnatural. “Can you see me?”

“Yes. Listen, I know you’ve been trying to reach out to Nyx’s father to…” She cleared her throat, unsure how to phrase it. Arya wanted to make it clear to Nyx’s prince father that if he tried to force Nyx into anything, he’d go to war with the Petronilla dragon clan. Because apparently thousands of years in Protective Hibernation hadn’t dulled Arya’s bloodthirst. At least according to Keelin, who wanted to take a more diplomatic approach. “So have you reached him?”

She sniffed haughtily. “That child has been ignoring my requests for a meeting. I’m at the end of my patience.”

Only she would consider a two hundred-plus-year-old prince a child. Victoria shook her head. “Well we need to do something. Bo just called in a frenzy because Nyx was taken—sort of, she did transport herself willingly—to see her father. He’s ready to go to war with the fae but he’s not sure how to get to her father’s realm. I don’t think it’s such a good idea for him to go after her anyway, but I thought if you could find where she was, maybe…we could do something that wouldn’t involve violence and bloodshed.”

Arya’s eyes went pure predator and Victoria wasn’t ashamed to admit the female terrified her in that moment. “I will get back to you, but…her father isn’t in the fae realm. He’s in London.” She set the phone down but must have forgotten to hang up because Victoria heard her shout, “Dragos, we might get our fae war after all.” Her tone was gleeful.

Victoria pressed the end call button because she definitely didn’t need to hear anymore. “Your mother is terrifying,” she muttered, glancing over at Drake who’d stayed out of sight during the call. If he hadn’t, Arya would have insisted on having a twenty minute conversation with him and right now they didn’t have that kind of time.

He slid down the couch and pulled her into his lap. “I know.”

“I know you heard what she said. We need to call Bo.”

Drake’s smile dimmed. “He’s going to want to go to London immediately.”

“I’ll ask Finn if Bo can use his plane.”

“I could just fly him.”

Victoria’s eyebrows rose. “You would to that?”

He lifted a shoulder. “I like the half-demon. And it’s for Nyx. I’m not sure if it’s wise though. We still don’t know who stole the wormhole package.”

Victoria frowned. “I think we have a pretty good idea.” Even if she couldn’t prove it. Nyx’s mother was the one who’d given Nyx that package to deliver, and since Chaos was a goddess, she had the ability to erase memories. Victoria was only surprised she’d let Thurman and the vampire live.

“Yeah,” Drake murmured. “Let’s call Bo then.”

Whatever they decided to do, she voted for the private plane. Riding her dragon mate all the way to London did not sound like fun, even if he was always careful.

Chapter 16

Nyx was barely containing her rage, but she managed to keep her expression neutral as she followed Kato down the long, polished marble tile hallway of her father’s mansion. She’d originally taken them to the fae realm but apparently her father was currently in his London home. So they’d come here and she was at the end of her rope.

She was going to hash things out with her father, then return to Bo. He’d definitely be pissed that she’d just left like that, but she didn’t need anyone to fight her battles. Definitely not this one. And his presence would have just made things worse. She planned to be diplomatic and end things now. It was time her father knew he had no control over her and never would.

“It will just be a few minutes,” Kato said as they reached a sitting room. Her father’s office was behind two eight foot high intricately carved wood doors.

“It will be now or I leave.” Okay, so much for being diplomatic.

Before Kato could respond, one of the doors opened and her father stepped out. He nodded at her once. “Nyx.”

“Linos.” Because no way on this realm or any other was she calling him dad, daddy, father or any freaking other parental title. He was lucky she called him by his name and not what she thought of him. But…diplomacy. She could show it.

She wanted to end things here so that he retained some of his pride. Because she knew that if she damaged his fragile ego it could come back to hurt others in her life later.

His lips pulled into a thin line as he stepped back. “So nice of you to finally arrive.”

She didn’t give Kato another look as she strode past her father and into his expansive office. She knew he did a lot of business in the human realm, but wasn’t sure exactly what it was. She just knew he was filthy rich in this realm and his own.

“Your mate-to-be has picked a venue for your wedding. He prefers it to be in our realm. But if you would like to have your dress made in the human realm that is acceptable. The menu choices have already been made…” He continued droning on, not bothering to greet her in any real way, not that she’d expected it, but it still pissed her off. And he just started telling her what she was going to do, as if he truly thought she was going to go through with his insane arranged marriage.