Soul Scorched Read online

  All too soon Warrick pulled into the drive and parked the Range Rover. He turned off the vehicle and turned his head to her. “Ready?”

  “I don’t think I can do this,” she said, suddenly sick to her stomach.

  The front door opened and her father walked out, followed by her two aunts, one of her uncles, her grandmother, and her sister. It was her sister who came running to the SUV and opened the door to envelop Darcy in a tight hug.

  Darcy was promptly hauled out of the Range Rover and passed from one person to another. She was finally able to search for Warrick, and she found him standing off to the side with her father, talking.

  Warrick winked at her and mouthed, “I love you.”

  Despite everything that had happened to her, and that she had caused, Darcy was alive and in love with a dragon. Could life get any better?

  But she knew the answer to that. It was yes. Just as soon as they were mated, and she was officially his.

  Dublin, Ireland

  Rhi was on her fifth whisky. It was Jameson. Good stuff, but she still preferred Dreagan.

  Damn it.

  She tossed back the last of the whisky and caught someone staring at her through the mirror behind the bar. This was the third Fae club she had visited since picking herself up off the sand in the desert. All the clubs were neutral ground, so the Dark and Light mingled together.

  The Light staring at her reminded her that she was looking for a fight. She wanted to pick a fight with Balladyn, but she couldn’t find him. This guy, however, would do.

  Rhi turned on the bar stool and raised a brow as she looked at him. He stood in the corner wearing all black from his shirt down to his boots.

  The top part of his midnight hair was pulled away from his face with a strand or two falling free to lay against his chiseled cheek.

  It was hard to determine just how long his hair was by the way he stood. Not that his thick shoulders and don’t-fuck-with-me attitude scared her away.

  She hopped down off the stool, her four-inch heels not wobbling once. Rhi flicked her hair over her shoulders and was about to walk to him when she picked up hurried whispers running throughout the club.

  “The Reapers,” someone said in a panicky voice.

  Rhi snorted. As if. The Reapers were a myth, legends and tales told to frighten children—and even a few adults.

  She ignored the talk and headed to the man. Not once did his gaze waver from hers. No one went near him, not even the waitresses. Rhi grabbed a whisky off a passing tray and tried to hand it to him when she reached him.

  “You might actually get someone to take your order if you were friendlier.”

  His eyes dropped to the whisky she held out before skating back to her. His silver eyes watched her, studied her.

  When he didn’t take the whisky, Rhi shrugged and tossed back the alcohol. She waited until another waitress walked past and put the now empty glass on the tray.

  Rhi turned back to him. “The silent type, huh? I’ve never understood males like that. Is it because you have nothing to say? Or is it because you think females like it?”

  There was a ruckus at the front door of the pub. Rhi turned to see what was going on. As usual it was a Dark causing the problems.

  “This would be a nice establishment if the Dark weren’t allowed in.”

  She laughed at her own joke and turned back to Mr. Silent.

  Only he was gone.

  Rhi looked around, but there wasn’t another sign of him. She shrugged and went back to the bar to order another whisky. “His loss,” she murmured before ordering another drink.

  * * *

  Thorn walked into the cavern and paused. The last time all the Kings had been awake and gathered together inside the mountain was when they had bound Ulrik’s magic.

  Surely Con wouldn’t try that again.

  Thorn looked at the King of Kings at the front of the cavern standing on a boulder as Thorn walked to the opposite side. There were many faces he hadn’t seen in thousands of years. It felt right to have all the Kings awake once more.

  He leaned against a carving of a group of dragons. A few minutes later, Ryder came to stand beside him. Thorn glanced at Ryder, but Ryder’s gaze was on Con.

  “This isna good,” Ryder whispered.

  Thorn leaned against the stone and crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you know what this is about?”

  Ryder gave a nod to the entrance of the cavern. Thorn followed his gaze and saw Henry North, MI5 agent and friend to the Kings, walk in.

  “I’ll be damned,” Thorn muttered.

  Con raised a hand to quiet the cavern. “A mortal has never been allowed in this cavern. No’ even a mate. But times have changed. We’ve enemies at every corner. Ulrik has his magic returned. It willna be long before he awakens his Silvers. But that’s no’ why I’ve called you here.”

  Thorn’s frown deepened.

  “The Dark attacked two of our own in Edinburgh,” Con said. “We didna respond for fear of the humans seeing us. Because of that, the Dark have been spotted all over Scotland. I can no’ allow that to continue.”

  Thorn smiled. “About damn time.”

  Con’s gaze jerked to him. “Groups of two Kings will be sent out all over the UK to bring the Dark to heel. Our rules remain in place. Only shift at night when there’s no’ a chance the mortals will see you, and kill as many Dark as you can. The majority of us will remain on Dreagan to ensure the Silvers remain asleep.” Con paused and motioned for Henry to join him. “Henry has been tracking the Dark all over the world. He has a map of where they’re concentrated the most.”

  “The fuckers are everywhere,” Henry said flatly as he held up a large map and began to talk.

  Thorn’s attention was pulled from Henry as Con walked to him. Thorn had been expecting some sort of … discussion … after he helped Warrick get Darcy to Ulrik.

  He just hadn’t expected it in the middle of a meeting.

  Thorn straightened, dropping his hands. He faced Con, assuming the worst.

  Con stopped in front of him. “I’m sending you back to Edinburgh.”

  “Good.” Thorn had hoped he would get sent out. After what Warrick endured at the hands of the Dark, the two of them were ready to get back out there and kill Dark Fae.

  “With Darius.”

  The smile forming halted on Thorn’s lips. He wouldn’t argue with who he fought beside. It was enough that he would get to fight. There was movement out of the corner of his eyes as Darius came to stand beside him. “I doona care who I fight beside.”

  Thorn started to walk away when Con said his name. He stopped and turned back to Con and glimpsed Ryder watching them.

  “I’ve no’ forgotten your betrayal,” Con said.

  Thorn closed the distance so he stood just a few inches from Con. “I didna betray you. I helped a friend.”

  “You helped Ulrik.”

  “I never sided with Ulrik. No’ back then, and no’ now. You’re worried about us fracturing? Take a look in the mirror, Con. You’re the culprit.”

  Thorn began to respond when Con shifted his gaze to Darius. “We’re missing a few Kings.”

  “I was wondering how long it would take you to notice. Arian will be here soon. He wanted another day to himself. I arrived with Roman and Nikolai just now.”

  Thorn was looking over the group as Darius spoke. There was something in his tone that had Thorn jerking his head to Darius.

  “What is it?” Con asked, a frown forming.

  Darius blew out a breath. “I went to one mountain, but it was empty.”

  “Empty?” Thorn repeated in confusion.

  Con lowered his voice as he asked, “Who?”

  “V,” Darius said.

  Ryder visibly jerked.

  “He could be anywhere, Con,” Darius said.

  A muscle in Con’s jaw twitched. “Aye. Anywhere but Dreagan.”

  “We need to find him,” Thorn said.

  Ryder pushed away from
the wall. “I can start looking. I’ve got a dozen new monitors arriving tomorrow.”

  “Nay.” Con’s one word stopped them all. “We’ve got bigger things to worry about. V will find his way back home.”

  No one mentioned that V could’ve gone to Ulrik.

  Read on for an excerpt from the next book by Donna Grant

  PASSION IGNITES

  Coming soon from

  St. Martin’s Paperbacks!

  Her defiant words appealed to him on a primal level, but her precarious position made his blood turn to ice. Thorn had been so enraged, so incensed that he had one thought—save Lexi.

  It wasn’t until it was over that Thorn realized what he had done. She had seen him shift. Lexi now knew the secret that everyone at Dreagan worked so tirelessly to protect.

  “You’re the other beings killing the Dark,” she said.

  He closed his eyes. “Aye.”

  “You’re a dragon.”

  His chin dropped to his chest. There were many reasons he hadn’t intended to tell her what he was, but the biggest was the way she was handling things now. She was in shock at all she had seen. When that shock gave way, she would be too frightened of him to even be in the same city.

  “You’re a damn dragon!” she yelled.

  Thorn was going to have to have Guy come and wipe Lexi’s memories of anything to do with him. It might even be better if she didn’t remember the Dark either.

  “Look at me,” she demanded.

  He whirled around and held out his arms. “What do you want me to say? Yes. I’m a dragon!”

  “How?” She gave a small shake of her head, her voice breaking on the word.

  “We’ve been here since the beginning of time.”

  “Impossible. We’d have found something.”

  Thorn lifted one shoulder. “We have some human allies who have helped to keep us hidden.”

  “This makes no sense.” She looked around at the warehouse as if seeing it for the first time.

  “None of this would be an issue if you’d remained in the flat as I told you.”

  Her gaze narrowed on him. “Told me? I’m not some dog to be ordered around.”

  “Nay, you’re a human who has stepped in a war she has no business knowing about!”

  “Maybe if more of us humans did know we wouldn’t be dying by the dozens every day because of the Dark!”

  Thorn took a step toward her. “You really think knowing of the Dark would stop the deaths?”

  “It certainly couldn’t hurt,” she replied, moving toward him.

  “That simple thinking is why the Fae came for you to begin with. You think in the entire universe that you’re the only beings? Do you really think there aren’t other planets with life on them?”

  “I don’t care about them, I—”

  “Well you should care,” he interrupted. He took another step. “Use your brain, Lexi. You’re smart. Look around at your world. Do you really think cancer can’t be cured when your doctors have cured almost everything else? The Dark keep preventing it. They want you weak and stupid.”

  “I’m not stupid”

  “I told you how dangerous it was out on the streets. I told you to remain inside the flat.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I had every intention of doing just that except I saw you jump off a six-story roof. Humans can’t do that.”

  “That still doesna mean you should’ve followed us!”

  They were so close he could see the black circle around her irises. Her gray eyes were stormy with anger, fear, and anxiety.

  “I used my head,” she retorted.

  Thorn looked down at her and nearly groaned when he felt her breasts rub against his chest. To his horror, the fury in her gray eyes turned to desire.

  No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t stop himself from yanking Lexi against him as he took her lips in a savage kiss.

  He spun her around and pressed her up against a wall. Her hands delved into his hair as she answered his kiss with one just as fierce and violent as his.

  Thorn came to his senses and lifted his head. He looked down at her swollen lips and his hard cock begged him to continue. Whatever thought he had vanished with his craving of her.

  He touched her cheek before he slid his hand around to the back of her neck and held her head as he slowly kissed her, tasting the passion and need.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. She’s the author of more than thirty novels spanning multiple genres of romance including the bestselling Dark King stories, Dark Craving, Night’s Awakening, and Dawn’s Desire. Her acclaimed Dark Warrior and Dark Sword series novels feature a thrilling combination of Druids, primeval gods, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her husband, two children, a dog, and four cats in Texas.

  Want to know when Donna’s next book is available? You can sign up for her newsletter at www.DonnaGrant.com, follow her on twitter @donna_grant, or like her Facebook page at facebook.com/AuthorDonna Grant. You can sign up for email updates here.

  DON’T MISS THESE OTHER SPELLBINDING NOVELS BY DONNA GRANT

  THE DARK KINGS SERIES

  Dark Heat

  Darkest Flame

  Fire Rising

  Burning Desire

  Hot Blooded

  Night’s Blaze

  THE DARK WARRIOR SERIES

  Midnight’s Master

  Midnight’s Lover

  Midnight’s Seduction

  Midnight’s Warrior

  Midnight’s Kiss

  Midnight’s Captive

  Midnight’s Temptation

  Midnight’s Promise

  THE DARK SWORD SERIES

  Dangerous Highlander

  Forbidden Highlander

  Wicked Highlander

  Untamed Highlander

  Shadow Highlander

  Darkest Highlander

  FROM ST. MARTIN’S PAPERBACKS

  Thank you for buying this

  St. Martin’s Press ebook.

  To receive special offers, bonus content,

  and info on new releases and other great reads,

  sign up for our newsletters.

  Or visit us online at

  us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup

  For email updates on the author, click here.

  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Dedications

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Epilogue

  Teaser

  About the Author

  Don’t Miss these other Spellbinding Novels by Donna Grant

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this n
ovel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  SOUL SCORCHED

  Copyright © 2015 by Donna Grant.

  Excerpt from Passion Ignites copyright © 2015 by Donna Grant.

  Credits © Patricia Schmitt (Picky Me)

  All rights reserved.

  For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

  www.stmartins.com

  eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].

  eISBN: 978-1-4668-8334-5

  St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / July 2015

  St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.