Dark Heat: The Dark Kings Stories Read Free Page B

would draw his attention as Cassandra did. Their dragon magic had put a stop to that. Or so he thought. He had stared at her through the night, wondering what color her eyes were and why she was in Scotland.
    He ran the pad of his thumb over his fingers as he recalled the feel of her soft skin and the wonderful curves he’d seen as he stripped her.
    His fingers still tingled from their contact with her. While his body stirred with desires he couldn’t harness or begin to understand.
    “Hal,” Rhys called from the door. “Be careful, my friend. You know we doona mix with humans.”
    “She was in need of my help,” he answered as he tore his eyes from the woman. “That’s all there is.”
    “Hmm. I see how you look at her, no’ that I blame you. She’s verra comely. We are—”
    “I know what we are,” Hal interrupted as he turned away from his friend. “I doona need reminding.”
    “We all need reminding from time to time. Part of our punishment is that we’re forever to be alone.”
    “Punishment for something we didna do. We are no’ the ones who should be punished. We take the humans’ penance while they thrive.”
    “And we hide. I’m no’ arguing that. We did what we had to do.”
    “Forever is a verra long time, Rhys.”
    “Especially when you’re as old as time. Just guard yourself.”
    Hal heard the door close behind Rhys and the motor of the vehicle turn over a moment later.
    “Forever is too long,” he mumbled.
    They were supposed to be free, but how free could someone be if they were meant to guard, meant to spend eternity alone?
    Some centuries were easier to live through than others. Over the past few weeks, Hal had found … a hunger … growing inside him that had nothing to do with food.
    He craved something, but he didn’t know what.
    All he knew was that it was out there, waiting for him. He just had to find it. But how? They were forbidden to leave for more than a few months at a time.
    He and the other Kings were careful to leapfrog through time by hiding through a generation or two. It had been easier in the past. There wasn’t computers, video cameras, or cell phones.
    Nowadays, a face was logged into a database, and that was it. They took great pains to keep themselves from being seen, but the inevitable would happen. It always did.
    So many lifetimes, so many names. Hal didn’t even remember his original name, he’d taken so many. He kept his present one for several centuries, but then all of them had. It was easier that way.
    They had a responsibility as Dragon Kings, a duty that no others could fulfill. An obligation caused by one of their own so very long ago.
    As eternity stretched before Hal, he wondered how he would get through it all alone.

 
    CHAPTER
THREE
    Cassie was torn from the cocoon of warmth and sleep by something very cold and very wet on her hand. She cracked an eye open and found Duke’s face in front of hers.
    He ducked his head and nudged her hand with his nose for a second time.
    “I’m awake,” Cassie said with a yawn.
    As soon as she stretched, the pain in her lower back and butt made itself known. Cassie grabbed the injured area and winced.
    The day before came rushing back to her in an instant. That’s when she realized she was inside a house instead of in the sorry excuse for a car Dan had left her.
    “Oh, good. You’re awake,” said a too-cheerful female voice with a Scottish accent.
    Cassie rose up on her elbow and looked over the back of the sofa toward the kitchen to see a young pretty blond woman wiping a plate dry before putting it in the cupboard.
    “How did I get in here? And who are you?”
    The girl chuckled as she tossed aside the towel and walked to Cassie. “I’m Alice. I work at Dreagan, but Hal asked me to do some shopping for you.”
    “Hal?” Cassie was becoming more confused as time went on. Who was Hal, and why was he stocking her kitchen?
    Alice’s smile grew. “Follow the chopping, and get ready for an