Page 3 of The Dark Rises
With a speculative look, Cormal’s gaze turns toward the dark man pacing the room. “Faery fire means you’re royal. How do we knowyou’renot after the crown?”
Madoc waves a dismissive hand. “The light Fae crown chooses its ruler. When the light and dark Fae were cleaved into two, the light Fae embodied their crown with certain traits like wisdom and foresight to choose the best candidate amongst those with royal blood.”
I blink. “Right before I threw it in the air, I told it to pick the best candidate—one who would serve both the aristocratic and Lesser Fae equally. Do you think that’s why it didn’t choose?”
His brow raised high, Madoc pauses and stares at me. “Maybe. It was a good move. One a queen would make for her people.”
For a second, I can’t help basking in the rare compliment, especially from someone who rarely gives them out. “Thank you. That means a lot. And the dark Fae crown? Was it also given wisdom and intelligence?”
A hard noise escapes Madoc’s throat.
Did he just laugh?
“No. It searches for blood and power,” he responds harshly.
Interesting.I turn toward Cormal, who’s been strangely silent during the entire interaction. “What’s next?”
“We need to find Leandra before King Denir gets to her,” Cormal replies, his tone grim. “Whatever he wants can’t be good for us. How the hell we’re going to locate her, though, I’m not sure. The amulet makes her invisible to her enemies.”
Madoc stops pacing and turns to us. “What if we sent a hunter who wasn’t her enemy? Someone who knows nothing of her except her scent?”
Cormal jumps up, cursing. “Of course. Why the hell didn’t I think of that? But who? Tarquin, one of Lucifer’s hellhounds, isn’t up for another mission.” His fingers tap against his thigh as he thinks about it.
“I know someone,” Madoc informs him. “He won’t care who she is, nor will he ask questions, which will play in our favor. But he’ll need something of hers. Do you have anything?”
Both men turn to me. My nose wrinkles at the thought. “No, but I could take you to some of the places we lived to see if she left anything behind. I must warn you, though; she was paranoid, rarely left items that could be used to trace her.”
With as many enemies as she had, she knew one slip up would mean her death. I wish I’d been brave enough to steal something and leave it behind.
“There has to be something,” Cormal insists. “Starting tomorrow, we’ll check the most likely places.” His tone is full of fierce determination.
Madoc raises a demanding finger. “I’m going with you. If we find something, I can immediately take it to my friend and start the hunt.” When Cormal nods his agreement, Madoc moves toward the door. “I need to let him know.”
He leaves without even saying goodbye.
Cormal stares after him with an incredulous expression on his face.
I can’t help but chuckle. “Madoc is… unique. I don’t think he’s used to being around people.” Another odd thing I like about him. He doesn’t pander to others.
When Cormal grunts in return, I ask him, “Do you think this will work?”
Cormal nods. “It’s a good plan.” His words are reassuring, but his narrowed eyes and set face tell me he’s concerned about whether Madoc is going to be a problem.
I slide the tip of my finger across the line in his brow. “Give him a chance.”
Cormal compresses his lips, but his hand wraps around the back of my neck, and he drops his face close to mine. “You’re my priority. Not him.”
They will either work it out or attempt to kill each other. Since they’re both immortal, I’m not concerned.
I study the dried blood encrusted on his clothes, and desire and anger mix with the maelstrom of emotions raging within me.
My fingertips tingle. With a flick of my hand, I remove our clothes. Revenge can wait. “I need you. Inside me. Remind me that we’re alive and here. Together.”
CHAPTER TWO
MERI
His eyes flare with his own deep emotions as he sweeps me into his arms and carries me across the room. “You were magnificent today. Fierce. Queenly.” He punctuates each word with a hard kiss on my lips.
