The Darkest Craving

CHAPTER THIRTY

New York

KANE’S FURY PROVED limitless. Tink’s abduction had been caught on a nearby security camera, allowing him to watch the way Red, Black and Green had cornered and grabbed her. She’d put up a fight, the way Kane had taught her, and she’d even managed to bust Red in the eye, but she’d been no match for the strength of the immortals, and they’d put her to sleep with pressure on her carotid and carried her away, soon disappearing from view. He’d hunted as if his life depended on success—worse, Tink’s life—but the three had covered their tracks too well.

I should have killed those hellhounds when I had the chance.

Kane tossed and turned on the lumpy motel bed. He needed to relax, and concentrate. He planned to summon Tink, somehow, through their link, and force her to project her image into his mind. They would talk. She would tell him where she was.

He forced himself to close his eyes. Lucien had refused to leave his side, and was now resting comfortably on the other bed, Anya draped across his body. “I’m a living tramp stamp,” she’d said laughingly before drifting off.

Lucien hadn’t wanted to spend the night without her. Actually, Lucien couldn’t function a few hours without her. It was disgusting. It was embarrassing.

That’s what I feel with Tink.

Disaster chuckled. Too bad you’ll never see her again.

The fiend was in the best mood of his existence. Though Kane had hoped to provide zero nourishment, he’d unwittingly prepared another feast—and was still serving seconds. The darkness of his emotions had become an internal IV for the demon, offering strength and contentedness, no matter what happened around him.

“Tink,” Kane inwardly shouted. “Tink, I need you. Need you so much.” Even when she’d been ticked at him, she’d never been able to resist aiding him.

There was no response.

Time for another tactic... “Tinker Bell. Josephina. Wife! You have five seconds to appear or the next time I see you I will put you over my knee.”

Still no response.

“One. Two. I’m serious, I mean it. Three. Four. Last chance to save yourself from the humiliation of my wrath. Fi—”

Fog rolled in, surrounding his bed. Then Tink was standing over him. “You will not put me over your knee, you...you...caveman!”

Every cell in his body cried out in relief. It had worked. “Are you okay?” he demanded. “Have the warriors hurt you?” There were no bruises on her skin, and the clothes Malcolm had given her were still intact, without a single tear.

If Lucien and Anya heard him, they ignored him.

“I’m good,” she said. “The guys have actually been kind of nice, doing their best to romance me so that I’ll decide to live with them forever and, I’m just guessing here, make them my brother husbands.” She looked Kane over, and what remained of the ambivalence left her in a snap. “What about you? You said you needed me. Is something wrong?”

“Of course something’s wrong. You’re not at my side. And what do you mean you heard me? Why didn’t you reply right away?” he demanded, but he already knew the answer. He was still in the doghouse.

Chin trembling, as if she were suddenly fighting tears, she said, “I’m not helpless. Not anymore. I’m handling things.”

“I know, Tinky Dink. I do. But I miss you. I want you with me for all the days of my life. I’m not complete without you. Let me come for you.”

JOSEPHINA PEERED AT Kane, his sweet words echoing in her mind. I’m not complete without you. She had to forgive him for the kiss, didn’t she? She had to torch the bitterness trying so diligently to grow roots deep in her heart, or she’d be trapped in this state for the rest of her life. He’d done what he’d done out of desperation and a desire to protect her. He’d promised never to do it again, and she believed him.

He wanted to make things right between them, but so far, she hadn’t given him a chance. He’d called for her, his voice whisking through a doorway they’d somehow opened between their minds—I need you—and though her heart had sped into a wild beat of excitement, she’d ignored the urge to respond to him. For a little while, at least.

She just...she hadn’t wanted him to see her like this. Defeated. Not again. Unlike the Fae, he prized strength in a female. So, she’d wanted to prove herself worthy and free herself, surprising him.

She would be all, Ta da! Here I am. Look at what I did all by myself. Aren’t I spectacular?

He would never again think to kiss another woman just to protect her.

But, at this rate, Josephina may not ever get free.

So, she had a few choices to make. Either she believed Kane would want her, no matter what, or she had to let him go. Either she forgave him completely, and stayed with him, or held on to her hurt and bitterness and remained alone. She couldn’t have both. If she couldn’t trust him, if she couldn’t forgive, but stayed with him anyway, she would continue to lash out at him, and she knew very well what such cruel treatment could do to a person.

“Kane,” she said.

He looked away from her. “Yes, Tink.”

He thought she meant to reject him, she realized. “Project to me.”

He knew what she meant, and a second later, he was standing before her, gazing at her with hope.

Her chest constricted as she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight. “I’m really glad you called me.”

He buried his face in the hollow of her neck. “You are?”

“I am.” The tears returned, but this time, they sprang from a well of joy. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything. Anytime. Always.” He straightened, brushed the corners of her eyes with his thumbs.

She gulped, almost unable to bear his tenderness. “Would you have picked me above all women? If you hadn’t been forced to marry me, I mean.”

“I would. I do. And I was never forced, Tinker Bell. I wanted you, and I would have found a way to have you. Your father just made things easier for me.”

Her mouth curved upward of its own accord. “So...you think I’m special.”

“The specialest.”

A laugh bubbled over. “I know it didn’t seem like it at the time, but I would have picked you above all men.”

“Even Torin and Paris?”

“Especially Torin and Paris. You are, without a doubt, the sexiest man ever created. I just didn’t want you to regret what we were doing.”

“I’ll never regret my time with you.” He kissed her, a sweet meeting of lips more about comfort than passion. But oh, the passion was there, too. Always it was there. “What you said...thank you, Tink. I was always the warrior left behind. My friends didn’t want to risk the trouble Disaster would cause and I couldn’t blame them. It’s nice to be wanted.”

He understood her pain, she realized. Their circumstances might have been different, but the outcome had been the same: a deep sense of rejection. He’d probably longed for acceptance all the days of his life. He’d probably hoped and dreamed of helping his friends, only to be crushed time and time again when they overlooked his amazing battle skills.

“There’s no one else I’d rather have fight for me,” she said truthfully.

He graced her with another kiss. “You are a treasure. I hope you know that.”

She beamed at him. A compliment she hadn’t had to give to herself. Was there anything sweeter? “Where did you go when we were running from the Brother Husbands?”

“The Moirai summoned me.”

“Oh.” Oh, no. “What happened?”

“I did what was necessary, and it might take the witches a few years to recover,” he said flatly. “Where are the Brother Husbands—is that what we’re calling them now? Where are they keeping you?”

“I don’t know,” she said.

“What do you remember seeing?”

“Well, I remember being on the street, then engaging the boys, then...nothing until I woke up inside a tent. I don’t know what’s outside it—I would have looked, but I’m bound to a post.”

He arched a brow. “You consider their binding you to a post doing their best to romance you?”

“They only bound me after I threw Green’s specially prepared food in his face—a fourth time. Anyway. The air is hot and smells of patchouli. There are four fur beds on the ground, and I think I hear screams in the background.”

A dark curtain fell over Kane’s features. “I know where you are. I’ll be there before sunrise.”

HE HAD TO return to hell.

The moment the fog disappeared, taking Tink with it, Kane stopped projecting his image and rose from the bed. His legs shook. His stomach twisted.

A hand here...a mouth there...so helpless...

A whip across his legs. A dagger along his ribs.

Hot breath on his wounded skin...kisses...

Panic threatened to fell him. He wouldn’t let it. Whatever his body’s reaction, he had to do this. He couldn’t leave Tink in hell. Wouldn’t leave her. He knew the things that happened there. Oh, yes, he knew, and now had to race to the bathroom to empty the contents of his stomach.

He rinsed out his mouth and stared at his haunted reflection. Tink could be stolen from the Rainbow Rejects and tortured by minions. If that happened, she would stop wanting to live and once again start wanting to die. She would never smile or laugh again. He couldn’t fathom a life without her smile. She needed him, and he’d vowed to protect her, no matter what, even if he had to face his worst nightmare to do it.

He forced himself to stalk to the side of Lucien’s bed, and, with a trembling hand, shook the warrior awake. “I need you to flash me to...hell.” He described the camp Lucien was to find, doing his best not to vomit. This had to be done.

The pair asked no questions. They stood. Lucien tucked Anya in his right side, and wrapped his left arm around Kane’s shoulders. Used to be, he could only flash one person at a time, but his power was increasing.

Kane fought the urge to jerk away. Ignored the thought that he’d rather die than return. For Tink, he would suffer anything.

Lucien flashed to the rocky entrance. Then deeper inside. Screams of agony filled the hot, sulfur-scented air. Disaster hummed with approval, loving how close he was to his minions.

Kane almost fought his way out of his friend’s hold. The worst of his memories played through his mind, picture stills, a flash of one, then another, images of pain and suffering, somehow all the worse because he now saw them in black-and-white—except for the blood. Scarlet dripped from his many wounds.

Deeper inside the cave. Deeper still...

The next time Lucien paused, Kane hunched over and dry heaved. The warrior didn’t release him—perhaps he knew Kane would have bolted. When he finished, he straightened and wiped the moisture from his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Just a little farther, I think,” Lucien said, and flashed again.

“I can make it.” Maybe.

At last the warrior stopped at the top of a smoky cliff.

Kane croaked out, “Here.” Patchouli saturated the air, a scent he knew far too well.

Still battling the urge to run, he crouched and peered down at a land littered with jagged rocks and black dirt. There were trees, but they were gnarled and without any sign of life. In the center was the tent Tink had mentioned, big and flesh-colored—Kane knew the Rainbow Rejects had skinned people to make it.

Tink was inside. Bound to a post. Helpless.

Fury overshadowed the worst of his revulsion. The men themselves sat around a fire pit, roasting marshmallows, utterly at ease. Probably strategizing the best way to “romance” Tink.

My Tink. No one romances her but me.

“What are you guys doing here?” a familiar voice demanded from behind.

Kane twisted while palming a dagger. He came face-to-face with William.

“Willy Willy Boo Bear!” Anya said with a grin. Her beautiful face lit with delight. “I’ve missed you like crazy.”

“Well, I haven’t missed you, brat.”

“Have, too.”

“Have not.”

A slap fight broke out.

Normally Kane would have been amused. Now? His nerves were too frayed.

“Enough,” Lucien said, and the ridiculous fight of the she-cats stopped.

“I’m going to kill your boys,” Kane said. And fast. He wanted out of this place.

“Funny, but I’m going to kill my boys,” William gritted, taking the spot beside him. “They actually left me for dead in Séduire. And good thing, too, because the Phoenix burned down the king’s gardens, and someone has to face punishment. He’s picked your Tinker Hell, because, apparently, she’s to blame for everything. He’ll be sending a contingent of soldiers after her.”

Kane studied the area, plotting the best course of action against the Rainbow Rejects, saying distractedly, “Too bad she belongs to me now, not him.” If he climbed down the cliff, he would be easily spotted. The Rainbow Rejects would be distracted, would leave their posts to fight him. Lucien could flash into the tent, and whisk Tink to safety.

“He’s certain you’re tired of your Tink by now. He’s expecting a thank-you hug.”

That was because, to Tiberius, she had no worth.

The man needed to be taught better.

“Forget the Fae. Where’s White?” he asked. If necessary, he would fight her, too.

“She helped her brothers ambush me, but at least she came back to doctor me,” William said. “Therefore, I only put her in time-out.”

William had once put a Hunter in time-out. The male had chewed through his own wrists in an attempt to escape the pain the warrior had unleashed.

“By the way,” the warrior added. “Have you noticed anything unusual about your wedding ring? I’d always heard it had strange powers, but I never wanted to risk my precious life by putting it on.”

Kane judged the distance from the bottom of the cliff to the campfire. “So you risked my precious life instead?” If the Rainbow Rejects opted not to fight him, they might have enough time to get to Tink before Lucien could flash in and free her.

It was a chance he’d have to take.

“Uh, yeah,” William said. “Hello. I’m smart like that.”

“The ring shows me when an enemy is near.”

“What?” Electric blues narrowed to tiny slits. “Give it back.”

Kane ignored him, saying, “I’ll take care of the Rainbow Rejects. Lucien, you’ll take care of Tink.”

“What about me?” Anya demanded.

“You get to cheer us on.” Lucien would never forgive him if something happened to his precious.

“Hold up,” William said. “If I know my boys, and I do, they’ve bound your Tinker Hell with special chains. Lucien won’t be able to cut her loose, and if he can’t cut her loose, he can’t flash her. He’ll need a key.”

A complication, but not one that was insurmountable. “Do you have a key?”

“I do.” William offered no more.

Kane massaged the back of his neck. “Get the key and I’ll give you the ring.”

“I was hoping you’d say that. This is gonna take me a while, so I’ll see you when I see you.” A grinning William vanished.

Kane wasn’t waiting a while. Not here. Not with Tink so close. “New plan. You two stay here until William gets back, then swoop in and grab Tink. I’ll get the Rainbow Rejects out of the area.”

He didn’t wait for their reply. And he wasn’t going to waste time climbing. His sense of urgency rising, he stood and jumped, falling down...down...down and landing on his feet. Impact split the bones in his shins, but he didn’t care, his adrenaline too high to let him feel such pain. A scowl marred his features as he straightened.

The boys glanced up. The moment they spotted him, they leaped to their feet. But they didn’t run.

“Must admit, I expected you sooner,” Red said, unfazed.

“This is our territory,” Black said. “You should have stayed away.”

Green rubbed his hands together with glee.

“Tink is mine, and I will never share her.”

Kane and the Rainbow Rejects launched toward each other, meeting in the middle. A black mist instantly puffed around them, locking the four of them in a circle of menace. He’d expected it, and was ready to go with a dagger and an ax, hacking at his opponents. The males arched to elude impact, then, as they straightened, slashed at him with their growing claws. Maybe they made contact. Maybe they didn’t. Still he felt only the fiery edges of his rage and determination.

He looked at Red, smiled—but launched the ax at Black.

Black wasn’t prepared, and had no time to react. The metal embedded in his throat, severing his windpipe. He hit the ground, and stayed down.

Red roared, a testament to his rage. Green bared his teeth in a fearsome scowl filled with fangs. Kane palmed a second dagger, and attacked with more vigor. He remained in constant motion, slashing, ducking, slashing again, cutting the pair to ribbons.

“Kill you,” Red snarled, going low and knocking Kane’s ankles together.

He hit the ground, but rolled back to a stand before either male could pin him.

Silent, he stalked forward and hit at them with renewed strength, driving the pair backward. But Green worked his way behind him, and struck, probably drilling a hole in the back of his skull with the slam of his fist.

Kane nearly blacked out, but didn’t let it slow him. He went low, spinning, kicking out his leg, knocking Green down...rising, nailing Red in the shoulder.

The warriors quickly recovered, swiping at him. He had to crisscross his arms again and again, his body arcing one way then the other, to avoid being pummeled and land other blows.

Realizing this was getting them nowhere, he allowed Red to hit him, because he couldn’t sidestep it and strike at Green. He pounded his fist into Green’s chest, sending the warrior stumbling back. Kane followed. The moment Green righted, Kane performed a hard jab to his jaw, followed by a second kick. This time, the dazed warrior fell. Kane was there when he landed, twisting his neck—breaking his spine.

Green stayed down, too.

Red jumped on Kane’s back, wrapped his arms around his neck, and tried to do the same to him, exactly as Kane had hoped. He rolled into the movement and ended up face-to-face with the guy, as if they were hugging. He wasted no time sinking a dagger into Red’s side, straight into a kidney.

Grunting, the warrior stumbled away from him. Kane threw the second dagger and cut into the male’s thigh, forcing him to his knees. Then, determined to end this once and for all, Kane kicked him in the face, breaking his nose and sending him flying back. He grabbed two more daggers, and, when Red rolled over to push upright, shoved the blades into his shoulders, pinning him down.

Disaster shrieked inside his head, and a second later, a rock fell from the cliff and careened toward Kane. He darted out of the way a split second before contact. Red wasn’t so lucky.

The black mist melted away as Kane stood. He felt...ragged, desperate, as he stumbled forward, searching the area, wishing he were anywhere but here, his panic returning now that the fighting was done. He needed to leave. Had to leave. Now. Where was Tink? He needed to grab her and get her out of this hellhole. First, though, he probably needed to breathe. Why couldn’t he breathe?

As he patted at his throat, finding no external obstruction, he spotted Lucien, Anya, William and Tink sitting in front of the fire. He stopped. Tink’s black hair was brushed to a glossy shine, her skin scrubbed clean, and her clothes in perfect condition. She was safe. Relief and joy intermingled, a potent combination that managed to chase away the worst of his panic, opening his lungs and allowing him to suck in a measure of oxygen.

William eyed his boys, who were still lying on the ground. “They’re not dead. Only a beheading will kill them.”

Kane moved forward, intending to deliver the final blow.

“Don’t,” William said, stopping him. “I’ve changed my mind. They’ve learned their lesson. They’ll never approach your woman again. I’ll make sure of it.”

Very well. Kane didn’t need to see them dead—he just needed the reassurance that his mine was safe from them.

He faced Tink.

She stood, wiping her hands against her thighs. Nervous? Or frightened of him? He was covered in blood, after all.

“Kane,” she said.

He took a step toward her. “You’re free. That was fast.”

William shifted. “Yeah, so, I was mistaken about the chain and key. Anya got her out. Go figure.”

“She was bound by rope, nothing more, and I somehow managed to cut her loose,” Anya said drily. “Imagine my surprise.”

William had tried to trick him, just to gain possession of the ring. Kane wanted to care. He didn’t care. His gaze remained locked with Tink’s. She approached him. A second later, they were running at each other. She threw herself in his arms, and he spun her around.

“Told you I’d be here by morning,” he whispered.

“Thank you.”

“Welcome.” Now, he could get her out of here. Couldn’t tolerate another minute inside these jagged walls. “We need to—”

“Disaster,” a female screeched in the distance. “Disaster is here!”

“Where? Where is he? I must have him!”

Every muscle Kane possessed knotted. The minions had sensed him. The minions...the minions who had...had...NO! Sickness returned to his stomach, churning viciously. The females wanted to bind him and cut away his clothing. They wanted to touch him and taste him and steal his seed.

They’ll have you, Disaster said with a laugh. Over and over again.

Going to vomit.

“And now it’s time to bail.” William unsheathed a Sig Sauer from the waist of his pants. “I can only flash myself. Lucien, you take care of the others.”

Lucien nodded and flashed a protesting Anya to safety. He reappeared a few seconds later, grabbed a now trembling Kane and Tink, and flashed them away, too. The last thing Kane saw was William running forward, grinning with delight. And when he next blinked, he was standing inside the walls of the fortress he’d never thought to revisit, once again barely able to breathe.