“No, man, she’s not. In fact, she’s mine.” I grin and step forward. “You lost out on one hell of a woman. She screams for me every time,” I say, taunting the elf into doing something.”
Tarron, even from the distance between us, I see his jaw tick and eyes narrow to little slits.
“You think all I want is her body? She’s a beautiful woman, bright-minded, but I want her power,” Tarron sneers. “Give her to me, and as I said, I’ll spare your lives.”
“I don’t think so.” I barely get the words out before I feel it. The darkness in the elf swarming around him, pushing outward to us.
Pyro and Inferno both growl and snarl, smoke blowing from their snouts.
The darkness spreads like a living entity, tendrils of black mist reaching toward us. I feel the power in it—ancient, hungry, malevolent. Tarron thinks he can intimidate my brothers and me with his tricks. He needs to think again.
“I grow tired of this,” Tarron says, his voice filled with an otherworldly echo now that would make a weaker man tremble. “You are nothing but a mortal man playing with powers you don’t understand.”
I laugh, the sound harsh even to my own ears. This elf hasn’t done his research if he thinks I’m a mortal man. I’m immortal. A warrior, born of a Valkyrie. “You’d be surprised what I understand,” I tell him, not filling him in on this. Let him believe what he wishes.
Fire and Brimstone step up beside me, their hands hovering near their weapons. Pyro’s and Inferno’s dragons flank our sides, their massive bodies creating a wall of protection. I can feel the heat radiating from them, matching the fire building in my own veins. They’re both ready to burn whatever threat comes at us.
“Last chance,” I call out. “Walk away now.” I don’t want to warn him off, I have every right to kill him now, but I give it to him anyway. I know he’s not going to heed the warning, and I’m going to take great pleasure in killing the dark elf.
Tarron’s laugh is cold and sharp. “You think you can protect her? You have no idea what she is.”
“I know exactly what my woman is. I know who she is. I know everything there is to know about McKenna, because she’s mine.”
Tarron’s face contorts in rage. “You know nothing of her true nature. Her power was meant for greater purposes than warming your bed. She is a vessel for power you cannot comprehend, foolish mortal.”
I feel my control slipping. The warrior blood in me is demanding release, begging to tear this bastard apart. To rip him to shreds. But I need to keep my head. To be able to tap into McKenna’s powers for the first time and use them properly andnot hurt my brothers in the process, I needed a level head. This isn’t about brute strength—it’s about strategy.
“McKenna didn’t only choose me, she was meant to be mine. We’re bonded in a way you’ll never be able to take her away,” I say, feeling the connection between us pulse stronger. Even with her safely inside, I can sense her energy flowing into mine. The power starting to flow through my veins. Fuck, I never realized she was feeling all of this inside her. She never mentioned it. Then again, she doesn’t use it.”She gave herself to me—mind, body, and soul. I know exactly who she is, and she is no vessel, as you put it.”
“Fool,” Tarron hisses, the darkness around him swirling faster. “She is a vessel of ancient power. The Norns gave her the ability to suck souls. Shewields the ability to bring the veil down and feed souls to those who would devour them. Her power will bring upon the rule of the dark elven folk.”
I keep my face neutral, though this confirms what we knew he was attempting to do, what Hel came to tell us. It wasn’t supposed to be until tonight with the full moon, but the veil was already thinning. Weak enough for this elf to attempt to break through it, but he needs McKenna to do it.
“McKenna’s not going to help you,” I state firmly, stretching my neck from side to side. The power from her courses through me in a way I’ve never felt before. It’s intoxicating yet terrifying. I can feel the darkness of it, the pull to consume, to take. Is this what she feels all the time?
“She will have no choice,” Tarron snarls, taking a step forward. The darkness around him solidifies, forming what looks like armor made of shadows. “When the veil is at its thinnest, her power will activate whether she wishes it or not. I simply need to be there to guide it.”
“Heat,” Brimstone murmurs, “you good?”
I nod once, not taking my eyes off Tarron. “Let’s finish this.”
The bond between McKenna and me pulses stronger, her essence flowing through my veins like liquid fire. I can feel her—scared but determined—back in the clubhouse. For a moment, I wonder if she can feel me too, if she knows what’s about to happen.
“You’ll never get your hands on McKenna.”
“Oh, but I will. I tire of this conversation.”
Without warning, dark elves appear and launch themselves in our direction.
Tarron waves his hand, sending a tendril of darkness that shoots in my direction. I dodge and pull my gun out of my holster. It’s not effective against Tarron, but I want him to believe it’s the only thing I have against him. I need to be close enough to rip his soul from his body and stop this madness.
My brothers around me go up against the rest of the elves that appeared while I focus on my task of taking out Tarron.
“You fool.” Tarron laughs. “You think a human weapon will take me out.”
If he knew that the bullets were also forged in dragon fire, he might not be laughing so much. Grinning, I pull the trigger, hitting him in the left shoulder.
Tarron cries out, staggering back a step.
