Smoldering Hunger Read Online Free PDF Page B

were no’ after your own agenda two weeks ago when you took the pretty doctor against the building?” Ulrik asked nonchalantly. “You seemed rather intent on your agenda.”
    Darius fisted his hands to keep from striking Ulrik’s smug face. So they’d been watched. By Ulrik.
    Ulrik had seen her passion, her desire. He’d heard her cries of pleasure. The bastard. Darius wanted to make him pay for witnessing what he alone should’ve seen. Never mind the fact that he had taken her on the street.
    Ulrik laughed softly. “That blank stare you’re giving me reminds me of Con. Unfortunately, your clenched hands tell a different story. You care for the doctor.”
    “She was a female. It had been a long while since I had such a release. That was all.”
    “Is it?” Ulrik asked with a smirk. “With that kind of passion? Doona bother with such lies, Darius.”
    Darius closed the distance between them so that he was almost nose to nose with Ulrik. “Too many innocents have paid the price for our war. I doona want her—or anyone in that hospital—harmed because you believe I hold some feelings for the mortal.”
    Ulrik stared at him a long time.
    “If you wanted to hurt me, you’ve already done that by making sure I can no’ fly. You’ve done what you wanted. Leave,” Darius demanded.
    “My plans are just getting underway. Besides, I’ve no interest in leaving Edinburgh just yet. Go ahead and tell Con. We can have our battle right here.”
    Darius knew Con would never condone such a thing. Con took his vow to protect the humans too seriously to battle Ulrik to the death in front of them.
    He moved in front of Ulrik to halt his turning away. “I’m no’ going to tell you again to stay away from the doctor.”
    “Ahh,” Ulrik said with a sneer. “Is one of you finally going to step up and challenge me?”
    Damn. Darius couldn’t. Con had already called that option.
    “I didna think so.” Ulrik gave a bark of laughter. “What a pity. I thought the old Darius might’ve returned. But you’re still the same broken dragon.”
    He glared into Ulrik’s gold eyes. “If you’re looking for a fight, I’m right here. Though it willna be a fair fight with you only having some of your magic.”
    Ulrik’s smile was cold. “You think you know so much. You know nothing. None of you do. When it all comes down, you’ll realize just how many pieces of the puzzle all of you were missing.”
    “Trying to change the subject?”
    Ulrik held his gaze, his smile hardening. “No’ at all.”
    A shout of pain pulled Darius’s gaze from Ulrik over his shoulder to a woman who was on the ground writhing in pain.
    “Keep pushing me, Darius. I’ve no problem hurting any of these … beings,” Ulrik said.
    Darius thought of Sophie and the hundreds of people in the hospital. He recalled his oath to protect the humans, and though it went against everything he was, he didn’t slam his fist into Ulrik’s face as he wanted.
    Or rip him apart. That’s what Darius really wanted to do.
    The warrior of old, the lethal dragon that struck without remorse or hesitation reared its head. Darius thought he’d lost that warrior spirit long ago. He’d felt a stirring of it a few weeks ago—then more and more each day.
    Then, today, he knew it was back. He was back. The dragon he’d been before tragedy struck.
    Now he had a target—and someone to protect. Ulrik wasn’t going to know what hit him by the time Darius was through with him.
    The woman’s screams became louder as people gathered around her and hospital workers rushed out to help her. This wasn’t the time to remind Ulrik of his place in the world. That would come soon enough.
    Darius thought of Sophie working in the building behind him, saving lives. He pictured her olive eyes, her smile. And he managed to remain where he was, in complete control of his fury.
    “One day soon you’ll know the secrets Con has been so desperate to keep from all of you,” Ulrik said as he