by Donna Grant
Eons after having his sword stolen and then hidden from him, it was now back in his grasp. But it did no good. Every King was counting on him to use it in order to check on the dragons.
He paced his room inside the manor, wondering if it was somehow his fault that his weapon wouldn’t respond to him anymore. Had he done something to...? That couldn’t be it. The sword was his, part of him. All Dragons Kings had a sword that only they could use.
So if it wasn’t him, then what was it? What kept him from being able to use his sword to check on the dragons? Ever since the Kings forced the dragons to leave during the war with the humans, they had no idea if their clans were alive or not. The Kings didn’t even know where the dragons were.
The dragon bridge was manifested from the combined magic of all the Kings, and it was the one and only time they had ever used such a bridge.
V couldn’t stay in his chamber any more. He stalked from his room and made his way downstairs. As he walked across the vast expanse of Dreagan – staying far from the Visitor’s Center at the distillery where people lined up to take tours – he was glad he didn’t run into any of his brethren.
Only Cináed knew about his conundrum. If this continued, V would have no choice but to tell the rest of the Kings. After all he and Roman gone through in Iceland just to find his stolen sword, it wasn’t right that he couldn’t make it work properly.
V kept walking. He didn’t care were he went. He just needed to burn off some of the anger and anxiety that churned like a raging storm within him. His first choice would be shifting into his true form and taking to the skies, but that wasn’t something they could do during the day. The fact they were hiding from the humans prevented that.
V could use his power. Every Dragon King was granted a special type of magic. For him, it was being able to disguise his dragon form when he shifted. He was so tempted to do that, but he didn’t. It wouldn’t be fair for him to take to the skies while others could not.
He had no idea how much time passed before he found himself walking along a paved road. V paused and looked up to get his bearings. He was no longer on Dreagan, and with their land encompassing sixty thousand acres that meant he had walked quite a ways.
V heard the roar of an approaching engine. He grimaced when he recognized the unmistakable sound of the Maseratti GranTurismo MC Stradale that belonged to none other than Constantine, King of Dragon Kings.
He watched as the bright blue sports car came into view. And just as expected, Con slowed when he spotted V. The Dragon Kings were the most powerful of beings on the realm, but even they had someone to answer to. That someone was Constantine.
Con rolled down his window, his black eyes locking on V’s face. He was attired in his usual – a suit, starched shirt, gold dragon head cufflinks, and no tie. “Everything all right?” he asked.
V nodded. “Just walking.”
A blond brow shot up on Con’s forehead. “Toward the village?”
“I needed to stretch my legs.”
“And you couldn’t do that on Dreagan? Or was it that you didn’t want to run into any Kings?”
V blew out a breath and looked over the top of the car to the opposite side of the road where sheep grazed on the steep hills.
“I see,” Con said after a moment. “You know you can talk to me about whatever is troubling you.”
“I know.” V met Con’s black gaze. “I just need some time. Finally having my sword back after so many millions of years without it is taking some getting used to.”
Con blinked, his expression devoid of any emotion, but V knew him well enough to know that Con was trying to discover what it was V hid. It was one of the many reasons Con was King of Kings.
“You know where to find me,” Con replied.
V gave a nod. Con stared at him a moment longer before he drove off. The last thing anyone at Dreagan needed was the knowledge that something was wrong with his sword. With all he and Roman had discovered in the mountain on Iceland in regards to the Others, there was much the Kings had to do.
The Others.
The mere thought of them made V want to retaliate. The mysterious group was a mix of good and evil Druids as well as Dark and Light Fae. Why such an alliance would come together still confused to the Kings.
Worse, the Others seemed to be after the Dragon Kings. And they had waited thousands of years before taking action. Though no one knew why the Others had been so patient.
Or what they were after.
V waited until he saw the taillights of Con’s car disappear over a hill before he turned and resumed his walk. He couldn’t think about the Others right now. He had to focus on his sword. Yet, the two were connected.
It was the Others who initially tried to get his sword. Fortunately, a group of humans that V once protected discovered the Others’ plan. The humans used their skills to steal the weapon from V and hide it before the Others could lay claim to it.
He wished the gypsies would have told him their plan, but he knew he wouldn’t have listened to them had they tried. He would’ve told them he could take care of things himself. The truth, however, was that he would’ve underestimated the Others. And the gypsies had not.
It was the Others who spelled V so he lost his memories about when and how his sword was stolen. But he now had them returned. His memories gave him little insight into the group, however. What it did show him was the lengths some mortals would go to in order to help the Dragon Kings.
That was in direct opposition to what the majority of humans had done to the Kings, which began the war between them. V still couldn’t believe that the Dragon Kings, the strongest, greatest beings on the realm, had given up everything to the mortals.
That was a road he didn’t need to wander down. His mind returned to the Others. Despite the attempt by the gypsies, the Others found the man who had taken his sword. The gypsies made sure that the Others couldn't touch it. Instead, the nefarious group put other traps in place throughout the mountain in Iceland to hinder anyone trying to retrieve the weapon.
It was through great difficulty and the help of friends that V and Roman were able to escape the mountain not only with their lives, but with the sword as well.
This wasn’t the first time the Others had set ruses and deceptions for the Kings. Perhaps it was because of the tricks the Others used that made V apprehensive. First, it was the wooden dragon carved as a replica of Con. One touch to that figurine caused chaos to erupt.
There was also the incident in New York with the black dagger and a fellow King, Dorian.
And now this.
At least, those were the only ones he knew of. There could be more. That in itself made his worry double.
It had taken V all of his considerable magic and strength to bust through the magic woven through his memories from the Others. For millions of years, he hadn’t known anyone touched his memories. But now he knew what to look for.
His mind was clean of any enchantment from the Others, but he hadn’t checked his sword yet. In fact, he hadn’t held it since attempting to use it after returning to Dreagan.
For eons, he’d lived with the knowledge that he’d failed as a King because mortals had stolen his sword. While he now knew the truth, it didn’t help him feel any better.
He was a Dragon King. No one should have been able to get to him through magic. No one. But they did.
With tragic results.
If he’d kept a hold of his sword, he could have checked on the dragons several times. And called them home.
V looked up and found himself standing in front of the medical clinic. Sophie, who was mated to another King, Darius, ran it. Many of the Kings hadn’t been sure how Sophie could continue to work as a doctor and keep the secrets of Dreagan, but so far she’d done wonders.
She wouldn’t be able to do that forever though. As a mate, she was given the gift of immortality. Sophie had a few more years before others began to notice that she didn’t age. Then she would have to close th
e practice for a few generations before she could once more open it back up.
V’s gaze swung to the parking lot as he heard the squeal of tires as a white Mini with black racing stripes pulled to a stop. He sidestepped behind a tree and watched as Claire got out of her car. V couldn’t understand how she drove so fast and didn’t worry about being killed. He gave her credit for being an expert driver, but mortals only had one life. He really wished she would slow down.
Her blonde locks were haphazardly pulled back into what he had heard Sophie describe as a messy bun – whatever that was. He didn’t care what it was called. He just knew that he liked it on Claire. What he liked more was when she left her locks free to fall down her back.
She was always changing her look. Some days she had on vivid makeup with her long hair styled in various ways. Other days she had on very little makeup and a messy bun.
He liked them all.
The few times he happened to be near when Claire arrived at the clinic she would make her way into the office singing from whatever had been blaring on her car radio, but today she was subdued. Her oval face was pensive, as if she were deep in thought.
She adjusted the big black bag she carried on her shoulder before she pulled out her mobile. The moment she looked at the screen, she stopped. A second later, a smile broke out over her face.
V found himself grinning in response because her smile – even when not directed at him – was infectious. He didn’t know what it was about the blonde beauty that first captured his attention and hadn’t let go since.
His vantage point gave him perfect access to her face. Whatever was on the phone lit up her face. He’d seen the mated Kings do that to their women. V wondered if he would ever cause someone to smile like that.
The majority of his life after the war with the humans had been spent sleeping in his mountain. He hadn’t had time to think of anything more than reclaiming his stolen sword. Now...now, all around him were those who had something to occupy them in regards to Dreagan.
Then there were those who had found love.
It was difficult to be around so many who were happy. Those like Vaughn, who was a solicitor for Dreagan, who found their place in the human world. Then there were the pairs who were always together, always sharing secret words and looks. And touches.
Eons of time spent alone crushed V under the weight of it all. He thought sex would help. And it had. For a short while. Then that haunting ache filled his chest again.
He wasn’t stupid. He knew exactly what it was. Loneliness. He was surrounded by his brethren, but felt utterly, completely alone.
V drew in a deep breath and watched Claire’s pace quicken as she hurried into the clinic. He shifted around the tree to continue to observe her, catching one last look before she walked through the door, disappearing into the building.
He’d spent a lot of time at the clinic lately helping out when it was needed. Most of the Kings did from time to time. Sophie was part of the family, and as such, they were always there for whatever she needed.
Not that Darius couldn’t handle things himself, but sometimes it was just an excuse to be together. Just as everyone not only went to Laith’s pub, but also helped out there as well. The Dragon King had owned the pub for hundreds of years, legally passing it down to himself and disappearing for decades at a time.
Who knew how long such things would work. The people of the village near Dreagan seemed happy. Then again, so had the mortals before the war began.
“She’s pretty, is she no’?”
V closed his eyes at the sound of Darius’s voice. He should’ve heard Darius approach, and he would have had he not been so engrossed in Claire.
He opened his eyes and turned to face his friend. He could try to lie, but there was no point. “Aye. She certainly is.”
“Sophie and Claire are very close,” Darius stated.
V quirked a brow. “I’m aware of that.”
“I know you’ve picked up Rhys’s habits of a different woman every night –”
V was affronted by the charge. “It’s no’ every night.”
“Somehow, despite everything that happened in Edinburgh to her and Sophie, Claire doesna know about us.”
V crossed his arms over his chest. He didn’t know the entire story about how Claire and Sophie were taken by the Dark Fae, but he knew that it had been a close call for both women. “Are you sure she doesna?”
Darius glanced at the building. “She would’ve said something to Sophie if she did. You’re welcome at the clinic anytime, but Claire is like a sister to Sophie.”
“You want me to keep away from her.” And somehow, that hurt V more than he’d expected.
“If you think she could be your mate, then I’ll no’ stand in your way.”
“I didna say that.”
Darius nodded slowly. “I just doona want Claire hurt.”
V squared his shoulders. “I’m well aware that she is off limits.”
Darius gave a nod of appreciation. “Thank you. Since you’re here, I could really use your help moving some more boxes. I never knew so much was needed to run a medical clinic.”
V was slow to follow Darius. While he understood his friend’s caution, nonetheless, he was hurt by it. More than that, he wondered at the lie he’d told about Claire. And the consequences of not admitting what he’d known in his heart for some time now.
On behalf of 1001 Dark Nights,
Liz Berry and M.J. Rose would like to thank ~
Steve Berry
Doug Scofield
Kim Guidroz
Jillian Stein
InkSlinger PR
Dan Slater
Asha Hossain
Chris Graham
Fedora Chen
Kasi Alexander
Jessica Johns
Dylan Stockton
Richard Blake
and Simon Lipskar
Table of Contents
Book Description
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Epilogue