Night's Blaze

by Donna Grant

  Lily shed the long skirt and shirt, wadding them into a ball. She stood in her bra and panties when the employee walked into the dressing room. Lily handed the hated clothes to the woman. “Burn those.”

  The young woman with a blond pixie cut eyed the clothes. “Are you sure?”

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything.” Just before the woman walked back through the curtain, Lily said, “I’m also going to need new bras and panties.”

  “I’ll see to it,” the woman replied with a bright smile.

  Lily looked at herself in the mirror. Staring back at her was a hint of the girl she’d once been. She thought being on her own would give it to her, but she realized it was Rhys. He embodied the strength and fortitude she wished for herself. He gave her the courage to take a stand for herself.

  It wasn’t until she put on the first outfit of a pair of dark jeans and a red long-sleeved shirt that accentuated her breasts and her waist that she knew she would find the person she’d been before Dennis. The confident person who made her own decisions and didn’t let anyone push her around—or hurt her.

  * * *

  Rhys hated waiting. For anything.

  It didn’t matter how long he lived, he hadn’t mastered the art of patience. So the longer he had to wait for Ulrik to arrive at The Silver Dragon, the angrier he got.

  He drummed his fingers on the hood of his Jaguar even as thunder rumbled in the distance. The first drops of rain were an annoyance, but he didn’t budge even when the droplets became a steady downpour.

  His thoughts turned to Lily. He wondered what she was doing and if she was having a good time. Her safety never factored in, because Rhys knew Kellan would move the heavens if he had to in order to protect Denae. Since Lily was with Denae, Kellan would protect her as well.

  That’s the only thing that kept Rhys from losing his mind with worry. He kept going over in his head the look on Lily’s face when he reached her flat and when he took her home. Something was bothering her, and he wished she would tell him.

  Not that he was one for sharing. He had yet to tell anyone about what was going on inside him with not being able to shift. It was tearing him in two as he sank further and further into a pit of despair. The only thing that kept the desolation from taking him was Lily. Her light, her smile … her kisses. She alone pulled him back from the edge simply by him thinking about her.

  Rhys debated with himself whether to go after Lily as he wanted, or to be content to just look at her. Each time they kissed, it became more and more difficult for him to keep his distance. The fact he couldn’t touch her without kissing her spoke volumes.

  But he was no longer the Dragon King from before. He was … less. All because of Ulrik. Anger burned through Rhys. Ulrik had damaged him, ruined him. Never mind that Rhys still wouldn’t think himself good enough for Lily even if he could shift again. Ulrik prevented him from protecting her as he should be able to.

  Two hours later, Ulrik finally pulled up in his ice silver McLaren 12C Spider. The supercar rumbled to a stop on the opposite side of the street from Ulrik’s antiques store. The door opened and Ulrik stepped out with his long black hair held in a queue, uncaring that rain soaked him and his expensive tailored suit instantly.

  Ulrik shut the car door and walked away, locking the car with his key fob. He was halfway across the street when he suddenly halted. Then he slowly turned his head and looked at Rhys.

  A distance of fifty feet separated them, but Rhys still saw the spark of anger in Ulrik’s gold eyes. Rhys wasn’t going to wait for an invitation. He pushed away from the Jaguar and strode toward his enemy.

  Ulrik continued on to his shop and unlocked the door. It shut behind him, but Rhys didn’t care if it was locked or not. He was going in.

  Imagine his surprise when he tested the door and it opened. He walked inside to find only a few lights on.

  “I doona suppose you’d leave if I told you to,” Ulrik said as he walked from behind a wall to his desk at the front. He had removed his suit coat and released his hair, but remained in the wet shirt and slacks.

  “Nay.”

  Ulrik gave a bored expression and pulled out his chair before he sat. “Then get on with it.”

  “With what?” Rhys asked skeptically.

  “Whatever you came to say or accuse me of. The sooner you get it out, the sooner you can leave.”

  “As if you doona know why I’m here,” Rhys stated.

  “I doona.”

  The fact he said it so casually, as if it didn’t matter that he had nearly killed Rhys. “Liar.”

  Ulrik shrugged. “As usual. After all the years you’ve been around you should’ve come up with something better.”

  “The word fits you. I almost think when it was created, the humans had you in mind.” Rhys smiled when he saw Ulrik’s nostrils flare, a sign that he was growing angry.

  “I can always throw you out, you know.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Rhys folded his arms over his chest, trying to determine what he wanted to ask Ulrik first. If the bastard was going to play stupid, then he’d let him. “Where is Henry?”

  “Am I supposed to know the names of everyone that those at Dreagan know?”

  “You know him. He was at your meeting with the Dark and MI5. He was spying on you, and somehow he was found out. Where is he?”

  “I have no idea.”

  Rhys was undeterred. “Did the Dark take him?”

  “Ask them,” Ulrik said blithely.

  “It was either the Dark or you. MI5 was too incompetent to even realize he was spying.”

  Ulrik raised a brow. “You seem to know quite a bit, though you’re lacking relevant information.”

  “Henry is a good man.”

  “Who interfered in something he had no business with. As all humans do,” Ulrik said with a sneer.

  Rhys dropped his arms and walked to Ulrik’s desk. He leaned his hands upon it and glared. “Then tell me why you felt the need to mix your dragon magic and Dark magic? Tell me why you wanted me to suffer! Tell me why you chose me to be stuck in a human form unable to shift!”

  For long moments Ulrik simply stared at him. “Sounds like you got screwed. It sucks, does it no’? Tell me, Rhys, how does it feel to watch our brethren take to the skies now that you can no’ join them?”

  “It’s hurts almost as bad as when we sent the dragons away.” Rhys heard Ulrik’s brogue slip back to his refined English accent, but he didn’t mention it.

  Ulrik pushed back his chair, the wheels rolling easily, and stood. “I want you to leave this store. Now.”

  “You did this to me for a reason. I want to know why.”

  “We all want something.”

  Rhys seriously contemplated killing Ulrik right then. He straightened, anger churning through him faster and faster. How dare Ulrik think he could do this to him and not answer for it?

  “Your shadows doona scare me,” Ulrik said with a hard look in his gold eyes.

  Rhys hadn’t even realized he’d called to his dragon power. All around him darkness billowed, shadows waiting to hide him—or devour an enemy.

  “Did it ever occur to you that someone else could’ve done this to you?”

  Rhys snorted loudly. He stopped his shadows from advancing, but he didn’t pull them back. “All the Kings have been accounted for.”

  “Ah, but I’m no’ supposed to have magic, remember.”

  “You do. We know it.”

  Ulrik simply smiled.

  “Only you would be stupid enough to find an ally in the Dark to get back at Con.”

  “I want to kill Con, aye. But what makes you think I doona hold the rest of you accountable? You sided with him. You killed my woman together. All of you took my magic and stopped me from shifting. Each of you is responsible for what I am.”

  “So you turn the tables on me? Who’s next? Is your plan to curse each one of us?”

  Ulrik’s smirk grew. “That is a nice idea. What would th
e mighty Dragon Kings do if none of you could shift?”

  “You’re one of us.”

  “No!” Ulrik exploded, his rage palpable. Gone was his mask of indifference. The fury clouded his face and darkened his eyes. “You made sure of that.”

  Rhys let his shadows grow closer to Ulrik. “What do you think happens to this realm if we are no’ here to protect it?”

  “I suppose we’ll find out. Perhaps someone else will step in and take over.”

  “You?” Rhys asked skeptically. At Ulrik’s shrug, he snorted. “Because if all of our magic is taken away, yours is restored. So you’ll be the lone King who can shift. I’d like to see you battle the Dark alone.”

  “Who says I’d be alone or that I’ll have to battle the Dark?” Ulrik’s mask of coldness was back in place.

  Now Rhys understood why Con wanted to kill Ulrik. Ulrik couldn’t be reasoned with. He had a plan, and nothing was going to stop him from achieving it. “Why did you choose me?”

  Ulrik remained silent, but squared his body, ready for an attack.

  “Where is Henry?”

  Ulrik’s black hair fell over his shoulder as he bent his legs and leaned forward slightly.

  “Why did you choose me?” Rhys asked again, this time sending his shadow to surround Ulrik. “Where is Henry?”

  Again and again Rhys asked the question, but not once did Ulrik answer, mostly because he was battling the shadows. Rhys knew he couldn’t kill Ulrik. He’d have to have his sword to do that, or shift into a dragon. But he could take some of his anger out on Ulrik.

  * * *

  One moment Henry was in the faintly lit prison, and the next he was standing in a large room with white marble floors and vases full of brightly colored flowers everywhere. He shielded his eyes from the light streaming in from the many windows.

  He heard someone behind him, and tried to turn around and see who it was, but his eyes grew too heavy. Even as he fought to stay awake, he fell asleep.

  The next time he woke, the light was even brighter. He turned his head and discovered the softest pillow in existence beneath his head. A part of his mind cautioned him to get up and discover where he was, and another urged him to sleep more. Henry found he couldn’t fight the sleep. He gave in with a sigh and returned to his dreams.

  Rhi stood in the doorway and watched Henry. He was a fighter. Maybe that’s why she saved him. There was also a slim chance it was because he helped the Kings.

  “It’s a good thing you called me,” Usaeil, Queen of the Light, said as she came to stand beside Rhi.

  Rhi could’ve brought Henry to Usaeil’s manor on the west coast of Ireland, but then it would reveal to one and all the power she’d managed to keep hidden from them. That was something she wanted to keep to herself.

  So she got Henry out of the prison and to the outskirts of Dublin. From there, it was simply a matter of asking Usaeil for help. Now all Rhi had to worry about was finding out how much Henry remembered.

  If he recalled seeing her teleport him out, then she would need to convince him to lie for her. Although Usaeil would want to know how Henry got out of his prison and how Rhi found him. Usaeil hadn’t begun those questions yet. But they were coming.

  “I’m glad you agreed to help,” Rhi said.

  Usaeil shoved her black hair over her shoulders and adjusted the coral sheath dress she wore. “He’s aiding the Kings. Why wouldn’t I help him?”

  Rhi wanted to roll her eyes, but she didn’t. “We might be Light, but we also use humans as the Dark do.”

  “We don’t kill them.”

  “No, we sleep with them once and ruin them for any other mortal. We don’t hurt them at all,” she said sarcastically, giving Usaeil a cutting look.

  Usaeil slid her silver eyes to Rhi. “I can easily toss Henry North out on his ass.”

  “Do it. What do I care?”

  “I think you care more than you’re ready to admit. Why else would you want to help him?” Usaeil sighed. “Rhi, we all know you went through hell at Balladyn’s hands. We know it’s going to take time for you to heal, but you will heal.”

  Rhi wasn’t so sure. She could feel the darkness within her, coiling and shifting. She had to fight to remember what she should do, instead of what the darkness wanted her to do.

  “Henry is healing nicely,” Rhi said, changing the subject.

  Usaeil nodded slowly. “His injuries were extensive. Had you not found him when you did, the internal bleeding would’ve killed him in a few hours. By the way, how did you find him again?”

  This was what Rhi had been waiting for. Everyone knew she couldn’t lie without feeling tremendous pain. She sank her nails into her palms, held Usaeil’s gaze and lied. “I found him in Dublin. As I said, I don’t know how he got there.”

  “So very odd.”

  The pain was gut wrenching. It twisted her insides and squeezed her lungs so that she couldn’t breathe. Pain exploded inside her head. She began to shake. It was time for Rhi to change the subject again. “You should tell Con we have him.”

  The queen twisted her lips. “If I do, Con will want to come here and finish healing Henry himself, or want us to bring Henry to him. I’m not in the mood for either.”

  “Henry will be finished healing soon. What then? You want him to remain? In a place full of Light Fae?” Thankfully, the pain began to dull enough that Rhi could breathe easier.

  “No,” Usaeil said with a frown. “Already his appearance has sparked interest. They’re trying to get in to see him. He’s a mortal, so he’ll succumb to any Fae he encounters.”

  Rhi took exception to that. “He’s stronger than that.”

  “He’s human, Rhi. Not a single one can resist us. It’s a fact. Henry is no different.”

  Rhi didn’t argue, but she knew she was right. Henry was different. She’d seen it the first time she met him in Con’s office months ago. He took in the fact his friends at Dreagan were actually dragon shifters with a nod, his solemn hazel eyes seeing things anew.

  She bit back a grin as she recalled how he’d become a little flustered when he saw her and learned who she was. Henry’s smile was charming, sweet … honest. He looked at her as if she were the only woman in the realm.

  Even though Rhi understood that it was the fact she was Fae that intrigued him, enthralled him, she took an instant liking to the human who never backed down.

  He might be mortal, but he was a skilled adversary, a dangerous foe with espionage skills that far surpassed even Denae’s.

  As an ally, Henry was clever, shrewd, cunning, and brilliant. A perfect partner for the Kings.

  “I’ll take him to safety if he’s such a danger here,” Rhi told Usaeil.

  The queen lifted a black brow. “You surprise me again.”

  “It’s my new thing.” Rhi looked down at her black nails with two small hearts painted in red—Big Apple Red—on each ring finger.

  “I don’t want him waking up here. It’s bad enough the mortal knows as much as he does. He doesn’t need to see this place. Or me.”

  Rhi rolled her eyes. “You’re the one who wanted to become a famous movie star.”

  “I like movies,” Usaeil said defensively.

  “Yep. And it’s suuuch a good idea for the Queen of the Light to be so recognizable,” she said.

  Usaeil’s silver eyes glared for a heartbeat before she sighed. “I think I like you sullen and silent better than the smartass you’ve become.”

  “I’ve always been a smartass. I just hid it.”

  “Not nearly as much as you think. I’ll have a group of Light bring Henry back to Dublin.”

  Rhi straightened from the doorway. “No.” She cringed when she heard the harshness in her voice. Licking her lips, she tried again. “You said yourself that others were taking an interest in him. We don’t need a Light going to find Henry once he’s been healed and having sex with him.”

  A pained expression came over Usaeil’s face. “Point taken. I’ll bring Henry mys
elf. Where do you want to go?”

  “The Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh.”

  Usaeil walked to the bed where Henry lay sleeping.

  Rhi met her queen’s gaze. “I’ll be waiting.”

  She teleported to The Caledonian and the luxury suite on the top floor. A moment later, Usaeil arrived with Henry. Rhi hurried to her queen’s side and helped get a naked Henry in the bed.

  Usaeil dusted off her hands as Rhi covered Henry. “Now he can wake and call the Kings.”

  “I’m going to remain.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  Rhi sat in the chair close to the bed and looked at Usaeil. “I’m sure it’s not, but it’s what I’m going to do.”

  “Will you then travel to Dreagan?”

  Rhi cocked her head to the side. “Why do you always ask that in the same condescending tone? What is it about the Kings that you want to keep from me?”

  “Nothing,” Usaeil said quickly.

  A little too quickly by Rhi’s thinking. There was nothing for Usaeil to hide. She was queen. The only thing someone in Usaeil’s position would hide would be an ally or … a lover.

  It was like a kick in her stomach. Twice.

  Rhi stared at Usaeil and tried to keep her face devoid of any expression. Before she confronted her queen, she would need to dig more. She wanted proof, to see Usaeil and her lover with her own eyes.

  Usaeil walked to the mirror and checked her appearance. “I’ve got an interview I need to get to,” she said and looked at Rhi through the mirror. “Just promise me you won’t spend too much time at Dreagan. It always depresses you.”

  “You think I’m there for him, don’t you?”

  Usaeil blew out a breath and turned to face Rhi. “You still hold love in your heart. No matter what you tell yourself, every time you go to Dreagan, you go for him.”

  “He doesn’t want me.”

  “No. He doesn’t.”

  “I don’t want him either.” It about killed Rhi to say the words, but they were needed. She had to know if Usaeil was sleeping with a Dragon King—and which one it was.

  Usaeil looked out the windows of the expansive room. “Do me the courtesy of not lying.”