Smoke and Fire:

by Donna Grant

  Con pulled Kinsey with him as they moved behind Esther. Henry remained by the door. Then he slammed it shut. Esther’s head jerked up, her gaze meeting her brother’s.

  “Hello, Esther,” Henry said. “Fancy seeing you here, sis.”

  Kinsey had to give Esther credit, she remained in character while putting her hands near the fire. “I don’t know an Esther.”

  “Give it up,” Henry said, his voice dripping with anger and agitation. “I know it’s you. You’re good. I’ll give you that, but you forgot to make sure to cover the small scar near your temple. The one I gave you years ago when we played cricket.”

  There was a drawn-out pause before Esther sighed and gave a shake of her head. “What the bloody hell are you doing here, Henry?” she asked in the same refined British accent as her brother.

  “I asked first. When were you going to tell me you joined MI5?”

  She lifted her chin. “Eventually. How did you find out?”

  “Me,” Ryder said. “I check everyone who walks onto Dreagan.”

  Esther shrugged, as if she didn’t care that her cover was blown. “I like MI5. It suits me as it always suited you.”

  “Do our parents know?”

  She looked at him as if he’d just asked her to strip naked. “Of course not. What kind of daughter do you think I am?”

  “I’m wondering what kind of sister you are,” Henry said as he clasped his hands behind his back. “You lied to me. Repeatedly.”

  “And how many times have you lied to me and our parents?” she retorted. “Too many to count, that’s for sure.”

  Henry scrubbed a hand down his face. “So MI5 is working out great for you, aye?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is that why they decommissioned you?”

  She got to her feet and glared. “How do you know that?”

  “That doesn’t concern you.”

  “It does if you’re looking into me,” she said and moved a step closer to him.

  Henry looked down his nose at her. “Which side are you on, Esther? Are you on the side of MI5 that I’ve been working to eliminate? The ones who focus on people like those here at Dreagan, concocting all kinds of lies to keep them under surveillance?”

  “No. Never,” she said, appalled.

  Henry gazed at her a long time before he said, “Prove it.”

  “Stuart, your boss and friend, took a liking to me. He didn’t approve of the group training me and took me under his wing. He said if I was going to be an agent, he was going to make sure I was trained right. That’s how I learned what the two of you were doing. I offered to help out.”

  “And?” Henry urged when she stopped.

  She threw up her hands in aggravation. “What do you think? I was relieved of duty.”

  Kinsey saw the subtle way Henry shifted his feet. Ryder also positioned himself closer to the door. Whatever answers Esther was giving, they weren’t the ones they were looking for.

  Henry bowed his head. He stood with his hands on his hips as the silence of the room was broken only by the pop of the fire.

  “It’s time to stop with the lies,” Henry said without lifting his head. “It’s easy to become so engrossed in them that even when we need to tell the truth, we can’t. I’ve been there many times. You have to force yourself to let go of the shroud of lies.”

  “I’m not lying.”

  At this, Henry’s head lifted. His eyes were now as hard as iron. His entire demeanor changed. Gone was the concerned brother. In his place was a man intent on getting answers—no matter who stood across from him.

  “Stuart never mentioned you. He would’ve, Esther. He, more than most, knows how important family is since his brother was an MI5 agent killed in the line of duty. He would’ve alerted me the moment he discovered you.”

  Esther shrugged, as if she didn’t care that he’d caught that lie.

  “As for the rest, I was there when most of the bad seeds were terminated. You weren’t one of them. You have one more chance to tell me the truth.”

  She resumed her seat and looked back into the flames of the fire. “Not going to happen.”

  Kinsey didn’t so much as move a muscle. She couldn’t believe a brother and sister who seemed as close as Henry and Esther could grow apart so drastically. The idea that it could happen to her and her sister made Kinsey’s stomach roll with dread.

  Kinsey spotted Henry give a nod to Ryder. The next moment, Esther bent over at the waist. She struggled to breathe while doing her best to remain seated.

  “What … are you … doing?” Esther asked in a voice that was more whimper than shout.

  “Getting answers,” Henry stated.

  Kinsey couldn’t actually see Ryder doing anything to Esther, but it was obvious that he was.

  “He’s no’ hurting her,” Con said in a low voice.

  Kinsey glanced at him. “It sure looks like it.”

  “Every King has their own special power. I can heal anything. Ryder’s is weakness. Esther isna feeling any pain. She is experiencing fragility.”

  Kinsey felt a little better knowing that, but that didn’t make it any easier to watch. She’d learned about Ryder and the other Dragon Kings in stages and was barely holding it all together. Without a doubt, she knew she’d be at a complete loss if she found out all at once.

  Now that Kinsey realized what Ryder was doing, she could see the feebleness of Esther’s movements. It was like all the energy had departed her body, leaving Esther as weak as a newborn.

  “I’ll not tell you anything,” Esther rasped.

  Henry crossed his arms over his chest. “Yes, you will.”

  Con stepped around Kinsey and walked to stand beside Henry. “Perhaps she’d prefer to speak to me.”

  As soon as Con appeared, Esther’s gaze widened, a gleam of surprise and glee filling them. Kinsey knew firsthand how laid back Con appeared—when he was anything but. And right now, even Kinsey could tell that Con was angry.

  But more than anything, the recognition in Esther’s eyes gave her away.

  “Constantine,” Esther said.

  Henry pivoted to stand between his sister and Con. He faced the King of Kings. “No. This is what she wants.”

  “Then let’s give her what she wants,” Con said with a shrug.

  Kinsey slid her gaze to Ryder to find him watching her. She wished she knew what he was thinking, and she still wasn’t entirely happy with the fact that she was in the room. If nothing else, she was getting a taste of what the Dragon Kings were capable of.

  And it made her wonder why any human would dare intervene in their war.

  It wasn’t as if humans were any different when they interrogated others. In fact, there was usually pain involved. Esther wasn’t feeling any of that. Kinsey wondered if the spy had any idea how lucky she was to be getting off so easy.

  Ryder’s hazel eyes held her, refusing to allow Kinsey to look away. Not that she wanted to. How she wished she didn’t continue to gravitate toward him when she became uncomfortable or fearful, and yet that’s exactly what happened.

  Twice now she’d nearly kissed him. There was no way she could withstand much more of his seduction. And Ryder wasn’t even trying to seduce her.

  Yet.

  Kinsey knew how sexy and charming Ryder was when he wanted. He’d not turned that on her, but if the look he was giving her now was any indication, it was coming. Soon.

  Why the hell did that give her a jolt of exhilaration?

  She took a step toward him before she even realized it. Kinsey drew up short instantly. This same irresistible attraction she felt was how she and Ryder first came together across a crowded street.

  A hundred years from now she would still recall that moment of looking up from the streets of Glasgow and finding Ryder standing still in the middle of people moving all around him. His gaze had been locked on her, much as it was at that moment.

  Kinsey had attempted to turn away then, but she didn’t bother this time. He�
�d walked across the busy intersection without ever looking away from her, not stopping until he stood before her.

  His smile had been amazing, his face swoon-worthy.

  At that precise moment, Kinsey had become Ryder’s. Now, four years later, much to her horror, she realized she was still his.

  Would always be his.

  “I’m sure you have questions,” Con said to Esther, splintering into Kinsey’s thoughts.

  Kinsey silently thanked Con and focused her attention back onto Esther before she gave in to the urge to go to Ryder. But she could still feel Ryder’s gaze, still sense the desire that filled the air.

  “Yes,” Esther said.

  Kinsey’s mind echoed that word as her blood heated, thinking of being held within Ryder’s strong arms.

  Henry returned to his position, his narrowed gaze on his sister who stared at Con as if he’d been delivered to her upon a silver platter.

  “Ask away,” Con urged her.

  Esther’s smile was slow. “Show me who you are.”

  Con’s laugh was loud and hollow. “What you see is what you get. I’m nothing more than a man running a verra large, verra profitable company.”

  “You’re dragons,” Esther said, her hand upon her chest as she drew in a large breath. It was everything she could do to hold her head up.

  Kinsey looked at each man in the room to see their reactions. They all observed Esther intently.

  Henry gave a shake of his head and snorted. “You can’t tell me you really believe that dribble all over the news.”

  “We … have proof,” Esther said breathlessly and added a smile despite her growing weakness.

  Con cocked his head to the side. “What proof?”

  “Eyewitness,” she whispered as if it took her great effort.

  “A bloody lie,” Henry stated.

  Con squatted down so he could look Esther in the eye as she began to lean to the side, her body unable to keep her upright. “Have you wondered where Henry’s been?”

  Esther shook her head, unable to voice any more words she was so weak.

  “Perhaps you should’ve,” Con said. “He’s worked tirelessly to protect innocents all over the world. He’s been a friend to us here on Dreagan. Henry has a knack for judging people, does he no’? Perhaps you should consider that.”

  When Con stood, he shot a look to Ryder.

  Kinsey watched as Esther fell unconscious. Henry was there to catch her in his arms. He stood, holding her carefully despite the anger on his face.

  “We need to discover how much she knows as well as who she’s working with,” Henry said.

  Ryder considered Henry. “She’s your sister. Do you have any idea what you’re wanting us to do?”

  “What needs to be done. This is my home now too. I’ll protect it,” Henry stated. “Besides, I want her to learn the truth of everyone. She’s chosen the wrong side.”

  “And if her mind can no’ be changed?” Con asked.

  Henry turned his face away. “I’ll deal with that if the time comes.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  It was nearly midnight when Ryder quietly walked into his room. The afternoon and evening had been filled with more work at the computer. As difficult as it’d been, he didn’t talk to Kinsey about anything other than work—which had been torture when all he wanted was her in his arms.

  And with them digging into Ulrik, Kyvor, and now Esther, there was a lot to do.

  Dinner was eaten at their desks. At ten, Ryder had called an end to the day for Kinsey. She didn’t argue. She simply rose and walked away covering a yawn with her hand.

  He’d debated whether to venture into his room again. Ryder had gotten away with sleeping with her the night before, but he was taking a chance two nights in a row.

  But he couldn’t stay away.

  He closed the door softly behind him. Tonight, Kinsey was buried under the covers with her dark hair spread out around her. Ryder walked to the other side of the bed and removed his shoes.

  Just as the night before, he gingerly sat and slowly lay back. His thoughts wandered through the day and all that had happened. Time and again, he returned to the memories of their near kisses.

  She wanted the kiss, wanted him. Of that Ryder was certain. He could see it in her eyes, hear it in the way her breathing changed. Why did she keep pulling away when she wanted it as much as he?

  He knew he’d hurt her, but it wasn’t in a mortal’s nature to keep turning away from something they craved. That’s where he’d underestimated her. It was going to take much more than her desire to make her give in to him.

  For the first time, Ryder began to worry that he might not win Kinsey back. It made it all the harder, because she was at Dreagan. She knew their secrets and was part of their lives. He was getting to see firsthand how it would be if he took her as his mate.

  He wanted it so badly he could taste it.

  His eyes closed, promptly shutting out dismal thoughts of Kinsey refusing him. Instead, he returned to thinking about the second time she nearly allowed their kiss.

  The way her fingers had pressed into his chest and how she’d leaned against him were all signs she wanted their kiss. Ryder slowed the recollection, committing every second to memory from the way her lips parted and her chest heaved to her eyes dilating.

  There was a sigh before Kinsey turned over in her sleep toward him. Ryder moved his head to look at her. Her face was mere inches from him.

  He carefully lifted his arm up to drape over his pillow. There was a desperate need to touch her, hold her. But somehow Ryder kept his hands to himself. He didn’t want her waking.

  If all he could have was lying beside her as she slept, then that’s what he’d take.

  Ryder didn’t know how long he lay there listening to her breathe while wondering what she dreamed of. To his surprise, Kinsey scooted closer to him.

  He moved his arm to lightly rest around her. A smile formed when she shifted once more until her head was on his chest. Only then was Ryder able to close his eyes.

  Kinsey was where she was always meant to be—in his arms.

  * * *

  Kinsey snapped open her eyes. She’d had the weirdest dream that Ryder had been in bed with her. She sat up and looked at the pillow, but once more there was no evidence of anyone having laid their head there.

  She rose and showered, thinking about the dream the entire time. Even while she dried her hair, she recalled how vivid her dream had been. It was so clear she would’ve bet money Ryder was in bed with her.

  Did she want it so badly that even her subconscious mind was turning against her?

  After she dressed, Kinsey made her way to the kitchen. This morning there was no sign of Lexi, Thorn, or anyone else. There was a plate of bacon next to a toaster and a loaf of bread.

  Kinsey poured some coffee while the bread was in the toaster. When it was done, she lightly buttered it and stood by the counter eating toast while looking out the window.

  The snow still fell heavily, thickly covering the ground. It was going to make things difficult for the MI5 agents, which worked in Dreagan’s favor.

  That made her smile. Then she stilled. Was she on Dreagan’s side? After the talk Con, Henry, and Ryder had had with Esther, it was all Kinsey had been able to think about.

  The dragons still frightened her, but not as much as the day before or the day before that. The longer she was around Ryder and the others, the more comfortable she became with the idea of who they were.

  That wasn’t something she’d seen coming. But it made sense. Just as it was easy for her to acknowledge that she was on Dreagan’s side. If she could be neutral, she would, but someone at Kyvor had made sure to put her smack in the middle.

  So Kinsey chose a side. Dreagan’s.

  After what she saw the night before with Ryder weakening Esther with his power, she wondered if there was someone at the estate who could control the weather.

  She finished eating before she made
her way up to the computer room. Ryder was there finishing off a jelly donut, a deep frown on his face as he looked at something on one of the screens.

  “Good morning,” Kinsey said.

  He gave her a nod without looking in her direction. “Morning.”

  “Did you stay here all night?”

  “No.”

  That’s all she was going to get. Kinsey shrugged and took her seat. She pulled her chair forward and rested her hands on the virtual keyboard that immediately lit up. She could really get used to this kind of technology at her fingertips all the time.

  No sooner had she touched a key than one of the screens flashed red before listing pages of information.

  “How long has this been ready?” she asked.

  There was a pause from Ryder as he glanced at her screen. “A few hours.”

  “Why didn’t you look?”

  “Other business,” he said before turning back to his monitor.

  Whatever Ryder was looking at must be important. Kinsey scrolled through the pages of documents listing Esther’s assignments and the reports filed by her and her handler.

  After reading a dozen reports that were putting her to sleep, Kinsey switched to another monitor and checked more Kyvor e-mails. She opened each and every one, scanning the words.

  This is the part of her job she hated. Ryder could probably write some software to do this for her, but Kinsey wanted to be the one to find the needle in the haystack.

  Clarice Steinhold had been used as a patsy, and so had Kinsey. But people made mistakes. It was just a matter of Kinsey looking in every nook and cranny, every e-mail and memo that went out. There was something, somewhere.

  Ryder believed she was innocent, and right now that sufficed for everyone. How much longer would Con and the others leave her be before they questioned her as they were most likely doing with Esther?

  Kinsey didn’t want to think about Henry’s sister right now. Her attention needed to be directed at the information before her. It was bad enough that the words began to blur. She was so tired of reading stupid e-mails talking about meetings and how some person or other wasn’t doing their job that she could puke.