Soul Scorched

by Donna Grant

  “Exactly. I got a glimpse of what he was like before he was betrayed. The person he was, and the person he is now are night and day apart.”

  Warrick hurriedly switched to Darcy’s other side when he saw a man coming toward her who had no intention of moving out of the way. The man bumped into Warrick before bouncing back and running into a light pole.

  Warrick shot him a look without breaking stride. He turned back to Darcy. “Do you think if we welcomed Ulrik back at Dreagan that he could let go of the anger?”

  “I don’t think so. It’s too ingrained in him now. He’s past the point of no return.”

  “You knew this and still helped him?”

  She rolled her eyes. “For the last time, yes. You’ve no idea how having some of his magic returned gave him a measure of peace. How would you like to have your wings clipped so you could never fly again?”

  Warrick thought of Rhys and how Ulrik had combined his magic with a Dark’s to curse Rhys. Those few weeks had nearly made Rhys lose his mind. Ulrik had endured such torture for thousands of years.

  “He’s trying to expose us to the world,” Warrick said. “Ulrik has joined forces with the Dark and told a small section at MI5 about us. Those humans and the Dark have murdered and attacked other humans in an effort to show the world who we are.”

  Darcy’s steps slowed as they reached the door to her building. “All of you wanted revenge on Ulrik for having to send your dragons away. You got it.”

  “It wasna revenge.”

  “Wasn’t it?” she asked as she faced him. “Weren’t you angry at Ulrik for being unable to control his rage and attacking the humans? Didn’t each of you blame him for starting the war and the humans killing the dragons?”

  Warrick started to shake his head, then he realized she was right. They had blamed Ulrik for all of it.

  “Vengeance is a powerful motivator,” Darcy continued. “Ulrik just wants what is his due. He blames all of you, but his focus is Con.”

  “You think Ulrik deserves his revenge?”

  “I think Ulrik deserves to be who he is—a Dragon King who can shift and take to the skies once more.”

  “Even if it means your demise?” Warrick asked.

  She glanced at the darkening sky. “Let’s just hope that while Ulrik has been in human form that he saw a few of us who might have made him hate our race a little less.”

  Warrick waited until she was through the door before he whispered to himself, “Doona count on it.”

  CHAPTER

  TWELVE

  Perth, Scotland

  Ulrik went through every person who worked for him and ran a deeper background check on them. Now that he knew what to look for, he was able to spot whoever also worked for his uncle.

  There were seven in total, and with each revelation, the more his anger grew and festered into hate.

  Mikkel had put his hands into Ulrik’s life more than he was comfortable with. Ulrik added a mark next to each of the seven names. He wanted to fire them, but that would alert Mikkel that he knew of his uncle’s involvement.

  Instead, Ulrik opted not to do anything. Let those seven others continue on as they were. Ulrik rarely told them much anyway, but now he would make sure not to tell them anything they could take back to Mikkel.

  Ulrik put away the list and pulled out another. The next wasn’t as extensive as he would’ve liked, but it was growing by the day.

  Every time Mikkel let him into one of his many residences, Ulrik discovered more and more of the people working for Mikkel—and not just those at the houses. With a little eavesdropping and diligence, Ulrik was able to learn one name from the mercenaries Mikkel used. From there, it was easy to discover who the mercs were associated with.

  He wrote several more names down from his investigation, adding any relevant information that could help him in the future.

  One of the things he was working on was figuring out who Mikkel’s inside man was with MI5. As far as the Dark, Ulrik wasn’t concerned that they were united with Mikkel. Ulrik’s alliance with them wasn’t as deep—and that would benefit him in the end.

  The Dark did favors for him, and he gave them information on the Kings. However, now he knew the Dark were taking that knowledge straight to Mikkel.

  If he were the trusting sort, his uncle would have backed him into a corner. But betrayals were a hard lesson, and ones that were never forgotten. Trust wasn’t something Ulrik could—or would—give anyone.

  He pulled out another folder. This one listed all the mortals who worked for Dreagan. One of them was Mikkel’s spy, and he was going to find out who it was. If there was one thing Ulrik had learned to do—and do well—it was to turn a potential snitch.

  Money was always the motivator. Ulrik was prepared to pay triple what Mikkel had given the spy, but Ulrik would go one step further and ensure the mole was indebted to him in such a way that the mole would never betray him.

  There was a flash in his mind and Rhi’s face appeared as she teleported into his store. Ulrik closed the folders and tucked them into the drawer. Then he stood up from his desk and lifted his gaze to the second floor where Rhi stood looking at a painting of a noblewoman from the sixteenth century.

  The first thing Ulrik noticed was the silent fury that swirled around the Light Fae. Her face was hidden by her position with her back to him as well as her long hair.

  She stood still as stone in a thin shirt of soft taupe that draped sensuously over every curve to her hips. Her legs were encased in black pants tucked into tall black boots.

  “Did you come back for another kiss?” he asked.

  There was a long pause before she replied, “What would you say if I said I did?”

  “I’d say you’re too far away. If you want a proper kiss, you need to be beside me.”

  Rhi turned to face him, tempted to get closer and kiss him again. She had to know if Ulrik’s kiss was as powerful as she remembered. But she was too irate to think about kissing right now. “I want to know what you want from me.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  Rhi sighed, her anger spiking again. She had to get it under control, and quickly. “You carried me out of Balladyn’s prison because you want something. What is it?”

  “I doona know yet.”

  She gripped the railing tighter and looked Ulrik over. His dark hair was loose, making him appear roguish. He was in a pair of jeans and a thin sweater. As always, he looked gorgeous.

  “I’m tired of being used. Balladyn wanted to torture me and turn me Dark, and now he wants me in his bed. You want me for some untold thing whenever you decide to use it. Usaeil wants me at her beck and call and to know my every movement. Con wants to make sure I never step foot on Dreagan again.”

  “What do you want, Rhi?” His question was spoken in a low voice as if she were some wild animal about to attack. Ulrik pulled his hands from the pockets of his pants and let them hang by his sides. He took a few steps toward the stairs. “Forget everyone else. Focus on you.”

  Forget? How could she when she was surrounded? Ulrik, Usaeil, Con, Balladyn, and Henry were just a few who sought something from her.

  She closed her eyes, and immediately the face of her lover appeared. He was the only one who didn’t want a thing from her.

  Why did it continue to hurt so bad whenever she thought of him? Why couldn’t the pain dim as everyone said it would? Thousands of years, and the pain was as fresh as the day he called an end to their affair.

  “Rhi? Tell me what you want,” Ulrik urged, his voice closer.

  What did she want? She wanted him back. She wanted her Dragon King to love her again. She wanted to feel him next to her, to have his arms around her shoulders as he held her close. She wanted to see his smile, to look into his b—

  “Tell me, Rhi. Who cares about the others? You’re a powerful Light Fae.”

  She realized he was right behind her now. Rhi opened her eyes and saw that she was glowing. Everything around her was shaking.
A vase fell off a pedestal and shattered, while books tumbled off the bookshelves. Teacups flew across the room to smash against the opposite wall.

  Ulrik’s arms were suddenly around her, comforting and gentle. “You’ve held it in too long. Let it out, Rhi.”

  She shook her head, even as her eyes filled with tears. “I can’t.”

  “You can,” he whispered, holding her tighter.

  Rhi grabbed hold of his arms. She was exhausted from being pulled in so many directions. The lie she told herself and everyone else could no longer be spoken. She wasn’t all right. She was so far from fine that it scared her.

  Her chest ached, her throat closed up. Then the first tear fell. After that, the gates opened and they poured from her eyes.

  The last one to see her cry was Balladyn. Rhi didn’t want Ulrik to see her in such a weakened state, but it was his arms that held her and gave her the courage to see herself for the fraud she had become.

  Rhi didn’t know how long she cried. When her shoulders stopped shaking, she found herself still in Ulrik’s arms with both of them sitting on one of the sofas near the bookshelves.

  She leaned back against his chest, her hands still grasping his arms that hadn’t loosened. Her head rested against his shoulder and she was pretty sure his sweater was wet from her tears.

  “That was long overdue,” he said.

  She shrugged. “I hate to cry.”

  “You love to please people and to help them, but when are you going to realize that the only person who truly needs to be happy is you?”

  Rhi turned her head to look at him. “Are you happy?”

  “That probably isna the right word for me. Content. Aye, that’s what I would use. I’m content. I willna be happy until I have all of my magic and I can shift again.”

  “You think you will?”

  “I know it.”

  His certainty had her wiping her face of tears. She sniffed and let her head return to his shoulder. “I don’t think I can be happy or content. I thought I was, and then Balladyn took me.”

  “You survived his torture and the Chains of Mordare.”

  “Did I?” She wasn’t so sure anymore.

  Ulrik’s arms tightened a fraction. “You’re sitting here. You broke the Chains of Mordare, and you blew up his compound. Aye, Rhi, I’d say you survived.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “And now?” he asked. “Are you content?”

  “I don’t know anything anymore. Some days are good, and others are impossible to get through.”

  “Something set you off today.”

  Rhi stiffened as she remembered. “Usaeil has a new lover.”

  There was a beat of silence before Ulrik said, “Ah. I gather it’s a King.”

  She nodded her head, unable to speak for a moment. “No one has seen him, but I think it is a King.”

  “Con?”

  “I don’t know. I tried to catch them together.”

  Ulrik shifted his arms. “Let it go, Rhi. What you had with your King is over.”

  “Are you over your woman and her betrayal?” she asked snarkily.

  “Aye.”

  Rhi jerked out of his arms and turned on the sofa to look at him. “How?”

  “I killed her soul.”

  She gaped at Ulrik. He was the only Dragon King who had the power to bring the dead back. It never occurred to her that he could find a soul and kill it. If the soul died, it could never be reborn.

  “I see I’ve shocked you,” he said and put an arm along the back of the sofa as he watched her. “It shouldna. You know what I am.”

  She most certainly did. But there were times she forgot. Like just a moment ago when he was holding her.

  “How long has it been since you and your King were together?” he asked.

  Rhi looked away, the tears returning again. “A very long time, but not so long that I don’t remember the taste of his kiss or the way he would look at me and smile.”

  “You’ll never move on unless you let go. What you need is another lover.”

  She cut him a look. “Are you applying for the position?”

  “Would you take me?”

  “What can you tell me about Darcy Allen?” Rhi had to change the subject before she agreed to something that could make matters worse.

  Ulrik’s golden eyes narrowed a fraction. “I see you’ve been to Dreagan.”

  “Of course.”

  “Who did Con send?”

  Rhi shifted to the opposite corner of the sofa so she could better see Ulrik. “How did you know he sent someone?”

  “Because it’s Con.”

  “Warrick and Thorn.”

  Ulrik didn’t so much as twitch at the news. “Interesting combination.”

  “The Dark have attacked her.”

  At this, Ulrik’s faced hardened. “Did they succeed in taking her?”

  “Not with Warrick and Thorn there. Why are the Dark after her?”

  Ulrik stood and walked to the railing. “There are many reasons the Dark might want her.”

  “But you know the real one.” Rhi scooted to the edge of the sofa. “This is more emotion than I’ve seen from you in, well … ever. Is Darcy your mate?”

  He flashed her a dark look. “Never again will I make that mistake.”

  “But she’s significant.” Rhi rose to her feet and walked to him. “How many Druids did you see before Darcy helped you?”

  “Hundreds,” he answered without hesitation. “Every one of them died as soon as they came in contact with the dragon magic.”

  With a wave of her hand, Rhi repaired all the damage in the store that she had caused earlier. “You should be guarding Darcy yourself then. Or at the very least, having a chat with Taraeth.”

  Ulrik grunted. “Darcy is more than capable of defending herself.”

  “Against the Dark?” It was Rhi’s turn to grunt. “Keep telling yourself that. Besides, I figured you’d be concerned with her falling for one of the Kings and spilling all your secrets.”

  “She doesna know anything.”

  Rhi was willing to bet otherwise. Darcy was a Druid able to not just touch dragon magic, but reverse it, which suggested she knew more about Ulrik than he suspected. Why else would Con send Kings to her?

  “She’s from Skye.”

  Ulrik shrugged and pinned Rhi with a cold look. “Your point?”

  “You know how powerful the Skye Druids are. Anyone who got their hands on her would have something special. Let’s face it, the Dragon Kings aren’t the only ones with enemies. You have them as well.”

  He turned sideways toward her, a slight grin turning up the ends of his mouth. “What do you know of my enemies?”

  “Nothing. Yet.”

  All pretense of flirting disappeared. He straightened, one hand tight on her elbow. “Listen carefully, Rhi. Stay far away. You doona want to get involved in this.”

  He was deadly serious. Rhi wondered just what Ulrik was involved in. He killed and cursed as he wanted. The treachery of others had turned him cold and nefarious in ways that could never be erased.

  “You asked what I wanted from you,” he said. “I’ll tell you. Keep Darcy safe. Doona let the Dark get her.”

  Rhi was going to help Darcy anyway, but Ulrik’s plea made her curious. “I’ll see it done.”

  “Rhi.”

  She halted mid-teleport and looked at Ulrik. “What?”

  “Keep her out of the Kings’ clutches.”

  CHAPTER

  THIRTEEN

  Darcy tried to forget that Warrick was in the flat with her, but it was impossible. He was so tall and imposing that he dwarfed everything else.

  But it wasn’t just his physical appearance. Even in another room, she could sense his presence. He calmed her, made her feel as if nothing could harm her.

  She wrung out her hair and stepped out of the shower to dry off. After she dressed in a pair of sweats and an oversized tee, she combed her hair and walked from the bathroom.
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br />   Warrick stood at the windows, looking out at the city. “If the Dark come, it’ll be at night.”

  She looked past him to the inky sky and the lights of Edinburgh. “Even with you and Thorn here?”

  “Depends on how badly they want you.” Warrick turned around to her.

  “All this because I touched dragon magic?”

  “Ours is the most powerful magic on this realm. Nothing is supposed to be able to compare to ours.”

  Darcy padded to the kitchen area and stirred the soup she was heating. “Would it help if I tell you that it nearly killed me?”

  “Nay,” he replied in a tight voice. “It doesna.”

  “I understand Ulrik better than you. Ulrik hates humans and doesn’t care who knows. The other Dragon Kings must hate us, and yet you protect us still.”

  “There are those of us who detest mortals, but we made a vow. So did Ulrik.”

  “I think all the Kings have a case for not liking us.”

  He walked to the sofa and stood behind it to lean his hip back against it. “I wasna fighting you during the war. It was your ancestors and the decisions they made.”

  “Do you think it’ll be any different if Ulrik releases the Silvers?”

  Warrick scratched the back of his neck. “War is war no matter who is fighting or what time period. There is death and destruction, and both sides lose. Does this mean you’re beginning to understand why we want to stop Ulrik?”

  She reached for the bowls on the shelf and set them on the counter. Darcy dished out two servings and carried them to the small table between the living and kitchen areas. “No. I just like knowing what both sides are thinking.”

  “You heard our version of the story.”

  She set down the bowls and spoons, and then she went back to grab two bottles of ale. Darcy walked to Warrick and handed him one of the bottles. “I did. I’m not saying you were wrong in what you did, but I think it’s gone on entirely too long. For every day that passes and Ulrik can’t shift, his anger grows.”

  Darcy didn’t realize how close she had gotten to Warrick until she looked up and into his cobalt gaze. He was mere inches from her. It grew difficult to breathe at his nearness.