by Donna Grant
It wasn’t until it was over that Thorn realized what he had done. She had seen him shift. Lexi now knew the secret that everyone at Dreagan worked so tirelessly to protect.
“You’re the other beings killing the Dark,” she said.
He closed his eyes. “Aye.”
“You’re a dragon.”
His chin dropped to his chest. There were many reasons he hadn’t intended to tell her what he was, but the biggest was the way she was handling things now. She was in shock from all she had seen. When that shock gave way, she would be too frightened of him to even be in the same city.
“You’re a damn dragon!” she yelled.
Thorn was going to have to have Guy wipe Lexi’s memories of anything to do with him. It might even be better if she didn’t remember the Dark either.
“Look at me,” she demanded.
He whirled around and held out his arms. “What do you want me to say? Aye. I’m a dragon!”
“How?” She gave a small shake of her head, her voice breaking on the word.
“We’ve been here since the beginning of time.”
“Impossible. We’d have found something.”
Thorn lifted one shoulder. “We have some human allies who have helped to keep us hidden.”
“This makes no sense.” She looked around at the warehouse as if seeing it for the first time.
“None of this would be an issue if you’d remained in the flat as I told you.”
Her gaze narrowed on him. “Told me? I’m not some dog to be ordered around.”
“Nay, you’re a human who has stepped into a war she has no business knowing about!”
“Maybe if more of us humans did know we wouldn’t be dying by the dozens every day because of the Dark!”
Thorn took a step toward her. “You really think knowing of the Dark would stop the deaths?”
“It certainly couldn’t hurt,” she replied, moving toward him.
“That simple thinking is why the Fae came for you to begin with. You think in the entire universe that you’re the only beings? Do you really think there are no’ other planets with life on them?”
“I don’t care about them, I—”
“Well you should care,” he interrupted. He took another step. “Use your brain, Lexi. You’re smart. Look around at your world. Do you really think cancer can no’ be cured when your doctors have cured almost everything else? The Dark keep preventing it. They want you weak and stupid.”
“I’m not stupid.”
“I told you how dangerous it was out on the streets. I told you to remain inside the flat.”
She rolled her eyes. “I had every intention of doing just that except I saw you jump off a six-story roof. Humans can’t do that.”
“That still doesna mean you should’ve followed us!”
They were so close he could see the black circles around her irises. Her gray eyes were stormy with anger, fear, and anxiety.
“I used my head,” she retorted.
Thorn looked down at her and nearly groaned when he felt her breasts rub against his chest. To his horror, the fury in her gray eyes turned to desire.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop himself from yanking Lexi against him as he took her lips in a savage kiss.
He spun her around and pressed her up against a wall. Her hands delved into his hair as she answered his kiss with one just as fierce and violent.
Thorn came to his senses and lifted his head. He looked down at her swollen lips and his hard cock begged him to continue. Whatever thought he had vanished with his craving of her.
He touched her cheek before he slid his hand around to the back of her neck and held her head as he slowly kissed her, tasting the passion and need.
His hand slid between them intending to unbutton her coat when he heard her hiss. Thorn leaned back, concern filling him when he saw her look of pain.
“It’s my left side,” she said, breathing heavily.
Thorn knew he hadn’t touched her with his talons. That meant it was … He couldn’t finish the thought.
He walked her to the table and helped her to sit atop it while noticing for the first time the burn in her jacket. Then he carefully unbuttoned her coat and pushed it open. Thorn closed his eyes when he saw the wound.
“What is it?” Lexi asked while trying to look at it.
He hadn’t moved quickly enough to save her. The Dark should never have been that close to her with its magic.
“Thorn?”
Her sweater was burned where the bubble of magic had grazed her.
“I don’t feel so well,” she said thickly.
Thorn caught her as she toppled to the side. “Darius!” he yelled through their mental link.
A second later Darius ran back into the warehouse. He took one look at Thorn holding Lexi and slid to a stop. “Is she…?”
“No’ yet,” Thorn said and laid her down. He then rushed to find clothes they had stashed there as soon as they found the warehouse. “She was hit with the Dark’s magic.”
“Shite,” Darius said and rushed to them. He peeled back her coat and saw the wound. “It’s not as bad as it could be.”
“It’s bad enough.” Thorn thought to never be in this position again. He’d vowed he never would, and yet where did he find himself?
Darius looked up at him. “We need Con.”
Thorn was shaking his head before he finished. “We’ve been through this.”
“He’ll come for this.”
Thorn gathered her in his arms and walked from the warehouse.
“Thorn, she needs medical attention.”
“I know.”
Darius was at his side. “What is your plan?”
“I willna chance Con refusing to help. Lexi is a human who got in the way, and with the war, Con will say she’s a casualty.”
“Tell him she’s your mate. That always gets him to help.”
Thorn lengthened his strides as night began to fall. “I’ll no’ lie.”
“She could be your mate.”
“So could that woman to my left,” he said, nodding to the old lady at the corner. “I’m no’ going to lie to get Con here. He already thinks I’ve betrayed him.”
Darius blew out a breath. “I suppose you have another plan?”
“I do.”
Thorn was ever so glad to see Darcy’s building come into view. He didn’t breathe easy until they were inside and Lexi was on the bed.
He went to the kitchen counter where he had left his mobile phone. Thorn scrolled through the contact list and found the name he wanted. He hit dial and impatiently waited for them to answer.
“Hello?” said the male voice.
“Fallon, it’s Thorn. I’ve got a problem.”
There was a beat of silence. “Where are you?”
“Darcy’s flat. A human has been hit with Dark magic.”
“We’ll be right there,” Fallon said.
The call disconnected. Thorn turned around, unsure of what to do now.
Darius gave a nod of approval. “Quick thinking.”
Both of them turned to the door when a knock sounded. Fallon was a Warrior who had the ability to teleport anywhere he wished, which was a great asset.
Thorn strode to it and yanked it open to reveal Fallon, his nephew Aiden, who was also a Druid, and Aiden’s mother, Marcail.
“Where is she?” Marcail asked.
Thorn stepped aside as Aiden and Marcail went to the bed and began to look over Lexi. He closed the door behind Fallon. “Thank you.”
“How many times did the Kings come to our aid? It’s nice for you to call on us,” Fallon said as he watched his sister-in-law and nephew. “What happened?”
Thorn walked to the table and took the chair that would give him the best place to watch Lexi. “Her friend was killed by the Dark. I saw her following them and attempted to stop her. She wouldna, and the Dark realized someone was tracking them. They’re all over the city, Fallon.”
“I didna think it had gotten so bad so quickly.”
Darius joined them at the table. “We do as much as we can, but there’s only so much the two of us can do against so many Dark.”
“Let us help,” Fallon said.
Thorn looked at him and smiled. “You are.”
“So the Dark tried to kill her for following them?” Fallon asked.
Darius gave a shake of his head. “Today she followed us to a warehouse where we were taking some dead Fae to … dispose of them.”
“Dispose meaning you burned them, I’m guessing,” Fallon said as he leaned on the table.
“Aye. What Lexi didna know was that the Dark saw her and decided to follow. She led them right to us.”
Fallon ran a hand down his face as he leaned back in the chair. “That’s bad luck.”
“The Dark threatened her,” Thorn continued.
Darius’s lips tightened. “Then we let loose dragon fire on their arses.”
“I thought I got to Lexi quick enough, but I didna. She was hit with their magic.” Thorn glanced at the bed to see the two Druids with their hands palm down over Lexi as they chanted.
Fallon jerked his chin to his family. “Their magic is strong. They’ll find a way to save her. I would’ve thought you’d call Con.”
Thorn looked away, not wanting to tell anyone who was not a King what was going on within their ranks. Darius, however, didn’t have that problem.
“You know Con,” Darius said. “He can be single-minded at the best of times. We’re in the middle of war. He’s no’ going to stop to come to Edinburgh to save one human.”
Fallon grunted in response.
The minutes slowly ticked by as Druid magic filled the flat. It seemed an eternity later before Marcail and Aiden lowered their hands. The two walked to the table where they both sat heavily in their chairs.
“That was … awful,” Marcail said. She lifted turquoise eyes to Thorn. “It was just a glancing blow. Anything more could’ve killed her.”
Aiden accepted a bottle of water from Darius and downed it quickly. He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth and sighed. “Is that what we’ve got to look forward to?”
Fallon leaned toward Thorn on the table. “Let us help. If the Kings fail, we’ll be fighting them anyway. Our numbers could help swing the tide.”
Thorn looked at Darius before they both nodded.
“Here we go again,” Marcail said, a worried frown pulling at her lips.
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
MacLeod Castle
Fallon arrived back at his home to find all the Warriors and Druids waiting for him, Marcail, and Aiden to return.
Marcail walked to Quinn and buried her head in his chest. Fallon nodded to his youngest brother. The Warriors had been talking amongst themselves for a while about helping the Dragon Kings kill the Dark Fae whether the Kings wanted them to or not.
Long, slim fingers intertwined with his. Fallon turned and smiled at his wife. Larena’s smoky blue eyes searched his before she squared her shoulders. “We battled the worst of the droughs. We’re more than ready for the Dark Fae.”
Fallon smiled. Leave it to his wife to put it so eloquently. As the only female Warrior, Larena was uniquely suited for warfare since her power was being able to turn invisible.
Lucan, the middle MacLeod brother, kissed the back of Cara’s hand and nodded to Fallon.
“Some of us have already fought these bastards,” Hayden Campbell said. “Malcolm, Logan, and I know what to expect.”
Ian stood from his spot at the long table where they all had gathered for many meals. “I spoke with Tristan yesterday. He and Dmitri are in Aberdeen fighting the Dark. He’s worried.”
The Dragon Kings and Warriors had a unique bond. Tristan was their newest King, having dropped from the sky a few years earlier. Before that Tristan was known as Duncan, Ian’s twin, who unfortunately had been killed by one of the evil Druids they had fought. All were happy to learn that Duncan had returned, even if he didn’t remember his brother.
“The Dark feed off humans,” Charon stated. “We can no’ leave our women alone.”
“Or Aiden and Britt,” Marcail said.
Charon nodded, repeating, “Or Aiden and Britt.”
Ramsey ran a hand over his chin. “They’ll come here.”
Isla looked at him from next to Hayden. “Let them try.”
“I second Isla,” Tara said and elbowed Ramsey.
Fallon raised his hand for silence when everyone began talking at once. “We’ve been through a lot as a group. We’ve lost family,” he said, glancing at Ian. “We’ve lost friends.”
“That’s what happens in war,” Broc stated.
“That it does.” Fallon took a deep breath. “We had a few years of peace. It was … refreshing. Many of us started families. There are now children to consider.”
Larena looked at Fallon. “What my dear husband is trying to say is that each of you must decide to join this fight. No one is pushing another into this.”
“Exactly. As Charon pointed out, the Dark feed off humans. Since we’re immortal, I doona know how that changes anything. And as Ramsey said, the Dark will come here. We can no’ leave the castle unprotected.”
Malcolm chuckled. “Fallon, we’re Warriors. We have primeval gods inside us who demand blood and death. I’m fighting.”
“Damn straight,” Evie said to her husband with a nod. “I don’t want to have to worry about Dark Fae with little Malory.”
Lucan and Cara shared a few whispered words before Lucan said, “I’m in.”
“I’m in,” Quinn stated.
Fallon had known his two brothers would be some of the first to agree. He wasn’t surprised at Malcolm’s response either.
“As if you have to ask,” Hayden said when Fallon looked his way.
Galen nodded, as did Broc.
Logan made a face. “I’m hurt you’d even ask.”
“You know my answer,” Ian said as he put an arm around Dani.
Camdyn grinned. “Of course.”
“I’m a mixture of Druid and Warrior. The Dark will get a surprise when they encounter me,” Ramsey said when Fallon came to him.
Arran gave him a thumbs-up even as Ronnie wiped a tear from her face.
“We’re in,” Phelan said for both him and Charon.
Fallon had expected no less from his men. “We’ll need a plan. What the Kings are doing by splitting up and staying hidden as they kill the Dark is working. I say we take their plan and use it.”
“And what of us?” Reagan said. She glanced at Galen before looking around the table at the other Warriors. “You men don’t expect us to just wait here for you.”
Laura looked pointedly at Charon as she said, “I agree with Reagan. We’ve proved our magic is powerful enough to be used in battle.”
“Aye, sweetheart,” Charon said as he cupped her face and gave her a light kiss. “But you’ve no idea what would happen to me if I lost you.”
“How do you think I’d feel?” she asked.
Larena poked Fallon. “We’re a group. We’re stronger together. We need to use everyone.”
Fallon raised his voice and said to the great hall, “I know what it’s like to fight alongside my wife. We’re immortal, but we can be killed. She just reminded me how strong we are together. So, together we will remain.”
“Let’s go in shifts,” Lucan said. “We’ll rotate who stays here to look after the children and who fights.”
Hayden nodded eagerly. “That sounds like a solid plan. It will give us a rest and allow everyone some downtime before we fight again.”
“It’ll also allow us to know what’s working and what’s not,” Gwynn said.
Saffron then added, “That way we can quickly shift our attacks.”
“And if someone is hurt?” Tara asked. “All of you know I’m a realist. We need to think of this.”
“Isla willna be out there without me,” Ha
yden stated.
Quinn looked at Marcail. “I think we’re all in agreement to that when it comes to our wives.”
“We’ll go out in two pairs at a time,” Fallon said. “Since the children will be here, this place has to be well fortified.”
Phelan lifted a hand in the air. “Once the Druids are done adding more spells, I’ll call in Rhi.”
“We start tomorrow. Take the night. We meet here at dawn,” Fallon said.
* * *
Ulrik entered the Fae doorway into Taraeth’s palace. He was a regular in the king of the Darks’ residence, so no one paid him any attention.
He strolled down the corridors until he came to a small alcove. It was tucked away at the end, hidden from the eyes of others, but gave him a great view of anyone who ventured down the hallway.
A smile formed when he saw bare legs. Muriel leaned forward and winked at him, her dress sagging at the front to give him an ample view of her breasts.
The night he’d spent in her arms had been nice, but he couldn’t let himself relax. He still didn’t trust the Dark. After what happened to him, trusting wasn’t an option. Ever.
Then there was the fact Mikkel was looking through his place. Not that his uncle had a chance in Hell at finding anything. It was the point of it all that irked Ulrik.
“You’re late,” Muriel said.
Ulrik lifted a brow. “I’m right on time.”
“I don’t like to wait then.”
“Then doona get here so early.”
“I had to make sure no one was around.” She sat back and patted the area beside her. “Sit, lover.”
Ulrik unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat, shifting so that one arm rested on the back of the pillows as he half-faced her. “Tell me you have something for me.”
“Oh, I do.” She all but purred. “Mikkel plans to kill you.”
“Tell me something I doona already know.”
She blinked and looked affronted. “How would you know that? He just shared that with Taraeth last night.”
“I know my uncle. He’s a conniving, shrewd arse. He’s dreamed of being a Dragon King. He’ll do whatever it takes to see that it happens. It was simple deduction.”
Muriel’s face lost all of its fake seduction. “Ulrik, he has many allies.”
“And many enemies.”