by Donna Grant
Lexi was saddened for Thorn, Darius, and all the Dragon Kings to have sent the dragons away.
“There were four of Ulrik’s Silvers who wouldna leave his side. We Kings gathered our magic and bound Ulrik’s. We stripped him of his ability to communicate with the Silvers, banished him from our land, and sentenced him to walk the earth for eternity as a human. We then put a spell on his Silvers to make them sleep and keep them caged in a mountain.”
Lexi nearly dropped her glass. “There are still dragons here?”
“Aye. We ensure they doona wake.”
“And if they do?”
Darius issued a small shrug and met her gaze. “With the dragons gone, the Silvers hidden, and Ulrik taken care of, we returned to our land and slept away a century or two. When we woke, we discovered we had turned into legend and myth.”
“You’ve stayed hidden ever since?”
He nodded slowly. “It wasna easy during the first Fae War, and I worry that now will be impossible with as many humans as there are.”
“The first Fae War,” she repeated, remembering how Thorn had told her the Fae had come to take control of their planet. “When was that?”
“About eleven thousand years ago.”
Lexi couldn’t wrap her head around that amount of time. “The Dark are in the city. They kill every night, and with little thought to be caught.”
“They want to be caught. They want you to know about them, the Light Fae, and the Dragon Kings.”
“Why?” she asked in confusion. “What do they think that will accomplish? We’d find out quick enough what they want, and we would never side with them.”
Darius’s dark eyes hardened a fraction. “True, but then your race would be all too willing to try and kill a Dragon King. A Dark is scary, but he appears human except for his red eyes and his magic. A Dragon King is another matter entirely. We can fly, we breathe fire, we can shift, and we’re massive.”
“I see your point,” she said, a little ill.
“We’ve protected your kind, even during the war between our races,” Darius said. “It’s a vow we all take seriously. The last thing we want is to be fighting the Fae and humans.”
Lexi felt her hair fall loose. She wound it back up again to keep it out of her face. “No. That can’t happen. How will you stop the Dark?”
“By continuing what Thorn and I were doing before. We’ll keep hidden and kill every Dark that crosses our path. There are more Dragon Kings throughout each of the larger cities as well.”
“Just how many are you?”
Darius grinned. “Less than there were originally, but more than you think.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’ll get, lass.”
She smiled, appreciating his need for secrecy. “Where do you hide? By the accents, I’d guess here in Scotland, which is pretty easy considering all the mountains.”
“Aye, we’re in Scotland. Dreagan is our home.”
Lexi frowned. Dreagan. She knew that name, but she couldn’t place where.
“Dreagan whisky,” Darius supplied at her questioning look.
“Oh.” Now she was duly impressed.
This brought a wide smile from Darius. “We’ve been making whisky far longer than anyone, and we’re damned good at it.”
“If you say so. I’m not a whisky drinker.”
“Taste it, and you just might change your mind,” he challenged.
Lexi laughed. “I might take you up on that.” Her smile dropped as her mind turned to Thorn again, as it had during Darius’s story. “Thorn isn’t coming back, is he?”
Darius looked at her a long moment before he shook his head. “Nay, lass, he isna.”
“Was it something I did? Is he angry that I followed you?”
“I know I am,” Darius said with a serious look. Then he sighed and lowered his gaze to the table. “But the answer is nay. Thorn didna leave because of something you did, but rather because of what happened in his past.”
Lexi’s heart thumped with apprehension. “Was he in love?”
“Thorn never fancied a woman enough to want her as a mate, if that’s what you’re asking.” Darius lifted his eyes to meet hers. “Our capital, so to speak, was always Dreagan, but each dragon race had a place they preferred all over the globe. For Thorn and his Clarets, it was the canyons. There was a village there that Thorn gave his protection to, even after the war between our races. He watched over them always, defending them against anyone who would do them harm.”
She finished her wine and waited for him to continue.
“There was a family there who saw him shift into dragon form and fight off a group of Dark Fae. They brought him into their house and fed him. A friendship developed that progressed through the years. When the Fae Wars began, Thorn wasna able to go to them immediately. He wasna worried because they lived in such a remote area.”
“And when he did go to them?” Lexi asked.
Darius ran a hand down his face. “By the time he got there, most of the family was already dead, including the father and two sons. The mother was alive enough to watch as the Dark took turns with her three daughters.”
Lexi shrank into her chair. “How awful.”
“Thorn descended upon the group of Dark and killed them, but it was too late for the daughters. He stayed with the mother until her last breath.”
Yes, Lexi could see Thorn doing that. As gentle as he was with her, he would remain so no one would have to die alone.
Darius caught her gaze. “I doona tell you this lightly. It’s no’ in our way to share other’s pasts.”
“Then why did you tell me?”
“I’m no’ sure. Maybe so you would understand Thorn. He felt as if he had failed the family he’d promised to protect. He made that same assurance to you, and you came close to dying. It doesna matter though. Your flight leaves tomorrow, and you’ll put this place behind you.”
Tomorrow. Was it really already time for her to leave? She wasn’t sure she wanted to after seeing the Dark and the Dragon Kings in action.
“How do you feel?” Darius asked.
She knew he was changing the subject, and she let him. Later she would mull over her thoughts and all she now knew of Thorn. “Better. The Dark have a powerful punch.”
“What did it feel like?”
Lexi raised a brow. “Really? I saw you get hit by one of their bubbles.”
“I know what it feels like for me. I want to know how bad it is for a mortal,” he said.
“I was too shocked at first to even know I was hurt. Next I was arguing with Thorn, and then came that kiss.” She licked her lips, remembering his amazing taste. “When it hit, the pain was awful. It felt like falling off my water skis and not letting go of the rope while being bounced along the water, trampled by a herd of cattle, and kicked in the chest by a horse all at once.”
Darius rubbed his jaw. “So. I’m guessing verra painful.”
Lexi slapped his arm as she stood when he grinned. She walked to the sink and rinsed out her glass. Her first thought upon waking was Thorn. It hurt, worse than the Dark magic, to discover he was gone.
After a kiss that literally curled her toes, Thorn walked out of her life without a word. For once, Lexi really wished luck would turn her way.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
West Ireland
Usaeil’s Castle
Rhi stood outside the castle staring at the gray stones. The wind howled as it came off the sea. The castle sat high on the cliffs overlooking the deep blue water.
Was Usaeil with her lover? Doubtful, with the war starting. Rhi wouldn’t catch whoever it was now. But soon.
“I’m glad you returned.”
Rhi turned around to find her queen. She wanted to demand that Usaeil tell her who her lover was, but Rhi knew in order to get that information, she would have to make Usaeil think she didn’t care.
“What is it?” Usaeil asked, concern cl
ouding her face.
Every Fae—Dark or Light—was beautiful. It was both a curse and a blessing. Usaeil used her looks to make her way in the human world as a famous American actress. With her long black hair, silver eyes, and amazing body, it hadn’t been difficult for her to catch everyone’s attention.
“The Dark succeeded in starting a war,” Rhi finally answered.
Usaeil sighed, a pained expression flashing in her gaze. “I know.”
“Do you?” Rhi asked innocently.
Usaeil snapped her gaze to Rhi. “I am queen. Of course I know what’s going on.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
The queen’s gaze sharpened. “I suppose you already think you know what I should do.”
“Call the army.”
“Absolutely not,” Usaeil said, affronted. “Think, Rhi. It’s bad enough the Dark walk the streets so freely all over the world now. If the humans saw us as well, it would be chaos.”
“So leaving the Kings to fight this war alone is your desired option?” Rhi tried to hide the anger from her voice, but it came through nonetheless.
Usaeil shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest. Her hunter green maxi dress billowed in the fierce wind. “So you’ve been to Dreagan. Con would never ask you for help.”
It took everything Rhi had not to slap Usaeil. The darkness within her growled, begging her to make her queen suffer as she had suffered for unnamable centuries. Somehow Rhi kept from giving in.
She smiled and lifted her face to the wind to let it cool her heated cheeks. “I wouldn’t have the first clue what he did.” She lowered her face and once more met Usaeil’s gaze. “I’ve not been to Dreagan, but I don’t need to go there to know what’s happening.”
“I’m not sending the army, and that’s the end of it.”
“And if the Kings lose?” Rhi demanded angrily.
“Con would never let that happen!”
She was taken aback by Usaeil’s shout. “Since when do you have such faith in the Dragon Kings?”
Usaeil didn’t seem to care that her hair was flying about her with the increased wind. “The Kings protect this realm and the mortals. They’ve not failed before, and they won’t this time.”
“It’s not just the Dark they’re fighting. It’s Ulrik as well.”
“The Kings can handle it,” Usaeil said tightly.
Rhi felt her watcher’s eyes once more. How long had he been there? And why was he so interested in what she did? He was seriously getting on her nerves. If he didn’t show himself soon, she wasn’t going to give him a choice.
She turned and started to walk away when Usaeil called her name.
“Where are you going?” her queen asked in a surly tone.
Rhi shrugged and looked around. “I don’t know.”
“I need you here. We have our own problems.”
“I have friends who need my help.”
Usaeil’s voice rumbled around her as she bellowed, “I’m your queen, Rhiannon! I demand that you remain and take your post as a Queen’s Guard.”
Rhi recalled how hard she’d worked to become a Queen’s Guard. It was to honor her brother, but also an accomplishment she’d wanted for herself. How odd that she couldn’t care less about the position now.
She looked at Usaeil as if seeing her for the first time. The queen’s face was pulled tight, a frown of worry knotting her brow. At one time Rhi would’ve been the first to discover what troubled her queen.
Not any longer. Usaeil had lost her trust and her confidence.
“I resigned, remember?” Rhi said.
Usaeil’s gaze hardened. “I didn’t relieve you of your post.”
“I don’t need your permission to walk away. Besides, you don’t want me as a guard. Not with all I’ve been through. Just one warning. Take care of our people.”
Rhi teleported away before Usaeil could say more. She wasn’t surprised when Usaeil used her magic to try and make her return. A surprised cry from Usaeil when she failed made Rhi smile.
Still, Rhi was intrigued. What could be going on at court that caused Usaeil to be so anxious? Rhi veiled herself and teleported into the queen’s antechamber.
It was a place where everyone gathered to see who would visit the queen. It was also a place where the Queen’s Guard stood as sentries.
“It’s the Reapers,” a man whispered.
The female next to him looked around nervously. “It’s the only explanation.”
The Reapers. That was the second time she had heard it spoken. There was one person Rhi knew she could go to for answers.
She thought of the desert and in the next instant found herself standing on a mountain of sand, the sun beating its penetrating rays upon her.
“Balladyn,” she said.
Perth, Scotland
The Silver Dragon Antique Shop
Ulrik stood in the center of his store as images flashed in his mind of Mikkel’s people, who had once more been in the store.
It was all Ulrik could do not to put up more magic to keep the buggers out, but that would only alert Mikkel. Nay, his uncle needed to keep thinking Ulrik was blindly doing his bidding.
Ulrik put to memory every face who had dared to enter his store for Mikkel. Those people would answer for their snooping in the not too distant future. For now, however, Ulrik pushed aside his rage.
It was a feat he’d learned to accomplish eons ago after he had gone stark raving mad. For that, and so many more things, Constantine would pay with his death.
Ulrik walked to the back of the shop and the hidden stairs that led up to the second floor. He bypassed the room he made others think was his and went to a panel in the wall. There he said a few words and the door slid open, revealing his bedroom.
He meticulously removed his suit and hung it back on the hanger before neatly putting his shoes back on the shelf. The rest went in the hamper for cleaning.
A quick shower later, he dried off and once more stood in front of his closet. Dinner with Mikkel. It was going to be anything but nice.
Ulrik chose a black suit and deep red dress shirt. Once he was dressed, he ran a hand through his damp hair and chose to leave the length loose.
He walked out of his secret room and back down the stairs to the store. With keys in hand, he exited the back of the shop and locked the door.
Ulrik looked directly at one of the cameras Con thought he had so cleverly hidden. He was going to his car when a Dark appeared next to him.
He clenched his teeth as he recognized one of the Fae who worked for his uncle. The Dark touched him and teleported him away.
Ulrik found himself standing in a foyer. He glanced up at the high ceilings painted with some cherubic scene that made him roll his eyes. A glance around the black and white tiled entry and dark wood walls holding priceless pieces of art showed that it was another residence of Mikkel’s he hadn’t been to.
There was a blur of movement as Muriel was deposited beside him by the same Dark Fae.
“I could’ve just used the doorway, you know,” she said to the Dark before he vanished.
Ulrik hid a smile at her irritation. He nodded in approval at her black chiffon dress that hit her thighs and dipped low in the front to reveal ample cleavage. The sleeves billowed from her shoulders to her wrists where they were gathered.
Her black and silver hair was left to fall down her back. With her metallic silver stilettos she made a striking figure.
“So you approve?” she asked with a smile.
He held out his arm. “Definitely.”
“Where do we go?” she asked as she took his arm and they began to walk.
“To the open door.” He pointed down the hallway to the door in front of them.
Neither he nor Muriel said another word. They walked into the room to find Mikkel bending over a chair and placing a kiss on Muriel’s sister, Sinny.
The two sisters looked at each other and cordially nodded, as if they didn’t know each othe
r. Ulrik bowed his head to Sinny as his uncle stood and smiled brightly.
“Ulrik,” he said and came over to slap him on the back.
Ulrik ground his teeth together. Muriel’s hand tightened on his arm. He glanced down at her to find her red eyes on him.
Was that concern he saw there? The Dark Fae should know not to waste such emotions on him. He knew how to take care of himself.
“Let’s sit,” Mikkel said and pulled Sinny to her feet before walking her to a table already set for dinner, complete with lit candles.
Ulrik helped Muriel into her chair at the round table. He placed her across from her sister so Ulrik could keep an eye on his uncle.
“It’s about time Ulrik found a companion,” Mikkel said, his sly smile directed at Ulrik.
“I’m the lucky one,” Muriel said.
Mikkel’s gold eyes slid to her. “I expected you to keep him occupied for one night, but it seems you’re good enough in bed to hook him.”
“Mikkel,” Ulrik warned.
Muriel placed a hand on Ulrik’s knee under the table. “I am very good at what I do,” she told Mikkel.
“So it would seem.” Mikkel held her gaze for long moments. “Ulrik has never minded sharing.”
It was obvious that his uncle was trying to bait him, but Ulrik had thousands of years of practice. It was going to take more than a reminder that one of his assets had been working for Mikkel. Losing Abby had been a blow, but it was the last time his uncle would put one over on him.
Muriel smiled pleasantly at Mikkel. “I share no one’s bed but Ulrik’s for as long as he wants me.”
“Or as long as Taraeth allows it,” Mikkel said and motioned to a servant to pour the wine.
Ulrik swirled the red liquid in his glass before he took a drink. “It was your idea to send Muriel to me, Mikkel. I suppose it was to make sure I didna find your people rummaging through my store.”
Mikkel laughed out loud. “I was beginning to think you hadn’t known.”
“Twice now you’ve been there. Did you find what you were looking for?”
Mikkel set down his stemless wineglass and eyed Ulrik. “I wanted to make sure you weren’t hiding anything from me.”
Ulrik was hiding quite a lot, but Mikkel would never find it. “We made a deal.”