Heart of Gold

by Donna Grant

  The snow was coming down harder now, blanketing the ground already covered with it. He stepped into the thick powder and made his way around the mountain to the side of the manor where he and Rhi had had their snowball fight.

  A chuckle escaped him when he saw the miniature snowman with a stick arm that held one of the red notes. He had a huge smile on his face when he opened the paper.

  * * *

  You are all that I need, all that I want. You’re all I’ll ever ask for.

  * * *

  Con released a breath, a cloud billowing as he looked around. There were many options for where Rhi might have left another note. There were only three left. In the distance, he caught sight of the Dragonwood. So many of his encounters with Rhi had happened in that forest. Con was anxious to find the next note, but more impatient to find his mate.

  He started running toward the Dragonwood. Once inside the trees, he skidded to a halt, the stillness of the forest broken only by the falling snowflakes. He blinked them from his eyelashes as he searched the area for a sign of red amidst the white and brown.

  Con weaved through the trees for some time, becoming more piqued the longer it took to find another note. It wasn’t until he came to a clearing that he smiled, shaking his head. This was the place he had told her why he had broken things off between them. And there, stuck in the bark of a pine, was the note.

  * * *

  You are my favorite adventure.

  * * *

  He put the note with the others and turned north because he knew where the next place would be. Con left the Dragonwood and shifted, his large wings flapping as he flew to the mountaintop where he had first seen Rhi, the same place they had exchanged vows of love so very long, long ago.

  Con landed, returning to his human form the moment his feet touched the earth. Gray clouds hung low in the sky, but he didn’t care. To him, the world was bathed in the bright light of his mate. His queen.

  He stood where Rhi had been and looked out over the mountains. The beauty and magic of Dreagan had drawn her to the land initially. He didn’t care why she had come, only that she had. That day had changed him in more ways than he could ever begin to describe.

  Con turned to look at the place where he had landed behind her so long ago. Under a stack of rocks, held safely in place from the wind, was the red paper. He picked it up and gently unfolded it as snow landed on the note.

  * * *

  If I know what love is, it’s because of you.

  * * *

  Con slipped it into his pocket with the others, then turned to face his mountain. He ran and leapt off the mountain, shifting. Drawing in a deep breath, he flew toward his mountain. The closer he got to it, the harder it snowed. He flew over the top, then dipped a wing and swung around. He looked at the smaller entrance in the hopes he might spot Rhi. As he circled the mountain, he chose the large entrance he usually used while in dragon form.

  He hovered over the mountain before tucking his wings and gliding inside. Con landed and breathed deeply, picking up Rhi’s scent. He returned to his human form and adjusted his suit jacket before starting toward her.

  When he entered the cavern, he was taken aback by what she had done to the stark surroundings. Thousands of candles were scattered…everywhere. On the floor, high up on the wall, and even floating above them. A platform bed covered in furs and pillows stood in the middle of the cavern. He saw a champagne bottle sticking out of an ice bucket with two champagne flutes nearby. More fur rugs had been scattered across the floor.

  The moment he saw her, his breath lodged in his lungs. Her midnight locks hung freely down her back as she stood barefoot on one of the rugs. A sleeveless, gold lace and tulle robe that tied beneath her breasts graced her gorgeous body.

  The candlelight allowed him to see that she wore nothing beneath it. His blood heated, desire surging through him. As he moved forward, he used his magic to play The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody.

  She smiled, her silver eyes crinkling at the corners when he stopped before her. “I love this song.”

  “I know,” he said and touched her cheek with the backs of his knuckles.

  “You have one more note,” she told him as she held up the red paper.

  Con opened it.

  * * *

  You are mine, and I am yours.

  * * *

  He put it with the rest and covered the stack with his palm over his heart. Then he took her hands in his. “Thank you.”

  “You wrote me millions of love notes, and I only got to read a few of them. You deserve your own.”

  “I’m just happy to have you back in my arms. The past is gone. We learn from our mistakes, and we forge forward.”

  “Together.”

  He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Forever,” he murmured before he untied her robe and slipped it off her shoulders and down her arms.

  I love you.

  Chapter Eight

  Rhi lay in Con’s arms as Michael Bublé’s The Very Thought of You played. Con caressed her back softly as he stared up at the ceiling of the cavern. He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her tightly.

  She sighed in contentment, her body, heart, and soul rejoicing. Con had one of the furs pulled to his hips, but she didn’t need it. He gave off enough body heat to keep her warm. Outside, a snowstorm raged, but they were in a cocoon of love and bliss within his mountain.

  As happy as she was, she couldn’t help thinking about the journal. Rhi shifted so she propped herself on Con’s chest and met his black eyes that reflected the many candle flames. His blond hair was disheveled, and a day’s worth of whiskers graced his jaw, which she found incredibly sexy.

  “What, love?” he asked while tugging on a strand of her hair.

  “Where did you go today?”

  A brief frown pulled at his brows. “Here, actually.”

  “You ended the meeting to be alone?”

  He gave her a crooked grin. “I was thinking about you. Then Ulrik and I flew around Dreagan for a wee bit before I came here.”

  “Why did you come here?”

  “I doona know.”

  “You do,” she insisted. It was time she got to the bottom of things.

  Con turned onto his side and propped his head in his hand, his elbow bent. “Is there something wrong with me coming here?”

  “Not at all.” Rhi turned onto her side to face him. “All those years we were apart, I did everything I could to forget you.”

  “Aye,” he said with a nod.

  She waited, but when he didn’t continue, she went on. “We both immersed ourselves in everything we could just to get through each day. While I held onto my hate, you also had hatred.”

  “I didna,” he quickly replied.

  Rhi put a finger over his lips. “Not for me, handsome. For yourself. You were filled with regret and self-loathing. I read it in the words you put down in that journal. There was also love and hope. But while we’re together now, you’re still holding onto the past. You’re still thinking about all the years we missed. The news of our children only compounds that.”

  Con blew out a breath and flopped onto his back. “I keep thinking there was another route that I just didna see.”

  “Stop,” Rhi said as she scooted to him and touched his face. “The past is done. Those decisions were made. The actions carried out. There’s no changing it. How many times have you told me that?”

  “Numerous.” He turned his head to look at her.

  “The same advice applies to you. You’re strong, and those broad shoulders of yours have carried the weight of so many throughout the centuries. It’s time you set aside the pain and remorse about our children and us. It might have taken me a while to see the truth, but now that I have, I can see you’re walking the same path you worked so hard to get me off of.”

  His lips curved into a grin as he touched her cheek. “Is this where you tell me that everything happens for a reason?”

  “
No, because you’re smart enough to know that already. Let go of the past, my love. We’re together now. We’ve vanquished the enemies that tried to keep us apart. We have an amazing home and many family members. On top of all of that, we have twins that we now get to learn about.”

  “Has anyone ever told you what a brilliant woman you are?”

  Rhi smiled brightly. “Yes, but you can say it again.”

  He lifted his head and kissed her deeply. When her arms wound around his neck, he rolled her onto her back. He ended the kiss and looked down at her. “Have you really let go of the past?”

  “Absolutely. That hate I mentioned? It wasn’t hate at all. It was love. My broken heart just couldn’t discern the difference. The moment I opened my heart to you again, you healed all the pieces that had been shattered. That’s how strong our love is. I forgave you long, long ago. I just didn’t realize it until we kissed at the Light Castle. And I knew, no matter what I tried to tell myself to keep you away, that it was a lie. The truth was that I never stopped loving you. And if there was even a glimmer of a chance of reuniting, then I would grab it with both hands.”

  Con shook his head slowly. “I doona deserve you.”

  “Oh, you most certainly do.” Rhi cupped his face with her hands. “My question to you is this. Will you let go of the past?”

  “Aye, love, I will. I have everything I ever wanted. I should’ve let go and moved forward instead of rehashing it over and over in my mind.”

  “That’s because you’re trying to determine a way not to make the same mistakes. The problem with that is that you assume there was a mistake. Look around Dreagan, handsome. Many Dragon Kings are mated and happy, the distillery continues to thrive, there is much-needed peace, and we have each other. The path you chose was the one that led to this. It made everyone involved go through some difficult times, but we’ve all come out of it as better individuals.”

  Con kissed her palm. “Making us a stronger collective.”

  She smiled. “You’re pretty smart.”

  “I know how lucky I am to have you back in my arms. I love you more than you know.”

  Rhi slid her fingers into his thick hair. “Oh, I have a pretty good idea. You, my amazing Dragon King, are impossible, wonderful, vexing at times, and astonishing in all ways. You make me want to be a better person. You let me be who I am, never telling me I need to change. But most of all, you accept all of me.”

  “I’ve done all of that, love, because you showed me how. We’ve come a verra long way since the day we first met and were caught up in our love. There isna anyone else I wish to walk through life with. You make each day brighter. I never know what you’ll do or say, and I love that. You make me remember how to appreciate life and love.”

  Tears gathered as she gazed up at her mate, her husband. “I love you.”

  “And I love you,” he whispered right before he kissed her.

  She ended the kiss. “I forgot to tell you something.”

  “What?” he asked with a frown. “Can it no’ wait? I’d rather keep kissing you.”

  “I found a new Fae doorway.”

  He pushed up on his hands, his blond brows snapped together. “Where?”

  “In the Dragonwood. It wasn’t there a few days ago.”

  Con’s eyes widened. “Do you think…?”

  “That it’s from the twins? Yes, I do.”

  They shared a smile. It had taken months, but they were finally going to see their children.

  Return to New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant's Dark Kings world for a special prequel novella…

  Three extraordinary beings, one tangled Fate.

  Untold power requires unfathomable responsibility. But it also brings danger, sacrifice, heartache, and many tough decisions. One fateful day and the choices and actions therein have the power to ripple across time, affecting more people than ever imagined.

  Destiny brought them together. Fate tore them apart. But time may heal all wounds.

  Continue reading for a sneak peek at Of Fire and Flame.

  Excerpt of OF FIRE AND FLAME

  A Dark Kings Special Novella

  RHI

  * * *

  The Promise Broken

  * * *

  Long, long ago…

  * * *

  Blood pounded in her ears. Her lungs struggled to draw in air. A fat raindrop landed on her cheek. The world spun around her, out of focus. As if from a great distance, she heard her name as the skies opened, and a downpour ensued.

  “Rhi!”

  A crack of lightning split the air and startled her. She blinked. That one movement brought everything into harsh focus. The lightning storm was thunderous, but it couldn’t drown out the hammering of her blood.

  Or the shattering of her heart.

  “Rhi.”

  She lifted her gaze to find Darius before her. His pained expression conveyed how much he hated his involvement.

  “Say something,” he urged in his Scottish brogue as he shoved long, wet, blond strands of hair from his face. “Please.”

  Rhi swallowed, anger mixing with her disbelief. “I–I don’t understand.”

  “I know only what I was told to tell you.”

  It’s over didn’t seem nearly enough for the love she and Constantine shared. She turned her gaze to the east and the manor. She was on Dreagan land, which meant that Con hadn’t put up wards to ensure she couldn’t return. With water dripping from her lashes, she looked around, waiting to awaken from the nightmare.

  “I’m sorry, lass.”

  She shook her head, not accepting what had happened. “Everything was perfect yesterday, as it always is. He didn’t say anything, didn’t do anything.”

  Darius briefly lowered his head as he shrugged uncomfortably.

  The rain hid her tears that wouldn’t stop. She thought about going to the manor and demanding Con give her an explanation. But the fact that he had sent one of the Dragon Kings to do his dirty work was a blow that she couldn’t take.

  Rhi was too hurt, too upset to stay on Dreagan. Where could she go, though? Who could she turn to? Con was her best friend, her love, her…everything. He was the one she went to when she was distraught. Now, he was the cause of her anguish.

  Without a word to Darius, she teleported to the Light Castle in Ireland. As she stood outside, soaking wet, gazing up at the impressive structure, she didn’t know what to do. There was no one to talk to, no one to cry with. The only one that mattered no longer wanted her. And that’s what she couldn’t reconcile.

  Rhi briefly thought about going to Balladyn, but she didn’t want to hear that he had known this would happen. Her father hadn’t been pleased with who her heart had chosen either. Had everyone seen something she hadn’t?

  She spun around, turning away from the castle, and started down the hillside to the cliffs. With Con, the world had been as close to perfect as it had ever gotten. They fit like puzzle pieces. She had loved him from the first instant she saw him flying, and she had seen that same love in his eyes whenever he looked at her.

  They had shared vows on a mountain at Dreagan, pledging their love for each other through eons of time. How could Con do that, only to end things so…callously…now?

  Rhi heard someone shout her name. She didn’t want to see anyone and have them ask what was wrong. How could she explain it when she didn’t understand it herself? There was too much turmoil in her mind and heart. She had to get away. Somewhere that didn’t make her think of Con, the Dragon Kings, or Scotland. She jumped to one location after another, but each one brought a different memory of Con.

  With a scream of heartache and despair, she dropped to her knees, her head in her hands as she sobbed uncontrollably. Darius’s words were on repeat in her head, but she didn’t hear his voice, she heard Con’s. Had she mattered so little that he hadn’t been able to face her and tell her that he was ending things?

  “I have to get off this realm,” she said as she suddenly got to her
feet.

  And there was only one place she knew to go. It was hazardous, but she couldn’t remain on Earth. Not now.

  Not ever.

  Rhi squared her shoulders, even as the tears continued. She teleported to the hidden Fae doorway. But she hesitated in going through. If she left Earth, it would end a chapter of her life she had believed would continue into eternity.

  She looked over her shoulder into the distance as she pictured Dreagan—and Con. She knew that what they shared was true love, the kind that every being in the universe sought. Rhi wiped at her tears and jumped back to Con’s bedroom. She stood in the middle of it and stared at the bedsheets, still rumpled.

  How she hated that she hadn’t been with him the previous night. She’d had duties to handle for her queen that couldn’t wait. Rhi couldn’t help but wonder if things would be different if she had skirted her responsibilities and remained with Con.

  She thought back to when she had last seen him. They had laughed and talked like always. His behavior had been light and easy. Though Con had a knack for wiping all emotion from his face, he didn’t do that with her. They had always communicated well, talking about anything and everything.

  So, what happened?

  Rhi walked to the bed and lay in his spot. She breathed in the smell of him from the sheets. Her eyes closed as the tears came once more. She needed to talk to Con. Rhi sat up and got to her feet. He knew she was on Dreagan. Every Dragon King knew the instant she crossed the invisible magical barrier surrounding the sixty-thousand-acre estate.

  She dashed at the tears and strode from the bedroom. Usually, she ran into other Kings as she walked through the manor, but today, there was no one. Did that mean everyone knew what’d happened and was staying clear of her? If so, good. That ensured she would be alone with Con when she demanded an explanation.