by Donna Grant
And if she weren’t on Dreagan land—whether she had her memories or not—she would have a bright, shiny target on her.
He closed his eyes as the complications continued to rise. One of his dragons had been left behind and died. He refused to sentence Faith to the same fate. Yet bringing her with him and confining her to Dreagan might be just as bad.
With a sigh, he squeezed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. There was no good outcome, no matter how he looked at it.
The best possible scenario would be to take the bones and leave Faith behind. He would ask Darcy, the Druid, and Shara, the Light Fae, to mix their magic with his and cast a protection spell over Faith so that no Dark or Ulrik could harm her.
As for her memories, he wanted her to keep them. It was for purely selfish reasons. He wanted her to think of him because he would be thinking of her.
“That’s a serious look,” she said and kissed his cheek.
He smiled and rolled her onto her back so he could kiss her soundly. Though he wanted to spend the day making love to her a thousand different ways, the weather had turned against them.
Reluctantly, he ended the kiss. “Listen.”
She frowned and did as he asked. Her shoulders drooped. “The weather is changing.”
“Which means Tamir is probably already on his way.”
She smiled up at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Can’t you make sure he turns back? Or perhaps block the entrance somehow? I’m not ready to leave.”
“Neither am I.”
How odd, after so many years living as a human, that he wanted to remain in a cave with her. They had all they needed—except for food—right there. And the food issue could be easily remedied.
Her smile dropped as her face took on a solemn look. “I’m serious. I don’t want to leave, and I don’t want anyone to bother us.”
“As soon as everyone is sent home, we’ll be alone.”
“For how long?”
He saw the skepticism in her eyes. “As long as we’re given.”
She pressed her lips together and nodded. “Then I’d better dress and get back to work.”
He flopped onto his back and wished with everything he had that they weren’t in the middle of a war. There had been a few times in his very long life that a female Fae had intrigued him enough to spend months or even years with her.
But Faith was different. He didn’t know how or why, but he knew it with certainty. Though some Kings thought by doing the mating ceremony their women would be safe, he didn’t feel the same.
For him, it made them more of a target. The mates couldn’t die unless their Kings did, but that didn’t mean the women couldn’t experience pain or be tortured.
His thoughts had been one-sided up until now. With regards to Faith, he’d feel much better knowing that she was with him and protected by the magic on Dreagan.
Not that he wanted her as his mate.
Did he?
He sat upright, shock numbing even his brain.
“You plan on greeting Tamir in the buff?” Faith asked in a teasing tone.
“Um. Nay.” He rose and dazedly went to his clothes where he began to dress.
When Faith passed him on the way to the dragon, she slapped his butt as he’d done her earlier. He watched her, hungry for another taste of her already.
He was quickly forgotten as she returned to her work. With his clothes in place and the last boot tugged on, he made his way to the front of the cave.
The skeleton could easily be excavated with magic, but he didn’t want to do that to her. Faith was already giving up any recognition she might have gained for discovering it. He didn’t want to take away the joy she experienced from pulling it from the earth.
Though he didn’t know where Ulrik was, the fact that Con hadn’t alerted him to anything meant that Ulrik had yet to make his next move.
The Dark had gone into hiding after the attack across the UK on Halloween. But given how quiet things were, something big was in the works.
Dmitri thought of Asher, who was in Paris at the World Whisky Consortium. There was nothing there for Ulrik to wreak havoc with, so at least Asher was safe.
Most likely, Ulrik had his sights set on another team—Kinsey, Henry, and Esther—who were going to infiltrate a corporation to see how Kinsey and Esther had been exposed to Druid magic.
He wished he had his phone to call Henry. As the only mortal allowed onto Dreagan who wasn’t a mate, the fearless MI5 agent had earned his place among the Kings.
When his sister, Esther, had been pulled into their war and had had Druid magic used to get her to kill, Henry had proven his worth and boldness by standing up to Con and doing what had to be done to free his sister from the magic.
It was too bad Henry was in love with Rhi. He deserved love, and Rhi was in no position to give it since Dmitri suspected she was still very much in love with her King.
All of that made him realize that he had a while to himself before he’d be called back to Dreagan. It was time he was going to take.
For himself. And for Faith.
For so long, he’d done everything for Dreagan and his brethren. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d done anything for himself.
Though he would never let his brothers down, he was going to allow himself to be selfish. Just this once.
He moved out of the cave onto the ledge and raised his face to the sky. With his eyes closed, the sprinkles of rain fell upon him.
No longer did thunder rumble the earth or lightning split the sky. The wind still blew, but not with gale force as before. The storm had raged—and so had his desires.
It was almost as if the tempest had sequestered he and Faith together. He smiled at the thought, because otherwise, he’d never have gotten that close to her.
He opened his eyes and looked at the sky. The clouds were a milky gray and moved rapidly, changing formations in a blink. With his arms out to his sides, he allowed himself to believe he was flying again.
Being in dragon form and feeling the wind rush over his scales as his wings navigated the currents had been amazing. It was a reminder of all that he and the other Dragon Kings had given up—and what they shouldn’t have had to.
But they couldn’t turn back time. What was done, was done.
He dropped his arms and lowered his head. Despondency filled him to the very brim. He was a dragon. A creature of magic and fire. A being that was lethal and dangerous.
The Kings had forgotten that. All but one.
Ulrik.
Dmitri thought of Faith, the mates at Dreagan, and Henry. Not all mortals were wicked or corrupt. Some were good, decent people. So while he didn’t want to wipe the earth of them, he found that he was beginning to think more along the lines of Ulrik’s agenda than Con’s.
The sound of voices carrying upon the wind reached him. He recognized Tamir’s, and within moments, the archeologist stood at the cliff’s edge.
Dmitri had pushed aside his dark thoughts by the time Tamir climbed down the cliff. He helped Faith’s assistant to the ledge and returned the man’s smile.
“Let me guess,” Tamir said. “She’s working.”
Dmitri nodded, noticing the bag in Tamir’s hand. “Aye.”
“I brought food for both of you. I can’t believe that storm lasted as long as it did.”
Dmitri nodded absently. “Thanks.”
Tamir hesitated, looking him over. “How are you?”
It took a moment for Dmitri to remember that Faith had told Tamir he had been attacked earlier. “It was just a bump on the head. I’m fine.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Dmitri followed him into the cave and down the tunnel to Faith. She had her earbuds in, listening to music as she worked. He knew Tamir and the others wouldn’t be there long, but he resented the intrusion into his world with Faith.
No matter how much he told himself to calm down, the longer Tamir was there, the angrier he became. Dmit
ri watched as Tamir sat beside Faith, and the way she smiled in welcome at seeing him.
He stood back and observed as she dug into the food and immediately opened a bag of chips, stuffing one in her mouth. Dmitri scrutinized every detail of her exchange with her assistant.
Then she asked Tamir, “How are the plans to get everyone home?”
It was all Dmitri could do not to grab Tamir by the collar of his shirt and toss him out of the cave so he could be alone with his woman again.
Chapter Twenty-two
Faith was very aware of Dmitri’s altered attitude. He was glaring at Tamir as if he wanted to do him harm, but she understood. Having food was good, yet Tamir’s invasion seemed to change things.
“So you were really serious,” Tamir said. “We’re shutting down the dig?”
She licked her lips, enjoying the salt left by the chips. “Yes, of course. Things have gotten too dangerous.”
“Yeah,” Tamir said, his gaze lowering to the ground and going unfocused. “I was hoping you meant it, but I didn’t do anything until I could talk to you again.”
Faith laid a hand upon his arm. “It’s fine. I’m going, as well.”
His eyes jerked back to her. “What of the skeleton?”
“People’s lives aren’t worth it.”
“Someone else will claim it if you leave now.”
She couldn’t exactly tell him that wouldn’t happen and keep Dmitri’s secret at the same time. “Hopefully, with Ronnie’s help, we can prevent that.”
“When will we return?”
“I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
Tamir glanced at Dmitri. “I’ll feel better once we’re clear of this place.”
“I know,” she said with a smile.
Tamir climbed to his feet. “I guess I’d better head back to town and let everyone know. A few have already left, and others were planning to leave.”
It was all working out as it should. She stood and linked her arm through his, winking at Dmitri. “I have a proposition,” she told Tamir.
“Really?” he asked eagerly.
“Do you remember the site in Montana that you wanted to check out? I think you should lead a team. You really wanted to go and explore the area more.”
“Because I know there’s something there to find.” He stopped and looked at her. “You really want me to lead the dig?”
She met his dark gaze and smiled. “Without a doubt. You should’ve done it years ago.”
“I’ll still be your assistant, though. Right?” he asked excitedly.
“Whatever you want,” she replied with a laugh.
He nodded and absently faced forward, his smile growing by the second. “My own dig.”
Faith led him to the cave opening. By his astonished expression, she realized she should’ve pushed him to go out on his own years ago. But it was hard to let go of the ones you loved, and Tamir was family.
She hugged him, wondering if it would be the last time she saw Tamir. He’d recognized the evil straightaway. She should’ve listened to her friend. Mercifully, she hadn’t lost him to a Dark attack.
“Thank you,” he said and pulled back.
She waved away his words. “None needed.”
Tamir glanced down the long corridor of the cave. “I saw the way Dmitri looked at you. Is there something there?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He laughed wryly. “You most certainly do. You deserve this. Take him and don’t look back.”
She’d already done that. “Call me when you get to Montana.”
“Aren’t you coming back to town with me?” A frown wiped away his grin.
“I’m going to gather my things here. Then I plan to take a much-needed vacation.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Now I know something is wrong. You’ve not taken time off in three years.”
She took his hands and squeezed. “This place has changed things. It has changed me. I saw how everyone reacted to the idea of what I might’ve discovered. People have died. I need some time to gather my thoughts before I decide on my next course.”
It was a perfect excuse to step away from everything for a bit. She wasn’t sure what would happen after her team left the isle, but she did know one thing: she wasn’t ready to say good-bye to Dmitri.
“Muscles will look after me while I’m here,” she added.
Tamir stared at her a long time before he finally nodded. “I’ll do what I can with the authorities in town before I leave.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
An impish smile curved his lips. “I know exactly who you’ve been doing.”
She rolled her eyes at the entendre. “Perhaps you should go find someone yourself.”
“Oh, I plan on it.”
Faith remained, listening as Tamir talked about how excited he was while he affixed his harness to the rope. With a wave and a wink, he was gone. She stayed, watching him until he was at the top of the cliff.
“You didna have to send him away,” Dmitri said from behind her.
“It was time. I should’ve done it a long time ago. He’s quite good, you know. He’ll make a name for himself quickly.”
Strong arms came around her from behind. Dmitri put his chin on her shoulder. “You made him verra happy.”
“Yeah.” But she felt like shit about it. Tamir was the closest thing to family she had. Was this how mothers felt when they watched their children go off to college? It sucked. “I don’t know how my mother kept her smile in place when I left for school.”
Dmitri’s arms squeezed her.
She licked her lips. “After I left, Mom was all by herself. My father left us before I was born. My whole life, it was just her and me.”
“Now I know why you’re such an independent person. Your mother.”
“She was an amazing woman.”
There was a pause before Dmitri asked, “When did you lose her?”
“Six months ago. Giving Tamir that push to go out on his own reminded me of my mother doing much the same thing.”
“She’d be proud of you.”
That made her smile. “She loved dragons. It’s too bad she couldn’t have met you.”
They shared a laugh before Dmitri asked, “So. Muscles, huh?”
She dropped her head back, grinning. Then she turned in his arms and met his gaze. “Yep”
“Is that what you think of me?”
“The first time I saw you, I wanted to rip off your clothes and see your body. Muscles seemed to fit.”
“I do believe I like it.”
She rested her forearms on his shoulders and tried not to think about Tamir. “I’m glad.”
“Tamir will be fine,” Dmitri said as if reading her mind.
“I hope so.” She didn’t know how he knew what she was thinking, but it was nice that he did. “I should’ve listened to him when he first talked about the evil.”
“You can no’ blame yourself. You had a job to do, and that’s where your priorities were.”
“And those priorities got two people killed. My finding the bones is what brought the Dark. No one else did this. I did. So the fault lies totally with me.”
He gave her a little shake. “I quite like that you’re the one who found my dragon. Otherwise, how would I have met you?”
“Stop being so charming.”
“I doona think I can.”
She laughed, which was exactly what he wanted. Being around him made it tough to remember why she hadn’t sought out relationships in the past.
He took her hand and led her back to the dragon. It felt comfortable and . . . right . . . to have their fingers interlocked, walking side by side. As if it were meant to be.
Which went against her “free will” concept of life. Because it was becoming hard to say that there wasn’t such a thing as Fate or destiny.
“The authorities are going to want to talk to me about the deaths of my team members,” she said.
She raised a brow, curious. “And how do you propose to do that?”
“Did you forget that I’m from Dreagan?”
As a matter of fact, she had. “I suppose someone with that kind of clout and money can do a great many things.”
“That is true,” he said with a grin.
He grew silent as they approached the skeleton. She sat down before the bones and looked up at him. “Do you have a cell phone?”
“I doona need one. Dragons communicate via a mental link.”
“Well, isn’t that handy?” Something else she hadn’t known. And she suspected there was more Muscles hadn’t told her. Then again, it wasn’t as if she’d told him stories of her life either.
He grinned and squatted beside her. “One of the Kings acts as a lawyer. Vaughn will be in contact with whoever is in charge.”
“Impressive. Tell him thanks.”
“You could do that yourself.”
She paused as she lifted the brush. Was he asking what she thought he was? “What?”
“You could come with me to Dreagan.”
There it was. The offer hung between them. She hadn’t realized how very much she wanted it until he’d said the words. “I’d like that.”
His bright smile made her heart trip over itself. “Good.”
Inside, she was jumping for joy and shouting to the heavens. On the outside, she smiled and returned to work. “There’s more to your world than you’ve told me, isn’t there?”
“Oh, aye.”
Damn, she loved his accent. It made her tingle all over. Or that could just be him. Not that it mattered. She loved the way he made her feel. “Tell me more.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.” She glanced over to find him watching her.
He flipped the brush end over end, catching it. “Remember when I told you about the Fae?”
“Of course. Not something I can forget.”
“The magical creatures doona end with us and them. There is another.”
Intrigued, she found herself pulled between the bones and his story. “Tell me.”
“They’re called Warriors. They were mortals like you. Then one day, Rome came to conquer them.”
She stopped working and gawked at him. “Were the Kings awake then?”