by Donna Grant
“Volunteers for what?”
“To give themselves up to the gods the Druids had freed.”
She was flabbergasted. “They actually thought this would work?”
“It did. We watched from the skies as the gods each chose a warrior. It was because of the Druids that those men were able to ensure Rome never conquered Scotland.”
“Holy shit,” she murmured.
He chuckled, smiling. “Aye. It was a magnificent sight to see the Warriors in battle. The Druids’ plans worked perfectly. Until Rome was gone and they tried to remove the gods. Now freed, the gods didna want to return to their prison. The Warriors began killing anyone and everyone because they couldna gain control of the gods. Their own families, their friends. It didna matter. The gods were demanding blood, and the Warriors were powerless to refuse.”
“What happened?”
“The Druids came back together with their magic. As powerful as they were, the gods were more so. The gods couldna be removed. The only option the Druids had was to bind the gods, silencing them, and returning the Warriors to men once more.”
She studied him a moment. “I can tell by your voice that things didn’t go as planned.”
“They did. Except the gods passed down through the bloodline to the best warrior each generation. Then a verra powerful drough found the spell to unbind the gods. She thought to rule the world and control the Warriors.”
“What happened?”
“The Warriors learned to master the gods within them. They rose up against the drough and defeated her. You’ve met one of them.”
Her eyes widened. “Who?”
“Ronnie’s husband, Arran.”
“No way!” she gasped in surprise.
Dmitri’s smile widened. “Then I suppose you didna know that Ronnie is a Druid.”
She could only stare open-mouthed at him, internalizing the news that she had been surrounded by magic without even knowing it.
The next phone call with Ronnie was definitely going to be interesting.
“Tell me more,” she insisted.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Dmitri loved to see the play of emotions wash over Faith’s face—ranging from shock to disbelief and then changing to wonder.
“Ronnie is a Druid?” she asked in astonishment.
He gave a single nod. “All the women married to the Warriors are. Well, except for one. She’s the only female Warrior.”
“I … There’s … I don’t know what to say,” Faith finally got out. “Ronnie is a Druid. Wow.”
While she took it all in, Dmitri thought back to the day the Kings had approached the Warriors. It had been a long time coming, and the alliance had benefited both the Warriors and the Kings.
“Since Ronnie sent you, I gather they know who you are?” Faith asked.
“Aye,” he replied. “We Kings agreed as a whole that it was time to let them know of our existence.”
“There is so much on this earth that no one knows about.”
“It’s better that they doona. The Warriors and Druids live at MacLeod Castle, which is shrouded by magic so it can no’ be seen by mortals. Druids are everywhere, though the greatest concentration is on the Isle of Skye.”
“And the Fae?”
“They choose Ireland when they’re in this realm. Their civil wars have all but destroyed their realm. They tried it here, as well, but we put an end to the Fae Wars.”
Faith ran a hand through her hair. “Is that all that’s here?”
“For now. You never know what could come through from other realms, though.”
“I think I need a drink. Oh, how you must have laughed at me saying I’m rooted in science. How naïve of me, when there seems to be magic everywhere.”
He took her hand in his. “It isna naïve. It’s what you believed. You didna know to look for the other or that it even existed.”
“Right in front of my face,” she admonished herself, turning her head away.
He put a finger beneath her chin and made her look at him. He saw the anger she directed inward, and he wanted to erase it. “Science is just as important as magic.”
“I wish Ronnie would’ve told me.”
“Druids rarely tell anyone other than other Druids of their magic. There are a few who announce it, but humans are quick to dismiss them.”
She lifted their linked hands between them. “What do you see in me? I’m a mortal, descended from those who ruined your life.”
“But you didna do it.”
“You mean you can look at me and not feel even a kernel of anger?”
He cupped her face with one hand, looking deep into her sherry eyes. “When I look at you or even think about you, it’s only desire and longing I feel.”
“I need you to know that I wanted you before I knew what you were.”
Without another word, he slipped his hand around to the back of her neck, blond locks sliding between his fingers, and brought her against him for a kiss. His body came alive instantly at the feel and taste of her.
“Why can’t I get enough of you?” she asked between kisses.
“Do you want to?”
“Yes. And no.”
Her admission was a reminder of their current predicament. He dropped his hand and looked at the bones. “I can move the skeleton to Dreagan now.”
“Even though it’s still in the earth?”
“The magic will fix that.”
She looked away, her lips twisting. “It would keep the residents safe, at least.”
“Aye.”
“Do you still want me to come with you?”
“Without a doubt.”
A smile formed on her lips. “Then perhaps we should do that.”
Dmitri touched the bones. “He belongs here, but he’ll find peace at Dreagan.”
“Why didn’t you mention this before?”
“Because I knew how much you enjoyed your job.”
She laced her fingers with his. “You are a singular delight, Muscles.”
Her words pleased him immensely.
“Though I am going to miss this place,” she said, looking around the cave.
“There are plenty of caves to explore on Dreagan. But more importantly, there is good food, soft beds, and hot showers.”
Her eyes closed as she moaned. “I don’t know which I’d like first.”
“Whichever you want.”
“I want all of them. With you.” Her eyes opened and her gaze moved to him.
He smiled, already hard thinking about it. “That can be arranged.”
“So what now?”
“Now, I call us a ride.”
As she watched, he opened his mind and called for Rhys. As soon as his friend answered, he asked, “How does Lily feel about a flight to Fair Isle?”
“Hang on.” A few seconds later, Rhys said, “She’s up for it.”
“Give me a shout when she leaves. We’re on the west coast of the isle.”
The link severed, and Dmitri shrugged. “It’s done. Lily will be here soon to fly us out.”
“You have a plane?” she asked with a raised brow.
“Helicopter, actually.”
She laughed and playfully punched his arm. “What else do you have?”
“The chopper is Lily’s. She’s Rhys’s mate and wealthy in her own right. However, Dreagan has a helicopter of its own.”
Faith’s face clouded with concern. “Is everyone angry over my find? I know it jeopardized things.”
“You did nothing maliciously. So, nay, no one is mad.” Except maybe Con, but that was nothing unusual. Because of that, there was no need to tell her about the King of Kings’ feelings regarding anything.
“I need to clean up the tents.”
He jumped to his feet and held out his hand. “Let’s get to it, then.”
Once they were back at the entrance, she looked at him and asked, “Is there any way you can shift so I can see you again?”
More than any
thing, he wanted to do as she asked. “Within this cave I can.”
“But you couldn’t fly us out?”
He gave a shake of his head. “We’re attempting to keep a low profile, remember. Too much attention is focused on Dreagan and anything to do with dragons. People keep an eye on the skies just to spot one of us.”
“You hid in the rain the other day.”
“Even that was a risk I hope I doona regret.”
She licked her lips. “I want to look at you again.”
He didn’t have to be told twice. Her interest made his blood burn with desire. He kicked off his boots and began removing his clothes. As more of his skin was revealed, the longing in her eyes made his cock stir. Then her gaze locked on his tat.
He moved farther into the cave. With their eyes locked, he shifted. Her gasp wasn’t one of fear but of wonderment—and it warmed his heart.
With his dragon eyes that could see in the dark as easily as the light, he watched the way her face held a look of reverence and amazement.
There wasn’t enough room to unfurl his wings, but he sat and wrapped his tail around his body. He watched with joy as she walked to him and put a hand on his front leg.
Even if he had eternity to find the words for how she made him feel in that moment, he would never be able to aptly explain the exhilaration or happiness or serenity he felt.
* * *
With her palm on the warm, white scales, Faith looked at the glorious dragon before her. He was regal and imposing, majestic and daunting.
She dropped her head back and looked up at him. Dark, yellowish-brown eyes stared at her, but this time, she saw Dmitri in them.
At her foot was a paw or foot with four digits and gleaming white talons. She walked around him and saw the row of spines that ran from the base of his skull to his shoulders.
As she continued her inspection, she saw the four horns that sprouted from the back of his head.
She walked all the way around, looking at his long tail and leathery wings. When she stood in front of him again, she smiled up at him.
“Thank you. Seeing you makes me wish there were still dragons here. You’re beautiful.”
In a blink, he was human again. Before she could react, she was yanked against him as he took her mouth in a kiss that made her toes curl.
She barely felt the scrape of his whiskers, her need was so great. This kiss was savage and wild—just like him. And she loved every second of it.
He took her breath away in both of his forms, but she knew how incredibly lucky she was to experience what it felt like to be held by a Dragon King.
They were breathing hard by the time he ended the kiss. All she wanted to do was lead him back to their pallet and spend the rest of the day making love.
Then she thought of the people dying simply because of the skeleton she’d discovered. She rested her face against his bare chest, her eyes closed as he held her.
“I know we have to leave. It’s the right thing to do,” she began.
“I doona want to go either,” he finished.
There were many reasons she wanted to remain. Mostly, she was afraid the world would intrude upon whatever it was they had found together.
While she wanted to see Dreagan, she was worried that the others there might attempt to dissuade him from her. Then she realized he was a King. He made his own decisions.
Which led to her true worry—that she was nothing more than a brief entertainment for him.
Because she really, really wanted it to be more. It was such a switch from how she normally felt that she knew right away that something was different.
With the new emotions swirling within her, she wanted to know how it would all play out. It was that planner part of who she was. Yet she knew that anything could happen.
She didn’t want him to know how much turmoil she was in, so she put a smile on her face and stepped out of his arms. While he dressed, she got all her gear on to make the climb.
While she had to use rope and a harness to get to the top, Muscles did it in two jumps, proving once more that he was anything but ordinary.
At the summit, she felt as if she were on another world. Everything looked and felt different. Her eyes were open to the wonders of what surrounded her now. It was both remarkable and chilling.
Only the tents and a few scattered belongings had to be picked up. She wasn’t surprised to find that Tamir had taken all the samples with him.
“Tamir will put the samples in storage,” she told Dmitri. “No one will touch or see them.”
“We’ll need to get those.”
She had assumed as much. “Of course.”
Dmitri took her hand and walked with her to the edge of the cliff. “Look out. What do you see?”
“The sea. The unknown.”
“An adventure perhaps?”
She glanced at him and grinned. “Yes, an adventure.”
“What else?”
With blue stretching as far as the eye could see, she imagined what it would’ve been like to see white dragons living there.
To her, Fair Isle was a place to find remnants of the past. To Dmitri, it was home.
Ever since her mother’s death, she hadn’t called any place home. The closest anything had come was the cave. It made her see how gloomy her life was. Maybe that was why she remained out on digs, so she didn’t have to return to her apartment alone.
She smiled and said, “I see the future.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Somewhere in western Canada …
Rhi was veiled as she stood off to the side watching as the actors went through another take. It hadn’t been easy to find Usaeil. The Light Queen had used magic to keep her location hidden.
But Rhi was never one to allow a little obstacle to stop her. After a brief discussion with some of the Queen’s Guard, she’d discovered that Usaeil had told Inen that she had something private to do in the Fae realm.
Which was an outright lie. Rhi had kept many of Usaeil’s confidences while she was a Guard. Now, those secrets burned inside her like dark magic.
Where she’d once revered Usaeil, she now reviled her.
Where she’d once honored the queen, she now spurned her.
Where she’d once sought out Usaeil, she now actively ignored her.
Because the queen wasn’t acting like a queen. Usaeil didn’t seem to care about her people or the imminent war between the Dark and the Dragon Kings.
Usaeil had forgotten what it meant to wear the crown and honor the duties involved. She pursued only her desires, and didn’t care who or what might be destroyed in the process.
It was only by Fate’s hand that the Dark hadn’t yet realized how weak the Light were. The Dark’s focus on the Kings gave the Light a narrow window in which to prepare.
Otherwise, the Dark would rise up and annihilate the Light.
That scared Rhi as nothing else could. She could see it all play out in her mind. It didn’t matter who led the Dark—Taraeth or Balladyn or another—they would win.
But only the queen had the right to gather the army. If Rhi were still in the Queen’s Guard, she might have been able to finagle a way to prepare them, but that was no longer an option.
No matter what she might say to Inen, he still believed Usaeil was the best thing for the Light. Rhi doubted there was another Fae out there who thought differently, besides her.
That was because she saw the big picture. Usaeil had given their people a false sense of security—one that everyone should realize was erroneous.
In all their civil wars, neither the Light nor the Dark had won. They’d each killed millions, gaining a slight upper hand that was soon whisked away.
The only time the Light every truly won against the Dark was when they’d joined the Kings in the Fae Wars. In all those scenarios, the Light had been ready for war.
The line drawn through Ireland to keep the Dark to the south and the Light to the north would soon be wiped away. No doubt the
Light would be set upon in a surprise attack, and they would lose many.
The Light army would mobilize without orders from anyone at that point. But Rhi knew it would be too late by then.
Her anger and hatred grew as she watched Usaeil act out her part in the movie, kissing her male counterpart. The darkness within Rhi swelled considerably.
She knew it, felt it, but couldn’t stop it. How could she when the very person who could save their people was off doing other things, human things?
At least she no longer had her watcher. Rhi’s anger was divided between Usaeil and her unseen tracker at this point. She felt as if there was no place for her to turn, no one with whom she could talk.
Then she thought of Phelan. Yes, the Warrior who was like a brother would be there for her. Yet she hesitated to go to him.
He and Aisley had already been pulled into too much. After everything the Warriors and Druids endured and fought against, they should be allowed to live their lives in peace.
Normally, she would go to Rhys, but since he’d taken Lily as his mate, Rhi had kept her distance, allowing the pair to be alone.
Talking to Balladyn was pointless. He would steer her in the direction he wanted, and that wouldn’t help.
So she was alone. Again.
Perhaps she should get accustomed to such a life. It seemed inevitable that this was her destiny. No matter how much light was inside her, no matter how hard she fought for her people, no matter how deeply she had loved her King—she was by herself.
Her eyes stung with unshed tears. She blinked them away, hardening herself against such emotion. Hadn’t she cried enough throughout the last several millennia over her King and his abandonment?
Enough wailing in self-pity. She straightened her shoulders. So what if she’d always been there for others. So what if she gave 110% of herself to her King and friends and queen. So what if she never seemed to fit in anywhere.
She looked down at her hands where power sizzled through her fingertips. After everything she’d been through, she’d come to like the person she was—flaws and darkness and all.
“That’s a wrap for the day!”
The voice broke into her thoughts. Rhi looked up, dropping her hands as she spied Usaeil smiling and laughing. Then a woman led the queen away.