Smoke and Fire

by Donna Grant

  “Please. Humor me.”

  “All right. I’d need damning evidence. I’d need to see or hear her talking about betraying you before I took such drastic action.”

  Ryder let out a long sigh. That’s what he’d wanted and needed to hear. It was the Constantine he’d known for so long. Yet Con had recently made some decisions that Ryder worried about. Not to mention the lover Con had taken. A Fae.

  There could only be trouble there.

  “I think it’s time you indulge me and tell me what that was all about,” Con said.

  Ryder knew Con deserved no less. He spent the next twenty minutes going through his thoughts and conclusions with Con about Ulrik, Kyvor, and Kinsey’s connection.

  When he finished, Con was silent. Finally Con took a deep breath and said, “That’s a lot you’ve sorted out. Did you think I’d kill Kinsey so easily?”

  “I know the safeguarding of Dreagan and our secret is the main objective.”

  “So is protecting mortals.”

  “Who are no’ out to expose us.”

  Con bowed his head in acknowledgment. “Point taken. I’ve known for a while that Ulrik is attempting to fracture us from the inside out. Every attack on us has been to that point.”

  “He nearly succeeded this time.”

  “I know. What was your plan had Kinsey no’ attacked Esther?”

  Ryder shrugged and looked at Kinsey. “I was going to talk to her, but I realize now I wouldna have believed anything she said. I was too upset.”

  “Then things worked in our favor.”

  Ryder wasn’t so sure of that. Not yet, at least. He turned his head to Con. “They wanted Kinsey and Esther to kill each other.”

  “I think they wanted Kinsey to kill Esther. This Druid, whoever she is, is a problem. If Kinsey didna alert anyone to Esther giving us a name, is there a chance someone hacked our computers?”

  Ryder gave him a hard look. “You’re seriously asking me that?”

  “I had to ask. Then that leaves one option. The Druid is powerful enough to be linked so deep inside Kinsey’s and Esther’s minds that she knew what was going on.”

  “As soon as Esther gave up the name and Kinsey saw me doing the search, the Druid knew. Then she triggered Kinsey.”

  Con lifted one shoulder. “Then how did Esther get triggered?”

  “Maybe all her training somehow kicked in? We may never know.”

  “No, I doubt we ever will.”

  * * *

  Kinsey was so tired of running. It didn’t matter how far she went, she wasn’t getting anywhere. Memories rushed by her in a blur, but there was no way out.

  She was going to be trapped in her mind. After all her fighting the unknown force, after finding Ryder again, she was going to lose it all.

  “No!” she yelled.

  She’d come too far to have it slip from her hands so easily. Kinsey wasn’t going to give up. She’d run as far and as fast as needed until she reached wherever she was going.

  Out of nowhere two doors appeared before her. She skidded to a halt to stop from running into them. One door was white, the other black.

  “Not another representation of good and bad,” she said with a twist of her lips.

  If there were two doors, that meant only one would take her back to Ryder. The other … it didn’t matter what the other did because she wouldn’t be with Ryder.

  The darkness earlier had blinded her, keeping her nearly in one spot. The magic used on her took her hearing and held her down.

  The white had allowed her to see, or did it? The magic used pressed her down, making her weary and exhausted.

  Neither was better than the other.

  Kinsey tried to walk around them, but she couldn’t go anywhere. Her only choice was to pick a door and hope it was the right one.

  She went to the white door and put her hand on the knob. Right before she turned it, she drew her hand back as something deep inside her shouted, “No!”

  Kinsey stepped back and looked at the black door. It reminded her of the three years she’d lived in a kind of obscurity after Ryder left.

  It was only when he entered her life once more that she saw the world anew.

  “Only light comes out of darkness,” she whispered.

  Kinsey grasped the knob on the black door and opened it.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  Ryder didn’t want to talk anymore. He just wanted Kinsey to wake up.

  “If Esther came out of it, so will Kinsey,” Con said. “She’s a strong one.”

  That made Ryder look at Con anew. “You’ve something nice to say about her after all of this?”

  “It’s the truth. If you also consider it polite, then so be it. Though I’ll admit I think she’s a good match for you. In every way.”

  Ryder was so taken aback that he could only stare at Con. He knew how hard Con had tried to dissuade both Kings and mates from being together, and yet he was giving his approval now?

  “Doona look at me as if I’m dim-witted,” Con grumbled. “I’ve come to know Kinsey in the time she’s been here. I’ve seen her with you and the others. Despite her initial fear, she’s accepted you and this way of life.”

  Ryder opened his mouth to respond when Kinsey gasped, her back bowing off the granite as her eyes flew open. He held her as she gripped him tightly, her gaze locked with his.

  She was panting, her chest heaving as she touched his face. “Is it really you?”

  “It’s me,” he said with a smile. “You found your way out of your mind.”

  Her eyes slid closed as she buried her head against his chest and cried. “No. I found my way back to you.”

  Ryder held her as he saw Con slip quietly from the chamber. He smoothed his hand down her hair and rejoiced in having her with him.

  “I didn’t do anything,” Kinsey said, her head snapping up. “I never betrayed you or anyone here.”

  “I know.” Ryder hurried to calm her.

  She shook her head. “No, don’t just say that. I need you to know that it wasn’t me.”

  He cupped his hands on either side of her face. “I do, Kins. I know it wasn’t you. I thought it was when the e-mails were encrypted. It stated that you were on board with what they wanted.”

  “What?” Her brows furrowed deeply. “The only thing I agreed to—ever—with Kyvor in writing was about developing new strategies.”

  “Did that involve any meetings?”

  “Of course,” she said with a nod.

  Ryder moved his hands down to her shoulders. “Do you remember who was in the meeting?”

  “Sure. It was me, Cecil, Harriet, and Harriet’s assistant.”

  “Describe the assistant.”

  Kinsey thought back for a moment and said, “She was really beautiful. The kind of beauty you only see in movies.”

  “Her hair?”

  “Blond, almost like a gold color.”

  “And her eyes?”

  Kinsey laughed. “I didn’t get that close to see.”

  It was enough of a description to match what Esther had said. “I suspect Harriet’s assistant was the Druid who put the magic in you. We also found a tracker in your wrist.”

  “A tracker?”

  He hated the shock and alarm in her voice, but the worst was over. “We got it out. We found the same magic and tracker in Esther as well.”

  “I don’t really know what to think right now,” Kinsey said. Then she looked down and saw the blanket had fallen to reveal her breasts.

  “I’ll explain everything,” Ryder said. “Just know you are officially cleared of everything.”

  “But we don’t know who set all this in motion at Kyvor, do we?”

  Ryder shrugged. “It’s Ulrik. Esther confirmed she met with him after MI5 sent her to spy on Kyvor.”

  Kinsey’s eyes widened. “Esther is MI5? I thought they decommissioned her?”

  “To set up her spying. I believe both of you met the Druid responsible for the magic pla
ced on you.”

  Kinsey’s lips twisted. “Harriett’s assistant.”

  “Aye. We need to find her.”

  “That I can help with.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that.” Ryder wanted to shout with joy that Kinsey would be staying. He didn’t care how long it took. He would show her his love and that he wanted her in his life forever.

  Kinsey fiddled with the edge of the tartan blanket. “I still want to know who set me up.”

  “I suspect that was Ulrik, but we’ll find out for sure.”

  Her smile was slow as it spread over her face. “It looks like I’m in need of a job.”

  It was Ryder’s turn to smile. “I’m fairly certain I can help with that.”

  “Con would allow that?”

  Ryder laughed. “I should’ve taped his words earlier. He likes you, Kins.”

  “Now that’s a shock,” she said with a small laugh. “But I’m glad. I like it here.”

  “Are you ready to return to the manor?”

  She pulled her hand from his and sat up, wrapping the blanket around her. “There’s something I need to say first.”

  Ryder waited for her to continue. From the dread on her face, he feared the worst.

  “I’m sorry,” Kinsey said.

  Now that, he wasn’t expecting.

  “I’m sorry for everything.” She licked her lips and lowered her gaze to the ground. “I should never have feared you, and I certainly should never have told you I wasn’t sure I could forgive your leaving me. After being at Dreagan and seeing the enemies, I understand now.” Her eyes returned to his. “I’d have done the same thing. This is your family. You protect your family.

  “But I was lying to myself when I said I didn’t have feelings for you. I lied to others about that as well. I never stopped loving you. Never.”

  Ryder wanted to pull her against him, but she held out a hand to stop him.

  “You were so patient and sweet, and I … wasn’t. You deserve better than that. I’d like … that is, if you’re willing … I’d very much like to start again. I may have done too much or said the wrong things, but I love you. I’ll go through interrogations or whatever to reassure you and Con and the others that I mean this.”

  Ryder halted any more words with a kiss. He was so happy he could barely contain himself. Kinsey was going to be his.

  “I know you mean every word,” he whispered as he caressed a hand down her face. “I love you, Kinsey Burns. It killed me to leave you, and I doona want to ever be apart from you again.”

  Fresh tears welled and fell down her cheeks. “You’ve no idea how happy you’ve made me.”

  “You’ve got that wrong, lass,” he murmured with a grin. “I’ll be the one who’s the happiest.”

  A seductive smile filled her face. “Perhaps we can show each other just how happy we’ve made the other.”

  “Ohhh. I like that idea. Shall we commence things here?”

  “As long as no one can see or interrupt us,” she said and threw off the blanket.

  Ryder hastily set up a magic door that would block anyone from entering—or seeing. His laugh bounced off the stones as she tore open his shirt, sending buttons flying once more.

  EPILOGUE

  Three days later …

  “Do we really have to?” Kinsey said as she reached down and wrapped her hand around his cock.

  “Hmmm. Did you say something?”

  She chuckled and kissed his cheek. It had been the best three days of her life. They hadn’t left Ryder’s room, and it was wonderful.

  “I suppose we need to get to work,” she said with a sigh.

  Ryder lifted the laptop. “I’ve been keeping up with things.”

  “With one screen. Admit it, you miss your monitors.”

  He shrugged and set aside the laptop. “That I do, but I like you in my arms. Perhaps we should set up the monitors here.”

  “Or we could set up our bedroom in the computer room.”

  Ryder thought about that for a moment. “Nope. I doona like either idea. Let’s keep things the way they are.”

  She laughed as he rolled her onto her back and kissed her. When he lifted his head, she ran her fingers through his blond locks. “I can’t believe everyone believes I’m innocent.”

  “Because you are. And now we have two more allies,” he said with a smile and a wink.

  “Two more mortals. That doesn’t concern any of you?”

  “You’re my mate, Kins. You’ll only be mortal until the ceremony, which I’d like done soon. I doona like the idea of someone hurting you. Once you’re mine, you’ll be immortal.”

  That thought still boggled her mind. She and Ryder had talked at length about how she was going to handle her family. It was going to be a delicate situation, but with her parents in another country and her sister starting her life, they were going to make it work.

  “Are you still thinking about the fact you willna be able to have children?” he asked in a soft voice.

  Kinsey looked into his hazel depths and smiled. “I was thinking about my family, but I have been contemplating the children issue.”

  “Do you want children?”

  “I don’t know. First I was too young, then there was my career. Then you.”

  “And after me.”

  “Yes, then after you left. I’ve not had time to think about it.”

  “Would you rather hold off the ceremony until you can be sure?”

  Kinsey smiled and brought his face down for another kiss. “This is why I love you.”

  “Because I asked if you wanted to wait?”

  “Because you’re always thinking about me.”

  Ryder ran a finger from her forehead down the side of her face, tracing her hairline. “I’ll do anything for you, Kins. If that means waiting years for the ceremony so you can be sure about children, then I understand.”

  “You’re mine, Ryder. I don’t want anyone else in my life but you. If we can’t have children, then we’ll find ways to fill our time. Who knows? We might adopt someday.”

  “I’d give you as many children as you wanted if I could.”

  “I know. It’s not your fault or mine. It’s just the way it’s going to be. And I’m okay with that.”

  He kissed her forehead. “If you doona stop talking like that, I’m going to take you again and forget about going to the computer room and working.”

  “Now that sounds like a plan,” she said as she wrapped her arms around him. “Except we have work to do.”

  Ryder dropped his head onto the pillow and rolled onto his back. “And a plan to put in place.” He turned his head to look at her. “Are you and Esther sure of this?”

  “Yeah.”

  He sat up and swung his legs off the bed to stand. “Then let’s get to work.”

  * * *

  Rhi meandered the streets of Edinburgh veiled. It was weird walking amidst the mortals unseen. She heard their conversations, listened to their laughter, and shared their smiles—and their tears.

  She’d been there days but had yet to see a Fae with white hair. It didn’t matter if she walked the graveyards, the tourist sections, the underground, or the back allies, there was nothing to see.

  Her watcher, however, didn’t seem thrilled to be in Edinburgh. In fact, she got the distinct impression he wanted her to leave soon.

  Rhi paused and leaned a shoulder against a building. Was it a quirk of fate that she hadn’t seen the white-haired Fae? Or did her watcher have something to do with it?

  If the white-haired Fae was thought to be a Reaper, then she could deduce that her watcher was one as well. Her watcher could be telling the others where she was to keep them away.

  “This is really getting old,” she grumbled to herself.

  All she wanted was answers, but she wasn’t going to come by them easily. No, Rhi was going to have to be devious and sneaky in order to get what she wanted.

  She just hoped it was worth it.

 
Rhi was passing a store selling magazines when she spotted Usaeil on the cover. Rhi rolled her eyes. Her queen loved how the human population adored her. Pretending to be an American and having a career as an actress had shifted Usaeil’s attention from her people.

  Then Rhi read the caption above Usaeil’s picture. A NEW MAN? it said.

  Rhi stared at the fuzzy picture of a scene inside a hotel room with Usaeil and a man in a suit. With blond hair. Rhi couldn’t see his face. It could be Con, but then it could be someone else.

  She knew Usaeil was having an affair with a Dragon King. And now this picture? Con would never allow himself to be photographed, which meant this was all Usaeil.

  Rhi unveiled herself, tossed some money onto the counter, and grabbed the magazine. It was time she showed Con and got his reaction.

  * * *

  Ulrik stared at the list of names. He had narrowed it down to three. One of those was the spy Mikkel was using on Dreagan. Ulrik sent three texts to his best investigators to have them watch all three people.

  One of them was the spy—and one of them would soon be his.

  Ulrik closed the file and returned it to the secret compartment in his desk drawer. Then he leaned back. He felt calmer than he had in … eons. Shifting had done wonders to clear his mind and focus him.

  The anger swirling within him had been reined in. Mikkel would be taken care of in due time. Until then, Ulrik would continue with his plans.

  He reached over and tapped a key on the keyboard. His computer screen flashed a picture of Harriet with blood draining from her eyes, nose, and ears as she sat unmoving in her desk chair.

  Ulrik smiled at Mikkel’s failure. Yet there was a Druid in his employ that was powerful enough to pique his interest. He was going to have to meet her soon.

  The Dragon Kings had won a small skirmish. Ryder had his mate, and Henry’s sister was alive. It was Mikkel’s lack of foresight that caused them to fail. But Ulrik had something in mind that was going to set the Kings back.

  Somewhere in Sweden …

  V watched the woman fighting with her lover in the crowded bar. The man was uninterested in reconciling, and the woman was heartbroken. That was something V could help her with.

  Loud music began to play as the woman pushed her way through the throng of people trying to get to the door. V reached the door before she did and held it open for her.