Smoke and Fire: Part 4

by Donna Grant

  It sat in their minds and hearts, festering like a wound until everything around it was rotted and black. Dead.

  Ryder could hear people talking around him, but none of it penetrated the haze of fury and treachery that surrounded him. He stopped hearing them.

  All he saw was Kinsey, the woman he’d loved with his entire soul. Now he was going to have to kill her for her deceit.

  Yet when he looked at her, he tried to mesh the woman who’d fought Esther with that of the one in his arms just a few hours earlier. The woman who’d laughed and joked with everyone at dinner. The woman who had looked at the painting of Con with such wonder.

  Con had been right. Kinsey was a very good actress to have fooled all of them. All but Con, that is. He’d suspected her from the beginning. And Ryder had only seen a chance to gain Kinsey’s love again.

  “Are you going to kill her?”

  The words came from behind him as well as in his head. Con. Ryder wanted to ignore him. Instead he looked to the ceiling. “I’ll no’ have you and the others do it.”

  “We saved Ulrik a lot of pain by doing it ourselves. He cared for his woman. No matter how angry he was, he’d never have been able to look her in the eye and kill her. And neither will you.”

  “I’ve already thought of that. I doona plan to have her facing me.”

  Con walked around the chamber and leaned against a wall across from Ryder and Kinsey’s prone form covered with a blanket. “That’s a good plan. You’d still carry the stain of her death upon your soul.”

  “She betrayed us. Me.”

  “I know,” Con said softly.

  So Thorn and Dmitri had told him. Ryder should’ve expected that. “I gave you my word she was innocent.”

  “Aye, you did.”

  Ryder lifted his gaze from Kinsey to Con’s face. “But you didna trust me.”

  “It wasna about trusting you. I trust every King here. However, I saw the love you held for Kinsey.”

  “And you knew it blinded me,” Ryder finished with a nod.

  Con raised a blond brow and removed his cuff links. He put them in his pants pockets and began to roll up the sleeves of his dress shirt. “Doona presume to know what I’m thinking, Ryder. What I was going to say was that I knew you were hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.”

  Ryder blinked. Con was right. He had prepared for the worst. Every stroke of the keys by Kinsey had been recorded and logged.

  “Love blinds,” Con said. “But so does anger and betrayal.”

  Ryder ran a hand down his face, suddenly wanting to sleep for a millennia he was so tired. “She could’ve—”

  “Doona allow your thoughts to go down that road,” Con interrupted him. “It willna do anyone any good. Let’s concentrate on piecing all this together.”

  “I tracked everything Kinsey did at the computers. I’ll begin there.” Ryder pivoted and started walking away when Con’s voice halted him.

  “I’ll remain with her.”

  Ryder turned his head to the side, but didn’t look back at either Con or Kinsey. With a nod, he strode into the tunnel heading back to the manor.

  It wasn’t until he once more sat in his chair staring at the monitors that he realized everything was different now. He saw the world differently. All because of a single treachery.

  Ryder pushed thoughts of Kinsey aside and tapped the table. The virtual keyboard appeared instantly. He moved evidence of Kinsey’s duplicity to other monitors. Then he typed in a few commands and everything Kinsey had done over the past several days filled the screen in front of him.

  He began to go through them one by one.

  * * *

  Dmitri waited until Ryder disappeared around a corner before he walked into the cave. He glanced at Kinsey, but his attention was on Con. “He’s a wreck.”

  “Aye,” Con agreed. “Any of us would be in that situation.”

  “He has that same look Ulrik wore.”

  Con didn’t so much as blink as he returned Dmitri’s stare. “Ryder has informed me we willna be repeating the past.”

  “You mean he’s going to kill her?” Dmitri asked in surprise.

  “He says he is.”

  Dmitri shook his head in shock. He knew he’d never be able to do such a feat. “He’ll never be able to do it.”

  “I doona believe so either. It’ll crush Ryder in ways he doesna understand.”

  “But you do now. Just as you did so long ago. Does Ulrik no’ understand you were trying to help him?”

  “When someone is hurt that deeply, they doona see truth.”

  Dmitri leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. “There’s Esther as well.”

  “I know.”

  The only evidence that Con felt anything was a sigh that escaped him. Dmitri was surprised the King of Kings showed even that wee bit of emotion.

  Everyone worried about how Henry was going to react. And they had a right to worry. Henry was an ally. The Kings didn’t need another enemy.

  “We could have Guy wipe their memories,” Dmitri suggested.

  Con put his hands in his pockets and looked at Kinsey. “I contemplated that on the flight over. It was my plan until you, Thorn, and Anson told me what had occurred.”

  “Meaning you think they were programmed?”

  “Meaning magic was used.”

  Dmitri shrugged. “Our magic is stronger.”

  “A mortal’s mind is a delicate place,” Con said as he slowly walked around the slab of granite. “We could force our way in and brutalize their minds.”

  “We need Tristan,” Dmitri said.

  Con added, “And Roman.”

  Dmitri sent a mental call to both Kings as he observed Con. “What are you thinking?”

  “I’ll tell you when Kellan confirms my suspicions.”

  There was only one reason to call Roman. Since he could control metal, Con must assume there was something within Kinsey and Esther.

  Dmitri dropped his arms and walked to Con. “What if whatever made Kinsey do this was done against her will?”

  “I’ve thought of that as well. For Ryder’s sake, I hope that’s the case.”

  “I watched her with him,” Dmitri said. “She has feelings for Ryder, deep feelings. And it didna look fake.”

  Con’s black eyes glanced at Kinsey. “Sometimes our eyes deceive us. Sometimes even instincts we’ve relied upon for centuries gets it wrong. The only thing that’s going to help is to get proof and answers.”

  “You were no’ there when Ryder discovered her betrayal. I might no’ want a mate of my own, but now I understand why you’ve worked so hard to prevent us from having those entanglements.”

  Con looked at him for a long time. “You think so?”

  That was an odd thing to say. Dmitri had just given him a compliment and that’s how Con reacted. Then again, Con had been different of late. Perhaps it was the lover he’d taken.

  “Aye,” Dmitri said.

  Con was silent for a long while. Then he said, “Do you think we should live alone? To never have someone to share our beds and our futures?”

  Dmitri stopped the frown that formed before it became visible. Con didn’t ask such questions. Ever. Was it some kind of trick? No. Con wouldn’t do that.

  “We’re dragons, but we have needs, no matter what form we’re in. There are no dragons here, so we’ve no choice but to turn to the mortals. Or the Fae.”

  “Hmm,” Con replied.

  But Dmitri wasn’t finished. “I think we should remain alone. It’s no’ like we can have children. History has proven that no human can birth a baby by us that lives. We put our way of life on the line with every mortal we allow to know our secret.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “I think if we need to ease our bodies we do so with the Light Fae.”

  Con raised his brows. “Why the Light?”

  “The answer is obvious. They’re no’ mortals. They already know of us, so we do
ona need to hide our true nature.”

  “What if a King finds his mate with a Fae?”

  Dmitri shrugged, confused by the question. “Kiril already has. The human mates might be immortal thanks to the ceremony, but at least Shara can defend herself and Dreagan with her magic. What can the other mates do? Nothing.”

  “You’d have us mix dragon and Fae?”

  “Doona twist my words,” Dmitri said. “I merely suggested that if we had to mix with a race, the Fae are better than mortals.”

  Con nodded as he continued walking around Kinsey back to his original spot. “That’s interesting to hear.”

  “You can no’ tell me you have no’ thought of it.”

  “I didna say that.”

  Dmitri smiled. “So that’s who you have as a lover, a Light.”

  “I didna say that either.”

  “You didna have to,” Dmitri replied with a chuckle. “We’ve long thought it might be a Fae.” This his smile died as he thought of Rhi. “You might want to keep it a secret from Rhi.”

  “I’ve no’ admitted anything,” Con said. “About anything. You’ve come to conclusions I’d like verra much for you to keep to yourself.”

  Dmitri heard the anger tingeing Con’s words. These weren’t speculations on Dmitri’s part. Whether Con wanted to admit it or not, he’d just revealed the truth.

  Though Dmitri declined from asking if Con’s lover was in fact the Queen of the Light—Usaeil. Because if it was and Rhi discovered it—all hell would likely break loose.

  And it was just a matter of time before Rhi found out.

  Dmitri wanted to make sure he wasn’t anywhere near when Rhi did. Because the Fae was likely to go nuclear on everyone, leaving destruction much worse than what had happened at Balladyn’s fortress.

  He eyed Con, wondering if Con knew how close to the fire he was playing.

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Mikkel drummed his fingers on his desk. His office lights were kept dimmed, allowing for many shadows about the large room to hide all sorts of things.

  He stared at Harriet Smythe for a long minute. The tall blonde had done wonders for his plans from the moment he’d begun tutoring her twenty years earlier. She wasn’t just a beauty that knew how to use it to her advantage, she was a quick learner and had a sharp mind.

  However, right now, he was furious with her.

  “It’s going to work out.” Harriet’s clear blue gaze held his, her conviction there for him to see.

  But it wasn’t enough. “How can you be so sure? Both Esther and Kinsey are still alive.”

  “We need Kinsey alive,” Harriet said. “That’s the only way you’ll get what you need from Dreagan.”

  Mikkel sat forward in his chair and placed his forearms on his desk. Never far from reach were his six mobile phones placed in a neat row. “If you honestly think the Kings haven’t realized what’s been done to Kinsey, then I’ve given you more credit than you ever deserved.”

  “Kinsey won’t fail us,” Harriet stated firmly.

  There was a snort from the shadows behind him. Mikkel didn’t turn around to look at Ulrik, though he wanted to. Harriet for her part suddenly realized they weren’t alone in the office.

  Mikkel smiled. He loved when those who worked for him were reminded of how lethal and dangerous he truly was. He enjoyed their fear. But it only partially made up for him no longer being a Dragon King.

  That made him think of Ulrik attempting to gain his magic again by going behind Mikkel’s back. He hadn’t disciplined Ulrik yet for that—but it was coming.

  Just as he would betray Ulrik, killing him right after Ulrik put an end to Con. Mikkel would be King of Kings and the planet could be returned to what it was always meant to be—a dragon realm.

  But that was for a later. Right now he had to take care of this mess. Mikkel didn’t want to kill Harriet. She was loyal and bright, but she’d let him down.

  “You’ve failed me epically,” Mikkel told her. “The whole point was for Kinsey to get in, gather all the information, get it to us, and then let her betrayal become known to Ryder so he’d kill her for us.”

  Harriet swallowed and opened her mouth to talk.

  Mikkel spoke over her. “I’m not finished. Then there’s Esther. I thought I told you not to send her in yet.”

  “Did none of your probing into Esther’s mind reveal that she had a brother who worked for MI5 and who was helping the Kings?” Ulrik asked from the shadows.

  Mikkel wanted to demand why Ulrik had waited to tell him that bit of information, but he held himself in check. Barely. Instead, he focused his growing ire on Harriet, whose eyes had gone wide.

  “What?” she asked. “That’s not possible. We did every background check there was. She’s an orphan.”

  Ulrik tsked. “She was trained by MI5. I’m fairly certain they could make you believe whatever was needed.”

  Mikkel had had enough. He stood, his chair flying back to hit the shelves behind him. “What?” he bellowed. He stalked around his desk to Harriet. “Are you telling me Esther was sent to spy on us?”

  Harriet backed up, the stiletto of her shoe getting caught in the rug and causing her ankle to twist. She caught herself by grabbing the back of a chair set before the desk. “I’m thorough in my work. You know that.”

  “No’ thorough enough!” Damn, he hated when his Scots accent came through with his anger. He was getting better at controlling it, but sometimes it slipped through.

  “Kinsey should’ve killed her for giving up a name anyway,” Harriet hurried to say.

  He looked over her pale face and the fear in her gaze. “The only reason you’re alive right now is because you’ve done what no other has been able to do. You got a human onto Dreagan. This is your last chance, Harriet. If you can’t finish what you started, then I’ll claim your life.”

  “I’ll finish it,” she vowed with a firm nod. “I’ve never let you down before. I’ll fix this and prove I’m worthy of continuing to work for you.”

  He gave her a nod. Without another word, she hurried from his office.

  “Do you believe her?” Ulrik asked.

  Mikkel turned to face his nephew. “I hope she comes through because she’s been a great asset. In the end, however, I’m sure she’ll have to die.”

  “Even if she corrects the problem and gets you all you need and want from Dreagan?”

  Mikkel narrowed his gaze on Ulrik who stood still as a statue against the wall. “She failed me. I can’t believe you asked such a question. You were King of the Silvers. You above all else knows what it means to keep those below you in line.”

  “Without a doubt.”

  “Then why ask me that?”

  Ulrik stepped from the shadows and leaned his hands on the desk. “Because of what she’s done for you.”

  “Others can take her place,” Mikkel said with a wave of his hand. “All her work has been saved so anyone can step in at any time.”

  “You believe it’s that easy?”

  “I do.”

  Ulrik slowly straightened. “Just as you believe anyone can be a Dragon King.”

  At this Mikkel smiled. “Not at all. It takes a special kind of dragon. You took what was meant to be mine.”

  “Stronger. Braver. Smarter. More powerful. With more magic.” Ulrik paused. “Aye. A special dragon.”

  Mikkel didn’t like this attitude Ulrik was showing. It was time Mikkel reminded him who was in charge of who. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with Muriel of late. You favor her.”

  “She’s good in bed.”

  “Kill her.”

  Ulrik showed no emotion as he stared silently at Mikkel. “I’ll no’ kill one of Taraeth’s favorite slaves on your whim.”

  “I’m telling you to do it,” Mikkel said. “You will do everything I say.”

  Ulrik tugged the cuff of his dress shirt at his wrist and buttoned the suit jacket. “You can no’ start killing off the Dark.”

  “I�
�m not. You are.”

  “So you want Taraeth’s anger directed at me.”

  “What I want, nephew, is for you to remember your place.”

  Ulrik’s silver gaze hardened for a split second. “How can I? You remind me of it constantly.”

  “Then you should know I’ll no’ stand for any back talk, nor will I allow you to grow a spine.”

  Ulrik could kill him. Right then. It wouldn’t take much. He had Mikkel at a disadvantage, though Mikkel didn’t realize it yet. The thought of seeing Mikkel’s surprise as the life drained from him was exhilarating.

  But he had a plan for his uncle. Ulrik needed to remember that before he lost what little control he had over his anger and showed Mikkel exactly who was King of the Silvers.

  He was tired of hearing what Mikkel was going to do when he took over. His uncle would never get close to ruling. The fact Mikkel didn’t even realize that Ulrik had all of his magic back and was once more the King of the Silvers proved how unprepared Mikkel truly was.

  Ulrik was going to enjoy bringing Mikkel low. Though it wasn’t time. Right now he got pleasure watching as Mikkel upset the order of things at Dreagan.

  Though it didn’t go unnoticed by Ulrik of just how they were using Kinsey against Ryder. A betrayal. And not just any betrayal. Ulrik had seen Ryder with Kinsey. They were mates, regardless of whether Kinsey had accepted it or not.

  Ulrik knew how it felt to have a woman he thought to be his deceive him in such a way. That didn’t sit well with Ulrik in the least.

  It was time he went to Dreagan and took a look at the situation. Obviously Con wasn’t there or Kinsey would already be dead.

  Ulrik cut his hand through the air at whatever Mikkel was saying that he didn’t care about. “I’m no’ killing Muriel. You want to take your anger out on me, then take it out on me.”

  “What better way to hurt you than taking something you care about?”

  Ulrik chuckled wryly. “Oh, uncle. If you really knew me, you’d know I doona care about anyone. Now, I need to return to the store.”

  “I’m no’ finished with you yet.”

  A third slip in less than half an hour. Mikkel wasn’t nearly as in control of himself as he led others to believe. Ulrik would have to remember that. It could be used against his uncle.