by Donna Grant
She put a finger on his lips. “I know you didn’t expect this. No one has ever made me feel like you just did. I’d like to give it back to you.”
He started to open his mouth, but she squeezed his cock through his pants, and Keltan forgot what he was going to say. Without a thought, he removed his clothes. He would let her choose what they did and how far things went.
She moved her hand up and down his length slowly a time or two before she increased her tempo. He closed his eyes as the pleasure enveloped him.
He felt her shift, and then she wrapped her lips around him. Keltan forgot to breathe as she took him deeply into her mouth. It felt so good that he knew he wouldn’t last long—but he also didn’t have the wherewithal to stop her.
Just when he thought she would finish him in her mouth, she moved to straddle him. This time, she took his cock in hand and led him to her entrance.
He watched as she lowered her body onto his arousal. Keltan cupped her breasts and pinched her nipples as she began to rock her hips. She held on to his arms and dropped her head back. Their moans filled the room as she moved faster and faster.
Keltan lifted his hips, driving into her. She called out his name and raised her head to look at him. He grabbed her hips and moved her up and down on his length as she braced her hands on his chest.
The moment he felt his orgasm, he pulled out of her. She took hold of him, milking him. He let out a shout as the bliss took him. He’d never experienced a climax so deeply before, and he knew he would always remember this day.
When he was able to, Keltan materialized a towel in his hand and wiped himself clean. Then he pulled Bernadette into his arms. She nestled against him, her head on his chest. He wound his arm around her and simply held her, thinking over what he’d just experienced—what they had experienced together.
“That was … I have no words,” he told her.
He felt her smile against him. “Now you know how I felt.”
“Can we do that again?”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
He kissed the top of her head and let out a deep breath. It wasn’t long before her breathing evened into sleep. There was much Keltan had intended to show her that afternoon before he cooked for her again. But they always had tomorrow.
There was a moment of alarm as he realized where his mind had gone. Then he rationalized it by saying to himself that he couldn’t make her leave now after just making love to her. She would leave tomorrow.
And with her departure would come the removal of all her memories of him.
That saddened him greatly, but he would never forget their time together. Besides, it would be better if she didn’t know anything about him, the Dragon Kings, Usaeil, or any of it.
The queen had used Bernadette for her own purposes. If anyone deserved to get out of this world and continue on the path that they’d deviated from, it was Bernadette. But he would miss her.
Keltan could admit that to himself—and only himself—because she would only be in his life for a short time. He held her tighter. He noticed that her body was still warm. Then again, maybe it took her longer to cool off than it did him. He didn’t think anything about it as he closed his eyes and let his thoughts drift.
He must have dozed because when he woke, he was drenched in sweat. He was confused about it until he realized the one sweating was Bernadette.
Keltan put his hand on her forehead and felt the heat against his palm. In a heartbeat, he realized that she had a fever.
He rolled her onto her back. “Bernadette, lass. Wake up.”
But no matter how many times he called her name or shook her, she wouldn’t open her eyes. Worried, Keltan jumped out of bed and hastily dressed. He walked around to the side of the bed and sat to once more try and wake her.
Finally, he gave up and used his mental link to contact Darius, who was mated to Sophie, a doctor. He covered Bernadette with the blanket. In moments, there was a knock at the door.
Keltan rose to open it and found Darius and Sophie, as well as her nurse, Claire, along with V.
“What happened?” Sophie asked in her British accent.
“She was unwell earlier. Stomach problems related to stress,” he explained. “Shara and Eilish looked at her because I thought Usaeil might have spelled her.”
Claire walked to the bed and put her hand on Bernadette’s forehead. “She’s running a high fever.”
Sophie rushed to Bernadette and began examining her. Keltan looked at both V and Darius. V said nothing, just watched the women with Bernadette.
“Sophie will know what to do,” Darius said.
But Keltan feared that this was something major. And what had he done? Made love to Bernadette instead of recognizing that she was ill. What did that make him?
He ran a hand through his hair and stared at Bernadette, willing her with his mind and magic to wake up.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
A secret place …
“Oh, I can’t wait for you to see what’s coming.” Usaeil stared at her prisoner, lying prone on the bed.
She walked from one side to the other, trailing her hand along the mattress. It gave her immense pleasure to torture her nephew as she was. Xaneth had thought to deceive her, but as always, she had come out on top.
And when she finished with him, his brain would be mush.
She leaned down so that her mouth was by his ear. “It’s what you deserve. How dare you think you could escape me? Worse, you tried to betray me. For that, you will suffer untold pain. You see, nephew, only a few weeks have passed for me, but for you, it has been decades.”
Usaeil smiled as a tear ran from his closed eye into the hair at his temple. “And I’m not nearly finished with you yet. It’s only just begun.”
She laughed and straightened. It was so much fun tormenting Xaneth. She had trapped him in his own mind. If he were strong enough, he could break through. But she knew he wouldn’t be able to. He was weak. Her entire family had been weak.
It was why she’d killed them all and took over.
Without her, the Light would have been decimated by the Dark. Without her, the Fae would’ve been wiped out by the Dragon Kings during the Fae Wars.
She had seen it all and did what any ruler would have—she helped her people survive.
It was what she was still doing, though few would understand.
“There’s one who does,” she whispered.
Usaeil turned on her heel and strode from the room. She walked to the other end of the structure and opened the door. Her eyes landed on his tall form and wavy, blond hair. Her stomach quivered in anticipation.
“Constantine.”
He turned at the sound of her voice and met her eyes with his black ones. “How long will you keep me here?”
“Not much longer.”
“I need to get back to Dreagan.”
She walked to him and placed a hand on his chest before gazing up into his face. “Just a little longer. I promise.”
“Usaeil,” he said, irritation deepening his timbre.
The sound caused a shiver to run through her. Damn, but the man had a voice she could listen to until the end of time. Which is exactly what she intended.
It wouldn’t be long now before Rhi was dead. The time she gave the Kings to turn Rhi over was running out quickly, and Usaeil could hardly contain her excitement.
“I give you my word, Con. Only a little longer.”
“And how are my brothers?”
She lifted a shoulder. She hated when he wished to talk about them. It was the last thing she wanted to do, but she indulged him. “They’re fine. They understand that I need you right now.”
“Do they?” he asked, a blond brow quirked.
“I would never lie to you. They’ve even asked if they could help, but I told them I only need you.”
Con nodded slowly. “I should’ve spoken with them.”
“They understand how important it is for you to keep away from Rh
i. Especially since she and Balladyn are trying to kill you.”
Con’s lips flattened as they always did when she told him that. So far, he’d believed the lie. And she knew that, with her magic, she could keep it up for as long as it took for her to kill Rhi. Once the meddling bitch was out of the way, then Usaeil could have Con once and for all.
“I still doona believe it. Rhi is a friend,” he argued.
Usaeil stopped short of rolling her eyes. She couldn’t wait for the bitch to be out of her life forever. “You know that rulers like us can’t really have friends. Everyone envies our power and position. They try to be our friends, but in the end, they betray us.”
“I didna do anything to Rhi.”
“But you did, my love,” she whispered.
Con’s eyes grew distant as he went back through his memories. Then he turned his back on her to once more look out the window. “I didna have a choice.”
“There is always a choice. You made the right one, by the way. Look how far you and the Dragon Kings have come. Do you really believe you could’ve achieved that any other way?”
He crossed his arms, his black tee pulling tightly across his shoulders. Usaeil smiled and fisted her hands so she wouldn’t touch him. She’d made it impossible for him to wear any of his suits in her presence. She wanted a constant view of his great body.
“I’ve always done what I had to for the Kings,” Con said.
“Which means you don’t regret your decision about Rhi.” When he didn’t immediately reply, she walked to stand before him. “Right?”
His black eyes glanced her way before he gave a quick nod.
“Good. You should live your life without regrets.”
He snorted loudly. “I have a great many regrets. Letting the humans stay, vowing to protect them, sending the dragons away, banishing Ulrik, and, most of all, allowing the Fae to remain on this realm.”
She gawked at him. “You can’t be serious? Had you sent us away, we never would’ve found each other.”
“And we wouldna be where we are today. Rhi has a great many friends at Dreagan. It’s going to kill them to see her destroyed.”
Usaeil did roll her eyes this time. “It’s you or her. Do you really want to give up your life just so Rhi can have her revenge?”
“I willna willingly lay down for anyone to kill me.”
“You’re damn straight, you won’t,” she declared. “You’re Constantine, King of Dragon Kings.”
He blew out a breath. “Tell me again how Rhi was able to contact the Others so she could kill me?”
* * *
“I’m not ready to leave.”
At Henry’s declaration, Esther and Nikolai stopped walking and turned to him. Nikolai didn’t utter a word, his baby blue eyes giving nothing away.
Esther’s forehead furrowed with a deep frown. “What’s wrong?”
Henry shrugged. “Nothing.”
“You’re lying,” his sister said. “I know it.”
Henry swallowed and shot her a quick smile. “I want to spend more time in Madrid. I want to investigate more of what I saw at the house.”
“Perhaps we should remain, as well?” Nikolai said.
Henry shook his head, his gaze moving from his brother-in-law to his sister. “You found this place for us. You did your job. Now, it’s time for me to do mine.”
“Perhaps you’re right, but we’re a team. We should stick together,” Esther replied.
Henry should’ve thought of that. By the smirk on Nikolai’s face, Henry realized that his brother-in-law had. Thinking quickly, Henry said, “You’ve accepted your gifts. I haven’t. I need some time. I don’t want anyone looking over my shoulder, questioning me, or following me.”
“I don’t know,” Esther hedged.
Nikolai put his arm around her. “Henry’s right. He needs time to himself.”
“How are you going to get back to Dreagan?” Esther asked.
Henry laughed and shook his head. “You do remember I worked for MI5, right? I know how to get home from anywhere in the world.”
Nikolai gave him a nod. “There’s no doubt you can take care of yourself, but our enemies are vast. Those foes may now know of you. I’m no’ going to be the one who returns to Dreagan to tell everyone that I lost you.”
“You’re not losing me,” Henry said irritably.
Esther licked her lips, the frown still firmly in place. “How long do you need?”
Henry threw up his hands. He, like everyone else at Dreagan, was keenly aware that their time to deliver Rhi to Usaeil was running out. “I’ve no idea. I want to look at my leisure.”
“We’ll be close,” Nikolai offered.
“Yes,” Esther said, brightening. “Close.”
Nikolai twisted his lips as a form of apology. “I’m sorry, Henry. I must look out for my mate, and this allows both of you to compromise and get what you want.”
There was no way for Henry to get out of this. Finally, he nodded. “Fine. I’ll agree to that.”
“I’m a phone call away,” Esther said.
She embraced him, and Henry held her tightly as he looked at Nikolai. The Dragon King knew something was up, and he was giving Henry what time he could to figure it out. Henry gave him a nod of thanks before releasing his sister.
Esther smiled at him before she and Nikolai walked away together. Henry didn’t wait for them to leave. He turned on his heel and went back to the house to find the woman. He didn’t know why, but it was important that he locate her. He’d known the moment he saw her that he needed to talk to her. About what, he wasn’t sure.
All he knew was that going against his instincts had brought him nothing but trouble. Now more than ever. Maybe it was because he’d discovered that he was the JusticeBringer. Hell, for all he knew, he’d had the same instincts his entire life but hadn’t been listening for them.
Or maybe he had. There were many instances when he should’ve been killed out on a mission, yet somehow, he’d always managed to get out of it and make it home.
By the time he reached the house where the murder had taken place, the woman was gone. He went down many winding streets, but no matter how hard he looked, he found nothing. He didn’t give up, though. She was there, somewhere. He was sure of it. She had looked right at him as if she were staring, waiting for him to notice her.
Henry walked the streets until it grew dark. Then he went to find something to eat. He passed numerous cafés and restaurants, but he kept walking.
He had no idea where he was going, only that he’d know it when he reached it. Another fifteen minutes later, he turned a corner and saw the bistro. Without knowing how, he knew this was the place he’d been searching for. His gaze scanned the people sitting outside as well as inside, but he didn’t see the woman.
With a sigh of regret, he made his way inside and found a table. A waiter took his order and brought him some wine.
Henry took a drink then set the glass down, holding it by the stem and slowly swirling the dark liquid inside. His thoughts were centered on the woman. He could recall every detail of her.
Her long hair was the most beautiful silver color and faded to pitch black at the ends. She was tall and held herself with confidence. While he didn’t know the shade of her irises, he knew her face. The high cheekbones, the large eyes, and lips that would bring any man to his knees.
As if his thoughts had conjured her out of thin air, the woman appeared out of the shadows beneath the light of a streetlamp. She halted the moment she saw him.
Henry wanted to go to her, but he made himself hold still. It paid off because she slowly came to him. There was something about her that was so familiar. As if he knew her somehow. But that wasn’t possible. If he’d met her before, he certainly wouldn’t have forgotten her.
“Did you follow me?” she demanded.
He heard the Scots brogue, but he didn’t mention it. Instead, he shook his head. “I admit I looked for you, but I gave up finding you.”
<
br /> “You just happened to come here to eat?”
“I did.”
She took a deep breath and stared at him as if trying to decide what to believe.
Henry held out his hand. “I’m Henry.”
For a count of three, she did nothing. Then she gripped his hand. “I’m Melisse.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The minutes ticked by with torturous deliberateness. And with each one that passed without either Sophie or Claire lifting their heads to tell Keltan what was wrong with Bernadette, he became more worried.
“Something isna right,” V said.
Keltan had been telling himself that for a while now.
Darius didn’t reply. He walked to his mate and leaned close to Sophie, whispering something in her ear. She didn’t even stop examining Bernadette as she replied.
Keltan’s stomach clenched when Darius’s gaze landed on him. “What is it?” Keltan demanded.
V put a hand on his arm. “Give them time.”
Keltan turned away and walked a few paces as he ran a hand down his face. Then he faced the bed once more. “We need Con. Everyone is thinking it, so I’ll say it. And the fact that we need Con means that Usaeil is a part of this. She knows Con isna here. She knows…”
He couldn’t finish the sentence.
“I need Bernadette at my clinic,” Sophie suddenly said.
In seconds, Ulrik was there. Keltan hadn’t had time to notify him, which meant that either Darius or V had. Keltan was thankful, but before he could utter the words, Ulrik walked to the bed, lifted Bernadette in his arms, and waited for both Claire and Sophie to put their hands on him before he touched the silver cuff at his wrist and teleported them all away.
It was the first time that Keltan wished he had such a bracelet. He didn’t like being left behind.
“I’m driving,” Darius stated as he turned away.
Keltan quickly followed him with V falling in step beside them. It wasn’t long before they were at the garage and pulling away in one of the Range Rovers.
There was no need for Keltan to tell Darius to hurry because he was already zooming down the drive and through the streets. Though it only took a few minutes, it felt like an eternity before they pulled up to the clinic.