by Donna Grant
“Keltan will have a difficult time convincing the others, but I think he’ll manage.”
“You’re awfully confident of his feelings toward me,” Bernadette said.
Usaeil lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “Call it a hunch. I think he’ll do whatever it takes.”
“The others won’t.”
“I think they will,” Usaeil said with a wink.
Bernadette shook her head, amazed at just how off her rocker the queen was. “You can’t do anything to the other mates. They’re at Dreagan.”
“So they are,” was all Usaeil said.
That worried Bernadette, but before she could ask for clarification, Usaeil was gone.
Bernadette turned to her room in the next instant, only to see Keltan walking toward her. “You heard all of that?”
“Every word.” Keltan looked at one of the cameras. “As did Ryder. Even now, those who stayed behind at Dreagan are taking action. You doona need to worry. There is nothing that Usaeil can do to hurt you.”
Bernadette smiled so he would know that she wasn’t scared. “I remember. I wanted to throw it in her face, but I figured it’d be better if I didn’t.”
“Thank you for that. If we can get ahead of her on this, then we can stop everything.”
“You don’t need to stay here now. Go. Help your brothers,” she urged.
His amber eyes softened as he pulled her to his chest. “I’m no’ going anywhere.”
“You’re needed. Besides, Usaeil is finished with me.”
“No’ by her words, she isna.”
“Yes, but I’m warded. The house is spelled. I’ll be fine. I’d rather you go do what you need to do to win this war.”
Keltan smoothed her hair back from her face. She briefly closed her eyes, enjoying his touch. “Ryder will be watching. If anything happens—”
“It won’t,” she insisted.
“If it does,” he said sternly, “someone will be here to help you.”
Bernadette realized that he didn’t say he’d be there, but he couldn’t teleport the way Eilish and Ulrik could. Still, it was enough that she wouldn’t be alone. Ryder was watching. Maybe one day she’d get to meet him since he was seeing her private life.
“Go,” she repeated. “I’ll be here waiting.”
He stared into her eyes for a long moment, then he lowered his lips and kissed her. It started slow but quickly became passionate.
She was breathless when he finally pulled back.
“I’ll return as soon as I can,” Keltan promised.
She didn’t move as she watched him walk out the door and saw it close behind him.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
“I’m not going to wait much longer.”
Keltan walked into the cavern to hear Rhi’s statement. He didn’t slow until he reached Ulrik’s side.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
Keltan shrugged. “Waiting to fight alongside my brothers.”
“I thought you were watching over Bernadette,” V said.
Keltan turned his head to V. “I thought Ryder would’ve told you all by now.”
“I was sorting through some things,” Ryder said as he walked into the cavern. Everyone turned to look at him. He didn’t say more until he reached the others. “Usaeil paid Bernadette a visit.”
Ulrik’s gaze snapped to Keltan. “And?”
Keltan shared a look with Ryder. “Usaeil said that if we doona stand down, she’ll kill Bernadette.”
“And you’re here?” V asked with a worried frown.
It was Ulrik who answered. “We did ward both Bernadette and her home. If she stays there, Usaeil can no’ touch her.”
“Which is what Bernadette said,” Keltan stated to the group. “Bernadette told me to come, and I’m only here because I know she’s no’ only protected, but Ryder and Kinsey are watching her.”
Ryder raised a brow, his lips flattening. “Usaeil knew about the cameras. She blew one out. She seems to know everything that’s going on at Bernadette’s.”
“That’s no’ a good sign,” Rhys murmured.
Rhi rolled her eyes. “Who cares what Usaeil knows. She can’t harm Bernadette anymore, and that was the main goal of us spelling the mortal and her home.”
Ulrik slowly nodded before his gaze caught Keltan’s. “What else happened?”
“She told Bernadette to make sure that I convinced all of you to stand down. Usaeil seemed confident that I’d do whatever Bernadette wanted, including convincing all of you no’ to attack.”
“Bernadette did say that we wouldna,” Ryder added.
Keltan glanced at Ryder. “Aye. And when it sounded as if Usaeil was threatening the other mates, Bernadette reminded her that they were at Dreagan. Usaeil didna seemed fazed by that.”
The cavern was silent as everyone took in the news. Finally, Kellan said, “Usaeil chose her words carefully. She suspects Bernadette is Keltan’s mate, and we’ll do anything to ensure our mates live.”
“What of those who have already done the ceremony?” Rhi asked. “Usaeil knows those women are safe.”
Keltan frowned at Rhi’s words as he thought about the confidence that Usaeil had displayed while speaking to Bernadette. “Are they?”
“What do you mean?” Ryder asked.
Keltan looked around at the many mated Kings. “All of you believe that because you’ve gone through the mating ceremony that your women can no’ be harmed. What if we’re wrong?”
Guy crossed his arms over his chest. “Usaeil can no’ get onto Dreagan. Con made sure of that.”
“But she has Con,” Rhi pointed out.
Ulrik shrugged one shoulder. “He wasna the only one. Even if Con reversed his magic, Usaeil still couldna get in.”
Keltan ran a hand down his face. “There was something in Usaeil’s voice. She didna seem at all worried about getting to the mates.”
“Or perhaps it was just one mate she wanted to get to,” Rhys said.
Every eye in the cavern turned to Keltan. He shifted his feet uneasily. “Bernadette isna my mate.”
“Are you sure?” Ulrik asked skeptically.
Rhi snorted loudly and shot him a disbelieving look. “You sure do deny it often for someone who can’t get to her quick enough.”
Keltan sliced his hand through the air. “There’s a verra good chance that Usaeil brought on the passion between Bernadette and me.”
“You’re such an idiot,” Rhys said and looked away, shaking his head.
Keltan took offense and glared at Rhys. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Well, hot stuff,” Rhi said, “it means that Usaeil could make Bernadette feel something for you, but she couldn’t do the same with you. The conclusion is that if you feel strongly for Bernadette, then it’s the real thing.”
Keltan opened his mouth to deny it, but the words wouldn’t come. Shite. Did that mean…?
“Now he gets it,” Rhys replied sarcastically.
Ryder caught Keltan’s gaze. “Doona worry about Bernadette. Kinsey and I are watching her.”
“He’s right,” Ulrik said. “Between the protection spells and wards, as well as the cameras watching Bernadette’s every move, she’s safe.”
Keltan licked his lips and nodded. He’d deal with his feelings once the war was finished. At least, he hoped he could. Now that he’d seen the truth, he couldn’t help but think of only that.
There had been women throughout the centuries who’d caught his eye, but none had captured his mind or his body quite like Bernadette did. He’d believed that he couldn’t stop thinking about her because of the danger she was in, but now, he wasn’t so sure.
He didn’t want a mate. There had been a time before the war with the humans that he’d looked forward to finding his mate and having a family, but once the dragons were gone, he’d put it out of his mind.
Even when his brethren began falling in love, and he attended one mating ceremony after another, he’d never
wanted to find love. If he could go back and change things, he …
Bloody hell, he couldn’t even think the words. Keltan ran a hand through his hair and realized that Ulrik had been speaking. He forced his mind to stop thinking of Bernadette and focus on what was going on.
“—be alert. We know that Usaeil has already threatened V and Claire’s unborn bairn. The queen has also made it clear that Bernadette and the mates are in danger. Those remaining at Dreagan need to be wary of anything and everything.”
Warrick said, “We should shut down the distillery tours for a few days.”
“I’ll make sure it’s done,” Ryder added.
Ulrik nodded. “Dreagan is protected. The manor even more so. Eilish, Shara, Esther, Denae, and any mate who has training in either magic or battle will be on guard with the Kings remaining behind.”
“Usaeil might not be able to get in, but what of the Others?” Keltan asked.
V mumbled something angrily, a muscle twitching in his jaw.
No one replied to his question. Keltan wasn’t surprised. Every one of them believed that Dreagan couldn’t be harmed, but the simple fact was that they knew next to nothing about the Others. What little they did know, didn’t amount to much.
“I wish I had an answer,” Ulrik said. “The fact is, none of us do. We know Usaeil is a part of the Others. We also know that she’s killing Druids to help bolster her magic. Whether or no’ she’s found new Druids to help with the Others, I doona know. We need to be prepared for anything, but our main target right now is Usaeil. We take her out, we’ll have made a big impact with the Others.”
Rhi briefly met Keltan’s gaze before looking around the cavern. “Usaeil will say a lot of things to make you think your mate is in danger. It’s a lie. Everything she says is a lie.”
“We know what to do,” Rhys told her.
Her silver eyes swung to the King of Yellows. “Look, sweet cheeks, I know that you think you do, but Usaeil has been lying to all of us for centuries. We don’t know what she’s capable of.”
“We do know she has several enemies,” Ulrik added.
Rhi grinned at him. “That she does. Now, are we done talking? I’d like to get this show on the road.”
“It is that time,” Guy said.
Ulrik nodded and handed his silver cuff to V. “It’s time you went to Balladyn and let him know the plan.” He turned his head to Keltan. “I’ll give you the option of staying here or coming to Ireland.”
“I’m going to Ireland,” Keltan stated. He wanted a piece of Usaeil, and he was going to get it if it was the last thing he did.
“So be it.” Ulrik looked around the cavern. “I doona know what awaits us when we get to the Light Castle. There’s a chance Con will be there. Doona be surprised if he fights with Usaeil because we need to be prepared for everything.”
No one mentioned that Con might also attack them. It was something they all understood, but none of them wanted to speak about.
Ulrik looked at Rhi. “Ready?”
“I’ve been ready for this,” she declared, lifting her chin.
Ulrik, Keltan, Rhys, Sebastian, and Guy all touched Rhi. The six of them would make an appearance first while Shara and Eilish teleported the other Kings a short distance away. Usaeil knew the Kings were coming in force, but they wanted it to appear as if it were just the five of them delivering Rhi to the queen.
Keltan found himself looking into Rhi’s silver eyes. A moment later, the cavern was replaced by green fields and a bright blue sky.
Keltan, Guy, and Rhys stood behind Sebastian and Ulrik, who each had a hand on one of Rhi’s arms to make it look as if they were holding her. Within seconds of their arrival, the Light Army surrounded them.
The circle of Light Fae in their golden armor wasn’t what kept the Kings from shifting. They had expected such a show from the army. It wouldn’t be long now before Usaeil showed herself.
“You’ve come to deliver the traitor?” a female asked as she stepped forward.
Ulrik eyed her. “And you are?”
She removed her gold helmet with its large white feather. “I’m Sersa, Captain of the Queen’s Guard.”
Rhi snorted loudly and jerked her head to get the hair out of her face. “Is this Usaeil’s way of telling me that Inen is dead?”
“You should know,” Sersa answered. “You killed him.”
Rhi gaped at her. “I didn’t touch him. He was my friend. He was the one who warned me about Usaeil.”
“She warned us that you would say such lies. It’s sad, really. I looked up to you for years. Now, look at you,” Sersa said as she shot Rhi a withering look.
“Do you want her or not?” Sebastian asked Sersa.
Sersa smiled. “Oh, we want her. Queen Usaeil has a special execution planned for her.”
“We want to see Usaeil,” Ulrik demanded.
Sersa shook her head. “She’s otherwise engaged.”
“Then we’ll take back our prisoner,” Sebastian announced.
“You won’t be going anywhere,” Sersa replied.
Keltan didn’t take his eyes from the Fae staring at him even when he heard the note of amusement in Ulrik’s voice when he said, “You think to stop us?”
“Yes.”
That straightforward answer told them what each King had been dreading—Con was there and working with Usaeil.
Sebastian pulled Rhi behind him as Ulrik took a step toward Sersa. “We had an arrangement with Usaeil. We bring Rhi, and she doesna kill the bairn inside of Claire.”
“I know of no such deal,” Sersa stated.
Rhi threw back her head and laughed at Ulrik and Sebastian. “You stupid fools. I told you Usaeil couldn’t be trusted. She used magic to create V’s child, and then she used all of you to bring me to her because she wasn’t queen enough to find me herself.”
Keltan knew that Rhi was putting on an act, making sure to toss in the facts as she did so, but they didn’t have the desired effect, at least according to the Faes’ faces he was looking at. It was as if, somehow, Usaeil had gotten the loyalty of her people back.
“Fuck,” Keltan whispered.
Rhys raised a brow, silently questioning him.
Keltan made sure his voice was low enough so that only the Kings and Rhi could hear him when he said, “Usaeil has somehow gotten the Light back on her side. They willna believe anything we tell them.”
Sebastian and Ulrik exchanged a look. Then Bast released his hold on Rhi. The Light Fae smiled as she held out her hand, and her Fae blade appeared.
“It’s time you and I danced,” she told Sersa right before she attacked.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
“Is it how you imagined?” Cael asked from beside Erith.
She looked on from the top of a tower at the Light Castle to the battle below. It had taken Rhi all of two swings with her sword to cut down the new Captain of the Queen’s Guard. By the time the Fae hit the ground, the Kings had shifted into their true forms.
“No,” Death finally replied.
Cael took her hand in his and squeezed it. “Are you sure we shouldn’t join in?”
Anger churned within her. “I should’ve forced Rhi to go after Usaeil before now.”
“You told Rhi she needed to do it, but you couldn’t make her. Mainly because you knew she couldn’t do it alone. She needed help.”
“Usaeil has Con.” Erith swung her gaze to the Fae she’d loved from afar for thousands of years. She still couldn’t believe that Cael was finally hers. The silver color of his eyes was gone, replaced by a dark purple after consuming some of her magic. Cael didn’t like to admit it, but he was just as strong as she was now. Erith swallowed. “Usaeil never should’ve been allowed to do that.”
“Con is your friend. I don’t like that we couldn’t locate him. Are you sure you don’t want us to join the battle?”
Erith shook her head as she looked back at the skirmish. “No. I want to, but—”
“But what?”
Cael urged. “The Reapers are Fae.”
She sighed and faced him. “There’s a reason I never allowed the Reapers to get involved with things on either the Fae Realm or this one. We’re set apart, love.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t be. Not this time. It’s not just Usaeil. She’s killing Druids to take their magic.”
“You say that as if I’m not aware.”
Cael lowered his head to give her a soft kiss. “You’re Death. I know you’re aware, and I also think sending Rordan into the Light Castle to make the other Fae hesitant to believe Usaeil was smart. However, I don’t think it’s enough. All you have to do is look at the Fae below to see that they’ll do anything for their queen.”
“Against five Kings and Rhi, maybe,” Erith said. “When Balladyn and his army arrive, along with the other Dragon Kings, things might be different.”
“Might. Do you know what will happen if Usaeil wins?”
Erith nodded her head. “I will claim her soul.”
“And both the Light and Dark will be left without leaders, Rhi will be dead, and who knows what will happen to the Dragon Kings.”
Erith looked at the battle once more. Rhi and the five Kings finished taking out the last of the Light who surrounded them. That had just been a small skirmish. The real battle had yet to begin.
“Fintan spoke to me earlier.”
Erith briefly closed her eyes. “He’s already told me he wants to fight alongside Balladyn.”
“All the Reapers want to stand against Usaeil.”
“It may come to that. I fear we will be needed later in another battle. For now,” she told him, “we watch.”
* * *
Balladyn stood on the top of the wide stairs of the Dark Palace and looked at his army standing below him, their weapons in hand, waiting.
“I’ve not been your king long,” he told them. “Previous kings ruled with fear and treachery. But we’re more than that. To the Light, we’re less than. Just because we embraced the darkness within us.”
The Dark nodded, smiling at his words.
“I was once a general in the Light Army. I fought many of you in the Fae Wars as well as our civil war. But all that changed when Usaeil—my queen—betrayed me. She left me on the field of battle for Taraeth to kill. Instead, he brought me here, and I became a Dark.”