Torched

by Donna Grant

  He bent and touched the tasteful floral design outer border that completed the glamorous composition. This was a rare rug, and one for connoisseurs. Ulrik would’ve paid any price to have it himself if he’d known it was for sale. The fact that Eilish had such an eye for beauty only revealed another layer to the exceptional woman.

  Because he knew the rug and the paintings weren’t there by happenstance. Eilish knew art, or at least she knew what she liked.

  He heard movement in one of the other rooms and slowly straightened. A heartbeat later, the door opened, and Eilish walked out with a watering can in hand. She went from plant to plant, stroking their leaves and talking to them as she watered.

  It was another aspect of her that he hadn’t expected. Most people had artificial plants in their homes because they wanted the green color without the responsibility.

  But Eilish surprised him again.

  Her dark locks were loose and tucked behind her ears. She wore a pair of black jeans and a wide-necked cream sweater that exposed a shoulder and her mocha skin. And she was barefoot.

  Ulrik didn’t know why that pleased him, but it did.

  He studied her at his leisure. If he were honest, he’d admit that her oval face with her incredible high cheekbones, large eyes, and full lips captivated him. She was a beauty without compare. He could say that with honesty because he’d seen some truly gorgeous women. And not one rivaled Eilish.

  It wasn’t just her face or her amazing body that was trim and toned with long legs and mouthwatering curves. It was her mind, her astuteness, and her strength that entranced him.

  She finished watering the ivy and was moving to a fern when she paused. Her head swiveled to him. If she was surprised to see him, she hid it well.

  Too well, in fact.

  Ulrik put his hands into his pants’ pockets. “Doona let me interrupt you.”

  “How did you get in?” she demanded and moved to the next plant.

  Her dismissive attitude amused him. “Dragon magic, lass. I did warn you that it’s verra strong.”

  “When did you tell me?” she asked, glancing at him.

  Ulrik thought about that a moment and shrugged. “Perhaps I didna, but you act as if you know everything about Dragon Kings. I’m betting you doona.”

  She shot him a withering look and continued around the room until all the plants were watered. After setting the can down on the spotless kitchen counter, she faced him. “Is that why you’re here? To tell me what I don’t know.”

  Since he wasn’t sure why he was there, he smiled in response. “You have an eye for art.”

  “I’ve always liked it,” she said with a shrug of her bare shoulder.

  “And the rug?” he asked, jerking his chin toward it.

  Her dark gaze moved to the rug, and she stared at it a moment. “It called to me. I saw it, and knew I had to have it.”

  “That is an antique that sells for over a hundred thousand pounds.”

  “I know.” Her gaze lifted to him, daring him to question how she’d obtained it.

  Ulrik bit back a grin. “If you ever want to sell it, let me know.”

  “You say that as if you believe we’ll both be alive years from now.”

  “A nuclear bomb couldna kill me, Druid. I didna eat for over a thousand years and survived. What makes you think you can end me?”

  She held his gaze, refusing to answer.

  He took a step toward her. “You talk a good talk, I’ll give you that. But have you actually killed a Dragon King? Since all of them besides me are on Dreagan, the answer is nay. I’m to be your first, then. You must be verra confident in your magic.”

  “What do you want?”

  “Afraid to talk to me?”

  She rolled her eyes and folded her arms across her chest. “I thought I was obvious before. We’re enemies.”

  “Are we?”

  She raised a dark brow. “You know we are.”

  “Because you agreed to my uncle’s proposition? That was a poor decision since you didna get a chance to hear from anyone else.”

  “And you have such a proposal?” she asked.

  He shrugged, twisting his lips. “Mikkel will die. Whether it’s by my hand or another Dragon King’s, the plans he has will never see the light of day.”

  “He’s come a long way.”

  “I suppose he has, but he willna get much further. His alliance with the Dark Fae is finished since they have a new king. Mikkel made a mistake by alienating Balladyn. Then again, my uncle is asinine like that.”

  There was a ghost of a smile on her lips that she quickly hid. “He’s obsessed with you.”

  “Only because I’m the King of Silvers. He ignored me before my father was killed. I knew there was discord between them, but I didna know it included me. Once Mikkel learned that my magic and power were greater than his and I’d be the next Dragon King, his dream of reigning over the Silvers was crushed.”

  She licked her lips and glanced at the floor. “He told me how he became King of the Silvers for a few minutes after you were banished.”

  “Ah.” Ulrik chuckled. “He was a King long enough to shift into human form. I doona even know if he got the tattoo. But that taste of power has set him on a course that will end in his death.”

  “And yours? Your course is set on vengeance. You don’t think it’ll end in death, as well?”

  He smiled slowly. “Victory or death. Those are my only two options. I’m prepared for either.”

  “Are you?”

  “Aye.”

  She dropped her arms to her sides. “Do you want to die?”

  “The life I’ve had for these countless millennia isna a life.”

  “But you have your magic returned. You can shift.”

  He frowned at her and cocked his head to the side. “Are you trying to convince me to change my mind?”

  “From what Mikkel told me, you and Constantine were closer than brothers.”

  Ulrik looked away as memories of the past assaulted him. “That was before Con betrayed me and banished me from my home.”

  She grew quiet as her gaze lowered to the ground. He was suddenly insanely curious about what she was thinking. A dozen words popped into his mind that would get her talking and give him information.

  But he said none of them.

  It had become a habit of his to manipulate and use people, and, oddly, he discovered he didn’t want to do that with Eilish. Nor did he know why.

  “Why are you in Ireland?” he asked.

  Her gaze lifted to his. For several seconds, she merely looked at him. “Answers.”

  “About?”

  “Me.”

  He looked down at her left hand and saw that she wasn’t wearing the silver finger rings. “And Mikkel told you he had those answers?”

  She nodded slowly. “He knows what no one else does.”

  “Mikkel isna the only one with contacts.”

  “You want me to work with you, so you’ll say anything,” she said, but there was no heat to her words.

  Maybe that’s what he’d originally wanted. It was still what he wanted. Wasn’t it? “Tell me what your questions are. I’ll find the answers, and then you can decide if you want to continue helping Mikkel or no’.”

  Her gaze narrowed sharply as she looked at him warily. “Ulrik, King of Silvers, doing a good deed just because? That’s not the man Mikkel told me you were.”

  “There is much my uncle doesna know about me.”

  “With Mikkel, I always know where I stand. I can’t say the same about you. I know you want to use me against him, but I can’t understand why you’re taking this approach.”

  Ulrik scratched his chin. “I make no excuses for myself, Druid. I have a vast network of spies and employees worldwide. I have connections to both the Dark and Light Fae. I sway, manipulate, and maneuver mortals to do what I want. And I’ve killed.” He took another step. “Mikkel told me to take the life of the last Druid who had the power to touch d
ragon magic.”

  Eilish asked, “Did you?”

  “I knew if I didna, he would. Darcy wasna just any Druid. She was also a Dragon King’s mate. The one thing I willna stand for is a King losing his mate. I made sure when I attacked Darcy that other Druids were near enough to save her.”

  “Then get her to help you.”

  “Her magic is gone.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Light Castle, Northwestern Ireland

  Usaeil was always one to make an entrance. And this time would be no exception.

  She teleported to the tall, double doors of the castle and threw them open. The Light Fae milling about turned their heads her way and gasped before quickly sinking into bows and curtsies.

  Usaeil kept her eyes straight ahead as she entered her castle. With her head held high, she strode through the corridors into the main area of the castle where the Fae congregated.

  She smiled as the hall went quiet when she appeared. Without so much as a look, the crowd parted for her. She walked through them, not bothering to respond to those who spoke to her. When Usaeil reached the front of the hall, she climbed the steps and turned to face the crowd.

  It would be grander if she called a meeting of all Light, but speaking in front of a few hundred was enough. Her command would spread quickly, with others adding to her words.

  Which is what made it so fun.

  She put her hands on her hips and glanced down at her long, white dress that molded to her like a glove. Her gaze moved across the Fae who stood just a few steps below her.

  “There is a traitor among us,” she declared.

  Murmurs swept through the hall. She hastily quieted them by lifting her hand.

  “I’m here to call out that person, so everyone knows her name. Rhi, is the traitor,” she stated.

  Someone from the back yelled, “What did Rhi do?”

  Usaeil’s blood boiled at anyone daring to ask her such a question. “Rhi is banished from this castle from this day forward. Any Light who helps or harbors her will suffer her fate, as well.”

  “We’re so glad you’ve returned, my queen,” someone said.

  She turned her head and saw the Captain of the Queen’s Guard, Inen, watching her. She smiled at her people before making her way to Inen.

  “Banished?” he asked when she approached.

  “Question me once more, and you’ll find yourself there, as well,” she announced as she walked to the throne room.

  Inen fell into step beside her. “What did Rhi do?”

  Usaeil came to a stop and faced him. “I’m Queen of the Light. My edicts are law. It doesn’t matter what Rhi did or did not do. She’s banished. Never again will she set foot in this castle. Rhi walked away from her responsibilities. Let her discover what it feels like out in the world without anyone to turn to.”

  “My queen,” Inen said, shifting his feet. “Rhi is loved by our people.”

  “Not for much longer.”

  Usaeil continued on to the throne room. Right before Inen followed, she closed the door. Then she teleported back to Canada. The movie wasn’t quite finished.

  Besides, there was nothing better than having the humans fawn over her. Hollywood was where she belonged. She was adored and worshiped—as her people used to do. Odd that she’d found her place among the mortals.

  Not that any of the Light would ever learn of her secret. They were too wrapped up in their own lives to pay attention to any human for more than sex.

  Her visit to the castle was one of many moves she had planned to get rid of Rhi once and for all. All she had to do now was wait for Balladyn to kill Rhi. Since Taraeth had cocked up Balladyn’s murder, Usaeil would be there to see Rhi’s—and make sure the bitch was dead once and for all.

  Usaeil couldn’t think about Rhi without reflecting on all the ways she’d believed her nemesis was a friend and not just someone protecting her. So many times, Usaeil had gone out of her way to safeguard Rhi.

  The Fae was reckless, wild, and impulsive. Despite that, Rhi had actually caught the eye of a Dragon King.

  Usaeil shook her head. No. She wouldn’t go down that road again. She had Con, the King of Dragon Kings. There was none mightier than he. Their love would be spoken about forever.

  All she had to do was wait for him to realize that his concern about the Kings accepting her as their queen was of no importance. Con was the one in charge. He need only issue a command, and the others would follow.

  She’d been determined to stay away from him until he came begging back to her, but she couldn’t go another moment without having her arms around him. Usaeil thought of his office at Dreagan and waited for her magic to take her there. Nothing happened.

  She tried teleporting to a dozen other places, and it worked fine. Why then couldn’t she go to Dreagan?

  “Rhi,” she said through clenched teeth.

  Another interference. And she was tired of it.

  Usaeil teleported to a doorway that only a Fae could see. It would take her to Taraeth’s throne room where she would demand action be taken immediately. She was done waiting for them to contact her. It was time Rhi died.

  She walked to the portal and tried to go through it. But she was blocked.

  What was going on?

  “Taraeth,” she said, knowing the Dark King would hear her. “Come to me, now!”

  The seconds turned to minutes as she waited. And the longer she stood there alone, the more her fury grew. It wasn’t as if she could walk into the Dark Palace. No one could know the Light Queen was talking to the Dark King. The ramification on both sides would be tremendous.

  That’s why she’d built the doorway. Yet someone had blocked her.

  “It’s almost too funny watching you.”

  She spun around at the male voice and glared at Balladyn, who stood behind her with his legs wide and his arms crossed over his chest. His black-and-silver hair was pulled away from his face to fall with the rest down his back.

  “Why can’t I get in to see Taraeth?” she demanded.

  “Because I tore down the doorway in the throne room. And don’t bother building another. I’ve made sure that can’t happen.”

  She looked him up and down. “Who do you think you are doing such things? Once Taraeth hears about this.…”

  Balladyn clapped slowly, his smug grin wide. “That performance is nearly good enough for a nomination for.…” He paused, frowning. “What’s it called again? An Academy Award? I do wonder what the Light would think of your little hobby.”

  Usaeil opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind, but he spoke over her.

  “You can call for Taraeth for the next hundred years, but he won’t hear you. He’s dead.” Balladyn’s smile dropped as he scowled at her. “I killed him.”

  “That’s not possible,” she muttered in disbelief.

  Balladyn held his arms out and smiled coldly. “Oh, but it is.” His arms dropped to his sides. “None of the Dark will be hunting Rhi. If you want to kill her, then you’ll have to face Rhi yourself. But I know you won’t do that. You’re too much of a coward.”

  “I can best Rhi with my eyes closed,” she boasted.

  Balladyn’s brows shot up on his forehead. “Really? I’d like to see that. Call for Rhi now.”

  “I don’t bow to your whims,” she stated and lifted her chin for dramatic flair.

  “You forget, Usaeil. I know your secrets. I know how you think. I know the movements of the Light Army because I trained them. If you think to attack me, I’ll come for you with all the wrath of the Dark. And we will decimate the Light. So be very careful, Queen.”

  It wasn’t until he was gone that Usaeil breathed easier. She’d always known Balladyn had the strength and power to do great things. He’d been a great asset as her Captain, but he’d had to go and admit that he was in love with Rhi.

  Everything always came back to Rhi.

  Con had recently asked Usaeil to join her army with the Dragon Kings to fight the Dark.
Perhaps now was the time she would let that happen. It would give her a reason to seek Con out as well as show him how she wanted to fight for this realm. It would also put them together often, reminding him of the passion they shared.

  Yes, that’s exactly what she was going to do.

  * * *

  Balladyn didn’t think he could hate as deeply as he did Usaeil. He’d given her his loyalty, his fighting skills, and his friendship.

  What had she done in exchange? Asked Taraeth to kill him.

  In some ways, that would’ve been better than enduring the endless torture until he finally gave in to the darkness and became a Dark Fae.

  What Usaeil had done to him wasn’t enough. She’d dared to repeat her offense, but this time, against Rhi.

  No matter how angry Balladyn was at Rhi right now, he wasn’t going to allow Usaeil to carry out her plans. Though Rhi knew about Usaeil going to Taraeth to kill her, she didn’t know that he’d cancelled that order.

  Balladyn considered calling for her, but he wasn’t yet ready to see her. There was still too much anger. And Rhi was better than anyone in battle. She would know how to stay alert and be prepared for any sort of danger.

  She would make an excellent ruler. And he still wanted her as his queen so they could unite the Fae. If only he were sure of her love for him.

  His thoughts slid to a halt. He’d told her of his love, but had she actually said it back to him? Balladyn couldn’t recall an instance.

  He fisted his hands at his sides. No doubt she was still in love with her Dragon King. The bastard should be skinned for discarding Rhi so heartlessly. And it didn’t help that she kept going to Dreagan and interacting with him constantly.

  How could her love die when she continued returning to the source time and again?

  Balladyn wasn’t too worried. He had complete faith that Ulrik would become the next King of Dragon Kings. Ulrik’s hate for his fellow Kings would come to light when he exacted his revenge on them.

  Then Rhi would finally be free.

  And Balladyn would be there for her. As he always was. Only then could the love between them truly blossom.