Torched

by Donna Grant

  Until then, Balladyn would have to keep an eye on Usaeil. Her power was tremendous, and he wouldn’t underestimate her. Too many had done that in the past, and she’d smote them from existence.

  That wasn’t his only problem, though. This Bran who kept taking Dark would have to be stopped. Balladyn had only done an initial investigation after speaking with the white-haired Dark in Galway.

  Balladyn was positive the Fae was the infamous Fintan—the most feared and deadly assassin ever. If Fintan were alive, that meant either Taraeth didn’t have him killed. Or … Fintan had become something more.

  Like a Reaper.

  Suddenly, all the research Balladyn had done for Rhi in regards to the Reapers sprang to mind. That’s when he realized that Rhi had stopped asking about them.

  Was that because she now knew one?

  There was much more going on than Balladyn realized. Taraeth, the fool, had been oblivious to it all. But Balladyn wasn’t going to make that same mistake.

  Usaeil might want to pretend the Reapers weren’t real, but his research had told him otherwise. The fact that Rhi had been adamant about finding out all she could about them was also another clue.

  If the Reapers were real, then what were they doing on Earth?

  More importantly, who were they after?

  This Bran definitely had something to do with it. And if Balladyn could catch him, it would do wonders for building a relationship with the Reapers.

  With his mind now set, Balladyn returned to the palace.

  CHAPTER SIX

  He was sin and seduction. In one smoking hot package of carnal sexiness that made her forget everything.

  Eilish tried to ignore the thumping of her heart when she discovered Ulrik in her home. And that pounding had nothing to do with fear or dread.

  When that hadn’t worked, she tried magic. Much to her dismay, nothing could stem the tide of wanton havoc he wreaked upon her senses.

  The King of Silvers stood tall and imposing, daunting and arresting before her with his light gray suit and black dress shirt. His tailor-made clothes only added to his mystique while hiding the power she knew was beneath the attire.

  And how she’d love to see him.

  Every delicious inch.

  His striking gold eyes had seen and experienced much in his long life, and it was visible in the way he held himself, in how he looked at things, and most assuredly, in the manner he spoke.

  With his black waves parted on the side and hanging just past his shoulders, Ulrik wore his dangerous look with ease. His strong jaw and chin were clean-shaven. Black brows arched ever so slightly over his thick-lashed eyes. He had wide lips that were full and decidedly tempting.

  Yet her perusal was cut short by his declaration that Darcy no longer had her magic.

  “How is that possible?”

  “She’s from the Isle of Skye. Those Druids vowed never to do or help evil,” Ulrik explained.

  Eilish blew out a breath as she understood. “And your plan was—is—evil.”

  “The Ancients seem to think so. Those long-dead Druids decided to take away Darcy’s magic because she helped me.”

  “You knew she didn’t have any powers when Mikkel told you to kill her, didn’t you?”

  Ulrik gave a single nod. “He wouldna have listened to me, so I didna bother telling him. Darcy is at Dreagan and mated to Warrick now. And Mikkel believes she’s dead.”

  “How can you plot against your own kind while saving the mates? If you kill Con, you’ll then turn to wiping out the rest, which will leave the mates without their Kings.”

  A black brow shot up on his forehead.

  “Am I right?” she asked. “Or have you changed your mind about killing your brethren?”

  His gaze slid away, and a small frown formed. “I found Nikolai shortly after he’d hatched. His parents had been killed. I took him in and raised him.”

  “So he was your son.”

  Ulrik’s gaze snapped to her. “In many ways, yes. Then he became King of Ivories. He was one of my closest friends.”

  Eilish was more than shocked that Ulrik was sharing such information. She wasn’t sure Mikkel even knew any of this. “You helped Nikolai. You brought him to me, and then you fought alongside him. Do you still hate him?”

  “I’m no’ sure what I feel anymore.”

  “Because of Mikkel,” she guessed. “He caused you to step in and protect your brethren. I’m sure it all changed when you decided not to kill Darcy.”

  “She wasna the first.”

  Eilish cleared her face of the frown that had begun to form. “I’m beginning to think Mikkel doesn’t know you at all.”

  “He doesna,” Ulrik affirmed, a hard edge to his words.

  “Who was the first?”

  Ulrik turned away and walked to the sofa where he picked up the book she’d been reading and glanced at the cover before replacing it. “Rhys’s mate, Lily.”

  Eilish wasn’t the kind of person who liked to be surrounded by people. She was perfectly content spending hours, days even, on her own. Even when she was younger, she hadn’t been one to want to chat with friends.

  So she was surprised when she pushed away from the counter, walked to the sofa, and sat in an apholstered corner. She looked up at Ulrik and motioned for him to sit, as well. There was a moment’s hesitation before he lowered himself onto the cushion. He remained on the edge, as if he weren’t sure he wanted to be there.

  She wanted to know why he was there, but that was put on hold because of her curiosity. “What happened with Lily?”

  Instead of answering her, he asked, “What has Mikkel told you about me?”

  “Your story.” She decided to sum up everything. “How you wanted to marry a mortal, but Con found out she was planning to kill you. Con and the others took her life, and you went into a rage and began the war on the humans. The Dragon Kings sent the dragons to another realm and bound your magic before banishing you from Dreagan.”

  “That’s what Mikkel told you?”

  She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I condensed it.”

  He grunted, his gaze lowering to the rug. “You make it sound so … uncomplicated.”

  “I didn’t mean to.”

  “It’s no’ your fault. You were no’ there. Mikkel wasna either.”

  “Then how does he know so much?”

  Ulrik turned his head to her. “Now, that is a good question.”

  She tucked one leg beneath her. “Yes. It is.”

  “Rhys has always loved women. All women. And they loved him.”

  Eilish listened intently, gaining new information about the Dragon Kings from someone other than Mikkel—someone who was actually a King.

  Ulrik’s lips pressed together for a moment. “Lily is nobility in the human world. She ran away from her family for a man. Unfortunately, he was abusive. She finally left him and began a new life, which included a job at Dreagan.”

  “I take it that’s where Rhys and Lily met.”

  “Aye, though I doona know their story of how they fell in love. What I did see was Rhys’s complete and total love for her. Mikkel, however, wanted to strike a blow against the Kings, and he was using Lily’s estranged brother and her ex-boyfriend to do just that.”

  Eilish felt sick to her stomach. She’d known from the beginning that Mikkel wasn’t a good guy. Then she’d gotten a taste of his depravity in Venice.

  Ulrik looked at her. “They made Lily watch as they shot Rhys. Of course, he didna die, but she didna know that. Then Lily’s brother killed her. I watched Rhys forget his promise to never harm a mortal and obliterate the two humans. The quickest way to break a King is to kill his mate before a mating ceremony is performed.”

  Immediately, Eilish thought about how Ulrik must have felt to discover that the woman he loved had been killed. He’d known exactly how Rhys felt.

  “There was nothing Con could do to save Lily,” Ulrik continued. “She was dead, her soul gone. But I could help
.”

  Eilish frowned in confusion. “How? By bringing someone back from the dead?”

  One side of his mouth lifted in a grin.

  “That’s … quite a gift.”

  “And one Mikkel doesna know about. Every Dragon King has a power. I can find the souls of the dead and return them to their bodies.”

  Eilish bit her bottom lip as she considered his words. “Mikkel is your uncle. How does he not know about that?”

  “Because he doesna care to know. He thought he’d be the next King, but he wasna. It came to me. He tried to go off, and I stupidly pulled him back into the family, thinking he was upset over my father’s death.”

  She made a face. “When really he was furious over you becoming King.”

  “Exactly. I never knew that until he came to me a few years ago. All this time, he was here, watching me, and I never knew it.”

  “You had no call to think anyone was around,” she said.

  His gave her a small smile. “Making excuses for me?”

  “Mikkel doesn’t know that you saved Lily then?”

  “I doona know or care,” Ulrik stated.

  She hesitated before asking, “How did you save her? I mean, how did you find her soul if she was dead?”

  Ulrik dropped his head down and leaned over, propping his forearms on his knees. “No one has ever asked me that before.”

  That comment made her heart ache for him. Whether she liked Ulrik or not, there was no denying that he’d suffered immeasurably, and for thousands of years. Some would say his actions prevented him from having friends.

  She knew it was because he’d locked himself away to avoid interaction with mortals—and she was one.

  Just as she was about to get up and end this … whatever it was they were having, he began talking again.

  “All souls go to a place. I doona know what or where it is. But all I have to do is think of it, and I’m there. I can see them.” He paused and swallowed before sitting up straight. “I might want to hurt the Kings, destroy them even. But something … happened … when I watched Rhys after Lily died. I had no choice. I had to bring her back.” He glanced at Eilish. “I wiped Lily’s memories of it.”

  Eilish gave him a shocked look. “Why?”

  Ulrik rose and walked to the window where several of her plants sat on the sill. He touched a leaf and ran his thumb over it. He didn’t bother to answer her question. “If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?”

  “My mother,” she replied without thinking.

  He looked at her over his shoulder. “I believe you have a story to tell as well, Druid.”

  “Everyone has a story.”

  “So they do,” he said as he faced the window.

  Eilish pursed her lips, internally debating what—if anything—she should tell Ulrik. She wasn’t a bad person, yet she had agreed to do terrible things for Mikkel.

  “I get the feeling you were no’ raised by Druids,” Ulrik said.

  She blew out a breath. “I wasn’t.”

  “Then perhaps you doona know that there are two types of Druids. Mies, who hold true to the magic they were born with. And droughs, who give their souls to the Devil in order to make themselves stronger with dark magic.” He turned to face her then. “There is another way to become a drough, however. Continue to do immoral and criminal things, and the choice will be out of your hands.”

  His words frightened her. Mostly because she’d been thinking about what would happen to her if she killed as Mikkel wanted. But she wouldn’t allow Ulrik to see any of that.

  She lifted her chin. “You almost sound as if you’re trying to save me.”

  “Perhaps, I am.” He slowly walked to her. “I’m doomed, Eilish. So is Mikkel. You doona have to be.”

  Unable to hold his gaze, she looked down at the cushion.

  “Nikolai found your father,” Ulrik said. “Were you looking for him, as well?”

  Eilish shook her head. She hadn’t really allowed herself to deal with the new knowledge. Because that would mean the man who raised her, the person who claimed to be her father—wasn’t. And she couldn’t handle that at the moment.

  Ulrik rubbed a hand over his chin. “If you want to find your mum, then you should talk to Donal. My offer to learn of her still stands.”

  “I hate Mikkel,” she admitted.

  “Then share what you need with me. I’ll give you a reason to sever all ties with him.”

  She lifted her gaze to meet Ulrik’s gold eyes. “Do you really think he’ll allow me to go that easily?”

  “Of course, no’. Then again, you are a verra powerful Druid.”

  Eilish licked her lips and nodded. “I’m looking for my mother. All I have is her first name—Eireen.”

  “That’s all I need,” he said and vanished.

  For several minutes, Eilish didn’t move from the sofa. Mostly because she’d discovered that she liked talking to Ulrik. And she actually … missed him.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  It was damn hard not to celebrate, but Ulrik was keeping himself in check.

  For the time being.

  He returned to the cottage on the lake in Ireland and opened his laptop. A quick search of Eilish Flanagan gave him very little. This was one time he wished he could call upon Ryder and get him working on it.

  Ryder was the Dragon King who could create, design, and work anything electronic. He also ran the security at Dreagan. There wasn’t anything Ryder couldn’t find with his computers.

  But Ulrik couldn’t call Ryder, which left him only a few other means. He checked his emails on the secure server and found four from various groups he had searching on anything related to Mikkel.

  Opening the first message, Ulrik read it and then checked the document listing an estate that had been purchased through one of several dozen shell companies owned by Mikkel. The home was in Westport, Ireland.

  Mikkel already had two other houses in Ireland that Ulrik knew of. But his uncle had kept this one a secret. Why? Ulrik checked the other emails to discover two more houses—one in Sweden, and another in Switzerland.

  Ulrik opened the top, middle drawer of his desk and drew out one of the several mobile phones inside and dialed a number. It was answered on the first ring.

  “Good work. I’ve another job for you,” Ulrik said. “I want to know about the parents of Eilish Flanagan, who was raised in Boston, Massachusetts, but came from Ireland. Then I want you to see what you can dig up on women named Eireen, no surname, in Ireland. When you find Eilish’s date of birth, look for an Eireen who gave birth during that time. I need this immediately.”

  “Yes, sir,” the female replied.

  He placed several more identical calls. Then sat back and waited. The anticipation was insufferable. If he’d been able to go to Ryder, he’d already have information.

  Then an idea struck. There was someone at Dreagan who just might help him. He rose from the chair and touched the silver cuff.

  When he blinked, he was standing in a bedroom within Dreagan Manor. He’d never gotten to explore the house. In many ways, Ulrik felt like more of an outsider within the walls of the dwelling than he did in the mountains of Dreagan.

  The door opened, and V walked inside. As soon as he saw Ulrik, he came to a stop. V released a long breath before closing the door behind him.

  “Why am I no’ surprised to find you here?”

  Ulrik met V’s blue eyes. “It’s nice to see you, as well.”

  V raked a hand through his long, dark hair and strode farther into the room to the fireplace. “What do you want?”

  “Have you thought more about my offer?”

  “I have.” V turned to face him, putting his back to the hearth. “I told Con we spoke, and I’m telling you that I’ve talked with him. Each of you has told me your side of the story.”

  There were some things that never changed. V was one of them. He always liked to weigh every option.

  “And?” Ulrik asked.r />
  “I honestly doona know.”

  Ulrik took that as a good sign that V hadn’t sided with Con outright. “Good. I’ve a favor to ask.”

  V snorted, wrinkling his nose. “You’ve got some balls coming here, knowing you’re banished, and asking me for help.”

  “I spoke with Con in the cavern with my Silvers earlier,” Ulrik stated.

  In a blink, V’s face went slack. “Did you challenge him?”

  “It was merely a conversation.”

  V blew out a breath, annoyance and resignation in his bearing. “What’s your fucking favor?”

  “I know Ryder must be looking into Eilish already.”

  “The Druid?”

  Ulrik gave a nod. “She’s working with Mikkel because he has information she wants that he’s dangling over her head.”

  “And you want to give it to her,” V said with a shake of his head.

  “I do. So she can decide if she wants to help him or no’.”

  V’s gaze narrowed on Ulrik as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you that worried she can kill you?”

  “Maybe. Or maybe I doona want to see her corrupted by Mikkel because she didna know how else to find the information she seeks.”

  V stared at him for a long, silent minute. Then he dropped his arms to his sides. “What do you need to know?”

  “Her mother.”

  “After Nikolai spoke to Donal Cleary in London, he had Ryder begin his search.”

  Ulrik raised his brows. “And?”

  “I doona know any more.”

  After countless eons doing things on his own or commanding others, Ulrik found it hard to ask for anything. But he knew this was important. If he could give Eilish what she needed, it could change the tide of everything.

  And then he could return to his original plan.

  “Look into it for me. Please,” Ulrik added.

  V glowered at him. “Damn you.”

  “Thank you.”

  Ulrik teleported back to the cottage before he was tempted to go to Ryder himself. Now he really did have everyone capable of uncovering information working on things.

  He turned around to walk into the bedroom when his gaze landed on Rhi standing before a window looking out over the lake. Shock went through him at the fact that he hadn’t known someone was in his cottage.