Torched

by Donna Grant

  Dimly, she heard what sounded like wood splintering. She tried to open her eyes, but it hurt to even breathe. Whatever was happening to her head magnified sound to the point where she could feel her ears bleeding.

  Then she was lifted effortlessly from the floor and thrown against the wall. The pain in her head stopped, allowing her to open her eyes. When she did, she found herself dangling several feet off the floor. Her gaze scanned the room until she found the source.

  Mikkel.

  “I should’ve known better than to trust a Druid,” he said as he removed his black overcoat that was soaked with rain and tossed it on her bed.

  He raised his gold eyes to her, eyes that were so similar to Ulrik’s. Where Ulrik’s were filled with distrust and pain, Mikkel’s were simply empty.

  “I thought we had an agreement,” he said as he put his hands into the pockets of his dress pants.

  She clenched her teeth together as the agony in her head intensified. Had she really assumed she could handle Mikkel? The fact that he didn’t have all of his magic was what had stupidly allowed her to think hers was stronger.

  Instead of attacking him, she concentrated on her magic, letting it build inside her before she began to push against his. Just when she started making headway, the sound of Mikkel’s obnoxious laughter reached her.

  “Keep trying,” he told her. “Every time you use your magic against mine, I’ll double your pain.”

  A second later, the throbbing in her head returned, intensified so that her stomach rolled with nausea. She tried to hold back her scream, but it fell unheeded from her lips. She would’ve doubled over into a fetal position, but his dragon magic held her in place.

  All Eilish could do was endure the debilitating agony. She had no idea how long it lasted. Time ceased to matter with such torment.

  Then, to her shock, the pain lessened enough that she could once more breathe normally. Her throat hurt, and that’s when she realized she’d been screaming continually.

  “You’ve taken more than I expected.”

  She inwardly winced at how close Mikkel’s voice was to her. If only she had the strength to lash out at him, to make him hurt as he’d hurt her. But she could barely even call her magic to her at this point.

  “Your screams were deafening, but it was your tears I most enjoyed,” he said with a chuckle.

  Oh, yes, she hated him.

  He put his hand over her boot-clad foot. “I’m not the monster here.”

  She would’ve snorted had she been able.

  “I watched my father rule over the Silvers for what felt like an eternity. I was his eldest son. I did everything he asked of me, but it was never enough. He ridiculed me, beat me, and shamed me in front of everyone.”

  Eilish eyed him, not sure why he was telling her this.

  Mikkel dropped his hand and turned away, walking around the bed to the vanity. He picked up a makeup brush and looked at it. “I endured all of it because I knew he was making me strong. He said his father had done the same to him, and it was why he became King after his dad. And so I would be King of the Silvers, as well.”

  He set the brush down and turned to her. “That was my life for hundreds of years. Occasionally, I’d do something right, and he would reward me. But it never lasted. I knew that I could bear it because he wouldn’t live forever.”

  Knowing he’d been abused mentally, physically, and emotionally forced Eilish to look at Mikkel differently. And she didn’t like that. He was an evil fiend who needed to die.

  Mikkel released a long breath, his gaze turning distant. “Then Ualan was born. From the moment of his birth, my father treated him differently. He doted on my younger brother, and worse, he was kind. Father didn’t beat him or shame him. All Ualan ever knew was love. Still, he was my sibling, and I loved him because of it.

  “Dragons will wait for however long it takes to find their mates because we’re together for eternity. I found mine in a dragon named Hefina. She was magnificent. The problem was, she’d fallen in love with Ualan, and he, her. Again, I kept my eye on the prize—the throne.

  “Then the day finally came when I was ready to challenge my father for the right to rule. I issued my challenge, but we were invaded by another clan. We all gathered and went to help the Silvers that had been attacked by the Ivories. During the battle, the King of Ivories slew my father.

  “I wanted to mourn. I tried hard, but I was waiting to become King. Except once more, Fate laughed in my face and gave the title to Ualan.”

  Eilish wanted to kick herself for feeling even a small thread of pity for Mikkel, especially after everything he’d done.

  Mikkel laughed then and looked at her, anger tightening his face. “Ulrik was so young when I set up the Ivories to attack the Silvers again. I knew if Ualan fell, that I’d be King. But I wasn’t.” His nostrils flared as he stalked to her. “I sat by for eons and watched as my father, brother, and nephew made the wrong decisions. The only thing Ulrik ever did right was beginning the war with your kind. But he faltered and kept attacking the mortals when he should’ve taken out Con and ruled all the Dragon Kings. Now, it’s up to me to set things right.”

  She wondered if Ulrik knew any of this, and Eilish was relatively certain he didn’t. She couldn’t wait to tell him. If she got the chance.

  “It’s a pity, really,” Mikkel said, calm once more. “I had the file on your mother ready to hand over to you. I had faith you’d actually kill Ulrik because you wanted to know where she was so desperately. Then I find out Ulrik came to see you.”

  He tsked, which made her want to kick Mikkel in the face. How dare he look at her like some judge ready to sentence her?

  “What did Ulrik tell you?” he demanded.

  Eilish refused to play his game, no matter how much torture he inflicted.

  Mikkel’s lips twisted as he shrugged with a helpless look on his face. She didn’t have time to wonder what he was going to do before her thighbone was snapped in two.

  Eilish threw back her head and screamed in anguish, all the while, she kept wishing Ulrik were still there. If only she hadn’t sent him away. If only she’d let him keep kissing her. If only.…

  “What did he tell you?” Mikkel bellowed.

  She tried to pull away from the wall as she looked at him through the tears in her eyes. “I’ll never tell.”

  No sooner were the words out of her mouth than he released his hold on her. Eilish attempted to shift her weight as she fell the few feet to the ground so that she landed on her good leg, but it didn’t work.

  She crumpled to the floor, her hands holding her right leg through the throbbing pain. All the while, she began directing her magic to her femur to heal it. She’d never used magic to heal herself before, but she knew some Druids were capable enough to do it. Because if there was even a chance for her to get away from Mikkel or to hurt him, she needed to be 100 percent. And she was far from that.

  No matter how much magic she sent to her injured leg, it wouldn’t heal. Then Mikkel was standing over her.

  He bent, his mouth near her ear. “I’ll break every bone in your body if you doona give me what I want.”

  She hid her smile. The Scots’ brogue he fought so hard to hide slipped, which meant his temper had gotten the best of him. Now that was something she could use against him.

  Eilish flung back her hair and turned her head to him. “Do you know why your father treated Ualan so kindly? It was because he knew your brother would be the next King. You’ve seen it pass you by several times. There’s nothing you can do that will put you in the position to become King. Aren’t there other Silvers trapped here? I bet one of them becomes King before you do.”

  “No’ if I kill them first,” Mikkel said before he broke her other leg.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  “So you’ve kissed many women like that, huh?”

  Eilish’s question kept resounding in his head. Ulrik tried to shake it loose, to think of something—anything—else as
he walked the perimeter of the lake, but it was no use.

  Because of the answer. An answer he’d refused to tell her, and one that, even now, he was loath to speak aloud.

  He hadn’t kissed anyone like he’d kissed her. Not in a thousand years.

  Not in a million years.

  Not ever.

  Why? What made the Druid so special? Was it her magic? No, it couldn’t be. He’d felt absolutely nothing for Darcy or any of the other Druids he’d found and used through the years. Which brought him back to Eilish.

  He glanced at the sky. Dark clouds were gathering. It was going to rain soon, not that it would send him indoors. He’d always loved the rain. From mists, to light showers, to thunderstorms. He’d seen them all and welcomed each one.

  Ulrik stopped and turned back toward the cottage. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he shouldn’t have left Eilish. But it had been the right thing to do. All that would’ve happened had he stayed was more arguing.

  He couldn’t start trusting people. It wasn’t in his nature. Nor would he try to explain his reasoning after already telling her. If Eilish couldn’t accept him, then.…

  His steps slowed, then halted. Even before his banishment when he’d trusted nearly everyone, he’d read others well. It was little things his father had taught him to look for in others. Gestures, movements, eye contact—all could be used to determine if someone were telling the truth or not.

  And Ulrik had grasped those lessons from his father eagerly, perfecting them until it was second nature to him. Once he was stuck in human form, Ulrik didn’t bother listening to the human’s speak because words were empty. He read body language instead.

  Each time he’d seen Eilish, he’d done the same thing. Without a doubt, he knew she hadn’t been faking with him the previous night.

  He’d been so wrapped up in his uncle and Eilish’s magic that he hadn’t looked at her. Not really. He saw her beauty, her wit, her intelligence, and her courage. But he’d always connected her to Mikkel.

  If he studied her without his uncle’s connection, he would’ve believed her from the start. Yet he couldn’t truly separate Eilish from Mikkel. After all, she had stood in Ulrik’s antique shop and said she’d kill him and Con. There was no choice but to doubt her.

  And for the first time, he wished he felt differently.

  No doubt that’s exactly what his uncle wanted, and it was the reason Ulrik would be extra cautious with the Druid. To do otherwise would jeopardize everything he’d planned and set in motion.

  His thoughts shifted to his Silvers. When he woke them and rid the world of the mortals, he would make sure all dragons returned. The Kings had lived long enough without their families. He wouldn’t make the Silvers endure that, as well. But that was for another day.

  It was his end goal, the thing he worked toward. His eye was never far from that, but he knew better than to forget about all the other moving pieces. Though, the majority of the work now rested on his shoulders.

  And he was more than up for it.

  That is if he didn’t allow a dark-headed Druid with green-gold eyes to tempt him. Because she could be the one thing that set him off his course and cost him everything.

  He really hoped she didn’t realize that. In fact, if it had been anyone else, he would’ve already moved on and forgotten her once she didn’t immediately accept his offer of help. But he very much wanted to help her remain a mie, as well as get far from Mikkel.

  At first, Ulrik thought to use her to his benefit, but that had quickly changed. He could best Con on his own. He didn’t need or want any outside help, be it from a Druid, a Fae, or even another Dragon King. This feud between him and Con ran too deeply for there to be anyone else involved.

  Since Ulrik didn’t need her to beat Con or unbind his magic as Darcy had, there was no reason for Eilish. Other than to have a Druid at his disposal. Even then, he had no need of her. His magic was greater than hers.

  Why then couldn’t he just forget about her? Why couldn’t he walk away as he had a million times before? Why did he continue to meddle in her affairs?

  And why the fuck was he worried about her?

  Worried. Him!

  That hadn’t happened in … well, a damn long time. And he’d prefer if it weren’t happening now.

  Ulrik clenched his teeth and strode toward the cottage. Eilish had ruined his leisurely walk. She’d also wrecked his rest for the past several nights. Never mind that he didn’t actually need sleep. The point was that the Druid was causing all kinds of havoc that had to stop.

  By the time he entered the cottage, he’d decided never to visit Eilish again. He didn’t need or want the trouble she caused.

  If she was working with Mikkel, their plans had been foiled.

  If she wasn’t, well, she was a Druid. She could handle herself as she’d said countless times.

  And if she attacked him, then Ulrik would be ready for her.

  His head snapped around when there was a knock on the door. Ulrik stared at it a moment before he made his way over and opened it. He blinked in confusion when his gaze landed on Balladyn.

  “I called out your name as you walked here,” Balladyn said. “But by the look on your face, your ire was raised. I figured I’d better knock.”

  Ulrik stepped aside so the King of the Dark could enter. He closed the door behind Balladyn. “I didna hear you. What brings you here?”

  “Something that’s only going to make you even angrier.”

  Shite. Just what he needed. “What’s that?”

  “Word has spread through the Fae like lightning. Usaeil has banished Rhi from the Light.”

  “For what?” Ulrik demanded. He was furious on Rhi’s behalf. At least when he was banished, there had been a reason. Rhi had done nothing to Usaeil.

  But Ulrik suspected that was soon to change.

  Balladyn blew out a breath, shrugging. “Usaeil didn’t give a reason.”

  “Have you spoken to Rhi?”

  “Nay.”

  Ulrik raised a brow. “You mean you came here instead of finding her? What the bloody hell is wrong with you?”

  “I’m not sure she’ll see me.”

  “You love her. You should’ve found out,” he said angrily. “She’s going to need you. Trust me.”

  Balladyn remained, his face impassive. “What if she won’t see me?”

  “What if she will?” When Balladyn didn’t reply, Ulrik sighed loudly. “I know how she feels right now. She’s been cast out of a place she always thought she’d be welcome. With the Fae Realm all but destroyed by your civil war, the Light Palace was her home.”

  “Then she’ll have a place with us,” Balladyn said. “I warned Usaeil that her time was coming to an end when I saw her. I’m going to start preparing my army.”

  Ulrik wasn’t quite finished with Balladyn yet. “And my uncle? Did you leave him for me?”

  “I did,” Balladyn said with a smile. “But you should’ve seen his face. It was a moment you would’ve enjoyed.”

  “At least you got to enjoy it. Mikkel is going to pay for having Lily killed, for harming Rhys and Anson, and all his other deeds. I’m going to see to it.”

  “And who will make sure you pay for your deeds?”

  Ulrik met Balladyn’s red eyes. “I guess we’ll know soon enough.”

  “I’ll talk to Rhi in my own time. Until then, would you go to her? You’re right. She’s going to need a friend, and I’m not sure she still thinks of me that way.”

  Ulrik gave a nod. “I’ll talk to her immediately.”

  Balladyn hesitated, and Ulrik knew they were thinking the same thing. That Rhi might very well be with the Dragon Kings. It was another reason Balladyn didn’t want to go to her. It would confirm that Rhi was still very much in love.

  “Thank you,” Balladyn murmured before he vanished.

  Ulrik’s mind should’ve been on Rhi, but instead, he found it on Eilish. Then he recalled that he was going to forget about her. He was
glad he had something else to focus on right now. Rhi would be hurting, or she was going to be so angry she might be glowing.

  Either way, Ulrik would to be there for her.

  He said her name, waiting for her to appear. Minutes passed. “Rhi, please.”

  More minutes ticked by. He used that time to think of all the ways he’d like to destroy Usaeil. A Dragon King had never gone against a Light. Usaeil’s power had never come into question. Perhaps it was time that happened.

  “What?”

  He spun around at the sound of Rhi’s voice. She stood stoically in her black pants and denim, button-down shirt, her chin lifted. At first glance, she looked as she always did. But then Ulrik saw the lines of tension around her mouth and the way her muscles were bunched.

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  Her silver eyes widened just a fraction before she asked, “How did you find out? Never mind. It doesn’t matter. I’m fine.”

  “You’re no’,” he said and opened his arms.

  She stood for another few seconds before her face crumbled and she walked into his embrace. Ulrik held her as she released the tears that she’d held back in order to remain strong. He’d always felt protective of her. It was ridiculous really. Rhi was more than capable of taking care of herself.

  Perhaps that’s why he offered her a shoulder to cry on. Because there were times even someone as strong as Rhi needed to lean on someone else. As loyal as she was to the Kings—and even him—it was no wonder that every Dragon King felt the way they did about her.

  “Tell me you have a plan,” he said when her crying finally subsided.

  She sniffed and turned her head to the side, but she didn’t pull away from him. “I’d like to knock her head off.”

  He smiled at the fury in her voice. “I’d pay to see that. But do you have a plan?”

  “One is coming together.”

  “If you need me for anything, you simply have to ask.”

  She leaned back to look at him. “Even if it means you standing beside Con?”