Torched

by Donna Grant

  “I’m aware.”

  She shook her head and took a step back as she glared at him. “No. Don’t put me in the middle. You know I care about the Kings, and that includes Ulrik. I don’t want either of you to die.”

  “He willna stop, Rhi. You know this. And if I were in his place, I wouldna either.”

  She looked toward the sky before she turned her head away. Crossing her arms over her chest and said, “Ulrik isn’t working with Mikkel. His uncle has made it so that Ulrik will have to kill him.”

  “You’re telling me this, why?”

  “Because I know you’ve figured it out, but you’re second-guessing yourself.” She looked at him. “And because you might want to think about teaming up with Ulrik to take out a mutual enemy.”

  The lights on the Eiffel Tower reflected in Con’s gaze as he moved closer to her. “If I offered, Ulrik would think it a trap. And we both know he’ll never come to me for help. Mainly because he doesna need it. Ulrik is strong enough to kill Mikkel without breaking a sweat.”

  “I know. It was wishful thinking on my part.”

  Con shrugged one shoulder. “Besides, Ryder will find Mikkel. When he does, I’m going after him.”

  “And the Dark?”

  She hated to ask, but she wanted him to know she comprehended exactly what troubles hounded Dreagan and the Dragon Kings.

  A blond brow rose. “Are you worried I’ll kill Balladyn?”

  “Yes. And no. I would’ve fought for him. I would’ve even fought you for him. Balladyn is my oldest friend, but he’s shown me what he truly wants.”

  “What Balladyn has done isn’t against you,” Con said.

  She forced a smile. “As Ulrik pointed out to me, it would’ve happened sooner or later. Knowing that’s the truth doesn’t make it hurt any less. If I hadn’t asked you to save him—”

  “I’d be fighting another Dark King,” Con interrupted her.

  “How do you choose who to fight when all of them can hurt you equally?”

  He took his hand out of his pocket and turned the gold dragon head cufflink at his wrist. “The Dark hurt us through the mortals. We’ve vowed to protect the humans.”

  “But if you’re gone, then there’s no one to guard them,” she replied.

  He gave a nod of agreement. “Precisely. I’ve sat back, waiting for our enemies to strike, and that has put us in a precarious position. I’ve no choice but to attack now.”

  “Then attack them all,” she said with a grin.

  His wide lips softened into the barest smile. “All?”

  “You said Ryder will find Mikkel soon. Send a few Kings to dispatch him. You and I will go to Usaeil.”

  “And Ulrik?”

  She shrugged, making a face. “You’ll be ready for him.”

  “That’s all well and good, but you’re assuming we win. And you’ve left out the Dark.”

  “We will win. When has a Dragon King lost?”

  A full smile filled his face then. It was such a rare event that she almost conjured a camera to take a picture of it. “As for Balladyn, I’ll take care of him.”

  And just like that, Con’s smile vanished. “You’d face Balladyn alone?”

  “He’ll know anyone else is a trap.”

  “He’s likely to think the same of you,” Con cautioned.

  Rhi drummed her nails on the railing. “Balladyn won’t be cocky like Taraeth. He’ll guard himself and the Dark with vigilance. No Dragon King will get close to him or drag him from the palace.”

  “You believe you can still get in?”

  “Only way to find out is to try.”

  Con returned his gaze to the city for several quiet minutes before he spoke. “That isna attacking everyone at once.”

  “True. I could leave you to deal with Usaeil, and I could focus on Balladyn.”

  “No’ after what Usaeil has done to you,” Con said. “Although, there might be another way.”

  Rhi frowned at him. “What do you mean?”

  “We have a Fae who’s a mate. How much magic do you think it’d take to change Shara’s appearance to look like you?”

  “A Fae can change their hair and eye color, but not their face. Then again, there’s never been a reason for a Fae to do that.”

  Con looked at her expectantly. “So there’s a chance?”

  “A slim one. But you forget that Kiril won’t let Shara go in alone.”

  “She willna go anywhere. You’re going to call Balladyn to her.”

  Rhi wasn’t sure she liked that idea, but how was it any different than attacking Balladyn herself. “I’ll be setting him up to face multiple Dragon Kings.”

  “As he and the Dark have done to the humans.”

  “I know, it’s just … if I was the one fighting him, it’d just be me.”

  Con gave a loud snort. “If you really believe that, then you doona know what kind of friends you have.”

  “I have to face Balladyn. Just as I have to with Usaeil.”

  The King of Dragon Kings bowed his head. “Usaeil is going to expect you to come for her.”

  Rhi smiled. “And I plan to use that to my advantage.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Dublin, Ireland

  The excitement and thrill of being with Ulrik easily shoved aside Eilish’s unease about locating her family. The very people who intended to do her harm.

  It made her wonder what those assholes had done to her mother.

  “Easy,” Ulrik said in response to her anger that welled up.

  She looked away from his gold eyes to find them in an alley as a light mist fell. Dublin. She’d only visited a few times in her years living in Ireland, but this was a part she hadn’t seen before.

  “It isna too late to turn back.”

  Her head swiveled to Ulrik, who didn’t seem to care that he was getting wet. “It was too late the moment my mother had to give me up.”

  One side of his lips lifted in a heart-stopping grin. “Good.”

  “Is this where my family is?” she asked, looking around at the buildings they were currently between.

  He faced the street and pulled back his long, black hair to fasten a strip of leather around the locks at the base of his neck. “They’re no’ far. It was the only place I knew of for us to arrive undetected.”

  “Since when do you care what mortals think?” she teased.

  There wasn’t a responding smile. “The Duffys have proven they’ll go to any extremes to have you. Now that they’re working with Mikkel, he’ll be here, as well.”

  “Then I can take back my finger rings.”

  “Aye. Would you like the hand that’s holding them also?”

  Eilish smiled at him as she moved aside her damp hair. The fact that Ulrik would offer such a thing made her love him even more. Because if she said yes, she knew he’d deliver a hand to her—and it wouldn’t matter whose it was.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Ulrik said. Then he gave her a nod. “Ready?”

  She looked out toward the street and the people and vehicles that went about their business. Jacket hoods covered bowed heads as they hurried through the misting rain. Was she ready to confront those responsible for separating her mother and father? Was she prepared to encounter those who caused her to be taken from her mother? Was she prepared to come face-to-face again with those of her blood who wanted to do her harm?

  Ulrik’s hand met her palm, his fingers sliding around hers. “I know what it’s like to have those bound to you by blood. I’m fully prepared to do what I have to with regards to Mikkel, but you’ve no’ been around such things.”

  “Patrick lied to me.”

  “He sheltered you, protected you. It was his promise to your mother.”

  Her gaze glanced at the gray sky. It was as if the sky was crying because she couldn’t.

  Ulrik turned her to face him, forcing her to meet his eyes. “If you go after them, you’ll have to kill them. You willna have a choice, because they’re going
to come after you.”

  “Why exactly? I knew those women, my aunts you say, wanted to hurt me, but you’re leaving something out. Something Patrick told you.”

  “Aye,” Ulrik said. “I was hoping you’d heed my words and forget the past. I should’ve known Mikkel would get involved. It must’ve been how he found the information on Eireen.”

  She tightened her grip on his hand. “Tell me. All of it.”

  “What your biological father, Donal, told you is true. Your aunts didna have any magic. But your grandparents did.”

  Eilish jumped at the unexpected boom of thunder. “How is that possible?” she asked as Ulrik led her beneath an overhang to get out of the weather. “And I don’t mind the rain.”

  “You’re mortal,” he replied matter-of-factly, as if that explained everything. “The Duffys are descendants of Druids. They were no’ particularly powerful, but they held their own. Unfortunately, like most Druids, they discovered that each time they married someone without magic, it diluted their bloodline. Each child was born with less and less power.”

  She thought of the strength of the magic running in her veins. She wasn’t weak at all.

  He grinned as if reading her thoughts. “There were those in your family who searched for a way to keep the magic. They used what little they had and took it from other Druids, but that soon came to an end.”

  “The Druids fought back,” she guessed.

  “Aye. Your ancestors didna give up, however. They discovered that every generation, one of their own was born with power. They realized that one of them could have it, or they could share it.”

  She frowned, not liking his choice of words. “I have a sneaking suspicion that the option of sharing wasn’t a choice given to the one with magic.”

  “They were given a choice. Freely share it, or it would be forcefully taken.”

  Her stomach clenched painfully. “My mother was the one with magic. They forced her, didn’t they?”

  “From what Patrick told me, Eireen was successful in keeping her magic hidden for most of her life. She slipped up when she met Donal.”

  “Because she fell in love and thought she was safe.”

  Ulrik nodded ruefully. “When your aunts came for her, your mother knew if she fought back, Donal would be dragged into it and killed by her parents. She didna want that.”

  “Donal might have been able to save her.”

  “At what cost to others? How many would’ve lost their lives?” Ulrik asked.

  Eilish glanced away. She couldn’t answer because she knew he was right, but she couldn’t help but wish her mother might have fought so they could have been a family.

  She drew in a shuddering breath and returned her gaze to him. “What happened?”

  “Patrick got a message from Eireen. While she waited for the ceremony where she would share her magic with her family, she discovered she was pregnant with you.”

  Eilish turned and put her back against the building as she watched the rain drop from the overhang. “This sharing you keep talking about, my family doesn’t leave any magic for the one they take it from, do they?”

  When Ulrik didn’t answer, she turned her head to him. His gold eyes were hooded, a sadness there that made her breath catch.

  “The one who has the magic is sacrificed in the ceremony,” he finally replied.

  Now, more than ever, she wanted to find her so-called family. “What kinds of monsters would do that?”

  “The kind who want power above all else.”

  “That they can so easily kill one of their own?”

  He touched her face, pulling her closer. “The allure of magic for those who doona have it is strong.”

  “So my mother is dead,” she said, putting her forehead against his chest.

  Ulrik lowered his chin atop her head. “You encountered your aunts. Did they have magic?”

  “No.” She looked up at Ulrik. “So, there’s a chance my mother is alive?”

  “Doona get your hopes up. Patrick remained with her, helping Eireen deliver you. After holding you for a wee bit and naming you, she handed you over to him and demanded that the two of you leave Ireland immediately. Patrick wanted to find Donal for her, but she refused because she knew her family would be watching him. Their argument was cut short when the Duffys found her.”

  Eilish frowned as she asked, “You said my aunts didn’t have magic, but my grandparents did. So that means.…”

  “Your grandfather stole it from one of his kin and shared it with his wife.”

  “Dear God. And I’m related to these people,” she said, sick to her stomach.

  He took her face between his hands. “But you’re no’ them.”

  Eilish rose up on her toes and kissed him. “Let’s find these horrible people and make sure they can’t harm anyone else ever again. Then, I want to find my mom.”

  “Doona let your guard down with them. They’ll say and do anything.”

  “They went after my mother. They came after me.” She raised a brow. “I dare them to do something so stupid.”

  Ulrik grinned. “We’re going in separately. I will look for Mikkel and make sure my uncle doesna interfere.”

  Eilish started to balk at the plan, but she knew it was the smart thing to do. “He’s strong.”

  “No’ as strong as I am. Besides,” Ulrik said, “I want him to attack me.”

  She listened as Ulrik told her the address for the house, but her mind was on something else. “If something happens to me, will you tell Donal everything? If my mother is still alive, I’d like them to be reunited.”

  “Nothing is going to happen to you. But I give you my vow to do as you’ve asked.”

  Eilish turned to walk away when he pulled her back. With one arm around her as his other hand cupped her cheek, he gazed at her a silent moment before slowly lowering his head to kiss her.

  She sank into him, savoring the amazing, powerful taste of him. Unhurried and deliberate, the kiss inflamed her desires and made her ache for everything she could never have with him.

  This tender, affectionate side of Ulrik was surprising. And incredible. Why couldn’t she have met him before Mikkel? Why couldn’t they have had more time together?

  She ended the kiss, the emotions too much for her to handle without breaking down. When she tried to look away, he stopped her, a frown marring his brow.

  “What is it?” he murmured.

  “Thank you for helping me. I know you’re after Mikkel, but it’s nice not to have to do this alone.”

  His gaze narrowed a fraction. “Mikkel is a benefit. I’m here for you.”

  Her heart leapt at his confession. Whether it was the truth or not, his words made her incredibly happy. “If you find your uncle, don’t hesitate to kill him.”

  “You willna be there alone. You may no’ see me, but I will be there.”

  She gave a nod and stepped back. With one last smile directed at Ulrik, she walked into the rain and began the trek along the streets of Dublin.

  With her thoughts fixed on the Duffys and what was awaiting her, she didn’t see the cobblestone roads or the buildings and houses. The drizzle turned into a steady rain, but she didn’t feel it soaking her hair or jeans. She didn’t notice the drops falling from her collar down her shirt and traveling along her skin. Her fury at what her grandparents and aunts had planned to do to her mum kept her from feeling the cool air.

  Block after block faded beneath her feet. She didn’t slow until she found herself in the neighborhood. Before she knew it, she was standing in front of the house.

  Its charming façade of the all white, two-story house with the bright red door hid the evil within. She tried to image her mother growing up in such a place, but all she saw was anger and violence.

  All because of magic.

  She clicked her left fingers together, realizing too late that her finger rings were still gone. She was going to get them back. They were her only link to her mother. She wondered where Ulri
k was. He was out there. She knew it. Was he watching her now?

  Eilish walked to the short, wooden gate and placed her hands on it. She felt old magic, spells to keep others out. And no doubt ones that would alert the Duffys that a visitor approached.

  Just as she expected, the front door opened, and an elderly woman bent with age stood, leaning on a cane. Her white hair was cut short and flattened on one side from where she’d been sleeping.

  As decrepit as the woman appeared, her eyes told another story. There was still strength in the green depths as they locked on Eilish. She placed one gnarled hand atop the other and laughed, the sound like nails raking down a chalkboard.

  Eilish hated her immediately. Without having to be told, she knew this woman was her grandmother. Whatever motherly instinct most females had for their children, it had bypassed this woman completely.

  “I knew you’d come,” she said.

  Eilish shot her a hard look. “Lady, I’m here to find the bitches who tried to hurt me. Then I’m coming for you for wanting to kill my mother.”

  “Is that right?”

  To show she meant business, Eilish sent a blast of magic toward the house. There was a second of silence before a boom sounded, and the windows shattered.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  There should be backup. As strong as Ulrik knew himself to be, and as powerful as he knew Eilish was, it was the unknown of the Duffys that caused him concern.

  The more he thought about the Druid magic Mikkel had, the more disturbed he became. He’d believed Eireen was alive, which was why he hadn’t searched for her soul. Yet the more he thought of Mikkel, the more he began to doubt it.

  If Mikkel took the magic the Duffys had gotten from Eireen, no doubt it was in exchange for him bringing them Eilish.

  Ulrik was about to stop Eilish so they could reevaluate things when she blew out the windows of the house. There was no going back now. For better or worse, things would get resolved one way or another.

  He remained hidden, watching the back of the dwelling through the rain. It wasn’t long before he spotted movement in an upstairs window. A woman with short, dark hair looked outside, her gaze scanning the area. Then a suit-clad arm yanked the curtain closed.