Torched

by Donna Grant

  “Do you want to ask Con to come along?” Ulrik asked, glancing at her.

  She shot him a look that he missed because he’d looked away. “Don’t be an ass.”

  “I can no’ help it. It’s who I am.”

  “No, it isn’t. It’s who you want everyone to think you are.”

  He sighed and raised his head to her once more. “I’m no’ a good man. I’ve no’ been for a verra, verra long time. I wholly accept who I am and what that means for others.”

  “What does it mean?” Her curiosity was piqued, but she also needed to know the answer.

  “It means that as long as you’re seen with me, there are those who will believe I’ve corrupted you. Humans—and even sometimes dragons—need to fit others into neat little categories. In all the advances your species has made, they still doona understand that things are never black or white. That will extend to you.”

  “I know.”

  “Nay,” he said and took a step toward her. “You doona. The Druids might verra well ostracize you. You found your place in Ireland. No’ just a location, but somewhere your magic soars, and you’re connected to the earth, the people, and the magic. Doona discount the importance of that.”

  She swallowed, the sound loud to her ears. “I’ve never cared what others think.”

  “You’ll change your mind when the business at Graves eventually dries up. Then what will you do? Return to Boston?”

  “Why are you trying to push me away?”

  He glanced at the floor. “Because it’s the best thing for you.”

  “I’ve seen this scene play out numerous times in movies. This is where I tell you that I’m the one who should decide what’s best for me.”

  A ghost of a smile curved his lips. “Ah, lass. If only things were as simple as that. This is the real world with magic, dragons, Druids, and monsters who doona have a script.”

  “It’s still my life.”

  “Aye. I can no’ tell you what to do.”

  There was something in his tone that told her he’d expected just such an argument. And he had an answer for everything. With the way Ulrik’s mind worked, no doubt he was six steps ahead of whatever she might say or do.

  He drew in a deep breath and released it. “If you go with me to face my uncle, you’ll die.”

  “Hopefully not without delivering a few magical punches myself,” she said saucily.

  “I’ll no’ be able to attack Mikkel and protect you.”

  She raised a brow, cocking her head at him. “I’m not asking you to, nor do I need it.”

  “We’ll get your finger rings, and then I want you to leave.”

  “I—” she began.

  Ulrik spoke over her. “Mikkel will resort to anything to hurt you. If he doesna know of Donal, it willna be long before he does.”

  That put a whole new perspective on things. She’d only learned of Donal recently, but knowing who her biological father was helped to soothe the loss of her mother. She couldn’t lose Donal, too.

  “You need to help protect Donal,” Ulrik continued. “He’s smart and surrounded by magic, but he doesna have any himself.”

  She nodded woodenly. How stupid of her to assume that Mikkel would run and hide, knowing that Ulrik would chase him. No, Mikkel was smarter than that. She’d just forgotten.

  “I’ve continually underestimated your uncle,” she said.

  Ulrik squatted and touched the wooden floor of the living room. “It’s no’ something you’ll ever do again.”

  She wasn’t so sure of that. “Do you know my first battle with magic was after I arrived in Ireland?”

  “You mentioned that before,” he said as he lifted his gaze to her. “A Dark Fae.”

  “I got lucky. He could’ve easily taken me if he’d been prepared.”

  Ulrik straightened and walked to her. “Take the win however it comes. Whether because you’re stronger than your adversary or it’s luck. For whatever reason, you came out on top. Accept it. Own it.”

  “Yeah,” she murmured. He was right. She needed to own it.

  “Tell me, how many other battles have you been in?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I didn’t keep count. There’ve been several. I had to let the Fae and Druids know that I would enforce the rules at Graves and in the village.”

  “You obviously won each time.”

  “I did,” she said with a frown. “Why?”

  He lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “I saw you earlier at the Duffys’. I know why Mikkel thought you could kill a Dragon King.”

  “No, he thought I could kill you.”

  Ulrik leaned close, a grin curving his lips. “Sweetheart, I’m one of the strongest.”

  Why the hell did that turn her on so much? She fought not to grab his face and pull him down for a kiss.

  “If you continue to look at me like you want nothing more than for me to push you up against a wall and take you, I’m going to do just that.”

  It wasn’t just the words. It wasn’t just the heat in his eyes. It was those things combined with his sexy-as-hell brogue that sent chills racing over her.

  “Eilish,” he murmured in a husky whisper.

  Her stomach fluttered in response. She put her hand on his chest and felt the heat of him through the shirt. His muscles flexed beneath her palm. She thought about his tattoo, touching it, imagining it was him. Somehow, she found the willpower to step back.

  She let her hand fall from him. “We’ve work to do. We’ll play later.”

  Gold eyes sizzled. “Aye. We will.”

  When he pivoted and returned to his spot, Eilish closed her eyes and blew out a breath. That man was sex on a stick. He was power and fury, grace and retribution, all rolled into one.

  And he made her knees weak.

  “I’ve got it,” Ulrik said.

  Her eyes snapped open. “You know where Mikkel went?”

  “No’ yet. We’ll have to follow the trail.”

  “How do you know it’s him?”

  Ulrik turned his head and smiled. “Because I feel the magic of the finger rings. Your residual magic.”

  “We could be walking into a trap.”

  “Without a doubt.”

  Her brows shot up on her forehead. “You say that as if you aren’t worried.”

  “Mikkel knows we’re coming. He’ll definitely set a trap, just as I know he’ll send someone to kill your father.”

  “I should warn Donal.”

  Ulrik shrugged. “I’ve taken care of that.”

  She stared at him wide-eyed. “Unless you can manipulate time, you’ve not left me. Nor have you been on a cell phone.”

  He tapped his temple. “Dragons communicate telepathically. It allows us to talk over great distances.”

  “You contacted Dreagan?”

  “I contacted someone I knew would help.”

  She shook her head in confusion. “Who?”

  “Nikolai.”

  Eilish grinned when she heard the name. “When?”

  “A few minutes ago.”

  “Will he do it?”

  “Aye.”

  “You hesitated,” she stated.

  Ulrik gave a slight lift of his shoulders. “He’s no’ at Dreagan at the moment, but he said he’d take care of it.”

  She looked down at her fingers, wishing she had her rings so she could check in on Donal. “You trust him?”

  For long moments, Ulrik held her gaze. “I believe he’ll keep his word.”

  “So you trust him.”

  “I believe him,” Ulrik repeated.

  Eilish smiled sadly. She’d thought perhaps Ulrik was getting past his distrust of everyone, but she was wrong.

  “Doona worry. Donal will be safe.”

  If Nikolai reached him before Mikkel.

  She changed the subject. “When do we go after your uncle?”

  “Now.”

  “What are we waiting for then?”

  He glanced down at the wrist with the sil
ver cuff. “This is your last chance to change your mind about coming with me.”

  “I’m going,” she stated.

  “I can no’ change your mind?”

  She walked to him and rose up to press her lips against his in a brief kiss. Then she looked into his eyes. “I’m going.”

  “Be ready,” he cautioned as he took her hand in his and touched the cuff.

  She needed to find out where he’d gotten the bracelet.

  That thought had barely finished going through her mind when she found herself standing on the Great Wall of China in the middle of the night. She turned in a full circle, taking it all in, wishing the sun was up so she could see more than the small patch of mountains the moon made visible.

  As she waited for an attack, her gaze landed on Ulrik. She knew without a doubt that he’d defeat Mikkel, but there was a possibility that these were the last hours of her life. After everything Ulrik had endured, he needed to know that someone loved him. She’d intended to keep quiet about her feelings, but something urged her to tell him now.

  “He’s no’ here,” Ulrik said as he stalked a few steps away from her. “He stood here for a long time, though. The residue of your magic is strong.”

  “I love you.”

  His head whipped to her. His nostrils flared, and his brows snapped together. “Stop.”

  “I didn’t mean to fall for you.”

  He stalked to her, causing her to retreat until her back hit the wall. “I said to stop.”

  She licked her lips. The anger blazed in his gaze as bright as a torch, but she saw the pain there, as well. “I love you.”

  “Stop!” he bellowed and struck a fist against the rock.

  Bits of the wall fell at her feet, but she never looked away from him. His breathing was labored, his teeth clenched. But she didn’t fear him.

  “You can yell all you want. Order me to be quiet. But it won’t change how I feel. I’m not asking anything from you. I just wanted you to know that I love you.”

  He looked away without another word. Then he took her hand. And just like that, China faded. They bounced around several other countries—at least she assumed they were different countries. The terrain changed, as did the time of day, but there were no markers for her to use to identify their locations.

  Finally, they stopped in a dense forest. With her magic at the ready, she looked around, trying to determine where they were. The sun was still up, so they were no longer in or around China.

  “He’s here,” Ulrik whispered.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  I love you.

  Ulrik didn’t want to think about Eilish’s words, but his mind was locked on to them. The more he told her to stop, the more defiant and assertive she’d become. Then he’d made the mistake of looking into her green-gold eyes. He searched for the lie, but it wasn’t there.

  With an inward shake of his head, he looked around at the dense woodland. They were back in Ireland. Why had Mikkel traveled so far, only to return to Ireland? Ulrik scanned the area. The huge oak and pine trees meant that Mikkel could be hidden behind any of them. But Ulrik wasn’t going to search for his uncle.

  “I was beginning to wonder if you’d come,” Mikkel stated, his voice bouncing through the woods.

  Ulrik glanced at Eilish as soon as he heard his uncle’s fake British accent. “There was never any question about me hunting you down. Your time here is finished, uncle.”

  Mikkel’s laugh filled the air. “It’s just getting started, lad.”

  “Why are you hiding? Afraid of facing me?” Ulrik taunted as he attempted to pinpoint Mikkel’s location.

  “We’ll get to that in a moment.”

  Ulrik frowned. Just what was his uncle up to? Mind games, no doubt. Ulrik turned his gaze to Eilish. Mikkel would use her. It was the obvious move.

  “Have you seen the Silvers?” Mikkel asked.

  Ulrik knew he was speaking of the four dragons locked away on Dreagan. He kept searching the trees, trying to locate where Mikkel was. “I’ve been sneaking in to see them for some time.”

  “It’s degrading what Con has done to them.”

  “At least they’re here and no’ in another realm.”

  Mikkel grunted. “All I need are those four dragons to wash away the filth of the humans.”

  “They will never be yours to command.”

  “It’s not like you’ve done a bang-up job.”

  Ulrik widened his stance. “The magic chose me to be a Dragon King.”

  “You speak as if you’re above the rest of us.” Mikkel came out from behind a tree about a hundred yards in front of Ulrik. “I know all about how the most powerful, the dragon with the most magic becomes King. But I’ve also heard that whatever it is that chooses the Kings looks deep into the heart of a dragon. How is it that they missed the hatred in my father’s?”

  Ulrik shrugged, his gaze locked on his uncle. “I heard about the abuse you claim.”

  “I claim nothing! It’s the truth!” Mikkel shouted, spittle flying from his mouth in his outrage.

  Ulrik was ready to shift and end this. “I doona care. I’m here to fight.”

  Mikkel suddenly laughed. “Still making the same mistakes of the past, aye, nephew.”

  Ulrik wasn’t going to get into any sort of discussion involving Eilish. Mikkel would twist words to suit his cause.

  “Nothing to say?” Mikkel asked cheekily before looking at Eilish. “I didn’t expect you to bring backup.”

  She snorted loudly. “You’re so damn full of yourself. Ulrik doesn’t need anyone’s help to fight you. I’m here for what you took from me.”

  Ulrik clenched his teeth in dread. If only Eilish had kept quiet, then he could’ve made sure Mikkel’s attention stayed on him.

  “These?” Mikkel asked as he held up his hand and wiggled his fingers. “So, they’re important to you, huh?”

  “They’re mine,” Eilish stated.

  Mikkel nodded, his lips twisting. “I gather extremely important since they were your mother’s.”

  Ulrik frowned, unease rippling through him. He knew Eilish hadn’t shared that tidbit with Mikkel, and he wasn’t sure how much the Duffys had known, but he doubted Eireen would’ve flashed the finger rings around. Which meant … Donal.

  There was no time to warn Eilish as Mikkel motioned to someone. A moment later, Donal walked into view.

  “Fuck,” Ulrik murmured. Then, to Mikkel, he said, “Why are you bringing a mortal into our fight?”

  Mikkel gave him an innocent look. “I’m here to set right what you cocked up. That means I’ll use anything and anyone I have at my disposal.”

  “No,” Ulrik said to Eilish when she went to take a step forward.

  Without taking her eyes off Donal, she whispered, “He’s my father.”

  Ulrik studied Donal, but the human didn’t seem himself. His gaze was unfocused as if he were being controlled. With Donal incapacitated, Ulrik wouldn’t be able to get him to help.

  “You want to save this old man?” Mikkel asked with a laugh. “For her. You’re so pathetic, Ulrik. Did you learn nothing from Nala?”

  “I learned plenty.”

  “Then you shouldn’t care who gets hurt. They’re just mortals. They’re beneath us.”

  Ulrik wasn’t going to get into a debate with Mikkel. Something out of the corner of his eye caught Ulrik’s attention. He looked over at Eilish to find the winding stripes on her arms were now a darker black, the edges sparking as if on fire beneath her skin.

  “Fine,” Mikkel said with a smile. “I’ll let Donal go. But you’ll need to kill the Druid.”

  Ulrik shook his head. “Can you no’ think of anything more creative than that? I’d think with the time you spent among the mortals, you could at least come up with something new and original.”

  “I quite like this, actually,” Mikkel said. “Because, either way, you lose.”

  “You assume I care what happens to the Druid.”

  Mikk
el’s smile was snide, his eyes glittering with merriment. “Don’t you?”

  “You used her. So did I.”

  Ulrik winced when Eilish looked over at him, her mouth gaping in outrage. He refused to meet her gaze. There was too much hanging on the next few seconds for him to divert his attention.

  “Then why tell me to let Donal go?” Mikkel asked.

  “Because I’m tired of waiting for our battle. You’ll drag it out, talking and boasting. I’d rather get to the part where my fist connects with your jaw.”

  Mikkel’s gaze moved to Donal as if contemplating Ulrik’s words. Ulrik could practically feel the rage rolling off Eilish in waves, but she was directing it at his uncle.

  “Are you so ready to die?” Mikkel asked him

  Ulrik felt the dragon within him growl, eager to be freed. “Perhaps you should be asking yourself that.”

  “The one thing I respected about you was that you didn’t get overconfident. I’d advise you not to do so now. Things change.”

  “I know all about you taking the Duffys’ magic. If that’s what you believe you need to defeat me, then get on with it.” Ulrik took a few steps closer. “But consider things, Uncle. Even if you overpower me, you’ve done it by cheating. You’ll never be a Dragon King.”

  Mikkel’s face contorted in fury. “Doona presume you know anything!”

  It always amused Ulrik how he could set Mikkel off. With the rise of his uncle’s anger, the British accent vanished.

  “Did I make you mad?” Ulrik asked. “Is it because you know I speak the truth?”

  Spittle flew from Mikkel’s mouth when he said, “There has to be a King of Silvers!”

  “It willna be you.” He walked closer. “It’ll never be you.”

  “We’ll see about that.”

  Ulrik knew the attack was coming before Mikkel even twitched. Ulrik directed his magic toward Donal as well as Eilish to push them out of the line of fire, but he took the full hit of Mikkel’s blast.

  The magic crackled through Ulrik’s skin with almost as much pain as a Dark Fae’s. The initial sting of it was nothing compared to the throbbing that grew the longer it was inside him.

  Ulrik bared his teeth as he remained standing. Now that Eilish and her father were out of the way, he didn’t have to worry about Mikkel turning his wrath on them. All he could hope for was that Eilish would take the hint and make her way to Donal.