by Donna Grant
“Tell me you’re all right,” she told him. “I heard you. I heard the roar.”
“I’m better now that you’re in my arms.”
V leaned back to look at her. He shook his head and then turned away, raking a hand through his long, dark locks. Claire didn’t move as he stopped after a few steps with his back to her. She let her gaze run over the tattoo that covered his back and the backs of his arms.
Something flew through the air at him. V caught it without looking. That’s when Claire realized it was a pair of jeans. He tugged them on, but it still took him a few moments before he faced her once more. He was deeply troubled, and that was nearly overshadowed by the fury he barely kept in check.
Claire looked to where the jeans had come from. She spotted Hal and Ulrik standing in silence. This only made her more anxious. The unknown churned in her stomach, and for a moment, she thought she might be sick.
Hal quickly looked away from her gaze. Ulrik, on the other hand, gave her a nod as if silently telling her to get V to share whatever he was keeping locked inside him.
“V, you said last night that I could tell you anything. Now, I’m the one stating that,” she told him.
He leaned his head back to look at the ceiling of the cavern. “I’ve spent the majority of my life right here in this part of my mountain. It was easy no’ to think about the things I missed, like sharing moments with my brethren or just seeing the world, when I could focus on finding my sword. When I had my weapon, I once again pushed everything else aside to try and reclaim the power I had with it.”
V turned his head to Ulrik and Hal. “I didna want to tell anyone that no’ only could I no’ call the dragons home, I couldna even use my sword to find them.”
Claire’s heart ached for V because he was admitting to those in the cavern what he had kept inside himself. She started to go to him but hesitated.
He pivoted to face her. “You caught my attention no’ long after I returned to Dreagan. I saw you one day in the village. It was raining, but you didna care that you got wet. You jumped into a puddle with a toddler, and your laugh went right through me. After that, I searched for you every time I went into the village. Soon, I was there every day, hoping for a glimpse of you.”
If she didn’t already love him, she would after such a confession.
V blew out a breath. “Then we spent that day together. It was the best time I could remember having. I didna want it to end.”
“Neither did I,” she told him.
One side of his lips lifted in a smile. “You surprised me at the loch. I didna think you would get into the water.”
Claire laughed softly. “I surprised myself.”
“I knew then that I wanted you, needed you.” His smile dropped. “I couldna resist the pull you had over me. If I had known.…”
She lifted her brows, waiting for him to continue. But he didn’t. Claire took a step toward him. “If you had known what?”
V closed his eyes for a heartbeat. “If I had known what Usaeil planned, I never would have spoken to you.”
“What did she plan?”
A muscle worked in V’s jaw, but he didn’t reply.
Claire moved to stand directly before him. “What did she plan?”
“She disguised herself as Rhi to talk with you at the spa.”
Her heart began to pound erratically, unease racing down her spine. “For what purpose?”
“To get you and me together.”
Claire’s blood turned to ice. She knew she shouldn’t ask, and yet, the words fell from her lips. “Why?”
“Because she put a spell on you to ensure that you would become pregnant.”
Even though Claire had known the answer, hearing it made it real. She put her hand on her stomach and met V’s ice blue gaze. Claire didn’t know if the Fae’s spell would ensure that the babe survived or died, but she couldn’t think of that right now. She had to focus on her man.
She put her hands on V’s bare chest. “I don’t care who is responsible. We were meant to be together. I wouldn’t change that for anything. No matter what happiness or sorrow comes our way, we will face it together.”
“Och, lass,” V murmured as he wrapped his arms around her. “I didna think it was possible to love you more than I already did, but I do.”
“Does that mean I can help you kick Usaeil’s ass?”
There was a chuckle behind her from one of the Kings, but there was no smile on V’s face when he looked down at her. She put a hand on his cheek.
“I know,” she told him. “Just make sure she pays for her crimes.”
“Oh, she will.” His eyes glittered with the promise of retribution.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
V nodded at Claire to reassure her that he was fine before Shara returned the two of them to the manor. Once Claire was gone, V gave in to the rage once more. He clenched his fists, imagining wrapping his fingers around Usaeil’s throat before he engulfed her in dragon fire. Her screams would be music to his ears.
She deserved it for all of her atrocities, but especially for putting Claire in the position to possibly lose a child.
“You know Usaeil could be lying,” Ulrik stated.
Hal shook his head. “I disagree. The only way she could know about the pregnancy was if she put the spell in place.”
V knew the heartbreak that most likely awaited him and Claire, and it was all because of Usaeil. If he hadn’t hated the queen already, he certainly would now.
“Usaeil did exactly as she said,” V replied. “She also has Con.”
Ulrik’s eyes narrowed. “She wants the Kings and the Fae to join together. How does she believe this fits into that plan? It’s in direct opposition to it. All this will do is cause us to go to war.”
“No’ to mention her part with the Others,” V pointed out.
“She has a plan. Of that I’m sure,” Hal replied.
V nodded as he looked from Hal to Ulrik. “I agree. Usaeil does have a plan. Somehow in that twisted brain of hers, this is going to work in her favor.”
“It shows how little she knows Con,” Ulrik replied with a smug grin.
Hal’s brows shot up on his forehead. “Con is likely to kill Usaeil before Rhi can even get close enough.”
Ulrik’s lips twisted. “Aye. That’s verra true.”
“The Light need to know who Usaeil really is.”
Hal blew out a loud breath. “I’d hoped Inen would be the one to fill his people in. For all we know, he’s dead.”
“That means Rhi can no’ trust that it was actually him she spoke to,” V added.
Ulrik immediately shouted, “Rhi, I need you here immediately. It’s about Usaeil and Inen!”
The three Kings looked at each other, waiting to see if the Fae would respond. She had been ignoring them for weeks now. Would this be the one thing that got her attention? V sincerely hoped so because if Usaeil managed to kill Rhi, whatever hope there was for the Light would die with her.
“This better fekking be good,” came an Irish voice from behind V.
He whirled around and saw the Light standing with a hand on one hip, and her head cocked to the side.
“Well?” she pressed.
Ulrik sighed. “Where the hell have you been?”
“I came because you said this was about Inen. Tell me now, or I leave,” Rhi threatened.
V glanced at his friends. “Hal and I went to the Light Castle.”
Rhi gave him a look of utter disbelief. “Why in the world would you do that?”
“Because Con is missing,” Hal told her. “We think Usaeil has him.”
The Fae merely blinked at the news.
V tried not to let her silence or lack of outrage upset him. “Hal and I believed we were talking to Inen.”
“Who I trust,” Rhi added.
Ulrik made a sound in the back of his throat. “That might no’ be wise.”
Rhi’s silver gaze swung to V. “Why?”
“Because
Ulrik, Con, and I spoke to Balladyn.”
At this news, Rhi’s eyes widened. She dropped her arm to her side but said nothing.
“Balladyn said that you were good at picking your friends. He told us that if you trust Inen, so should we.” V paused a moment to let that sink in. “Unfortunately, we told Inen this.”
Rhi shrugged. “So? You can trust him.”
“That’s the thing. We can no’,” Hal said.
V waited until Rhi’s gaze was on him once more. Then he continued. “Before our eyes, Inen’s shape disappeared to reveal Usaeil.”
Rhi’s nostrils flared. “The Kings can sense when a Fae uses glamour.”
“No’ this time,” Hal replied.
Ulrik said, “There’s more. V.”
V wished with all his might that things had ended there with the queen. But they hadn’t, and he wasn’t going to let Usaeil win.
“A few weeks ago, Claire went to a spa. She ran across a woman with long, black hair and silver eyes. One who had a certain love for getting her nails done.”
Rhi slowly shook her head, shock contorting her face.
V didn’t stop. “She told Claire that her name was Rhi. She then urged Claire to go after what she wanted—me. It worked. I took Claire as my own that night. Now, Claire is with child.”
“No,” Rhi murmured.
V paused and drew in a deep breath. “Usaeil knew about the bairn when Hal and I spoke to her. She admitted to masquerading as you in the village to get close to Claire so she could put a spell on her to ensure that she got pregnant.”
Rhi spun around, her hair whirling with her. Her fists were clenched, her shoulders tight with indignation, while resentment and anger rolled off her in waves. The Fae began to glow.
Ulrik hesitantly took a step toward Rhi. “We told you all of this knowing you might very well have such a reaction. But the truth is, we need you, Rhi. Your people need you.”
“I should have gone after Ubitch months ago,” Rhi said furiously. “Con talked me into waiting. I listened to him, and look what that has gotten everyone.”
V winced when her glow got brighter. If Rhi didn’t calm down, she could blow up the entire realm. V probably should have worded things better. Then again, there wasn’t an easy way to sugarcoat anything when it involved Usaeil.
Suddenly, the glowing stopped. Rhi turned to face them. V wasn’t the only one who saw the flash of red in her eyes before it disappeared. This was the darkness that had been mentioned.
“Rhi,” Ulrik said. “It would be easy to give in to the darkness that calls to you right now. Your fury all but welcomes it.”
“What would you have me do?” she asked. “Continue shopping and partying like none of this has happened? Shall I get my nails done again? Or leave the realm and try to make a new life? Tell me how you dealt with the anger all those years, Ulrik, because I know the answer better than others.”
V slid his gaze to Ulrik to find the King of Silvers flatten his lips and actually wince a little at Rhi’s words. V was well aware that the only one who knew what Ulrik had gone through after being banished and unable to shift was Ulrik himself, but there were things Rhi might have seen that no one else had.
“Aye,” Ulrik said with a nod. “You know I plotted Con’s downfall. I wanted all the Kings to suffer as I had. I doona deny that. But this is different.”
Rhi barked with laughter, but there was no mirth in the sound. “How is this different? Because you’re on the other side?”
“Because this is no’ just about the Dragon Kings. This is about the Fae—all Fae,” Ulrik pointed out.
V then said, “For whatever reason, we believe Con is allowing himself to be held by Usaeil. He’s waiting for the opportune time to strike.”
“So you believe.” Rhi lifted her chin. “I’ve tried to tell Con for a while now that Usaeil is more devious than he could ever imagine. He underestimated her. And all of you are doing the same.”
“The Light will listen to you,” Hal said.
Rhi snorted loudly and swung her head to him. “I know Usaeil well enough to know that she’s told them all kinds of lies so they will turn on me. And there’s no point in even thinking of using Balladyn or his army. The queen will be on to him.”
“There’s no keeping Balladyn from helping you,” Ulrik told her.
Rhi walked to a smaller boulder and sat on it. “The smart thing to do would be to call in allies so we can join forces. The Warriors, Druids, and even the Reapers, if they will help. Maybe the Dark will join in. But all of it will end in death. For everyone.”
Hal started to talk, but Rhi spoke over him.
“How can any of you forget what happened with Dorian in New York? The black blade that put him in a state that he nearly couldn’t come back from. Remember that? The Con you all know and have come to count on could be gone if Usaeil has found another such weapon.”
V shook his head. “I doona believe that. It will take a lot more to bring Con to his knees.”
“Really?” Rhi asked, a thin, black brow quirked. “And what do you think he would do for all of you?”
Ulrik turned on his heel and raked a hand through his hair. “Fuck.”
Even Hal’s gaze dropped to the ground.
V hated that he’d missed so many important things by sleeping through all those years. He knew that both Ulrik and Hal were thinking about how Con had let the love of his life go all those years ago. V might not have been there to witness Con with someone, but the fact that the King of Kings had let his love go was something V couldn’t fathom.
And yet Con had done just that.
“He would die for each and every one of you,” Rhi said into the silence that followed. “He would do it again and again and again if he knew it would save you.”
V understood then. “This isna about Usaeil or the Fae. This is about the Others.”
Rhi briefly met his gaze and swallowed loudly. “Yes.”
“We know Usaeil is part of the group,” Ulrik said. “We figured that out after Dorian’s encounter in New York.”
Hal asked, “What are we missing?”
Rhi held out her hand, palm up. A moment later, a tattered scroll appeared. She looked at them, waiting for someone to take it.
Finally, V walked to it. His touch was light as he took it from the Fae and returned to stand between Hal and Ulrik. He carefully unrolled it. Another moment passed as his magic worked to make sure he could translate the writing he didn’t recognize.
It was one short page. A confession of sorts by a Light Fae. The name had been torn away at the bottom, but the Fae spoke about the group that Usaeil—who wasn’t yet queen—put together on the Fae Realm after a visit from a group from another realm.
V rolled up the scroll and lowered it. “Where did you find this?”
Rhi glanced at the ground. “On the Fae Realm. I went back to the Light Castle there and searched the library. It’s where I’ve been. I just found that.”
“What other group is this person talking about?” V asked.
“It has to be the Druids who joined the Others,” Hal said.
Ulrik shook his head. “Maybe. Maybe no’. What this does give us is definitive proof that Usaeil is responsible for putting the group together. It also lets us know that there are outside forces involved. For all we know, they’re still involved.”
“It also tells us that Usaeil has targeted the Kings from day one,” V said. “Even before the Fae came to this realm.”
Hal shrugged, his lips twisting. “For all we know, that’s why the Fae came. For us.”
Ulrik shook his head. “Wait. If Usaeil was part of those wanting to hurt us, why would she want Con as her own?”
“That’s simple,” Rhi said.
They all turned their gazes to the Light.
Rhi lifted one shoulder. “Usaeil has to be wanted. Con didn’t want her. Then, he did. Usaeil thought she’d gotten what she desired.”
“Only Con ended it,” Hal s
aid with a nod.
Rhi shot him a smile. “Bingo. Usaeil might have had one objective at the beginning, but make no mistake, she has changed that.”
“I’m no’ so sure,” Ulrik said and looked at V.
V grunted. “There are things in place, as you well know, Rhi. Iceland.”
“True,” Rhi said as she crossed one leg over the other. “Usaeil could have forgotten about those, but I don’t think so. I think it’s more likely that she could not care less about any of you. She has her sights set on what she wants. And it’s threefold.”
Hal frowned. “Threefold?”
“She wants Rhi dead,” Ulrik said.
V crossed his arms over his chest. “And she wants to be Con’s mate.”
“But, most of all,” Rhi added, “she wants to reign over everyone and everything.”
Hal raised a brow. “That means she’ll have to get rid of Balladyn, as well.”
They all looked at one another.
It was Rhi who said, “That can’t happen.”
V cleared his throat. “There’s something else you should know, Rhi. Usaeil has demanded you in exchange for Con.”
The Fae laughed. “Well. Isn’t that interesting. And not at all surprising.”
V exchanged a look with Ulrik and Hal. He’d thought that would upset Rhi, but apparently, he’d been wrong.
Rhi got to her feet. “We don’t have a lot of time to put a plan into action. It needs to start now. Usaeil won’t wait long for you to bring me to her, and the longer Con is with her, the worse it’ll be for him.”
“Do you have any suggestions?” Hal asked.
She smiled. “I’m coming up with a plan. I’ll be back.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Claire wasn’t all right. She was so far from all right that she didn’t know which direction to turn. But she trusted V. She knew that he was doing everything he could.
But would it be enough?
She blew out a breath, thankful that Shara had left her alone. Claire needed some time to digest the new information, and she hadn’t wanted to do it with an audience. By now, the entire manor most likely knew about her pregnancy. She knew there would be those who schooled their features not to look too happy or concerned—which only made the entire ordeal even worse.