by Donna Grant
She covered his hand with hers. “Everything. Usaeil claims this is her doing, but who’s to say that it wasn’t just Fate? Regardless of the how or why, we created life. I’m going to hold onto that—whatever may come.”
“You continue to surprise me,” V murmured with a seductive grin.
Claire bit her lip and looked up at him through her lashes. “I have a favor to ask.”
“Name it.”
“You don’t even know what it is yet,” she said with a laugh.
He shrugged, still smiling. “I’ll give you anything you want.”
“I want to see you again.”
V blinked at her. “Is that all?”
“Can I see you fly? What about doing some magic? I don’t care. I just want to see you.”
“Gladly, love.”
She could hardly contain her excitement when he took several steps back, never breaking eye contact with her. When he stood there without shifting, Claire started to worry.
It was the dark clouds gathering overhead that caught her attention. She looked over her shoulder and spotted Arian. The King winked at her before nodding to V.
“He needs cover,” Arian explained.
Claire hadn’t even thought of that. She noticed that others were watching them from the cavern. It had begun as a private moment, but she realized that the Kings and mates stood with her and V as family.
“You want to see magic?” V asked her. “I’ll show you my power.”
In the next blink, his body shifted into dozens of bats. Claire gasped in delight as they flew around her. She held out her arms, smiling in utter astonishment.
Then the bats came together again, and V stood before her in his dragon form. His ruby eyes studied her for a moment before he lay down.
Roman walked to Claire. “V’s power is the ability to shield himself when he shifts. Humans see bats.”
“Giving rise to the legend of Dracula,” Claire said with a nod of understanding.
“He’s waiting for you,” Roman said.
Claire looked from Roman to V and back to Roman. “Waiting for what?”
“To take you flying.”
Claire’s gaze jerked to V. He wore the same look he had the night he’d taken her to the loch. She hadn’t hesitated then, and she wouldn’t now. She rushed to him as Roman instructed her on how to climb upon V’s back.
Once seated, she realized that she didn’t have anything to hold on to. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. She could fall off and plummet to the ground. Then she realized how silly that was. V would never put her in a position where he couldn’t protect her.
“I’m ready,” she told him.
Claire glanced into the opening of the mountain. She spotted Sophie and Darius watching. Sophie waved, a bright smile on her face. It seemed like a lifetime ago that Claire was the one who’d watched her friend fall in love. Now, it was Sophie’s turn. It was perfect that they had each found their own Dragon King.
V got to his feet and spread his wings. The gust of wind from that movement caused Claire’s hair to fly into her face. She laughed, eager to be in the air. As if reading her mind, V leapt.
She clung to his scales, leaning low as her heart jumped to her throat. When she was brave enough to look down, she saw that the ground was moving farther away.
Claire raised her face and looked out before her as V glided over a mountain. Every movement he made was smooth. It didn’t take her long to sit up and take in the full experience of riding atop a dragon.
The wind whipped around them, but V never took her too high. She gazed down at the many mountains and valleys. She’d known the Dragonwood was expansive, but she didn’t fully comprehend it all until V flew over it.
The lochs, rivers, and waterfalls from this vantage point were spectacular. Claire tried to remember where each was to go back and visit them on foot, but there was just so much she wanted to see.
Soon, she realized that V had slowly begun to descend. He flew between two mountains, following a stream through a valley. Sheep scattered at the sight of them, bleating loudly—not that she could blame the poor animals.
Then, to her surprise, V flew upwards and landed upon the top of a mountain. As soon as he tucked in his wings, she climbed down from his back. She’d barely faced him before he returned to his human form. His very fine naked form.
“That was amazing,” she told him, letting her gaze run over his gorgeous body. “All of it. From the bats to seeing you again to the ride.”
He walked to her. “You can have that every day for eternity.”
Claire’s heart missed a beat. He’d spoken of his love, but he’d never said anything about forever before.
“I’ve known for a while that you are my mate,” V said as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I wanted to give you some time with us as a couple before I brought this up, but when I tried to come up with the perfect time, I couldna. This isna about the upcoming battle, Con missing, or the bairn. This is about my love for you, about wanting you by my side for eternity. If you need time to consi—”
She put her finger on his lips to silence him and shook her head. “Don’t finish that thought. That was … perfect. I love you so much that I wonder how I went through life without you. My soul knew you instantly. I don’t need time to consider anything. I’ve been yours from the moment I walked into the loch with you.”
V pulled her against him and lowered his head to claim her lips. The kiss began slow and sensual, but it quickly turned fiery.
“Can we go to your mountain?” Claire asked between kisses.
He chuckled. “Lass, you’re standing on it.”
“Take me inside,” she urged him. “And make love to me.”
His gaze heated with hunger as he held out his hand to her. “This is no longer my mountain. This is ours.”
She didn’t get a chance to respond before she found herself surrounded by darkness. A moment later, soft candlelight filled the area. Claire looked around at the cavern where V had spent countless millennia. There was a pile of blankets spread out, numerous pillows situated to the side, and so many candles that it boggled her mind.
Her gaze met V’s. “We’re going to have a fabulous life.”
“We certainly are.”
He walked her to the blankets and drew her into his arms. “Doona ever be afraid to tell me what you’re feeling. I can no’ help if I doona know what’s going on in your mind.”
“I promise to tell you everything. Don’t ever keep me in the dark about what’s going on with the Kings or if you leave on some special mission.”
“I promise,” he told her.
Claire grinned up at him. The smile stayed in place until his lips met hers, and he lowered her to the blankets.
EPILOGUE
The next day …
Claire didn’t hide her smile as she looked at the large clock over the mantel. Many of the women were in there with her, but it didn’t matter where everyone was on Dreagan. Thanks to Kinsey, every mate and Dragon King was about to get a surprise.
“It’s been a couple of days,” Elena said with a frown. “I’ve gotten so used to having almost daily posts from the blog that it’s odd not to have one. I love reading about her dates.”
Claire caught Kinsey’s gaze as the hour struck. She nodded at Kinsey. With one press of a button on Kinsey’s mobile, everyone’s phone, computer, and tablet at Dreagan switched to a hidden page on Claire’s website.
She and Kinsey watched everyone reading. When Claire had written the words, she hadn’t known how freeing it would feel to share such a secret with so many who had become friends and family.
It was a short message stating that she was the owner of the (Mis)Adventures of a Dating Failure, and that she wanted the others to know the truth.
One by one, the women looked at her, but Claire’s gaze was on Sophie. It felt like forever before Sophie looked up, shock covering her face.
“I should have told you,”
Claire said to her best friend. “I knew you would keep the secret, but it snowballed so quickly. And it was just so easy to pretend that it wasn’t me.”
Sophie tossed down her phone and rose to hurry to Claire. She enfolded Claire in a tight hug. “You don’t owe me an explanation. And you did try to tell me it was you. I didn’t believe you.”
There was a moment of shared laughter through their tears. The others joined in, and soon, Claire was surrounded. Everyone wanted to know her worst date and if everything she wrote was true.
Claire looked between the wall of bodies to the doorway and spotted V leaning against it. They shared a smile. She’d thought that she had a good life before, but she hadn’t realized how great things could be with the right man.
There was so much up in the air, most importantly what would happen to the life growing inside her. But she was going to take it one day at a time. Some days would be good, some bad. Today was a good one.
Who knew what tomorrow held. War was on their doorstep. Anything could happen, but she had faith in the Dragon Kings. Claire had faith in her man.
Magic had chosen every King at Dreagan. That power had seen the goodness in their hearts. It accounted for something. Especially when they stood against someone as evil as Usaeil.
They would win. Because there was no other option.
* * *
Rhi stood on the rocky bank and watched the ripples in the river as it drifted past her. She went through everything she remembered about her parents. They had been above reproach. There was nothing about her father that ever made Rhi think he was involved in anything nefarious.
And yet he had been.
His name had been on the stone wall in the mountain on Iceland. She wanted to deny it, to erase it from her thoughts, but she couldn’t.
No doubt Usaeil would use that knowledge against her. Or try to. It was something that would have shocked Rhi and thrown her off her game. But she was prepared now. At least, she hoped she was.
Rhi thought about her visit from Death. For some reason, the Mistress of War believed that Rhi had what it took to take down Usaeil. She wasn’t so sure, but if she let doubt take up residence within her, then Usaeil had already won.
Was it because of her father that Usaeil had made Rhi feel like a sister? Had her father known what the queen wanted? Rhi couldn’t remember ever seeing the two of them alone, but that didn’t mean it didn’t happen.
She thought of her house on the Fae Realm. There was nothing left. If there were, she would go and search for something that linked her father to Usaeil and the Others.
His name on that wall had sealed his fate.
And hers.
Rhi would have to tell the Kings. Death already knew, which meant that the Reapers most likely did, as well.
“Rhi.”
She sighed when she heard Balladyn call to her. She knew she would have to face him soon, but she wasn’t quite ready. There was too much crowding her mind at present.
Usaeil had threatened the Kings with Claire’s death if any of them attacked the Light Castle. Was it a bluff? Usaeil didn’t care about the castle or those within it. So why use that threat?
And where did Ubitch have Con? More importantly, how had the imbecile allowed himself to be taken?
Rhi started laughing as the pieces fit together. “You wanker, Con,” she said. “You knew Usaeil would come for you. You didn’t know when or how, but you knew it would happen.”
Based on the description of what Kellan had seen, Usaeil had surprised Con, coming up behind him just as he grabbed the pocket watch to return to Dreagan. Somehow, the queen had prevented Kellan from seeing anything more to do with Con, which was something that had never happened to the Keeper of History before.
It let Rhi know just how powerful Usaeil was. To be able to fool the Kings with glamour and keep Kellan from seeing Con took incredible amounts of magic.
Something Usaeil wouldn’t be able to do on her own. She had help. And Rhi suspected that she knew exactly who was helping the queen—the Others. Or what was left of them.
“It won’t be long now, Usaeil. I’m coming for you.”
The Fae Realm
No one returned anymore. It was a reminder of what they’d once had.
And what had been lost.
Usaeil stared at the ruins of her once glorious castle. The one on Earth didn’t compare. The Fae Realm might be uninhabitable, but there were plenty of others out there to establish another planet to reign from. It had to be someplace strategic if she were going to rule the universe.
“Always plotting.”
Usaeil lifted her chin at the voice. She turned and met the green eyes of the Empress of Druids. “Moreann. I don’t like to be kept waiting.”
The mie smiled smugly in reply. “Whatever you have to say had better be good. I don’t like coming to this place.”
Usaeil watched as the Druid looked around what was left of her realm with disdain. “Careful. You need me as much as I need you.”
“So I do,” Moreann said as she clasped her hands before her.
They stared at each other for a full minute before Usaeil said, “I have Con.”
“You still want what you can’t have.”
“I can have him. And I will.”
“He will be your downfall.”
Usaeil barked a laugh. “You underestimate me. Just as he did.”
“He’s a Dragon King, Usaeil. He’s part of those we want to be rid of.”
“Oh, they will be dealt with. But I have plans for him. Imagine having someone as powerful as Constantine to do my bidding.”
“Our bidding, you mean,” Moreann corrected.
Usaeil smiled and nodded. “Of course.”
“Is that all you’ve brought me here to say? What about Rhi? Have you brought her into the fold? We need her.”
“I’m very close. I need a little more time,” Usaeil lied.
It didn’t matter what any of the Druids told her, Rhi would never be a part of the Others—or anything else. The Fae had caused enough trouble, and she would die a very painful death at Usaeil’s hands.
Moreann’s eyes narrowed on Usaeil. “Be quick, or I’ll contact Rhiannon myself.”
Usaeil waited until the Druid was gone before she said, “It’s never going to happen. And soon, you’ll bow to me. Just like everyone else.
DON’T MISS THESE OTHER SPELLBINDING NOVELS BY DONNA GRANT
THE DARK KING SERIES
Dark Heat
Darkest Flame
Fire Rising
Burning Desire
Hot Blooded
Night’s Blaze
Soul Scorched
Passion Ignites
Smoldering Hunger
Smoke And Fire
Firestorm
Blaze
Heat
Torched
Dragonfire
THE HEART OF TEXAS SERIES
The Christmas Cowboy Hero
Cowboy, Cross My Heart
My Favorite Cowboy
THE SONS OF TEXAS SERIES
The Legend
The Hero
The Protector
THE DARK WARRIOR SERIES
Midnight’s Master
Midnight’s Lover
Midnight’s Seduction
Midnight’s Warrior
Midnight’s Kiss
Midnight’s Captive
Midnight’s Temptation
Midnight’s Promise
THE DARK SWORD SERIES
Dangerous Highlander
Forbidden Highlander
Wicked Highlander
Untamed Highlander
Shadow Highlander
Darkest Highlander
THE REAPERS E-NOVELLA SERIES
Dark Alpha’s Claim
Dark Alpha’s Embrace
Dark Alpha’s Demand
Dark Alpha’s Lover
Dark Alpha’s Night
Dark Alpha’s Hunger
Dark Al
hpa’s Awakening
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Praise for Donna Grant
The Dark King series
“Loaded with subtle emotions, sizzling chemistry, and some provocative thoughts on the real choices [Grant’s] characters are forced to make as they choose their loves for eternity.”
—RT Book Reviews (4 stars)
“Vivid images, intense details, and enchanting characters grab the reader’s attention and [don’t] let go.”
—Night Owl Reviews (Top Pick)
The Dark Warrior series
“The world of the Immortal Warriors is a thoroughly engaging one, blending powerful ancient gods, fiery desire, and touchingly human love, which readers will surely want to revisit.”
—RT Book Reviews
“[Grant] blends ancient gods, love, desire, and evil-doers into a world you will want to revisit over and over again.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“Sizzling love scenes and engaging characters.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Ms. Grant mixes adventure, magic and sweet love to create the perfect romance[s].”
—Single Title Reviews
The Dark Sword series
“Grant creates a vivid picture of Britain centuries after the Celts and Druids tried to expel the Romans, deftly merging magic and history. The result is a wonderfully dark, delightfully well-written [series]. Readers will eagerly await the next Dark Sword book.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Another fantastic series that melds the paranormal with the historical life of the Scottish highlander in this arousing and exciting adventure.”
—Bitten By Books
“These are some of the hottest brothers around in paranormal fiction.”
—Nocturne Romance Reads
“Will keep readers spellbound.”
—Romance Reviews Today
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has penned ninety novels, novelettes, novellas, and short stories spanning multiple genres of romance including the exhilarating Dark King and Reaper paranormal series, the romantic suspense Sons of Texas series, the historical paranormal Kindred series, and the contemporary Heart of Texas series. She lives with her two children, a dog, and three cats in Texas.