by Donna Grant
She pulled her arm out of Rhys’s grip, his fingers trailing seductively along her skin. As if she needed reminding of how he made her body respond to him. He commanded her as easily and surely as the moon ruled the tides.
His close proximity made her heart thump. His heat made her body crave his touch. His aqua ringed dark blue eyes seared her skin with his intense gaze, causing her to be conscious of how her dress molded to her body.
He was virile, persuasive, and masculine. His rugged good looks turned heads, but in a suit, he looked dashing and powerful. A combination no woman could ignore. And he was sitting next to her. Lily wanted to run her fingers through his long dark brown waves and pull his head down for a kiss.
And if he didn’t quit looking at her as if he wanted to take her right there, she just might.
By the time she had her hand back in her lap, her lips were parted and her chest rose and fell rapidly.
Rhys could do that to her with a simple touch. An innocent, modest touch.
Lily took a deep breath and lifted her eyes only to clash with Denae’s gaze from across the round table. Denae directed a small, knowing grin at her.
It took Lily a second to realize the waiter was standing beside her, waiting on her drink order. She had been quite shaken up by Dennis’s call, and then she saw Rhys. With Rhys filling her mind, she didn’t have the wherewithal to think about Dennis or his demands.
Lily desperately wanted some alcohol. She was searching her mind for what to order when her gaze snagged on a woman across the way drinking champagne. “I’ll have a glass of champagne, please.”
“That sounds decadent,” Denae said. “I’d like one as well.”
Rhys lifted a finger to get the waiter’s attention. “Bring us a bottle of Dom Perignon.”
When the waiter walked away, Denae leaned forward and nodded to Lily’s new tat. “So that’s what took you away.”
“Yes,” Lily said and carefully moved the hem of her sleeve away from the sensitive skin.
“It must be important,” Kellan said, his celadon eyes watching her.
Lily shifted slightly in her chair. “Don’t we all have things we need to conquer?”
Kellan bowed his head slightly, a small grin playing at his lips. “That we do, Lily.”
She was saved from further questions when the waiter returned with the champagne and flutes. Denae talked about all the stores they had visited while their drinks were being poured. Lily discovered that her hand shook when she went to grab her glass. She fisted her hand to try to get control of herself, but she couldn’t stop the shaking.
Rhys leaned over and whispered, “No one can see your hand.”
“I don’t know why they’re shaking.”
“Do I make you nervous?”
She looked into his dark blue eyes. “Yes.”
Disappointment flashed in his eyes for the briefest of seconds. “Would you like me to leave?”
“No.”
He stared at her for a heartbeat, then two, before one side of his mouth kicked up in a smile. “Good.”
Lily really needed a drink then. She brought the champagne flute to her lips and took a sip of the golden liquor. The bubbles danced on her tongue before she swallowed. “It’s been a long time since I’ve drank champagne.”
“Today has been quite full then.”
She knew he was fishing for information, but she didn’t care. Lily took another drink, feeling herself relax, her muscles loosen with each swallow. “I’ve needed today for a long time. I just didn’t realize it.”
Her body warmed with Rhys’s gaze on her. She was sitting between two incredibly gorgeous men, but she only had eyes for Rhys—as it had been since she first arrived at Dreagan. He dominated a room full of people, her attention gravitating to him no matter who was with her or where they were.
Their conversation was halted once more to place their food order. Lily handed the menu to the waiter and sipped her champagne as Rhys and Kellan ordered. After the waiter left, Rhys and Kellan exchanged a quick look that left Lily wondering what was going on.
“Did you get all that you needed?” Kellan asked Denae.
Denae shot him an apologetic look. “Yes, and a bit more.”
“Good,” Kellan said.
Lily laughed and shook her head as all eyes turned to her. “Denae, you’ve got a keeper there for sure. Usually men cringe when women talk about shopping.”
Kellan reached over and took Denae’s hand. “She changed me. In more ways than one.”
“I’ll say,” Denae said with a bright smile. She turned her attention to Lily. “It wasn’t that long ago that he was quite set in his ways, refusing to even consider another option.”
Lily watched the love brimming between them. “Is what Denae said true?” she asked Rhys.
Rhys sat back in his chair as if he were in his own home. “Oh, aye. We didna think anyone would ever be able to tame Kellan. Then Denae came along.”
“He resisted me,” Denae said with a hurt look that was ruined when she laughed as Kellan pulled her to the side so he could kiss her.
Kellan was smiling as he turned to Lily. “I tried to resist her, but she had no idea I was falling for her from the verra beginning. She had me wrapped around her little finger.”
“You’re so lying,” Denae said, laughing.
“No’ at all, my love. If you’d known, you could’ve destroyed me.”
All the smiles were gone as Denae cupped Kellan’s cheek. “Without you, I would’ve died.”
“I wouldna have let you.”
Lily knew there was a deeper meaning to their words, and by the look on Kellan’s face, Denae’s mention of death wasn’t metaphorical. She wished she knew their story, but it was private. Would she ever have such a story? She glanced at Rhys, wishing with all of her might that her story involve Rhys.
“They always tend to forget other people are around,” Rhys said as their food arrived.
With smiles back in place, Denae and Kellan rejoined the conversation. The four talked of everyday things. Laughter was never far, and the smiles were frequent.
Lily drank two glasses of champagne while she ate. The atmosphere made it easy to forget why she’d gotten the tattoo, why she wore the dress, and why she was determined to find the person she once was.
All too soon the meal was finished. Lily feared that would end the night, but she was pleasantly surprised when they remained at the table, ordering a second bottle of champagne.
“This has been a truly fabulous day,” Denae said as she lifted her glass to Lily.
Lily responded in kind. “It was. Thank you for inviting me.”
Denae winked at her, even as Kellan pulled her chair closer to his so he could drape his arm on the back of it and gaze adoringly at her.
“You watch them as if you’ve never seen such affection,” Rhys said in a low tone.
Lily turned her head to him, wondering how his chair had gotten so close to hers. Which she was quite pleased with. “Actually, I was thinking how much those two remind me of my parents.”
“In what way?”
“In all of it.” She turned her gaze back to the couple. “The way Kellan has to touch her, even if it’s just their fingers. He needs to have her near, but Denae also desires to be near him. She gravitates toward him. Then there’s the way they share those smiles, as if they know exactly what the other is thinking.”
“He’s thinking he wants to take her to their room,” Rhys said, a grin in his voice.
Lily glanced at him and chuckled. “No doubt, but there’s deeper meaning in those looks and smiles as well. It’s a connection between two people who truly love each other. It’s amazing to watch.”
“Have you ever been in love?”
His question threw her. The smile died on Lily’s lips as she hastily took a drink.
“Doona answer that,” Rhys said a second later. “I had no right to ask.”
Lily shifted in her chair so that she was
turned toward him. “I’ll answer it if you will.”
Rhys slowly nodded his head.
Lily licked her lips. “There was a short period of time when I thought I was in love. I was vastly mistaken.”
“I’ve never been in love,” Rhys said. His fingers touched the ends of her hair before his hand dropped back to his lap.
“I find that hard to believe.”
Rhys lifted one dark brow. “Because of the women you see me with?”
“Because women flock to you. You’re a beacon, a magnet for women. It’s your good looks, yes, but you’re charming and kind and … gentle. Women sense that.”
There was a beat of silence as his eyes dropped to her mouth. “Is that how you see me?”
“Yes.”
He cleared his throat and looked up before chuckling. “Looks like we’ve been ditched.”
Lily followed his gaze to see Denae and Kellan walking arm in arm from the restaurant toward the elevators. “Good for them.” She turned back to Rhys. “If you need to go—”
“I doona,” he interrupted before she could finish.
Warmth infused Lily. She couldn’t hold back her smile. While Rhys poured the last of the champagne into their glasses, Lily glanced around and saw women of all ages throughout the restaurant gazing at Rhys with longing.
Rhys handed her the glass, their fingers touching. Lily’s stomach clenched in excitement.
His head cocked to the side, a question on his face. “What?”
“Look around,” she dared him. “There isn’t a woman here who wouldn’t gladly leave with you.” She waited for him to notice, but his gaze was locked with hers.
“I’m no’ interested in any of them.”
He stood and held out his hand to her. “Walk with me.”
As if she could say no. Lily put her hand in his and got to her feet. He looped her left arm through his while she held her glass in her right. She didn’t know where they were going, and she didn’t care. It was the best day of her life, and she never wanted it to end.
They walked to one set of large double glass doors that were opened, allowing the cool night air to fill the area. Rhys guided her out the doors to the balcony that overlooked the city.
“You wear those clothes like a woman born to them.”
Lily jerked her gaze to him, startled. “Why do you say that?”
“You’re comfortable in that designer dress. I may no’ know brands, but I know couture.” He motioned inside the restaurant with his chin. “See the blonde in the black dress? She keeps rubbing the dress as if she can no’ believe it’s real.”
Lily nodded as she caught sight of the woman. “She’s doing the same thing to the huge engagement ring. Her fiancé must come from money.”
“And she doesna. I’m no’ trying to be crude, just honest. There is a difference between someone like her and someone like you.”
“Did Denae tell you about what happened today?”
“She said you ran into an old friend, but that’s all.”
Lily turned and leaned back against the stone railing of the balcony. “My family does have money. As I told her, I didn’t run away. I’ve just been on my own.”
He closed the distance between them and smoothed down a lock of hair that got caught in the wind. “If you doona wish to tell me, then doona, but I ask that you doona lie.”
“I didn’t exactly lie.” She blew out a breath and looked away. “I didn’t run away from them, nor am I hiding from them. I’ve also been on my own for a bit.”
Her heart missed a beat when Rhys placed a finger on her chin and gently turned her face back to him. “You owe me no explanations. You doona owe anyone anything.”
Their faces were so close that she thought he might kiss her again, but then he took a half step back. It was enough to end her hope of a kiss.
“Are you happy?”
She considered his question. That day was the happiest in a very long time, and she was content in her job. But was she happy? No. She still had so much to cut out of her life for good. She couldn’t be truly happy until Dennis was dead.
Lily thought about Rhys. Was he happy? He seemed more relaxed that night than he had in a long time. There was so much she didn’t know about him, but that always took a backseat to the passion that blazed each time he was near.
“I’ll answer if you will,” she countered.
Rhys gave her another crooked smile that made her melt. “Agreed.”
“I’m getting to a place where I can be happy with every aspect of my life.”
His grin was full of sadness as he said, “I used to be, but I fear I’ll never be again.”
The honesty of his words left her reeling. She suspected something had happened to him. Now she knew for certain. Her heart hurt for the brief glint of misery she saw. It was gone quickly, as if it never was.
Lily was about to ask another question when two couples joined them on the balcony. Rhys’s face darkened with annoyance. She grabbed his hand and pulled him back into the restaurant. He quickly took her arm and led her past their table and out of the restaurant.
Only then did he stop and face her. There was hopefulness in his eyes when he asked, “Shall I leave you for the night? Or shall we continue our conversation?”
As if she needed to think. She took out her room key from her clutch and held it up. “Let’s continue.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Henry was still reeling from Rhi’s kiss, so he was taken aback when she disappeared. He stared at the place she had been and sighed.
“What the hell happened?” Banan asked as he walked up.
Henry was soon surrounded by Dragon Kings. He looked up at Banan and shrugged. “I fucked up.”
“Let’s get inside and discuss this,” Con stated and strode back into the manor.
Henry licked his lips, remembering the softness of Rhi’s mouth. She had helped him, showed him her secret, and kissed him. Why him? Why was someone like her even paying attention to him?
“Doona get attached to her,” Banan warned in a low voice beside him.
Henry frowned. “Why not?”
“No’ only is it no’ a good idea for any human to have sex with a Fae, but Rhi was once involved with a King.”
“Is she still involved with him?”
Banan’s forehead furrowed. “Well … no, no’ exactly.”
“Then it isn’t a problem.”
“Rhi is a friend, Henry, just as you are. There are things you doona know about the Fae. They’re beautiful and sexual. They lure humans.”
“No one lured me,” he pointed out.
They reached the library on the first floor. The door was shut as the last of them filed in. Con motioned for Henry to sit, and since his strength was still returning, he accepted the offer. Banan handed Henry a glass of whisky. Con sat on the other side of the sofa with Henry while the chairs were taken by the remaining Kings.
Con let out a breath slowly. “Henry, you’ve been a friend to us that we never expected. You’ve aided us in multiple ways. All of it you did at the peril of your own life.”
“It’s what I do,” Henry said, watching Con.
Tristan spoke up then. “Which is why we’re grateful.”
“You should’ve told me you were going to infiltrate the traitor group in MI5,” Banan told Henry, his voice laced with irritation.
Henry had known this was coming. “Why? Because I’m human? Because I can die? I’ve always known that. We needed to know what was going on in that meeting.”
“Who is we?” Con asked.
Guy leaned forward, his face dark with anger. “Con.”
Henry held up his hand. “It’s a valid question, and Con is doing what any leader would. The ‘we’ I’m referring to is us,” he said circling his finger to mean him and everyone at Dreagan.
“You still should’ve told me,” Banan stated.
Henry ran a hand down his face. “Probably. Look, mate, it’s already done.”
“Can you tell us what happened?” Ryder asked.
Henry tossed back the contents of his glass and let the whisky work its way down his throat to settle in his stomach and spread warmly. “My cover was solid. No one knew I was spying, no one. We arrived at the meeting place first. Daniel Petrie, the leader of the MI5 team was nervous. It wasn’t long after that the Dark showed up. We stared at each other for what seemed like eons before a lone figure appeared.”
“Who was it?” Guy asked, scooting to the edge of his seat.
Henry rubbed his chin. “He never said his name. No one did, but he was obviously in charge. It was Ulrik. He calmed the Dark and MI5 with just a few words. And then he told them I was a spy.”
“Shite!” Banan exploded and got to his feet to pace the library. “It’s a damn miracle you’re alive.”
Tristan leaned forward in his chair. “Were you able to talk your way out of it?”
“I wish,” Henry said with a snort. “No, I was attacked first by my fellow agents, and then the Dark took over. The Dark wanted to take me prisoner. I soon passed out. When I woke, I was in a room much like this one.”
“Obviously you were no’ with the Dark,” Con said as he placed an arm on the back of the couch.
Henry shook his head. “No, I was with Ulrik. He put me in a plush room with some water, but that was all. He offered to let me live if I agreed to work with him.”
Guy dropped his head into his hands while Tristan’s lips thinned.
“When I called him by his name, he grew furious and told me never to say it again,” Henry said.
Ryder slapped his hand angrily on his leg. “You were right, Con. It is Ulrik.”
“I know Ulrik,” Con said to Henry. “He wouldna have just let you go.”
Henry touched his ribs. “My injuries were worse than I knew. I had several broken bones, including ribs. I couldn’t fight my way out. Hell, I could barely stand. When Ulrik came for my decision, I told him in no uncertain terms to kiss my ass. He started to throw magic at me, and the next thing I knew, I was in a place full of so much light I couldn’t open my eyes.”
“I’ll be damned,” Banan murmured.
Tristan shook his head in amazement. “The Light Fae healed you.”
