by Donna Grant
“Thorn,” she whispered, an ache in her chest at not being able to feel his arms around her.
Lexi sat up when she saw the dark clouds coming her way. She stood and looked to where Rhi had pointed. Lexi had no desire to get caught in the rain again.
The trail was easy to follow at least, even if the land seemed to stretch forever with the mountains all around her. She hadn’t gotten far when a blast of wind whipped around her. Lexi wrapped her arms about her middle, the cold making her shiver.
The rolling landscape might be pretty, but she just wanted to get inside somewhere to warm up. The farther she walked, the harsher the wind became. Then came the first spattering of rain.
“Great. It’s Edinburgh all over again,” she grumbled.
* * *
The Dark Fae eagerly looked across the invisible border of Dreagan. “It’s nearly time,” Gorul told his comrades.
“They’ll know as soon as we cross over.”
He smiled and pointed to the distillery. “Not there. Too many humans visit every day for there to be a barrier up.”
Vaurin laughed. “Perfect.”
“What would be perfect is getting our hands on a Dragon King. Or a mate,” said the third.
Gorul glanced at the sky and the thick, fluffy clouds that were growing darker. “The Kings are up there, watching. We’ll have limited time to get in and create some chaos. Remember. We need to get them out in the open. We want the world to start focusing on Dreagan.”
“Mikkel’s contact is still reliable?” asked Vaurin.
Gorul shrugged. “Even if the spy isn’t, it doesn’t matter. Mikkel is not our leader. Taraeth is. The orders came from Taraeth.”
“From Mikkel’s request.”
Another Dark chuckled. “Taraeth only agreed to Mikkel’s urging because it coincided with what Taraeth wanted. Don’t you know that?”
“Of course,” Vaurin stated angrily.
Anticipation grew as more cars pulled into Dreagan. Gorul couldn’t wait to disrupt the unflappable Kings. “Get ready. And remember, keep your eyes on the sky.”
* * *
Lexi saw the red roofs and walked faster. Her clothes were drenched and her hair was plastered to her head. The few drops had turned into a torrential rain within minutes.
“Sun. I want sun,” she said with teeth chattering. “And heat. Heat would be really, really good right about now.”
She could no longer feel her nose. It was completely numb, along with her toes. Between her teeth chattering, sloshing through the water pooling on the ground, and the rain, she could hear nothing else.
“I won’t get sick again. I won’t get sick again,” she kept repeating over and over.
It was significantly colder in the mountains than it had been in Edinburgh. The hills she had walked turned into mountains that she had a hell of a time navigating. At any rate, the trail was easily seen. Without that, she’d have been lost.
She began to jog in order to reach the buildings faster, and because she needed to keep her blood moving. Thorn wouldn’t be there this time to catch her if she passed out. No one even knew she was there, so they wouldn’t be looking for her.
“Gee. This will be great,” she mumbled. “I get to go in and introduce myself to strangers. What do I say? I’m Thorn’s what? Lover?” She cringed at the word. “I’m not his girlfriend. Do the Dragon Kings even have such a thing? I mean, surely they date. Right?
“I don’t know what I am to him. Perhaps it’ll be better if I leave Thorn out of it altogether. That way it won’t be so awkward.”
Lexi blinked through the rain dripping from her eyelashes. “It’s going to be awkward no matter what. How will they even know I’m telling them the truth? I mean, I could be demented for all they know.”
She slowed when she saw the huge stone manor that Rhi had spoken of. That’s where Rhi had told her to go, but Lexi looked at the buildings of the distillery.
If she went to the manor, she would have to tell them who she was. At the distillery, they would give her a blanket and let her warm up. She might even be able to stay there until Thorn returned.
“Right,” she said as she halted. “Because Thorn is on his way now. As if that’s going to happen,” she told herself sarcastically. “There’s no way he’s leaving Edinburgh anytime soon with all the Dark there. And with it being Halloween, it could be days or weeks before I see him.”
That didn’t make Lexi feel any better. It also made her wary of going to the manor. What was she supposed to do? Stay there mooching off them until Thorn was able to return? And what would his return do for her?
Lexi never liked being a problem, and that’s exactly what she was—a problem. She hadn’t left the country as she was supposed to. Then there was the issue with her memories.
Con wouldn’t want her going anywhere knowing everything that she did. She was relatively certain they wouldn’t kill her. A missing person was too messy. But they could try and take her memories again.
Did she go to the manor and stay there, waiting on Thorn in the hopes that he felt something for her—with the possibility that they’d take her memories again?
Or did she go to the distillery?
“And do what?” she asked herself. “I have no money, no cell phone, no clothes. I have nothing.”
But she couldn’t stay out in the rain. Lexi began walking again. The path continued on, bringing her closer to both the manor and the distillery. Ahead, she could see the path split. Left would take her to the manor, and right to the distillery.
When she reached the fork, she still didn’t know what to do. She was leaning toward going to the manor when she heard a voice.
“Miss?” said an older man with a gray beard that nearly reached to his chest. “Miss, are you lost?”
He reached her then and shrugged off his jacket to drape over her shoulders. “Come with me so we can get you warmed up.”
Lexi let him guide her toward the distillery. He wasn’t asking questions or forcing her to make a decision. He was taking control, and for the moment, it was too easy for Lexi to let him do it.
“A dram will warm you up quick enough,” he said as he ushered her to the back door of one of the buildings. It was an office with a corner fire stove.
He brought her in front of it and gently pushed her down on a wooden chair. With a pat on her shoulder, he walked out of the office deeper into the building.
Lexi closed her eyes and let the heat of the fire begin to thaw her. Her eyes snapped open when the coat was taken from her shoulders and a wool blanket shoved in her hands.
“Fine Scottish wool from the sheep right here on Dreagan,” he said proudly of the tartan print. His wrinkled face scrunched up as he grinned. “You need to get out of those clothes, lass. I’m going to step out and make sure none bother ye. Wrap yourself in that blanket and stay by the fire while I get you something to drink.”
With a firm nod and a kind smile, he left again.
Lexi’s hands were shaking as she rose and began to peel the drenched clothes from her body. She left them piled in front of the fire along with her boots as she quickly wrapped herself in the blanket.
The wool scratched her skin, but it was thick and warm. She gazed into the fire thinking some of the flames dancing looked like dragons taking flight.
A Claret dragon the color of red wine rose in her mind. His wings were outstretched and his teal eyes looked at her with a question.
“What?” she whispered sleepily.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-THREE
Balladyn closed the book and sat back in his chair, a kernel of worry taking root. The library he had begun collecting after turning Dark was the most extensive one in the entire Dark realm.
It had taken him longer than expected, as well as piecing things together from different books, but he had the answer Rhi sought about the Reapers.
He scooted back the chair and got to his feet. His mind was sifting through all the information on the
Reapers. Most of it had been legend. But as Rhi said, every legend starts with truth.
The truth, however, wasn’t one Balladyn wanted to know, much less share. If it were anyone but Rhi, he would lie. He had never been able to tell her no. On anything.
Balladyn walked to the tall double doors and pushed them open. He had to find her. Immediately. She had to know the truth, because if Rhi was asking about the Reapers, it was because of more than just rumors.
His strides lengthened. The love he had for Rhi burned within him. She belonged by his side. Always had. Soon, she would see he was the one for her.
Her Dragon King lover had had his shot. The bastard had blown it. It was Balladyn’s turn now. His anger had eaten at him for long centuries, and Balladyn had nearly destroyed her.
Nearly.
His Rhi was much too strong for that. She proved it by breaking the Chains of Mordare. If that didn’t demonstrate she was meant to be his queen, nothing would.
All he needed Rhi to do now was let go of her dragon. Once that happened, she would see the darkness he fanned to life during her torture gave her strength and power.
Balladyn saw the doorway that would take him to the desert. Rhi would meet him there once he summoned her. He wasn’t keen on imparting what he had learned, but he was looking forward to the kiss she owed him.
He wouldn’t collect it now. No, he had somewhere else in mind to collect his price. A place they wouldn’t be interrupted. A place that would seal his seduction.
“Balladyn.”
He halted at the sound of Taraeth’s voice. The king was becoming a nuisance. Balladyn turned and bowed his head. “Sire.”
“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Taraeth asked as he slowly closed the distance between them.
“I was coming to see you. I wanted to know the status of our attacks,” Balladyn lied easily.
Taraeth raised a black and silver brow. “Did you? I would’ve thought you’d have been by my side from the start.”
“I was doing some research.” With Taraeth—or any insane ruler—it was always better to stick as close to the truth as possible.
“What could be more important today? We struck a great blow to the Dragon Kings this day, and it isn’t nearly over yet.”
Balladyn clasped his hands behind his back. “There has been something rattling the Fae of late, sire.”
“What is that?”
Balladyn watched as Taraeth unconsciously rubbed his upper arm, all that was left after his arm had been severed by a mate of a Dragon King. “The Reapers.”
Taraeth laughed as he walked around Balladyn. “Silly nonsense. They’re not real, Balladyn.”
“I know that. I wanted to gather evidence in my library to present it to those who were using that as fear not to do their jobs.”
Taraeth stopped in front of him. “You using logic? You’re my right hand because of your vicious skills. If I wanted logic, I’d ask myself a question.”
Balladyn lowered his eyes, lest the king see the hatred and anger he couldn’t hide.
“Kill the cowards,” Taraeth said as he turned and started walking away. “I don’t want weaklings in my army. Come along, Balladyn. If you want to keep your place as my right hand, then I suggest you get there.”
Balladyn looked over his shoulder to the doorway. Rhi would have to wait.
* * *
It was the screams that startled Lexi. She jerked awake, thinking it was just a nightmare after the battle she had witnessed in Edinburgh. Then another scream sounded.
Lexi jumped up, holding onto the blanket tightly, and rushed to the door of the office. She peered through the window. No one could be seen. She didn’t know how long she had been sitting there since the old man left her, but she was sure he hadn’t returned.
She grasped the handle and slowly turned it until it opened. Lexi stepped out of the office, leaving the door ajar just enough in case she had to rush back inside.
Huge copper vessels filled the building. The heat was oppressive as steam rose from the stills. The concrete was cool beneath her bare feet, but the machines made it difficult to hear anything.
Lexi walked the length of the building, looking behind her often. There wasn’t a soul in the place. The screams had stopped as well, making everything eerily quiet.
She spotted a door and rushed to it while holding the blanket in place. A glance through the glass showed that the rain was still coming down. By pressing her face against the glass, she could see there was a structure across from her and one on either side.
Lexi walked out of the building but stayed beneath the overhang of the door. In the States there would be concrete everywhere, but not here. In order for her to go anywhere, she was going to have to walk on rocks.
An inner clock pressed her, urged her to hurry. There was no time to go back and get her shoes or put on her wet clothes.
Lexi looked at the buildings around her. She would need to choose one. Hopefully she would find someone who could help her.
She decided to go right and was halfway to the building when there was a scream cut short. Lexi whirled around, cutting her foot on a rock. It wasn’t like she went looking for danger. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. She did when she followed the Dark.
There was a part of her that told her to run and hide. But another part of her, the part that had seen Thorn risk his life for her and others, insisted she help whoever was in need.
Lexi adjusted the blanket so that it covered both of her shoulders. The water beaded on the wool and rolled off. She stayed close to the building and retraced her steps before continuing on.
The more she walked, the more she could hear moans and crying. She reached the last building and looked around the corner to see yet another structure. It was much smaller with lots of windows.
There was a sign that labeled it a shop. As Lexi looked at it, a window suddenly exploded. She instinctively turned her head away. When she chanced another peek, she saw a body lying on its side away from her, unmoving.
The laughter that came from inside the shop chilled her. She knew that sound. It was Dark Fae.
A hand grasped her above her elbow, squeezing hard. She whipped her head around and found herself staring into Dark Fae eyes.
“Come join the party,” he said in his thick Irish accent and yanked her after him.
Pain lanced through Lexi as she had to run to keep up with him. The rocks jabbed her tender feet, and his hold pinched her arm.
He opened the glass door to the shop and threw her inside. Lexi lost her balance while trying to keep the blanket around her and fell to the floor, sliding on something slick.
She sat up and saw the dark stain on the floor. Lexi turned her hand over and saw it was covered in blood.
“I found another, Gorul,” the Dark said.
Lexi wiped her hand on the blanket and got to her feet to get away from the blood. It was everywhere. She saw the two dead people and tried to get away, only to find another.
She glanced around and saw a group huddled in the back crying in fear and moaning from desire while looking at the Dark as if they hoped they were chosen next. Whisky bottles were smashed everywhere, with the golden liquid dripping to the floor from the shelves.
Lexi spotted three women who weren’t acting like the others. They watched the Dark as if they knew exactly what they were. One of the women met her gaze. Lexi looked into her coffee brown eyes. Her auburn hair was straight and cut to her chin.
“I recognize you.”
The Irish accent brought her attention back to the Dark. As soon as Lexi looked at him, rage bubbled inside her. She knew his face. She had seen it over and over again whenever she thought of Christina.
The one who had brought her in chuckled. “She looks right angry.”
Gorul smiled. “So she does. How do I know your face?”
Lexi wished she had the knife Thorn had given her. How she longed to plunge it in his heart. But it was with her clothes.
&n
bsp; “There’s death in her eyes,” said a third Dark, who kicked one of the dead on the floor as he passed.
Gorul walked to her. He tapped a finger on his chin as he stopped directly in front of her before walking around her. His shoulder touched hers, and she quickly jerked away.
“You should be on your knees by now,” he said, his red eyes narrowing.
Lexi rolled her eyes and looked away. His fingers gripped her chin and jerked her head back to him. He snarled as he leaned his head close.
“Sucks when things don’t go your way, doesn’t it?” she asked sarcastically.
He blinked and suddenly released her, smiling as he took a step back. “I knew it would come to me. You were one of the American girls in the pub. I chose the other one.”
“Chose?” Lexi asked, her voice rising. “You didn’t choose her, you insane freak. You killed her!”
Gorul’s smile grew. “She begged me for it. She couldn’t get her clothes off fast enough. After I had her a few times, I turned her over to my friends,” he said and motioned to the two men on either side of him.
It was bad enough to think one Dark had killed Christina, but to know that multiple Fae had taken her made Lexi want to be sick.
“I’m going to kill you,” she promised Gorul. She looked at the other two. “All of you.”
“A human?” the third Dark asked with a snort. “Not likely.”
Gorul looked her up and down. “She’s immune to us.”
“Impossible,” said the Dark who brought her in.
“Look at her,” Gorul ordered.
Lexi gave them her most disgusted look. “You dare to come to this planet and think you can take it over. You dare to make us crave you, using us for food. You lost a war here once. You’re going to lose again.”
Gorul didn’t frown as she had hoped. Instead, he looked like he had just won the lottery. He clapped his hands. “Do you know what we have in front of us, lads? We have a prize of the first order.”
“Because she knows what we are?” asked the third one.
