Passion Ignites

by Donna Grant

  Rhi stepped away and turned to look at him. His red eyes blazed with desire, a need so deep and palpable that it made it difficult for her to breathe.

  One side of his mouth lifted in a satisfied smile. “You’re not immune to me then. Why fight this? You know we would be amazing together.”

  “Stop,” she said and closed her eyes as she turned her head away.

  “You called me, pet. You let me touch you. I can sense the need within you. Let me ease your body.”

  She shook her head. “Balladyn. Please.”

  If he pushed, she would give in. She was that close to the edge. Her loneliness and solitude had gone on too long. All these centuries she shunned everyone as she waited for her King.

  And what had it gotten her?

  Heartache. Despair.

  Hopelessness.

  “What is it, Rhi?” Balladyn pressed in a voice filled with tenderness and tinged with worry.

  She nearly broke down in tears when his seductive voice was gone. The kindness she heard meant that he saw how she teetered, but he didn’t take advantage. It was the perfect opportunity for him. Why didn’t he swoop in for the kill?

  Rhi looked at him in confusion.

  Balladyn took a step to her and touched her cheek. “I want you with a desperation that saps my very breath. I’ve waited thousands of years for us to be together. I want you to come to me, sweet Rhi. It’s your decision.” He wiped at the corner of her eye and the tear that gathered. “No more tears. Tell me why you called me.”

  Ever since Balladyn had told her he loved her, she wondered how she had ever missed it. It was there in every action, every look. Every word.

  No wonder he had hated her so fiercely when he turned Dark. That love turned to hate, and somehow, back to love again.

  If she continued to think about Balladyn and his claim of love, she would forget why she called him. Rhi pushed aside her tumultuous feelings and focused on the task at hand.

  “You said you would do anything to have me, right?” Rhi asked. If she was going to get her answers, she had to use his feelings against him.

  Balladyn lowered his hand to his side. “I would.”

  “What if I was taken by someone?”

  His face went hard, rage barely leashed shone in his eyes. “Are you talking about the Reapers?”

  “What if I was? Would you come after me?”

  “Nothing would stop me from finding you,” he stated angrily.

  She glanced at the ground, feeling her follower’s eyes on her again. Was he enjoying all that he saw? “Then you can understand what a King is going through looking for Lexi.”

  Balladyn blinked, his face going blank in a heartbeat. He took a step back as he looked at her in confusion. “You want me to betray my king?”

  “I want you to help me,” she implored. “You were at Dreagan. I was told you carried Lexi out. You know where she is.”

  For long moments, Balladyn stood staring at her. Finally, he released a breath. “It’s a place a King would never expect to look.”

  Rhi felt the tension ease from her shoulders. “I should’ve known Taraeth wouldn’t bring her to his palace. It’s too obvious.”

  “Why do you continue to help the Kings, pet?”

  She shrugged, wondering why there was no heat in his words. Rhi knew how deep his hatred of them went. “Probably the same reason I know I can come to you for help.”

  “I’m Dark, pet. Or have you forgotten?”

  Rhi looked into the face that had been a major part of her life. She walked to him and rested her hand on his cheek as she met his gaze. It wasn’t hard to look past the red eyes and remember the Fae who had stood by her side for so many years.

  She needed to remember the monster he had become in order to keep from throwing her arms around him. “How can I ever forget? You tortured me. You tried to take my Light.”

  “Is this why you let me touch you? You were using me to get information?” he asked furiously.

  Rhi dropped her hand and shook her head as she turned away. She took a few steps and stopped, wrapping her arms around herself. “No. I intended to ask you first thing, but then … you touched me.”

  “I can’t tell you where the mortal is being held. Even if I wanted to.”

  “I know.” It had been a long shot, but she thought maybe Balladyn could help.

  “Taraeth would know it was me. We’re the only two who went there. He’d kill me.”

  Rhi nodded. “I understand. There’s someone else I can ask who will find her.”

  Balladyn was suddenly in front of her. His grip was tight on her upper arms as he looked at her as if he couldn’t decide whether to kiss her or strangle her. “You’ve always twisted me about.”

  His head lowered and he placed a hard kiss against her lips. He held her there, breathing in deep, before he released her and stepped back.

  “The mortal was a gift to a Dragon King,” he said. He touched her face with such longing that it took her breath away.

  Then he was gone.

  Rhi whirled around looking for him. She clutched her stomach, more confused than ever before. He had given her the information, but she wouldn’t allow him to die because of it.

  She teleported back to Dreagan Manor and appeared in the foyer where Fallon was talking to Larena. When the leader of the Warriors noticed her, Rhi said, “I need Broc.”

  Without a word, Fallon was gone. Rhi looked up as she heard a crash above her. She took a moment and glanced around the manor. It was quiet, as if everyone was afraid to breathe. The tension in the manor was off the charts.

  Rhi walked toward the kitchen and peeked inside to see the females sitting around the table talking in whispers. The strain on their faces spoke volumes.

  She veiled herself and teleported to Con’s office. He stood staring out the windows appearing as calm as he usually did. His office, on the other hand, was a different matter entirely.

  The crash she heard was him. Papers littered the floor. His sword lay on his desk after he’d cleaved a chair in two. The crystal decanter and glasses were shattered.

  “I know you’re here,” he said.

  Rhi unveiled herself. The sarcastic remark she had been about to make died on her tongue. “What happened?”

  “You must be the only one who hasna seen it.”

  “Seen what?”

  Con pointed to the laptop on its side on the floor without turning around. Rhi picked it up and set it on his desk. She saw a video filling the entire screen.

  “Play it,” he urged.

  Rhi hit the play button. In moments, she saw Kellan flying around Dreagan. It just got worse from there as she saw herself, Malcolm, Shara, and more Dragon Kings. By the time the video ended, she couldn’t find words.

  “Everything I’ve done to protect us erased in a single night.” Con’s voice held a barely restrained fury. “Every eye in the world is trained on Dreagan now. I had to pull the Kings off patrol because there are planes and helicopters flying over us since our restricted airspace has been revoked.”

  Rhi closed the laptop softly. So this is what the Dark had been about. “What are you going to do?”

  “I’ve two choices.” Con turned to look at her. “We can leave. Or we can fight.”

  Rhi walked to stand before him and lifted a brow. “Fight. This is your realm.”

  He studied her a moment, his face giving nothing away. “And the attention on us?”

  Rhi rolled her eyes. “Always so dramatic. You might have enemies, King of Kings, but you also have allies. I shouldn’t have to remind you to use them. Now, pull your head from between your ass cheeks, and get moving.”

  She didn’t wait for him to speak, but teleported back to the foyer where Fallon waited with Broc.

  CHAPTER

  FORTY-ONE

  Lexi sat on the bed against the headboard with her knees tucked. The room had everything she needed. Except her freedom.

  The shadow had brought her up here be
fore giving her a shove inside. Lexi spun around to get a look at his face, but the door closed, lock turning, before she got that chance.

  As soon as she spotted the windows, she ran to them and looked down. She was on the third floor. From her view, she could see miles of open land before her. All she had to do was get free.

  Lexi prepared to jump from the window. Only when she attempted to open it, it wouldn’t budge. She even threw a stool at it in order to break the glass, but the stool didn’t put a dent in it. It was the same for the small window in the bathroom.

  She was well and truly locked away.

  With nothing more to do, Lexi took a long shower. When she got out, there were clothes and a tray of food on the bed.

  She briefly thought of refusing the food, but if there was ever a chance of escape, she was going to need her strength. She devoured everything while she began to plot.

  * * *

  Thorn stood outside the manor and stared at the sky as dawn broke over Dreagan. They were grounded. Every Dragon King was prohibited from shifting and taking to the skies.

  It happened once before during the war with the mortals. The Kings had taken to their mountains and slept. All of them except Con. He had remained awake and protected Dreagan.

  Of all the Kings, he was the only one who had never slept. Thorn wasn’t sure how Con got through the years. Sleeping away centuries was the only way Thorn had been able to deal with everything.

  Millions of years later, they were right back in that same scenario. The difference was that this time there were billions of humans, and they had the technology to catch them in dragon form.

  Dreagan would be under a microscope as the world waited to see if they were indeed dragons. All they could hope for was that the authorities didn’t come onto Dreagan.

  MI5 tried it once before and used Denae to do it. At least the Kings would be prepared for it this time. It was easy enough to conceal the caves and anything else they didn’t want to be found with their magic.

  But for how long would they have to endure being grounded? It would take decades before Dreagan stopped being watched—if they were lucky.

  “Thorn,” Rhi said.

  He turned to find Broc and Fallon following her. Thorn hurried to them, hope springing anew. “Did you find where Lexi is?”

  “I did,” she said. “Taraeth doesn’t have her. None of the Dark do. She was given to a Dragon King as a gift.”

  Thorn shook his head, unable to believe it. “Ulrik? They gave her to Ulrik?”

  “It appears so,” Rhi said and turned to Broc. “I hoped I wouldn’t have to involve the Warriors, but I’ve no choice. Can you find Lexi?”

  Broc turned his dark gaze to Thorn. “Of course.”

  Thorn watched as the Warrior closed his eyes and used his power. Broc was able to find anyone, anywhere. As they waited, Thorn slid his gaze to Rhi.

  Who had she spoken with to discover that Lexi had been taken to Ulrik? A bad feeling swirled that it was Balladyn. And if Rhi was going to Balladyn, did that mean she had given up on her King? If Balladyn told her Lexi was with Ulrik, why hadn’t he also told Rhi exactly where that was?

  Rhi felt his stare and turned her head to him. “Don’t ask,” she said in a low voice. “It doesn’t matter who I got the information from.”

  “It does if it puts you in danger.”

  “I’m not in any sort,” she said. Her gaze skated away as if she were thinking of someone. “They won’t hurt me.”

  Thorn’s lips flattened. It was Balladyn. If the Dark managed to get Rhi’s affections then it changed everything.

  Thorn leaned down and whispered, “Be careful.”

  “I’m always careful,” she said flippantly.

  Thorn turned her to face him. He started to warn her against staying away from Balladyn. Then he remembered it was Rhi he was talking to. Nothing could break her love for her King.

  “I know what I’m doing,” Rhi said before he could speak.

  Thorn dropped his hands. “If Rhys were here, he’d know what to say.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.”

  “What the bloody hell are you two going on about?” Fallon asked with a deeply furrowed brow.

  Rhi turned away from Thorn and hastily replied, “Nothing.”

  Thorn looked at Broc to find the Warrior straining, as if he were fighting against something. “Broc?”

  “There’s magic,” the Warrior said through clenched teeth, his hands fisted at his sides and his muscles bunched. “They’re trying to hide her from me.”

  “They?” Fallon asked worriedly.

  Broc winced visibly. His skin turned indigo and huge, leathery wings sprouted from his back. He took a deep breath and released it along with a low growl.

  “Shite,” Fallon whispered.

  Thorn grabbed Broc and tossed him against the manor behind a tall screen of bushes in case there were humans watching, hoping to catch some paranormal event. The Warrior never opened his eyes. He was too busy fighting the magic blocking Lexi to notice they were dragging him inside the manor.

  “Dragon magic,” Broc murmured hoarsely.

  Thorn glanced at Rhi. He put his hands on Broc’s shoulders. “Hold on. I doona know how this is going to work.”

  Then Thorn pushed his magic into Broc.

  The Warrior bellowed long and loud in agony before he fell to his knees. Thorn looked up as a door flew open and others rushed to them.

  Rhi stopped them, even as Con came down the stairs. Thorn met Con’s gaze, waiting for Con to order him to stop. Not that Thorn would.

  Con merely closed the distance and asked, “What’s blocking Broc’s power?”

  “Dragon magic,” Thorn answered.

  Con nodded and stood next to Broc. “How much more can you handle?”

  Broc lifted his head and opened his eyes to look from Con to Thorn. “I’m almost through.”

  To Thorn’s surprise, Con put a hand on Broc and used his own magic. Broc’s face contorted with pain, but he pushed through it, even as his body shook.

  “Aberdeen!” Broc yelled.

  Thorn and Con immediately released him. Thorn caught Broc as he began to fall over.

  The Warrior sat back on his haunches and raised his head to Thorn. “She’s in Aberdeen. Harkan Manor.”

  “Thank you.” Thorn clapped him on the back.

  Broc gave him a weary smile. “Just doona ever do that to me again.”

  Thorn straightened and looked at Con. “I’m going after her.”

  “I expected nothing less. However, I’m coming with you.”

  “No,” Rhi said. Everyone in the room looked at her. “It’s a trap.” Her gaze moved from Thorn to Con. “For you. They know you’ll help any of your Kings.”

  Thorn sighed as his eyes skated to Con. “She may be right.”

  Con’s black eyes went hard and emotionless. “I willna remain here hiding. If they want me, they can try and get me.”

  “Ulrik wants to kill you,” Thorn reminded him.

  Con snorted in derision. “He’s welcome to try. You willna be going after Lexi alone. Ulrik has already done enough damage with his little stunt with Rhys. I’ll no’ have another of my Kings harmed.”

  “Then it doesna matter who goes,” Fallon said as he helped Broc to his feet. “Ulrik will try to kill or capture whoever it is. It’s better if you doona go unaccompanied, Thorn.”

  With that, Fallon teleported Broc back to MacLeod Castle.

  “Thorn won’t be going alone,” Rhi stated.

  Con’s gaze swiveled to Rhi. “No’ a good idea.”

  “I’m not asking permission. You aren’t my king,” she said with a cutting glance. Rhi then turned to Thorn. “Ready?”

  “All three of us are going,” Con declared in a cool voice.

  Thorn pulled out the Fae knife at his waist. “The more the better.”

  Rhi rolled her eyes and touched both of them. In the next blink, they were in a cluster of woods atop a hill
looking down at a house.

  “I’d like some warning next time,” Con said and shrugged off her hand as he turned his head away.

  Rhi smiled and said in a high-pitched baby voice, “Aw. What’s the matter with the big, bad dragon? Is his tummy yucky?”

  “Rhi,” Thorn said, shaking his head while biting back a smile.

  The Light Fae rolled her eyes. “If I’d waited, every King there would’ve wanted to come. We needed to leave right then.”

  Con turned and gave her a glacial stare. “You’re no’ in charge.”

  “Keep thinking you are if it makes you feel better,” she said with a flip of her hair.

  Thorn whirled on both of them. “Enough,” he ground out. “I’m here for Lexi. If you want to help, great. If no’, then shut the fuck up and leave.”

  Both Con and Rhi stared silently at him.

  Thorn let out a breath. “While both of you were arguing, I counted six Dark along the perimeter.”

  “Seven,” Con said and motioned to the house with his head.

  Thorn looked at the manor and saw another on the roof that he had missed. “Seven then. We need to take them out one at a time.”

  “That won’t be easy,” Rhi said. She pointed to the back of the house with a jagged fingernail. “See how they stay within eyesight of each other?”

  Thorn ran a hand down his face. “As much as I want to fight Ulrik, I’d rather get Lexi in and out without him even knowing we are here.”

  “If anyone is fighting him, it’s me,” Con announced. “But it willna be here. We’ll get Lexi. I’ll have my day with Ulrik soon enough.”

  Thorn’s gaze was on the manor. “Hold on, Lexi. I’m coming.”

  CHAPTER

  FORTY-TWO

  Lexi paced the room. The food had been delicious, and she ate every bite. Exhaustion was wearing on her, however. Fear kept her stress levels high, knotting her shoulder muscles so she couldn’t relax.

  She replayed the shadow’s words to her over and over in her head. Dragons and humans weren’t meant to mix. If that were true, why did Dragon Kings mate with humans?

  The door was thrown open to reveal a young twentysomething man with dark hair. His eyes were filled with hatred, as if he couldn’t stand to look at her. He might have been considered attractive except for the blatant loathing.