Heart of Gold

by Donna Grant

  They made plans.

  They laughed.

  The months since their reunion had been the most glorious of her life. They even outshone the first days together when they had fallen in love. Maybe it was because both of them had experienced so much in between. She was a different person. She still loved him the same, but she was different. Just as he was different.

  Life had shaped them, but love had brought them back together. A handful of months together had wiped out all the centuries of loneliness, anger, and hatred. That’s how powerful love was.

  Rhi walked to the bed and curled up on Con’s side.

  Con stood at the back opening of Dreagan Mountain and looked out as snow flurries danced in the wind. His gaze was focused on the mountains, but his mind was on his mate.

  “The view never gets old, does it?” Ulrik said as he walked up.

  Con glanced at the King of Silvers. “Never.”

  “I was surprised you ended the meeting early. I thought we had a full one.”

  Con smiled. “My mind is otherwise occupied.”

  “By thoughts of a certain Light Fae who is even now waiting in your chamber?”

  “Aye.” Con’s blood heated just thinking about Rhi. “I still can no’ believe she’s here. I fear I’ll wake up one day to discover it’s all been a dream.”

  Ulrik snorted. “That willna happen. I’m no’ sure how, but we both came out of a hellish time with two incredible women.”

  Con turned to face Ulrik. “That we did. It feels good—right—to have my mate.”

  “But?” Ulrik asked, one black brow quirked.

  “Rhi and Shara are Fae. They’re used to living a long time. The other mates are human. I still worry that things willna be so great in the future.”

  Ulrik drew in a deep breath and crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s a valid concern. One every King understands. There isna a need to dwell on that now. We’ll deal with it when the time comes.”

  “That’s no’ how I work, and you know it. I look at all conceivable possibilities and determine which is the most viable option.”

  “I’m the same, but I hoped to take your mind off that,” Ulrik replied with a grin.

  Con chuckled and glanced toward the front of the mountain and the manor. He heard the other Kings’ laughter as they moved through the tunnels.

  “They’re excited about finding the dragons,” Ulrik said.

  Con nodded slowly. “As am I. At the prospect of no’ only seeing my dragons but my children, as well.”

  “We’re prepared for anything, though,” Ulrik told him.

  Con swung his gaze to meet Ulrik’s gold eyes. “Rhi has such high hopes for how things will go with the twins. She’ll be devastated if it goes badly.”

  “So will you.”

  “Aye. There is so much I want to say to them, but I doona know how or where to begin.”

  Ulrik dropped his arms to his sides and smiled. “It’ll come to you when they’re standing before you. Everything that happened was out of your and Rhi’s control. And the twins’, as well. Try to remember that.” Ulrik swung his gaze outside. “I can still hear the dragons’ roars if I close my eyes.”

  “Or while flying.”

  Ulrik looked at Con and raised his brows. “Shall we?”

  In answer, Con took off, running out of the mountain before leaping into the air and shifting. He stretched his wings and flapped them to gain altitude. It was always good to be in his true form. He looked down over the mountains of Dreagan where the Dragon Kings had hidden for millennia.

  A flash of silver caught his attention as Ulrik sped past him. Con smiled and flew faster to catch up with his friend.

  Without a doubt, without hesitation. I am yours.

  Chapter Three

  Rhi sat up, her gaze going to the window in time to see Con’s glimmering gold scales as he flew high in the sky. But he wasn’t alone. Ulrik was with him. She smiled at the two friends. There had been so much pain between them, but it was sorted out now, and Ulrik had returned to the fold where he belonged.

  It was like everything had come full circle. From Ulrik returning to Dreagan, to her and Con finding love once more. She thought over the last few years and everything each of them had endured to get where they were—the foes they had fought, and the heartache they had suffered. It was a testament to Con’s strength that he had stood steady as an oak through it all.

  Her head turned to the table where the journal lay. Rhi returned to the chair and reached for the book once more. She heated the tea with a wave of her hand and took a drink before opening the cover once more and flipping to the second page to begin reading.

  * * *

  I try not to write in these journals. I don’t think they do much good, except to remind me that I sacrificed my mate for the well-being of my brethren. I find no peace in sleep because I lie in bed each night and imagine you in my arms. Even when I shut my eyes and manage to drift off, you fill my dreams.

  But what dreams they are.

  We’re together, you’re laughing, and we have a future before us. It’s everything I imagined life would be when we found each other. The joy, the pleasure. The contentment.

  Then I wake and realize that none of it is real. I go to war with myself over going back to sleep—except going deeper into dragon sleep and never waking up again. At least then, I know you’ll be with me. That’s what the dreams do. They tempt me, entice me with the life I crave to share with you.

  The life I shattered for the good of the Kings.

  There isn’t a place on Dreagan you haven’t touched. Nowhere I can go on our sixty thousand acres that doesn’t make me think of you. I often go to the mountain where I first saw you standing with the wind blowing your beautiful hair. I remember your silver eyes piercing me straight to my soul.

  And I knew instantly.

  I chose you that day. I choose you over and over again.

  Without a doubt, without hesitation.

  I am yours.

  * * *

  Rhi looked up and released a breath. She turned the page. None of them were marked with dates. She had no reference for when he wrote any of it, but all that showed was that he had grieved deeply for the loss of their love.

  Only someone in Con’s position could truly understand why he had chosen to end things with her. He had sacrificed his happiness for his brethren. To keep them together after everything they lost. And when he had first told her, she had been furious.

  Then, she recalled who Con was. The King of Dragon Kings, chosen by the magic on the realm to lead the Kings. He was the strongest of them all. The one who bore the weight of all decisions and consequences. The one who found ways to keep the dragons safe, and the Kings together. The one who forged a new path for the Dragon Kings.

  Rhi had fallen in love with him for who he was—all of him. The good and the bad. Had he told her of his plans for why he wanted to end things, she would’ve talked him out of it—just as he had suspected. They would’ve remained together, but how long would their happiness have lasted when the Kings’ jealousy proved too much?

  Con had seen all of it and somehow managed to do the one thing that would keep the Kings together and give him a chance to win her back in the future. The Kings hadn’t agreed with him sending Darius to break things off with her—and neither had she—but she probably would’ve done the same in his position.

  Her love for him was vast. But to let someone go for the greater good took resolve and courage that she simply didn’t have. She would’ve clung to him and their love, the world and the Kings be damned.

  And that was why Con was King of Dragon Kings and not her or any of the others.

  And it was why she loved him beyond reason.

  She went back to reading.

  * * *

  I saw a wildcat today while walking the Dragonwood. It reminded me of the time you came across the kitten hiding in the bushes. I would have allowed nature to take its course, as it does in
all things. But not you. You refused to leave until you knew for certain that the cat was safe.

  When you realized that it was injured, you spent the entire day coaxing it, convincing it to let you near enough to see what was wrong. It worked, though. You were able to see the thorn caught in its paw.

  You could’ve used magic. You could’ve asked me to heal the wildcat. Instead, you wanted to be near it. And it wanted you. It never took its eyes off you as you gently pulled the thorn out. Only then did you look my way, silently asking me to give the animal some relief.

  I didn’t hesitate to use my magic on the creature.

  For many years, I saw that wildcat on Dreagan. He searched for you.

  We both do.

  * * *

  The tears flowed freely now. She remembered when she had found the kitten. The wildcats of Scotland were rarely seen, and she had known instinctively that he was hurt. Con had remained beside her the entire day, giving advice and helping whenever and however she needed it.

  Except she remembered the kitten’s healing much differently. After she’d removed the thorn and saw the state of the wound, she had been about to attempt her magic. Before she could, Con had used his healing power.

  The kitten had remained for a few moments, but once it realized that it was no longer hurting, it bounded off into the brush. She and Con had stood arm-in-arm, watching until the cat disappeared.

  Less than a week later, things ended between Con and her. Sadly, she had been so consumed with anger and grief that she hadn’t even thought of the wildcat again until now.

  But Con had.

  Today, I would’ve exchanged a thousand years of my life just to touch you.

  Chapter Four

  I saw you today. It was a joyful event.

  And a horrible one.

  If it’s possible, you got even more beautiful. There’s an edge about you that wasn’t there before. Did I do that? I fear the answer is yes.

  Your smile lit up the room. You’ve always had the brightest light of any Fae, and it draws everyone to you. I tried to keep my distance, but it was like telling myself I could never fly again, even though I have wings.

  I had to be near you.

  You spoke to me, albeit angrily. I didn’t care because you at least acknowledged me. I came so close to telling you everything that was in my heart. Had we been alone, I might have. I kept telling myself the timing was wrong, but the truth is that I feared you’d tell me that you didn’t love me anymore. That you’d moved on.

  If that were to happen, there’s no way I could carry on. The Dragon Kings are strong, but much still needs to be done. And then there’s Ulrik. If I know there’s no future for us, there will be nothing to keep me going. It’s becoming harder and harder to face each sunrise.

  Today, I would’ve exchanged a thousand years of my life just to touch you. I would’ve given up all that I am just to have you in my arms one more time.

  Constantine broke away from Ulrik and flew to his mountain. It wasn’t a place he spent much time. He had kept away from it while the other Kings slept because he was tempted to do the same. Those first centuries after their clans crossed the dragon bridge and the Kings hid from the humans had been unbelievably agonizing.

  But he’d had his brethren to focus on. He’d ignored his anguish over the dragons leaving to put all his thoughts and energy into finding a way to keep the Dragon Kings going. He shoved the fury, the bitterness, and the hostility he felt towards every mortal into a dark corner of his mind and then slammed the door shut on it.

  Otherwise, he would’ve gone down Ulrik’s path and destroyed every one of them.

  Con descended to land at the base of his mountain. He shifted into his human form, calling his clothes back to him as he did. He looked up at the impressive rock face. He loved every stone, every blade of grass on Dreagan. He’d chosen his mountain for its central location that made it difficult for mortals to access.

  He walked to the hidden entrance and stepped inside. His fingers trailed along the tunnel wall as he moved deeper into the mountain. The past half-year, his life had taken a turn, and he actually found himself happy. The fact that he and Rhi were together was a major factor in that. Coupled with his victory over the Dragon Kings’ enemies, and he was ecstatic.

  The only thing that put a damper on any of it had been finding out about the twins and not being able to see his children. But that was about to change.

  Yet, today, he found his mind drifting to the past, and he wasn’t sure why. He entered the largest cavern in the mountain and sat upon a boulder near the wall, not caring about his suit getting dirty.

  Instead of attempting to stop his thoughts, he let them drift to see where they took him. To his shock, they went to when the Warrior, Phelan, and the Phoenix, Aisley, had gotten married. Con and the other Dragon Kings had made themselves known to the Warriors of MacLeod Castle, thus becoming allies.

  When the Kings were invited to Phelan and Aisley’s wedding reception, Con had decided to attend. He didn’t know why. He normally shied away from things like that. Avoided them like the plague. And yet, he went to the pub. The moment he walked in, his gaze had been drawn to Rhi where she stood off to the side, tapping a finger on the bar. It had been so long since he had laid eyes on her that his breath had left him in a rush. All the words he’d ever written in his journal bubbled to the surface and were about to fall from his lips when she shot him a disgusted look.

  The music blared, laughter and conversation filled the space, and drinks flowed freely. No one noticed him. No one, that is, except for the love of his life—who clearly hated him. For several heartbeats, he’d been unable to move, unable to think.

  Then, finally, he approached her. “What are you doing here?”

  Her lip curled in annoyance. “Go away.”

  Her words cut him like a knife, but given what he’d done to her, he deserved them and so much more. He knew he should leave her alone, but he couldn’t. Once he’d seen her, he had to be near her, needed to hear her voice and look into her stunning silver eyes. “I have every right to be here. Now, answer me.”

  He inwardly winced at his harsh tone because he hadn’t meant the words to come out so. He was discombobulated, off-kilter at seeing Rhi after so many centuries. He could barely string two comprehensive thoughts together, much less words.

  She rolled her eyes and cocked her head to the side as she raised her brows. “Sod off, dragon.”

  The way her hair fell in a curtain made his fingers itch to slide through the silky length. Rhi had always been vivacious and cheeky. He loved that about her. But he also saw the hurt that lingered in her eyes despite her attempts to hide it.

  And he was crushed. Because he was the cause of it. It didn’t make him feel better that she was hurting just as he was. In fact, it made him feel worse.

  He had to change the subject. Needed to think of something else to say to keep her talking just a little bit longer. Once she left, he wasn’t sure when he’d get to see her again. “I didna believe it at first when I heard that a Fae had approached Phelan.”

  In all honesty, he’d secretly hoped it was her.

  She lost her attitude and faced him. “What do you want, Con?”

  “What do you want with Phelan?”

  “He’s a prince.”

  Con grunted. “Tell me something I doona already know.”

  She glanced down at the little box sitting on the bar. “That is for Phelan to tell you. If he chooses.”

  Phelan and Aisley interrupted their conversation. Con barely heard any of the exchange as his eyes were glued to Rhi. He bit back a smile when she shifted so her back was to him, though she had no idea that her hair brushed his hand, and her leg came within inches of his. It was all Con could do not to spin her around and claim her mouth in a kiss that would leave them both breathless.

  Con’s attention piqued when he realized that Rhi hadn’t explained something. “How is Phelan your prince?”

  R
hi gritted her teeth, her annoyance plain as she swung her gaze to him. “He’s our prince because his male Fae ancestor happened to be the queen’s brother.”

  Con knew that, of course, but he wanted Rhi to acknowledge him, even if it was in irritation. He sat back and listened as Rhi, Phelan, and Aisley continued speaking. Then, Rhi waved at them and walked out of the pub.

  He wanted to call her back. To race after her. Yet, somehow, Con remained where he was, his heart breaking into a million pieces all over again. He said something to Phelan, but he couldn’t remember what it was, then he left the pub to find Rhi and tell her…everything. Except when he went outside, she was gone.

  Con briefly thought about calling her name, but he wasn’t sure she would answer him. He should’ve told her that she looked beautiful. He should’ve said that he was a fool and regretted every day without her in his arms.

  He should’ve told her so many things. But the opportunity slipped through his fingers.

  You whispered into my heart. You kissed my soul.

  Chapter Five

  Rhi looked out the window for a sign of Con. He had probably returned while she was engrossed in reading the journal. The words had sucked her in, breaking her heart and making her love him all the more. She stretched her neck after one last look for her mate and returned to the chair.

  She glanced at the fire that her magic kept going. Her mug was empty, but she wasn’t interested in drinking more tea when the pages of the journal called to her. Rhi kicked off her slippers and tucked her legs against her as she opened to the next page.

  * * *

  I walked the Dragonwood today. It was always one of your favorite places. I go there every day. I ignored my duties to wander the forest and remember the times we shared. How you would get so giddy in the spring when the wildflowers blossomed, or during the winter when the snow fell.