by Donna Grant
If he were able.
No. She refused to even go down that road. He’d said the Others’ magic was powerful, but only because no one—including V—had realized it had been used on him. Even then, V was working his way to erasing all that had been done to him.
That led Sabina to conclude that even with the mix of Druid and Fae magic, the Others still didn’t stand a chance against the Dragon Kings.
At least she prayed they didn’t. Because she really needed Roman.
Sabina kept her eyes straight ahead. She focused on putting one foot in front of the other, ignoring her bladder and emptying her mind of everything else. If she allowed herself to think about her brother or what might have happened to Roman, she might just lose her mind.
She could hear Roman’s voice in her head, telling her that she could do this, that she was strong enough. That made her smile. Her steps grew quicker as she ate up more space. As her confidence grew, her mind wandered.
Before she knew it, her thoughts had taken her back to when she gave V’s sword to Iacob. V’s blue eyes blazed with fury and anger, but it wasn’t heat she felt from his gaze. It was coldness.
His mouth moved as if he were saying something. But that wasn’t right. Sabina remembered looking at him before she’d given up his sword. V’s head had dropped back, and his eyes were closed.
How then did she know that he spoke?
“I will find you. No matter how far you go, no matter what you do. I will find you for stealing what’s mine, Sabina.”
She stumbled into the wall, slamming her chin into a protrusion of rock. Without checking, she knew her skin had broken when she felt a drop of something on the back of her hand. Blood.
Sabina was yanked from her thoughts. She blinked, unease coursing through her. She didn’t remember how far she’d come. It was like she’d blanked out while walking.
For all she knew, she could’ve walked right past Roman and not known it. But that’s what happened when she allowed herself to be taken by her memories.
Except, this one had been different. Her steps slowed until she halted. What she’d seen hadn’t been a memory. She knew she hadn’t heard or seen anything that V said after it appeared he’d fallen unconscious.
She refused to believe it was the Sight. The Romani saw the future, not the past. And yet, that’s exactly what she’d seen. It was the only explanation. Quite frankly, it scared the hell out of her.
When she started walking again, she realized that she was facing forward, not scooting with her shoulders turned to the side as she had been for hours. When had that changed? She really had to start paying attention. She was on her own now, without Roman there to save her.
As soon as she was able, she emptied her bladder to stop the pain that had her nearly doubled over. Her mind tried to pull her under again, but she resisted. More out of fear of what she might discover than anything else.
She wasn’t sure if this were her Sight or the Others, and until she knew for sure, she wasn’t going to let her mind wander.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
It would be so easy to lose control, to give in to the unrestrained fury, resentment, and indignation. Those emotions were simple, powerful.
And obliterating.
Roman should know. He’d given in to them when battling Freyr, and again when his family—all except for Ragna—turned their backs on him.
It had gotten him nowhere. The joy he’d experienced in claiming the throne for the Light Blues was shadowed by the fact that he’d taken his brother’s life.
No one had come close to making him lose control until Sabina. But with her, it was different. It wasn’t anger or bitterness that assaulted him. It was a fervid desire, an uncontrollable need to claim her as his.
But all that had to be put aside. He had to focus on remaining calm, concentrate on finding serenity amid the turmoil of being imprisoned.
In his mind, Roman raged. He bellowed, he cursed.
He roared.
Outwardly, he kneeled on his haunches, serenely in the center of his prison with his eyes closed. There would come a time for him to give in to the anger, but it wasn’t now.
The moment Sabina’s fingers slipped from his, the sickening feeling of the Druid-Fae magic washed over him. He hollered for Sabina and tried to reach for her, but it was already too late as he was unceremoniously yanked from her side. Every time he tried to use his magic, the farther she moved away.
The pain using his magic caused him had been debilitating, but it was worth it to save her. And he would’ve continued had he not begun to yearn for the deaths of all mortals. The sensation reminded him so much of what the others who touched the wooden dragon had experienced that he instantly stopped using his magic. Thankfully, the need to kill humans diminished.
From the moment he appeared in the cage, he’d kept his eyes closed. It was also the way he remained composed. He used his other senses to give him the information he needed. On the right side, the unmistakable chill of ice brushed against him. His hearing picked up the drip of water into a larger pool, and by the smell of the steam, it was a hot spring.
But there was also the heavy smell of sulfur as well as the blistering feel of heat coming from his left side. Magma. The small gas explosions from the molten rock filled the silence.
Roman reached out with his mental link, but just as he expected, none of the Dragon Kings answered. That could only mean the Others’ magic prevented it.
There was no way to see if V had woken, no way to let Ulrik know that Sabina needed help, and no way to alert Con of just how far the Others had gone.
Roman took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes. The cavern was enormous. Several Kings could fly together and never bump into each other. It looked as if there were a glacier to his right with the water dripping from the slowly melting ice into a pool heated from the magma flowing beneath it.
And on Roman’s left side, a large waterfall of magma poured from the mountain into a fast-moving river of fire. Flames shot up from the lava while anything that came near it was quickly devoured.
Dividing the two extremes was a teardrop-shaped mass that he was on. There was something below him, but with steam swirling around and clouding portions of the cavern, he couldn’t make out what it was.
Fire and ice. It was a bit poetic for his tastes, but he supposed the Others had a plan. Just what that might be was the real question. Mainly because it would likely involve Sabina.
Roman’s heart missed a beat when he thought about her being left alone. She was strong, with a backbone of steel. There wasn’t much that could get her down, and he hoped this wasn’t the thing that would change that.
She didn’t like going backwards, which meant there was only one way for her to go—forward. He didn’t bother shouting her name. She wouldn’t hear him. No one would. Ever.
As soon as Roman realized that he was imprisoned, he’d tested the strength of the magic. Each time he encountered the Others’ magic, it made him nauseous, but he knew he could break through it.
But what would be the cost?
Because there would be one. The Others hadn’t gone to this much trouble for him to endure a queasy stomach. And that’s what really worried him.
“V’s sword, the death of the White, the wooden replica of Con, and now this. Why?” he murmured to himself.
There could be an argument that the White was killed to hide the wooden dragon, but that carving could have been put anywhere. Why the White? Why hide it?
The answer was because they knew Dmitri would be there with the skeleton. The Others wanted Dmitri to know that one of his dragons had suffered an excruciating death.
And they wanted Dmitri to find the carving. The Others knew he’d bring it to Dreagan. They’d put enough magic in that small object to affect Kings and mortals alike—with disastrous results.
That was assuming the Others suspected that the Kings would take mates.
Apprehension snaked down Roman’s spine.
If that were the case, then that meant the Others knew about Ulrik’s betrayal since the reaction by the humans when they touched the carving was the same as what had nearly happened.
Fuck.
Roman fisted his hands atop his legs. He didn’t want to go any further or think any more about the Others, but there was no choice. If not for Rhi, they’d never know about the mix of magic because each time a King touched the carving, the uncontrollable need to kill mortals assailed them. That meant none of them had time to digest what type of magic it was when they were fighting the urge to kill.
That brought him to V. Roman’s earlier thoughts had sorted through that tangled mess, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t missed something. The longer Roman thought about it, the more he was sure that one of Sabina’s ancestors had hidden the sword here.
But why here?
No matter how he looked at it, it wasn’t a coincidence. The Others might not have been able to get the sword from Sabina’s ancestors in time, but they made sure the weapon went exactly where they wanted it—Iceland.
His domain.
Because they’d known he would be here to retrieve it. There were Druids who had visions, so it was conceivable that one of them saw him and Sabina together. Maybe that’s how they linked them and made sure the sword came here. And that the Druid knew him and his domain. But that was hedging everything on a single vision.
Fae didn’t have that sort of ability. And no Fae could travel through time, so that left him with the vision, once again.
The drawings they left, however, really bothered him. Why would the Others give him a heads-up on what was coming? Was it because they felt sure he wouldn’t be able to change the outcome?
Roman tried once more to reach the Kings, to no avail. If he weren’t expecting Sabina, he’d try to escape. But he wasn’t sure what would happen, and he didn’t want her somewhere he couldn’t protect her. So he waited.
* * *
“Bad things. Bad things. Bad things.”
Ulrik frowned as Camlo jumped to his feet and began to pace, wringing his hands as he repeated the words over and over. Ulrik looked at V, who had yet to stir. And he had tried his best to wake V himself.
“It’s okay,” Eilish said to Camlo as she rose to her feet.
Camlo rapidly shook his dark head. “It’s happening.”
“What is?” Ulrik asked as he stood.
Camlo ran out of the chamber. Ulrik and Eilish followed him into the cavern with the drawings. Camlo stopped before the one where Roman, in dragon form, was killed by V’s sword.
Camlo then turned his head to Ulrik, his face filled with sadness. “It’s happening.”
“But V is still unconscious,” Eilish said.
Ulrik pointed at Camlo as he told his mate, “Stay with him.”
Ulrik rushed back to V. He stood over his friend, waiting for any sign of movement. The Dragon Kings were incredibly powerful, but they couldn’t leave their own bodies like a ghost.
Yet, Camlo was insistent that bad things were happening, specifically Roman being killed by V’s sword. But V was right here.
Unless …
“Shite,” Ulrik muttered as he realized V didn’t have to be there for the sword to be used.
Ulrik opened the link to Roman. “Roman? I need you to answer me now. Roman!”
When there was no response no matter how many times Ulrik shouted his name, he sent out a call to all Dragon Kings, “Roman is in trouble. I can no’ reach him, and … there’s a verra real possibility that we could lose him.”
“I’m coming,” Con answered.
There was something Roman had said in one of their conversations that made Ulrik immediately tell Con, “You can no’. This is all a trap.”
“For Roman.”
“Or for you. Roman didna want any of us here.”
“I doona like this,” Con grumbled.
“We’re no’ prepared for this, my friend. Any of it. These Others know everything we’re going to do before we do it.”
Con issued a harsh bark of laughter. “No’ all of us.”
Ulrik frowned as he tried to figure out who Con was talking to. Then it hit him. “Oh, aye. You’re right. I’ll let you know how it goes.”
“If I doona hear from you in an hour, I’m coming there,” Con threatened.
“Understood,” Ulrik said before disconnecting the link.
When he turned, Eilish was there with Camlo. His mate studied him a moment. “You were talking to Con.”
“Aye,” he replied. “We’re annoyed by the fact that the Others seem to know what we’re going to do.”
Eilish raised a black brow as she stared at him with her green-gold eyes. “I suppose by that stern look, you have a plan.”
“I have you,” he said as he walked to her and gave her a kiss.
Camlo moved to sit beside V, ignoring them.
“What is it?” Eilish whispered.
Ulrik cupped her face in his hands. “We need to think outside the box.”
“How? You said yourself, the Others know every move.”
“Ours.”
She frowned. “And, apparently, Sabina’s.”
“But no’ you.” He glanced down at her finger rings that she used to teleport.
Eilish thought about his words a moment. “It might be a gamble that could backfire.”
“We’ve no’ lost a Dragon King in ages, my love. We can no’ lose one now.”
“Do you think the Others would know about one of their own?”
It took Ulrik a minute to realize she spoke about Rhi. “You want me to summon her?”
Eilish shrugged. “It certainly couldn’t hurt.”
“V remains unconscious, I can no’ get ahold of Roman, and Camlo said that it’s begun. Just think how bad things would be had we no’ arrived.”
“I think when it comes to the Others, you Kings need to stop thinking you can do things on your own. Banding together makes you more powerful.”
“Aye, unless there’s a situation like this. Roman knew it was a trap, and I fear he’s already in it. Any other King who tries to find him will end up the same way.”
Eilish grinned. “Which is why you need a Druid and a Fae.”
“If I’d set up something so elaborate, I’d wonder if one of my own might befriend my enemy along the way.”
Eilish hesitated. “True, but even if that’s the case, would you hurt one of your own?”
He shrugged.
She smiled.
Without missing a beat, he said, “Rhi.”
Seconds later, the Light Fae appeared before him. She looked around the cavern, her brows furrowed deeply until her gaze landed on him. “I’m guessing someone is in some deep shite.”
“Let’s start at the beginning, but it’ll be better if you’re in the other cavern,” Eilish said.
Rhi looked at Ulrik as she asked, “Other cavern?”
“Thanks for coming, Rhi,” he said as Eilish led the Light Fae from the chamber. Ulrik looked at V lying on the ground. “All right, old friend. Time for you to wake. We’re going to need you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
The slap went through V like a shot. He heard the movement of air as whoever it was swung their hand back to do it again. Right before they made contact with his cheek, he reached up and grasped their arm.
When he opened his eyes, he was staring into a gold gaze he knew well. “Ulrik?”
“It’s about bloody time you woke.”
V released him and sat up. He swallowed past the emptiness he felt in his chest. He had the answers now, but knowing the truth only made things worse.
“V?” Ulrik asked, concern deepening his voice. “Are you with me?”
“I’m here,” V said. Though he wished he weren’t.
V’s gaze moved around the chamber, and he spotted Camlo off by himself. The mortal’s dark eyes watched him carefully. Somehow, Camlo knew. He’d known all of it, and he hadn’t said anything to either V or
Roman—or even his sister.
“Do you have any idea how long you were out?” Ulrik asked irritably. “Not to mention, I’ve been slapping your face for a good fifteen minutes now.”
That’s why his cheek stung. V worked his jaw back and forth to stretch the skin. He knew Ulrik wanted him to say something, do something, but V couldn’t. Mainly because he couldn’t decide if he was angry or not.
“V, you’ve got to talk to me,” Ulrik urged. “I’m beginning to get concerned. It’s never a good sign when you’re quiet.”
He swung his head to Ulrik. “I was out so long because I was ridding myself of the Others’ magic.”
Ulrik slowly sat back on his butt. “I gather it was difficult.”
“No’ how you think. There were multiple layers of each of their magic. It overlapped, some parts threading into the others. That’s what makes it so powerful. It’s finding the part that’s the weakest in order to break it all down that takes the longest.”
“Do you remember it all now?”
“Every damn second of it.”
Ulrik propped a foot on the floor and rested his arm on his knee. “And?”
“It was a normal day. I flew over the land as usual. I had to deal with some minor squabble between two of my dragons. It was after that when I began to notice something wasna quite right with me. I returned to my cave to determine what was going on. I struggled to stay awake, and it felt as if my mind was fuzzy.”
“Magic of the Others?” Ulrik asked.
V nodded. “It was while I was fighting it that Sabina appeared. I didna know who she was. She was dressed oddly and talked strangely. But I could tell she was scared of the men climbing the mountain. None of the humans had ever been to my cave. I selected it so it would be risky for them to even try.”
“Bina,” Camlo murmured.
V glanced at the mortal before he turned his head back to Ulrik. “The magic was taking hold of me quicker than I could combat it. I told Sabina to get behind me while I took care of the humans, but I couldna do anything. I was rendered useless. I had no choice but to lie there on the ground and listen as Sabina spoke to her ancestors.
