Torched

by Donna Grant

  This was one of those times he wished he were on Dreagan. All he would have had to do was go to Ryder.

  Ulrik sighed and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and middle finger. None of this would be happening if he hadn’t been banished. Mikkel wouldn’t have caused his turmoil, Ulrik would never have met Eilish, and he wouldn’t be worried about what his uncle was doing to her.

  His head snapped up as he lowered his arm. Mikkel had believed Eilish’s magic was powerful enough to kill a Dragon King. The scene in Ulrik’s antique shop hadn’t been faked. Mikkel truly thought Eilish could kill both him and Con. And while Ulrik had sensed the strength of her magic, he wasn’t sure she could do significant damage to a King.

  Unless she was hiding a secret.

  No, he didn’t think that was it. More likely, it was Mikkel who hid something.

  Ulrik slammed his fist against the desk, smashing it in two. He straightened as the laptop and cell phones toppled to the floor. But he wasn’t thinking about the electronics. His mind was on how to locate Eilish in a way that didn’t involve the Kings. Because he really didn’t want to go to Con and ask for help.

  He hated the powerless feeling that continued to grow within him. It didn’t matter that he ran countless businesses—some legal by mortal standards, some not. It didn’t matter how many people he had investigating for him. It didn’t matter how many spies he had.

  No one could help.

  It would take someone with magic to could locate Eilish or Mikkel.

  As soon as that thought went through his head, he had an answer. Though it wasn’t without risks. He accepted them, though. Then he touched his cuff and teleported to MacLeod Castle just outside the magical barrier.

  He felt the pulse of magic in the air filled with the smell of salt from the sea. It was as strong here as it was on the Isle of Skye, though nothing could compare to the magic on Dreagan.

  Ulrik listened to the sound of the waves far below the nearby cliffs. Then he took a deep breath and walked through the invisible barrier that kept the castle hidden and outsiders away. He hadn’t gone three steps before a ball of fire the size of a soccer ball landed on the ground a few inches in front of him.

  He stopped and looked at the flames before he raised his gaze to find a Warrior with red skin, claws, and eyes advancing toward him with two more balls of fire in his hands.

  Instead of fighting Hayden, which was definitely appealing in his present state of mind, Ulrik held up his hands. “I’ve no’ come to do battle.”

  “What if we want a fight?” asked Malcolm as he walked up and unleashed lightning from his hand, his skin shifting to maroon while claws extended from his fingers.

  Ulrik looked at Malcolm before raising his gaze upward when he heard the leathery beat of Broc’s wings. Soon, all fifteen Warriors stood around him in a semi-circle, each with their skin colored by the primeval gods—or goddess in the case of Larena—inside them.

  “I’m looking for a Druid,” Ulrik began.

  Ramsey, a Warrior who was also half-Druid, made a sound in the back of his throat. “I think you’ve found enough Druids.”

  Ulrik inwardly winced. He’d forgotten about all the Druids who had died while attempting to touch dragon magic and unbind what Con had done to him. It had been a significant number.

  Ulrik’s arms dropped to his sides. He felt as if his time were running out, and he didn’t know why.

  “Hate me all you want,” he told them. “Hell, I’ll fight any of you, and I’ll remain in this form. But I have to find Eilish Flanagan.”

  It was Larena with her iridescent skin who asked, “Why do you want her?”

  “No doubt to get her to help him instead of Mikkel,” Galen stated.

  Ulrik glanced at the green-skinned Warrior. “My uncle ordered her to kill me. He gave Eilish two days to do it. She decided no’ to do as Mikkel asked. Now, I can no’ find her.”

  “You felt the magic,” Ramsey said, a frown marring his forehead.

  Lucan, the middle MacLeod brother, shrugged his shoulders, the black skin of his god barely visible in the moonlight. “We all felt that small ripple.”

  “It originated in Ireland,” Ulrik said. “I know because I was there. When it struck me, it was strong enough that it knocked me back a step.”

  “Why the hell are we even listening to him?” Hayden asked with a sneer.

  Logan, with his silver skin, crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m in agreement with Hayden.”

  The earth rumbled beneath Ulrik’s feet as Camdyn said, “Count my vote with Hayden, as well.”

  The youngest MacLeod, Quinn, looked at Fallon. “We know what Ulrik has done to the Kings. We shouldna be listening to him.”

  “Hang on.” This came from the gold-skinned Warrior, Phelan, who was half-Fae and like a brother to Rhi. “I want to know why it’s so important that Ulrik find this Druid.”

  Beside him, the copper Warrior, Charon, scratched his jaw. “We’re no’ going to get anywhere unless we let Ulrik talk. If he wanted to do us harm, he could’ve done it when he came into my pub years ago.”

  “Or anytime since,” Ian stated before the light blue of his god faded away.

  Arran shrugged, but the white skin of his god remained. “True enough.”

  “Answer Phelan’s question,” Broc said as he landed. He glared at Ulrik before folding his indigo wings behind him.

  Ulrik looked at each of them, ending with Fallon, who had yet to say anything. There wasn’t time to tell them everything, nor did he want to. But Ulrik would condense it.

  “Eilish is looking for her mother. Mikkel used that in order to get her to do what he wanted. I’m no’ making excuses for her. She did some bad things. We’ve all done such things.”

  “Some more than others,” Charon interjected.

  Ulrik glanced at the copper Warrior. “I was convincing Eilish to stop working with my uncle because if she continued, he would turn her into a drough.”

  “Why do you care what becomes of her?” Quinn asked.

  Ulrik was answering questions he hadn’t asked himself. And he wasn’t comfortable with it. “The Druids are dying out. I know what it’s like to be one of the last of my kind.”

  Malcolm laughed, the sound mirthless. “A drough is still a Druid.”

  “No’ really, and you know that. Their power doubles, but they’re no longer the holder of the sacred magic that once filled this entire realm. Now, there are only certain places you can detect such magic.”

  Larena tilted her head to the side as she regarded him. “You think Mikkel took Eilish?”

  “I doona know. I can no’ find her or my uncle.”

  “They could be working together,” Phelan said. “It could all be a plan to betray you.”

  Ulrik blew out a breath. “I thought that. I even accused Eilish of it. But … I was wrong.”

  Damn, but that was hard to admit.

  “How do you know?” Ian asked.

  Ulrik looked up at the sky and the waxing moon. “I doona trust. I can no’. I learned to read people and detect the slightest inflection of their voice or movement of their bodies to indicate their lies.” His gaze returned to Fallon. “Eilish is a Druid looking for her mother and was approached by the wrong man.”

  “You care about her,” Lucan stated.

  No way was Ulrik going to even acknowledge such a remark.

  Quinn frowned as he widened his stance. “If the Druid thought she could kill you, then surely she can stand against Mikkel.”

  “The depth of her magic is amazing, but she’s no’ had proper training. She learned on her own,” Ulrik stated.

  “No’ a good thing,” Ramsey muttered “If that’s the case, she could have untapped magic that she doesna know how to use. And trust me when I say that could be fatal.”

  Ulrik swallowed. “There’s more. It seems her mum was in the same predicament. She hid her magic from her family who didna have any. Eireen gave her daughter up, having a friend smuggl
e Eilish out of Ireland to Boston with the promise that Eilish would never return.”

  It was Galen’s turn to frown. “Why?”

  “Eireen disappeared shortly after giving birth. I believe her family did her harm because of her magic.”

  Camdyn shrugged as he looked at the others. “If they doona have magic, then Eilish isna with them. There’s no way they could hold her.”

  But Ulrik wasn’t so sure. “The man who raised Eilish, Patrick, is terrified of the Duffys. Eireen put that fear there. She would only have done that to make sure her daughter didna return.”

  “The question is why didna Eireen want Eilish in Ireland?” Phelan replied.

  Fallon finally stepped forward. “Broc? Can you find the Druid?”

  Ulrik’s gaze swung to the winged Warrior as he waited expectantly.

  “I’ve been trying since Ulrik asked about her.” Broc’s gaze turned to Ulrik. “I find no trace of her.”

  With six little words, Ulrik felt the last grains of time slip through his fingers.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Dreagan

  The time had come. The balls Con was juggling were about to wobble, and everything he’d worked so hard to keep together could very well fall apart.

  He readily admitted that he could be stubborn, but a leader also had to realize when it was time to take action. And that time was now.

  Con released a breath and pushed away from his desk, moving his chair back before rising. He buttoned his suit jacket and adjusted the cuffs of his shirt as he walked to the door.

  As he made his way down the stairs, he spotted Asher and Kellan at the bottom waiting for him. Con halted once he reached them, looking from one to the other.

  Kellan shrugged and met his gaze while leaning an elbow on the banister. “It’s about damn time. And before you say anything, I’m coming with you.”

  “I doona need help,” Con said.

  Kellan pushed away from the banister and gave him a sour look. “I’m no’ going for you. I’m going for me.”

  “We’ve all been anticipating this,” Asher said.

  Con should’ve known the other Kings would be waiting for a win—even a small one—after the heaps of trouble that had come their way of late. Besides, he’d charged Asher and Kellan with finding the spy. They should be there to see this through.

  “Fine,” he told them.

  Asher grinned. “Ryder wanted me to let you know that he did another intensive background check on those employed at Dreagan. He can confirm that we doona have any other spies.”

  “All this time, I believed the person was working for Ulrik. I didna want there to be another enemy against us, but the truth about Mikkel has come to light,” Con said.

  Kellan crossed his arms over his chest. “It was easier to believe Ulrik was the culprit for everything.”

  “Aye,” Con murmured. “Ulrik willna have a spy here. There’s no need. No’ when he’s been coming onto Dreagan for some time now.”

  Asher’s face went slack. “What? There’s no way. He’s banished. No’ to mention Ryder’s cameras would’ve picked him up.” He then looked at Kellan. “Did you see this as Keeper of History?”

  Kellan’s frown deepened. “I have to record everything, as you know. Most of it I doona allow to register as I’m writing it. I can no’ keep all that information in my brain.”

  Con shook his head, hoping the weariness assaulting him didn’t show. “If Ulrik wanted to do any of us harm, Kellan, you would’ve known. Doona concern yourself with this. Besides, it seems Ulrik really does have a way of teleporting. He uses that to get in and out of his mountain, as well as to see the Silvers.”

  “Shite,” Kellan stated.

  Asher laughed as he shook his head. “That sounds exactly like something Ulrik would do.”

  It was just another strike against him, Con realized. He was trying to be everything for everyone, but he couldn’t. It used to be simple. Before the spell that kept the Kings from feeling anything for the humans shattered. Before the mates.

  There weren’t just more women roaming Dreagan, there were more enemies against the Kings, as well. At least the Kings could fly once more.

  Con realized the others were waiting for him as he’d been lost in his thoughts. The two fell into step beside him as they walked from the manor.

  “Is everything all right?” Kellan asked.

  Con glanced over and met Kellan’s celadon gaze. “It hasna been for a long time.”

  “He meant with you,” Asher said.

  Constantine halted and sighed. “I take it you’re both referring to Usaeil?”

  “I’m talking about all of this,” Kellan said. “You’re shouldering everything, Con.”

  “It’s my job.”

  Asher snorted. “It’s going to be your death. You’re no’ in this alone, you know. This involves all of us.”

  Con looked out over Dreagan from the red-roofed buildings of the distillery to the mountains and glens where sheep and cattle roamed, then to the manor. It was a stunning place made more special by its magic.

  This was the place all Kings gathered away from their lands and clan. It had called to them from the very beginning, beckoning the dragons with the magic that beat like a heart within the ground.

  “There are only two other people who know just how badly I wanted to be King of Dragon Kings,” Con said as he returned his gaze them. “Kellan, because he’s Keeper of History, but can you guess the other?”

  Asher nodded once. “Ulrik.”

  “We told each other everything once. He used to warn me that I didna know what I was getting into, that it should be enough that I was king of my Golds. But it wasna enough.” Con smiled ruefully. “I hungered for this responsibility, and I made sure I got it. So now, when things are at their worst, I’m no’ going to shirk my responsibilities.”

  “That never entered our minds,” Kellan stated.

  They continued toward the distillery buildings, but they didn’t get very far before Asher spoke again.

  “And Usaeil?”

  Con couldn’t help but grin. “I’ll be taking care of that particular thorn in my side verra soon.”

  “But you willna be alone,” Kellan stated.

  “No,” Con replied, the smile gone. “Rhi will be with me.”

  Asher blew out a long breath. “Things are escalating between those two.”

  Con nodded, unable to deny it. “Its Usaeil’s doing. I never realized how jealous she was of Rhi.”

  “Usaeil is queen,” Kellan said, his words tinged with frustration. “What else does she want?”

  “She wants it all,” Asher said as he shot Kellan a look.

  “I believed Rhi left the Queen’s Guard because of her own issues. I should’ve realized it was more than that,” Con said.

  Kellan grunted. “We all should have.”

  Their talk ceased as they approached the kilns. Con glanced at Kellan, who pivoted and walked toward the building where Con had an office for just such instances. Since he had to conduct business with mortals, he’d set up space in one of the back buildings long ago.

  He glanced at Asher before they walked through the door. Con made his way to the back of the building where he spotted the short, blond waves he recognized as Alice’s. It still upset him that someone who was a fifth-generation worker and had been employed by Dreagan for nearly two decades would betray them.

  Then again, it was human nature.

  Alice’s family had been good workers, so when she came to Dreagan for a job, Con hadn’t hesitated to hire her. She’d proven she was an even better employee than her family. Soon, she was given more responsibility and was all over the distillery wherever there was a need.

  Now, he would have to fire someone who they’d depended on because she was a spy.

  “Hi,” Alice said, flashing a big smile when she spotted him.

  Con nodded, noting that her wedding band was missing. This was marriage number two. “I’d lik
e to speak with you.”

  “Of course,” she replied, turning her blue gaze on the man next to her.

  They waited as Alice handed over the clipboard to another employee. Con then led her out of the building to his office.

  The space gave all the appearances of a place that he used often. There was a beautiful antique desk, a chair that matched the one in his office in the manor, a sideboard with several decanters of whisky, chairs for visitors, and decorations that spoke of Dreagan’s accomplishments and awards.

  And while Dreagan did have the double dragon logo, Con kept the dragon decorations to a minimum in this office. There was also a token or two that reminded visitors of Dreagan’s wealth—which always seemed important to mortals.

  Con spotted Kellan standing in the corner when he walked into the office. He gave a nod to him before moving behind his desk and motioned for Alice to take a seat. Behind her, Asher quietly closed the door and set up sentry.

  Con sank into his chair and leaned back as he watched Alice. She sat calmly with a smile on her face. There wasn’t any indication that she suspected she’d been found out. And why would she? She’d possibly been a spy the entire time she’d been at Dreagan. Hell, Con had even sent her to help Cassie when she first arrived.

  Because he’d trusted Alice.

  Con couldn’t help but see a correlation between him and Ulrik. It wasn’t difficult to understand why Ulrik hated the mortals so. Or why his old friend trusted no one.

  It wasn’t by accident that he was relating to Ulrik. Had he felt even a shred of what consumed him now when Ulrik began the war, there was no doubt Con would’ve joined his friend.

  But this was a different time. He had to keep that in mind.

  And it wasn’t easy.

  With his focus back on Alice, Con studied her. She’d always been comely. Alice was cheerful as well as helpful. Few ever had anything negative to say about her.

  “How long have you worked for us?” he asked.

  She shrugged and crossed one jean-clad leg over the other. “It’ll be twenty years come September.”

  “A long time.”

  “To be sure,” she agreed. “But it’s been amazing. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else. It is my family’s legacy.”