by Donna Grant
Claire shrugged. “She could be anywhere.”
As the debate went on around her, Claire wondered what would happen if she told them that she owned the blog. She bit her lip and looked around the room at the array of women. Some were already mated to Kings, while others were about to be. She was the only one who was neither, which made her keenly aware that she had no business being with them.
Her gaze met Kinsey’s violet eyes. She stared a long moment at Claire before giving her a slight bow of her head.
It was a good thing that Claire was sitting because she would have fallen over otherwise. Kinsey knew.
Kinsey knew!
Claire’s heart raced, and her palms grew clammy. She couldn’t catch her breath, which made the room spin.
And all the while, she couldn’t imagine why Kinsey hadn’t said anything to anyone—even her. Well, she just had, but not before then.
The conversation about the whereabouts of the writer for the blog halted as Eilish, Shara, and Esther came into the room. They had done a sweep of the manor, or so Claire had been told. She wasn’t sure why just those three, but maybe she’d find out if she could get a hold of herself.
“Claire, I could use your help,” Kinsey called as she got to her feet and started toward the doorway.
She had no other option but to go with Kinsey. When Claire stood, her legs shook. She waited a couple of seconds to steady herself, then followed Kinsey into the kitchen.
The tall beauty stopped by the large sink and leaned a hip against it while smiling at Claire. “As you can see, I’m not going to tell anyone.”
Claire licked her lips. “How long have you known?”
“Months. Ryder and I decided it was best if we kept your secret since you had gone to so much trouble to hide it. Though I can’t figure out why.”
Claire shrugged and glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was behind her as she walked closer to Kinsey. “It just seemed easier to be anonymous, and when everyone tried to find me, I liked that they couldn’t.”
Kinsey winked at her. “You don’t need to worry. Ryder added some security to your site so that no hacker will ever be able to locate your identity.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re Sophie’s friend, which in turn means you’re our friend, as well. And now with you and V together, you’re well and truly one of us.”
“I’m not sure what V and I are,” Claire hastily said.
Kinsey flashed her a smile. “I saw the two of you together earlier. He can’t take his eyes off you.”
“Really?” That made Claire giddy.
Kinsey nodded her head of dark brown hair. “Really. It also says a lot that you’re here.”
“It’s new, though. And, honestly, I don’t even know what it is. It’s not like we’ve talked about it.”
“You will. Sometimes, it’s better to let things flow, but if you really need to know, ask him. I don’t know V as well as some of the others. He’s quiet and keeps to himself from what I’ve seen. But from what Ryder told me, you’ve brought about a good change for V.”
Claire thought about how V had shared his story with her and how he’d so readily opened up to her. And if she brought about a change in him, she knew for a fact that he’d brought a change in her. It was more than the desire that heated her veins each time she thought of him. Without a doubt, she knew that V was the other half of her soul, the piece she’d been looking for. “He’s been alone for so long.”
“And now he doesn’t have to be.” Kinsey pushed away from the counter. “If you ever want to tell the others about you writing the blog, they’ll keep your secret.”
“I know. Each of you keeps a bigger, more important secret. I’ve only told one person.”
Kinsey’s eyes widened, and she lowered her voice as she guessed, “You told V.”
Claire nodded, a smile pulling at her lips. “It felt good to tell him. That’s where we were before Darius came to find us. Do you know what’s going on?”
“Not really,” she said, the corners of her lips turning down as she glanced out the door. “When the Kings get this secretive, it means it’s something pretty bad.”
At the sound of approaching footsteps, Claire turned to find Sophie walking toward them. “What are you two talking about?”
“I wanted to see if Claire was handling things all right,” Kinsey said.
Claire cleared her throat. “Actually, I was about to ask a question.”
“Sure,” Sophie said.
Both women stared at Claire, waiting. “Why was it only Eilish, Esther, and Shara who went to check the grounds? Shouldn’t we all have gone?”
Sophie bit her lip and wrinkled her nose. “I’m guessing V didn’t tell you that part.”
“We’ve been … well,” Claire said, thinking of their time making love, which made her smile at the memories.
Kinsey laughed. “Oh, girl, we know. So, what do you know about us?”
“She knows the basics,” Sophie said.
Claire added, “V also told me about not being able to have children. And he mentioned the Druids and Warriors at … oh, what was the name?”
“MacLeod Castle,” Kinsey supplied.
Claire nodded, pointing. “Yes. That’s the one.”
Sophie made a sound in the back of her throat. “I’m glad he told you about the Druids. So, Eilish is one of the most powerful Druids around.”
“But she’s not the only one here,” Kinsey said.
Sophie twisted her lips. “Well, Esther and Henry can’t do magic like Eilish, but they do have a connection. Darcy used to be able to do magic, but she lost her power. Long story that we’ll tell you later,” Sophie said before Claire could ask what had happened.
“There’s a chance she’s getting some of it back,” Kinsey interjected.
Sophie nodded. “Then there’s Faith, who seems to have a link to the Druids as well, but we haven’t connected those dots yet.”
“Oh, and Shara is a Fae. She used to be Dark, but she turned Light,” Kinsey said.
Claire looked between them. “Wow. That’s … wow.”
The two shared a laugh. It was Sophie who said, “I’m pretty sure my face looked just like yours when I learned all of this. Soon, it’ll be second nature.”
Everyone assumed that Claire and V would stay together, but she wasn’t as confident as the others. All she had to do was look at her past to see one failed relationship after another.
She knew V was The One for her, but that didn’t mean things would work out. V was an immortal with a very powerful position. She was a nobody that had nothing to offer.
Though if she had the opportunity, she’d take a chance with V. He was … well, everything. She’d tasted what it was to be his, and no one else could ever compare. And yet, she couldn’t keep a relationship. That meant she was obviously doing something wrong. If only she knew what it was, so she could fix it and give her and V a chance.
“I can’t wait for you to meet Rhi,” Sophie said, breaking into Claire’s thoughts.
Claire blinked and looked at her friend. That was quite an odd name. Was it coincidence that Sophie knew someone named Rhi, and that Claire had just met someone with the same name?
“Rhi is a Light Fae,” Kinsey said. “She’s stunning, of course. As all Fae are. She’s also a riot. She and one of the Dragon Kings once had a thing.”
“Once?” Claire said.
Sophie shrugged. “None of the guys like to talk about it. I do know Darius was the one sent by Rhi’s King to break it off with her. Darius doesn’t talk about it often, but he hates that he was involved.”
“I met a Rhi the other day.”
Sophie and Kinsey exchanged a look. It was Sophie who said, “That’s not a very common name. Rhi is around here sometimes, though.”
“What does she look like?” Claire asked.
Kinsey laughed and crossed her arms over her face. “Long, black hair. Gorgeous, silver eyes. And a body that
can wear anything and look good doing it. She has a taste for fashion and really high heels.”
“I met her.” Claire was sure of it. The description was dead-on to the woman at the spa. “We talked while we got our nails done. She actually picked out these colors,” she said and held up her hands.
Sophie peered closer at Claire’s nails. “That doesn’t surprise me. Rhi always has a different color on her nails.”
“And designs,” Kinsey added.
“That’s right. Designs, too,” Sophie said.
Claire took in a steadying breath. “She’s the one who gave me the advice that led me to show up at the pub the other night.”
Kinsey grinned from ear to ear. “That’s absolutely something Rhi would do. Despite her affair going wrong, she’s very close to several Kings. She’s risked her life for many of us.”
“I adore her. I just wish I knew who the King was so I could give him a good flick on the ear,” Sophie said, her ire showing in her voice and the set of her face.
Kinsey nodded in agreement.
But Claire was still stuck on Rhi. “Why didn’t she tell me who she was?”
“You’d have to ask her,” Kinsey replied.
Sophie touched Claire on the shoulder. “Come on, you two. Jane has pulled up the blog. Apparently, a post went up recently that we missed.”
Claire glanced at Kinsey, who gave her a little nod as if nudging her to tell the others. Perhaps she should. “Hey. It’s me,” she told Sophie.
Sophie frowned. “What is?”
“The blogger. It’s me.”
Sophie laughed and lightly slapped her on the arm. “Nice try. There’s no way you could do something like that and not tell me.”
Claire almost mentioned how she’d kept her knowledge of the Dragon Kings a secret, but she just smiled as Sophie walked away.
Kinsey came up beside her. “Well, you tried. Looks like you’re going to have to prove it to her. If you want Sophie to know, that is. It’s your life. That’s why Ryder and I kept it to ourselves.” She took a couple of steps then stopped and turned around. “I have to admit, I love the blog. You say everything I used to think when I was dating. It’s good that others know they aren’t alone. I always thought I just didn’t know how to date. You’re doing a really good thing. Don’t forget that.”
Claire smiled her thanks as Kinsey returned to the others. It had been easy to pretend ignorance about the blog when it was just Sophie. But if there were any chance that she would be at Dreagan more, perhaps Claire did need to tell the others.
Or maybe just Sophie.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Once back at Dreagan, V remained in the cavern with Con and Ulrik. Con said nothing as he stared at the map. Though V hadn’t been at the Dark Palace long, he learned much by what he had seen and heard.
Just as Ulrik predicted, Balladyn would do anything for Rhi. V had to wonder how far the Dark Fae would go for Rhi, and V suspected that Balladyn would give up his life if it meant saving her.
“Balladyn really loves her,” V said.
Ulrik nodded. “If Rhi returned that love, they could be happy, I think.”
“With Rhi as a Dark?” Con asked without looking at them.
V’s gaze shifted to Con. “You believe she would turn?”
“The darkness within her grows every day,” Ulrik said. “She holds it off, but with someone like Balladyn—”
“A Dark,” V interjected.
“She would give in,” Ulrik finished.
V blew out a breath. “Maybe that’s her destiny.”
For a long moment, no one said anything. Then, Ulrik said, “I disagree. I believe Rhi is meant for something important, and it isna to rule the Dark with Balladyn. I think she should be Queen of the Light.”
“She would be a good choice,” Con said.
V couldn’t refute that. “What now? Do we wait for Rhi to make her move?”
“No.” Ulrik ran a hand over his chin. “We strike first to give Rhi a chance to get to the Light Castle and talk to Inen.”
“You think he can be trusted?” Con asked as he turned to look at them.
V threw up his hands. “I barely know Rhi. I know nothing about Balladyn or Inen, but Balladyn believes we should trust Rhi’s judgment.”
“Perhaps we shouldna trust what the King of the Dark says.”
Ulrik crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall. “Rhi needs him, and Balladyn loves her. That means he would never do anything to harm her.”
“Just because you love someone doesna preclude you from hurting them.”
* * *
There was something about Con’s words that unsettled V. His thoughts turned to Claire once more. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her in any way, but that might be out of his hands now that they’d been seen together. Her association with the Kings put her on the radar for any of their enemies. At least he could watch over her. And he would. He wouldn’t let anyone hurt her.
“You would know,” Ulrik replied to Con.
A look passed between Con and Ulrik, and V wisely remained out of it. Having slept for so long, there was much about the goings-on at Dreagan that V had yet to learn. This was one of those things where he knew just enough to understand the underlying current.
He was aware that Con had loved someone. If V hadn’t been so wrapped up in finding his sword each time he woke, he might have learned more about his brethren. Now, he had to piece things together until someone told him all the details.
But it wasn’t difficult to conclude that whoever Con had loved was long-gone. And it had ended because of Con. By the look Ulrik shot the King of Kings, Ulrik wasn’t going to let this go anytime soon.
V wanted to get back to Claire, but he couldn’t walk out of the cavern until this was sorted. “I agree with Ulrik. Balladyn willna hurt Rhi or put her in a position to be harmed. He will be there with the entire Dark Army to fight with her.”
“Usaeil will expect that,” Con stated. “She knows how Balladyn feels about Rhi. Why do you think Usaeil betrayed her best warrior to the Dark? She wanted Balladyn gone so Rhi would have one less person to turn to.”
V made a face. “That backfired on Usaeil. I hope Balladyn is prepared because the queen will go after him.”
“He’s no fool. He’ll be ready,” Ulrik said.
V hoped so. “I doona understand how Usaeil can hate Rhi so.”
“Jealousy,” Ulrik offered.
Con’s black eyes pinned V. “Anything you need to tell me?”
V knew Con was asking about the sword. He shook his head, still believing it was better to keep what he knew to himself. For the moment, at least.
“The first move is tonight. It starts with me meeting Usaeil,” Con said as he walked past them.
“Wait. What? You can no’ meet that bitch alone,” Ulrik hollered after Con. When Con didn’t return, Ulrik raked a hand through his hair in agitation. “Wonderful.”
V glanced at the archway that Con had walked through. “This is Con we’re talking about. If anyone can handle Usaeil, he can.”
“But at what cost?” Ulrik asked.
That made V frown. “What are you no’ telling me?”
“Con willna say it, but he feels responsible for some of what Usaeil has done to Rhi.”
“I know many of the Kings are no’ pleased that Con took Usaeil to his bed, but when does he ever do anything for himself?”
Ulrik cocked his head to the side as he looked at V. “Never. This was a first.”
“Are you sure it was about him?”
“No,” Ulrik admitted after a brief hesitation.
V raised his brows. “Con has always been about the Kings. In every decision he’s made. Including letting the woman he loved go.”
“Aye.”
“Did anyone ask why he bedded Usaeil?”
Ulrik jerked back as if offended. “Of course. He said it was because he couldna take just anyone as a lover. Con made i
t clear to Usaeil that it was just about the sex.”
V snorted at that. “And everyone believed that?”
“Aye,” Ulrik said irritably. “It made sense. And Usaeil ended up being like the woman from Fatal Attraction.”
“What?” V asked in confusion.
“It’s a movie. The title should speak for itself.”
V squeezed his eyes closed for a moment. He hated how much he’d missed with the others. Not just the references to human things, but the interaction with the Kings themselves, and being involved with daily life. All because he couldn’t contain his need to find his sword.
“I missed a lot, too, you know.”
V’s slid his eyes to Ulrik.
His friend shrugged. “It’s there on your face sometimes, though you never mention it. I see how you subtly gain information about whatever you missed. I may no longer be banished, but I wasna here for the camaraderie and the closeness. It’s … hard to come back after so long and see the things I wasna part of. It’s all around me. In everything. Every word, every action.”
“Aye,” V murmured.
Ulrik’s description was exactly how V felt. It had never entered his mind that Ulrik might be going through something similar.
The King of Silvers shot V a half-smile. “You were never hated like I was.”
“I didna make things easy on the others by leaving each time I woke. Look at the destruction I caused.”
“Unknowingly,” Ulrik stated. “There’s also a case to say it was the Others’ doing. I, however, did things on purpose.”
V drew in a breath, letting his chest expand. “Do you think we will ever feel as if we truly belong here again?”
“With time, aye.”
“Having Eilish makes it easier, I suppose.”
Ulrik’s grin was quick and wide. “I’ll no’ deny that. That woman is everything to me. I loved her far longer than I knew. She is my match in every way. But then I suspect you know a little something about that.”
“Claire.” V didn’t even pretend not to know what or who Ulrik was speaking about.
