by Donna Grant
However, knowing that it hadn’t just been happenstance that Claire had become pregnant, that the Queen of the Light had instigated it, was just too much. The pitying looks everyone held back would surely be on full display.
Claire hadn’t asked, but she wondered if the queen’s involvement meant even more doom for her unborn babe. Or was there hope? Having magic involved with creating a child couldn’t be good.
If it were that easy, the Kings would have done it long ago. The fact that they hadn’t pretty much answered most of the questions running through Claire’s head.
She didn’t know how long she stood in the bedroom alone, staring out the window, before V’s arms wrapped around her. Neither of them said anything—because there wasn’t anything to say. All they could do was wait and see what happened with the baby.
“I’m sorry,” V murmured in her ear.
She turned in his arms and smiled up at him. It wasn’t forced either. “There are ups and downs in any relationship. So ours might be a wee bit more complicated than that.”
One side of his mouth lifted in a smile. “Just a wee bit?”
“Well, it is the Queen of the Light,” Claire said. “I suppose I must give her a little more.”
V searched Claire’s gaze as he became serious. “This might be happening to us, but everyone at Dreagan is involved. Everyone stands with us.”
“I know. And that does help.” She wound her arms around his neck. “What happens now? War?”
“That has been inevitable for some time, unfortunately. There are mixed feelings about Con no’ returning. Some think he’s biding his time. Others think he might be in a position where he can no’ get free.”
With everything that Claire had learned of the Kings, it seemed impossible that Con was in a position he couldn’t extract himself from to return to Dreagan. “What do you think?”
“I think he’s waiting for the opportune time to strike at Usaeil. What better way to do it than by making her believe he is trapped? Then, when the attack happens, he’ll strike from inside.”
Claire had to admit, it sounded like a good plan. “Is there a chance that he truly is imprisoned?”
“Aye,” V said and walked away to plop down on one of the chairs. “I hate to say it, but there is.”
“And there’s no way he would choose her over Dreagan?”
V shot her a look of disbelief. “Nay, lass. Never. He gave up the love of his life.”
“Why did he do that?”
“I doona know the particulars, but knowing Con as I do, it had something to do with the rest of us. He’s sacrificed everything for the Dragon Kings and Dreagan. There is nothing that Usaeil has that would make him choose her.”
Claire raised an eyebrow and asked, “Nothing? Are you absolutely sure?”
V’s face lined with worry. “I know that Con would do anything to protect us. If there is a chance that Usaeil has something planned against Dreagan that Con feels might fall in her favor, then aye, he would choose her. For us.”
“That’s what I thought. There could be any number of reasons that Con isn’t back.”
“Aye,” V murmured worriedly.
She steadied herself. “So, what’s the next move?”
“I doona know,” he said with a shrug.
“You don’t know?” Surely, that couldn’t be what he’d said. Claire kneeled before him, leaning back on her haunches to put her hands on his knees as she looked into his blue gaze. “You’re Dragon Kings. Didn’t you tell me that no one on this realm has magic more powerful than you?”
V gave her an odd look. “I did, but there are the Oth—”
“I didn’t ask about them. I’m talking about you. I’m talking about the Dragon Kings. This is your home. Someone has taken your leader. Would Con wait around for something to happen?”
V narrowed his gaze on her. “Woman, are you trying to get me to go to war?”
“I want you to do whatever it is you would do if I wasn’t here. Don’t think about me or the child within me.”
“You ask the impossible.”
She rose up on her knees. “V, you have to. This is bigger than the baby, me, or even us. This is about everything you and the other Kings have built. This is about a woman, a Fae, who has tricked and manipulated everyone to get what she wants. She has to be stopped. I’m going to be fine.” She took his hand and put it on her stomach. “We’re going to be fine. You go do what has to be done.”
V’s frown deepened. “Are you sure?”
“I’m not going to tell you that I won’t be frightened or worry, but I am telling you that I came into this with my eyes wide open. You didn’t become King of Coppers because you sat and waited for it. You became a Dragon King because you’re the strongest of your clan.”
He skimmed his knuckles down her face. “Damn, lass. I doona know whether to kiss you or throw you onto the bed.”
“You can ravage me when you return victorious,” Claire stated.
V cupped her face and gave her a slow kiss. She wanted to cling to him, to beg him to stay behind, but she wouldn’t. She was enamored with the Dragon Kings because of their power and strength. It was what had first drawn her to V, and she wouldn’t change him for anything.
“I’ll be back after I talk to the others,” he promised.
Claire kept her smile in place until the door closed behind him.
* * *
V strode into Dreagan Mountain and found Ulrik in the cavern just as he thought he would. Except Ulrik wasn’t alone. Eilish was with him.
“Apologies,” V said and started to leave.
Eilish hurriedly said, “Please, stay. I was just leaving.”
V moved to the side as the Druid passed. Then he turned to Ulrik. “What’s wrong?”
“Our mating ceremony is on hold until Con returns.”
“Shite.” V had forgotten all about that. Only the King of Kings could do the ritual. “I’m sorry.”
Ulrik shrugged. “We both want Con returned and Usaeil out of the way. The fact that we know Usaeil is part of the Others will go a long way to bringing them down.”
“We think. For all we know, there is more than one Light and Dark Fae involved.”
“You have a point, but Usaeil will be a big one to remove.”
“Without a doubt.”
Ulrik drew in a deep breath. “You walked in here with a purpose. What’s up?”
“Claire reminded me that I am a Dragon King.”
“And?”
V grinned. “I think Rhi’s been right all these months. We shouldna wait to go after Usaeil.”
Ulrik paused before he said, “The queen will be expecting an attack.”
“No’ what I have planned.”
Ulrik’s face split into a smile. “I’ve been hoping someone else felt this way. I’m dying to go after that bitch. So is Rhi.”
“Do you think we can get Rhi on board with us?”
“She’s still no’ happy with us, but I think our last conversation helped. It’s too bad we didna come to this decision earlier. Hopefully, Rhi will respond when we call to her.”
V looked toward the map, his gaze moving to Ireland. “Someone needs to tell Balladyn what has happened.”
“I agree. He’s dealt with us before. I think we should both go.”
“When?”
“Soon,” Ulrik said. He blew out a breath. “We need to update those at MacLeod Castle.”
V hadn’t spent much time with the Warriors and Druids, though he knew all about them. “Maybe Rhi will do it for us.”
“I’m no’ counting on Rhi doing anything right now other than showing up to kick Usaeil’s ass.”
A chuckle escaped before V could stop it. “We need to remind Rhi and anyone who gets close enough to the queen that we need to find out where Con is. She could have put him anywhere.”
“You agree with Rhi, then? You think Usaeil might have used some kind of weapon on him?”
“That dagger is t
he root of evil, Ulrik. Who knows what else Usaeil has. And, right now, I think it would be wise to hedge all of our bets until Con has returned home.”
Ulrik nodded and quickly shook his head. “I didna think I’d return to Dreagan only to step into Con’s shoes. Regardless of what I wanted all those eons. In the back of my mind, I always knew that Con would win if we battled.”
“I’m glad it never came to that.”
The King of Silvers grunted in response. “Let’s gather the others. Everyone—including the mates—need to be filled in on everything.”
V nodded and turned on his heel to make his way to the manor. Between him and Ulrik, within thirty minutes, they had everyone in the main cavern of the mountain.
The atmosphere was subdued. Worry clouded the women’s faces. V didn’t miss how everyone shot covert looks at Claire, but his woman kept her head high and confidence in her step. He alone knew the fear that gripped her, but she hid it well.
Claire winked at V and tightened her fingers on his. Every moment, she proved that she was his match in every way. Her strength of will and character shouldn’t surprise him, but it did. Lesser women would have crumbled under the weight of it all. Yet, she stood tall.
Claire bent, but she didn’t break. It was a trait of the Kings, and one that all the mates had.
The whispered words drew to a hush when Ulrik climbed atop a boulder and looked out over the crowd. He looked down to his right where Eilish stood, smiling up at him with encouragement.
“I doona want to be up here,” Ulrik said as he looked at them. “I’d much rather Con stand here and have this conversation. The fact that he’s no’ here is felt throughout Dreagan. Each of us is dealing with his absence in our own way.
“Some of you may have already heard that V and Hal took a quick trip to Ireland today. They went to see if they could get information on Usaeil and perhaps learn if Con was at the Light Castle. It didna quite go as planned.
“Some are hesitant to have the Dark Fae as allies. I understand since you have been fighting them for centuries. But this isna about the Kings and the Fae. The only reason the Dark are involved is because of Rhi. Balladyn, as King of the Dark, decides when and where his army fights. Everyone here knows of Balladyn’s love for Rhi. He’s going to stand with her against Usaeil for many reasons, but mostly because he cares for Rhi. I’m no’ saying to trust the Dark. But we need them. More so now than ever.”
Ulrik’s chest expanded as he took a breath. “Inen, the Captain of the Queen’s Guard, is someone Rhi trusted. Balladyn agreed with her assessment. So, you can imagine how thrilled Hal and V were when none other than Inen walked out of the Light Castle to meet them. They spoke of Rhi and how Balladyn had said that Rhi was good at picking those she could trust. Then they asked about Con.”
V glanced at Claire, knowing what was coming, but she was holding strong.
Ulrik licked his lips. “We’ve known since Dorian was in New York that Usaeil is part of the Others. Sadly, we underestimated her. Because she used glamour to look like Inen in order to speak to V and Hal and was able to do it so that neither of them detected it. And that wasna the first time she has used such glamour. She recently did it in the village, as well, disguising herself as Rhi to speak to Claire. I wish I could say that Usaeil’s plan ended there, but it didna. She spelled Claire to ensure that she would become pregnant with V’s child.”
The gasp that went through the room was like a shot in the night. V wanted to wrap his arm around Claire for protection. Then he looked at her. She didn’t need it. At least not from those at Dreagan. She met his gaze and gave him a small smile.
The tightness in his chest lifted.
Then he recalled the part of Usaeil’s talk that he hadn’t shared with Claire.
“Usaeil has demanded that no King attack her castle in exchange for Claire’s life,” Ulrik said. “She’s also insisted that Rhi be brought to her if we want to see Con again.”
Rhys snorted loudly from the left side. “It’s a great way for Rhi to attack.”
“That’s our thought, as well,” Ulrik said. “I’m just waiting on Rhi to answer my call.”
There was a shimmer in the air before Rhi appeared on Ulrik’s left. “As if I’d miss such an opportunity.”
“You’ve no’ heard the plan,” Ulrik said.
Rhi shrugged and glanced at V and Claire. “No one uses my face to deceive those I care about. I’ve made it known for some time that I am ready to go after Usaeil.”
“We all are,” Warrick said.
A cheer erupted in the cavern.
Ulrik held up his hand for quiet and looked at Rhi. “You understand that we have to make it appear that we’re going to betray you.”
Rhi smiled. “That’ll be what makes this so much fun. I can’t wait to see Usaeil’s face when she thinks she’s won, only to realize she’s lost everything.”
“How do we know this is Rhi?” Claire asked.
It was a fair question, one that should have been addressed the moment Rhi appeared.
“Con ensured that the queen can no’ enter the manor,” V explained. “Usaeil can no’ enter any part of Dreagan.”
Claire nodded as he spoke. “And what about the fact that she can use glamour without you knowing? Wouldn’t that mean she can get past Con’s magic?”
“Never,” Ulrik said with a smile.
Rhi jumped from the boulder and walked to Claire. “I’m very sorry about what Usaeil did to you. It’s beyond cruel. If it makes you feel better, someone here can ask me something that only I would know.”
Roman’s voice was the first to speak. “Who retrieved V’s sword in Iceland?”
“Sabina,” Rhi replied as she looked at the gypsy. “She was also the one who had to use it on you so that the Others’ prophecy of V plunging it into you and thereby killing you wouldn’t come to pass.”
V met Claire’s gaze. “It’s Rhi. Only someone who was there to see all of that would know.”
Claire’s smile wasn’t as easy as V had hoped. Something still bothered her. But he would wait to ask her about it since Ulrik wasn’t finished.
“I called everyone together because this has to be a mutual decision,” Ulrik said. “We’re no’ just going to find Con. We’re taking down the Queen of the Light. We’ll be fighting beside the Dark. I doona know yet if the Warriors and Druids will join us, but any allies will be welcome. If anyone objects to this, now is the time to speak up.”
The silence was deafening and left all the Kings smiling in anticipation of what was to come. While others began asking specific questions, V maneuvered Claire so that they were off to the side by themselves.
“What is it?” he asked her.
She shrugged, her face crinkling with worry. “I’m sorry. Maybe it’s because I was duped before, but I’m worried that isn’t Rhi. What if it’s been Usaeil all along?”
V was taken aback by the suggestion, mostly because it was a valid one. He looked toward Rhi, who spoke with Rhys and Thorn. Since V hadn’t been around like some of the other Kings, he motioned for Roman to join him.
“What’s wrong?” Roman asked.
V glanced at Claire. “Is there a possibility that Usaeil could have been masquerading as Rhi for weeks or months?”
Roman frowned, his gaze also going to Rhi. Then he shook his head as he returned his gaze to V. “Never. I’ve seen Rhi and Con interact too many times. It would’ve been obvious had Usaeil tried to be Rhi. The queen might pretend to be an actress, but she’s no’ that good.”
Claire smiled then. “That’s good to know.”
Once Roman returned to Sabina, V raised his brows at Claire. “Are you truly convinced?”
“I probably won’t be until Usaeil is gone for good.”
“I doona blame you. Everyone will be keeping a close eye on Rhi just in case.”
Claire gave him a quick kiss. “Watch your back, babe.”
“Always,” he promised.
But it was
the fact that she’d used an endearment that had him grinning like a fool.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
It was weird how life could shift so drastically in such a short period. It had happened once before when Claire was unwillingly sucked into a world of dragons and Fae.
This time she had gone voluntarily, enthusiastically even. It was easy when Vlad looked at her with his ice blue eyes. She had seen them turn frosty for some, but when he gazed at her, they were always heated and full of desire.
They walked hand-in-hand from the cavern out of the large entrance he had taken her through the first time he brought her to Dreagan.
The future might be bleak, but Claire chose to look at it a different way. After years of searching for The One, of believing that she would never find the love she craved, of thinking that she would spend her life alone—V had walked into her life.
She’d not only found the man of her dreams, she’d also found love. The kind she had never given up on. The kind she knew she deserved.
There would be times of strain. She expected that being with a Dragon King. V had duties that would always come before her. She accepted that. And yet she knew without a doubt that he would always protect her.
She had a family at Dreagan. So many brothers and sisters that it boggled the mind. But at the same time, it seemed perfect and right.
Claire wasn’t sure what she would tell her parents. She wasn’t the only one at Dreagan who had living family, so she knew it was just a matter of deciding how to handle things for the short time her parents were still alive.
“You’re smiling.”
Claire looked at V and shrugged. “Of course I am. I have you.”
“I come with a lot of baggage.”
“Everyone does.”
“Aye, lass, but mine isna the kind that stays in the past,” he cautioned.
She stopped walking and faced him. “I know what it means to be with you. I know full well the dangers and the worry. But with it comes so much more. Your love and having each day with you. I’ll take those and whatever comes with it willingly.”
“Everything?” he asked and put his palm on her stomach.
