Hot Blooded (33 page)

“Because I didn't have a way for you to get there undetected until now,” he answered calmly.

The Dark loved to show their anger any time they could. It was all bluster as far as he was concerned. The humans, stupid fools, had no idea what they meddled with when they flirted with a Dark.

Taraeth's red eyes narrowed into slits. “You're willing to give me this information in exchange for what?”

“Nothing. For now. There will come a time when I'll call on you. I want your promise that you'll deliver every Dark Fae you have to me.”

Balladyn chuckled as he cut his eyes to him. “Do you plan on going to war with the Dragon Kings, because once we have the weapon, there won't be anything left of them. Or you.”

“If you think your petty threats scare me, let me ease your mind. They don't, so you might as well stop trying.” He turned his eyes to Taraeth. “Are you in charge? Or is Balladyn?”

Taraeth shot Balladyn a quelling look that only angered the Dark. “I am,” Taraeth answered. “Before I agree, I want you to spell out exactly what you'll be giving us.”

Leave it to a Dark to try and corner him. He swallowed a snort. “I will tell you the place where the weapon lies, and I will tell you how to get there undetected.”

“Or we could torture you until you give us that information anyway,” Balladyn said and quickly closed the distance between them.

He looked into Balladyn's red eyes and gave him a little shove. The shock on Balladyn's face when he was able to move him was priceless. He returned his hand to the other behind his back, the feeling of magic rushing along the tips of his fingers.

“If you try something that idiotic, you'll never get what you seek.”

Taraeth growled. “Step back, Balladyn.” Once Balladyn returned to Taraeth's side, he turned his head back. “You're offering quite a bit.”

“And when the time comes, you'll be delivering your entire Dark army. Do we have a deal?”

Taraeth gave a jerky nod. “We do.”

“Your word, Dark. In magic.”

Taraeth rolled his neck as he stared. “You ask for my vow in magic. How did you even know that was possible?”

“I know many things. Now, your promise in magic or I walk away.”

Several seconds ticked by before Taraeth lifted his right hand palm up. A ball of magic began to swirl in his hand, a mix of silver and black within the orb. “I give my vow that when the time comes, I will deliver my army to you without question or hesitation.”

He nodded in acceptance. The ball of magic disappeared in a flash. He then said, “The weapon you seek is on Dreagan.”

“The Dragon Kings wouldn't be that stupid to hide a weapon to be used against them so close,” Balladyn said.

“How else could they keep a close eye on it?” he asked, quirking a black brow. “Stupid? That's called intelligence, actually.”

“You said there was a way to get on Dreagan undetected,” Taraeth said. “How is that possible?”

“The how isn't your concern,” he said tightly. “The fact remains that you can. It's a doorway that is invisible to you or anyone other than a Dragon King. It's atop a waterfall that borders the east side of Dreagan. Stand on the north side of the waterfall and take five steps forward and then three to the right. You'll be at the doorway.”

Taraeth cocked his head to the side. “Have you used it yourself?”

“I have other ways onto Dreagan.”

Balladyn crossed his arms over his chest. “Of course you do.”

“Careful, Dark,” he cautioned. “The Kings will be on patrol, and there could be … others … waiting for you.”

Taraeth gave a snort. “As if we worry about any others. Where on Dreagan is the weapon?”

He shrugged. “I don't have a clue.”

“You said you would tell me where the weapon was,” Taraeth said in a low tone filled with righteous anger.

He smiled and let his arms fall to his sides. “I did. I told you it was on Dreagan.”

“We could search there for years,” Balladyn stated. “We need a location.”

“If you had listened to the Dragon Kings you've recently captured—and lost—they told you they didn't know. They weren't lying. They don't know. Only one does.”

“Con,” Taraeth said as understanding dawned.

His smile grew. “Exactly. Now, since our business is concluded, I'm sure you'll want to test out the doorway to ensure I'm not lying.”

Balladyn gave him a scathing look. “You think you have everything covered, from your expensive clothes and British accent, but we know who you truly are.”

Which was why he would happily kill every Fae—Dark or Light—once he stamped out the humans.

“Good hunting,” he said and turned on his heel.

He didn't slow as he reached the Dark soldiers, and as expected, they hastily moved aside for him. How he detested the Dark, but they were enemies of his enemy, which made them an ally.

For the time being.

They also had their uses. If it hadn't been for him combining his magic with the Dark, he wouldn't have been able to spy on Iona Campbell as he had or kill her father so effortlessly.

It might have taken several millennia, but what was rightfully his was about to be returned.

*   *   *

Balladyn barely held in his rage as he watched the Dragon King walk away. “Do you trust him?”

“Not at all,” Taraeth said. “He has his own agenda. I've known that from the beginning.” He turned to face his lieutenant. “Never forget that, Balladyn. An enemy is always an enemy, even when they're an ally.”

Balladyn glanced back at the King to watch him disappear over the top of the hill. “I didn't tell him about Rhi, and I know none of the other Kings told him.”

“We have a leak apparently,” Taraeth said. “Find it and squash it.”

“My pleasure.” He nodded to four of his men, and they teleported away immediately. “When do we go to Dreagan?”

Taraeth scratched his chin. “I'm not going to take his word. Send men who can remain veiled the longest to scout the area and report back.”

Balladyn pointed to two of his men nearest him. “Go now.”

“Sixty thousand acres is a lot to search, especially when we don't know exactly what it is we're searching for,” Taraeth said, gazing off into the distance.

Balladyn covertly looked at Taraeth's missing arm. The king hadn't been himself ever since the human female had taken his arm. Other Dark had noticed it as well. It was only a matter of time before Balladyn took command. He hadn't yet determined how he was going to do it, precisely.

“You want revenge for your arm. If we find Denae, it could bring Con,” Balladyn said.

Taraeth's red eyes swung to him as he frowned. “You have no idea what you're even considering. Constantine is stronger than the other Dragon Kings. His magic is greater. It's what makes him King of Kings. We're only going to have one try in taking him. It needs to be planned perfectly.”

“What do we do then?” Balladyn asked crossly.

“We go through the doorway and have a look around.”

 

CHAPTER
THIRTY-EIGHT

Rhi waited until night fell before she appeared in The Silver Dragon, not bothering to veil herself. The lights were dimmed, a signal that the store was closed. She gave the front a cursory glance before she walked to the back. Rhi stood there for a moment. Ulrik lived upstairs. There had to be a way to get there from inside the shop.

With a roll of her eyes she went to the first wall covered in thick wood panels with intricate molding. She ran her hand along the wall as she walked around the small hallway. It wasn't until Rhi reached the opposite wall that she heard the telltale click of a hidden door. She immediately stopped and pressed harder on the panel.

The entire wall swung open to reveal a wide spiral staircase that led up to the second floor. Her black combat boots made nary a sound as she ascended. When she reached the top, she paused for a moment and took in the grandeur.

The rich, dark silver-colored walls were accented with black baseboards and crown molding. The floor was a deep espresso wood that had one rug, massive in size with various grays and blacks in a modern design set before the fireplace with a black couch and two dove gray chairs.

Rhi spotted a tall table behind the sofa that was lined with crystal decanters filled with various liquors. An ancient tapestry hung on one wall while two smaller pictures of ancient Roman architecture hung on either side of the stone fireplace.

A small, modern kitchen with lots of stainless steel and minimal cabinets was to one side of her while she spotted a doorway to the other that she was sure was Ulrik's bedroom.

Rhi hastily took a step back and retreated to the first floor. She closed the hidden door and found an overstuffed chair at the front of the store. Once seated, she crossed one leg over the other and considered Ulrik. The fact he wasn't there didn't bode well for him, mainly because she knew who was coming.

Rhi wasn't sure why she even concerned herself. Did it really matter if it was Ulrik who had taken her out of Balladyn's compound? She's the one who broke the Chains of Mordare. She's the one who had the entire stronghold collapsing around her. Or at least that's the rumor she heard whispered. She didn't know for sure, and she didn't want to know. It was better if that part was locked away for all eternity.

Then why did she care that Ulrik found his way onto the Fae realm? Why did she feel she owed him a debt for carrying her out? She still hadn't discovered how he knew of her secret house. Being around him made her … uncomfortable. Yet, if he found his way onto the Fae realm and learned of her house, what else could he do?

Rhi was still mulling that over when she heard the lock on the door of the shop turn. She propped her elbow on the arm of the chair and leaned her head onto her hand. The door swung open, but stopped before the little bell above it could ring. A moment later a large shadow of a man stepped inside and quietly shut the door behind him.

“No reason to be quiet,” she said. “He's not here.”

There was a long moment of silence before Con said, “What the hell are you doing here, Rhi?”

“A good question. One I don't have to ask you. You've come to kill Ulrik. Do you know what will happen to the Kings if you do?”

He stepped out of the shadows into the fall of light from the lamppost outside the nearby window, wearing nothing more than a pair of jeans that hung precariously on his trim hips. Con didn't bother to hide his anger. “It's a chance I'll take to save us.”

“Hmm,” she said and swung her leg. She couldn't believe he had flown to Perth and dared to walk the city in a pair of jeans, barefoot. Unless he flew straight to the store. Surely not. “I don't think that explanation will work for all the Kings.”

“You think you know us so well,” he said softly, all his anger contained once more.

He always did know how to piss her off. Rhi lifted her head from her hand, and said in an equally soft voice, “I know the Kings better than you in some ways.”

“So you say. You can no' really know us. You were no' there when we fought the humans or had to send the dragons away. You were no' there when we banished Ulrik.”

“No, I wasn't there, but we've been around long enough, watching the Dragon Kings,” she stated. She waved her hand around the room. “This moment was destined to come sooner or later. Everyone knows it, including Ulrik.”

Con's black eyes narrowed. “Where is Ulrik? Hiding?”

“He's not here, but I'm sure he's going to be upset that he missed you. You know he wants your death as much as you want his. I don't blame him, you know. What you did to him was beyond cruel.”

“I couldna kill a friend.”

Rhi rolled her eyes. “Pul-eeze. You put a friend out of their misery. You condemn an enemy to eternity as the thing he hated most. And you wonder why Ulrik loathes you and the others as he does.”

“You know what he's done to Rhys!” Con thundered.

That brought her up short. Rhys. He was one of the few Kings that she missed terribly. Rhys was a good King, even if he did let his emotions rule him at times. “I gave Rhys the choice. He made it.”

“He shouldna have had to.”

“If you think killing Ulrik will reverse what has happened to Rhys, you're wrong.”

“You doona know that,” Con said, almost daring her.

Rhi drew in a deep breath. “What happens if you're wrong about Ulrik?”

“Why? Do you know something? Now's the time to tell me if you do.”

“I'm not saying that. I asked a simple question.”

Con gave a loud derisive snort. “As if anything with you is simple.”

“It used to be.” The words were out of her mouth before she realized it. Once released, she couldn't take them back. Rhi uncrossed her legs and stood. “Good luck with your killing.”

Con shouted her name as she vanished before him for the second time in one night. He clenched his hands into fists and fought the urge to hit something. Rhi infuriated him. She interfered when she shouldn't, and she constantly harassed him. She was a plague that beset the Kings.

He put the Light Fae out of his mind and took stock of the interior of the shop. All he had seen before was the outside since no one had gotten cameras set up inside—until now.

Con had come to kill Ulrik, but on the off chance he wasn't there, he'd brought several wireless cameras. He dug into his pocket and put the first one near the door so they could see right to Ulrik's desk. Three more were put on the lower floor, and three more upstairs.

As Con walked to the back, he put more surveillance cameras along the way. He opened his hand and saw there were only four cameras left. It took Con less than a minute to find the panel that hid the stairs. He hurried upstairs and set the cameras about, and then took a few moments to look for any information Ulrik might have on them, or his connection to the Dark.