Burning Desire (23 page)

“I wondered how long it would take you to call me,” Phelan said casually.

Kiril chuckled. “How is Aisley?”

“Sod off, Dragon. You’re daft if you think I left Ireland. You didna fool me.”

“What made you think I would call?” Kiril asked, intrigued.

“The fact you have no’ left Ireland was the biggest clue, and then there’s the female.”

Shara. Kiril didn’t want to think about how he was going to leave her behind. He couldn’t force her to Dreagan, nor could he blithely leave her.

“Kiril?” Phelan said, worry pitching his voice lower.

He rubbed the back of his neck and quickly filled Phelan in on the past twenty-four hours.

“And this is why I didna leave,” Phelan stated. “Damn, but I knew Balladyn or Farrell was going to screw something up. I’m here for whatever you need if it involves getting Rhi out.”

“Shara described the layout of Balladyn’s compound. He built it out of the ruins of some castle on their realm, but he incorporated many of the humans’ tactics in their forts.”

“In other words,” Phelan said dryly, “this isna going to be a walk in the park?”

“No’ even close. Still up for it?”

Phelan grunted through the phone. “As if you need to ask. Have you told Con?”

“Nay. It’s better this way.”

“If you say so. Where do I meet you?”

Kiril grinned despite himself. Phelan had proven himself many times. It was lucky the Kings had made an alliance with the Warriors and learned that Phelan was half-Fae. Without him, they would never find the doorways.

“On the outskirts of Cork. It’s a prominent neighborhood, so leave any vehicles behind. We’re going to be sneaking in undetected in all ways.”

“I’ll be there.”

Kiril ended the call, a calm coming over him. Outside the cellar door were six Dark Ones. With a smile in place, he threw open the door, the force of his dragon magic filling him until he thought he would split apart.

And then he opened his mouth and let it loose, the blast of cold air freezing the Dark Ones instantaneously. Kiril saw himself in the mirror and the curls of cold air seeping from the corners of his mouth through his parted lips.

Damn, but it was good to be a Dragon King.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Dreagan

Constantine knew in his gut something had happened to Kiril. Whether Kiril remained behind of his own volition or someone had detained him, it all came down to the fact that he hadn’t returned to Dreagan.

Con didn’t bother to turn from his place at the window at the sound of the quick knock and the door opening. He wasn’t surprised when four Dragon Kings filed into his office.

With the night as black as pitch, it made it easy for Con to see Guy, Tristan, Kellan, and Laith reflected in the window. Con finished off the last of his whisky and faced the group.

“What brings all of you here this late?” he asked.

Kellan’s face twisted angrily. “Cut the shite, Con. You said Kiril was returning. That was hours ago.”

“I know.”

Guy ran a hand through his hair. “You know? Have you heard from him? Because he willna answer me.”

“He’s no’ answering me either,” Con admitted.

Tristan’s dark eyes filled with confusion. “Then why are we just sitting here?”

“My question exactly,” Laith said. “When Rhys finds out, he’ll go to Ireland himself.”

“Then he can no’ find out,” Con said as calmly as he could. They had no idea how close to the edge he was riding—nor would they.

It was Kellan who held his gaze before he snorted and shook his head. “You’ve no’ told them.”

“I didna tell you either,” Con said. “You only know because you write the history.”

Laith stepped away from the door. “What have you no’ told us?”

Con could have cheerfully slammed Kellan through the window. He would have told everyone as soon as he formulated some kind of plan. “Kiril asked that I grant permission to offer safe harbor for a Dark Fae.”

“That’s no’ what I meant,” Kellan said. “Though if you tell them that part, then you need to tell them that she’s the one helping him.”

“A Dark Fae helping a Dragon King?” Guy asked.

Tristan exchanged looks with Guy. “Has that ever happened?”

“Nay,” Kellan said. “No’ once since the Fae ventured to this realm.”

Laith tucked a long, wavy lock of blond hair behind his ear. “A female Dark? What is she to Kiril?”

“I’m no’ sure exactly,” Con answered.

Kellan walked around the set of chairs before Con’s desk and sank into one of them. “Shara is her name. She found Rhi and told Kiril her location.”

“I’ll be damned,” Tristan murmured.

Guy blew out a weary breath. “Kiril is going after Rhi, is he not?”

“I would in his place after what she did for me and Denae,” Kellan said.

Tristan nodded. “Not to mention what she did for me and Sammi.”

“Then why are we sitting here?” Laith asked. “We should be helping him.”

Con shifted his eyes to Kellan. “We doona even know where to go.”

The door to the office flew open. Every eye looked to see Rhys standing there, his face a mask of fury. “There is one who does. Phelan.”

There was someone else he could contact, but she was only a last resort. It might very well come to that, but Con would hold off until that time arrived.

Constantine hit the speaker button on his desk phone and dialed Phelan’s mobile.

“Make it quick,” Phelan said in a low voice when he answered. “I doona have long.”

Con pulled out his chair and sat, bracing his elbows on his desk. “Where is Kiril?”

“On his way to meet me.”

“And where is that?”

Phelan sighed dramatically. “I really hate when I get put in the middle of King business. The fact is, he didna want to tell you. Something about you coming over here when Kiril knows that it would be the worst thing for you to do.”

“And another Dragon King being taken by the Dark doesna warrant our action?” Kellan asked.

“Kellan?” Phelan asked. “Nay, that’s no’ what I meant. Balladyn is intent on catching Kiril. He’s been hunting him all day. We have a narrow window in order to get to Balladyn’s fortress on the Fae realm and find Rhi.”

“Then Balladyn will be waiting for him,” Tristan said.

“According to Kiril, aye. Balladyn has an entire army at his fortress waiting.”

Rhys slammed his hand down on Con’s desk. “Does he want to be taken?”

Phelan made a sound at the back of his throat. “Nay. Shara is going to help.”

“So you think,” Laith said.

There was a slight pause before Phelan said, “I remember my own brethren turning against me when they discovered Aisley was
drough
. Aisley was never evil. She did what had to be done to survive. Shara had no choice in things either. She was born into a Dark family. Think about that before you condemn her.”

Con used his thumb and forefinger to squeeze the bridge of his nose. “Do you trust her?”

“I’ve no’ meet her,” Phelan said. “Kiril trusts her, and I trust Kiril.”

“Is Kiril blinded by lust?”

“Well, you would be too if you got a look at her. I think he might have been in the beginning, but Kiril’s smart. Shara found Kiril and didna lead the other Dark Ones to him.”

Con lowered his arm to the desk. “Where is the doorway?”

“In the back garden of the Blackwood home.”

“I need more than that, Phelan.”

“Kiril will be here any moment. Look for the most ostentatious house in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Cork, and you’ll find it. I see Kiril.”

The call went dead.

Con pushed the chair back with his legs and stood. He looked at Guy. “Make sure the patrols are in place and the new sensors set for the Dark Fae. I want the mates in the mountain with the Silvers and guarded. Kellan, I want patrols in the air as well. Tristan, call the Warriors and let them know what’s going on so they can be prepared.”

“For what?” Tristan asked.

Laith braced his hands on the back of the vacant chair. “Because it could be a trap for us. They take Kiril, we go after Kiril, and they use our absence to attack Dreagan.”

“It’s just a precaution,” Con said. “Laith, put some sensors around the Silvers as well. Another precaution.”

Rhys lifted a dark brow when Con’s gaze moved to him. “Your words to me better be to get ready to go to Ireland.”

“I didna intend to say anything else,” Con replied with a grin. “Though I’ll be coming with you.”

All five Kings stilled in various stages of leaving the office, their gazes locking on him.

“Are you going for Rhi?” Guy asked.

Con gave a single shake of his head. “Balladyn and I have some business that willna wait. Rhi will have Kiril, Rhys, and Phelan attempting to locate her. She doesna need my help.”

They all filed out of his office except for Rhys. Rhys waited until everyone was gone before he approached Con’s desk. “I think it should be more than just the two of us going in.”

“I doona want them to know we’re coming. We’ll have to fly low.”

“Low?” Rhys asked with a frown. “You want to chance the humans seeing us?”

“Lower.”

Rhys rolled his eyes. “You think that will keep us hidden from the Dark?”

“It’ll get us into Ireland, which is what I want.”

“It’ll take us longer, but it’s the best way.”

Con came around his desk. “We take the SUV to the coast.”

Rhys turned on his heel and stalked from the office, Con on his heel. Con knew everything would be looked after on Dreagan. His concern was getting to Ireland, and then returning.

He got behind the wheel of the SUV and started the black Range Rover just as Rhys climbed in. The engine purred to life, and he threw it into drive. Con glanced in the rearview mirror at Dreagan. As long as things like this were going on, he couldn’t concentrate on killing Ulrik, and yet the issues were all caused by Ulrik. Pretty soon Con was going to have to make a decision to leave missions to the other Kings and go after Ulrik himself.

“I’m going to kick Kiril’s ass for this,” Rhys muttered a half-hour into the drive.

Con glanced over at him. “Right after I have a go at him. He’s never done anything this reckless.”

“You mean he’s never acted like me before,” Rhys said with a wry grin.

“Aye. It’s why I believed him when he said he was coming home. I should’ve known when he gave in so easily that something was up.”

“He knows where Rhi is. I wouldna be able to leave her.”

Con gripped the wheel tighter. “But I would?”

“Aye.”

“You think you know me so well.”

“You didna deny it,” Rhys said.

Con veered off the road and parked the Range Rover behind a dense grove of trees. He turned off the engine and swiveled his head to Rhys. “You agreed with me when we killed Ulrik’s female and bound his magic. Why is it you’re against me every time now?”

“Someone has to irritate you or you’d think you could rule the world,” he said with a smile as he opened the door and got out.

Con briefly closed his eyes before he exited the SUV and removed his clothes, setting them on his seat. By the time he turned around Rhys was already in the water.

The sea was cool as Con stepped in. He dove beneath the gentle waves and swam out into deeper water. Con could see Rhys ahead of him, his yellow scales dimmed beneath the dark sea. The bottom suddenly dropped deeply. Con gladly shifted. He always missed being in his true form, but then all Dragon Kings did.

Living amongst the humans confined and restricted them. There were times Con had to fight to return to Dreagan after a night of flying in the clouds. None of his brethren knew that a few times he almost hadn’t returned.

And none ever would.

He used his wings to swim through the water. It took significant time for them to traverse around the Isle of Skye and into the Irish Sea. Above them boats and ships maneuvered, unknowing of what was below them.

Rhys turned his head and motioned with his wing. “
Ireland is right here.
”

“
Aye, but we’re miles from Cork. I want as close as we can get.
”

Con swam faster, and Rhys kept pace, swimming beside him until they finally reached St. George’s Channel.

“
Wait,
” Con said through their link.

When Rhys paused, Con slowly swam to the surface. He put just his eyes and nose above the water. As soon as he figured out where they were, he dove back down.

“
Well?
” Rhys asked.

“We’re about twenty miles out.
”

They began to swim again, this time staying as close to land as possible. A few minutes later both shifted back into human form and swam to shore.

“We need to hurry,” Rhys said.

“Aye. I have that same sense,” Con said.

They ran out of the water, keeping to the shadows as they rushed toward their friend and fellow King. Yet the closer Con got, the more a sick feeling of dread filled him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Ulrik’s gaze lazily drifted over the streets of Cork. Dark Fae walked the streets as if they owned it. The first of many mistakes Con had allowed.

“Where is the doorway?” he demanded of the Dark Fae with him.

The Dark dipped his head forward. “It’s the next block over in an alley.”

“Show me.”

Ulrik followed the Dark across the street to the sidewalk around the buildings until he came to the alley. He continued down the narrow alley past several businesses, and stopped only when he reached the end of it.

The Dark had painted the back of a building red. He shook his head. It was easy to manipulate the Dark Fae and guess their motives, but they were also very vain and ridiculously idiotic at times.

Ulrik waited for the Dark to point out the exact location. When he didn’t, Ulrik turned and gave him a glacial stare. “As I’ve told you—repeatedly—no one will know you showed me the doorway. Do you doubt my word?”

“Never. I’ve seen what you can do.”

“So why are you hesitating? Again?”

The Dark swallowed and ran a hand through his short, spikey black and silver hair. “I…”

“Ah,” Ulrik said, remembering. He pulled out a small leather pouch from his pocket and tossed it to the Dark, the sound of metal clinking together. “Payment as agreed.”