Hot Blooded (22 page)

It would be so easy to stay in the cottage and pretend she was safe, but that wasn't her way. Iona liked to face any obstacles in her path. Hiding wasn't an option. This was her land, and she wouldn't be afraid to walk it. Nor would she rest until her father's murderer was found—and punished.

Iona put her hand on the camera case. Tucked neatly inside the lining were two throwing knives she had purchased while in Hong Kong three years before. She was regularly searched wherever she went, but no one paid any attention to her camera bag once they looked inside. It was the safest place for the knives, even if she would rather have them on her person.

She stepped off the porch with her head held high. Hopefully Laith would arrive soon. The night before hadn't gone nearly as she had hoped. Mainly because she had wanted more kisses with Laith.

She got a history lesson instead, and though she was glad she knew the secret now, it weighed heavily, awkwardly on her shoulders. No wonder her father never left the land. It was a great honor—and a burden—the Campbells took on for the Dragon Kings.

The tale had taken a toll on Laith. Once he finished it, he was somber and withdrawn as he drove her back to the pub with the promise that Dreagan would keep an eye on her. When she left him and walked to her car, she spotted Warrick standing outside the pub. Laith hadn't been kidding. Dreagan was watching over her. Perhaps that's why she wasn't afraid when she returned to the cottage.

Iona took in a deep breath while she walked her land. She couldn't help but try to put herself in the shoes of the humans who had lived before, the ones who existed alongside the dragons.

She could understand her kind being afraid of a species who shape-shifted and had magic, but that didn't hold up since some of the humans were Druids who worked magic themselves.

Of course, she was getting a one-sided story. It was too bad there wasn't a record from a human's perspective so she could compare the stories.

Laith claimed the Dragon Kings were protectors, peacekeepers between both species, but how partial could they be since they were dragons first and foremost? She tried to find a reason to distrust Laith and the others from Dreagan, but she kept coming back to how they sent their dragons away.

What Laith hadn't mentioned was how the Kings had then hidden away. She pieced it together late in the night as she thought over his story. How else would they remain secret and the legend of dragons be born?

He said many Kings slept away the centuries. With their magic, they could easily have hidden within the mountains waiting for a time when the humans forgot the Dragon Kings. Then it would be just a matter of keeping their secret from ever getting out.

Iona looked up from the path and realized she had returned to the waterfall. She frowned as she recalled how odd Laith acted when he had been here. She found the spot they had kissed and shifted positions so she stood were Laith had been. He kept looking at the waterfall, but all she saw was water and rocks.

Then her gaze traveled upward.

“Of course,” she said as she looked at the top of the waterfall.

Iona opted not to climb the rocks to the top and instead found a way around and up that part of the mountain. The trek was steep and littered with rocks of all sizes, but she trudged onward until she finally reached the top.

She straightened and took in the beauty as she gasped for air. The scene before her was simply awe-inspiring. All she wanted to do was pull out her camera and capture the spectacular sight before her. But Iona hesitated. There would be time for pictures. She had come up here for another reason.

Iona pulled out a water bottle and drank deeply as she looked around for some sign of something. When she found nothing at first, she didn't give up. She walked the top of the waterfall time and again.

After an hour of searching, she wiped the sweat from her face with the back of her hand and looked longingly at the water below. Iona scanned the area below seeking anything that might cause her concern.

When she didn't see anything, she hurried back down to the water and set her camera bag aside as she stripped and dove into the pool.

*   *   *

Laith shuffled through the receipts from the night before as he sat in his office trying not to think about the fact that Rhys decided to remain in dragon form. Not that he blamed Rhys. The thought of never being able to shift to his true form again made him nauseous.

However, it wasn't just his friend in his thoughts, Iona occupied the majority of his mind. Laith knew he'd handled telling her badly. He should have thought more about it and started at the beginning instead of just spitting things out.

Laith made notes on what supplies needed to be reordered. Out front Shara was with Elena restocking the bar. Elena had asked to help out at the pub when she first came to Dreagan, and Laith had understood. She was from the corporate world and needed something to do.

He wasn't surprised that Shara joined Elena. Shara came from a Dark Fae family that had kept her prisoner in her own room for hundreds of years as punishment. She was finding her way again, with the help of Kiril.

Mates. Laith shook his head. He didn't want a mate. He didn't want the worry about a female. He certainly didn't want the apprehension that came at discovering a mate and wondering if she would accept him.

Laith ran a hand through his hair and sat back in his chair. Why is it he kept thinking about mates and Iona in the same sentence? Iona wasn't his mate. She was beautiful and alluring, but she wasn't his mate.

But was he telling himself that because he truly believed it, or wanted it to be true?

The phone in the pub rang, but Laith didn't bother to answer it. He wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone, and he knew either Elena or Shara would answer it. The phone cut off in the middle of the second ring. A second later, Elena's alarmed shout had Laith up and running into the main room.

He came to a halt as Elena hung up the phone. His heart pounded as he prayed it had nothing to do with Iona. “What is it?”

Elena's face was pale, her eyes wide as she looked from Shara to Laith. “That was Cassie. Lily didn't show up for work this morning, and they couldn't get ahold of her. So they went to her flat. Someone broke in, and they can't find Lily.”

Laith didn't know Lily well, but he knew all of the women liked her. “What do they want us to do?”

Elena shrugged. “Cassie and Hal can't find her. They are on the way to the police and called to let us know.”

At that moment, there was a slight buzz in his head, and then Con's voice said, “
It could be nothing, but I want everyone to keep their eyes out for Lily Ross. She didna come to work this morning, and her flat has been burglarized. We have many enemies, and we all know they doona care who they hurt to get to us.
”

Laith thought of Iona and how vulnerable she was. The fact John had been murdered without them even knowing someone was that close was a wake-up call for all of them.

“I doubt Lily will come here,” Laith told the girls as he headed toward the door, “but both of you remain just in case. The rest of the crew will be in shortly. Open the pub as normal.”

“I can help search for Lily,” Shara offered.

Laith gave a nod of appreciation. “We may need you. Until then, stay with Elena.”

“Good luck!” Elena shouted as he hurried out of the pub.

He got in his Audi and drove through the winding roads to Dreagan. The tires slid on the rocks when he slammed on the brakes and shut the engine off.

Laith stepped out of the car as Guy and Kiril were walking quickly toward him. “Anything?”

“Nothing,” Guy said with a frown.

Kiril's lips flattened as he glanced at the gift shop. “Sammi and Banan are with Jane now who is beside herself with worry.”

“It seems all the women have taken to Lily,” Laith said.

Guy gave a nod. “They have. She's sweet and shy.”

“And brings out the protective nature in some,” Kiril said.

Laith looked between his two friends. There was something in Kiril's voice that said he knew something. “You're talking about someone in particular. Who?”

At that moment, Laith caught sight of Rhys in human form angrily throwing open the door to the shop as he entered. Laith was so shocked that for a moment he could only stare, wondering if his eyes were deceiving him.

“I knew it,” Kiril said between clenched teeth and started toward the shop.

Laith wasn't about to miss the confrontation. He fell into step beside Guy and followed Kiril. They entered the shop in time to see Banan's thunderous expression directed at Rhys while Rhys glared at Jane.

“What was the last thing Lily said to you?” Rhys demanded of Jane who stood behind Banan with Sammi beside her.

“Shouting willna do any good,” Tristan said as he came out from the back. He looked at Sammi and waited for her to nod before he walked slowly to stand beside Banan. “We'll find Lily.”

Rhys didn't pay Tristan any attention. “Jane, did she say someone was following her? That she was afraid?”

“No,” Jane said with a shake of her auburn head. “She was in good spirits when she left last night.”

Rhys jerked away and ran a hand down his face. Laith looked at Kiril who lifted a brow as if to ask, “Do I need to spell it out for you?”

Rhys and Lily. Laith hadn't noticed anything between the two, but there was obviously something or Rhys wouldn't have given up flying.

It was Kiril who approached Rhys and put his hands on his shoulders. “We'll find her. I'm sure it's nothing.”

“Nothing?” Rhys asked, his aqua eyes darkened by anger. “Would you think it was nothing if Shara's home was broken into and she was missing?”

Laith's thoughts immediately went to Iona. He knew he'd be losing his mind with worry, and he had simply kissed her a few times. The others who were mated—Hal, Guy, Banan, Kellan, Tristan, and Kiril—would kill anyone who dared to hurt their women.

Kiril dropped his arms and took a step back. “Nay. I'd be readying to kill. Let's go find Lily.”

“There's no need,” Con said as he walked from the back. He had a light brown suit on with a cream shirt and a tan and gold tie. He leaned against the door with his hands in his pants pockets, his gaze fastened on Rhys. “Hal and Cassie found Lily with the police.”

Rhys's shoulders sagged. “As long as she's safe.”

Laith expected Rhys to want to go to Lily, but Rhys walked past all of them to exit the shop and walk sedately to the manor.

“He'll never be able to shift again,” Con said.

Banan turned on his heel and walked to Jane. He gave her a quick kiss and said, “A sacrifice I would make for Jane.”

The nods from Guy, Tristan, and Kiril confirmed that the others who were mated felt the same.

“Do you think Rhys realizes what he's done?” Guy asked.

Kiril rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I doona believe he does. He reacted at the thought of Lily in danger.”

“And when he discovers he'll be in human form for all time?” Tristan asked.

Banan held Jane tighter. “He's going to need us more than ever.”

Laith walked out of the shop to his car in a sour mood. He opened the door and saw his phone sitting in the cup holder. In his hurry that morning, he must have left it in the car instead of bringing it into the pub with him.

He slid behind the wheel and checked the mobile for calls and messages when he saw Iona's text. That had been hours ago. Laith shut the door and started the car as he sent Elena a quick text that he wouldn't be in until later. Then he drove straight to Iona's.

Laith knew she wasn't going to be at the cottage, but he did a swift check of it anyway. Afterward he walked to the waterfall. Laith didn't know how he knew that's where she would be, but he did.

The closer he got to her, the faster he walked until he was jogging and then running. Laith needed to see her, to hold her. He hadn't tried to touch her last night after all he had told her, but now he wished he had.

All night he yearned to hold her, kiss her. Each night that went by without having her in his arms was a new torture that no amount of cold showers could lessen. Until a King took a human as his mate, she was vulnerable and exposed to their many enemies. How could Laith continue to leave her on her own after what happened to John?

I thought you didn't want a mate.

Laith ignored his conscience. He didn't want a mate, but it wasn't like a King had a choice once he found her. Was Iona his mate? He wasn't sure, but he knew he had to know she was safe, had to feel her in his arms.

It didn't matter that Iona didn't believe in love. Right now he wasn't sure of anything but the need pounding through him. He needed—nay, he
hungered,
he
craved
—more of her sexy mouth, her tantalizing taste. Her irresistible body.

Laith slowed to a walk as the waterfall came into view. He spotted Iona lying atop a boulder with the fingers of one hand trailing in the water. Her skin glistened with a golden, sun-kissed hue while her damp hair clung to the rock and her shoulders in tousled waves.

All the blood rushed to his cock when he saw the pink tips of her nipples. He fantasized about seeing her naked, of stripping her clothes from her piece by piece, but this was even better.

She was a nymph, an enchantress sent to drive him mad with desire. And she was doing an excellent job. Laith couldn't take his eyes off her golden skin from her breasts to her waist past her hips to the blond curls hiding her sex to her long legs that seemed to go on forever.

Suddenly, she stilled and slowly sat up, her head turning so she looked at him over her shoulder. She didn't hide her nudity, which made him yearn for her all the more.

She smiled and stood before diving into the water. Laith jerked off his clothes as he walked to the pool. The rumble of the waterfall was drowned out by the roar of his desire. Every instinct within him demanded he claim her, that he mark her as his.