Hot Blooded (29 page)

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Midnight didn't feel as free and magical as it had the night before. Now, it felt deadly and scary. Iona hated the fear that made her jump at every sound in the forest now. She adjusted the strap of her camera case and gripped it tighter. She had walked the woods dozens of times without a worry. How many times had she been watched? How many times had she walked past him?

Worse, how many times had he been in the cottage while she slept?

It was apparent that the items she thought she'd misplaced or forgotten that she'd moved had been touched by this unknown foe. It sickened her, but that emotion soon turned to anger. What gave anyone the right to trespass on her land, to come into her cottage?

And all because she bordered Dreagan.

As far as the people of the village knew, they were lucky to be near such a famous distillery that brought in millions of dollars in tourist revenue each year.

None knew the truth about Dreagan. The few who did were either working to protect the legendary secret—or trying to expose it.

As Iona walked, she tried to think why anyone would want to expose Dreagan. It wouldn't give this hidden enemy any control over the Dragon Kings. If anything, it would turn the Kings' full fury on their nemesis. The entire world would want a piece of the Kings, whether it was to study them, use them for magic, or try to control their power.

No good could come out of revealing the Dragon Kings. Unless …

Iona stopped and put her hand on a tree as the world began to spin. She blinked into the dark, thankful that the moon was full and shed enough light that she didn't need a flashlight. She licked her lips and looked up at the sky through the thick limbs of the trees. Dragon magic had been used, and yet Fallon said none of the Kings at Dreagan were a part of it. Iona knew of only one other Dragon King—Ulrik.

If he'd had his magic returned somehow, and he was the one behind this, then it was perfectly clear what his motives were. Unmasking the Dragon Kings would return the world to the war that once raged between humans and the Kings.

The Dragon Kings wouldn't stand by and be taken. They would fight, which would only spur the war. Iona hadn't seen a dragon or witnessed the power of the Kings, but if the Warriors were any indication, the Kings could rid the Earth of every human.

There would then be nothing to stop the dragons from returning.

Iona took a deep breath and continued on to the waterfall. As soon as Hayden told her she would be meeting Laith as planned, she watched the clock, the hours drifting slowly by. Mostly because she would be with Laith again, but there was also the excitement of getting to see Laith as a dragon. That overshadowed everything, even the fact that she was going to get to see what the Campbells had been guarding.

Even though Iona knew she wasn't alone in the forest because the Warriors surrounded her, she was still shaken at the thought of someone spying on her. No one needed to tell her that meant her hours with Laith at the waterfall had been observed.

Iona glanced around, trying to find a glimpse of the Warriors and found nothing. They were good at remaining hidden, especially Larena. She was Fallon's wife and the only female Warrior. Her power was becoming invisible—literally.

The plan was for Larena to remain near Iona at all times until Iona was with Laith. A second Druid named Aisley arrived with the other Warriors teleported in by Fallon. Aisley was beautiful with her black hair and fawn-colored eyes. There hadn't been time for much talking as the Warriors took their places, and Isla and Aisley quickly hid themselves to do their magic.

Iona briefly spotted the Warrior Ian, who was the twin to Tristan, before he vanished in the forest. She had been so startled by him that, at first, she thought he was Tristan they looked so alike.

She couldn't wait to learn more about the Warriors, Druids, Fae, and Dragon Kings. For eight years as a little girl, she had been a part of a world without even knowing it. Her mother certainly hadn't. It explained why her father hadn't come after them himself.

It still hurt, but Iona understood. Now she could forgive him. Guarding such a secret wasn't an easy burden to take on. It was dangerous and full of secrets, and yet she embraced it.

Iona heard the waterfall and lengthened her strides to hurry and reach it. It wasn't full of childhood memories anymore. Now there were new memories, memories of sighs and screams of pleasure. She smiled just thinking about it.

That smile widened when she came to the pool and watched the moon reflected in the ever-moving water. Suddenly, the moon was blocked out in the reflection of the pool. Iona's head jerked up to the dark sky. She searched around her, turning this way and that. Then she spotted the dark shape. It was huge, even so high up in the sky.

The dragon tilted one wing and swung around to fly back low over her. There was a deep whoosh as the dragon's wing beat, sending her hair flying in her face.

She couldn't take her eyes off him. He gracefully landed at the top of the waterfall and tucked his large wings against him. With the moonlight shining upon him, Iona saw the jet black scales. A row of bony plates ran from the base of his skull to the dragon's shoulders. His tail flicked and settled behind him, splashing water up so high even she could see it.

So this was Laith. No wonder everyone was worried about her reaction. He was … terrifying. If she didn't know the man, she would certainly run away. But she did know the man. She knew his voice, his smile, and his touch.

Her hand shook as she lifted it and motioned for Laith to come to her. He leapt into the air, his wings spread, and glided down to land behind her. Iona followed his progression, and took a step back when she saw him up close. He was alarmingly large and frightening magnificent.

Laith extended a muscular limb—with four splayed digits that had very long black talons—before her. Deep purple dragon eyes blinked at her before he motioned to his back with his head.

“Get on,” Larena's disembodied voice whispered in her ear. “Laith won't drop you.”

With Laith watching closely, Iona knew whatever her decision was would affect her future with him. It was the perfect time for her to turn away as she normally would, to forget him and whatever feelings she was developing.

It was the safe thing to do.

Iona put her foot on Laith's limb and climbed up.

 

CHAPTER
THIRTY-THREE

A puff of breath left Iona when she settled on Laith's back at the base of his neck. She gripped the bony plate nearest her to have something to hold onto and was amazed it was as warm as his scales.

She buzzed with excitement and a thread of fear when Laith unfurled his wings. There was a brief pause before they were suddenly in the air.

Iona gasped, a cry of fright lodged in her throat. She began to shake and held Laith so tight her fingers began to go numb. She was hyperventilating, her gaze locked on Laith's black scales in front of her. Her legs gripped him until her muscles were trembling from the exertion, but she wanted to be prepared if she fell.

It took her a long time to realize that Laith was flying just atop the trees in a straight line. She blinked and glanced away from his scales to see the land below. Then she felt the wind upon her face.

Iona gradually relaxed her hold and simply enjoyed the fact she was atop a dragon flying over Scotland. She felt the subtle shift in Laith's muscles beneath her legs every time his wings moved. The steady beat from his wings' flapping was gentle and comforting. Ahead, she glimpsed Dreagan Manor, but Laith altered his course slightly, making a wide circle to take them back to the waterfall.

For the first time in her life, Iona wanted to experience something with her own eyes instead of through the lens of her camera. Then there was the fact that she didn't risk taking a picture for fear of Laith being in it. She would love to have a picture of him in dragon form, but she wouldn't dare attempt it for fear of it accidentally landing in the wrong hands.

From her vantage point atop Laith, the world looked greener, more peaceful, and infinitely more beautiful. It was no wonder the Kings preferred to be in their true forms. Iona was being given a rare gift, one that she would never forget.

The closer they got to the waterfall, the lower Laith flew. Iona glanced behind them to see the trees moving because he was hitting them as he flew past. When she turned back around, she caught sight of the waterfall. It was pretty from the ground, but from the air, it was spectacular.

The water tumbled down the sheer face of the cliff to crash upon boulders forming white foam. It then flowed into the calm pool of water. Iona spotted the semicircle of boulders where she and Laith had made love earlier. Then her eyes moved to the start of the stream and followed it until it disappeared into the trees.

Iona was mesmerized, captivated. How many times had her father lain near the waterfall, his gaze on the sky as he hoped to see one of the Dragon Kings? She knew she would be here most nights from now on. How could she not after such an experience?

She looked below her as Laith flew to the waterfall, close enough that water splashed on her jeans. Iona was smiling, but it froze in place when she saw it.

The spot the Campbells had protected for generations was visible in the moonlight upon the granite. It was a seven-pointed star. It was beautiful and eerie all at the same time.

Iona swallowed hard, reminded of what the humans had done to the Dragon Kings—and the Kings' retaliation.

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Laith landed atop the waterfall and carefully tucked his wings against him. He did his best not to look to his right where the unknown observer stood at the bottom of the waterfall.

The night had gone better than expected. In truth, he thought Iona might run from him when he first appeared, and she nearly had. Her fear had been evident. Yet she had motioned him to come to her and willingly climbed upon his back.

Her fear doubled once he was in the air. Laith thought for sure that she would never relax. It's why he decided to fly around for a bit to ease her discomfort, which seemed to work since she finally loosened up and enjoyed the ride.

If only he could have ended things there. He could practically feel her joy and happiness right up until he flew over the place where they had killed Ulrik's woman. He couldn't even remember her name, if he had ever known it. She had always been Ulrik's woman, and that's how she would always be remembered.

As soon as Iona slid off him, Laith shifted back into a man as he watched her stand next to the septagram that was a reminder of their broken vow.

Iona looked up at him somberly. “Why can't I see it during the day?”

“We see it always. In the sunlight it shines bright red, just as it did when her blood spilled out of her. At night, it shines white. A constant reminder,” he answered.

“Can anyone else see this?”

“You see it because you're a Campbell. We see it because we're Dragon Kings, but others, nay, they'll never see it—day or night.”

“That's a relief,” she said with a soft sigh.

Laith wanted to go to her, to pull her against him and feel her warmth. He desperately wanted her arms around him, to have her lean on him. But he gave her the time he knew she needed.

“Does Ulrik know of this place?” she asked.

Laith frowned and spotted a bronze dragon in the distance. Kellan. Not far behind him was Hal, his green scales shining beneath the light of the full moon. Did Ulrik know? Laith assumed he did, but what if he didn't? “I doona know. Why? What are you thinking?”

“It's probably nothing.” She tucked her hair behind her ear and faced him. “I mean, I just learned of you and your history.”

If there was one thing Laith knew about Iona it was that she was intelligent. “Tell me,” he urged.

“Why would anyone want to reveal your existence to the world? What would they gain? You all are too powerful to be controlled. They could try and kill you, I suppose.”

Laith shook his head. “They can try, but the only way for a King to be killed is by another King.”

“Then there really is only one thing to be gained.”

He was wholly intrigued now. “What?”

“The return of the war between the humans and dragons.”

Laith ran a hand through his hair. “Aye. We've come to the same conclusion, which leads us back to Ulrik. The Dark Fae gain nothing. They feed off the souls of humans, so if the humans are gone, what do they have?”

“That doesn't make sense,” she said with a frown. “I thought I had it figured out.”

“I wish you had. We've gone round and round with this for months with no answer.” He saw her camera case resting against her hip. “You know the pictures you took tonight will have to be erased.”

Her forehead furrowed in confusion. “I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't take the camera out.”

“I heard the shutter, Iona.”

“I didn't take pictures,” she said more forcefully.

Laith glanced at the camera bag again. “You're never without it.”

She looked at him askance, her hand protectively on the bag. “No. Why would I? It's my livelihood.”

“Did you buy the camera?”

“It was a gift.”

He looked away, praying he was wrong. “Will you take it off and leave it here?”

“Are you nuts? This is a five-thousand-dollar camera.”

“Iona,” he said softly. “If you were no' taking pictures, then how was the shutter going off?”

She removed the strap from her shoulder and cradled the bag against her. “I didn't take any pictures.”

“I believe you.” Laith walked to her and put his hands atop hers. “You'll get the camera back. I give you my word. I just want someone to take a look at it and make sure it hasna been tampered with.”

Several tense moments went by before Iona reluctantly handed him the bag. Laith set it carefully down beside him. When he straightened and saw Iona's broken expression, he pulled her against him.