Hot Blooded (30 page)

The knot in his chest loosened when her arms wrapped around him and she buried her face in his neck. He closed his eyes and held her tighter as he moved his face so his mouth was near her ear.

“Listen carefully,” Laith whispered. “The trap has worked. He's been watching. The others are closing in on him now.”

“What if they don't catch him?”

Laith opened his eyes as he leaned back to look into her dark brown depths. “Then I will.”

“Do your enemies know who they're messing with?” she asked with a small smile.

“They're finding out.” He cupped her face. “Be ready. It's about to happen.”

No sooner were the words out of his mouth than six Warriors surrounded the tree where the culprit hid. Aisley stood beside Isla, the two surrounded by Phelan and Hayden as they poured their magic atop the man, breaking through his spell until he was visible.

“I've got her,” Larena said to Laith, her iridescent Warrior skin shimmering in the moonlight.

Laith gave a nod to Iona and took a running leap off the waterfall, shifting into a dragon as he did. He used his dragon magic of paralyzing gas to stop their foe before he could get away. A flash of jade scales could be seen as Warrick moved from the right out of the trees. From the left was Ryder, his smoke-colored scales muted in the darkness.

“Guess you'll be staying for a wee bit,” Hayden said as he glared at the man lying unmoving on the ground.

Con stepped from the trees in only a pair of jeans after having shifted back into human form. He swiped a hand through his blond hair and sneered down at the intruder. “Let's make sure there're no poison pills hidden in your teeth.”

Laith watched as Con and Fallon searched the man's mouth and found nothing. Con stood and dusted off his hands as he turned away. “That was offensive.”

“Con!” Aisley shouted as the man suddenly rose up and went for Con.

Laith couldn't believe the human had already broken through his magic. It wasn't possible. Nor could he use his magic again without inflicting the gas on most of the Warriors in the process. Laith shifted into a human and lunged forward, but Con had already pivoted back around, his hand on the man's throat. Suddenly the human's eyes went wide and blood trickled from the corner of the man's mouth. Every eye turned to Rhi who stood behind the human, her sword buried so deep in the human that the tip touched Con's chest.

“Rhi,” Con stated angrily.

She yanked her sword out and flicked off the blood as the man crumpled to the ground.

“We needed to question him,” Phelan said as he stalked to Rhi. “And where the hell have you been?”

Rhi's silver gaze slid to Phelan. “I've been around, and trust me when I say you're better off not talking to him.”

“We'll never know that now,” Laith said, not hiding his anger. “We needed to know why he's been watching Iona.”

Rhi bent and wiped her sword on the mortal's black shirt before she sheathed the blade at her back. “You don't need him for that. I can tell you.”

“So tell us,” Con said casually.

Too casually, Laith thought. The hatred between Rhi and Con had always been deep, but it was different now. There was something else added to the mix—resentment perhaps?

Rhi turned her head and looked over her shoulder up at the waterfall. “Iona is collecting data.” Rhi's gaze returned to Con. “On Dreagan.”

 

CHAPTER
THIRTY-FOUR

Iona wished she could hear and see what was going on. All she could make out from her vantage point atop the waterfall was a bit of movement. She knew where Laith was because he hadn't moved from his spot once he had shifted to human.

“We're wanted,” Larena said as she came to stand beside Iona, nude.

Iona looked at the golden-haired Warrior, who was dramatic with her goddess released, and stunning as a woman. Larena's tight expression caused concern however. “What's going on?”

“The sooner I get you down, the sooner you find out.”

“Me? How do you know?” she demanded.

Larena's smoky blue eyes shifted to her. “I'm a Warrior, Iona. My senses—sight, smell, and hearing—are five times what yours are.”

“So you can hear them talking?”

“I can,” Larena said softly.

Iona glanced at Laith to see him looking up at her. “Then tell me what is being said.”

Larena shook her head as her skin began to turn iridescent with the release of her goddess. “Hold on tight.”

“Hold on?” Iona repeated even as she locked an arm around Larena's shoulders.

She didn't have a chance to voice anything more as Larena jumped from the cliff. A scream never made it past Iona's lips as her heart lodged in her throat.

As soon as Larena landed them, Iona pushed away from her. “Don't do that to me again without more warning.”

“Sorry,” Larena said and walked to stand beside Fallon.

Iona saw Fallon hand a bundle of clothes to Larena, who disappeared behind some trees to change. With her hands on her knees, Iona bent over to calm her racing heart.

After flying atop Laith and jumping off the cliff, Iona had her fill of excitement for the next few months. What could be so important that Larena had to bring her down to the others so quickly?

That's when Iona realized how quiet everyone was. She lifted her head and looked at Laith, in all his naked glory with his dragon tat on his back, who was glaring at Con. Iona straightened when she caught sight of the black-haired woman from the pub. The Fae, Rhi.

Iona glanced at Hayden to see he was slowly making his way to her, as was Isla. The other two dragons suddenly shifted into human form, but remained where they were. If she hadn't known who the Kings were, she would at one glance of their naked bodies and the amazing dragon tats that graced them.

She couldn't stand the wait or the standoff that appeared to be happening. Iona cleared her throat, a frown forming when she saw the man lying unmoving at Con's feet. “What's going on?”

“Do you know this man?” Con asked, pointing to the male at his feet without taking his gaze from Laith.

Iona couldn't see his face. She started to go to the man when Hayden's hand on her arm stopped her. Her head swiveled to Hayden. “I can't answer without having a look.” Hayden grudgingly released her. Iona's skin prickled with the intensity of the situation. Once she reached the man, she bent over him, but couldn't see in the darkness. “I need light.”

Instantly Hayden was at her side, a large ball of fire held over her in his hand. She gave him a nod of thanks, and swallowed hard when she saw his concerned gaze on Con.

Iona returned her attention to the man. She rolled him onto his back and saw the dark stain on the front of his black shirt. After a careful look at his face, she stood. “I've never seen him before. Is he the one who's been watching me?”

“Aye,” Hayden said and put out the flames in his palm.

“Someone tell me what is going on,” Iona demanded.

Laith finally looked at her. “I need your camera.”

“Why?”

“Because we want to see what pictures you've been taking,” Con said.

Laith ignored Con and walked to her. “Will you allow me to look at your camera?”

She wanted to tell them no, because that camera was an extension of her. She couldn't stand the thought of someone else touching it that didn't know its intricacies. But she also realized it was important. Laith already claimed that he heard her shutter, yet she knew for a fact she hadn't taken any pictures.

Iona held his gaze. “I never took the camera out of the bag tonight.”

“We'll be able to tell as soon as we look at the pictures,” Laith said.

“You think I'm betraying you.”

Laith gave a shake of his head. “I doona, but I have to prove that. Right now, it appears someone was collecting data on us.”

“Through me?” she asked with a snort. “I don't like being used. I especially don't like being a pawn to be blamed for a betrayal. Take the camera. I left it atop the waterfall.”

“It's here,” Larena said as she stepped out of the trees, the camera bag hanging from her hand.

Con took the bag from Larena. “We need to analyze this.”

“I agree,” Laith said. “We do it here though.”

Con bowed his head in agreement. He held out the bag and said, “Ryder.”

Ryder walked naked through the group and grabbed the bag.

He had taken two steps when Hayden said, “I'd like to have Evie and Gwynn here to help.”

“I'll retrieve them,” Fallon said and vanished.

Iona watched Ryder head back toward the cottage with her camera. “I've never been without it.”

“It'll be fine,” Laith said and put his hand on her lower back, guiding her to follow Ryder.

If she hadn't been so distressed at what was happening, she would've been more shocked at the fact there were three naked men around.

Iona walked past Con as he turned to Rhi. She spotted his dragon tattoo on his back, the same as Laith's. But that's where the similarities stopped. Con's dragon was lying down, his wings spread, whereas Laith's dragon tat had it standing on its hind legs.

She halted beside Con and waited for him to acknowledge her. She lifted a brow when he let out a string of curses as Rhi vanished. Iona then asked him, “You think I'm the one behind this, right? What would I have to gain?”

“What does any human have to gain?” he asked sharply.

“Exactly. I knew nothing of your existence until recently, but even then I've seen the power you have. It would be ludicrous for me to even attempt to do anything against either the Dragon Kings or the Warriors. I understand you have something precious to protect, but if you can't see I'm not your enemy, then it won't be long until everyone is your enemy.”

She left Laith standing with Con and started walking to the cottage. The day began gloriously and ended appallingly. The hours in Laith's arms were ruined by the fact that some considered her a potential enemy.

“I couldn't have said it better,” Isla said as she matched Iona's steps. “The Kings are our allies, but Con can be narrow-minded at times.”

“I would probably be as well.” Iona smiled at Isla's shocked expression. “Put yourself in their shoes. It can't have been easy.”

Isla sidestepped a fallen tree. “I imagine our ancestors felt the same way when it came to the Kings. Each side will have a story to pull the heartstrings. Neither is right, but neither is wrong. The Kings blame the humans for the betrayal, but what pushed Ulrik's woman to betray him?”

“It could've been anything. Or nothing.”

“It was somebody, I grant you that.”

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Halfway back to the cottage, Iona looked over her shoulder to see Laith beside Warrick with Con two steps behind them. There was no sign of Rhi or any Warriors.

“Hayden and the others are going to keep watch,” Isla told her. “Everyone is here to ensure your safety.”

“Unless I'm deemed an enemy.”

Isla's lips flattened. “You say you didn't take any pictures. Laith believes. Hayden and I believe you.”

“How do you know Hayden believes me?”

Isla's smile was full of happiness and desire. “Because when two people are in love, they come to understand how the other thinks.”

Love. That word seemed to come up a lot of late, and Iona wasn't sure how she felt about it anymore. Especially since every time someone said the word, she immediately thought of Laith.

When Iona reached the cottage, she stepped inside and immediately put on the coffeemaker. She was exhausted—both mentally and physically—and she suspected she was going to need to be on her toes when it came to Con. The coffee hadn't even begun to brew when Hayden opened the front door and walked in, followed by two women and Fallon.

“The stones are loud here,” said the first woman. She had long, curly brown hair and blue eyes. Her lids closed over her eyes as she lifted her face as if listening.

Isla leaned close and said, “If a Druid has strong magic, then we can also have specialties. For Evie, she can hear the stones. They communicate and do her bidding.”

“Do her bidding?” Iona repeated in surprise.

Evie's eyes opened and she smiled at Iona. “Yes. I can have them move or form in any shape that I desire. It's nice to meet you, Iona. You're all that's being talked about at the castle.”

Iona liked Evie immediately. There was something kind about her that seemed to draw everyone. “So you're good with electronics?”

“I used to be a software programmer,” Evie said in a soft Scottish brogue. “But I'm not the only one good at fiddling with computers. Gwynn has special skills as a hacker.”

Iona's gaze moved to the next woman who had coal black hair and eyes the color of violets.

Gwynn's smile was radiant as she stepped forward. “Hello, Iona.”

She was taken aback at the American accent. “Where are you from?”

“Texas,” Gwynn said with a grin. She then looked around. “Where should we set up?”

Ryder walked out of her father's office wearing a pair of jeans and opened John's laptop on the oval dining table. “Right here.”

Iona remained in the kitchen and watched as Gwynn and Evie sat down and pulled out laptops she hadn't even realized they had. A moment later and Ryder was inspecting her camera.

It was difficult for Iona to watch. She kept telling herself it was just a piece of equipment, that it could be replaced, but that camera hadn't just been a gift, it had become the one constant in her life she could trust.

The small cottage felt even tinier as Laith, Warrick, and Con stood in the living room watching the three at the table intently. Someone had supplied jeans for Laith and Warrick as well. Iona's gaze met Laith's. She tried to read his expression, but couldn't tell anything. He was closed off as he had never been before.