“Ah,” Warrick said with a nod of his blond head. “You doona think Thorn can care for the female?”

“I think that it would be better if he took her to a doctor. There could be a number of things wrong with her.”

“Or nothing.”

Darcy knew he was right. She lowered her gaze to his impressive chest and ran her hands over the thick muscles there. “I have an acquaintance in Edinburgh. She’s a doctor.”

“Darcy,” Warrick began.

“I know,” she hurried to say as she looked into his eyes. “You don’t have to tell me how important it is that all of you remain secret, but there was something in Thorn’s voice.”

Warrick’s eyes narrowed in concern. “What was it?”

“I don’t know his past, but I got the feeling that it was important that the woman live.”

Warrick’s lips pinched into a flat line. He looked over Darcy’s head and stared out the window for long moments. She didn’t rush him. She also knew he wouldn’t tell her what had happened in Thorn’s past, and she didn’t care to know.

Finally Warrick lowered his gaze to her. “Come with me.”

They walked hand in hand from the kitchen, up the stairs to their bedroom. Warrick shut and locked the door, then he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

To Darcy’s surprise, he put it on speaker. She smiled at Warrick. Through eons of secrecy and shielding himself, he never stopping bringing her into his world and showing her his love.

“War,” Darius said in answer.

“I’ve got you on speaker, and Darcy is here with me,” Warrick said.

Darcy sat next to Warrick on the bed. “How is the woman you and Thorn found?”

“No’ good,” Darius answered. “Lexi’s fever broke, but she’s still sick. Thorn just asked me to find a doctor.”

It was just as Darcy had feared. “I know someone who might help.”

There was a beat of silence before Darius said, “You trust them?”

“She doesn’t know about magic or that I’m a Druid. But she’s good at what she does. It’s not in Sophie’s nature to turn away those in need. She’ll help.”

Darius sighed. “What’s her name?”

“Sophie Martin. She works at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Edinburgh.”

Warrick added, “I’ll get Ryder to send over all her details.”

“Did Thorn call you again?” Darius asked.

Darcy glanced at Warrick. “No. It was just something in the way he spoke of Lexi.”

“Thank you,” Darius said.

Warrick said Darius’s name to keep him from ending the call. “What’s the story with the woman?”

“She’s an American visiting here, and one of her friends was killed by the Dark. Lexi set out to find the killer.”

Darcy was so shocked she couldn’t find the words. She’d had her own run-in with the Dark. There’s no way she would actively seek them out. Then she looked at Warrick and knew she would do anything for him, including facing a horde of Dark Fae.

Warrick whistled low. “Are you going to stop her?”

“What do you think Thorn will do?”

“I think he’ll help her.”

Darius chuckled. “I suspect you’re right.”

“How are things there?” Darcy asked.

“Bad. Verra bad,” Darius answered in a grim tone. “There’s been no sign of Ulrik.”

Warrick said, “Ryder can no’ find him anywhere either.”

“He may be with the Dark.”

Darcy still had mixed feelings about Ulrik. She had been the one to unbind his magic, and in doing so she got to see his past through his memories. There were things the others couldn’t begin to fathom that he’d endured.

All because he had been betrayed by a human and retaliated in the only way he could—by killing them. All that got him was banishment from Dreagan and to walk the earth forever in human form.

Until he found her.

“I’ll let you know about the doctor,” Darius said.

The call ended, but Darcy was still thinking about Ulrik. She had truly thought him an ally.

Warrick’s hand covered hers. “I hate him for nearly killing you.”

She hated Ulrik for nearly being killed.

“But,” Warrick said, “the Dark think you’re dead. They’re no longer looking for you.”

Darcy shifted to face him. “I know. I keep wondering if Ulrik did it on purpose.”

“I can no’ figure it out myself. He had no reason to help you.”

“Unless he’s not as bad as everyone thinks.”

Warrick raised a brow. “If Con or the Druids hadna been there, you would’ve died.”

“But I didn’t. I’m here. Let’s think on that.”

Warrick kissed her forehead as he pulled her against him. “Ulrik brought Lily back from the dead. Now there’s a possibility that he helped you. Yet he’s aligned with the Dark to bring us down. None of it makes sense.”

“One moment I think Ulrik is a decent guy, and the next I think he’s the Devil himself.” Darcy held Warrick tighter, thankful that she had him in her life. “Trying to figure it out makes my head hurt.”

“Aye, love, but if we choose wrong, it could be the end of us.”

*   *   *

Darius stood at the back of the Royal Victoria Hospital. From what Ryder discovered, Dr. Sophie Martin was due to get off work in thirty minutes.

He had already been by her flat. On the way to the hospital, he’d cleared several streets of Dark Fae. It had taken him longer than he would’ve liked to cart the bodies to the warehouse and remain unseen.

Like Warrick, Darius didn’t mind working alone. With Thorn occupied keeping Lexi alive, he couldn’t see Darius battling his own demons. Just as Darius wanted.

His patience was running on empty when thirty minutes past the time the doctor was supposed to get off she walked out of the hospital.

He spotted her easily enough, despite her red hair pulled with some clip that kept it all together at the back of her head. She walked at a steady pace with her head up, a purse on her shoulder, and a black bag in hand.

Darius knew all about the doctor. She was from London and had attended Oxford. After a few years at a London hospital, Sophie Martin moved to Edinburgh where she had been for the past seven years.

She was single, which made things much easier for Darius. He wouldn’t have to contend with a husband or boyfriend wondering where she was.

He also knew that she was known to pay house calls to those who either couldn’t afford a doctor or who couldn’t get to her. Darcy had been right. Sophie was the perfect one to help Lexi.

Since Darius knew her route home, he put himself in a place where she would have to walk past him. In order not to frighten her, he stepped out of the shadows that dusk provided.

“Dr. Martin,” he said.

She halted instantly, her gaze on him. “And you are?”

“We have a mutual friend. Darcy Allen.”

Sophie relaxed a fraction. “How is Darcy?”

“Doing well. She suggested that I find you. Darcy believes that you’ll be willing to help me.”

Sophie stood tall, her olive gaze direct. “What do you need help with?”

“I’ve a friend who is ill. She’s being chased by some verra bad people, and we can no’ risk bringing her to the hospital.”

Sophie regarded him for long moments. “What type of man are you?”

“No’ a nice kind.”

“Yet you would stand here waiting to bring me to your friend?”

Darius eyed her. “You asked. I told you.”

She adjusted the black bag in her hand. “I need your name.”

“Darius.”

“Darius what?”

“Just Darius,” he replied, hiding his grin. He liked the way she held herself, the way she looked as if she could take on the world single-handedly. He held out a piece of paper. “Here’s the address.”

She looked at the paper and returned her gaze to him. “You’re not coming with me?”

“As I explained, bad people are after her. I’m going to make sure they doona get close.”

Darius turned and blended into the shadows. He waited to see what Sophie would do. He almost expected her to refuse, but she raised her hand to call for a taxi. A few moments later, she got into the car and drove off.