“Taraeth has given me to you for the night,” she whispered in a seductive Irish brogue.

Ulrik looked down at her tempting lips and wrapped an arm around her. He bent and put his mouth next to her ear. “Taraeth? Or Mikkel?”

She shrugged, kissing his neck. “Mikkel asked that you be occupied. Taraeth chose me.”

Why would his uncle snatch him from his shop in Perth only to have him kept engaged while they were visiting Taraeth?

“What did Taraeth tell you?”

She laughed breathlessly up at him and wound her arms around his neck. “To do whatever you want.”

Just what he’d hoped to hear. Ulrik didn’t spare his uncle another glance as he walked from the chamber with his hand on the female’s back.

Once they were in the corridor, he stopped and faced her. “Take me back to Perth.”

“I … I can’t. Mikkel wants you here,” she said with a shake of her head.

“And your king, who you obey without question, told you to do whatever I want. I want to return to Perth.”

She blinked her red eyes. When she hesitated, Ulrik pivoted and began to walk to the Fae doorway that would return him to his shop.

“Wait,” she said and hurried after him.

“Do you know who I am?”

She nodded, having to jog to keep up with him. “Of course.”

“I’ll give you one warning, Dark. Doona cross me.”

She took his hand and yanked him into a side room. He had his fingers around her throat in an instant, pinning her to the wall in the next heartbeat.

“My sister is the one sent to seduce Mikkel,” she said while gasping for air.

Ulrik loosened his hold, a frown taking root. “Taraeth sent her.”

The Dark jerked her head up and down. She didn’t claw at his hands, but kept her arms by her sides. “The king trusts few.”

“Did he pick you to come to me today?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

Ulrik released her. “What does Mikkel really want you to do with me?”

She touched her throat with her hand and swallowed several times before she raised her eyes to him. “He wants to search your store.”

“For what?”

“He wants to be sure you’re not plotting against him.”

So, the bastard wasn’t as dumb as he looked. Ulrik took a step back from the female and released her. “What’s your name?”

“Muriel.”

“Well, Muriel, do I believe you or no’?”

She gawked at him. “I’ve no reason to lie. I hold no allegiance to Mikkel.”

“And what if I do?”

She lifted her chin. “You don’t.”

Ulrik liked her spunk. “He’s my uncle.”

“And the one trying to usurp what is rightfully yours.”

“What else do you know?” he asked, thoroughly captivated.

Her face softened. “I know that you’re not a man to back down from what he wants.”

He raised a brow.

“I know that you’ve been meeting with Taraeth for centuries. Long before your uncle.”

It wasn’t until that moment that Ulrik realized she was after something. “You’ve seen a lot, little Dark.”

She shrugged indifferently.

“What do you want?” he asked.

Her gaze swept over him. “A night in your arms.”

“Just a night?” he teased.

“As long as you’ll have me.”

She was flirting with him now. “What do you really want?” he asked.

“I want revenge.”

No one understood the need for vengeance better than Ulrik. He had been planning his for Constantine for what seemed like an eternity. But he was closing in on his prize.

“Against?” he asked.

She cocked her head to the side. “You have your secrets. I have mine.”

Ulrik’s gut told him not to trust her. He didn’t trust anyone. There was something about her that made him consider the option however. She saw a lot in Taraeth’s court. She could tell him much about Mikkel’s comings and goings.

Then again, she could be telling Mikkel his plans.

“I’ll help you, Ulrik, King of Silvers, if you’ll help me,” she purred and ran her hand up his chest.

He grasped her wrist, halting her arm. Then he bent his head until their lips were nearly touching. “Shall we seal the deal with a kiss?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” she said huskily right before she put her mouth to his.

CHAPTER

TWELVE

When Lexi next opened her eyes, she noticed how much better she felt. It was the noise that drew her attention. She raised her head and found Thorn in the kitchen making coffee with his back to her.

His dark hair was pulled back today. She rested her head on her arm to get a better look at him. His gray shirt once more hugged his impressive body. His long sleeves were pushed up past his elbows. His black jeans gripped his narrow hips, showing off his fine ass and his long legs.

Though he looked good in the clothes, she couldn’t help but imagine him in something more … historical. Like a kilt, or even something piratey.

He took a drink of the coffee, then with mug in hand turned to face her with a smile. “Good afternoon.”

Lexi groaned as she glanced out the window. There were clouds again, once more hiding the sun. She couldn’t tell what time it was.

“How many days did I lose this time?”

“Just the one,” he answered. “How do you feel?”

Lexi took stock of her body. It no longer felt as if she had been dragged behind a vehicle. “Better, actually.”

“Good. You have the flu.”

Wonderful. Just what she needed. “I don’t feel like I have the flu.”

He raised a dark brow, his gaze pinning her as he walked to the bed. “We had a doctor come see you last night. She gave you a shot. Her orders were that you stay inside.”

“Impossible.” Lexi sat up and rolled her head from one side to the other to stretch it. “I have things that need to be done.”

“Like catching Christina’s killer?”

She froze. Slowly, she slid her gaze to Thorn with her heart thumping in her chest. How had he known?

“You said a lot when the fever had you.” He shrugged then and said, “After, I searched the names of the victims and found Christina’s. It didna take much afterward to put two and two together.”

Lexi leaned back against the wall with the pillows behind her back. “I had one week left. I’ve lost four days. Three won’t be enough to find him.”

“You willna have those three. If you leave this flat in this weather, you could relapse.”

Lexi lowered her gaze to her hands clasped in her lap. “I promised I would find her murderer.”

Thorn let out a long-suffering sigh. “There is much you doona know. You’re no’ the only one fighting them.”

“You are?” she asked as her gaze went to him. She leaned forward, wondering if she’d really seen him heal, or if it had been a dream. “Tell me all you know. Please.”

He hesitated, as if he couldn’t make up his mind. A resigned expression came over his face. “What have you seen them do?”

“Change,” she replied instantly. “I’ve seen them change the color of their eyes and hair. How do they do that? Is it some illusion?”

“Nay. It’s magic.”

It was on the tip of Lexi’s tongue to tell him magic didn’t exist, but by the seriousness of his gaze, she kept silent. “How?”

“Do you believe you’re the only intelligent beings on this earth?”

She scrunched up her face. “Well, duh.”

“You’d be wrong.”

Her breath left her in a whoosh. “You’re lying.”

“I’m no’,” he said softly. He leaned forward and put his forearms on his thighs, his gaze on the floor. “Lexi, I doona wish to tell you any of this. You’re no’ ready for it. But I also know that if I doona, you could get yourself killed. You need to understand the full extent of the danger.”

“Then tell me.” Lexi was proud of herself. Her voice was smooth, even if she was shaking on the inside, as if on another level, she knew she wasn’t going to like what she heard.

“What you’ve seen are the Fae. The Dark Fae, to be precise. There are Light Fae, but it’s the Dark who have the red eyes.”