Muriel’s eyes crinkled as she smiled. “That’s easy, lover. Look in the mirror.”

“Muriel.”

She ran a hand over his jaw. “Because you’re hard and unforgiving. Because I knew that if anyone could help me, it was you.”

Ulrik gave a bow of his head. It was enough. For now. He would want to know more later. “You were choosing a place to go?”

“Your bed.”

CHAPTER

NINETEEN

Thorn rose from the table after Fallon and the Druids teleported back to MacLeod Castle.

“Con willna be happy we agreed to let the Warriors help,” Darius said.

“Con can bite my arse.”

Darius’s gaze never wavered as he studied him. “What is it?”

“I can no’ do this.” Thorn turned his head to look at Lexi lying so still upon the bed. She had just gotten well, and now she was injured in a war she should know nothing about.

Darius followed his gaze. “Ah,” he said slowly. “She’s going to have questions when she wakes.”

Thorn inwardly grimaced. He wanted nothing more than to see Lexi sit up and her gray eyes look his way. After their kiss—their scorching, soul-stealing kiss—he could only think of caressing her skin, of learning every curve … of making love to her.

It seemed that rarely did he wake from dragon sleep and there wasn’t a war. Thorn was tired of it all, but most of all he was weary of having to hide who he was.

“Take care of her, will you?” Thorn asked as he faced Darius.

A frown married Darius’s brow for a moment before he nodded. “You’re leaving.”

“Aye. I’m going to contact Guy. Lexi’s mind needs to be wiped of everything involving us or the Dark.”

“You should be here with her when Guy comes.”

“I can no’ do this again. When she wakes, take her to the airport. Guy will be there to erase us.”

“I’ll see it done,” Darius promised.

Thorn took one last look at Lexi before he walked from the flat. By the time he exited the building, he was looking for Dark Fae. He was angry and frustrated and desolate. They were the perfect outlet.

*   *   *

Darius watched Thorn stride down the street. He had an idea of what Thorn was feeling, because it hadn’t been that many centuries ago when Darius had searched for something to kill.

He almost felt sorry for any Dark who got in Thorn’s way that night. None ever stood a chance before, but that night, they would die slowly. There would be lots of pain involved.

It had taken Darius a very long time to realize others’ pain didn’t dim his own. He hoped Thorn found that out earlier than he did.

Though with the war, it might not be a bad thing to have Thorn in that frame of mind. All the Dragon Kings were angry at the state the Dark had pushed them to, but Thorn’s fury went to another level.

Darius didn’t worry about Thorn. He might be working through things, but he wasn’t a fool. Thorn knew his limits. Because even though Thorn had left, Darius knew Thorn would be watching Lexi from afar the next day.

When Thorn was out of sight, Darius turned to retrace his steps to the table. He pulled out a deck of cards and began to play solitaire when he felt a push in his mind.

He opened up the link when he recognized Constantine’s voice. “Aye?”

“I need an update on the situation there.”

“It hasna improved. No matter how many we kill, more Dark arrive daily.”

Con sighed. “It’s the same all over Scotland. Have the Dark discovered either of you?”

“Nay. The few that do doona live to tell it.”

“Good.”

Darius snorted loudly. “Ask the question you really contacted me for.”

“Thorn helped Ulrik, Darius. Even you should see how that put him in a bad light.”

“Warrick helped him as well,” Darius pointed out.

“Warrick was helping his mate.”

“And Thorn was doing what he could for Warrick.”

There was a pregnant pause. “Darius, this war could be the end of us. I need to know I have every King with me.”

“Then stop being an idiot. Thorn would never betray us.”

“You’re sure?”

“Without a doubt.”

“Have you seen Ulrik?”

Darius shuffled the cards. “We’ve no’. Should we expect him?”

“Possibly. He disappeared and then showed back up at The Silver Dragon. Now he’s gone again.”

Now that got Darius’s attention. “He vanished? All the cameras you have up around his shop and you still couldna see where he went? Are you sure he’s no’ inside?”

“We’re sure. He was exiting the shop by the back entrance when he simply vanished.”

“You think he’s with the Dark?” Darius asked.

“We know. They were quick enough so that many of the cameras didna catch them, but one of the new ones Ryder obtained was able to capture everything. We saw the Dark.”

Darius began to set up another game of solitaire on the table. “We’ve known he’s worked with the Dark. Why is this news we should be concerned over?”

“Because he was gone a long time, and now he’s gone again.”

“Or he’s been back and you’ve no’ known it. We doona have cameras inside his shop, remember.”

Con all but growled, “Doona remind me. Keep your eyes open for him either way.”

The link was severed, causing Darius to shake his head. He knew being King of Kings was a right only the strongest, the most powerful of them could have. However, Darius wouldn’t take on Con’s responsibilities for all the treasure in the world.

Ulrik was unpredictable, which made it nearly impossible for them to try to stay ahead of whatever he might do. It put the Kings on the defensive instead of offensive. That automatically put them on the losing side.

If only Ulrik hadn’t gotten his magic unbound. Darius knew that taking Ulrik’s dragon magic had been their only option. Now, after so many eons, Ulrik wasn’t just coming for Con; he had his magic. Out of all the Kings, Ulrik was the only one who could challenge Con and possibly take over as King of Kings.

Darius was surprised Ulrik hadn’t woken his Silvers. Just thinking of the dragons sleeping caged inside the mountain made him long to see his own dragons. To have the sun glint off their dark purple scales.

“Thorn,” Lexi mumbled from the bed.

Darius shifted his attention to the mortal. She sat up, shoving her long hair out of her face. He remained where he was until she looked over the entire flat.

“Where is Thorn?” she asked.

Darius had been dreading this part. “Out.”

“By out, you mean he’s left.”

Darius briefly thought about lying, but he could see by the lift of her chin she had pieced it all together. “Aye.”

Lexi stood and winced. She looked down at her side before she slid her gaze back to Darius. “What happened?”

“You were hit with Dark magic. Lucky for you, it merely glanced off your side.”

“Lucky, huh?” she mumbled. She slowly made her way to her luggage where she found another sweater before going to the bathroom.

Darius gathered the cards together and set them aside. “You are lucky.”

“Oh, yeah. Definitely,” came her voice behind the closed door of the bathroom, dripping with sarcasm. “I’m such a lucky person that my parents die and leave me alone. I’m so lucky I lose one of my best friends here. I’m so lucky I got hit with Dark magic.” The door opened and she leaned against the doorway. “I’m so lucky that Thorn left.”

Darius wasn’t sure what to say to her. He motioned for her to sit. “All Thorn wanted to do was protect you. He feels he failed.”

“And our kiss?”

Kiss? A lightbulb went off in Darius’s head. “I didna know of a kiss.”

Lexi shrugged and walked to the table. She took the chair opposite him. “Well, there was a kiss. A kiss that was…” She trailed off and looked away.

“I see.” Darius rested one arm on the table. “You mustn’t be angry at Thorn for no’ telling you about us. Everyone who knows finds themselves in extreme danger. We were shielding you and ourselves.”