“Exactly. They’re narcissistic. Whoever doesna pay them the attention they think they deserve must be wrong somehow.”

Darius was quiet for a moment. “Thorn, all of the mates to the Dragon Kings act this way toward the Dark.”

Thorn frowned as he looked at the female. “She’s no’ a mate.”

“All of us thought it was because the women were mated to Kings. What if it’s more? What if it’s something else?”

“She felt their pull this afternoon when she stabbed me. I saw it.”

“But she fought it,” Darius argued.

Thorn couldn’t deny that. How much would the mortal have to endure before she could no longer withstand the Darks’ seduction?

“We have to get her away from them. She needs to know who they are, Thorn.”

“The more she knows, the more danger she’s in.”

“She’s in it up to her arse already.”

Thorn knew Darius was right. Though that didn’t make anything better.

“We willna let her die. I give you my word.”

“Doona. If it’s her time, nothing can stop it.”

Darius snorted. “We’re Dragon Kings. We can keep her safe.”

An image of the past flashed in Thorn’s head. He instantly shoved it aside, refusing to dwell on such things.

“Thorn.”

He bit back a growl. “I hear you. I can no’ just waltz into the pub. She’ll probably try to stab me again.”

“Probably,” Darius said, chuckling.

As soon as Thorn saw Darius, he was going to punch him. “Next time, you stand there and take the blade.”

“For her? I think I just might.”

Thorn found himself glaring, but he wasn’t sure why. Thankfully, the woman paid the bill and stood. “Here she comes.”

“Stick to the streets. I’ll watch your back.”

Thorn crossed the street after she exited the pub and turned left. He was twenty steps behind her, keeping to the shadows.

They had gone six blocks and were almost out of the area. Thorn wouldn’t breathe easy until she was away from so many Dark. Just as they reached the end of the block, three Dark turned the corner.

The woman’s feet faltered for just a heartbeat, but it was enough that the Dark saw. They smiled at her, but she turned her head away.

Thorn withdrew his dagger and walked faster. He stepped into the streetlight and waited for the Dark to see him. Their attention diverted from the mortal to him, just as he intended.

“Stay with her,” Darius said. “I’ve got these wankers.”

Before Thorn could reach them, Darius landed in front of him, killing one Dark by ripping out his heart.

Thorn stayed with her, and a few seconds later, Darius let him know the three Fae were dead. The rain never let up, and neither did the mortal. She walked constantly, stopping occasionally when the rain got too heavy.

It was past midnight and the streets nearly deserted when the rain finally stopped. He could hear her coughing and the wheezing of her breathing.

He and Darius had piled bodies of Dark Fae all through the city. Thorn didn’t think the mortal saw them any longer. Her focus seemed to be staying on her feet.

Darius caught up with him after another skirmish with the Dark. “I’d have thought she would’ve stopped by now.”

Thorn slowed when he realized she was shuffling her feet. “More rain is coming. She needs to get dry. Why does she no’ find a hotel?”

“Maybe she doesna have any money.”

Why hadn’t Thorn thought of that? That had to be the reason, because though the female might be reckless, she wasn’t stupid.

“Thorn.”

But he had already seen that the female had stopped and was weaving. He closed the distance between them, catching her as she fell over. He felt her fever as soon as she was in his arms. She was pale and her breath rattled each time she drew air.

“I know where we can take her,” Thorn said.

Darius shrugged as he looked around. “Lead the way.”

Thorn couldn’t remember the last time he had walked so fast. Even then, he didn’t outrun the rain. He found the building and waited for Darius to open the door. Thorn raced up the stairs, taking them three at a time.

“Where are we?” Darius asked.

Thorn stopped beside the door and waited for Darius to use his magic to unlock it. The door opened and Thorn stepped inside. “Darcy’s flat.”

Darius stood at the doorway and looked around. “This is the place Rhi warded against the Fae.”

Thorn smiled as he made his way to the bedroom. “The verra one. The female will be safer here than anywhere else in the city.”

CHAPTER

SEVEN

Dreagan

Con calmly set his hands flat on the table and looked over the double row of monitors to Ryder. It took everything he had not to explode with fury. But control was what he was known for. It was his trademark, his tool used effectively against friends and foes alike.

When he wanted to bellow and smash the expensive new monitors, he merely took a deep breath and slowly released it before he asked in an even voice, “What do you mean, you lost him?”

Ryder set down his half-eaten jelly-filled donut and wiped the powder from his lips. “As I explained, Ulrik just disappeared.”

“Impossible.” None of the Dragon Kings had that ability. Even if Ulrik had his magic back, there was no way he could’ve picked up something new after thousands of millennia without magic.

Ryder shrugged, his hazel eyes never wavering from Con. “I can play the clip again, if you’d like.”

“Nay. Have you located him?”

Ryder shook his head. “He could be anywhere.”

“Or nowhere.” Ulrik was proving to be impressively skilled at evading Con’s watch. Con had made the mistake of thinking Ulrik’s dragon magic would be bound for eternity.

He’d never expected Ulrik to find a Druid with enough power to handle dragon magic. It was the last mistake Con would make regarding his old friend. “What about Rhi?”

Ryder’s blond brows rose. “Rhi? You’ve never asked to find her before. What’s up?”

“Just tell me if you can find her.”

“You won’t find her,” said a voice behind Con.

He straightened and turned to find Henry North standing in the doorway. Henry was a mortal who worked for MI5, but he had proven himself a trusted friend and ally to all at Dreagan.

The only issue was that Henry had fallen—hard—for the Light Fae despite everyone warning him to keep his distance from Rhi.

“The Dark are easy enough to track because they aren’t keeping themselves hidden,” Henry continued, his English accept clipped with frustration and a dose of anger.

Con should’ve realized Henry would’ve been trying to find Rhi while he tracked the Dark over the world. No wonder the mortal had been on edge of late. “You think Rhi is hiding?”

“Yes.” Henry ran a hand through his short brown hair. “There’s no sign of her or Balladyn anywhere, and my network of people don’t miss anything.”

Ryder finished typing on his keyboard and leaned back in his office chair. He stared intently at the rows of screens that made a semicircle around him.

Con walked around the desks to view them himself. He looked from screen to screen, hoping to find a hint of Ulrik or Rhi—or both.

He had a bad feeling that Ulrik had strengthened a bond with Rhi when he carried her out of Balladyn’s fortress where she had been held captive. Rhi was more powerful than she realized. If she sided with Ulrik … Con didn’t even want to finish the thought.

“You think Rhi and Ulrik are together,” Henry said into the silence.

Con glanced at Henry and nodded.

“She wouldn’t do that.” Henry’s brow furrowed deeply. “Did you hear me? Rhi wouldn’t side with him. She knows Ulrik is the one out to destroy Dreagan.”

“Ulrik is out to destroy me,” Con corrected.

Henry waved away his words. “By coming at Dreagan and the Kings. Rhi has people she counts on here. She wouldn’t turn against any of them.”