Fire Rising (Dark Kings) (20 page)

Tristan shoved past them all and ran to the back of the mountain. As soon as he reached the cavern, he shifted and flew out of the same opening that Laith had brought Sammi through just hours before.

He had to find her.

Because if he couldn’t, he might very well be joining Ulrik.

*   *   *

Rhys sighed as he watched Tristan race out of the room. He knew exactly where Tristan was going, because he would do the same thing if he were in Tristan’s place.

“What the hell is going on?” Con demanded.

Laith kicked at a piece of the broken table. “I brought Sammi here.”

“What?” Con thundered, his black eyes narrowing in anger.

Rhys had expected just such an outburst. “It’s no’ like Tristan had a choice, no’ after Ulrik told him the Dark Ones were going to attack on Dreagan tonight in order to take Sammi.”

Con’s gaze swung to him, his nostrils flaring. “First Banan goes to Ulrik, and then Tristan does.”

“You’ve got it backward,” Banan said as he kissed Jane on the forehead and gave her a little shove out of the room. He waited until she had turned the corner before he faced Con. “I did go to Ulrik, but it was Ulrik who contacted Tristan.”

All of Con’s ire deflated as shock took him. “He … contacted Tristan?”

Rhys nodded. “That was pretty much our reactions as well. Turns out Ulrik wants Tristan to join his ranks. He offered to stop the attack if Tristan did just that.”

“Is that where Tristan is going?”

Laith snorted. “Nay. He’ll try and find Sammi first. But after that, I’m no’ so sure. They have chemistry, those two.”

A muscle ticked in Constantine’s jaw. “Mates?”

“Maybe,” Banan said.

Rhys crossed his arms over his chest. “Whatever is between Tristan and Sammi isna the point right now.”

“You’re right.” Con looked at each of them. “The point is that Ulrik dared to contact one of us.”

Laith’s eyebrows shot up. “Dared? He’s one of us, Con.”

“He’s banished. Doona forget that.”

As if Con would let them. Rhys was as surprised as any of them that Ulrik had chosen now to contact them, and even more shocked that he had chosen Tristan. What were his motives?

Tristan was the newest King. He was strong, able, and powerful, but then so were all the Kings. The only advantage was that Tristan hadn’t been involved in the past and all the horrible consequences. He was new to their world and their troubles, and he hadn’t taken a side.

Not exactly. He had been delivered to Dreagan, and that’s where he remained. But if he had to make a choice between Dreagan and Ulrik, Rhys wasn’t sure which he would pick.

He hadn’t lied to Tristan. Con had made mistakes. Hell, they all had, and they had to live with them. They shouldn’t have killed Ulrik’s woman, but Ulrik had given them no choice when he attacked the humans.

Ulrik had sworn vengeance on Con all those long years ago. Was the debt finally being called due?

“This is easily ended,” Con said calmly from the doorway. “I kill Ulrik.”

Rhys, Laith, and Banan exchanged a look.

“He’s a King,” Banan said. “Enough of us have died.”

Con glanced around the room at the destruction. “Ulrik has caused enough trouble. I doona want to lose another King, but he’s no’ been one of us in a verra long time. He’s out to reveal us to the world, all the while fracturing us from within.”

“Aye,” Laith said softly. “He’s doing just that. But I willna be a part of his killing. We’ve taken enough away from him.”

“Look what he’s doing to us,” Con said as he spread out his arms. “Our ordered lives are turned upside down. We’re fighting mortals who are sneaking onto our land, and let’s no’ forget our favorite enemies, the Dark. They’re back. Do you remember the Fae Wars, Laith? Because I recall them all too vividly.”

Banan picked up the shattered iPad. “There has to be another way to stop Ulrik than death.”

“Like what?” Con asked. “You want to hold him prisoner with his Silvers?”

Rhys shrugged. “Maybe that’s what we need to do. You knew letting him live back then would bring about this day. You knew he would scheme to kill you, to take away everything you hold dear.”

“Which is Dreagan and the unity of the Kings,” Laith said.

Con calmly slid his hands into the pockets of his dress slacks. “He was my best friend. I couldna kill him then.”

“But you can now?” Banan asked.

Con nodded. “Aye. I’ll kill him as I should’ve done to begin with, and then we go about unknotting his network. We’ll return to the life we’ve had for centuries.”

“That’s no’ possible no matter if we kill Ulrik or no’,” Rhys said. “MI5 knows of us. No matter what precautions we take using Banan’s friend Henry North or even Guy’s ability to erase memories, we’ll miss something.”

Con lifted one shoulder, his face set. “It’s better than what’s coming if we do nothing. Doona kid yourself into thinking Ulrik will allow himself to be taken.”

“There’s one other option to keep Tristan with us. We need Broc,” Laith said.

Rhys couldn’t believe he’d forgotten about the Warrior. Broc could find anyone, anywhere. “What are we waiting for? Get him on the phone.”

“Already on it,” Banan said as he pulled out his mobile.

Rhys met Con’s gaze. The battle everyone had dreaded between Ulrik and Con was coming. And this time Ulrik had no magic, no ability to shift into dragon form to fight his former friend.

This time Con would end Ulrik for good.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Rhi fell in behind a heavyset woman as she exited the bus. She was still veiled, as she’d been since she happened to spot Sammi making a run for it.

She watched Sammi look around the small village trying to decide what to do. One day Rhi would have to admit to Sammi that’d she not so subtly pushed her to Ferness, but it didn’t have to be anytime soon.

It was just a few small mental pushes, but it had worked to keep Sammi on the bus until Ferness. But getting her to Charon’s village was just the first step. She then had to get one of the Warriors or Druids to somehow meet Sammi. All without Rhi playing a visible part in it.

“Why do I keep getting involved with the Dragon Kings and their business?”

She had asked herself that question for days now without any kind of answer. There was an answer. She just couldn’t face the truth of it.

Not now.

Possibly not ever.

“I’m a sad, sad Fae,” she mumbled to herself.

If only she could let go and move on, but that was impossible with her heart ripped out of her chest. She might not have gotten her happy ending, but if she could help the Kings while giving Con a kick in the balls, she would keep putting herself through the pain of being around the Kings.

She squared her shoulders, thankful she could keep the veil up as long as she could. It was a rarity in the Fae world. It was one of the few things she had gotten from her father.

Rhi followed Sammi across the street. She was about to nudge the mortal to visit Charon’s pub when she spotted Dani entering a grocery store.

With a smile, Rhi focused on Sammi. “The store,” she whispered, sending the thought to Sammi’s mind. “Go into the store.”

When Sammi didn’t immediately comply, Rhi thought she might have to push her harder. It took a few minutes, but Sammi eventually turned and walked to the store.

*   *   *

Sammi had no idea why she went into the store. She didn’t want to buy anything. In fact, she wasn’t sure why she was in the village at all. She had wanted to keep going, but for some reason she couldn’t explain, she had gotten off the bus.

She walked up and down the aisles wondering what to do since the idea of food made her nauseous. The clerk was eyeing her as if she was about to steal something, which only made Sammi uneasy.

After she turned down another aisle, Sammi glanced out the window, looking for anything suspicious—and Tristan. She hated herself for wanting to see him again.

Despite learning everything she felt might have been done to her wasn’t real, she still couldn’t stop yearning for him, couldn’t stop craving his kisses.

Couldn’t stop longing to stare into his dark eyes.

She was pitiful. She had been used, and yet she wanted more if it. How pathetic that she didn’t have the wherewithal to tell them all to go to hell.

Out of habit, she checked the window again and stumbled backward as she saw red eyes starting at her. Sammi tripped and slammed into a person. The basket went flying, cans of food clattered to the ground, and she became tangled with someone as they fell with a bone-jarring thud.

“Are you all right?”

Sammi winced as she rolled to her back and felt a can beneath her. She lifted her head to the window, but could no longer see the Dark Fae, if he had been there at all. She was seriously doubting her own mind now.

She looked at the woman she had crashed into. “I think so. I’m so sorry. That’s the second time today I’ve run into someone.”

The woman smiled widely as she laughed. “Perhaps you should wear pillows for safety.”

“I think you’re right,” she said as they both laughed harder.

“I’m Danielle, but everyone calls me Dani.”

“Sammi. It’s really Samantha, but I prefer Sammi.”

“Sammi and Dani,” she said. “Women with male names. I think it was destiny that we meet.”

Sammi liked her instantly. There was just something about Dani that made you think everything was right in the world. It could be her unusual silvery blond hair or her emerald eyes, or that Dani had such a sweet personality.

Dani shoved cans aside as she got to her feet and held out her hand. “Come on. I think we could use a drink after this.”

They gathered Dani’s spilled items together, and Sammi found herself chatting as she waited for Dani to pay for them. The next thing she knew, Sammi was walking out of the store heading toward a pub with Dani.

“What brings you to Ferness?” Dani asked.

Sammi shrugged. “I just ended up here. It was the strangest thing.”

“That happened to me the first time I came here. Odd how that happens, huh?”

“Very. Do you live here now?”

Dani’s eyes crinkled in the corners as she smiled. “Aye, along with my husband, Ian. We’ve made Ferness our home for almost a year now. I’ve never been happier. I can’t wait to introduce you to Laura. And then there’s Aisley. She’s not in Ferness as often.”

Sammi merely smiled. She couldn’t exactly tell Dani that she wouldn’t be here come morning. It was nice thinking she had a friend. The last time had been … well, it had been a long time.

And there was a reason for that. Now more than ever she needed to be careful about who she trusted.

She stopped and put her hand on the door to the pub before Dani could open it. “Listen, you may think I’ve completely lost my mind, but…”

Sammi let the word trail off. How did she go about asking if Dani was involved in the Mob or knew the Dark Fae? If she was, she’d lie about it, and if she wasn’t, she’d have Sammi locked up.

Dani frowned as she reached out and touched Sammi’s shoulder. “Are you in trouble?”

“You could say that. I’d like to have that drink with you, but I’m going to have to decline. I can’t afford to trust anyone.”

Dani didn’t release her. “Wait. Please. I don’t know what you’re involved in, but there are people here who can help. Me for one. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Sammi tried to walk away again, but Dani was stronger than she appeared.

“One drink. Talk to me if you want, or you can just listen to me blab on as I’m wont to do. Your choice,” Dani said with a bright smile.

Sammi blew out a breath. She looked around for the Dark Fae or any sign of the Dragon Kings. She was so tired of being on her own, of wondering who to trust. Sammi didn’t even remember what normal was. “One drink.”

Dani opened the door and gave her a slight shove inside. The pub was like any other in Scotland. At least that was her initial take on it, but as soon as she sat down at one of the tables she had a sense that there was something more to this bar.

It wasn’t a bad or scary feeling. If it had been, she’d have clawed her way out of the building. Instead, it was as if there was more to it, almost like it had seen things as amazing as she had over the last couple of days.

Sammi looked longingly at the bar. She missed her pub, missed wiping down the bar and pouring drinks. She missed her rowdy customers and the smell of ale.

“I used to own a pub,” she heard herself say when two pints had been set in front of them.

Dani sipped her ale. “You sound as if you miss it. Why did you leave?”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“Ah,” she said with a nod. “I had that happen to me once. It’s not a pleasant feeling.”

Sammi turned the glass around. She liked Dani, but that didn’t mean she trusted her. Something could have been put in her drink.

“I got into a wreck in a snowstorm on a mountain,” Dani said with a chuckle. “It was New Year’s Eve and I was dressed for a party. I had to walk in the snow for hours. I was sure I was going to freeze to death.”

“What happened?”

Dani’s smile was slow and full of love. “I met my husband. He saved me from … well, he saved me. He was hiding in the mountains, and I had to talk him into bringing me. Ferness was the first village we came to. To be honest, I’d have been content to remain alone with him for months,” she said with a laugh.

“What a story.” Sammi was completely engrossed. “I gathered you stayed together after that?”

“There were a few bumps, but I knew from the first time I looked into his eyes that we were meant to be together.”

Sammi leaned back. She was a complete romantic, even if she didn’t want to get close to anyone. She still appreciated love and how it could change lives. “I’m glad for you.”

Dani drank more of her ale and glanced at Sammi’s untouched glass. “Do you have someone?”

“No. Maybe.” What the hell was she saying? Tristan wasn’t hers. He never had been. How could she say maybe? “No.”

Dani’s brows rose. “Ah. A complicated matter. Is that why you’re here?”

“Something like that.”