Darkest Flame (35 page)

“Phelan,” Charon said in a low, dangerous voice.

He lifted his gaze to his closest friend to find the smile completely gone. Phelan swallowed, his throat tight. “There’s a reason none of you have seen Tristan before. Aisley and I saw him this last time at Dreagan, but it was by accident.”

“Why do you say accident?” Laura asked.

Aisley reached for Phelan’s hand and said, “Because if you had, after one look you’d know who he is—or was.”

“And that would be…?” Charon urged.

Phelan let the silence stretch for several seconds before he said, “Duncan.”

His revelation shocked the room into a silence that was deafening. Phelan suspected his face had been as incredulous as Charon’s was now.

“Are you sure?” Laura asked.

Phelan lifted Aisley’s hand to his lips, kissing the back of her hand. “Aye. I might never have met Duncan, but there’s no denying he’s Ian’s identical twin.”

“I don’t understand,” Laura said. “How is it that Duncan was a Warrior and killed, and then became a Dragon King?”

Phelan shrugged. “No’ even the Kings can explain it. Apparently, there have been no new Kings for ages.”

“And Duncan, I mean Tristan?” Laura asked. “Does he know he’s Ian’s brother?”

Phelan had known this question was coming, but even that didn’t make forming the answer any easier. “Nay. Tristan claims he has no memories of a time before he woke at Dreagan after falling from the sky.”

It didn’t go unnoticed by Phelan that Charon had yet to utter a single sound. His friend was sitting still as stone, his face pale from shock.

Laura glanced at Charon and cleared her throat before she looked at Phelan. “I gather Con wasn’t happy you saw Tristan.”

“That’s putting it mildly. But the Kings asked for my help with the Fae. It wasna until I arrived that we learned Kellan and Denae had been taken by the Dark. Then Rhi arrived so weak from being veiled for an extended time that she could barely sit up straight. That’s when Tristan came in.”

“Is Rhi all right now?” Aisley asked worriedly.

A special bond had formed between Aisley and Rhi, one Phelan encouraged. Rhi had not only helped him accept his Fae half, but she was also teaching Aisley about the Fae.

“She was the last time I saw her.”

Charon suddenly stood. “I need to go for a walk.”

Phelan and Aisley watched him stalk from the house, Laura quickly following.

“I knew he wouldna take the news well,” Phelan said.

Aisley shifted until she was sitting on the edge of the sofa, her body facing him. “Now that we’re alone you can tell me what it is about Rhi you’re trying to keep from me.”

“Beauty—” he began, but she quickly cut him off with a palm in the air.

“Don’t even try it. Rhi is like a sister to me as well. Tell me what you know.”

Phelan pulled Aisley into his arms until her back was resting against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and set his chin atop her head. “Nothing more than we’ve already learned about her having an affair with a Dragon King. Things didna go … well for Rhi and the King.”

“Anything more you’ve learned that makes you think the affair was with Con?”

“Nay. Kellan knows something, but he willna say. I doubt it’s Con, beauty. They hate each other.”

“There’s a thin line between love and hate.”

Phelan decided then and there that he would broach the subject with Rhi the next time he saw her. Hopefully, she’d be more willing to share information than any of the Dragon Kings had been.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Kellan stalked into Con’s office, surprised to find it was just the two of them.

“I’ve shocked you. No’ something that happens often,” Con said as he screwed the cap onto his pen and set it aside before leaning back in his chair.

Kellan wasn’t fooled by Con’s laid-back attitude. “What was so important that it couldna wait until morning?”

“Denae.”

Kellan’s hackles instantly rose. It was Con’s tone, the one he used when he thought he could order the rest of the Kings around. It hadn’t worked in the past, and it sure as hell wasn’t going to work now.

“She’s no’ your concern.”

“I disagree. She’s in my home.”

Kellan held his breath for two heartbeats, the time it took him to rein in his fury. He didn’t quite manage it, but it was enough that he was able to talk instead of wanting to beat Con’s face in.

“Your home?” Kellan asked faintly. “I seem to recall putting as much blood and sweat into designing and building this place as any of the other Kings. This isna
your
home, Con. It’s ours.”

“I’m leader here—”

“That can change quick enough,” Kellan said over him.

In all the years he had been King of the Bronzes, Kellan had been content to rule his dragons. But he knew that he—and any of the other Kings—had the right to challenge Con and rule.

At any time.

Con’s black eyes hardened as he lifted his chin. “Is that a challenge?”

“That depends on your next words. I’ve stood behind you even when I didna agree with you. You’re treading a fine line.”

“I’m doing what I think is best.”

“For you?” Kellan snorted. “You’ve always done what was best for you. When have you thought about any of us?”

“Every damn day!” Con bellowed as he came out of his chair to lean on his desk.

Kellan bit back a smile. It wasn’t every day that someone managed to rile Con. Matter of fact, the King of Kings was known for his control. “Did I hit a nerve?”

A muscle ticked in Con’s jaw as he straightened and ran a hand over his hair to make sure no strand was out of place. When he spoke again, he was once more calm and collected. “If Denae remains, MI5 will continue to come after us.”

“They doona have to know she’s here.” Kellan had already thought about every argument Con could up with, and he had an answer for each of them as well.

“They’ll know.” Con resumed his seat and put his elbows on the arms of his leather chair before steepling his fingers. “MI5 is a thorn in our sides. As much as they can disrupt our lives, it’s the Dark I’m more concerned with. She cut off Taraeth’s arm.”

Kellan leaned back against the door and folded his arms over his chest. “If any of us had done that, you would be patting us on the back. A mortal, one who had been touched and tortured by the Dark, does it and she’s a liability. Odd that your mantra of ‘protect the humans at all costs’ doesna come into play now.”

When Con merely glared at him, Kellan continued. “You convinced us to send our dragons to another realm so the humans could live. You stripped your best friend and rival of his powers to save the humans. When it comes to you, Con, you’ll do whatever it takes to secure what you want.”

“Are you saying I’m happy I had to do that to Ulrik?” Con asked with a heavy chill to his words.

“I’m saying you didna mind it. I’m saying you didna hesitate. I’m saying you saw an opportunity and took it.”

“You know nothing,” Con said between clenched teeth.

Kellan smirked as he dropped his hands and pushed away from the door. “I record the history of the Kings, remember? I know it all.”

The conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door and Kellan’s name said through the wood.

“This is over. Denae will stay as long as she wants. And if you force her away, I’ll go with her.”

“You can no’,” Con said, a hint of surprise on his face.

Kellan put every ounce of anger into his words as he said, “Watch me.”

He turned and yanked open the door to find Tristan. Kellan walked out of the office, not bothering to close the door behind him as he and Tristan walked away.

“What is it?” he asked the new King after they were some distance from Con’s office.

“Rhys and Kiril have no’ returned.”

Kellan stopped and glanced down the hallway to Con’s office. “Why no’ tell Con?”

“Because Con didna want them to go to begin with. Banan is on his way back after dropping off Henry, and Guy is just staring at the Silvers.”

The Silvers. Kellan hadn’t gone to see the dragons since he’d awoken. It was too hard to look at the magnificent creatures and not long to free them, to see them take to the skies with their roars—regardless that it would mean the end of the humans.

They were dragons, the essence of who the Kings were. The Silvers were the last link to the dragons the Kings had sent away so long ago.

“Leave Guy for now. He needs to be alone,” Kellan said. “Where is Hal?”

“With Cassie dealing with some distributor issue in the Dreagan offices. I didna bother him. Laith, Ryder, and the others are busy as well.” Tristan’s dark eyes were ever watchful, catching every look, every gesture a person made.

Kellan motioned to Tristan and they began walking again. “Rhys and Kiril should’ve returned by now. Have you tried to call to them using your Dragon Voice?”

“Aye.”

“Let’s give it another try before we go looking for them.” It was Kellan’s worry about his friends that kept him from returning to Denae, but when he did get back to his room, he and Denae were going to have a long talk about the future.

What he was going to say he hadn’t yet figured out. All he knew was that he wanted her with him.

*   *   *

Denae turned off the blow dryer to the sound of the bedroom door opening. “Con,” she said when she looked out of the bathroom.

“I was wondering if we could talk.”

She was immediately put on the defensive. Had Kellan sent Con? No. That wasn’t like Kellan at all. He would take care of his own business, no matter how nasty it might turn out.

“About what?” she asked as she tucked her still-damp hair behind her ears.

“The girls found you clothes, I see.”

She glanced down at the jeans and vintage Dr Pepper tee. “Yep. What do you want to talk about?”

“What are your plans?”

It wasn’t like she could tell Con she’d been hoping she and Kellan would have this conversation first, or that she desperately wanted to stay with Kellan.

Instead, she told him what she’d already decided on. “I’m going to contact Henry and see about sneaking into MI5 so I can determine who made the union with the Dark Fae. Then, I’m going to erase myself from their database.”

“Really?” Con asked with a raised blond brow.

“Really.” The part about her finding out who was after the Dragon Kings was none of his business. She wasn’t doing that for him. She was doing it for Kellan and their time together.

“I may have misjudged you, Denae.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m sure you have. Now, ask me what you really want to know.”

“And what would that be?”

“When am I leaving?”

He stared at her quietly for several seconds before his wide lips softened into some semblance of a grin. “Is there somewhere I can drive you?”

Denae was glad he couldn’t hear the frantic, anxiety-filled beat of her heart. It was costing her everything to leave. But there was work to be done, work only she could do.

For the Dragon Kings.

For the world as she knew it.

For … Kellan.

“I’m better on my own,” she said. “Don’t worry. I’ll be outta here shortly. Oh, and one more thing. Are you going to wipe my mind like you first planned?”

Con took a deep breath and slowly released it. “If we did, the Dark would find you, and you would have no way of defending yourself.”

“So, you’re going to take the chance that I don’t tell the world that you are Dragon Kings?” She knew she was pushing it, but she had to be sure.

“I am. I know you care for Kellan. If you let our secret out, you put him in danger.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and studied Con. “That, I would never do. Now that you know, I won’t have to tell you.”

“Good luck to you, then.” With a nod, he left with the door shutting softly behind him.

“Wow,” she mumbled to herself as she dropped her arms. “Not even an offer to call if I need anything. You can be such as asshat, Con.”

It was easy for Denae to focus her anger on Con. It was better than wallowing in self-pity because she was leaving Kellan. It wasn’t as if he had asked her to stay, and that was only part of the reason she was barely holding onto her emotions.

She probably should’ve enlisted Con’s help in getting out of the manor without running into Kellan. Or maybe that’s exactly why Kellan had left her alone, to give her time to leave so he wouldn’t have to run into her.

Denae sat on the edge of the chair and put on her hiking boots. MI5 had trained her well. She was resourceful and well equipped to get across the world with just the clothes on her back if she had to. Getting to London and MI5 headquarters would be a cinch.

She stood and gave the room one more once-over. When she turned to the door, she spotted Rhi leaning against it staring at her nails that were polished a deep purple with lavender accents.

“Going somewhere?” Rhi asked and flicked her head so that her long hair slid from her shoulder onto her back.

Denae shrugged. “You look better.”

“I just needed some downtime after using so much of my magic.”

Denae knew enough about Rhi now to know the Light Fae hadn’t just shown up. “How much did you hear of my conversation with Con?”

Rhi sighed dramatically and lowered her arm as she faced Denae. “I arrived while you were drying your hair. You didn’t see me, and when Con showed up I didn’t see a reason to alert him that I was around.”

“Why did you come?”

A pang of sadness entered her silver eyes. “I wanted to see how you were. It was an incredibly brave and stupid thing you did going after Taraeth.”

“He wanted to kidnap me,” Denae said and shrugged. “He didn’t give me any options.”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong,” Rhi said with wide eyes. “I’m not at all upset the bastard is now missing an arm. He deserves that and so much more. It was stupid, Denae, because he’ll hunt you through eternity now.”

Denae sank into the chair and dropped her head into her hands. “Great. MI5 and Dark Fae. Anyone else want to hunt me?”

“If you leave without talking to Kellan, you can add him to the list.”

Denae lifted her head and peered at Rhi. “How well do you know Kellan?”