“I won’t get sick again. I won’t get sick again,” she kept repeating over and over.
It was significantly colder in the mountains than it had been in Edinburgh. The hills she had walked turned into mountains that she had a hell of a time navigating. At any rate, the trail was easily seen. Without that, she’d have been lost.
She began to jog in order to reach the buildings faster, and because she needed to keep her blood moving. Thorn wouldn’t be there this time to catch her if she passed out. No one even knew she was there, so they wouldn’t be looking for her.
“Gee. This will be great,” she mumbled. “I get to go in and introduce myself to strangers. What do I say? I’m Thorn’s what? Lover?” She cringed at the word. “I’m not his girlfriend. Do the Dragon Kings even have such a thing? I mean, surely they date. Right?
“I don’t know what I am to him. Perhaps it’ll be better if I leave Thorn out of it altogether. That way it won’t be so awkward.”
Lexi blinked through the rain dripping from her eyelashes. “It’s going to be awkward no matter what. How will they even know I’m telling them the truth? I mean, I could be demented for all they know.”
She slowed when she saw the huge stone manor that Rhi had spoken of. That’s where Rhi had told her to go, but Lexi looked at the buildings of the distillery.
If she went to the manor, she would have to tell them who she was. At the distillery, they would give her a blanket and let her warm up. She might even be able to stay there until Thorn returned.
“Right,” she said as she halted. “Because Thorn is on his way now. As if that’s going to happen,” she told herself sarcastically. “There’s no way he’s leaving Edinburgh anytime soon with all the Dark there. And with it being Halloween, it could be days or weeks before I see him.”
That didn’t make Lexi feel any better. It also made her wary of going to the manor. What was she supposed to do? Stay there mooching off them until Thorn was able to return? And what would his return do for her?
Lexi never liked being a problem, and that’s exactly what she was—a problem. She hadn’t left the country as she was supposed to. Then there was the issue with her memories.
Con wouldn’t want her going anywhere knowing everything that she did. She was relatively certain they wouldn’t kill her. A missing person was too messy. But they could try and take her memories again.
Did she go to the manor and stay there, waiting on Thorn in the hopes that he felt something for her—with the possibility that they’d take her memories again?
Or did she go to the distillery?
“And do what?” she asked herself. “I have no money, no cell phone, no clothes. I have nothing.”
But she couldn’t stay out in the rain. Lexi began walking again. The path continued on, bringing her closer to both the manor and the distillery. Ahead, she could see the path split. Left would take her to the manor, and right to the distillery.
When she reached the fork, she still didn’t know what to do. She was leaning toward going to the manor when she heard a voice.
“Miss?” said an older man with a gray beard that nearly reached to his chest. “Miss, are you lost?”
He reached her then and shrugged off his jacket to drape over her shoulders. “Come with me so we can get you warmed up.”
Lexi let him guide her toward the distillery. He wasn’t asking questions or forcing her to make a decision. He was taking control, and for the moment, it was too easy for Lexi to let him do it.
“A dram will warm you up quick enough,” he said as he ushered her to the back door of one of the buildings. It was an office with a corner fire stove.
He brought her in front of it and gently pushed her down on a wooden chair. With a pat on her shoulder, he walked out of the office deeper into the building.
Lexi closed her eyes and let the heat of the fire begin to thaw her. Her eyes snapped open when the coat was taken from her shoulders and a wool blanket shoved in her hands.
“Fine Scottish wool from the sheep right here on Dreagan,” he said proudly of the tartan print. His wrinkled face scrunched up as he grinned. “You need to get out of those clothes, lass. I’m going to step out and make sure none bother ye. Wrap yourself in that blanket and stay by the fire while I get you something to drink.”
With a firm nod and a kind smile, he left again.
Lexi’s hands were shaking as she rose and began to peel the drenched clothes from her body. She left them piled in front of the fire along with her boots as she quickly wrapped herself in the blanket.
The wool scratched her skin, but it was thick and warm. She gazed into the fire thinking some of the flames dancing looked like dragons taking flight.
A Claret dragon the color of red wine rose in her mind. His wings were outstretched and his teal eyes looked at her with a question.
“What?” she whispered sleepily.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-THREE
Balladyn closed the book and sat back in his chair, a kernel of worry taking root. The library he had begun collecting after turning Dark was the most extensive one in the entire Dark realm.
It had taken him longer than expected, as well as piecing things together from different books, but he had the answer Rhi sought about the Reapers.
He scooted back the chair and got to his feet. His mind was sifting through all the information on the Reapers. Most of it had been legend. But as Rhi said, every legend starts with truth.
The truth, however, wasn’t one Balladyn wanted to know, much less share. If it were anyone but Rhi, he would lie. He had never been able to tell her no. On anything.
Balladyn walked to the tall double doors and pushed them open. He had to find her. Immediately. She had to know the truth, because if Rhi was asking about the Reapers, it was because of more than just rumors.
His strides lengthened. The love he had for Rhi burned within him. She belonged by his side. Always had. Soon, she would see he was the one for her.
Her Dragon King lover had had his shot. The bastard had blown it. It was Balladyn’s turn now. His anger had eaten at him for long centuries, and Balladyn had nearly destroyed her.
Nearly.
His Rhi was much too strong for that. She proved it by breaking the Chains of Mordare. If that didn’t demonstrate she was meant to be his queen, nothing would.
All he needed Rhi to do now was let go of her dragon. Once that happened, she would see the darkness he fanned to life during her torture gave her strength and power.
Balladyn saw the doorway that would take him to the desert. Rhi would meet him there once he summoned her. He wasn’t keen on imparting what he had learned, but he was looking forward to the kiss she owed him.
He wouldn’t collect it now. No, he had somewhere else in mind to collect his price. A place they wouldn’t be interrupted. A place that would seal his seduction.
“Balladyn.”
He halted at the sound of Taraeth’s voice. The king was becoming a nuisance. Balladyn turned and bowed his head. “Sire.”
“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Taraeth asked as he slowly closed the distance between them.
“I was coming to see you. I wanted to know the status of our attacks,” Balladyn lied easily.
Taraeth raised a black and silver brow. “Did you? I would’ve thought you’d have been by my side from the start.”
“I was doing some research.” With Taraeth—or any insane ruler—it was always better to stick as close to the truth as possible.
“What could be more important today? We struck a great blow to the Dragon Kings this day, and it isn’t nearly over yet.”
Balladyn clasped his hands behind his back. “There has been something rattling the Fae of late, sire.”
“What is that?”
Balladyn watched as Taraeth unconsciously rubbed his upper arm, all that was left after his arm had been severed by a mate of a Dragon King. “The Reapers.”
Taraeth laughed as he walked around Balladyn. “Silly nonsense. They’re not real, Balladyn.”
“I know that. I wanted to gather evidence in my library to present it to those who were using that as fear not to do their jobs.”