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“Who is it?” the shadow asked.

Lexi lifted her chin, refusing to speak.

“There are only a few dragons shown. One I know is already mated. It’s easy to narrow it down. If I send word to the others that we have you, which one will come? Because he will. Nothing will be able to stop him.”

Lexi closed her eyes. She wanted to stop his words, to block them out. Yet they had already been heard and lodged in her brain.

“Do you really want to know what we’ll do with him?” the shadow asked. “It willna be pretty. You know he can no’ be killed except by another Dragon King. But you already knew that, did you no’?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

The words were there, but they didn’t carry the conviction she’d hoped to convey. She had no control over her fear for herself and Thorn.

“You do,” the shadow said. “We’re no’ the only ones who would be delighted to have a Dragon King. The Dark want another. They have a way of torturing the Kings until they lose their minds. The Kings go utterly mad. That’s when the Dark release them and these demented Kings begin killing other Kings.”

“Why are you doing this?” she demanded as she opened her eyes, turning her head to try and see him. All she saw was long black hair.

He leaned his mouth next to her ear. “Revenge.”

“Please release me. I just want to go home.”

“You should’ve run faster, Lexi. You should’ve stayed far away from the Dark. But most of all, you should never have fallen for your Dragon King. It’ll only bring you misery and death. Humans and Kings were never meant to mix.”

CHAPTER

FORTY

“Rhi!” Thorn shouted as he stood outside of the manor.

She was his only chance for getting to Taraeth’s palace. Since only the Fae could see the doorways, he had to have her.

“You’ve been calling to her for half an hour,” Kellan said as he walked up to stand against the fence. “She’s no’ coming.”

“She has to.” Thorn gripped the fence tightly.

They stood shoulder to shoulder in the night. “Perhaps you might want to think about what Shara said.”

“Would you give up on Denae?” Thorn demanded as he jerked his head to Kellan.

Kellan looked down at the ground for a moment. “You know I wouldna. Thorn, are you sure she’s your mate?”

“Aye, though I doona know if she’ll have me. That matters no’. I gave her my protection. I promised her that she would be safe with me.”

Kellan nodded slowly. “She was smart to try and make them believe it was by coincidence that she was here. It might work. If they doona think she’s a mate, then there’s a chance they willna take her quickly.”

The thick board snapped in Thorn’s hold as he imagined Taraeth—or any Dark—touching Lexi.

“If Rhi willna come, there’s another way,” Kellan said. He looked over his shoulder to where Fallon stood leaning against the side of the manor.

The tightening around Thorn’s chest eased a fraction. “Of course. Phelan.”

They were walking to Fallon when Rhi appeared in front of them. She put her hand on Thorn’s chest to halt him, her silver eyes flashing dangerously.

“You’ll leave Phelan out of this. The Dark don’t know he’s half-Fae, and it’s going to remain that way,” she said in a voice thick with anger.

Thorn gently took her hand and removed it from his chest. “I must find Lexi.”

The Light Fae swallowed, a frown marking her brow. “I can find out where she’s being held.”

Thorn wasn’t a fool. There was some kind of price involved. “How much is this going to cost you?”

“I can handle it.”

Thorn grabbed her arm and looked into her eyes. “Nay. Just lead me to the doorway. I’ll find Lexi.”

Rhi smiled sadly. “You could be searching Taraeth’s palace for weeks and never find her. Not to mention the Dark guarding the doorways. You would do Lexi no good if they capture you.”

“Rhi, you doona understand. I—”

“I do,” she interrupted him. “I understand perfectly. They took Lexi on the off chance she was a mate. They’re planning on you coming for her.”

“It’s a trap,” Kellan said.

Rhi glanced at him and nodded. “We’ve been lucky in getting Kellan, Tristan, and Kiril out of the Darks’ grasp. Do you really want to attempt a fourth try?”

“I doona know what to do. I just need her back.” Thorn released Rhi and turned away. He stared up at the sky.

Things used to be simple. All he’d cared about was keeping his Clarets in line and spending as much time as he could in the sky. There was nothing as wonderful as feeling the sun on his scales as he soared.

“I’ll find where she’s being kept,” Rhi promised.

He didn’t need to look behind him to know she was gone. Thorn didn’t like putting Rhi in that position, but he had to get to Lexi.

Once Lexi was back in his arms Thorn would help Rhi with whatever she needed.

*   *   *

Rhi returned to the desert and whispered Balladyn’s name. She stood with her back to the Fae doorway, unsure how she felt about talking to Balladyn again so soon after their last encounter.

“Rhi.”

Her name was a caress falling from his lips. She closed her eyes, a mixture of feelings she was unsure of swirling through her as rapidly as a tornado.

It had been so long since anyone looked at her like Balladyn did. He didn’t try to hide his craving. It was the love she still held for her King that kept her from him.

But Balladyn was whittling away at the wall around her heart.

He came up behind her and moved her hair over one shoulder. Her flesh tingled at his soft touch. Then his breath brushed against her bare neck.

How wonderful it would be to lean back against him, to lay her head upon his shoulder and feel his arms around her. She was a Fae who longed to be loved and held.

A woman who hungered to be needed.

To be desired.

His hands came to rest on her arms, caressing down to her hands. Her senses were in a riot as he leaned his head against hers.

She shivered when his lips brushed against her ear. A rush of breath fell from her mouth. No one had touched her as tenderly since … since her King.

It had been eons of time. She needed to be touched, to be reminded that she was a woman. The temptation to give herself to Balladyn was so strong. To have someone caress her body and bring her release was as enticing as Balladyn’s seduction.

He placed a kiss against the side of her neck just beneath and behind her ear. “I dream of you,” he whispered. “Every night I dream of us together.”

This had to stop. She couldn’t let him go on. Because if she did … she would give in.

If she let him take her, Balladyn would never be satisfied with just one night. He wanted it all.

She wanted … Rhi didn’t know what she wanted anymore. The longer Balladyn touched her, the more clouded her thoughts became.

Rhi stepped away and turned to look at him. His red eyes blazed with desire, a need so deep and palpable that it made it difficult for her to breathe.

One side of his mouth lifted in a satisfied smile. “You’re not immune to me then. Why fight this? You know we would be amazing together.”

“Stop,” she said and closed her eyes as she turned her head away.

“You called me, pet. You let me touch you. I can sense the need within you. Let me ease your body.”

She shook her head. “Balladyn. Please.”

If he pushed, she would give in. She was that close to the edge. Her loneliness and solitude had gone on too long. All these centuries she shunned everyone as she waited for her King.

And what had it gotten her?

Heartache. Despair.

Hopelessness.

“What is it, Rhi?” Balladyn pressed in a voice filled with tenderness and tinged with worry.

She nearly broke down in tears when his seductive voice was gone. The kindness she heard meant that he saw how she teetered, but he didn’t take advantage. It was the perfect opportunity for him. Why didn’t he swoop in for the kill?