“Banan and Rhys.”
Jane shook her head. “I admit, Banan is far from ordinary, but he isn’t a king.”
“So. He hasn’t told you.”
The words were spoken so softly, and with a hint of amusement that sent a chill down her spine.
“After all this time, they’re still keeping their secret,” the man continued. “How…archaic. What would you say, Jane, if I told you the Dragon Kings had the ability to rule the world?”
“I don’t know.”
“What if I told you they once ruled the world? What would you say then?”
She shrugged, wishing with all her might that Banan found her. And soon. “I’d say you’re a half bubble off plumb.”
Instead of getting irritated, the man laughed a full-bodied laugh. “Oh, dear Jane. You have so much to learn. I wonder if you’d be so willing to take Banan to your bed once you know his deep, dark secret.”
“What has Banan done to make you hate him so? That’s what this is all about, isn’t it? You want to hurt him?”
The man pulled off her hood, and she blinked at the bright light coming through the rows of windows before her. She was momentarily blinded, but quickly forgot about it as her hair was grabbed from behind and her head yanked backwards.
“Banan is one of many,” the man growled angrily. “My plan was flawless, but the idiot Sloan had to bring a friend. They both should’ve died in that mountain. Instead, the other bitch is protected by Guy. But no’ for long.”
Jane winced as he tightened his hold on her hair. But with his anger, she heard the Scottish brogue come out even more. Now she knew he was masking his accent for some reason. But why?
“Then you had to overhear Richard’s conversation with me,” the man continued.
“I didn’t hear anything.”
Strong fingers locked on to her jaw and squeezed. She bit back a cry of pain as tears stung her eyes.
“I know you heard. He knew better than to take my call with someone else around. But doona worry, sweet Jane. Richard will pay for his mistake.”
The way the man’s voice had grown soft and cold sent Jane’s blood pounding in her ears. Whatever awaited her wasn’t going to be good.
And Banan had no idea where she was. She was as good as dead.
Chapter 12
Banan stared out the window in Jane’s flat, watching the water run down the glass as the rain continued to pour. He hadn’t known where else to go. He had seen her packed bags waiting on her bed, and a sharp, unrelenting pain went through his chest.
He rubbed the spot on his left side. The ache hadn’t abated. If anything, it had gotten worse.
“Henri still has nothing,” Rhys said as he ended the call and put his phone on the table. “I’m sorry, Banan.”
In all the centuries Banan had lived, he had seen it all. He’d watched wars, famine, and drought. He had been content, if not happy.
Many times he’d held in his anger at not being able to take to the skies as he had as a Dragon King. He had even experienced loss with the death of dragons and Dragon Kings.
Of all the feelings he had dealt with, not once had he felt helpless. Until now.
He was a Dragon King. Immortal and powerful. Yet he could do nothing to save one human female who had touched his heart and soul as no other.
The door to Jane’s flat flew open, and Guy and Elena rushed in. For just a heartbeat, Banan had thought it might be Jane. The disappointment was like a knife to his gut.
He solemnly turned to stare out the window. Everywhere he looked in the flat, he felt Jane, smelled her clean scent.
“Anything?” Guy asked.
Banan didn’t bother to reply. He wasn’t angry at Guy for doing what was necessary to ensure Elena’s safety. Banan himself would have done the same for his woman.
He squeezed his eyes closed. His woman. Never had he thought even to think those words, but after last night, that’s exactly what Jane was.
His.
“No,” Rhys answered. “Henri couldna help us.”
“There is one who can.”
Banan turned at Guy’s words, a thread of hope breaking through. “Who?”
“The Warriors. Broc MacLaughlin has the ability to find anyone, anywhere.”
Elena looked from Guy to Banan. “What are you waiting for? Call this Broc. We must find Jane.”
“It’s been hours since they took her. Besides, Con would never allow us to approach the Warriors of MacLeod Castle,” Rhys said.
Nevertheless, the idea appealed to Banan. If he went alone, maybe he could convince the Warriors to help him without ever disclosing what he was.
When Con found out—and he would find out—there would be hell to pay.
Banan would take whatever came his way as long as Jane was free. The only way he could contact Broc, however, was to go alone. Something Rhys and Guy wouldn’t allow if they knew his plans.
He didn’t have time to go all the way to MacLeod Castle, but then again, he didn’t have to. He had Henri North as a friend.
“I’m going to go to the warehouse district. Maybe I’ll get lucky and find her,” Banan said as he headed to the door.
He glanced at his watch to see it was after six in the evening. The rainstorm had turned the sky a nasty shade of gray, and the rumbling thunder announced that the storm was only going to get worse.
“Banan, wait,” Guy said.
But he was past waiting. He’d been waiting for hours, hoping whoever had Jane would call, since all his other leads at finding her were gone.
“Dammit, wait!” Guy yelled.
Banan took his hand off the doorknob and turned to his friend. “What? I can no’ stay here another minute. Jane could already be dead. And I’ve done nothing.”
“Not nothing,” Elena said. “Guy is trying to tell you what I told him. He wants to explain why he didn’t follow Jane.”
“I know why,” Banan said before Elena could say more. “And I understand. I doona blame Guy.”
Elena set down her purse and threaded her fingers with Guy’s. “Richard ordered me to lunch, Banan. Actually ordered me. He’s never spoken to me that way before. He was…scared. That’s the only way I can explain it.”