Her silver Fae eyes regarded him silently for a moment. “You have concerns about involving Broc?”
“I do. If Rhi wants to be found, she will. She may need some time.”
“And the fact she’s with … Ulrik … doesn’t bother you?”
“I didna say that. I’m merely pointing out that we doona know what torture Rhi withstood. The Chains of Mordare are enough to bring most Fae to their knees.”
“And Balladyn messed with her mind,” Usaeil said with a grim nod. “I just want to know she’s safe.”
Con couldn’t give her that, because he wasn’t sure himself. Not one of the cameras he had watching The Silver Dragon, Ulrik’s place of business in Perth, had shown him bringing Rhi there.
But where had he taken her?
“I’m not the patient sort,” the Queen of the Light said.
Con chuckled. “That I know.”
She straightened from the wall and dusted off her hands. “I did always find those tattoos stunning,” she said and ran her finger down his dragon tat on his back. “You flew here.”
“How else did you expect me to come?” he asked and turned to face her.
Her smile was slow and deliberate. “I certainly don’t mind seeing it in the buff.”
Con chuckled but didn’t take the silent offer.
Usaeil licked her lips and slid her gaze to the countryside again. “If Rhi joins Ulrik, we could have a problem.”
“She willna.”
“You’re so sure of her,” the queen said with a shake of her head. “I wish I had your confidence.”
Con opened his mouth to reassure her, but she disappeared before he could. He drew in a deep breath and slowly released it. Ulrik and Rhi were just one of many problems he had. The most pressing one was Rhys.
He jumped onto the side of the wall and leapt into the air, shifting into dragon form and heading back to Dreagan and the mountain of enemies that continued to grow.
Read on for an excerpt from the next book by DONNA GRANT
HOT BLOODED
Coming soon from St. Martin’s Paperbacks!
Laith set Keith’s ale in front of him and caught a glimpse of someone out of the corner of his eye. He turned with a smile, ready to pour them a drink, and then stopped cold.
Her lips, wide and tempting, were quirked in a half-smile giving her an air of mystery. Her shoulder-length wavy blond hair was wind-blown, as if she had been walking among the heather.
She was tall and slender, her white shirt just tight enough to cling to her breasts. There was a smudge of dirt on her elbow as if she had been lying upon the ground recently.
His gaze returned to her face as she claimed a stool at the bar. She tucked her hair behind an ear and glanced down at the bar before returning her coffee-colored eyes to him. Her skin held a golden glow, denoting that she was often in the sun.
Laith took a step closer to her, noting the sprinkle of freckles over her nose. “Welcome to The Fox and The Hound. What can I get you?”
“Your best ale,” she said, her lips curving into a deeper smile.
Laith was powerless not to respond. He returned her smile and turned to get her ale. Surely it was a trick of the light or something to cause him to react in such a way. Once he looked at her again, he would see she was like every other female who walked into his pub.
He finished filling the glass and hesitated for a moment. Laith twisted to the newcomer, and was hit once again by her earthy appeal. If someone had asked him, he would have called her a child of the forests.
Her smile fell a bit as he stared. Laith shook himself and set the ale in front of her. Their eyes met again, held. He felt an uncontrollable, undeniable pull to this woman. It was more than just lust. This … feeling … was on another plane all together.
“Thank you,” she said and reached for the ale.
Their fingers touched briefly, but that was all it took for a current of pure, utter desire to heat his blood. She jerked her hand away, proving she felt it as well. Her eyes darted to the left before skating back to him.
“You’re new here,” he said, even as he put together who she was in his mind. Iona Campbell.
She nodded and took a sip of the ale when he released the glass. “Yes. I’m Iona Campbell.”
“My condolences about your father. I liked John a lot.”
“It seems everyone did,” she murmured with a hint of confusion.
Laith knew he should walk away, and yet he found himself asking, “Do you intend to remain in town long?”
“Actually, no. Once everything is taken care of I’ll be back to work.”
“And where is that?” Laith couldn’t begin to understand why he kept asking questions. He told himself it was information for everyone at Dreagan, but in reality, he was more than curious about her.
She laughed softly, the sound shooting straight to his cock. He glanced around and noted that he wasn’t the only one who couldn’t take their eyes from her. The rest of the patrons were staring with interest.