And wished like hell that he could trust her.
He pulled into the Jameson distillery and parked. The sheer size of the distillery was impressive. The tour didn’t take as long as he’d hoped, and the fact that he couldn’t focus on what was being said didn’t help. Even when it came to tasting the whisky, he couldn’t remember it since his mind was so ensconced with Shara.
After three more distillery tours, Kiril gave up and just drove. Hours passed as he meandered around Ireland, never venturing too far from Cork—and Shara.
Kiril eventually pulled over and chuckled as he found himself at a tourist spot. He shook his head as he took in the view of the beautiful cliffs. They weren’t of Scotland, but they were majestic just the same. Across the wide expanse of dark blue waters of the Celtic Sea was Wales. It wasn’t near enough to being Scotland to calm his restless heart however.
“It’s pretty enough, I suppose, but it isna Scotland.”
Kiril briefly closed his eyes as the voice registered as belonging to Phelan. Kiril turned his head to look at the Warrior. “What are you doing here?”
“No hello or anything?” Phelan asked with feigned hurt. “I should’ve expected that from a Dragon King.”
“Phelan,” Kiril said in a low voice, his anger rising by the second.
Phelan signed dramatically. “Tristan called, but never said why. A day later so did Con, giving me the same response. It was Rhys arriving at my home that got me worried.”
“What did Rhys tell you?” He prayed it was nothing about Shara, though if anyone could understand it was Phelan. He had taken a drough, or evil Druid, as his mate.
Aisley had saved her own soul from Satan and reverted back to being a mie, a pure Druid, but before that happened Phelan caught all kinds of hell from his fellow Warriors and their Druid wives.
Phelan crossed his arms over his chest and faced him. “It wasna so much what Rhys said as what he didna.”
“So you came because you think I’m in trouble? Please remember that I’ve been alive since the beginning of time.”
“You think way too highly of yourself, Dragon,” Phelan said with a flat stare. It vanished a moment later. “The truth is, all three are worried, but when they wouldna tell me why, I knew then it had to be bad.”
“I can no’ find out anything on Rhi.”
“I might care for Rhi as if she were my sister, but that’s no’ the entire reason I came.”
Kiril watched the continual roll of the sea hoping it would help calm him. It didn’t. It was Rhi who had found Phelan and told him he was part Fae. They had developed a strong, unbreakable bond, a bond Kiril understood fully.
“The Dark are onto you,” Phelan stated. “Everyone is worried.”
“I’ve been handling things.”
“No doubt. It’s just … things can get out of control quickly.”
Kiril narrowed his eyes as he swung his gaze to Phelan. His words held a deeper meaning. “Rhys told you about her.”
“Only after I pestered him. He’s concerned. The Dark managed to get their hands on two Dragon Kings recently. It was by pure luck and strategy that both Kellan and Tristan were able to get away. And here you are smack in the middle of the Dark Fae nest, almost daring them to try something.”
Kiril shrugged. “Dreagan must be protected, as all the Dragon Kings should. Our enemies are growing, and I can no longer sit idle and hope that the few allies we have discover something for us.”
“Your fellow Kings want to be here with you, but it isna safe. No’ the same for a Warrior. I’m no’ saying what you’re doing is wrong. I’d be doing the same.” One side of Phelan’s lips quirked in a smile. “Besides, I loved to irk Charon as often as I could.”
Kiril laughed. He couldn’t help it. Phelan had spent most of his immortal life away from MacLeod Castle where the Warriors resided. He had a different take on life than they did, but he also understood what it meant to be a part of a family.
They sat in silence listening to the wind swoosh around them and inhaling the sea air. Kiril closed his eyes and relaxed for the first time in days. He didn’t know if it was because Phelan had arrived, or if it had something to do with Shara. Either way, it allowed him to push past the blinding need and clear his mind.
“Who is she?” Phelan asked. “More importantly, how significant is she?”
“Her name is Shara, and she’s a Dark Fae.” Kiril met his gaze to see a frown form on Phelan’s brow. “She tried to use glamour to hide that fact, but I saw through it.”
“So you knew she was Dark?”
“Aye.”
“Did you walk away?”
“Nay. I took her to dinner.”
Phelan nodded absently as he dropped his hands to his sides. “I imagine because you wanted to see what she was after.”
“That’s how it began.”
“You’ve seen her since?”