“I want you by my side while I’m in Cork.”
Damn. How would she explain to Kiril? Would she even get a chance to? “Of course,” she said when she saw his expectant look.
“My main reason for going is because of the Dragon King who has dared to come to our land.”
Shara grabbed ahold of one of the posts of the bed to keep herself standing. She didn’t want Kiril caught any more than she wanted to be locked away again.
Balladyn took a step toward her, but stopped when a knock sounded on the door. He threw it open angrily. “It’ll have to wait.”
“Forgive me,” one of his men said as he glanced past Balladyn to her. “You said to remind you of the time no matter what you were doing. It’s time for another interaction with your prisoner.”
Balladyn sighed and looked over his shoulder at her. “I won’t be gone long. There’s an old … friend … I must have another chat with.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Perth, Scotland
The Silver Dragon
Rhys glanced at the sign above the store with an exact drawing of the Silvers kept at Dreagan.
“Even in exile he flaunts who he is,” Hal said with a wry twist of his lips.
Ryder shrugged. “I’d do the same.”
“We all would,” Rhys said as he crossed the street and walked to the door. He opened it and stepped inside the store, his gaze scanning the room until he spotted Ulrik behind the counter toward the back of the store. Behind Rhys, Hal and Ryder entered and moved to either side of him. Ulrik lifted a brow and set down some papers he had been reading.
“I told Banan that none of you were welcome here,” he stated and riffled through more papers.
His dismissive attitude didn’t surprise Rhys. “I wouldna want to see us either. We’ve no’ visited.”
“I’ve no’ thought much about it.”
“Liar,” Ryder said.
Ulrik’s head slowly lifted to pin Ryder with a withering look. “What is it you three want?”
Hal stepped forward and inspected a painting that sat on an easel near the door. “I wanted to see you.”
“Forgive me if I doona believe you,” Ulrik stated sarcastically.
“It’s true.” Hal turned to face him. “Whether you believe it or no’, I’ve stayed away for you.”
Rhys watched the way Ulrik’s face lost all emotion, as if he had just erected some wall around him.
“I didna want to rub it in your face of what you had lost,” Hal continued. “I know now it was wrong. I’m sorry.”
“You’ve had your say. Now get out.” Ulrik once more went back to his papers.
Rhys drew in a deep breath and released it. “Are you conspiring with the Dark Fae against us?”
“Ah,” Ulrik said with a chuckle. “So the real reason comes out.”
Ryder walked to the counter and slammed his hand on the papers Ulrik was looking over. “Look at us!”
That got Ulrik’s attention. His golden gaze fastened on Ryder. “Or what? You’ll kill me? Is that no’ what you’ve come to do?”
Ryder reared back, affronted. “Nay.”
“Con can be such the coward. He should be here himself.”
Rhys remained by the door. Ulrik might no longer have his magic, but he wasn’t going to underestimate him. Whether he was the mastermind of the plot to bring them down or not, Ulrik was never one to be misjudged. “If Con wants you dead, he’ll have to do it himself. I’m no’ here for that. None of us are.”
Ulrik looked at each one of them. “What do you want?”
“If it is you conspiring with the Dark, MI5, the Mob, or whoever, we’re asking you to stop,” Ryder said.
Hal moved to the next painting and glanced at Ulrik. “We’re no’ saying it’s you, but we’re asking that if it is, you give it up. Nothing good can come of what is happening.”
“We know you want your revenge,” Rhys said. “You’ve a right to it after what we did.”
Ulrik’s smile was cold. “Is that right?”
“We’re your brethren,” Ryder said.
“Brethren,” Ulrik repeated. “Where were you when I needed you? Where were you when Con deceived me and killed my woman, which was my right after what she’d done? Where were you when the humans were killing our dragons, and I was the only one who retaliated?”
“You were no’ the only one,” Ryder said softly.
Rhys and Hal exchanged a look as Ulrik chuckled.
“One battle, Ryder. That’s all you lasted before Con convinced you to turn against me.”
“It wasna against you. We vowed to protect the humans,” Ryder argued.
Ulrik’s brows rose. “Protect the very beings who were killing us, slaughtering us? All of you are all right with that? Is that why so many Kings still sleep in the mountains?”
“Enough,” Rhys said. “You’ve made your point, Ulrik. We’ve all made mistakes. Hold on to your hate, let it eat away at you. You want your revenge on us, then come at us.”
“Oh, I want my revenge, and I will have it,” Ulrik stated calmly. “Con might want me dead, but I want to see the breath leave his body as well.”