She shrugged absently. “They’ve no need to pay attention.”
“Ah. My thoughts exactly. Until I saw the plane. It was on a direct course with the dragon, and yet it didn’t detour. We saw the dragon because we were searching for it, but it wasn’t real.”
“I don’t understand.”
He dropped his hands to his sides. “I didn’t either. It took a bit of digging. Did you know what the Light Fae can’t stop talking about? It appears there is a half-human, half-Fae about with exceptional powers.”
“I hadn’t heard. I didn’t think that was possible. We’re not supposed to have offspring with the humans.”
“I do believe the Dragon King has some help.” Balladyn continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “My question is why was he interested in Blackwood manor? Could it, perhaps, be because of you?”
Shara feigned outrage. “Me? He hates me. Why do you think he came to my house? He’s out to kill me.”
“That is one possibility.” Balladyn pushed away from the door and walked to her. He lifted a strand of her hair in his hand and let it slide through his fingers. “However, I think it’s because he wants you.”
“Then he doesn’t know me at all.”
“You were sent to seduce him.”
Shara faced Balladyn. “I’ve already admitted to that. Perhaps I got to him, but surely a Dragon King would realize he faced Dark Fae when he came to my family’s home.”
“It won’t take long for me to mark you as mine. I mark everything as mine.”
Shara lifted her chin. “And the Dragon King? While you’re here talking to me, my family could well capture him and take your glory.”
“They wouldn’t dare.” His words were casual, but the way his red eyes narrowed a fraction said he was considering it.
“Never underestimate a Blackwood. Isn’t that what’s always said about my family?” she asked with a smirk.
“I think I have underestimated everyone. You most of all.”
Shara remained still. She wouldn’t cower, but most of all, she wouldn’t allow him to see how she trembled.
“I think the plan must have begun when you ventured into my fortress.”
She couldn’t draw air into her lungs. How did he know about her and Kiril? There was no way. No one knew, not even her family, so there was no way he should know anything.
He grunted. “Or was it after I showed interest? Is that when you and your family decided to trick me?”
A sigh of relief almost escaped her—until his words penetrated her mind. Her family. He thought she’d betrayed him with her family. She couldn’t deny it either, because she was betraying him, only with Kiril.
“You’re wrong,” she stated as firmly as she could.
“Is that right? Why then did you leave my chamber after I deposited you here?”
“I went exploring.”
His smile was tight, cold. “Where did you go, Shara?”
“I was here.”
“With every lie you tell me, I’ll give you ten lashes. And I did promise that if I had to use the whip again it wouldn’t be welts I left.”
Her bottom still ached from the lashes. “I was here.”
“You really are a stubborn one. I’m going to hate to cut open that skin of yours, but you will learn your lesson. You see, the two guards hidden outside this chamber followed you to the doorway to your home and then back here when you returned.”
There was no doubt about it now. She was royally screwed.
*
“I gather that’s where Shara is?” Phelan asked with a nod to a door.
Kiril nodded. “How long is Balladyn going to stay in there?”
“Take a look around. Count the number of guards posted. That’s his chamber.”
“I know,” Kiril said through clenched teeth.
“Are you sure she isna playing you?”
Nay. “Aye.”
“I sincerely hope you’re right, because I want to return to my wife,” Phelan said.
Kiril glanced at him and grimaced. “We should find Rhi.”
“Tell me something. How deep are your feelings for Shara?”
“Deep enough that I’m standing here trying to figure a way to get into that chamber and take her away from Balladyn.”
Phelan whistled softly. “That deep.”
“I’ll come back after we have Rhi.”
“Really? And you think I can keep your disguise up from that distance?”
Kiril scrubbed a hand down his face. Everything was falling to shit, just as he had suspected it would. His gut told him to call off everything and return to Dreagan immediately.
Then he thought of Shara.
And Rhi.
“Shara is smart. She’ll keep up pretenses until she can get herself safe,” he said and turned his head to Phelan. “Let’s get Rhi while he’s occupied.”
They retraced their steps, and found the set of stairs that would take them to the lower floors that housed the dungeon. There were only two Dark guarding the entrance to the dungeon that paid them no heed.