Darkest Flame

“What about Rhys?”

 

 

Kellan looked out over the mountains surrounding Dreagan. “Sixty thousand acres sounds like a lot of area to get lost in, but when you’re a Dragon King and you can only be yourself on this land, it can feel as small as the tiniest island. Sometimes we need to be alone, surrounded by just the land and the air.”

 

Tristan rubbed his jaw, the scrape of days’ old whiskers drowned out by the whistle of the wind and the call of a golden eagle. “What do we do now? I doona like waiting for the Dark to make the next move.”

 

“All the Kings know war is at our doorstep. We’ve been down this road so many times we all know our places.”

 

“No’ all,” Tristan said softly.

 

Kellan clapped the King on the back and smiled. “Doona worry about your place. You’ve cemented your right to be here. Even had you no’, the fact you have the tat on you, the sword, and can shift into dragon would be enough. You may no’ know all of our history, but that doesna matter when defending our home.”

 

“And what about my … life before?”

 

“You mean the fact you were a Warrior?”

 

Tristan gave a barely discernible nod.

 

“It just proves you know what loyalty and family are,” Kellan said. “It also means you know battle.”

 

“Ian, my supposed twin, is going to want to talk to me.”

 

“Aye. It might be good for you to sit down with him.”

 

“And tell him what?” Tristan said angrily. “That I recall nothing of him or my past? That I didna even know he existed until Phelan told me?”

 

“Maybe. Whatever you decide to tell him will be your decision. Ian lost a brother. Even if you doona remember your previous life, you could still find him to be a good friend. Twins have a bond only other twins truly understand. Was that bond broken when you became a King? I can no’ answer that. Only meeting and talking with Ian will give you that answer.”

 

Tristan’s brows were furrowed as he looked down into a valley filled with sheep. “I’ll think on it.”

 

“Good. Let’s return to the manor. I want to check on Denae. I’ve been gone awhile.”

 

They started back down the mountain together. “What’s going to happen to her?” Tristan asked.

 

“If she wants to live, she’ll need to stay at Dreagan.”

 

“Con doesna want that, does he?”

 

Kellan glanced at him and grunted. “For someone new to the Kings, you pick up things easily.”

 

“I study people. It isna difficult to know their true feelings just by watching them. Take you holding Denae on the way back from Ireland. There were plenty of places you could’ve put her down, but you didna want to let go of her. You care for her, more than you even comprehend yet.”

 

Kellan wasn’t keen on how easily Tristan read him, but it might come in handy. “And Denae? What did you see about her?”

 

“She cares a great deal for you, but she doesna feel as if she belongs here. To her, you are a myth come to life. She fights her feelings for you, as if…”

 

When Tristan didn’t keep talking, Kellan stopped and faced him. Unease rippled down his spine. “Finish.”

 

Tristan looked away, and when his gaze returned to Kellan, he didn’t hide his sorrow. “It’s as if she’s been silently saying good-bye.”

 

Kellan stood there for a moment, Tristan’s words like warning bells in his head. He turned on his heel and ran the rest of the way back to the manor. Even when he busted through the kitchen door, surprising Jane so she dropped her teacup, the relentless need to hold Denae in his arms didn’t lessen.

 

He bounded up the stairs and ran down the hallway to his room. Kellan threw open the door, fully expecting to find Denae sitting there waiting for him.

 

But the room was empty.

 

Kellan didn’t need to search the house or the grounds. He knew in his gut she was gone. How stupid of him to think she would wait around for him. That wasn’t Denae.

 

She was used to being her own woman, making her own decisions. She was deadly in hand-to-hand combat, intelligent, and intuitive.

 

Even as something broke apart in his chest, fury raged. He knew who was responsible for Denae leaving. He’d warned Con. Now it was time to carry through with the threat.

 

Kellan turned and shoved past Tristan who had finally caught up. There was no time for talking. It was time for action. Kellan didn’t slow until he stood in his cave once more.

 

His gaze went to where he first saw Denae. It seemed like a lifetime ago. She fit him as no one else had ever done. She understood him.

 

And he recognized her for what she was—his mate.

 

He might not have wanted to admit it, but he’d known. From the first, he’d known.

 

Like a fool he had fought it and tried to keep her at arm’s length. When that hadn’t worked, he still pretended as if it was just a dalliance, when it was so much more than that.

 

“Denae,” he whispered, his chest aching where his heart was.