Darkest Flame

She hesitated for a moment as to whether to return to her cottage and forget about alerting the Kings, or letting them know what she felt. It wouldn’t be just the Kings affected, but the entire realm.

 

Rhi was veiled when she popped into Con’s office and saw a group of Kings, including Con, talking. She remained veiled because they also had a human with them. It went against the “rules” set up between the Kings and Fae for her to be veiled and listen to their conversations. But she didn’t much care.

 

For several minutes she eavesdropped as the human spoke about MI5 and how they would arrive at Dreagan. Rhi found the information particularly interesting, mostly because she noticed how upset Con was by how still he sat.

 

She found an empty chair and arranged herself so that her legs were dangling over the arms of the chair. Once she was comfortable, she dropped the veil.

 

“We need to get Denae out now,” Kellan said.

 

Rhi’s brows rose when she spotted Kellan. It had been ages upon ages since he had last woken. And then to hear him talking about a female? Things had certainly gone pear-shaped at Dreagan.

 

Suddenly Con’s black eyes shifted to her. For several seconds they stared wordlessly at each other. No one else in the room knew she was there. Rhi waved her fingers mockingly at Con and swung her feet, which were sporting the newest Ralph Lauren boots in saddle-brown leather.

 

“We’ve a visitor, gentlemen,” Con said with an exaggerated sigh, anger dripping from his voice.

 

Kellan’s head jerked around to her, and to Rhi’s surprise, one side of his mouth lifted in a grin. “Cheeky, Rhi. Even for you.”

 

“It’s been awhile, Kell. Nice to see you up and about,” she said with a wink.

 

Banan merely shook his head while the mortal’s mouth hung open. Banan had to reach over and physically close it. Rhi gave the human a dazzling smile.

 

“What are you doing here, Rhiannon?” Con asked.

 

Her smile slipped. He knew how much she hated to be called by her full name. Her eyes swiveled to him, and she glared.

 

“And inside Dreagan,” Rhys said with a chuckle. “Are you trying to start a war?”

 

Rhi shifted until she was sitting correctly in the chair. “I’m trying to divert one, actually.”

 

“You helping us?” Kiril asked in surprise.

 

She glanced at Rhys and then Kiril. “Actually, now that you mention it, I don’t have to help.” Rhi was just about to dash out when Kellan said her name. She paused and looked into his light green eyes. “What?” she asked in exasperation.

 

“You came for a reason,” Kellan said. “What is it?”

 

Rhi felt Con’s gaze on her. She could easily retreat back to her little cottage and forget about the Dragon Kings. The hard part would be to stay and help. It would most likely incur the wrath of her queen, but that was nothing new.

 

Leather squeaked as Con leaned forward in his chair to rest his arms on his desk. “I doona think she has anything to say, Kellan. She came to rile us. Childish, but it worked. Now you can leave, Rhi. We actually have business to discuss.”

 

Rhi laughed to hide her fury and tossed her long hair over her shoulder. “Business? That’s a laugh. You’re talking about MI5 and Denae. Don’t think to treat me as if I’m a child.”

 

“What do you know of Denae?” the mortal asked.

 

She turned her gaze to him, and once more his mouth went slack. Rhi stood and walked toward the human. His kind, hazel eyes never wavered. He wasn’t bad looking. With a new haircut and something other than a gray suit, he might even be handsome.

 

“Rhi,” Kellan warned in a low voice.

 

She stopped next to Kellan. “Who is the mortal?”

 

“I’m Henry North,” he said. “And what do you mean, mortal?”

 

Rhi was impressed. Most humans couldn’t think past their desires. Henry was different. He might want her, but his brain ruled him, not his cock. She liked him instantly. “Nice to meet you, Henry. Aren’t you the least bit curious as to how I got in here?”

 

Henry frowned and looked around. “As a matter of fact, I am.”

 

“I—”

 

“Rhi,” Kellan said over her. “No’ now.”

 

She walked back to her seat and sat. Kellan was right. It wasn’t time to tease. She needed to tell them what she knew. “For several weeks now I’ve felt a … disturbance.”

 

“What kind of a disturbance?” Kiril asked.

 

Rhi shrugged, but couldn’t hide the unease she felt. “I’ve tried to locate it, but it’s everywhere and nowhere. I can’t say it’s one person.”

 

“So it could be a group,” Con said and looked at Henry. “MI5 perhaps?”

 

It didn’t take a genius to realize Henry worked for the agency. Who exactly was this Denae Kellan was asking about? Did she work for MI5 as well?

 

Rhys ran a hand through his hair. “MI5 would have to get intel on us first.”

 

“What did you do to piss off MI5, Con?” Rhi asked, making sure to put an innocent expression on her face.

 

Con’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. “Nothing.”