Darkest Flame

And with Kellan caught, one integral part of his plan had been achieved. The Kings’ attention would be diverted to the Dark Fae, thereby leaving him to do as he wished.

 

With Perth in his rearview mirror, he smiled, anticipating the eventual toppling of the Dragon Kings.

 

There would be nothing to stop the Silvers from waking and annihilating every human on the planet—righting a wrong done long, long ago.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

 

 

Rhys stood in the middle of the forest, blood coating his nude body as lifeless MI5 agents littered the ground. He didn’t need to check the lodge.

 

Kellan and Denae were gone.

 

Rhys had seen the agents and quickly shifted into human form to take them out, but by the time he realized the Dark Ones were inside the lodge it was too late.

 

He needed to alert those at Dreagan, but he couldn’t make himself move. Kellan was prisoner to the Darks. Rhys knew what that meant, knew they would likely never see Kellan again.

 

“All isn’t lost,” came the feminine voice behind him.

 

Rhys fisted his hands. “I’m no’ in the mood for a visit, Rhi.”

 

“You were watching from the skies. I was watching from here. I woke Kellan and Denae in time for them to get out of the house, but the Dark were too fast.”

 

Rhys turned his head to find Rhi leaning against a tree, her arms wrapped about her while she looked vulnerable and a little ill. “Thank you for trying.”

 

“No, don’t thank me.” She pushed away, a hard expression coming over her face, making her silver eyes almost glow with fury. “They should’ve gotten out. Why didn’t they? I gave them enough time.”

 

“Kellan,” Rhys said. “He wouldna walk out on the chance there was someone waiting for him.”

 

“He could’ve taken the humans!” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When her eyes opened, she was calmer, more focused. “I need to report to Usaeil. My queen will want to know this.”

 

“You can no’ tell her you were helping us. You know what they’ll do to you,” he warned.

 

She shrugged and let her gaze wander his naked form. “She already knows I helped the Kings, handsome. I haven’t been reprimanded yet.” She winked, her smile shaky, and then disappeared.

 

Rhys opened his mental link with the other Kings. “Kellan and Denae have been taken by the Dark. I killed the group of MI5 agents here, but it wasna enough.”

 

“We’re on the way,” Con replied.

 

In dragon form, Con and the others could be there in half an hour. It was half an hour too long as far as Rhys was concerned.

 

“Rhi!” He yelled for the Fae. “Rhi! Rhhhiiiii!!”

 

“What?” she snapped when she appeared before him. “I was just about to go before my queen when your shouting deafened me.”

 

He grinned, beyond happy that she had returned. “Ah, so you can still hear us if we call for you.”

 

She stilled and glared at him with glittering silver eyes. “Don’t push me, handsome.”

 

“That link was supposed to be severed between us after the Fae Wars.”

 

Rhi shrugged and crossed her arms over her chest. “If this was just a test, I need to go.”

 

“Wait,” he hastily said before she could disappear. “Take me to the Dark Ones.”

 

“Are you insane?” she asked, her eyes wide. Then she shook her head. “Never mind. I know you are. Don’t be stupid, Rhys. I can’t take you there. Bad things happen to you Dragon Kings when you step through a Fae doorway. It’s why none of you do it.”

 

“So you doona know where they are?”

 

“Of course I do. All Fae know where the Dark are.”

 

“Which is?” he prompted.

 

She sighed and dropped her arms, her frustration palpable. “You know where.”

 

“I know all Fae have an affinity for Ireland, but where, Rhi? I’m no’ leaving Kellan or Denae to those monsters.”

 

“You’ll never get in,” she said shakily. “They’ll know you’re there before you find Kellan.”

 

Rhys took a menacing step toward her, letting her see the stark anger he had hidden until that point. “I’ve got magic of my own. Or have you forgotten?”

 

“How could I?” she asked tightly. Then she sighed, her shoulders slumping. “You might be able to fight the Dark, but you against an army of the Dark? You’d be chained next to Kellan in an instant.”

 

“At least he wouldna be alone.”

 

“He won’t be. I’d already decided to go in after them.”

 

Rhys blinked, completely taken aback. “Why? It’s a Dragon King and a human.”

 

“I owe a favor I never repaid.”

 

His eyes widened as he realized what she was talking about, but before he could mention it, she was gone again. Once more leaving Rhys to stare at the empty lodge, a reminder of how he failed to protect his friend and the mortal.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

 

 

Denae’s head felt heavy and foggy, as if she was reliving that New Year’s Eve during her freshman year in college when she got roaring drunk. That one episode had been enough to ensure she never drank that heavily again.

 

What had happened?