Darkest Flame

Con leaned across the table and poured more whisky into a new glass before giving it to Rhi. “It’s something only a few Fae have. Simply put, Rhi could have leveled this manor and everyone inside.”

 

 

“Or brought life to a dying realm,” she added with a dark look to Con. Then she looked at Phelan, Aisley, and Tristan. “I let my anger get the better of me. For that, I apologize.”

 

“No need,” Aisley said with a reassuring smile on her face and in her fawn-colored eyes. “Were you about to talk about Denae and Kellan?”

 

Rhi sat back in the chair and pushed her long hair over her shoulder. She wanted a shower and new clothes after spending so much time with the Dark Ones. “The Dark are keeping them together. They know they can’t kill Kellan, so their plan is to torture Denae until he talks.”

 

“He willna do it,” Con said sternly, his eyes full of anger and regret. “He willna betray us, no matter what vow he gave Denae. And that … that will destroy him.”

 

Rhi nodded in agreement. “Yes. It will.”

 

“How did you get past all the Dark Fae?” Tristan asked.

 

She picked at her chipped nail. “I had to stay veiled.”

 

Con frowned. “Are you telling me you flitted in and out of that place hoping they wouldna see you?”

 

This she didn’t want to tell him. This was her secret, one no one else knew. If she explained now, Con would always know.

 

And he would never forget. The bastard had the memory of a damned elephant.

 

“No,” she said, hoping he would leave it.

 

She should’ve known better.

 

“You remained veiled for an extended period?” Con asked in disbelief, his jaw slack.

 

Rhi shifted in her chair. Damn Con for making her choose between lying and honesty. Of course he would remember how she loathed lying. She had gotten that from her mother’s side, a trait every Fae prayed they didn’t get.

 

“Rhi,” Con pressed.

 

It was on the tip of her tongue to lie, but even as she tried, her skin began to burn. She silently cursed the trait and sent Con her worst glower.

 

He merely lifted a blond brow.

 

“Yes,” she finally answered and banged her fist once on the table. “Damn you, Con. Why did you have to press?”

 

Aisley looked across the table to her husband. “Why not just lie?”

 

“Rhi can no’. No’ without great pain,” Con stated.

 

Rhi drained her glass and filled it again. “The Dark got into Denae’s mind. She kept talking about her sister, Renee, who drowned, and how everyone always left her. She was sinking into a depression. I tried to help her, but ultimately it was Kellan who pulled her out of it.”

 

“He did?” Phelan asked with a whistle. “That’s impressive.”

 

“That’s only part of it.” Rhi looked across the table at Con. “She’s immune to Dark Fae seduction.”

 

Con’s face went blank for a moment as surprise set in. “How?”

 

“No’ even the Dark know. They’re as baffled as I am. I’ve never heard of such before.”

 

Aisley said, “Well, that’s a bit of good news, isn’t it?”

 

“No,” Con and Rhi said in unison.

 

Rhi swallowed hard and looked at the table. “Her … aversion … to them has drawn the attention of Taraeth. He considers Denae a challenge, and he won’t rest until she is his.”

 

“Why did you leave them, then?” Con asked, his words clipped and hard.

 

Rhi lifted her gaze to him, then her head swung to Phelan. “I came for you.”

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

 

 

Cork, Ireland

 

Rhys knew the moment he saw the pub an Doras that it was a pub for the Dark Fae. He and Kiril exchanged glances and crossed the busy street.

 

The streetlights were bright, the night deep. Music played loudly and the young and beautiful filled the pub. Rhys spotted the large Dark Fae guarding the door.

 

He stood facing the street, his hands clasped in front of him, his long, silver-streaked black hair pulled back in a braid.

 

“I’m going to ask him where he got those red contacts,” he heard a young female ask, rushing to the Dark.

 

“Think he’ll recognize us as Kings?” Kiril asked as both men slowed once they reached the sidewalk.

 

Rhys shrugged while watching the Dark zero in on the flirty female asking about his supposed contacts. “A possibility. I’ve got an idea, though.”

 

Kiril raised a brow, but merely smiled when Rhys motioned to the four twentysomething girls standing around a streetlamp. “Oh, I like your thinking.”

 

As one, the two changed directions and headed to the women. The females saw them approaching, and each stood straighter, pushing out their breasts.

 

It was really too bad they were on business, because Rhys would like nothing more than to take two of the girls and pleasure away the night.

 

“Hello,” said a female with deep red hair and sparkling green eyes. She had tried to cover her freckles with a ton of makeup.

 

Rhys stopped beside her. “I’ve always been partial to redheads, green hair, and freckles.”

 

“Freckles?” she asked, her eyes glued to him.

 

Rhys nodded. “Freckles.”