Darkest Flame

“But evil has many faces,” Charon said. “We learned that well enough.”

 

 

Laura tucked her legs beneath her and twisted her lips in a grimace. “Truer words haven’t been spoken.”

 

“So,” Aisley said. “Where does that leave things?”

 

Phelan leaned back and regarded the three people around him. They were his family. For centuries the Warriors had battled droughs, or evil Druids. Aisley’s cousin, Jason, had been the last to be killed.

 

It would be easy to tell the Dragon Kings to fight their own battles. How many centuries had passed before the Kings had deigned to tell the Warriors of their existence? Not once did the Kings step in and help during the Warriors’ war.

 

Not until it appeared that the war was bleeding into the humans’ lives.

 

Just as things were about to now.

 

Phelan blew out a harsh breath. “The Kings are powerful. I saw just what kind of damage they can do to the Dark. I also saw how the Dark Ones could inhibit the Kings, all but preventing them from shifting into dragon form.”

 

“Fuck,” Charon mumbled.

 

Phelan couldn’t have said it better. “I think we need to be ready in case they do call upon us for anything.”

 

“I agree,” Aisley stated.

 

Laura and Charon nodded together.

 

Phelan licked his lips. That was one burden off his shoulders. He would have to repeat it all again at MacLeod Castle for the other twelve Warriors and their Druid wives.

 

“There’s something else,” Aisley was quick to say.

 

Phelan ran a hand through his hair. “What I’m about to tell you three must remain between us for the time being. I’m no’ sure what to do or how telling the others will impact things.”

 

Charon finished off the last of his Dreagan whisky and set down the glass on the coffee table. “Well, you’ve certainly got my attention. What kind of secret did you learn?” he asked with a smile.

 

Phelan couldn’t share that smile, not when he knew the chaos that was about to ensue.

 

“Just tell us. The anticipation is killing me,” Aisley said with a grimace.

 

“I met a Dragon King today called Tristan.”

 

Laura raised a brow. “All right. What is it about him that has you worried?”

 

Aisley’s eyes widened as she realized what he was about to impart to the others.

 

Phelan cleared his throat. “As many times as we four have been to Dreagan, can you remember meeting him?”

 

Charon chuckled. “Every time we’re there more Kings are around. I can no’ keep up with them all. But the name doesna ring a bell.”

 

“I don’t either,” Laura said. “Most of the Kings not mated tend to stay away from the manor.”

 

It was as he’d expected. Some would be suspicious that Con had made sure to keep Tristan away from the Warriors. And they would be right.

 

“Do any of you recall seeing an amber dragon?”

 

“Yes,” Aisley immediately answered. “Several times in the battles we had with Jason.”

 

Charon’s smile slipped a little. “I do as well.”

 

“Count me as one who’s seen him,” Laura said.

 

Now came the hard part. Phelan wasn’t sure how they would react. In hindsight, he could have handled things with Tristan better than he had.

 

“Phelan,” Charon said in a low, dangerous voice.

 

He lifted his gaze to his closest friend to find the smile completely gone. Phelan swallowed, his throat tight. “There’s a reason none of you have seen Tristan before. Aisley and I saw him this last time at Dreagan, but it was by accident.”

 

“Why do you say accident?” Laura asked.

 

Aisley reached for Phelan’s hand and said, “Because if you had, after one look you’d know who he is—or was.”

 

“And that would be…?” Charon urged.

 

Phelan let the silence stretch for several seconds before he said, “Duncan.”

 

His revelation shocked the room into a silence that was deafening. Phelan suspected his face had been as incredulous as Charon’s was now.

 

“Are you sure?” Laura asked.

 

Phelan lifted Aisley’s hand to his lips, kissing the back of her hand. “Aye. I might never have met Duncan, but there’s no denying he’s Ian’s identical twin.”

 

“I don’t understand,” Laura said. “How is it that Duncan was a Warrior and killed, and then became a Dragon King?”

 

Phelan shrugged. “No’ even the Kings can explain it. Apparently, there have been no new Kings for ages.”

 

“And Duncan, I mean Tristan?” Laura asked. “Does he know he’s Ian’s brother?”

 

Phelan had known this question was coming, but even that didn’t make forming the answer any easier. “Nay. Tristan claims he has no memories of a time before he woke at Dreagan after falling from the sky.”

 

It didn’t go unnoticed by Phelan that Charon had yet to utter a single sound. His friend was sitting still as stone, his face pale from shock.