“Ah,” she said and dropped her arm as she looked down at her hand while straightening her fingers. “What do you think this means?”
“I think you’re still trying to work things out, which is why you continue to wear white and black.”
Her smile was wide when she looked up at him. “So perceptive. Tell me, why aren’t you as insightful in your own life, stud?”
“You mean, why did I no’ know Ulrik would do this to me?” Rhys asked. He looked to the craggy peaks around him. “I remember flying these same mountains beside Ulrik. He was born to lead, just as Con was. It’s part of who they are. The difference came in that Con wanted to be King of Kings. Ulrik was happy leading his Silvers.”
“I know,” Rhi said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“For some Dragon Kings, it was an easy decision to stand with Con when Ulrik began the war with the humans.”
Rhi snorted. “He didn’t start the war, Rhys. The humans did when Ulrik’s woman tried to betray him.”
“War is war,” Rhys said in a flat tone. “We were meant to protect humans. From everyone,” he said and looked pointedly at Rhi.
She rolled her eyes. “I know this story well, remember? I know all the Kings cornered Ulrik’s woman and killed her. I know he found out about it later, and felt betrayed by his brothers. I know his betrayal cut both ways. He wanted, needed to lash out, and he did it to the only people he could—the humans.”
“If he had only stopped the killing when Con asked,” Rhys said. “Then Con wouldna had to exile Ulrik from Dreagan, taking his ability to shift into a dragon, and forcing Ulrik to walk this earth for eternity immortal.”
“I think the ultimate blow came when the Silvers were caught,” Rhi said with a twist of her lips. “How would you feel knowing the last dragons on this realm are being held beneath a mountain in an eternal sleep by your mortal enemy?”
“I’d do whatever it took to get to them.”
Rhi cocked her head to the side. “Every Dragon King here would, and yet Con wants to kill Ulrik for doing exactly as Con would do himself.”
“Look at me!” Rhys shouted angrily and held out his hands as he faced her. “Look at what Ulrik has done to me! How can I remain at Dreagan? I can do nothing to help the other Kings in this war. We’ve enemies battering us on every side.”
Rhi put her hand on his face and looked deep into his eyes. “I didn’t let you die when you were stuck trying to shift back into your human form. Do you think I would stand aside now and not help?”
Rhys dropped his arms and stepped away from her. “What can you do? You told Con you’ve done all you could.”
“I can talk to Ulrik.”
Now that Rhys hadn’t expected. “Why would you?”
“You’re my friend.”
He shook his head, knowing there was more. With Rhi he had to be careful about gaining information she wasn’t willing to share. “I can no’ let you do this. Ulrik is dangerous. You can never forget that, despite his helping you.”
“You think he wants something from me?”
“I do.”
She shrugged nonchalantly, the wind tugging at the long strands of her black hair. “You’re probably right. It’s fitting since I want something from him.”
“You love to push the boundaries.”
She cocked her head to the side and looked intently at him. “I also want something from you.”
Rhys was instantly wary. There was no telling what Rhi wanted, and though he would gladly help her any way he could, he knew better than to agree before he heard her out. “What is it you want?”
“You to return to Dreagan.”
“Nay.”
She sighed and spread her arms as she looked around her. “What can these mountains give you? Will you hide like some of the Kings in your mountain? That’s not the Rhys I know. The Rhys I know would never run from anything,” she said and poked him in the chest with a finger. “Even a woman. He would face it head-on, laughing as he took the advantage.”
Damn. He should’ve known Rhi would know about his feelings for Lily. Rhi always knew the very things he wanted kept private.
“Return to her,” Rhi pressed in a soft tone, her gaze beseeching.
“I can no’ protect her.”
“Even unable to shift, there isn’t a single being on this realm who could protect Lily as you can.”
Rhys considered her words. He yearned to return to Dreagan to see Lily, to hear her voice. If he was close to her again, he wouldn’t be able to stay away. She was in his blood now, a part of his being. He craved her like he yearned to take to the skies again.
“I willna drag her into this shite we’ve gotten ourselves into.”
“She works for Dreagan, Rhys,” Rhi said in a dry tone. “She’s already in the middle of it whether she knows it or not.”
He hadn’t thought of it that way. Double damn. Now he was really in a corner. Rhi was right in that no one could watch over Lily like he could. He was the only one who knew how special she was, the only one who watched the sun rise knowing the day was going to be extraordinary because she was in it.