“I doona.”
The fact he said it so casually, as if it didn’t matter that he had nearly killed Rhys. “Liar.”
Ulrik shrugged. “As usual. After all the years you’ve been around you should’ve come up with something better.”
“The word fits you. I almost think when it was created, the humans had you in mind.” Rhys smiled when he saw Ulrik’s nostrils flare, a sign that he was growing angry.
“I can always throw you out, you know.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Rhys folded his arms over his chest, trying to determine what he wanted to ask Ulrik first. If the bastard was going to play stupid, then he’d let him. “Where is Henry?”
“Am I supposed to know the names of everyone that those at Dreagan know?”
“You know him. He was at your meeting with the Dark and MI5. He was spying on you, and somehow he was found out. Where is he?”
“I have no idea.”
Rhys was undeterred. “Did the Dark take him?”
“Ask them,” Ulrik said blithely.
“It was either the Dark or you. MI5 was too incompetent to even realize he was spying.”
Ulrik raised a brow. “You seem to know quite a bit, though you’re lacking relevant information.”
“Henry is a good man.”
“Who interfered in something he had no business with. As all humans do,” Ulrik said with a sneer.
Rhys dropped his arms and walked to Ulrik’s desk. He leaned his hands upon it and glared. “Then tell me why you felt the need to mix your dragon magic and Dark magic? Tell me why you wanted me to suffer! Tell me why you chose me to be stuck in a human form unable to shift!”
For long moments Ulrik simply stared at him. “Sounds like you got screwed. It sucks, does it no’? Tell me, Rhys, how does it feel to watch our brethren take to the skies now that you can no’ join them?”
“It’s hurts almost as bad as when we sent the dragons away.” Rhys heard Ulrik’s brogue slip back to his refined English accent, but he didn’t mention it.
Ulrik pushed back his chair, the wheels rolling easily, and stood. “I want you to leave this store. Now.”
“You did this to me for a reason. I want to know why.”
“We all want something.”
Rhys seriously contemplated killing Ulrik right then. He straightened, anger churning through him faster and faster. How dare Ulrik think he could do this to him and not answer for it?
“Your shadows doona scare me,” Ulrik said with a hard look in his gold eyes.
Rhys hadn’t even realized he’d called to his dragon power. All around him darkness billowed, shadows waiting to hide him—or devour an enemy.
“Did it ever occur to you that someone else could’ve done this to you?”
Rhys snorted loudly. He stopped his shadows from advancing, but he didn’t pull them back. “All the Kings have been accounted for.”
“Ah, but I’m no’ supposed to have magic, remember.”
“You do. We know it.”
Ulrik simply smiled.
“Only you would be stupid enough to find an ally in the Dark to get back at Con.”
“I want to kill Con, aye. But what makes you think I doona hold the rest of you accountable? You sided with him. You killed my woman together. All of you took my magic and stopped me from shifting. Each of you is responsible for what I am.”
“So you turn the tables on me? Who’s next? Is your plan to curse each one of us?”
Ulrik’s smirk grew. “That is a nice idea. What would the mighty Dragon Kings do if none of you could shift?”
“You’re one of us.”
“No!” Ulrik exploded, his rage palpable. Gone was his mask of indifference. The fury clouded his face and darkened his eyes. “You made sure of that.”
Rhys let his shadows grow closer to Ulrik. “What do you think happens to this realm if we are no’ here to protect it?”
“I suppose we’ll find out. Perhaps someone else will step in and take over.”
“You?” Rhys asked skeptically. At Ulrik’s shrug, he snorted. “Because if all of our magic is taken away, yours is restored. So you’ll be the lone King who can shift. I’d like to see you battle the Dark alone.”
“Who says I’d be alone or that I’ll have to battle the Dark?” Ulrik’s mask of coldness was back in place.
Now Rhys understood why Con wanted to kill Ulrik. Ulrik couldn’t be reasoned with. He had a plan, and nothing was going to stop him from achieving it. “Why did you choose me?”
Ulrik remained silent, but squared his body, ready for an attack.
“Where is Henry?”
Ulrik’s black hair fell over his shoulder as he bent his legs and leaned forward slightly.
“Why did you choose me?” Rhys asked again, this time sending his shadow to surround Ulrik. “Where is Henry?”
Again and again Rhys asked the question, but not once did Ulrik answer, mostly because he was battling the shadows. Rhys knew he couldn’t kill Ulrik. He’d have to have his sword to do that, or shift into a dragon. But he could take some of his anger out on Ulrik.