He might be mortal, but he was a skilled adversary, a dangerous foe with espionage skills that far surpassed even Denae’s.
As an ally, Henry was clever, shrewd, cunning, and brilliant. A perfect partner for the Kings.
“I’ll take him to safety if he’s such a danger here,” Rhi told Usaeil.
The queen lifted a black brow. “You surprise me again.”
“It’s my new thing.” Rhi looked down at her black nails with two small hearts painted in red—Big Apple Red—on each ring finger.
“I don’t want him waking up here. It’s bad enough the mortal knows as much as he does. He doesn’t need to see this place. Or me.”
Rhi rolled her eyes. “You’re the one who wanted to become a famous movie star.”
“I like movies,” Usaeil said defensively.
“Yep. And it’s suuuch a good idea for the Queen of the Light to be so recognizable,” she said.
Usaeil’s silver eyes glared for a heartbeat before she sighed. “I think I like you sullen and silent better than the smartass you’ve become.”
“I’ve always been a smartass. I just hid it.”
“Not nearly as much as you think. I’ll have a group of Light bring Henry back to Dublin.”
Rhi straightened from the doorway. “No.” She cringed when she heard the harshness in her voice. Licking her lips, she tried again. “You said yourself that others were taking an interest in him. We don’t need a Light going to find Henry once he’s been healed and having sex with him.”
A pained expression came over Usaeil’s face. “Point taken. I’ll bring Henry myself. Where do you want to go?”
“The Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh.”
Usaeil walked to the bed where Henry lay sleeping.
Rhi met her queen’s gaze. “I’ll be waiting.”
She teleported to The Caledonian and the luxury suite on the top floor. A moment later, Usaeil arrived with Henry. Rhi hurried to her queen’s side and helped get a naked Henry in the bed.
Usaeil dusted off her hands as Rhi covered Henry. “Now he can wake and call the Kings.”
“I’m going to remain.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Rhi sat in the chair close to the bed and looked at Usaeil. “I’m sure it’s not, but it’s what I’m going to do.”
“Will you then travel to Dreagan?”
Rhi cocked her head to the side. “Why do you always ask that in the same condescending tone? What is it about the Kings that you want to keep from me?”
“Nothing,” Usaeil said quickly.
A little too quickly by Rhi’s thinking. There was nothing for Usaeil to hide. She was queen. The only thing someone in Usaeil’s position would hide would be an ally or … a lover.
It was like a kick in her stomach. Twice.
Rhi stared at Usaeil and tried to keep her face devoid of any expression. Before she confronted her queen, she would need to dig more. She wanted proof, to see Usaeil and her lover with her own eyes.
Usaeil walked to the mirror and checked her appearance. “I’ve got an interview I need to get to,” she said and looked at Rhi through the mirror. “Just promise me you won’t spend too much time at Dreagan. It always depresses you.”
“You think I’m there for him, don’t you?”
Usaeil blew out a breath and turned to face Rhi. “You still hold love in your heart. No matter what you tell yourself, every time you go to Dreagan, you go for him.”
“He doesn’t want me.”
“No. He doesn’t.”
“I don’t want him either.” It about killed Rhi to say the words, but they were needed. She had to know if Usaeil was sleeping with a Dragon King—and which one it was.
Usaeil looked out the windows of the expansive room. “Do me the courtesy of not lying.”
“I’m not.”
That got the queen’s attention. “You’re really over him?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe some good came from Balladyn taking you after all. It’s never a good idea for a Light to mix with the Dragon Kings. Return to Ireland soon, Rhi.”
Rhi waited several minutes after Usaeil vanished to make sure the queen hadn’t veiled herself. Then Rhi let her fury show. There were only a handful of Kings who would sleep with a Light, much less contemplate taking on the Queen of the Light.
Kellan was at the top of her list, but since he was mated to Denae, she mentally scratched off his name.
Next up … Con.
The King of Kings would take Usaeil as a lover. The bastard.
“Rhi?”
She was jerked out of her thoughts by the croak from the bed. Rhi jumped up and leaned over Henry who was looking at her through eyelids opened into slits. “How are you feeling?”
That made him frown. “I don’t hurt anymore, but I’m so bloody sleepy.”
“I know. I’m sorry. We had to.”
“We?” he asked as he tried to sit up.
Rhi helped him up. “Yeah, stud. You were surround by Light Fae who healed you.”
“And I slept through the whole damn thing? Just my luck,” he mumbled grumpily.
She sat on the edge of the bed and smiled. “Well, on the plus side, you’re no longer in that prison.”
His hazel eyes went wide as his memories returned. “I need to get to Dreagan. Now.”