Whatever had tightened around Rhys’s chest released so that he could breathe easier, the relief palpable. He leaned a shoulder against the doorway and watched the subtle play of emotions crossing Lily’s face. There was despair, misery, sadness, and finally anger.
She inhaled deeply and slowly released it as she looked up in the mirror. Their eyes clashed, held, and a slow smile pulled at her lips.
Rhys’s gaze raked over her disheveled hair and her swollen lips. He’d never seen a more beautiful sight. “I’m pretty sure you should still be in bed,” he said with a grin.
She turned to face him and shrugged, the movement causing her robe to gape and expose a tantalizing side of her breast. “I’m an early riser.”
“I’m going to have to change that.”
Her laughter filled the bathroom when he closed the distance and pulled her against him. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“Nay,” he replied, not wanting her to know it was her absence that pulled him from sleep. “Are you hungry?”
“Starved.”
Rhys reluctantly released her and went to order breakfast as she grabbed a brush and began to run it through her long tresses.
“I don’t even know what time I need to meet Denae to go home.”
Rhys glanced at his suit jacket where his mobile was. He was sure if he checked there would be a message from Kellan asking him to take Lily back to Dreagan. It was a task Rhys relished. “We’ll find out,” he called.
He ordered room service and replaced the receiver. He was on his way to his suit when a robe hit him in the chest. Rhys instinctively caught it and looked up at a grinning Lily.
“You can’t be walking around naked,” she said. “What will the hotel staff think?”
He winked at her. “They’ll think you’re a verra lucky lass.”
“They wouldn’t be wrong.”
Rhys put on the robe and loosely belted it at his hips before he checked his mobile. Sure enough there was a message. Denae and Kellan indeed wished for him to drive Lily back to Dreagan.
He heard the shower turn on and caught a glimpse of Lily as she let the robe fall. She looked over her shoulder through the door and smiled before she stepped into the shower and shut the glass door.
Since he hadn’t heard any more about Henry, Rhys called the one person who would know. Banan. It took four rings before Banan answered.
“I gather you’re having a good time,” Banan said testily.
Rhys frowned and walked out onto the large balcony. “Aye. Tell me about Henry. All Con told me last night was that he was at Dreagan.”
“First, it is Ulrik doing all of it.”
“Tell me something I doona know.”
Banan sighed. “Ulrik told the group of Dark and MI5 that Henry was a spy. The Dark attacked him, but somehow Henry ended up with Ulrik, who wanted Henry to join forces with him.”
“What?” Rhys stated with a snort. “Ulrik has no love of mortals, Banan. You know that.”
“I do. I also thought it sounded a bit … strange.”
Rhys leaned on the balcony railing. “But you believe Henry?”
“He wasna lying. For whatever reason, Ulrik offered Henry that deal.”
“Are you sure Henry didna take it?”
There was a slight pause and then a sigh from Banan. “I doona think he did. He was injured badly, Rhys. Several broken bones and at least two broken ribs, not to mention I suspect there was internal bleeding the Light healed.”
“Light? What?”
“Somehow the Light got Henry away from Ulrik and healed him.”
Rhys knew it was Rhi who had saved Henry. What was she doing with Ulrik? “How did Henry get away?”
“He says he doesna know, but he’s keeping something from us.”
Rhys immediately thought of Rhi and her ability to teleport with a passenger. “Rhi got him to Dreagan.”
“Obviously.”
Rhys dropped his forehead into his hand and closed his eyes. Rhi was like a sister to him. She drove him nuts at times, but she was loyal, a skilled warrior, and had a quick wit that always made him smile.
If he hadn’t been so consumed with his own misery, he would have been there to help her through whatever was going on. Not only had Ulrik carried her out of Balladyn’s fortress, but Rhi was visiting him. Her constant wearing of black nail polish said more than her words ever could.
She was being torn in two.
There was a time, not so long ago, that he had been in a similar position with the wound Ulrik had inflicted upon him. It was Rhi who had eased the pain and given him the ability to shift one more time if he so chose. It was a miracle that she had, otherwise he would not have had the pleasure of Lily’s body.
“You know something.” Banan let out a string of curses. “It has to do with Rhi.”
Rhys opened his eyes and straightened. “Trust me when I say that Rhi is on our side.” He hoped.
“Con isna going to like this.”
“Con doesna have to know a damn thing,” Rhys bit out.
Banan gave a bark of laughter. “That’s true, but I have to say I doona like being kept in the dark.”
“Rhi has always helped us. She’s no’ going to turn her back on us now.”
“Why no’?” Banan asked. “In her shoes, I certainly would have. Long, long ago. After what he did to her…”