Indifferent to her inner musings, Dennis continued. “I also saw him kissing you at the river. You best be careful, Lily. It’s not a good idea to fall for anyone from Dreagan. It could get you killed.”
“Because you’re going to kill them?” she asked, pretending she didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. Her best bet was to play the innocent and let him think he was shocking her. “You said if I helped that you would leave them alone.”
“I did say that, didn’t I?” he asked with a smirk. “You should know you can’t trust me.”
“I’ve known it for a while.”
“And yet you continue to do it. That should tell you that you have awful instincts.”
She jerked her arm from his grasp and turned away. “You do love to hear yourself talk.”
“I’m right, and you know it. You just don’t want to admit it.”
“As pretty as this view is, I need to get back to the store.” She turned to leave, only to have him step in front of her. His menacing look made her draw up short. Her blood pounded in her ears.
Then she remembered where she was and who was watching over her. No matter what, she knew Rhys wouldn’t let anything happen to her. She pushed the fear aside, holding onto an image of Rhys in her mind.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Lily took a deep breath and crossed her arms over her chest. “What are you after, Dennis?”
“Something important. Something that’ll change the world.”
“You said I didn’t know what Rhys is. Tell me then.”
Dennis chuckled as he watched her, considering her words. “All right, though you won’t believe me.”
“Try me,” she dared.
“They’re dragons.”
Lily’s arms dropped weakly to her sides. So Dennis did know. The secret Rhys and the other Dragon Kings had kept for countless centuries was being spread. What did that mean for those at Dreagan?
It must’ve been Ulrik who’d told Dennis so he would know who he was going up against. But how much did Dennis know? He couldn’t possibly grasp that Rhys was immortal. “Dragons?” she asked skeptically.
“Dragons. Those here at Dreagan have been able to shift from human to dragon for eons. I’m helping to remove them from Earth.”
“You’re not afraid of fighting a dragon?”
Dennis’s smile grew. “They won’t be stupid enough to show themselves in dragon form in front of you.”
“That’s why you brought me?”
“That and in case your lover thought to free Kyle. As long as I have you, Rhys won’t attack. They’ll let me do exactly what I want to do.”
“You’re a fool.” Lily started to say more, but gaped when she spotted a man walking toward them. She recognized the walk, the confidence and bearing of Rhys. That, along with the long strands of his dark brown hair hanging loose about his shoulders.
She wanted to run to him and throw her arms around him, to feel the strength and power of his muscles beneath her hands. Her flagging courage was boosted at seeing him. If only he knew what he did to her, how her body craved his touch and how she yearned to feel his skin next to hers.
Love. It’s what she felt for him. She recognized the warm, calming emotion instantly for what it was. She smiled and relaxed. Everything was going to be all right now that Rhys was there.
Dennis turned to see where she was looking. “It’s about to begin.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Rhys didn’t need to look up to the clouds to know his brethren were there, circling and watching. Every one of them knew that Lily was his, but the full weight of what could happen to her hung heavily on his shoulders.
The concern in Lily’s eyes as he drew near gave him an idea that things were going badly. The plan was important. That’s what Rhys kept telling himself, but as he approached Dennis, he was having a hard time remembering that when all he wanted to do was kill the bastard.
“Lily,” Rhys said as he stopped before them. It was damned difficult to keep his distance from her and not pull her against him or let his caring shine through his gaze. “Visitors are no’ allowed on this side of the hedgerow.”
“I—” she started, but Dennis interrupted her.
“I won’t be here too long.” Dennis looked Rhys up and down. “Your pretense is good, I’ll give you that.”
Rhys cocked his head. “My pretense?”
“Of being human. We both know you’re a dragon.”
Rhys looked at Lily to see her furrowed brow. He slid his gaze back to Dennis and let his chest expand with a breath. He had anticipated this, so he wasn’t surprised by the declaration. “A dragon. Interesting.”
“I also know you won’t chance shifting in front of Lily. You don’t want your new lover to see you in your true form.”
“You know an awful lot,” Rhys said tightly, glaring at Dennis. “Since you’ve told Lily the truth, what do I care if she sees?”
“Because I have her, and if things went as I hope, you brought Kyle here.”