Ulrik knew what it felt like to have a mate killed. The Kings had killed his. Though they’d had their reasons, it didn’t make Ulrik’s suffering any easier.
There were few Dragon Kings who knew what it felt like to have their mates killed before the ceremony. Rhys would be crazed with the need for vengeance, just as Ulrik had been. And nothing would be able to stop him.
Ulrik leaned forward and set his drink on the glass coffee table. “You knew they would kill the woman.”
“Of course. Although I had no idea she was Rhys’s mate.”
“Did you know she was seeing someone at Dreagan?”
“That’s why I chose her.” Mikkel smiled and spun his pen on the desk. “One of my men was her ex-lover. The one who killed her is her brother.”
Ulrik stood and started toward the door. “I must go and prepare for Rhys’s arrival.”
“Not quite yet.”
The last time Ulrik had been so commanded he’d been just an adolescent dragon, and it had been his father. He hadn’t liked it then. He hated it now.
Ulrik slowly turned to face Mikkel. “And why no’?”
“Because I need your power.”
“For?”
His uncle rose and braced his hands on his desk. “The Kings killed my men. I want you to bring them back from the dead.”
“Let me see if I’ve got this straight,” Ulrik said in a quiet voice belying his irritation. “You want me to waltz onto Dreagan and revive two men who were killed by the Kings for what they did to a mate?”
“That’s right. And I can get you to Dreagan.”
Ulrik had schemes of his own, and he wasn’t ready to give them up because Mikkel didn’t have the forethought to tell his men not to kill the woman. Ulrik wouldn’t stop until he had Con. In order to do that, he had to continue making his uncle think he was running things. But damn, it was difficult.
“All right, but not before you answer me something.”
“Fine,” Mikkel said. “What do you want to know?”
“How are you getting all this information about what’s happening on Dreagan?”
Mikkel’s secretive smile was in place as he walked around the desk. “I have someone there watching things.”
“You expect me to believe you turned a King?”
“No.”
Ulrik thought a moment. “Surely no’ a Dark using glamour.”
“Nope.”
Ulrik shook his head as he thought of the only option left. “A human.”
“Who else?” Mikkel said with a laugh.
Ulrik had never attempted to turn someone from Dreagan. Now that Mikkel had done it, Ulrik was going to get his own information from the informant.
Mikkel snapped his fingers and a Dark Fae appeared next to Ulrik. As soon as the Dark touched his arm, they were gone, appearing at the Dreagan border a millisecond later. Ulrik stepped away from the Dark and looked around to determine where he was.
“You have an hour. I’ll meet you back here,” the Dark said before he disappeared.
Ulrik walked out of the forest and saw the decimated cottage in the distance. The landscape was barren of any trees, which meant Ulrik would have to chance being seen. He started running to what was left of the cottage. When he finally reached it, he saw the two men. One was completely ripped apart, the savagery, vicious and brutal.
“He beat her.”
Ulrik jerked at the sound of Rhi’s voice. He sighed and turned his head to her. “How did you know I was here?”
“I knew someone would come for them. Are these your men?”
“Would you believe me if I said nay?”
She regarded him a moment before she shrugged. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see what happened. Tell me of the men.”
Rhi pointed to the dismembered one with red hair. “That’s Dennis. He physically abused Lily. Her scars are … substantial.”
“How do you know of her scars?”
“I saw them.”
Interesting. Ulrik walked around the parts of Dennis he could find. “Is that why Rhys tore him apart?” When Rhi didn’t answer, Ulrik looked at her. Understanding dawned. “Ah. Rhys didna do this.”
“Con did.”
Now that surprised Ulrik. “Constantine? The King of Kings? The one who doesna want any of the Kings to find mates?”
“Yes,” Rhi answered and looked away.
Ulrik stopped next to the second man. He was young. In his early twenties if Ulrik had to guess. Though he wasn’t dismembered, there were claw marks all over his body, as well as evidence that Rhys’s shadows had had a go at him.
“Who is this?” Ulrik asked.
“Kyle Ross. He was Lily’s brother.”
He looked up at Rhi who stood stoically off to the side. “You’re shocked at this?”
“What kind of monster kills their own family?”
Ulrik pointed to Kyle. “This kind. And you wonder why I abhor humans.”
“You make use of them,” she retorted cheekily.
He shrugged and turned back to Kyle. “That I do.”
“As well as the Fae.”
Now that surprised Ulrik enough that he wrenched his head around to her.
“Don’t act surprised,” she said with a sassy smile. “I know all about your dalliances, stud.”