Well, hell. That sounded pretty damn awful. “I can’t let that happen.”
Warrick stopped and turned to her. “Nay. We can no’.”
CHAPTER
SIX
Rhi thought by going with Balladyn that it would calm some of the turmoil within her. Instead, everything ratcheted up to the nth degree.
Balladyn’s hold on her hand was firm. If she wanted her hand back, she was going to have to pull it loose—and probably use a bit of magic in the process.
Neither spoke as they walked to a Fae doorway a few hundred yards from the streets of Pompeii where he’d found her. Rhi had no idea where he was taking her, and it didn’t matter. She knew that she could take care of herself against anyone—and anything.
That realization made her look at things differently. It wasn’t that she wanted anyone to know how much power she had. In fact, she would rather keep it to herself. Rhys knew, but that was different. Rhys would never tell anyone. Well, except perhaps Lily, but Lily wouldn’t repeat anything.
Rhi kept pace with Balladyn as they stepped through the doorway and arrived in Ireland. She almost rolled her eyes. Of course he would want her back in Ireland. It was a stronghold of the Fae, a mistake the Dragon Kings allowed to happen.
Stupid, Constantine. So stupid.
Rhi stopped her inner dialogue. There was no way she was going to think about that arrogant douche canoe. Let him figure a way out for the perfect Dragon Kings in this crater of a mess they were in.
To her surprise, Balladyn didn’t remain in Ireland. He turned her to the left and immediately took her through another doorway. This time when she stepped through, her feet sank into sand.
Rhi blinked against the blinding sun. With just a thought, she had her favorite pair of Maui Jim sunglasses in place and looked at the mountains of sand around her. She then turned her head to Balladyn.
He looked out over the sand, a small, confident smile in place.
Another douche.
What was it with men? She didn’t bother even trying to come up with an answer—because there wasn’t one. Males were males, no matter what race they were.
“I knew you’d come to me,” Balladyn said. He swiveled his head to her, his smile growing. “I knew it was just a matter of time.”
For a moment, Rhi thought she was looking at the Balladyn who had been by her side for centuries. Then she stared into his red eyes and remembered. He was Dark.
He’d tortured her, tormented her. She’d suffered through unimaginable, unspeakable pain by his hand while he gloated during all of it.
He blamed her for his turning Dark.
And lest she forget, he wanted revenge.
Rhi glanced at their hands. His fingers tightened, as if he knew she wanted to yank away from him. She tucked her hair behind her ear with her free hand and faced the desert.
Balladyn had gotten some of his revenge, but he didn’t yet comprehend that she wasn’t Dark. Rhi had doubts about her being Dark up until that moment. She was Light, and not even the tide of darkness within her was going to change that.
“Do you have nothing to say?” he asked.
Rhi shrugged, her gaze following the rolling hills of sand against the stark blue sky. “What do you want me to say? I didn’t come to you. You found me.”
“You took my hand.”
His voice had a hard edge now. Rhi often let her emotions rule her decisions, but for once, there was no anger or fear or confusion. She knew exactly what she had to do.
Rhi shifted so that she faced him. “I did.”
“You’re mine now.”
A flash of anger began, but she hastily stamped it out. “I belong only to myself.”
Balladyn’s red eyes narrowed. He released her and ran his hand down his face, over his hollowed cheeks to the hard line of his jaw. At his temple, a muscle ticked, indicating that he was growing upset.
Rhi didn’t bother to say more. She let her statement sink into Balladyn’s head while she waited for whatever he would say next.
His look was hard as he stared at her. “There is darkness within you. I feel it.”
“There is darkness within every creature, just as there is light. You brought more darkness out in me, but I didn’t give in to it.”
“You just need more time with me.”
Rhi held up a hand when he took a step closer, halting him. She cut him a look as she hooked her thumbs in the belt loops of her jeans. “Hold up with the crazy. You wanted revenge for what happened to you. Guess what, wanker? You got what you wanted.”
“No.” He shook his head from side to side. “If I had what I wanted, your eyes would be red and there would be silver in your hair. And … you would be in my bed.”
Usaeil had warned her, but Rhi hadn’t believed the queen. Balladyn had taken the place of her brother when hers had died. Sure Balladyn was gorgeous, but she’d never thought of him that way.
“You changed me,” she argued. “Regardless of what you think, your revenge was thorough.”
“Not nearly thorough enough.”