Darcy’s brow furrowed. “You lost me.”
This was why Warrick liked others to explain things. He never did an adequate job, and to make matters worse he was trying harder with Darcy than he had with anyone else.
“There’s history between Balladyn and the Kings,” Warrick said. “One of us had a relationship with a Light Fae named Rhi. Balladyn was in love with Rhi.”
“One doesna simply fall out of love,” Thorn interjected. “If he hates Ulrik, then Balladyn is still in love with Rhi. It’s one of the reasons he kidnapped her.”
“What?” Darcy asked. “Balladyn kidnapped Rhi? Why?”
Warrick touched the bright green leaves of a lavender rose. “He blamed her for his turning Dark. He wanted to turn her as well. He didna succeed.”
“And Ulrik carried her out of the place,” Thorn said.
Darcy’s eyes grew large. “Is Ulrik her lover?”
“Nay. That King chose to end the relationship. Rhi, however, still loves him,” Warrick answered.
“Did the King stop loving her?”
Warrick shrugged. “He refuses to speak of her.”
“He’s no’ told anyone anything,” Thorn said. “No’ even Rhi.”
Darcy’s face scrunched. “I don’t think I like this King. What kind of guy does something like that? It’s just rude.” She gave a sad shake of her head. “All right. So that explains why Balladyn might have sent Dark to kill me. He doesn’t want Ulrik to have any more help. If it was that simple, why hasn’t Balladyn come and killed me himself?”
“Taraeth,” Warrick said. “Taraeth is the only one holding Balladyn back. For now. I suspect Balladyn will make a run to become king of the Dark soon enough.”
“I won’t be forgetting those two names anytime soon.” Darcy reached for some clippers and cut off a dead bloom. “Are you here to try and convince me to return to Skye?”
Thorn made a sound at the back of his throat and walked to the back of the conservatory. “I’ll leave you to it, Warrick.”
Darcy’s head swung from Thorn’s retreating back to him. “What did he mean?”
If there was time, Warrick could gleefully punch Thorn in the face. Thorn knew Warrick wasn’t thrilled with Con’s idea. Now he realized why Thorn really came to see Darcy.
“Warrick?” Darcy called.
“Tell her, War,” Thorn said as he exited the back.
Darcy set down the clippers and gave Warrick a hard look. “Spill.”
Warrick sighed. He wasn’t the one to talk to Darcy about this. He would muck this up, he just knew it. “I’m no’ here to convince you to return to Skye.”
“Really?” She lifted one auburn brow, her look unconvinced.
“Really. You wanted to know about the Kings. Ask away.”
“How about you start from the beginning.”
“It might be easier if you tell me what Ulrik has told you.”
She was shaking her head before he finished. “There are two sides to every story. I’m asking to hear your side of things.”
Now that intrigued him. He thought for sure she would take Ulrik’s side after helping him. Perhaps he wouldn’t have to work so hard to get Darcy to help them.
“You look surprised,” she said and walked past him. She waved for him to follow her. “Let’s get comfortable.”
Why was it when those words left her mouth, he didn’t picture them sitting in the cushy chairs in the front of the shop at the round table but falling naked on a bed, their limbs intertwined as he kissed her?
He shook his head to try and dislodge the image, but the image was firmly implanted now. His balls tightened when he looked down to see the way her faded jeans clung to her well-formed ass.
There was no denying it—he was in over his head where Darcy was concerned.
She pulled the chairs used for her clients out from the table and around so that they sat facing each other. Darcy sank into one, tucking a leg beneath her as she did.
Warrick took the empty chair, surprised at how comfortable it was. He ran his hands along the arms of the chair, liking the feel of the black velvet beneath his palm.
“So,” she said.
Warrick admired that she got right down to business. “From the beginning, aye?”
“Aye.”
He liked the way her Scots accent thickened when she repeated his words. Warrick took a deep breath and thought back to the days before humans. “For countless centuries, this realm was ours. You can no’ imagine what it was like to see dragons everywhere. There were those who preferred the water and spent much of their time in the oceans, seas, and lochs. There were those who craved the ice and snow, while others were more at home in the deserts, and still others who made their homes in the jungles.”
“Much like we do,” Darcy said.
Warrick nodded slightly. “We were no’ just different in our choice of environment, but in color and size. Each group of dragons had a leader.”
“Were the leaders voted on?”