“Balladyn wanted me to turn Dark. Do you know what it takes to turn a Light Dark? You immerse them in a place where there’s no sunlight, only darkness. You put the Chains of Mordare on them, which sends paralyzing pain running through their arm every time they attempt to do magic. And then you torture them. Endlessly.”
Darcy backed up with every word until she came against the window, unable to go any farther. Until that moment, she’d had no idea of the pain Rhi kept so carefully hidden. She reminded Darcy so much of Ulrik that it was uncanny.
“Balladyn had me beat. I could feel the darkness taking over,” Rhi continued. “Then he made me angry.”
Darcy watched as Rhi lifted her arms out to her sides. They were glowing, as was her entire body.
“This I got from my mother. It’s a very rare power for any Fae to have. I’ve kept it secret for a long time. You see, I can renew a dead realm. Or I can destroy one.”
Darcy’s respect for Rhi grew. “You destroyed the place Balladyn held you, didn’t you?”
“Damn straight,” Rhi said, the glowing gone in an instant. She had the confident look back in place, a mask she didn’t intend to remove again. “Except I knocked myself out in the process. Ulrik carried me out.”
“Ulrik? Was he part of Balladyn taking you?”
Rhi shook her head. “Ulrik sees opportunities and takes them. He likes having people in his debt.”
“That can’t be the only reason he helped you.”
Rhi shrugged and stood. “We’re both in a situation with Ulrik that puts us in a predicament.”
“Is Ulrik your friend?”
“Friend?” Rhi barked with laughter. “Oh, chica. Ulrik doesn’t have any friends. He trusts only himself, and he always has a backup plan.”
“He warned me that I was in danger.”
Rhi walked to her and tugged on a curl. “He still has need of you.”
“That’s what he said as well.”
“Then don’t look into any more than that. If he didn’t still need you, he wouldn’t have warned you.”
Darcy snorted derisively. “If he didn’t still need me, my life wouldn’t be in danger.”
“So true,” Rhi said with a wink. “Now, tell me where you got that red sweater I see in your armoire. I have to have it.”
*
It was well past midnight when Warrick watched Rhi throw a blanket over Darcy, who had fallen asleep on the sofa. Rhi gave him a wave, and then in the next instant, she was standing beside him on the roof.
“Don’t give me that sour look,” Rhi admonished him. “Darcy was too wound up to sleep. I had to tire her out, and even then, it took a bit of magic to get her to sleep.”
Warrick had to admit, he was glad Darcy was resting. The dark circles under her eyes indicated she was more stressed than she let on. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Rhi winked. “Seen any uglies tonight?”
Warrick smiled despite himself. That’s what Rhi always did. She had such a saucy attitude that if she wasn’t irritating you, she was making you laugh. “Nay. I’m surprised after two attacks in two nights.”
“That is interesting. Where’s Mr. Thorny?”
Warrick choked on a laugh. “He’s keeping watch on the back side. We make a round every twenty minutes.”
“She’s a smart one, Warrick.”
He didn’t even pretend that he didn’t know who Rhi referred to. “Aye, Darcy is.”
“She’s quick and her magic is astounding. She didn’t even know she used it against me.”
Warrick jerked his head to Rhi. “What? When?”
“When I was talking to her,” Rhi said as she glanced at her nails. “She felt threatened, which is what I wanted. The use of her magic was instinctive. That’s very good, by the way.”
He knew it was. He didn’t need a Fae to tell him that.
“Oh, and I’m sorry for intruding on that kiss you were about to give her earlier.”
“It’s for the best.” Warrick had been telling himself that for hours. Then he would look at Darcy and crave to taste her lips all over again.
“You really should practice your lies, handsome,” Rhi said, shooting him an unapologetic look.
Warrick rubbed his temple. Rhi always had a way of getting beneath his skin with the simplest of words. The fact that he desired Darcy was all it took to exasperate him. “Rhi, please.”
“I know, I know. You like to be alone. I’ll leave as soon as I’m finished.”
He stared at the Light Fae, waiting for her to continue.
She rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. “I guess that means you want me to talk now. Fine. I’ve ensured no Dark can get into her flat.”
Warrick frowned. “How?”
“I’m only telling you so you’ll rest easier as long as she’s in her home. I’d rather Con not know.”
That’s when he recalled the symbols from the cottage Rhys had destroyed. What Rhi didn’t know was that there wasn’t a full symbol found. All there was left were three bits of board with a portion of the symbols on them.
“There’s the lightbulb,” she said with a smile. “I knew you’d figure it out.”
“You willingly gave Darcy that information?”
Rhi scrunched up her face in distaste. “I briefly thought about it, then put them up while she slept. I also hid them, so you’ll never be able to find them.”
“Thank you.”