“Did you hear her, Con?” Warrick asked. “It was the same time the Silvers moved and the spell on us broke. We know what caused it now.”
Warrick hoped that bit of news would turn Con’s mind away from linking Darcy with Ulrik, but judging by the muscle tightening in Con’s jaw, it was the wrong thing to say.
“So you’re to blame for that as well,” Con said icily to Darcy. “Millions of years I ensured that the Kings would never fall under the spell of a human again. By releasing Ulrik’s magic, you broke that spell.”
“Perhaps your spell wasn’t as powerful as you thought,” she retorted.
Warrick stepped inside the room and walked to her before Con retaliated. He grabbed Darcy’s shoulders and forced her to turn to the side so she would look at him.
She had been accosted by the Dark and seen them do things no mortal ever should. Her shop was destroyed, as was her way of life. She was barely holding it together.
It didn’t help that she had no idea that angering Con was the absolute worst thing she could be doing. Not that he blamed her. He would most likely act the same way when confronted in such a fashion.
Few would dare to talk to Con in such a fashion unless they were a Dragon King. Or Rhi. Humans seemed to innately know that he wasn’t the type of person to mess with.
“Enough,” Warrick said, looking first at her and then at Con. “We’re getting nowhere with this.”
Thorn stood and shoved a hand through his long dark brown hair. He cut his gaze to Con and said, “Your hatred for Ulrik is leading you down a path that will destroy you.”
“It’s either him or me,” Con stated. “And it willna be me.”
Darcy sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I’ve told you all I know. I didn’t help Ulrik with anything. Do your search, Con. I no longer care.”
Warrick gently pushed Darcy back down on the bed. “Rest. I’ll bring you some food.” He then turned to the door and looked pointedly at Con.
Thorn walked past Con into the hallway. It took a moment, but Con finally followed. Warrick glanced at Darcy to find her curling up on the bed as he closed the door behind him.
“Downstairs,” Warrick said as he shoved past Con and Thorn.
He heard Thorn chuckle behind him while they descended two levels of switchback stairs. Warrick strode into the kitchen and threw open the pantry door, but he didn’t see a single thing that he wanted to fix for Darcy.
With a slam of the doors, he ignored the other two couples in the kitchen and turned to pin Con with a glower. “You took things too far.”
“We have to know.” Con’s famed control was back in place.
How Warrick hated it. But he and Thorn had seen just how rattled Con could get when it came to Ulrik. “You want to blame Darcy for unbinding Ulrik’s magic? Be my guest. Darcy has admitted to that part. But I willna let you pin Ulrik’s transgressions on her.”
“Or to blame her for each of the Kings finding love,” Thorn added from beside Con.
Kellan and Denae rose from the table that sat in the middle of the kitchen. A moment later, Rhys and Lily pushed back their chairs and stood. Both Denae and Lily walked from the kitchen without a word, leaving the five Kings.
“I warned you no’ to take such an action, Con,” Kellan said. “No’ until we had proof.”
Con folded his arms over his chest, his dress shirt stretching tight over his shoulders. “We doona have time to wait around.”
“You took someone we could have as an ally and turned her against us,” Rhys said. “Great job.”
Thorn walked to the counters and leaned against the kitchen sink. “It was your idea, Con, that we watch over her.”
“And learn whatever secrets she has about Ulrik. I’m still waiting on that,” Con said.
Warrick rested his hands on the back of a chair at the table. “Usually, you’re in control of yourself, or you would realize that condemning her first is the worst thing you could do.”
“None of you know Ulrik like I do!” Con bellowed. He dropped his arms, his black eyes narrowed and angry as his chest heaved. “I know what he’s capable of.”
Rhys snorted loudly. “I do as well. Remember?”
“If you want her to help, give her a reason,” Kellan said and looked pointedly at Warrick.
Warrick knew where Kellan was headed and began to shake his head. “I’ll no’ use her.”
“No’ even for us?” Rhys asked.
Warrick looked at Thorn who threw up his hands. “Doona look at me. I’ll choose the Kings over any other being any time.”
“You’ve already slept with her,” Con said. “She trusts you.”
Warrick turned away and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. He couldn’t use Darcy that way. It wasn’t right. Not even to save himself and the other Kings.
Was it?
He didn’t know what to do. There was no doubt he felt something for Darcy, something strong and raw and visceral. He even wondered—for a second—if she could be his mate.
But he didn’t want a mate. So why did it matter what he did?