Ulrik nodded. Dorothy MacAvoy had been but a child of five or six the first time he allowed her to see him. The years had aged her, but not once did she forget the bond between her family and Ulrik.
“I did what you wanted with Darcy,” Dorothy said. “She’s a sweet girl, even if she doesn’t tell me the truth in what she sees. It doesn’t matter though. I’ve finished what you asked of me, and I’m ready for my reward.”
Ulrik gave her hand a light squeeze. “Thank you. That should be all that’s needed to push Darcy where I need her.”
“We should’ve done this sooner. Why did you wait?”
“Some things are out of my control.”
She laughed, her craggy face lifting to his again. “I seriously doubt that. Nothing gets by you, Ulrik. You never forget a face, you speak at least twenty different languages, and you always have an answer.”
“It’s all going to be rectified now.”
“Yes, finally. You’ve waited far too long, my Dragon King. You won’t tell me what it is Darcy still needs to do, will you?”
Ulrik shook his head. “No. I’ve already visited both of your sons and your daughter. They know what’s expected of them in the coming years.”
“Of course they do,” she said and sniffed, affronted. “William and I taught them well. They won’t fail you, just as we never did.”
“I know they willna.” If they did, it was the last thing they would ever do.
Dorothy looked out over the view. “This is a beautiful place. Too bad I can’t die here.”
“Stay as long as you like.”
Ulrik released her hand and walked away. He withdrew a phone from his pants’ pocket and sent a quick text with the words: IT’S TIME.
He didn’t look back at Dorothy. Their deal had been set in motion ten years earlier. She had held up her end of the bargain. And so would Ulrik.
In an effort to keep a low profile, he’d left his ice blue McLaren Spider in Perth. He walked to the black Mini and climbed behind the wheel before he drove away.
*
Warrick was on his way up to Darcy’s room with a tray when he heard voices coming from the entryway. He paused and listened, picking out Lucan MacLeod’s voice as well as Charon Bruce’s and Phelan Stewart’s.
Damn. He’d wanted some time with Darcy before the Warriors and Druids spoke with her, but it looked like he wasn’t going to get his wish.
He took the steps three at a time to her room. Balancing the tray in one hand, he knocked on the door. A moment later and it opened to reveal Darcy’s face.
Warrick smiled and held out the tray. “Hungry?”
Her answering smile was weak. “I think I could eat.” She opened the door wider so he could walk in.
Warrick carried the tray to the bed and set it down. He took the chair while she gingerly climbed on the bed and inspected the food. He waited until she chose a cracker, a piece of cheese, and some cold chicken.
“I should’ve known Con would react the way he did,” she said after she swallowed her bite.
“Ulrik has done some horrible things.”
She nodded and turned the cracker around in her hand as she stared blankly at the tray. “My magic would vanish if I was helping an evil person, Warrick. It’s part of what we’re taught on Skye as well as the spell we put on ourselves.”
“Could you have reversed the spell on yourself?”
Her gaze jerked to him, her expression wounded and angry. “You think I would?”
“It’s just a question. Perhaps Ulrik convinced you to do it without your knowing it.”
“Not possible. The spell can’t be removed or reversed in any way. Do you think I helped Ulrik commit his crimes?”
Warrick shook his head. “The only way you’re involved is in unbinding his magic.”
“But that is enough to condemn me in most people’s eyes. I see the way they look at me here. They’re not sure what to do with me.”
Warrick wouldn’t lie to her. It wasn’t going to be easy, but Darcy had to know the truth. “Many of them have had their own run-in with Ulrik. The mates are no’ just taking the word of the Kings.”
“I see people’s futures. I didn’t see Ulrik’s. I saw a part of his past, but not the recent past. I need to know what all he’s done.”
He had been hoping that was what she would ask of him. It was going to be hard for her to hear, but it might be what she needed to prevent her from helping Ulrik unbind the rest of his magic.
“You know why he hates us,” Warrick began.
“Ulrik hates Con. He’s angry at the rest of you,” she corrected.
Warrick wasn’t sure there was much of a difference. “He has a network of spies that I suspect far exceeds that of MI5 and MI6 combined, or any other government intelligence agency for that matter. We try no’ to engage with the mortals, even when they’re after us. However, Ulrik uses them often. He has a ring of ex-military mercenaries that he calls upon.”
Darcy took another bite of food, nodding as he talked.
“We suspected something was going on when a company named PureGems trespassed on our property.”