Rhi sat up and brought her legs to her chest. She wrapped her arms around them and rested her chin on her knees while she stared out over the moon-drenched water.
After years of pining for her Dragon King lover who had so easily—and cruelly—tossed her aside, Rhi felt a piece of herself mend.
It was a tiny piece, infinitesimal to the multitude of pieces that was her heart. But it was still a piece.
To be loved so thoroughly made her sigh. There was no doubt Balladyn was an excellent lover. It made Rhi smile as she recalled how completely and utterly he’d loved her.
She’d almost forgotten how it felt to be wanted so desperately, to be desired so fiercely. Now that she remembered, she was going to make certain to never forget again.
All those thousands of years longing for a Dragon King infuriated her. He’d made her look like a fool, but it was her own fault for believing his words of love and forever.
But lies came easily to him.
Rhi refused to dwell any more on him. He’d nearly ruined her chances of finding happiness, and the sad part was that she’d almost let him. But not anymore.
It brought to mind her watcher. He stood behind and to the right. He’d become such a constant that she found herself relying on him—a dangerous thing. Especially since she didn’t know why he was following her, or even how he was able to follow her as he did. Nor did she know his name.
He was Fae. Of that she was sure. Light or Dark though, that was the question. If he worked for Balladyn, then her watcher would’ve left when Balladyn arrived. But he’d remained.
She turned her head to look in his direction. He was constantly veiled, which took an incredible amount of power. Rhi knew because she was able to do the same. The only other Fae who could hold a veil that long was Usaeil, Queen of the Light.
As a previous member of the Queen’s Guard, Rhi knew none of them could remain veiled for more than a couple of minutes at a time. Unless they hid the ability, much as she had.
Balladyn’s hand touched her lower back right before his Irish accent filled her ears. “What’s on your mind, pet?”
“Nothing,” she said and once more looked at the ocean.
“Liar.” There was no heat in his words as he sat up beside her. “Tell me you don’t regret this.”
Rhi looked at him and smiled, even as sadness filled her when she saw his red eyes once more. “I don’t regret this.”
“But you’re not happy about it either.”
“That’s not true,” she said and turned toward him.
Balladyn touched a strand of her black hair near her face. “I’ve wanted you for so long. I told myself I’d wait for you to come to me, but I couldn’t.”
“If I didn’t want what happened between us, I would’ve stopped it,” she assured him.
“Aye,” he said with a nod. “But was it really me you wanted?”
Rhi gawked at him. Was he serious? Yes, he most certainly was. “Yes, Balladyn. It was you I wanted.”
“Then why are you so sad?”
She swallowed and looked down as his hand took hers, their fingers lacing together. “For a long time I fooled everyone into thinking I had my life under control. It’s all been a lie. When you captured me and tortured me—”
“I’m sorry,” he interrupted her.
Rhi paused. The depth of sadness in his words touched her deeply. “Something snapped inside me. Suddenly there was this darkness that felt like it was swallowing my light.”
“That’s my fault,” Balladyn said and looked away, desolation lining his face.
Rhi didn’t deny the statement.
“I wish I could undo it all.”
She put her other hand atop their joined ones. “I don’t. Because of that time I discovered new power within me. Perhaps it was always there and just needed a reason to break loose.”
Balladyn’s gaze swung back to her. “You would’ve found that power eventually. I don’t like knowing I hurt you.”
“My life is more out of control now than ever before. I don’t know which way is up anymore. I feel like I’m falling, and I’m desperately trying to grab ahold of something.”
“Then hold onto me,” Balladyn said.
She looked into his red eyes, his plea reflected there. Rhi didn’t know what the future held, nor did she try and find out. What she did know was that having Balladyn by her side was what she wanted. “I won’t turn Dark.”
“I know.”
“But you want to rule the Dark. This will never work between us.”
“Why not give it a try and see?” he asked. “We’ll never know if we don’t try.”
Rhi lowered her gaze to the white sand. “If anyone ever discovers us, it won’t be good.”
“Are you frightened of what the Dragon Kings might say?” he asked in a hard voice.
Her eyes jerked to him. “No. But some of them are my friends, and if they need me, I’ll be there for them.”
“And your King?”
Rhi was thankful Balladyn didn’t say his name. “He hasn’t been mine in eons. He’s already moved on.”
Balladyn searched her eyes. “Have you?”
“Yes.”