He sent Hal a quick message. Luckily, Hal was one of the Kings guarding the mates so it didn’t take him long to reach them. He rushed into the cavern and glanced at Ryder.
“Make them sleep,” Ryder told them.
Dmitri was staring at Kinsey, who was still attempting to get to Esther. “Deeply.”
Hal walked to each of the girls and touched them, sleep gas forming around them. When he gently laid Esther on the ground, he turned to Ryder and stood. “What happened?”
“We’re trying to figure that out,” Thorn said.
Ryder waited for Thorn or Dmitri to tell Hal and Anson of Kinsey’s betrayal, but neither spoke of it. Ryder wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or not.
Because he was going to have to tell all the Kings.
There was a sound behind them as Henry began to wake. He pushed himself to his hands and knees and sat on his haunches. He looked around him. “I’m guessing I missed something.”
It was Dmitri who said, “You could say that.”
“How bad?” Henry asked.
Ryder blew out a breath. “Bad enough.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Paris, France
Con poured another glass of cabernet sauvignon, watching the red wine fill his glass. Before him sat a meal fit for a king with actual gold plates, crystal glasses, and half a dozen silver candlesticks on the table alone.
He looked past the flicker of the candles to the woman across from him. Usaeil. Queen of the Light. She raised her glass to him, her silver eyes alight with happiness.
“I’ve a benefit to attend in Los Angeles next week,” she said, dropping the American accent and allowing the Irish to come through. “I want you to go with me. I’m tired of attending these things alone.”
“You know I willna,” he said and took a drink of wine.
“They’re going to find out soon enough.” She rose and walked around the suite.
He looked over her beautiful form and the gold lamé minidress with her thick black waves falling down her back. It wasn’t an accident that she wore gold. Con knew it was all for him.
Usaeil paused at the sofa and sat on the arm, crossing one long, lean leg over the other. “Why not let them discover the truth with the rest of the world?”
“I told you I’d tell my Kings when the time was right.”
The smile dropped from her face. “I’m tired of hiding, Con. You’re a king. I’m a queen. We shouldn’t have to hide. We make the rules.”
He leaned an elbow on the arm of his chair and slowly took another drink. Usaeil had become more and more volatile of late, and Con was pretty sure he knew why—Rhi.
As he regarded Usaeil, he crossed an ankle over his knee. “I doona lead my men that way.”
“Perhaps you should. It’s working for me.”
“Is it?”
One black brow rose, her silver eyes glaring daggers. “You dare to question my rule. Have you been talking to Rhi?”
Damn. Con should’ve known Rhi would say something to Usaeil. “You know I’ve no’ spoken to Rhi lately.”
“When was the last time?”
He didn’t like jealousy in any form, but especially when there was no cause for it. “I’m no’ going to have you dig into my life.”
“Why? Do you have something to hide?” She stood and stalked toward him. “If you won’t tell me what I need to know, then that makes you guilty.”
Con set down his glass and got to his feet. He looked down at Usaeil. “And you’re paranoid. Rhi has gotten under your skin, and you’re allowing her to stay there.”
“When was the last time you saw her?”
He didn’t say another word as he walked around her and headed toward the door.
“If you walk out, I’m going straight to Dreagan and telling everyone about us.”
Con never did well with threats or ultimatums. He halted and slowly turned back to Usaeil. She smiled widely, triumphant. If she only knew how furious he was, but Usaeil was only interested in herself—just as all Fae were.
He’d learned that the hard way before. He was learning that lesson a second time. And he should’ve known better.
“I knew you could never leave me,” she purred as she walked to him. She placed her hand on his chest, moving aside his suit jacket to cover his heart. “What we have is special. Everyone will enjoy what we have.”
“And what exactly do we have?”
Usaeil laughed as she looked up at him and rubbed her breasts against him. “Why, love.”
Con’s blood ran cold. It was so much worse than he’d feared. Why hadn’t he seen the signs? But he knew the answer. He’d been too preoccupied with keeping Dreagan safe and bringing down Ulrik. Usaeil had been there to relieve his body when he had a need.
That’s all it was to him.
That’s all he assumed she’d thought as well, because that’s how it began between them.
“What do you see for us?” he asked her.
Her eyes closed as she rested her head on his chest. “Eternity. We’ll be mated, and I’ll have the tattoo on my arm of the dragon eye. We’ll unite the Light and the Dragon Kings into one faction. Your Kings can take Light as their mates as Kiril has and solidify the union.”
“And the war with the Dark?”