Hot Blooded, page 15
“Once more?” Laith repeated, not wanting to comprehend what Rhi was trying to tell them.
Rhys blew out a breath and opened his orange dragon eyes. Then he lifted his massive head. He gently nudged Rhi with his arm, causing her to grin up at him.
It was Con who said, “You mean he can shift into human form, but he will never be able to take his true form again?”
Rhi nodded and rested her head against Rhys. “Or he can remain in his true form, never able to take human shape again.”
Con hung his head, his fists clenched at his sides. Laith had seen that kind of fury only one other time—when Ulrik’s woman betrayed Ulrik.
“It’s your decision, Rhys,” Kiril said. “We’ll stand beside you whatever you choose.”
When Con finally lifted his head, there was death in his gaze. “Ulrik will reverse this, Rhys. I swear it.”
They watched Con walk to the waterfall and shift into a gold dragon before flying away. Kiril strode past Laith and slapped him on the shoulder. He jumped through the water, shifting into a burnt orange dragon as he did.
Laith turned back to Rhys and Rhi to find both looking at him. “Was it Ulrik that did this to Rhys?”
“Who else could it be?” Rhi asked.
“Doona do that,” Laith said rigidly. “Doona answer my question with a question. If you doona know, then just tell me.”
“The answers are more complicated than that,” Rhi said as she pushed away from Rhys and walked toward Laith. “Only a dragon can use dragon magic.”
Laith gave her a flat look. “We know. Every Dragon King except for Ulrik has been accounted for.”
“Not every dragon.”
Laith gave a loud snort of derision. “Rhi, Ulrik’s Silvers are caged and asleep. They have been for more millennia than I can remember. They didna do this to Rhys.”
She simply smiled and looked at Rhys over her shoulder. “I know. Regardless of what Rhys tells you, it’s more than his wound that troubles him. The last time the Dragon Kings were in such discord was when the war with the humans erupted.”
She vanished before he could respond. Laith looked to Rhys and frowned. Discord? There was no discord in the ranks of the Dragon Kings.
Or was there?
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
Working on her father’s Range Rover helped Iona pass the hours, but it did nothing to stop thoughts of Laith’s kisses or the fact that someone killed her father. Murder wasn’t new to her. She witnessed it while in Africa, Iraq, and Palestine.
Not at all times had she been protected by the military. There were cases when she had been alone with only a guide, and though she had been scared, she always got out alive with her assignment complete.
She wasn’t on assignment now, but the terror was doubled. All because of some secret her family kept. A secret that she didn’t know.
Iona tightened the last bolt after installing the new brake line. She looked up at the motor with all the new parts in place and wondered if she would ever get into a car again without worrying that her brakes might fail or if it would be the steering or something else.
“A person could go mad thinking about such things,” she told herself.
She was alone on fifty acres. Anything could happen at any time, and no one would be around to know. No one was there to watch her back. It had Iona reassessing her lifestyle.
Those thoughts brought her back to Laith. He occupied most of her mind of late, especially after their kisses. Even now she could still feel his tender lips as they skillfully seduced her, because that was exactly what he did.
It should be a sin for someone to kiss so expertly that she forgot everything except him. She closed her eyes and thought back to their last kiss by the waterfall. Her stomach fluttered and desire coiled within her.
She didn’t attempt to deny the need clawing through her. There was something compelling and altogether captivating about Laith. It could be his gunmetal eyes, the way the steel gray color was ringed with black. His stare was penetrating, as if he could see into her mind and sort through all her wishes and desires.
It could be his long dark blond hair. The color wasn’t just blond. There were traces of gold, copper, and light brown through the strands. She didn’t know if she liked his hair better down, or when he pulled it back in a queue, but she itched to sink her fingers into the length regardless.
It could be his lips. No man should have such full lips that, with just a smile, could make it feel as if a thousand butterflies had taken flight in her stomach. His lips were a heady combination of tender and forceful as they kissed. And they did incredible, wonderful things to her.
It could be his body. She hadn’t seen him without his clothes, but even in them, there was no denying the hard sinew and bulging muscle. She was tall for a woman, but he towered over her. He moved with an ease that reminded her of a lion stalking his prey.
It could be his accent. As much as Iona wanted to pretend that she detested anything Scottish, she had always loved the sound of a brogue. After traveling the world over a dozen times, it felt good … right even … to be back in Scotland listening to a man with a deep brogue that caused goose bumps to rise along her skin.
Iona was jerked out of her thoughts by the sound of a car approaching. She slid out from beneath the Rover and peered around the tire to see a newer-model black Range Rover come to a stop behind her car. The door opened as the engine shut off. That’s when Iona heard the laughter.
She smiled when she recognized Sammi’s laugh. Iona dusted herself off as she stood and started toward Sammi. That smile faltered when she noticed two other women with Sammi. The one with chin-length auburn hair tripped over … nothing, and Sammi quickly held out a hand to steady her. As they both laughed, Iona saw the similarities between the two women, which meant she must be Sammi’s sister.
Iona’s gaze shifted to the second woman and was completely taken aback by her beauty. The woman had long black hair with a strip of silver falling next to her face. That silver didn’t take away from her exquisiteness, but added a hint of mystery. That silver also brought out her unusual silver eyes.
“Iona!” Sammi called when she saw her and held up bags in both hands. “I brought reinforcements.”
Iona glanced down at her dirty, grease-stained pants and wished she had known Sammi planned to visit because she would have showered and changed. As it was, her attire made it more obvious how out of place she was.
“You know how to work on vehicles?” the black-haired woman asked in surprise.
Iona wiped her hand on her jeans and nodded. “I made myself learn after I was stranded in the Arabian Desert for a day.”
“I wish I knew what to do with them. I’m hopeless. My talents lie elsewhere,” Sammi said with a grin. She nodded to the woman beside her. “This is my half-sister, Jane. And the stunning one beside her is Shara. Jane, Shara, this is Iona Campbell.”
Jane held out her hand, a warm smile in place. “I’ve heard so much about you, Iona. It’s good to finally meet you.”
Iona shook her hand. She released it only to have Shara hold out her hand. “Hello,” Iona replied.
Shara’s silver eyes watched her closely, even as her lips lifted in a smile. “I’ve also heard a lot. It seems you’ve caught Laith’s interest.”
“I’m sure many women do.” Iona wanted to kick herself. “I didn’t mean that he was a womanizer, just that he was a handsome man who women would notice.”
Sammi laughed. “We know what you meant.”
Shara didn’t release her hand. She took a step closer and said in a low voice, “Laith isn’t like other men. It says a lot that you caught his eye.”
“Does it?”
“Certainly.” Shara dropped her hand to her side and lifted her other that held several bags. “I love to shop. Let’s see if I picked anything you might like.”
“I doubt it’ll fit,” Iona said as she turned and started toward the house.
Shara was beside her as she said, “We’ll see.”
Iona was the first inside. She kicked off her shoes and said, “Make yourselves at home. I’m going to take a quick shower.”
“Take your time,” Jane called before she ran into the side table.
Iona was unsure what she felt as she stepped into the shower. She wasn’t used to being around women. Her assignments usually had men guarding her or guiding her wherever she needed to go. The fact she didn’t have friends made her anxious that she might do or say something wrong.
By the time she finished showering, she regretted ever saying anything to Sammi about shopping. Iona should have done it herself so she would be the only recipient of her embarrassing lack of fashion sense.
Iona ran her fingers through her wet hair and shrugged on her robe. When she came out of the bathroom, all three women were in her bedroom.
“There you are,” Sammi said. She pulled Iona farther into the room so she could see all the outfits either laid out on the bed or hanging in various places in her room. “We weren’t sure what you were looking for, so we got a bit of everything.”
“Shara got a bit of everything,” Jane corrected.
Sammi elbowed her sister playfully, then turned back to Iona. “Shara is amazing, and has a true knack for choosing the perfect outfits for people.”
“I’m not most women,” Iona said.
Shara straightened from putting a necklace with a dress. She gave a halfhearted shrug. “I suppose that means you’re perfect for Laith since he isn’t like most men.”
“Good point,” Jane said. She rubbed her hands together. “I’m dying to see you start trying things on, Iona.”
Sammi shooed Jane out and waved at Shara to follow. “We’ll be waiting. Remember, what you don’t like or doesn’t fit can easily be returned.”
When the door closed behind Sammi, Iona slowly faced her room and stared wide-eyed at the clothes. There really was something for every occasion. There were a couple of sets of jeans and shirts, three casual dresses, two dressier dresses, a chic after-five black dress, and even a few sets of pants and jackets.
They hadn’t just stopped at the clothes. There were shoes and jewelry to go along with each outfit. Iona had no idea how the three of them had done it, or even why, but she was overwhelmed with all they had done for her.
She removed her robe and dug for a pair of panties and a bra before she reached for the first set of clothes. It was a navy sweater with navy sequins scattered across it. The sweater was light and draped over her becomingly. Iona then pulled on the pair of skinny navy slacks, surprised to find they fit as well.
Iona turned one way then the other in the mirror, liking what she saw. She checked the shoes, and merely laughed when she discovered they were her size. Once the heels were on, she donned the long gold necklace and gold earrings before stepping out of her room.
“I knew it,” Shara said with a bright smile when she saw Iona.
Jane’s eyes widened. “Wow.”
“You look amazing,” Sammi said from her spot next to Shara on the sofa. “What do you think?”
Iona looked down at herself. “I like the clothes. I like the way they make me feel. I like how they feel on.” She looked back up at the three women staring at her. “I want this.”
Jane tucked her auburn hair behind her ear, her amber eyes alight with glee. “There’s more. I’m dying to see what you choose next.”
Iona had a hitch in her step as she returned to her room. All the anxiety she had was gone. She looked at the clothes—and her blossoming friendships—with new eyes.
* * *
Laith had a difficult time paying attention to his customers. He didn’t want to be at the pub. He wanted to be at Dreagan waiting to see what Rhys would decide, but he was also hoping Iona would visit. He tried to distract himself, but every time the door of the pub opened, he expected Iona or someone from Dreagan with news.
The dinner crowd packed The Fox & The Hound, and he found his temper running short. Laith walked to his office for a break and sank into his chair with a sigh. He dropped his head into his hands and wondered if the Kings had missed something when fighting the Dark Fae recently.
Con was sure Ulrik had managed to align the Dark and the humans to go against them. It made sense, especially since MI5 had sent Denae into Kellan’s cave hoping that he would attack her and they would have footage of it. Kellan didn’t attack Denae, but it hadn’t stopped MI5 from doing their utmost to get onto Dreagan.
Then there was the Dark Fae. They had taken more risks in the past few months than they had in thousands of years. What was their hurry all of a sudden? Why had they lowered themselves to work with the humans, who they considered nothing more than entertainment and food?
If Ulrik was doing all of this, why hadn’t the Kings seen anything from the dozens of cameras installed around The Silver Dragon in Perth, where Ulrik lived and worked?
Many of the times the Kings had been attacked, Ulrik had been inside his antique shop. At least the cameras hadn’t caught him leaving. No Dark Fae were seen in the store, nor could the Kings match faces from visitors to any of the mercenaries they had run across.
Yet, if Ulrik got enough of his magic back to wound Rhys, he could easily hide himself long enough to evade the cameras watching him.
If Ulrik now had magic, it was only going to be a matter of time before he got it all back. Then all hell would break loose, because Ulrik would release his Silvers that were kept caged inside the mountain. With the Silvers loose, they would rain death and destruction upon the humans.
“Am I interrupting?” came a sultry voice.
Laith jerked his head up and spotted Shara leaning against the doorway. “No’ at all.”
“There’s someone on their way to see you. I thought you might want to be out there waiting for her.”
He tried to hold himself in check, but it was useless. He couldn’t contain the excitement or anticipation. The delight. “Iona is coming?”
“She is.”
Laith was up and out of his chair in a flash. He pushed past Shara but made himself slow before he entered the front of the pub. His gaze scanned the occupants, but didn’t see Iona’s head of golden hair.
Then the door opened and his gaze caught on a vision of beauty that would be stamped in his mind for eternity.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
Laith zeroed in on Iona as she paused just inside the pub while she looked around. As soon as she saw him, her amazing lips turned up in a smile that was as sexy as it was warm.
He was surprised to see her wearing something besides her solid-color tees and hiking pants. But he certainly enjoyed what he saw. The fluttery cream-colored shirt flowed around her gracefully and dipped low in the front so he saw the swell of her breasts, and the sleeves that trailed to her elbows were entirely of lace.
His gaze traveled lower to the khaki pants that hugged her legs and made them appear even longer down to the cream wedges. Laith leisurely let his eyes travel back up to her face where he spotted large gold hoops hanging from her ears.
He liked that she could appear feminine in hiking boots and jeans as well as decked out in heels and jewelry. No doubt she would be just as stunning without a stitch of clothes. How he wished he knew.
Laith started toward her, ignoring his name being called from the bar. After the day he’d had, he wanted something that could make him forget his troubles. That was Iona.
“Hi,” she said nervously when he reached her.
He couldn’t help but smile. “Hi.”
“I read the letter. If you aren’t busy, I was hoping we could talk.”
Laith only dimly remembered that they were in the pub and not alone. “No’ here though. Give me a second.”
He left her standing there as he told his staff to handle things until Sammi arrived in a few hours. Then Laith grabbed his keys and hurried back to Iona.
“You look amazing,” he said as he put his hand on her lower back and guided her out the door.
By the way she beamed, his praise had been just what she needed. “Thank you. I can’t take all the credit though. I needed to replenish my wardrobe, but I haven’t been shopping in years. I happened to ask Sammi, and things went from there.”
Now he understood how Shara knew Iona was on her way. Laith was curious to hear what Shara thought of Iona, and if he knew Sammi, Jane had also been there. That was someone else he would have to talk to as well.
“They might have helped, but they’re no’ the ones wearing the clothes.”
Her dark eyes slid to him. “I can’t remember the last time I felt so good in clothes.”
And he wanted to get her out of them. Laith walked her past her father’s green Range Rover to his Audi R8. “Any particular place you want to go?”
“You choose.”
Laith opened her door and waited for her to climb inside before he closed it and walked around to the driver’s side. Once he was behind the wheel, he smiled at her and started the engine.
The Audi purred as he started it. Laith backed up the car and pulled out of the parking lot onto the road as Iona leaned her head back in the seat and stared out the window to the darkness beyond.
“The letter was short,” she said into the silence.
“Did it help?”
She snorted softly. “In some ways, but not everything.”
“I thought perhaps you got all you needed since I didna see you.”
Her head turned to him. “It’s a lot to take in. Every time I think I have a handle on things, I remember my father was murdered. Then I start thinking I’m seeing things.”
“Seeing things?” Alarms went off in his head at her words.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” she said with a wave of her hand. “I think I put something one place when I find it in another. I’m trying to see every detail of things, and I know there’s a possibility I could be in danger, so my mind plays tricks on me.”
Laith wasn’t so sure of that, but he wouldn’t say anything until he was sure. He didn’t want her any more scared than she already was. He would do some investigating first. She had been through enough as it was.
