Flame, page 29
But that wasn’t why he wanted to do it. He wanted to ensure that she lived, which was nice and all, but what about their future? He could be bound to someone he discovered he couldn’t get past lying to him.
“I betrayed him and all the Kings. If there’s a chance for me and Cain, it’ll be because I helped end Moreann and the Others,” Noreen told Rhi.
“Cain doesn’t care about that.”
“You didn’t see his face when I told him what I’d done.” Noreen tried to erase it from her memories, but it was burned in her mind. “He was so hurt. It’s a wound that might never heal.”
Rhi smiled as she looked down at her hands. “That’s the funny and wonderful thing about love. It’s very forgiving.”
“Have you forgiven your King?” Noreen desperately wanted to ask who it was, but if Rhi wasn’t going to freely give that information, then she wasn’t going to probe.
“I wouldn’t go that far.” She looked up then, her eyes filled with tears. “But I miss him so much.”
Before Noreen could respond, Rhi turned away just as Cain, Tristan, Cael, and Con walked into the room. Noreen found herself staring at Cain, unable to look away from his deep green eyes.
“There’s still time to change your mind,” Tristan said.
Rhi snorted loudly. “It’s time this bitch’s reign ends. If she wants a place for her people, then she should look at fixing her own realm instead of taking what isn’t hers.”
Cael raised a brow. “This isn’t ours either.”
“I know that, but we were allowed to stay,” Rhi retorted.
Noreen noted that Con didn’t say a word during the entire exchange. To help with her nerves, she fisted her hands. It did little to calm her. She, better than anyone, knew what she and Rhi would be walking into.
She had told Rhi how volatile Moreann could be, as well as how deceptively calm the empress could get. Rhi laughed, saying Moreann sounded like Usaeil. In fact, both women were eerily similar. Perhaps that’s why their alliance had never truly come together.
It was a good thing, too. Because if it had, the Dragon Kings might not have stood a chance at all, regardless of their power and might.
That was the most terrifying thing. Moreann had been smart enough to figure out she needed Usaeil to fight the Kings. Fortunately, both women’s need to lead kept them at odds constantly. Then, Usaeil had fallen for Constantine. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Let’s get this rolling,” Rhi said into the silence. “I’ve never been good at being patient.”
It was on the tip of Noreen’s tongue to call the whole thing off because she couldn’t stand the thought that she might not make it back to Cain. Then she remembered all the horrible things she’d done throughout her years. It didn’t matter that Moreann had brainwashed her. The sins lay at Noreen’s feet, and hers alone.
“Ready?” Rhi asked her.
Noreen nodded and slid her gaze to Cain. Her breathing became difficult as fear took hold of her. She wanted his arms around her one more time, to feel his lips on hers. To hear him call her “lass” once more.
He gave her a smile and mouthed, “I love you.”
In her head, she was shouting I love you, too, but she didn’t let the words out. Then Rhi grabbed her arm, and they were gone.
When they arrived in the back room of a store, Noreen bent over, bracing her hands on her knees as her gut twisted with regret, and tears filled her eyes.
“We’ll get back,” Rhi told her, rubbing her back. “Keep telling yourself that. You’ll be amazed at what that will do for you. Trust me. It’s gotten me out of many hairy situations.”
Noreen sniffed and straightened as she wiped at the tears on her face. “I should’ve told him how I felt.”
“You should have,” Rhi stated. Then she shrugged. “But it gives you a reason to return to him. Right?”
“It does.”
Rhi gave her a once-over. “Good. Now, we need to get you in the right frame of mind to meet with Moreann, because if she saw you now, we would certainly die.”
Noreen drew in a deep breath and pursed her lips as she slowly blew it out. “You’re right. Give me a few minutes.”
“You’re a Dark,” Rhi told her. “Remember that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Rhi rolled her eyes. “You seriously need me to tell you? Fine. Why do you think Light turn Dark?”
“Because they do evil.”
“That’s partly true, but it’s because the darkness calls to them and offers them more power. You would’ve no doubt been a formidable Light, but as a Dark, you’ve got even more magic and power. You need to use that.”
Noreen shook her head. “I don’t know if I can.”
“You’re going to have to. You don’t have a choice. Moreann will make sure of that. Be on guard. Don’t underestimate her and expect her to double-cross you.”
Noreen took Rhi’s words to heart. “Moreann has never feared me. Never.”
“Oh, I bet she has, she just hasn’t shown you. Just as I know she’s feared Usaeil. Moreann might be strong, but she doesn’t compare to Fae magic. She’s lied to you for years, forming you into what she wanted you to be. Why do you think that is?”
Noreen searched her mind but came up empty. “I don’t know.”
“It’s time you found out. Don’t hold back. No matter what she does to me. You get back to Cain.”
“This is so odd.”
Rhi gave her a quizzical look. “What is?”
“I’ve always wanted to fight beside you. I can’t believe it’s actually happening.”
“Well, it is. And, frankly, I’m glad to have you on my side.”
“You don’t think I’ll deceive you?”
Rhi shrugged, her lips twisting. “You might, but it’s a chance I’m willing to take to get close to Moreann. And if you need help remembering that she’s your enemy, think about your parents.”
Cold fury filled Noreen. She could never forget what Moreann had done to her parents, as well as to her. No longer would Noreen be Moreann’s puppet.
“Now, you’re ready,” Rhi said with a smile.
Noreen met the Light’s silver eyes and touched Rhi’s shoulder. “Prepare yourself.”
In a blink, they were in a field with vibrant green craggy mountains rising up all around them. Noreen didn’t move as she dropped her hand. Neither she nor Rhi said a word.
Then Noreen whispered, “Now.”
Rhi looked around before turning to her in anger. “This isn’t the nail place you told me about. What is this?”
Noreen looked at her and lifted her chin, ready to play her part. “This is what it’s all been about.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The email to Dreagan, meeting the Dragon Kings, and convincing them I was turning on the Others. It was all to get close to you. To bring you here.”
Just saying the words made her want to vomit, but Noreen knew it wasn’t just her life on the line. It was Rhi’s, as well as the Dragon Kings’, and every mortal on the planet.
The area behind Rhi moved as if rippling, and then Moreann stepped out. Her light brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She might have made herself immortal, but she couldn’t outrun aging. Moreann wore her usual long robes, this time in a beige and gold combination.
“You always do come through, Noreen,” the empress stated as her green eyes landed on Rhi.
Rhi spun around and gave Moreann a once-over. “And you are?”
“Someone who has waited a very long time to meet you.”
Rhi shifted so she could see both Moreann and Noreen. “Well, I’ve no desire to meet you, so I’m going to go.”
“No, you won’t,” Moreann said with a smile.
Rhi cocked a brow. “Actually, I will.”
“Not if you want to know about your father.”
Noreen inwardly winced. She should’ve known that Moreann would use Rhi’s family against her. It seemed to be something the empress excelled at.
Rhi glared at Moreann for a few seconds. “I know my father.”
Moreann laughed and glanced at Noreen. “No child knows their parent. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. But I can give you insight into yours.”
“As you knew him,” Rhi retorted.
Moreann gave her a hard look. “I know you were in the mountain in Iceland. I sincerely doubt you didn’t read the stone wall there since it was in the Fae language. That means you saw your father’s name as one of us.”
“Us?” Rhi said the word as if it were poison. “You mean an Other?”
“That’s right. Just as Noreen is.”
Noreen wanted to deny it, but she couldn’t. At least, not now. In her eyes, she hadn’t been an Other in some time. She was pretending for Moreann’s benefit now. But soon, that would come to an end.
“My father was a good man,” Rhi said.
Moreann shrugged. “He knew the Dragon Kings held too much power on this realm. He wanted to take it from them.”
Rhi let out a bark of laughter. “Now, I know you’re lying. He was grateful we had a place to go and that the Kings allowed us to stay.”
“That might have been what he told everyone else, but that’s not what he told me when he joined our ranks. Should I tell you all he did to fight the Kings?”
Rhi crossed her arms over her chest. “Actually, you can go to Hell. I’m done.”
“In point of fact, you aren’t going anywhere.”
“You think you can hold me?” Rhi asked in a cold voice.
Moreann merely smiled. “I want you with us. I’ve waited a long time to talk to you. Your father left you a letter.”
“Give it to me.”
“You have to come with me,” Moreann replied.
Noreen looked at Rhi. It was a trap. They all knew it. A part of Noreen wanted Rhi to get away while she still could, but that wasn’t going to happen. And the minute Rhi moved toward Moreann, Noreen knew that the game had truly begun.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
There had never been another time in Cain’s long life when he wanted to go to war more than in that moment. It was all he could do to stand there while his woman, his mate went into battle.
“I doona like this,” Cain said for the third time since Noreen and Rhi had departed.
Con stood a little in front of him and Tristan. “Patience.”
“It’s running out,” Cain replied through clenched teeth.
Suddenly, Cael appeared before them and nodded at Cain before he looked at Con. “All went well.”
“They didna see you?” Tristan asked.
Cael gave him a flat look. “I’m a Reaper.”
“You’re more than that,” Erith replied as she materialized beside him. “You’re a god.”
The two exchanged a smile, but Cain didn’t appreciate the discussion.
“No, they didn’t see him,” Erith told Tristan. “All is well.”
Cain clenched his hands into fists. “We assume so. We shouldna underestimate Moreann. She might have known you were there and didna say anything.”
Cael shook his head. “She’s powerful—for a Druid. But she can’t compare to a Fae, much less a Reaper.”
“Or what Cael is now,” Erith added.
Con turned his head to look at Cain. “Our plans move forward, then. We each have our roles. Ulrik has already gotten everyone at Dreagan ready in case the battle moves there.”
“It’s about fucking time,” Cain mumbled.
Erith’s gaze caught his. “I know this is difficult for you, but Noreen is a strong Fae. She can do this.”
Cain looked at her for a long moment. “I doona doubt her.”
“You doubt me?” Death asked, a black brow raised.
Before he could answer, Con said, “What Cain is saying—badly—is that he’s worried about everything else. There are a lot of strings moving in this plan.”
“A plan I wasn’t here for.” Erith nodded. “Valid reasons.”
No one asked her where she’d been, but Cain thought about it. Then he decided to let it go. They needed the Reapers, Death, and whatever Cael now was. As much as it grated on him, Cain knew Erith’s caution to him had been founded. He needed to calm himself.
But Noreen was alone with Moreann and the rest of the Others. How could he be composed in such a situation? He kept telling himself that Rhi was with Noreen, but that didn’t help. The fact that no one knew why Moreann wanted Rhi bothered Cain. The unknown factor could swing things against Noreen and the Kings in a blink.
It felt as if all the nerves within Cain’s body were on fire. He needed to move, to shift, to fly, to do something instead of waiting. He wasn’t good at that. He was action and violence and fire.
A hand came to rest on his shoulder. Cain turned his head to find Con next to him. Everyone else was gone. Had he been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn’t realized the others had departed? It certainly appeared so.
“Can you do this?” Con asked.
Cain looked hard at him. “Without a doubt. I just need to get to Noreen.”
“That might no’ be possible. You know that.”
“I doona do well standing around when my mate is—” He halted his words, knowing full well that if anyone understood his dilemma, it was his King.
Con’s hand dropped away. “There was never a time I doubted us winning in any war. No’ even when all of you sided with Ulrik against the mortals. I knew we’d win.”
“But?” Cain asked when Con stopped talking.
Con’s black gaze slid away. “With everything the Others have done to us, I know this will be our greatest battle to-date. Everything hinges on this. Nothing else matters right now. No’ Usaeil, no’ the Fae. No’ even the missing weapon.”
“That I doona believe. The weapon can destroy us. For all we know, Moreann has it.”
Con shook his head as he looked at Cain. “Despite what the Others know of us, that isna something they discovered.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because they would’ve gotten it long ago if that was the case.”
Cain studied Con for a long moment. “You doona seem worried about the weapon as you once did. Why?”
“We’ve bigger problems.”
“Bigger than a weapon that could end us?” Cain gave a shake of his head. “That I doona believe. What are you no’ telling us?”
“A great deal, actually. Focus on your mate and the upcoming battle. Let me worry about the weapon.”
Cain wanted to argue, but he knew Con was right. He had to focus all of his attention on what was going down in a very short time. That is if everything went according to plan.
“The Others willna see us coming,” Con assured him.
Cain, however, wasn’t so sure.
* * *
So far, so good. Noreen wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not, however. Moreann hadn’t paid much attention to her. Instead, the empress’s focus was centered on Rhi.
Now that they were in the manor that Moreann had hidden from anyone else, Noreen saw Brian standing off to the side, his gaze narrowed on Rhi. Brian might not have been Noreen’s first choice to join them, but he wasn’t the complete idiot that Moreann made him out to be. He was deducing what was going on right before his eyes, but he was wise enough not to draw attention to himself.
Noreen, Brian, and Orun all stood as silent observers as Moreann gave Rhi the letter from her father. The mortal Druids were conspicuously absent, but then again, Moreann rarely included them in things—something the humans didn’t realize. If they did, they might not be so willing to join the Others. Maybe someone should tell them.
“What? Are you going to stand over my shoulder and watch me read this?” Rhi asked Moreann with a healthy dose of side-eye that would make anyone step back.
Noreen bit her tongue to keep from smiling when Moreann gave Rhi space. There was silence in the round ballroom as Rhi waited until Moreann had moved away before she started reading.
Just a few seconds in, Rhi speared Moreann with a deadly look. “Did you read this?”
“Of course,” Moreann said with a smile.
Rhi returned the smile, but it was anything but nice. “Was it yours to read?”
“No, but I’m the leader.”
“Funny thing about thinking such thoughts. Usaeil’s mind went on a similar path. I would’ve ended her had you not stepped in.”
Moreann stiffened, her smile fading. “You weren’t supposed to know about that yet.”
Yet. That word hung in the air like a live wire. Noreen’s gaze moved between the two women, watching and waiting for what would happen next.
“Apparently, Noreen was supposed to befriend me in any way possible,” Rhi replied. “She said the one thing that would draw me in and get me to you. A mistake I won’t make again.”
Some of the tension left Noreen, but it was only a reprieve. Things were just getting started. She looked at Orun, who couldn’t take his eyes off Rhi. Noreen couldn’t decide if he liked the Fae or not. Rhi was turned mostly away from him, and Noreen sincerely hoped Rhi didn’t forget everything Noreen had told her about the Druid.
Noreen then glanced over at Brian. She did a double-take when she realized that he was gone. She didn’t know when he’d left, only that he had. There was no telling where he’d disappeared to, but she wasn’t worried. Brian was no doubt running for his life, which was a wise decision.
Rhi went back to reading the letter. Whatever was in it had a profound effect on the Light Fae. Despite Rhi doing her best to keep her facial features even, it was obvious the words her father left weren’t anything she’d expected.
Noreen wished she could talk to Rhi. She couldn’t help but worry that whatever was in the letter might change the plans that had been made. It was, after all, from Rhi’s father. Family had a way of muddying the waters in such situations.
Rhi slowly folded the paper and slid it beneath the collar of her shirt to put in her bra. Then she looked at Moreann. “You expect me to believe that really came from my father?”
