Hot Blooded, page 9
“What are you talking about? Balladyn hates me.”
“There is a thin line between love and hate.” Usaeil smiled dejectedly. “He was in love with you before he and your brother went off to war. He was waiting until the right time to approach you. Then he had to return home and tell you and your family about your brother’s death. It put everything on hold.”
Rhi’s chest began to ache as she recalled all the times she spent with Balladyn talking about her brother. While she grieved, Balladyn had been patiently waiting.
“He was beside himself when you fell for the Dragon King. He kept it from you, though it killed him to do it.”
Rhi shook her head. “Stop. Balladyn was my closest friend. I’d have known if he had feelings. He thought of me as a sister.”
“He wanted you for his wife,” Usaeil insisted. “We spoke about it. I was the one to caution him to stand beside you instead of trying to talk you out of your affair with the Dragon King.”
“Balladyn was the one to comfort me after…” Rhi couldn’t even say it thousands of years later.
Usaeil waved Rhi to her, then tugged Rhi down beside her on the couch. “When Balladyn was injured in the war, we all saw him fall. You weren’t the only one to try and reach him. The battle lasted days, Rhi, with scores of Fae—Light and Dark—dying. We fought for survival, intending to return for our dead.”
“Except Balladyn was gone,” Rhi said.
“His wound was fatal. None of us could’ve known that Taraeth wanted Balladyn as one of his men.”
“Balladyn blames me,” Rhi said and focused on the thirty-foot painting hanging on the far wall of the Fae realm. “It’s why he kidnapped me. It’s payback for leaving him on the battlefield.”
Usaeil snorted. “That’s shite, and you know it.”
“Is it?” she asked, turning her head to look at Usaeil. “He was all the family I had.”
“You’re Light, Rhi. You’re never without family.”
Rhi lowered her gaze to the white marble floor with veins of dark gray running through the marble. “My light was almost taken.”
“But it wasn’t. You’re here with us now.”
She paused a second before returning her gaze to Usaeil. “I’m not the same. I’m … different.”
Usaeil took one of Rhi’s hands in her own and ran a finger over Rhi’s black-tipped nails. “How do you think the Dark Fae began?”
“Their need for power.”
The queen’s smile was forlorn as she shook her head. “It began because there were some who couldn’t control the darkness that’s in all of us. They weren’t strong enough to hold onto the light. No realm is merely black or white, good or evil. It’s a mixture. Always has been. Always will be.”
That didn’t help Rhi. It wasn’t as easy as making a decision. She had been inexplicably altered.
“It was the light within you that broke the Chains of Mordare. Do you understand what that means, Rhi?”
She looked at the queen. “It means I’m a liability.”
“No, my dear. It means you hold more light inside than the entire Light Fae combined. It means you are powerful, but more importantly, it means you fought—and won—against the Dark.”
Could it be that simple? Was she worried for nothing? There was melancholy and rage inside her as well, and Rhi didn’t know how long she could hold those emotions back.
“What is it?” Usaeil asked.
Rhi looked at the black on her nails before she turned her head to gaze out the window. “I can’t find happiness as I used to. There is such anger inside me.”
“Look for the light inside when such feelings come. It will help to center you.”
Rhi nodded, since it was expected.
“I was told Ulrik carried you from Balladyn’s fortress.”
“Apparently he did.” Rhi withdrew her hand from the queen’s. She didn’t want to talk about Ulrik, but she knew Usaeil would eventually get to him.
“Is that where you’ve been? With him?”
Rhi chuckled as she looked at Usaeil. “No.”
“Be careful there,” her queen warned. “There is a war coming between the Kings and Ulrik.”
“He is a King,” Rhi corrected her.
Usaeil raised her brows, her silver eyes seeing everything. “Not according to Constantine. Ulrik was banned from Dreagan, stripped of his magic, and unable to shift into dragon form. He has revenge in mind. Don’t get in the middle of what is coming between them.”
“It seems I wasn’t the only anomaly recently. For the first time a Dark has become Light,” Rhi said, changing the subject.
Usaeil shrugged and leaned back against the arm of the couch. “A Fae chooses to become Dark. Up until now, we’ve never found one who wanted to return to Light. Shara’s love for Kiril helped her find her way to overcome the darkness. She’s the first, but hopefully not the last.”
Shock waves reverberated through Rhi. “Tell me you aren’t going to do what I think you’re going to do.”
“What is that?” Usaeil asked innocently.
“You want to try and change Balladyn back to Light.”
Usaeil drew in a deep breath and slowly released it. “He was turned against his will.”
“Trust me when I say he is fully Dark. He’s second in line behind Taraeth. Balladyn wants to rule the Dark, and one day he will. You can’t bring him back from that path.”
“He was a great warrior for the Light,” Usaeil said, her voice rising.
Rhi jerked to her feet, rage flooding her. “He’s not the same! He is evil to the core. There’s no light within him, only darkness and cruelty.”
“If a Light can be changed to Dark with torture, a Dark can be changed to Light.”
“If you believe that, you’re going to put every Light Fae in danger. You don’t know the Balladyn I was tortured by.”
Usaeil’s eyes narrowed before she stood and faced her. “You’re blinded by your hate. And lest you forget, Balladyn used the black smoke to torture you.”
“How would you know that?” Rhi took a step back. “How do you know anything that happened to me? Unless…”
How could she have been so stupid? The Light Fae and Dragon Kings had a shaky truce, and she assumed Con and Usaeil didn’t interact. Apparently, she was wrong.
Usaeil didn’t respond. She merely held Rhi’s gaze. Rhi laughed, though there was no humor in the sound. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts she hadn’t realized what Usaeil had let slip earlier, but she did now. “So I didn’t misunderstand when you said you were with Con and Rhys looking for me?”
“No.”
“And Con then told you what happened.”
Usaeil clasped her hands in front of her and nodded.
“There are three people who know what happened at the end, excluding me. Balladyn, Ulrik, and Con. Balladyn is Dark. Ulrik is banished. Of course you would believe whatever Con said.”
“Why would he lie?” Usaeil asked.
Rhi turned on her heel and started out the doors. “Why does Con do anything?”
Usaeil waited until Rhi vanished and the doors closed before she turned toward the hidden doorway behind her throne and waited for Con to step out. “Well?” she asked him.
His lips flattened. “I think she’s right. She’s not the Fae she used to be. Before she was reckless, wild, and uncontrollable, but she was always … happy, for lack of a better word. Now, she’s controlled, easily enraged, and oppressed.”
“I lost Balladyn, Con. I can’t lose her as well.”
“You won’t. I promise.”
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
Laith laid upon the ground and stared up at the ceiling of the cavern. There were dozens of candles lit and reflecting on the water from the hot springs. The ripples of light playing from the movement of the water bounced on the walls and ceiling.
It normally calmed Laith, but he wasn’t finding any peace today. Ever since Iona threw him out of her house, he had been in knots. Not even securing the prisoners and ensuring no one else would bother her helped.
He understood Iona’s feelings. An omission was a lie. Laith purposefully didn’t tell her he was a part of Dreagan. It wasn’t to hurt her but to determine how much she knew about her ancestors. But it backfired on Laith. He should’ve known Iona wouldn’t appreciate such tactics. She found it difficult—nay, impossible—to trust, and he just gave her reason not to trust him.
“I knew I’d find you here,” Warrick said.
Laith didn’t bother to look at his friend. “What do you want?”
“Ryder said the men you knocked unconscious are finally waking. Thought you might want to be there to question them.”
“It’s been almost twelve hours.”
“Apparently you hit hard,” Warrick said, a drop of humor lacing his words.
Laith sat up and looked at the doorway. “I do want to question them.”
“Then get your arse moving. Rhys is already on his way.”
Laith jumped to his feet and followed Warrick. They trekked through long corridors and past caverns of various sizes before they reached the tunnel they had carved millions of years before to connect one mountain to another.
“Is it just Ryder watching them?” Laith asked.
Warrick grunted. “As if the buggers would be able to find their way out of the mountain.”
“True, but we’ve encountered men like this before.”
Warrior glanced over his shoulder at Laith. “They’re mortal, and we have them where no Dark Fae can get.”
Laith had been so upset after Iona wouldn’t let him talk that he had taken to the skies—and remained there until dawn—once the prisoners had been secured. “I know exactly where they are, Warrick. It was my suggestion we put them there.”
“Then you know they are no’ going anywhere,” he stated.
Laith didn’t bother to say more as they reached the turn in the corridor that would dead end at the small cavern. He quickened his pace, ready to get some answers as to why they were following Iona.
Warrick was the first to enter, and then came to a dead stop. Laith had to shove him out of the way so he could step through the doorway, and then he too halted and simply stared.
“It happened so fast,” Ryder said as he stood over one of the five men who was prone on the ground, white foam falling from his mouth.
Laith looked from one man to the next and found the same foam. He was in shock at what he saw. “Cyanide? They had cyanide pills hidden in their mouths?”
“We were finally going to be able to get some answers,” Warrick mumbled irritably.
Rhys ran a hand down his face and scowled. “We’re no’ getting anything now.”
“I didna think to check them for poison,” Ryder said.
It was a setback, but Laith wasn’t too worried. “There will be more. Whatever reason they were after Iona, as soon as these come up missing, more will arrive.”
“I hope you’re wrong,” Rhys said. “I’ve had my fill of our enemies getting so close.”
Warrick kicked the feet of one dead mercenary. “Why do they want to harm Iona Campbell? She’s no’ associating with any of us.” He then looked at Laith. “Much. I doona think she even knows about her heritage.”
“John was murdered,” Laith reminded them. “Possibly by the same men. Who’s to say they willna try the same on Iona?”
Ryder hefted a merc over his shoulder. “Good point. You need to find some way back into her life, Laith.”
He blinked at Ryder. “She’s made it clear she doesna trust me now.”
“And you’re going to let that stand in your way?” Rhys asked, then made a sound at the back of his throat. “Since when do you give up so easily?”
Warrick grinned from ear to ear. “I think the point, lads, is that he fancies her.”
“I doona fancy her.” The lie sat heavy on Laith’s tongue, and all of them knew it. “She intrigues me.”
Rhys met his gaze, his face somber. “Then doona waste time. Find a way to earn her trust once again if you want to keep her alive.”
“Go,” Ryder said. “We’ll clean this up.”
Laith started to turn away when he stopped. “I thought Con would be here.”
“We all did,” Warrick said.
Rhys bent and flung a mercenary over his shoulder, then straightened. “No one has seen Con in a few days. He’s off on another of his mysterious trips.”
“After Ulrik, perhaps?” Ryder asked.
Laith said, “I doubt it. He’ll wait until we can all see the battle.”
“If you think that, you doona know Con,” Rhys said before he walked out.
Warrick gave Laith a shove before he hefted another of the mercs and followed Rhys. Laith stared at the two remaining dead bodies and pivoted. He couldn’t remember a time he had ever tried to gain the trust of a female. He wasn’t even sure if he knew how.
* * *
Iona walked around her father’s Range Rover for the second time that morning, stopping on the driver’s side as she looked at the huge dents and scrapes caused by the boulders when the SUV fell off the mountain.
The driver’s door was stuck, but the others worked fine. There was no sense in her keeping the rental car when she had a perfectly good vehicle to drive the few times she went into town.
Her decision made, Iona walked to the passenger side and climbed in before settling in the driver’s seat. Once behind the wheel she put the key in the ignition and tried to start it. The battery wouldn’t even turn over.
Iona dropped her head to the steering wheel for several moments before she climbed back out and opened the hood. Part of being independent meant that she knew how to do a little of everything. It was by necessity that she learned to work on vehicles, but she discovered she liked it.
She found where the battery had been disconnected quickly enough. Just as Iona was about to reconnect it, she took a look at the rest of the engine, a frown forming. Someone wanted to make damn sure no one could drive the Rover.
Iona looked in the small shed out back and found the tools she needed. Then she got to work on the Rover. She meticulously checked everything as she went. Despite the vehicle’s age, her father had taken good care of it, replacing parts as required.
She stopped long enough to grab something to eat at noon before she was back under the SUV. A check of the water hose proved that all was good, as was the radiator. It wasn’t until she got to the brake line that she noticed all the brake fluid gone.
There were a few other things she needed to pick up from town, so once her initial check was done, Iona took a shower and changed. She made a list of all that she required, then drove into town in her rental.
Iona pulled into M&M Auto Repair and parked. She had the list in hand when she got out of the car. No sooner had she closed the door than Michael MacDonald, the owner, walked out of the garage, wiping his hands.
“Hello, again,” he called with a cheery smile.
Iona noticed the smudge of grease on his cheek as she returned his smile. She handed him the piece of paper. “I’ve made a list of things I need to repair the Rover.”
His smile disappeared and a frown creased his brow as he looked from her to the paper. “You’re repairing John’s Rover?”
“I am. I do know what I’m doing.”
His gaze jerked back to hers. “Oh, I didna mean to imply that you didna, lass. Are you sure you want to handle this yourself?”
Sammi wasn’t the only one who learned to read people. Iona hadn’t had the pleasure of learning behind a bar like Sammi. No, Iona learned out in the real world hunkered down with different military squadrons during war, or asking tribal leaders to allow her inside their borders where one wrong mistake could get her killed.
That’s how she knew Michael was hiding something from her. “I do. Do you have everything I need?”
“Uh … I believe so.” He waved her to follow him into the adjacent shop, and then proceeded to look through the shelves.
Iona leaned her forearms on the counter as she watched him. “Once I have her running, I’ll drop by so you can beat out the door panel. I’m hoping that’s all it’ll take to get the driver’s door working again.”
“It’ll take a wee bit more than that,” he said as he walked around the aisle, a rag hanging from the back of his pants pocket.
“Maybe. We’ll see.”
“Um, hm.”
She continued with the mundane questions and statements, putting him at ease. Then she asked, “Why do you think the battery was disconnected?”
Michael stilled for the barest of moments, then he walked to her with his arms loaded with items. “You say the battery was disconnected?”
“I did. The brake line was dry as a bone as well. What are your thoughts on that?”
His gaze lowered to the left. “I doona know.”
It was a classic sign of someone lying. She straightened and kept her gaze locked on him “It was my father who died.”
“I know, lass,” he said and met her eyes. “Everyone liked him.”
Honesty reflected in Michael’s brown eyes. “You’re speaking true now, but you didn’t a moment ago. What aren’t you telling me?”
“Lass,” he began.
Iona immediately cut him off by lifting her hand. “If you’re going to try and feed me more lies, don’t. I’m not in the mood.”
His shoulders sagged, and the lines on his face deepened. “I was hoping you’d never find out.”
“Find out what, exactly?”
“Please doona make me tell you.”
A knot of unease formed. “Who else knows?”
He wouldn’t meet her gaze, which meant several others. “Iona, lass, perhaps it’s better if you let this go.”
As if that would happen now. “Was it an accident that killed my father?” she pressed.
Michael sighed and looked at her for several moments before he gave a single shake of his head.
