tortured her.
It wasn’t until Rhi somehow broke out of Balladyn’s dungeon and escaped that he changed. Balladyn was determined to get her back. He promised Taraeth she would be Dark, but as the weeks passed, Taraeth was beginning to wonder if Balladyn would even be able to find Rhi.
Taraeth rubbed the stump of his left arm. None of his considerable magic was able to stop him from feeling as if his arm were still attached. That’s how powerful a Fae blade was. The strength of the steel was unmatched, but it was the Fires of Erwar where it was crafted that gave the weapons the power to destroy a Fae as no other weapon could.
Except dragon fire.
Taraeth refused to think of that. The Dragon Kings were the Dark’s greatest enemy. The Kings not only had magic that was unmatched, but their fire burned hotter than anything.
Just as Taraeth lost patience and was about to send men to find Balladyn, the throne room doors opened. Balladyn walked in with his head down. He didn’t stop until he kneeled before Taraeth.
“My king,” Balladyn said.
Taraeth leaned forward and braced his right arm on his leg. “You better have a damn good reason for keeping me waiting.”
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
Balladyn clenched his teeth together. He’d given his full loyalty to Taraeth. He’d proven himself time and again, and the first time he was late, Taraeth dared to threaten him.
It was with great effort that Balladyn didn’t reach for his sword and sever his king’s head from his body. Balladyn instead rose to his feet and met Taraeth’s gaze.
“You wanted me to watch Mikkel.”
“I said we needed to watch him. I never put you on that duty,” Taraeth said, his red eyes filled with contempt.
Balladyn rested his hand on the hilt of his sword and smiled. “I’m your right hand. I know what you want before you give me the order.”
“You’ve always been too cocky for your own good. Even as a Light Fae you thought you could get away with anything.”
“Because I did,” Balladyn answered. “It’s why you wounded me and turned me Dark.”
Taraeth turned his head away and replied grudgingly, “True. Are you going to tell me what you found?”
“I wasn’t able to get close enough to Mikkel.”
The king’s head swiveled back to him, anger radiating from his red eyes. Taraeth stood, his long black and silver hair flowing loose down his back. “You kept me waiting for nothing?” he asked in a furious tone.
“I never said that.” Balladyn shifted his feet. “What I did see was Con and another Dragon King attacking one of Mikkel’s manors.”
“Why?” Taraeth asked with his brow puckered.
Balladyn shrugged. “I don’t have an answer, but I can assure you that Con still has no idea he’s been fighting both Mikkel and Ulrik.”
“Was Ulrik there?”
“As if Mikkel allows him too far out of his sight.”
Taraeth nodded as he returned to his throne. “Mikkel doesn’t trust his nephew, and he’s wise not to.”
“Ulrik doesn’t trust him either.”
“Another wise choice.”
“Who’s going to win?”
Taraeth smiled wickedly. “That will depend on who I choose to help.”
“Ulrik knows you’re aiding Mikkel, but has Mikkel figured out you’re helping Ulrik as well?”
Taraeth gave him a droll look. “Mikkel is too caught up in his plans to realize that. Yet. He will soon enough. It’s why I’m playing things very safe for the moment. I’ll not always be able to do that. Knowing what those two are up to at all times helps to keep me ahead.”
“Who’s watching Ulrik?”
“A female Dark I sent to him the last time he was here. She’ll discover all that I need without Ulrik comprehending what she’s about.”
“Be careful with him, sire. Ulrik’s need for vengeance far surpasses what Mikkel is about.”
Taraeth sat back in the throne and sighed. “That I know. Ulrik is calculating and cunning. If I guess right, he’ll take out Mikkel before I ever have to make a decision.”
In
It wasn’t until Rhi somehow broke out of Balladyn’s dungeon and escaped that he changed. Balladyn was determined to get her back. He promised Taraeth she would be Dark, but as the weeks passed, Taraeth was beginning to wonder if Balladyn would even be able to find Rhi.
Taraeth rubbed the stump of his left arm. None of his considerable magic was able to stop him from feeling as if his arm were still attached. That’s how powerful a Fae blade was. The strength of the steel was unmatched, but it was the Fires of Erwar where it was crafted that gave the weapons the power to destroy a Fae as no other weapon could.
Except dragon fire.
Taraeth refused to think of that. The Dragon Kings were the Dark’s greatest enemy. The Kings not only had magic that was unmatched, but their fire burned hotter than anything.
Just as Taraeth lost patience and was about to send men to find Balladyn, the throne room doors opened. Balladyn walked in with his head down. He didn’t stop until he kneeled before Taraeth.
“My king,” Balladyn said.
Taraeth leaned forward and braced his right arm on his leg. “You better have a damn good reason for keeping me waiting.”
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
Balladyn clenched his teeth together. He’d given his full loyalty to Taraeth. He’d proven himself time and again, and the first time he was late, Taraeth dared to threaten him.
It was with great effort that Balladyn didn’t reach for his sword and sever his king’s head from his body. Balladyn instead rose to his feet and met Taraeth’s gaze.
“You wanted me to watch Mikkel.”
“I said we needed to watch him. I never put you on that duty,” Taraeth said, his red eyes filled with contempt.
Balladyn rested his hand on the hilt of his sword and smiled. “I’m your right hand. I know what you want before you give me the order.”
“You’ve always been too cocky for your own good. Even as a Light Fae you thought you could get away with anything.”
“Because I did,” Balladyn answered. “It’s why you wounded me and turned me Dark.”
Taraeth turned his head away and replied grudgingly, “True. Are you going to tell me what you found?”
“I wasn’t able to get close enough to Mikkel.”
The king’s head swiveled back to him, anger radiating from his red eyes. Taraeth stood, his long black and silver hair flowing loose down his back. “You kept me waiting for nothing?” he asked in a furious tone.
“I never said that.” Balladyn shifted his feet. “What I did see was Con and another Dragon King attacking one of Mikkel’s manors.”
“Why?” Taraeth asked with his brow puckered.
Balladyn shrugged. “I don’t have an answer, but I can assure you that Con still has no idea he’s been fighting both Mikkel and Ulrik.”
“Was Ulrik there?”
“As if Mikkel allows him too far out of his sight.”
Taraeth nodded as he returned to his throne. “Mikkel doesn’t trust his nephew, and he’s wise not to.”
“Ulrik doesn’t trust him either.”
“Another wise choice.”
“Who’s going to win?”
Taraeth smiled wickedly. “That will depend on who I choose to help.”
“Ulrik knows you’re aiding Mikkel, but has Mikkel figured out you’re helping Ulrik as well?”
Taraeth gave him a droll look. “Mikkel is too caught up in his plans to realize that. Yet. He will soon enough. It’s why I’m playing things very safe for the moment. I’ll not always be able to do that. Knowing what those two are up to at all times helps to keep me ahead.”
“Who’s watching Ulrik?”
“A female Dark I sent to him the last time he was here. She’ll discover all that I need without Ulrik comprehending what she’s about.”
“Be careful with him, sire. Ulrik’s need for vengeance far surpasses what Mikkel is about.”
Taraeth sat back in the throne and sighed. “That I know. Ulrik is calculating and cunning. If I guess right, he’ll take out Mikkel before I ever have to make a decision.”
In
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