He jerked at the silky voice belonging to Rhi. How he hated when she appeared in his office. He was missing the days the Light Fae had refused to show her face. Perhaps he should make it so that she couldn’t just pop in at Dreagan whenever she wanted.
Con lifted his gaze to find her sitting in one of the chairs before his desk. “Who are you talking about?”
“Ulrik. Call him. You might be surprised.”
Con had to call back the rage that flared within him. He stared into her silver eyes trying to see into her mind, to no avail. Damn Fae. “How do you know? Have you spoken with him?”
“No,” she said and rolled her eyes. “You always think the worst. It’s why you’re losing the loyalty of your Kings.”
This he didn’t want to hear, especially from her. “What do you want, Rhi?”
“I took a sample of Denae’s blood without her knowing it.”
Now that got Con’s attention. “Why?”
“I wanted to know if there was a reason she wasn’t affected by the seduction of the Dark. Yes, Taraeth forced her to orgasm, but she fought him. Not once did she fall under any Dark Fae’s spell.”
“Kellan said the same thing, but I didna truly believe him. I thought him blinded by his feelings.”
“He didn’t lie. I saw it myself.” Rhi licked her lips worriedly. “I wish I could say I found something in her blood proving she was part Fae or something.”
“But there was nothing,” Con finished.
Rhi shook her head of black hair. “Nothing. She’s as mortal as they come.”
“They why wasn’t she affected?”
“I can only think of one reason—Kellan.”
Con frowned as he leaned his arms on his desk. “Something Kellan did?”
“No. Their feelings for each other. Denae and Kellan made love before the Dark Fae grabbed them. I think it was during their time alone that the bonds of their growing love took root. I think that’s what stopped the Dark from gaining a hold on Denae.”
“I’ve seen women completely in love with their men forget they were ever married as soon as they encountered a Dark.”
“True. But none of those men were ever Dragon Kings.”
Con blinked and slowly sat back. “If the Dark have an advantage with their magic to prevent us from shifting to dragon, then it only makes sense a woman in love with a King might not be affected by the Dark’s seduction.”
“Exactly,” Rhi said with a grin. “I wouldn’t want to test my theory on Cassie, Elena, or Jane, but it’s something to keep in mind.”
Con regarded the Light Fae for several minutes. “You didna have to tell me any of this. Why did you?”
The seriousness fell from her face, replaced with the disdain she kept for him. “Trust me, Con, you won’t be the only one of the Kings I tell.”
“Does your hate for me go that deep?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
Just as countless times before, they were at a stalemate. “Thank you for the information, Rhi.”
“Don’t say I didn’t ever do anything for you,” she said right before she disappeared.
Con ran a hand down his face just as his door was thrown open. He lifted his gaze to find Kellan and Denae standing in the doorway.
“She’s agreed to be my mate,” Kellan said, a wide smile upon his lips as he gazed adoringly down at Denae.
Denae laughed up at him. “I did.”
If Con tried to stop them, Kellan would challenge him. Con could either lose another King, or he could give in. It wasn’t much of a decision to make. He had to keep his Kings united at all costs.
He rose to his feet. “Congratulations. When do you want the binding ceremony?”
“Tomorrow,” Kellan said as he walked out of the office, the door shutting behind him.
Everything Con had been fighting against was coming to fruition. The hold the Kings had on this realm was slipping. Perhaps too quickly for him to alter the course they were rushing toward.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Kellan had never been so nervous. Or excited.
He was being bound to the most wonderful, beautiful woman, and he couldn’t stand to wait another minute until she was officially his.
To his right was Con. There might be a smile on Con’s face, but Kellan knew he wasn’t happy about the mating. Not that Kellan cared. He was finally, truly happy—something he hadn’t felt since the last time he had flown with his dragons around him.
Not all of the hate for humans was gone, but Denae had healed so much of him that it was just an annoyance now. Besides, how could he hate mortals when he was in love with one?
“Are you sure?” Con whispered.
Kellan caught a glimpse of Denae walking down the corridor of the mountain. Con had repeatedly asked him if it was the right decision to make Denae his mate. Kellan had one nerve left, and Con was firmly on it. “Ask me that one more time. I dare you.”
He forgot all about Con and the other Dragon Kings that lined the cavern once he had focused on Denae. Her long coppery brown hair was down and fastened in large, thick curls.