Darcy struggled all day to read palms and tarot as if she didn’t know she was being targeted by someone. Normally, she would see a client’s future laid out before her, but she never told them the truth. No one really wanted to know what awaited them.
She would give them hints and clues to try and steer a client away from something that could harm them, but ultimately it was up to each person to make their own destiny.
The code she had been taught on Skye was so deeply entrenched that she didn’t even try to break free. Besides, she understood why that code was in place. To use magic to do harm, bring about death, or otherwise aid evil went against everything a mie was.
Each Skye Druid put a spell upon themselves to ensure they would never break the code. If she did, she would no longer be able to use her magic.
That’s why, when she went the entire day only seeing bits and pieces of her clients’ futures instead of a full picture, she began to freak out.
Magic was her life. Well, magic and her plants. She had done nothing to go against the code. Of that she was sure. The only explanation was she was beyond stressed after Ulrik’s appearance that morning combined with the dreams of dragons.
She closed up the shop at eleven in the evening and began the short walk home. The streets were abnormally empty. Every sound had her jumping. She had her magic at the ready, prepared to use it at any second.
Her hand shook when she reached her building and she tried to get the key in the lock. She finally gave up and unlocked it with magic.
Darcy hurried inside and then up to her flat to shut and lock the door behind her. With a wave of her hand she turned on all the lights in the flat. Only when she was sure that she was alone did she step away from the door.
*
Warrick let the Dark Fae fall to the ground, his gaze on the third floor windows of Darcy Allen’s flat. The silly female hadn’t even realized she was being followed—not just by him, but a Dark as well.
He was able to grab the Dark before the Fae could get to her. Thankfully, there was just the one, and Warrick had the element of surprise against the Dark.
But there would be more.
When Warrick found the palm reading store at noon, he kept an eye on who entered and who left. Nothing out of the ordinary occurred.
Even though Ryder had sent a picture of the Druid to his phone, Warrick hadn’t expected to feel such a shock at the pretty mortal with curly auburn hair and long, lean legs.
Warrick dragged the Dark into an obscured alley. It would be so easy to dispose of the Fae with a burst of his dragon fire, but he couldn’t chance shifting in the middle of the city. Besides, he wouldn’t fit between the two buildings.
He stared down at the Dark and grimaced. His mobile phone vibrated in his pocket. Warrick took it out and saw it was Kiril calling. He answered curtly.
“I’ll be damned,” Kiril said. “I just lost a hundred quid because you answered.”
In the background, Warrick heard Rhys laughing. Warrick sighed heavily. “If you didna want me to answer, then you shouldna have called.”
“True.” There was a smile in Kiril’s voice. “How is it going? Have you seen the Druid?”
“Aye. And I’ve killed a Dark that was after her.”
“Shite.” The laughter was gone. Kiril was all business as he asked, “Do you need any help?”
Warrick looked at the body. “I doona want to leave the Druid in case more Dark show up, but I need to get rid of the one I’ve killed.”
“I’ll be there shortly.”
The call ended. Warrick returned the mobile to his pocket and looked back to the windows of Darcy’s house. Once the Kings following Ulrik had discovered who it was he visited, Ryder had all of the Druid’s information pulled up on the screens at Dreagan.
Ryder had sent everything to Warrick’s phone as he drove to Edinburgh. Warrick had glanced at her photo on his phone, but the image he’d formed from that and the woman who walked out of the shop tonight weren’t one and the same.
He climbed a fire escape ladder to the top of the building across the street and set up watch. From his vantage point he would be able to see anyone coming for her. The only blind spot he had was the back of her building. This was supposed to be a one-man job, but it had just turned into a two-man watch, minimum.
Warrick worked better alone. Not because he didn’t like others. He just had a difficult time around anyone else. But he wouldn’t put the life of the female in jeopardy simply because he didn’t want others around. He pulled out his phone and dialed Con.
The King of Kings answered on the second ring. “How are things?”
There was no hello, no pleasantries. Just the way Warrick liked it. “No’ good.”
“Meaning?” Con asked, a note of worry deepening his voice.
“I’m no’ the only one watching the Druid. There was a Dark who came after her. He was too intent on her to realize I was there.”
There was a pause. “Was it a random Dark?”
“In Edinburgh? Nay. Perhaps Ulrik sent him.”
“Perhaps.” Con sighed through the phone. “I’m going to have to send someone to join you.”