Perth, Scotland
Ulrik stood in the middle of his living room, hands fisted at his sides and seething with rage. He wanted to destroy everything around him, to release the fury that was about to erupt from him.
And it was all due to Mikkel.
His uncle had meddled for the last time. Ulrik had had Asher right were he wanted him. Con sending Asher to Paris had been fortuitous.
Ulrik’s plan would’ve worked if only the key to his entire plan—journalist Rachel Marak—hadn’t fallen in love with Asher.
She’d promised Ulrik that she would tell the world about the Dragon Kings. He didn’t take such pledges lightly. The oath bound her to him in a way she hadn’t understood.
Then she betrayed him.
Too many treacheries left a mark. And for her betrayal, Rachel had given him no other recourse but death. Except Asher had gotten to her in time. Even so, Ulrik had planned to wound Asher and kill Rachel.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he’d seen his uncle standing in the rubble of the warehouse.
Now, Mikkel knew his secret.
Now, Mikkel knew he could shift.
It was information Ulrik planned to use when the time was right. He was strong enough to take his uncle out, and had been for a while. But he’d been biding his time, waiting to discover as much of Mikkel’s secrets as he could.
There was only one King of the Silvers. Mikkel may have coveted the role, thought he could take it from his brother, but the strongest dragon with the most magic became the next King. That wasn’t Mikkel. It was Ulrik.
His uncle had hidden his anger well all those years. So well that Ulrik had never known how much hate festered in Mikkel’s heart. After Ulrik’s father died, Mikkel had attempted to leave the family and go off on his own.
Ulrik was the one who’d talked him into staying. Ulrik had been a different person back then. He’d seen the world as nothing but good and decent, a beautiful place in which to live out his dreams.
Now, he looked back on those memories and saw them in another light. Had Mikkel played him? Had Mikkel wanted him to ensure that he would remain a part of the family? Was that why his uncle had tried to leave?
Ulrik’s anger grew because it was exactly the type of thing Mikkel would do now.
Eons ago, Con had warned Ulrik that his trusting nature would get him hurt. It seemed his old friend had been right—not that he would ever tell Con such a thing.
Ever since Mikkel had come into his life a few years before, Ulrik had played the part of subordinate well. There were several things he’d done to the Kings that Mikkel wasn’t aware of.
So, who tipped off his uncle to his plans in Paris?
Since Ulrik didn’t trust anyone, the blame remained with him. It had to have been something he’d said—or didn’t say—to Mikkel.
But he hadn’t spent the last thousands of years putting this plan into motion only to have his uncle destroy it all. There were still things happening that would put Ulrik ahead.
He looked around. If he remained at The Silver Dragon, Mikkel would destroy his shop and all the beautiful antiques he’d acquired through the years.
Ulrik stalked to his bedroom and yanked open the door to his closet. He had little time to get what he needed. Dressing quickly, he made his way down the stairs to the shop below.
He pulled open his bottom left desk drawer and took out the file he’d hidden. Inside was a list of names that he’d narrowed down to two. One of them was the spy Mikkel used on Dreagan.
Ulrik was going to discover which one it was. With merely a thought, the file disintegrated into nothing. Then he used his magic to spell the shop so that Mikkel couldn’t wreck anything.
There was nothing in his desk or on the computer that held any secrets for his uncle to find. No, everything was in Ulrik’s head.
He touched the silver band on his wrist and teleported away, his thoughts on one individual.
Ulrik found himself in the middle of a field with grass reaching past his knees. He looked around and saw the forest before him, a lake behind him, and mountains on either side.
But he didn’t spot his quarry.
Not that he’d expected it to be easy. V never made anything easy.
He headed in the direction of the forest. For over an hour he walked until he saw a road. He followed it, staying in the woods, until he came upon the road sign.
“Sweden, V? What the hell are you doing?” he murmured to himself.
In no time, Ulrik came upon the town. He made his way down the center of the village until he found the pub. Inside, he spotted V. He sat in the back with a pretty woman on his lap, the female running her fingers through his long, dark hair.
V’s gaze jerked to him.
For a lengthy minute, the two stared at each other. Then Ulrik turned on his heel and left. He made his way back through town and up a trail atop a hill.
He didn’t have long to wait before V found him. They stood together, staring over the land as the sun sank into the horizon.
“How did you find me?” V asked.
Ulrik took a deep breath and slowly released it. “No’ easily.”
“You used magic.”
He heard the suspicion in V’s words. Ulrik faced him and nodded. “That’s right. A lot has happened while you slept.”
“Apparently,” V said with distaste.
“I have all my magic returned.”
“No’ a gift from Con, I suspect.”
Ulrik snorted. “No’ hardly. I worked diligently until I found a Druid who helped me.”
V nodded, folding his arms over his chest as he shifted to the side to face Ulrik. “I’ve heard Con in my head every day. He wants me to return to Dreagan because of a war you started.”
“Why have you no’ done as your King commands?” he asked with a grin.
V glanced away. “I’ve something I need to do first.”
“So you plan to return to Dreagan?”
“Eventually.”
Ulrik looked into V’s blue eyes and smiled. “You sided with me once, brother.”
“For a time.”
“Because you knew the humans were a plague upon this realm and needed to be exterminated.”
V’s chest expanded as he inhaled. “Aye.”
“Our dragons are gone because of them.”
Calculating eyes watched him. “We made a vow to protect the mortals.”
“That was before our dragons were slaughtered.”
“Things can no’ be undone,” V said as he dropped his arms and turned to face forward.
Ulrik saw his chance and took it. “You’re right. They can no’. But they can be changed. Con once demanded I fight him to be King of Kings. I declined because I did no’ want the role.”
“And now you do?” V asked, his head turning toward Ulrik slightly.
“Aye. I’m going to set things right. And once the humans are gone, I’m going to bring back the dragons.”
V nodded slowly. “We could fly free again.”
“Whenever you want. No more restrictions, no more pretending we’re mortals.”
“I was forced from my sleep to once more walk this world I want no part of in order to fight in a war. Again.”
“It’s a war I began,” Ulrik admitted. “I did it to exact my revenge for having my magic bound and being banished from my home.”
Turning his head gradually, V met Ulrik’s gaze. “I was one of the ones who killed your woman.”
“You also sided with me in the war against the humans.”
“What do you want of me, then? You have your magic. You can release the Silvers.”
Ulrik smiled. “Oh, that is coming, brother. But no’ yet.”
Blue eyes narrowed into slits. “You want me to return to Dreagan.”
“Aye.”
“I’ve something yet to do.”
He looked around. “In Sweden?”
“I doona know where I’m going, but I’ll know it when I see it.”
“Tell me what you search for. I’ll help.”
V looked away. “Nay.”
“Then find it, but soon.”
“There’s something you’re no’ telling me.”
V had always had the ability to see into the unspoken. “No’ all the dragons went across the dragon bridge.”
“Your four Silvers.”
“There was another.”
V’s head jerked to him. “Who?”
“My uncle. The second my magic was bound, he became King of the Silvers. Then the magic bound not just my magic but also Mikkel’s so that neither of us could shift.”
“It’s been a race to see who could become King again.”
Ulrik gave a nod. “Mikkel never stood a chance with me, but he knew he wasna strong enough to kill Con.”
“That’s why he kept you alive. How long have you known Mikkel was here?”
“No’ long. He hid himself so I wouldna find him.”
“I can no’ imagine you were happy to learn that.”
That was putting it mildly. All those years wandering alone when he had family there watching him . . . It infuriated him to know that Mikkel had seen him at his lowest. “I’ve been using him just as he’s been using me.”
“How so?”
“He looks like me, except for a bit of gray at his temples.”
V shook his head as he understood the implications. “So the other Kings see or hear about Mikkel and think it’s you.”
“Some of it has been me. Some of it has been Mikkel. As I said, I’ve used him. I put plans into place thousands of years ago.”
“Did he, as well?”
“Aye, but no’ as good as mine.”
“Kill him, then.”
That had crossed Ulrik’s mind on several occasions. “Mikkel can still be of use. I’ve got a plan for him that will keep Con’s attention focused away from the very thing I’m going after.”
“Which is?”
“The weapon.”
A frown creased V’s forehead. “What weapon?”
“Con has kept a weapon hidden in his cave that has the potential to destroy every Dragon King.”
“Then why do you want it?”
Ulrik smiled. “The Dark wish to use it.”
“You’re playing with fire, brother.”
“I know what I’m doing.”
V ran a hand down his face. “So why send me back to Dreagan? To spy for you?”
“I can do that on my own. I’ve got something else for you.”
“What is that?” V demanded to know.
Ulrik looked up at the darkening sky. “There are mates at Dreagan.”
V’s shocked expression was filled with abhorrence. “That can no’ be possible. The spell—”
“That prevented any of us from having strong feelings for the mortals was shattered the day I gained my magic once more.”
“You know I can no’ hurt the mates.”
“I’m no’ asking that of you, brother. I simply want you to gather them for me.”