Fire Rising

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Rhi fell in behind a heavyset woman as she exited the bus. She was still veiled, as she’d been since she happened to spot Sammi making a run for it.

She watched Sammi look around the small village trying to decide what to do. One day Rhi would have to admit to Sammi that’d she not so subtly pushed her to Ferness, but it didn’t have to be anytime soon.

It was just a few small mental pushes, but it had worked to keep Sammi on the bus until Ferness. But getting her to Charon’s village was just the first step. She then had to get one of the Warriors or Druids to somehow meet Sammi. All without Rhi playing a visible part in it.

“Why do I keep getting involved with the Dragon Kings and their business?”

She had asked herself that question for days now without any kind of answer. There was an answer. She just couldn’t face the truth of it.

Not now.

Possibly not ever.

“I’m a sad, sad Fae,” she mumbled to herself.

If only she could let go and move on, but that was impossible with her heart ripped out of her chest. She might not have gotten her happy ending, but if she could help the Kings while giving Con a kick in the balls, she would keep putting herself through the pain of being around the Kings.

She squared her shoulders, thankful she could keep the veil up as long as she could. It was a rarity in the Fae world. It was one of the few things she had gotten from her father.

Rhi followed Sammi across the street. She was about to nudge the mortal to visit Charon’s pub when she spotted Dani entering a grocery store.

With a smile, Rhi focused on Sammi. “The store,” she whispered, sending the thought to Sammi’s mind. “Go into the store.”

When Sammi didn’t immediately comply, Rhi thought she might have to push her harder. It took a few minutes, but Sammi eventually turned and walked to the store.

Sammi had no idea why she went into the store. She didn’t want to buy anything. In fact, she wasn’t sure why she was in the village at all. She had wanted to keep going, but for some reason she couldn’t explain, she had gotten off the bus.

She walked up and down the aisles wondering what to do since the idea of food made her nauseous. The clerk was eyeing her as if she was about to steal something, which only made Sammi uneasy.

After she turned down another aisle, Sammi glanced out the window, looking for anything suspicious—and Tristan. She hated herself for wanting to see him again.

Despite learning everything she felt might have been done to her wasn’t real, she still couldn’t stop yearning for him, couldn’t stop craving his kisses.

Couldn’t stop longing to stare into his dark eyes.

She was pitiful. She had been used, and yet she wanted more if it. How pathetic that she didn’t have the wherewithal to tell them all to go to hell.

Out of habit, she checked the window again and stumbled backward as she saw red eyes starting at her. Sammi tripped and slammed into a person. The basket went flying, cans of food clattered to the ground, and she became tangled with someone as they fell with a bone-jarring thud.

“Are you all right?”

Sammi winced as she rolled to her back and felt a can beneath her. She lifted her head to the window, but could no longer see the Dark Fae, if he had been there at all. She was seriously doubting her own mind now.

She looked at the woman she had crashed into. “I think so. I’m so sorry. That’s the second time today I’ve run into someone.”

The woman smiled widely as she laughed. “Perhaps you should wear pillows for safety.”

“I think you’re right,” she said as they both laughed harder.

“I’m Danielle, but everyone calls me Dani.”

“Sammi. It’s really Samantha, but I prefer Sammi.”

“Sammi and Dani,” she said. “Women with male names. I think it was destiny that we meet.”

Sammi liked her instantly. There was just something about Dani that made you think everything was right in the world. It could be her unusual silvery blond hair or her emerald eyes, or that Dani had such a sweet personality.

Dani shoved cans aside as she got to her feet and held out her hand. “Come on. I think we could use a drink after this.”

They gathered Dani’s spilled items together, and Sammi found herself chatting as she waited for Dani to pay for them. The next thing she knew, Sammi was walking out of the store heading toward a pub with Dani.

“What brings you to Ferness?” Dani asked.

Sammi shrugged. “I just ended up here. It was the strangest thing.”

“That happened to me the first time I came here. Odd how that happens, huh?”

“Very. Do you live here now?”

Dani’s eyes crinkled in the corners as she smiled. “Aye, along with my husband, Ian. We’ve made Ferness our home for almost a year now. I’ve never been happier. I can’t wait to introduce you to Laura. And then there’s Aisley. She’s not in Ferness as often.”

Sammi merely smiled. She couldn’t exactly tell Dani that she wouldn’t be here come morning. It was nice thinking she had a friend. The last time had been … well, it had been a long time.

And there was a reason for that. Now more than ever she needed to be careful about who she trusted.

She stopped and put her hand on the door to the pub before Dani could open it. “Listen, you may think I’ve completely lost my mind, but…”

Sammi let the word trail off. How did she go about asking if Dani was involved in the Mob or knew the Dark Fae? If she was, she’d lie about it, and if she wasn’t, she’d have Sammi locked up.

Dani frowned as she reached out and touched Sammi’s shoulder. “Are you in trouble?”

“You could say that. I’d like to have that drink with you, but I’m going to have to decline. I can’t afford to trust anyone.”

Dani didn’t release her. “Wait. Please. I don’t know what you’re involved in, but there are people here who can help. Me for one. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Sammi tried to walk away again, but Dani was stronger than she appeared.

“One drink. Talk to me if you want, or you can just listen to me blab on as I’m wont to do. Your choice,” Dani said with a bright smile.

Sammi blew out a breath. She looked around for the Dark Fae or any sign of the Dragon Kings. She was so tired of being on her own, of wondering who to trust. Sammi didn’t even remember what normal was. “One drink.”

Dani opened the door and gave her a slight shove inside. The pub was like any other in Scotland. At least that was her initial take on it, but as soon as she sat down at one of the tables she had a sense that there was something more to this bar.

It wasn’t a bad or scary feeling. If it had been, she’d have clawed her way out of the building. Instead, it was as if there was more to it, almost like it had seen things as amazing as she had over the last couple of days.

Sammi looked longingly at the bar. She missed her pub, missed wiping down the bar and pouring drinks. She missed her rowdy customers and the smell of ale.

“I used to own a pub,” she heard herself say when two pints had been set in front of them.

Dani sipped her ale. “You sound as if you miss it. Why did you leave?”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“Ah,” she said with a nod. “I had that happen to me once. It’s not a pleasant feeling.”

Sammi turned the glass around. She liked Dani, but that didn’t mean she trusted her. Something could have been put in her drink.

“I got into a wreck in a snowstorm on a mountain,” Dani said with a chuckle. “It was New Year’s Eve and I was dressed for a party. I had to walk in the snow for hours. I was sure I was going to freeze to death.”

“What happened?”

Dani’s smile was slow and full of love. “I met my husband. He saved me from … well, he saved me. He was hiding in the mountains, and I had to talk him into bringing me. Ferness was the first village we came to. To be honest, I’d have been content to remain alone with him for months,” she said with a laugh.

“What a story.” Sammi was completely engrossed. “I gathered you stayed together after that?”

“There were a few bumps, but I knew from the first time I looked into his eyes that we were meant to be together.”

Sammi leaned back. She was a complete romantic, even if she didn’t want to get close to anyone. She still appreciated love and how it could change lives. “I’m glad for you.”

Dani drank more of her ale and glanced at Sammi’s untouched glass. “Do you have someone?”

“No. Maybe.” What the hell was she saying? Tristan wasn’t hers. He never had been. How could she say maybe? “No.”

Dani’s brows rose. “Ah. A complicated matter. Is that why you’re here?”

“Something like that.”

“Oh,” Dani said, her face lighting up as she gave a wave to someone. “It’s Ian. I can’t wait for you to meet my husband.”

Sammi turned to meet Ian and froze as she stared into dark eyes she knew all too well. It was Tristan. How had he gotten to Ferness so quickly? And why was Dani calling him Ian?

Thousands of questions darted through her mind at such a rapid pace that she grew dizzy. The room began to spin and she grabbed the table without ever taking her eyes off him.

“Tristan,” she whispered.

His eyes narrowed for a moment before they filled with confusion and then understanding. “You know Tristan.”

She blinked. “Know? It’s you. Why are you doing this?” she asked as she got out of the chair and stepped backward, bumping into someone.

Sammi whirled around and found another man standing behind her with dark eyes and deep brown hair. Next to him was a woman who watched her carefully with moss green eyes, her wavy brunette hair pulled back in a ponytail.

“Sammi,” Dani said slowly. “This is my husband, Ian. I told you about him.”

She began to laugh. It was the only way to hold back the tears. “Ian? Wow. You move fast. I had no idea. So that’s why you left me. You came to be with her.”

Ian, or whatever his name was, held up his hands and softened his voice as if he were talking to a deranged person. “My name is Ian Kerr. I’ve never seen you before in my life. You must be talking about my twin, Tristan.”

“Oh, please,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “Do I look that naïve? You know what? Forget it. Forget all of it. It was all a game, wasn’t it? The so-called Dark after me? The attraction between us?”

Why did her voice have to crack? Why couldn’t she deliver a great speech and walk away with her head held high?

His lips, lips she had kissed, flattened. “I can prove I’m no’ Tristan,” he said and tore open his shirt.

Sammi glanced down, and it took a full two seconds for the lack of a tattoo to penetrate her mind. “Oh, God.”

Her legs gave out, but the man beside her easily moved her to a chair. “Take deep breaths,” he said. “I’m Charon and I own the pub. The beautiful woman with me is my wife, Laura. We’re your friends, Sammi.”

Sammi reached for her ale and began to drink, hoping the alcohol would dull the embarrassment. Twin. Tristan had a twin. She flinched when she realized all she had said.

Another ale was placed in front of her when she finished the first. She put her head in her hands and groaned. Would she ever stop making a fool of herself?

“I think we need to take this upstairs,” Ian said.

Sammi didn’t argue when Dani helped her to her feet. Her mind was too shocked to do anything. She followed the two men flanked by Dani and Laura up the stairs and through a door. She was shocked to find herself in a lavish office.

“How do you know Tristan?” Ian asked before the door closed behind her.

Charon crossed his arms over his chest. “And what do you know of the Dark Fae?”

Sammi swallowed and looked helplessly around. She didn’t know these people, but they obviously knew Tristan. And they knew of the Dark. Did that mean they knew what Tristan was? “Tristan and the others were helping me.”

“What did you say your name was?” Laura asked, a frown marring her face.

“Sammi. Sammi Miller.”

Laura suddenly smiled and looked at the others. “This is Jane’s half-sister.”

“You know Jane?” Would there ever come a time the surprises stopped? Because she was really getting tired of them.

Laura motioned to the couch as she sat. “I do. Very well, actually. We all know a lot about those at Dreagan.”

Sammi looked from Laura to Ian, who was buttoning his shirt. He knew of the tattoo. Laura knew of Jane. Did that mean…?

“They’re dragons,” Charon said.