Heart of Gold Read online

  Heart of Gold, A Dark Kings Special Valentine’s Day Novella

  Dark Kings, Book 20

  Donna Grant

  Contents

  Foreword

  My heart will be your shelter, my arms your home.

  Chapter 1

  I cannot breathe without you.

  Chapter 2

  Without a doubt, without hesitation. I am yours.

  Chapter 3

  Today, I would’ve exchanged a thousand years of my life just to touch you.

  Chapter 4

  You whispered into my heart. You kissed my soul.

  Chapter 5

  You touched not just my heart but also my soul. As no other has.

  Chapter 6

  I want you in so many ways that I can’t put it into words.

  Chapter 7

  I love you.

  Chapter 8

  Excerpt of OF FIRE AND FLAME

  Thank You!

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  About the Author

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  * * *

  A HEART OF GOLD

  © 2021 by DL Grant, LLC

  Cover Design © 2021 by Charity Hendry

  Formatting © 2021 by Charity Hendry

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  ISBN 13: 978-1-942017-69-1

  Available in ebook.

  All rights reserved.

  * * *

  Excerpt from: OF FIRE AND FLAME

  © 2021 by DL Grant, LLC

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  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce or transmit this book, or a portion thereof, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author. This book may not be resold or uploaded for distribution to others. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  * * *

  www.DonnaGrant.com

  www.MotherofDragonsBooks.com

  Praise For Donna Grant’s

  Best-Selling Romance Novels

  “A breathtaking tale...I absolutely loved it!”

  –Romance Junkies on Dark Craving, Dark Kings Series

  “The author has created a fantastic and mesmerizing fantasy world with intriguing twists, surprises and unique elements that keeps the reader turning the pages to the very end.”

  –Night Owl Reviews on Dark Heat, Dark Kings Series

  “Evie and Malcolm is a couple that makes it impossible not to love them.”

  –The Jeep Diva, Dark Warriors Series

  “Grant’s smoldering seventh Dark Warrior outing will grip readers from the first page, immersing them in her wounded, lonely couple’s journey of redemption…each scene is filled with Grant’s clever, complex characters and trademark sizzle.”

  –Romantic Times Magazine (RT Book Reviews), Dark Warriors Series

  Foreword

  Dear Reader –

  * * *

  Many of you have asked about Con’s red journals that he wrote in about Rhi. I thought I might get to put them in INFERNO, but that didn’t quite work out. I figured the next best thing would be to give you the journals another way. And what better way than to celebrate the month of love?

  We’ve had more than eighteen books to get snippets of Rhi and Con’s relationship. Some of it was obvious, some of it wasn’t. There were a few flashbacks throughout it all, giving us just a glimpse of who they were when they first met.

  In much later books, we discovered that Con wrote his thoughts in journals. The brown ones were about daily life and his struggles. The red ones were all about Rhi. They were, essentially, love notes.

  When I finally realized who Rhi’s Dragon King was, I knew that readers would have mixed feelings. I understood that some of you wouldn’t be happy unless it was Con, and others wouldn’t be happy if it was the King of Kings. An author can never please every reader. All we can do is write the books the characters and story tell us need to be told.

  Even if you don’t like how the couple came about, I hope you’ll enjoy reading the special holiday novellas I’m writing specifically for the King of Dragon Kings and his queen and those at Dreagan.

  Con and Rhi are special in so many ways. One, because they’re such strong individuals. And together, they’re an unstoppable force. And two, they’ve each made decisions they regret—just as we all have. No one is perfect, least of all any of my characters. These two have proven that the world isn’t black and white but rather many—and various—shades of gray. Most of all, I love how this couple showed what it means to forgive and let go of the past to move forward into the life they were always supposed to have.

  Join me as we peek into Constantine’s red journals and read about his heartbreak, his love, and, yes, even his hope of one day being reunited with the only woman he will ever love.

  * * *

  xoxoxo

  DG

  My heart will be your shelter, my arms your home.

  Chapter One

  Dreagan Manor

  February

  * * *

  After slipping her noise-canceling headphones over her ears, Rhi opened the playlists on her phone and scrolled through, trying to find something that appealed to her. She halted on Loreena McKennitt, a smile pulling at her face. Rhi hit play. When the first strings of The Mummers’ Dance filled her ears, she took a deep breath and then slowly released it.

  The haunting melody and soul-stirring lyrics called to her on a primitive level. Simultaneously soothing and exhilarating her. Con had told her it was because she was Fae and had a connection to the Earth. Frankly, she suspected that the singer/songwriter was a Druid. Maybe one day Rhi would seek out McKennitt and find out.

  She swayed on her feet in the middle of her and Con’s chambers. She had the day to herself since he and the other Dragon Kings were discussing the upcoming year and their plans for who would attend the World Whisky Consortium and other such meetings that required a representative from Dreagan.

  She didn’t mind having time to herself, especially after spending the previous week meeting with delegates from both the Light and Dark Fae, in hopes of moving her people forward to their goal of having a unified council that would serve both sides instead of a single king or queen who made all the decisions. Things were moving slowly, though—too slow, in her opinion.

  Con had suggested she take a day to do whatever she wanted. And so, she was. Rhi continued twirling slowly around the room as she briefly considered going shopping but then quickly decided against it. She could get her nails done. Rhi always loved chatting with Jesse as the nail tech came up with unique designs for her nails. But, strangely, not even that appealed to Rhi.

  She sank onto the thick fur rug, lying before the roaring fire in the hearth. After stretching out her legs, she looked at her chestnut Ugg Scuffette II slippers with their plush wool lining, then moved her gaze up to the cream chenille leggings she wore. The beige tank was cashmere, as was the long cardigan that matched. The entire outfit had been a gift from Con this last Christmas. She lay back, sinking into the softness of her clothes and the rug as she closed her eyes and listened to the music.

  It felt nice not to have duties that needed tending or anyone expecting her. There wasn’t a war to fight or enemies to vanquish. The only thing she had to worry about at the moment was what she planned to say when she finally got to meet her children.

  She wrinkled her nose. Rhi didn’t want to think about the twins and that convoluted and difficult situation just yet. She had spent so much of the past few months angry that she hadn’t known about the twins and upset that they const
antly refused to let her and Con enter their realm.

  This day was all for her. She had to remind herself that it wasn’t being selfish. Everyone needed time to themselves to do whatever they wanted without any interruptions or distractions—not even Rhi’s very handsome mate.

  Just thinking about Constantine brought a smile to her face. Whenever she thought about what each of them had endured while alone all those centuries, it boggled her mind. If Con hadn’t taken steps to rectify things between them, they wouldn’t be together now. She would’ve gone through the rest of her life loving a man that she couldn’t have.

  Even when he told her the truth of why he had ended things between them so long ago, she hadn’t immediately forgiven him, despite understanding why he did it. But Con had more than made up for all of it. Besides, it wasn’t as if he were the only one who had things to make up for. She had some atoning to do herself. But they had made a concerted effort after their reunion to put the past behind them.

  She opened her eyes to look at the ceiling as she recalled the magical holiday season they’d shared. Her mind drifted through memories of when she and Con had had the manor all to themselves before everyone returned for the big celebration. Her parents and brother might be gone, but she had another family now—more sisters than she could ever hope to have, and brothers who were always around. And more coming each day. Rhi couldn’t wait to meet Jeyra, Varek’s mate.

  The couple would need to return to this realm to perform the mating ceremony at Dreagan, but Rhi suspected that Varek would want to spend most of their time on Zora. She stretched her arms over her head, smiling brightly as she recalled her and Con’s mating ceremony. It had been a truly beautiful event, made even more special because she was finally with the only man she had ever loved.

  Rhi turned her head and looked toward their bed. She frowned when she saw something red poking out from below the mattress on Con’s side. She got to her feet and went to investigate. Squatting beside the bed, she pushed up the mattress to reveal a red journal.

  She pulled it out before she could stop herself, but she didn’t open it. Rhi instantly knew it was something personal. Something private. She should put it back, but as she began to do just that, she recalled Ulrik saying something about Con’s red journals and that they involved her.

  Rhi bit her lip as she stared down at the book, debating what to do. Finally, she decided to just read the first page. If it wasn’t about her, she’d put it back.

  “And if it is?” she asked herself quietly.

  Rhi closed her eyes and dropped her head back. Con had told her numerous times since their mating that what was his, was also hers. She wasn’t sure that statement included journals, though. But now that she had found it, how could she put it away without looking? The Fae were entirely too curious.

  She jumped, startled when a knock sounded. The journal fell from her fingers, hitting the floor. Rhi picked it up and set it on the duvet, then got to her feet. She swallowed nervously and started toward the door as she dropped her headphones to drape around her neck. With a tap, she paused the music. She pulled the panel wide, but no one was there. When she stepped into the hall, she saw Ulrik’s departing back.

  “Did you need something?” she called.

  He paused and turned to her, his face wrinkling apologetically. “I’m sorry. I forgot that you had the day to yourself.”

  “It’s fine.” She smiled. “Aren’t you supposed to be in the meeting?”

  Ulrik laughed, his gold eyes crinkling at the corners. “Just taking care of something at the distillery. I was looking for Eilish. I thought she might be with you. Then I remembered Con warned everyone to leave you alone today.”

  Rhi smiled and shook her head. “He likes to take care of me.”

  “It’s good you let him think he is.”

  Her grin widened. Then she glanced around to see if anyone else was listening and lowered her voice. “You once said something about Con and some red journals.”

  “I did,” Ulrik said as he walked to her. “He used to keep two sets. Brown ones he used to write about the Kings, Dreagan, and such—I think he did it to keep track of things when he was the only one awake but also because he didn’t have anyone else to talk to.”

  Rhi didn’t like thinking of that time for Con. She couldn’t imagine spending centuries all alone while the rest of the Kings slept in their mountains. But that was why Con was King of Dragon Kings.

  “And the red ones?” she pressed.

  Ulrik stared at her for a heartbeat. “They were about you. I’ve always believed you should’ve gotten to read his words to see that his love never wavered. Unfortunately, he burned them when he believed he didna stand a chance of getting you back.”

  “Oh,” she said, her heart hammering. She really wanted to get back to the journal now, but she couldn’t just slam the door in Ulrik’s face.

  He frowned as he shot her a penetrating look. “Why are you asking?”

  Rhi glanced inside the room. She could put the journal back and forget about it. Or…she could tell Ulrik and get his opinion. She opted for the latter. “I found a journal. A red one. The edge of it was sticking out from between the mattress and the box spring.”

  “Read it,” Ulrik replied without hesitation.

  Still, she hesitated. “They’re his private words.”

  “About you.” Ulrik smiled and nodded. “You’re meant to read it.”

  That surprised her. “Why do you say that?”

  “Do you really think Con didna leave that there for you? Put just so? He doesna do anything without reason. You know that.”

  Ulrik had a point. She tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear. “Thank you.”

  “Anytime.” With that, he turned on his heel and walked away.

  Rhi stepped back inside the bedroom and softly closed the door. Then she faced the bed. In the next heartbeat, she was on Con’s side, pulling the journal closer. Rhi touched it reverently as she walked to the hearth and curled up in the large chair.

  She used magic to call up a mug of tea to the table beside her as she untied the red strings and opened the front cover.

  I cannot breathe without you.

  Chapter Two

  I cannot breathe without you.

  * * *

  The first words on the page, written in Con’s bold strokes, caught her off guard. She ran her hand over the letters, the words blurring from her tears. She looked up and took a deep breath. Only when she knew she wouldn’t burst into tears again did she return to reading.

  * * *

  I’m not sure how I go through each day. I know I must because the other Kings depend on me, but without you here, I’m merely sleepwalking through life. I watch the sunrise and sunset. I watch the moon rise and set, and yet I know without a doubt that the only one for me is you.

  I know you’re out there somewhere. I long to search for you. I tell myself that a glimpse of your smile or seeing how your midnight strands gleam in the moonlight would be enough. It’s a lie I tell myself nearly daily because I know if I do look for you, I won’t be able to go on without you beside me. It would slay me to see you now and not have you.

  It wasn’t until you were gone that I realized how full you made my life. Now, it’s an empty existence.

  * * *

  Rhi dragged in a ragged breath as she teared up more at the anguished words on the page. Con put these writings in a journal, knowing that no one would ever read them. They weren’t contrived to elicit a response because they had only been for him.

  She hugged the book to her chest and drew her knees up as she bent her head forward. For countless decades, she had raged about Con and the love he had so carelessly tossed away. She had cursed him, cursed love. Each new day that she faced, she’d made herself live it to the fullest to show him that she didn’t need him. Because she had known that their paths would cross again someday, and she wanted him to see that she could go on without him.

  It had be
en petty and selfish, but she’d wanted to make sure she looked good when it happened. Mostly because Con never let any emotions show, and she was determined to do the same.

  And their paths had crossed again—when she least expected it. She’d been gutted when Con so nonchalantly walked into Charon’s pub. When his black gaze landed on her, he hadn’t seemed to care that she was there, nor had he given any indication that they had once shared a love unlike any other.

  At least, that’s what she had believed at the time. Now, reading just one page of the journal, she knew that he had hurt just as much as she had.

  Rhi sniffed and wiped at her eyes as she straightened. She wanted to read more, but at the same time, she didn’t know if her heart could take it. She set the journal on the table beside her forgotten tea and got to her feet. Her gaze swept the room, lingering on the bed where they had spent so many hours making love, and even more lying in each other’s arms, simply talking.

  They talked about anything and everything.