Constantine Read online

  “But they’re not really you.”

  His emotions were on a pendulum with her. Each time he thought he knew what she might say or do, she surprised him. “And what do you think I should be wearing?”

  “I don’t know,” she said while looking him over with a critical eye. “I don’t think you’ll know for a long time, but once you figure it out, it’ll be yours. You won’t care what anyone else is wearing, nor will you listen when someone else tries to tell you to change it.”

  He cocked his head to the side. “Can you see into the future?”

  “I can read people,” she replied with a curve of her lips.

  “That’s a bit more than reading me.”

  “I like you.”

  He found himself beginning to smile. “The feeling is mutual.”

  It was an odd moment, to be sure, because neither of them meant it in a romantic fashion. The affection between them went beyond to something he couldn’t quite name.

  Her gaze moved to the books. “Have you read all of these?”

  “Aye.”

  “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me,” she replied. “There are empty shelves.

  He looked to the highest bookshelves. “They will be filled.”

  “I’ve no doubt. Are you married?”

  He liked her directness. It was refreshing. “Nay.”

  “Neither am I, nor will I ever be.”

  “Why is that?”

  She flashed him a smile as she stood and walked around the library. “I’m too independent for men.”

  “No’ all men.”

  “The majority.” She shrugged and glanced at him over her shoulder. “I’ve always been on my own, so it’s nothing new.”

  He sat up and braced his forearms on his thighs. “I, too, have been alone, but in a different way. I’m surrounded by my brothers, but -”

  “You’re set apart from them,” she said over him.

  He looked at her, meeting her lavender gaze. “Aye.”

  “You don’t have to be alone.”

  “I do,” he said and looked to the floor.

  Soft footsteps came toward him only to stop before one of the windows. “I’ve enjoyed my time at Dreagan more than you’ll ever know.”

  With a frown, Con lifted his head. “You speak as if you’re leaving.”

  “No doubt Roman is nearly finished, and I’ve taken up too much of your time already.”

  He pushed to his feet and went to stand beside her. “This has been pleasant interlude.”

  “Immensely so.”

  They shared a smile before turning to look out the window again. Con couldn’t shake off the feeling that he should get to know Heather more. She seemed to discern things about him. Though she never let any hint drop that she knew his secret, there was something about her words and the way she spoke that said she might know more.

  Any misgivings he’d had about her dissipated while he had been with her. There had been plenty of opportunities for her to demand something or even threaten him, but she hadn’t. The entire time, he felt as if she were his friend, as if they were comrades.

  That couldn’t possibly be true since he was immortal and had been alive for millions of years. And yet he couldn’t dispel the notion.

  “I bet this place looks gorgeous in every season,” she said.

  He clasped his hands behind his back. “It does. Each time I think I’ve finally found my favorite season, the next one rolls in. I know every inch of this land. I’ve walked it numerous time.”

  “It’s in your soul.”

  “Aye.”

  She looked over to him. “And you are in the land.”

  The door to the library opened and Roman entered. “All finished.”

  “I’m most grateful,” Heather said as she pivoted and walked to Roman. “How much do I owe you?”

  “Nothing.” Con moved to join her, not yet ready for her to leave.

  She turned her large lavender eyes to him. “Thank you, but I must give you something in return for your hospitality.”

  “We’re glad to help,” Roman answered.

  With no other choice, Con followed Roman and Heather from the house to the barn. He walked behind them, observing how Heather seemed to put everyone at ease. She had Roman talking within seconds. Con had the insane theory to introduce her to all the Dragon Kings – even V – and see what happened.

  When they reached the barn, the mare whinnied as soon as she saw them. Heather rushed to the horse and greeted her with soft words as she stroked the animal’s neck.

  “Stay for dinner,” Con said.

  Heather turned her large eyes to him. “An intriguing offer.”

  “We’ve excellent food, if I do say so myself,” Roman added.

  She turned back to the horse. Several moments went by before Heather faced them. “I’m sorry, but I must decline.”

  “It’ll be dusk soon,” Roman argued.

  “I need to make up the time I’ve lost.”

  Con took the mare and led her to the cart where he fastened it to the horse. All the while, Roman was talking to Heather. Con waited for them to finish, and then finally Heather made her way to him.

  “You doona have to leave,” he told her.

  She looked back at Dreagan briefly. “I do, but it won’t be forever.”

  “Will you return this way then?”

  “One day.”

  “Then, I’ll look forward to it. Doona let it be too long, lass.”

  She smiled, chuckling. “Is that a command?”

  “Would you listen to it if it was?”

  “I’m afraid not.”

  His lips curved into a smile for the third time that day. “It was worth a try.”

  He offered his hand to her. When she hesitated to take it, he frowned, wondering why she didn’t want to touch him. Then, her small hand slid inside his. He helped her up and handed her the reins.

  “Safe journeys, Heather.”

  “Remember, don’t let the past control you. Acknowledge it, but accept what was done and move on. For yourself and your brothers. Farwell, Constantine. Until we meet again.”

  She clicked to the horse. Con stepped back as the cart lurched forward. He stared after Heather until she was out of sight. Then he pivoted and returned to the house, making his way back up to his office.

  He lowered himself into his chair and leaned back, folding his hands over his stomach. There were a fair number of things he should attend to, but instead, he watched the light coming through the windows move across the floor as the sun sank toward the horizon.

  When darkness claimed the land, Con remained in his chair not bothering to light candles. Not that he needed them. Being a Dragon King meant that he could see in darkness and light.

  But being a Dragon King also meant that he had to keep himself apart from everyone – no matter if they were human or Fae. He’d accepted his role. Hell, he’d actually embraced it. Or had until today. Spending time, however brief, with Heather had been refreshing.

  She intrigued him with her words. She also maddened him with her remarks. Even now he didn’t know what she was. Everything pointed to her being mortal, but he wasn’t completely convinced.

  If she was mortal – or even a Druid – then she couldn’t know he was a Dragon King. After hiding and wiping away all evidence of the existence of dragons, Con and the other Kings had worked tirelessly to make sure the humans believed dragons were nothing more than myth.

  Now, a Fae would know who he was. That made more sense. Except for the fact that he could detect no magic within her. No matter how skillful the Fae were at using glamour to disguise themselves, nothing masked their magic.

  Which brought Con right back to where he began.

  He’d gone round and round with his thoughts, trying to determine if he missed something in Heather’s words or appearance.

  Con had no idea how long he sat there without noticing that someone was at the door. He looked up to find a form leaning aga
inst the entrance with his arms crossed. He met Banan’s gray eyes.

  “I gather you’re thinking about our visitor, Heather,” Banan said as he dropped his arms and pushed away from the doorway. “She’s all Roman can talk about. I’m sorry I missed meeting her.”

  Con kept his gaze on the King of Dark Blues as Banan walked into the office and took one of the chairs set in front of the desk.

  “Roman believes she’s mortal.”

  It wasn’t so much Banan’s words, but his tone that got Con’s attention. “You doona? Despite no’ meeting or seeing her?”

  Banan blew out a breath. “It’s been a verra long time since Ulrik left Dreagan. That day is stamped in every King’s memory whether we want it there or no’. Something else none of us can forget is that we swore never to be betrayed by a human again. Enough damage had been done to Ulrik. You came up with the idea to use magic to ensure a mortal would never have such a hold over us again.”

  “You’re point?”

  “Roman liked Heather. The spell on us doesna prevent us from recognizing beauty, but it does stop us from such fondness as Roman seems to have for the lass.”

  Con considered Banan’s words for a moment. “There was something about her that I couldna quite make sense of. I felt no magic, and yet I’d swear she wasna human.”

  “Which would make sense about how Roman – and you – feel about her.”

  “I’ve no’ encountered a being on this realm who doesna have magic, but also isna mortal.”

  Banan shrugged, his lips flattening. “Maybe she’s a new being.”

  “Or one strong enough to mask her magic.”

  “I’m no’ sure how I feel about that,” Banan stated, worry lacing his words.

  Con opened the mental link that linked all Dragon Kings. “Everyone on patrol tonight, strengthen the wards around Dreagan. Also, make sure you remain high enough in the sky that no one will be able to spot you.”

  Con then rose from his chair and stalked from the office with Banan on his heels. He made his way to the conservatory and the secret door that led into the mountain behind the manor.

  The Kings who were awake rotated nightly patrolling the skies around Dreagan. It allowed them to shift into their true forms and fly while also ensuring that Dreagan remain safe.

  Con knew the tunnels within the mountain by heart. He knew which Kings favored which caverns when they weren’t in their own mountains. He also knew every carving of dragons throughout the mountain since he and Ulrik had started the first one.

  But he wasn’t thinking about Ulrik this night. The past had no business in this moment. So he took Heather’s advice and set it aside. By the time he reached the back of the mountain where there was a massive opening large enough to fit a dragon, he’d made his decision.

  “You’re going after her,” Banan said from behind him.

  Con turned his head to the side and yanked on the ribbons clasping the wrists of his shirt. Then he quickly disrobed. With merely a thought, he shifted.

  It was glorious to be in his true form. To stretch his wings and feel the fire deep within. His talons scraped along the rock floor. He yearned to feel the wind slip over his gold scales as he glided through the moonlit sky. To twist and turn through the clouds while maneuvering through the currents.

  He walked to the opening and looked up at the inky sky. Then he leapt into the air, flapping his wings to catch the air and take him upward. Con made a pass over Dreagan before briefly flying with a few of the patrols.

  Then he dipped a wing and swung back around in the direction Heather had been going. She should be easy to find, especially with the fact that she couldn’t have gone very far. Yet, Con found no sight of her, the mare, or the cart anywhere.

  He tried another direction. And another. And another.

  Until he finally realized that somehow, she had disappeared.

  Still, he looked for another two hours before returning to Dreagan. He waited until he was once more in the mountain before he shifted into his human form. He dressed and walked back to his office where he sat behind his desk and pulled out his journal. He turned to a blank page and dipped his quill in ink.

  Con wished that Nikolai had seen Heather, because he could’ve drawn her. Now it was up to him to do his best in recreating her image. Con began with the shape of her face and then her eyes. Next was her hair, and then her body.

  When he finished, he stared down at the page and sighed. It was a fair likeness of the lass, and while there was still a nugget of worry within him, he had a sense that whoever Heather was, she didn’t want to harm the Kings.

  That didn’t mean Constantine wasn’t going to be ready in case there was an attack.

  Ever.

  He dipped his quill again, and on the opposite page, began a new journal entry.

  The 13th of August, human year 1601

  Yesterday began as any other until I met an extraordinary woman named Heather. I don’t know who she is, or even what she is, but I spent a most pleasant afternoon in her company.

  While her beauty is unparalleled, it is her mind that truly intrigues me. I suspected early on that she might know who we are at Dreagan. Despite many attempts while she was with me and once she departed, I was unable to piece together who she might be.

  The fact that she drew Roman’s attention as well brought Banan to my office where he pointed out the spell we used to prevent us from having feelings for mortals. I hate to admit it, but I had not thought of it. Thanks to Banan, it made me realize that Heather was most likely not human.

  So I went looking for her.

  Despite my keen dragon vision and hours of searching, I found no trace of Heather. If Roman had not met her, I might believe she had been a ghost. But I know she was real.

  I will find her again. There are many questions I have for her. The first one is discovering her true identity.

  Constantine, the King of Golds

  King of Dragon Kings

  The rain fell upon his upturned face steadily, the drops beating against his skin in a rhythm he knew well. Con opened his eyes and looked to the heavens to see dozens of dragons flying over him. For just a heartbeat, he could almost believe the dragons had returned.

  But there were no flocks of clans dotting the horizon. Just the Dragon Kings who remained behind to stop the war and give the other dragons a chance at survival on a new world.

  The thunderstorm that rolled in at dawn gave the Kings a chance to take to the skies during the day. Thunder masked their roars. While Con was happy to see his brethren flying, it was bittersweet since it had been many, many years since any of them had felt the sun upon their scales.

  Still, it was better than not being able to fly at all. Because Con knew that day would come eventually. Something would happen that would ground all the Kings. He wasn’t looking forward to that day, but there was no running from it. And once that came, it would only be a matter of time before there was another war – possibly the last war.

  “Con.”

  He lowered his face and turned to Asher behind him. The Dragon King’s green eyes held a dose of concern. Con shoved his long, wet hair out of his face and blinked against the rain as he made his way to Asher.

  “What is it?” Con asked.

  Asher jerked his dark head toward the manor. “A package was delivered just now.”

  “From who?”

  Asher shrugged. “The lad who brought it said he had instructions to deliver it this morning.”

  Without another word, Asher shifted, shredding his clothes. Con watched the large hunter green dragon take to the sky to join the others before he walked to the manor. Inside, he removed his sodden clothing and walked naked to the foyer where a small package sat on the table.

  He took it, studying it for a moment. Then, he pulled on the ribbon strings to unwrap it and reveal a wooden box. Con couldn’t image what could be inside a box that fit within the palm of his hand. His curiosity was too great, however, and he opened the
lid.

  His gaze landed on two small gold dragon heads. He lifted one, inspecting the flawless design while detecting no magic. It wasn’t until he returned the petite dragon head to the box that he saw the folded paper tucked into the lid. Con set the box on the table and removed the paper, slowly unfolding it to read.

  Constantine –

  I will never forget my time at Dreagan. It was truly an amazing day that I’ll look back on fondly in the days to come. Just as I will when I think of you.

  I made these cuff links for you after seeing all the dragons around the manor. These are for you to replace the ribbons at your wrist that you detest so. I hope when you wear them, they remind you to let go of the past and to focus on your goals.

  H

  He folded the paper and tucked it back in the lid before taking the box and making his way to his room. There he dressed before reaching for the cuff links. As soon as he put them in place, he smiled. He suspected he just found an item that he would wear for centuries to come.

  Whether Heather knew he was the King of Golds or not, she had chosen perfectly. And it made him want to find her more than ever.

  He adjusted his sleeves, running his fingers over the cuff links, before he strode from the room. The hunt for Heather was on.

  Death

  Being Death had its positive sides, but they were rare. Erith knew it was a huge gamble to meet Constantine, but she was tired of watching him and the other Dragon Kings. She wanted – needed – to be in the mix. Even if it was only briefly.

  The dragons were as old as time – and so was she. Though the first few million years she spent being something else, something she hadn’t been proud of. But through many trials, she eventually found her true self.

  It was watching the Dragon Kings, specifically Con, that had begun to change her way of thinking. From there, she made the decision to be a different person. Though one thing remained the same – her solitude. She couldn’t be Death and be surrounded by friends. There were things she had to do that were better done on her own.