More than that, Melisse needed to find Usaeil. The Queen of the Light had fooled everyone, even her. And Melisse didn’t like being duped. It was only the second time in her life, and there wouldn’t be a third.
Usaeil was key to it all. The queen had deceived the Light for so many millennia, but they hadn’t been the only ones Usaeil had lied to. There were the Kings, Druids, and most importantly, Moreann and the Others.
Anyone who went to that kind of trouble to hide who they really were from absolutely everyone meant that Usaeil had a plan. Much like Melisse was devising now. But no one knew where Usaeil was. Few Fae even realized that she was alive as the Light and Dark quibbled among each other over who was going to lead each division.
Melisse rolled her eyes. There was so much more at stake than who had power, but that was all the Fae ever thought about. And while they concentrated on that, someone would rise up and rule them—and the fools wouldn’t even see it coming.
It was on the tip of Melisse’s tongue to call for Death and fill the goddess in on what she knew, but she didn’t want the attention of Death or the Reapers. And so what if the Fae were wiped away? They had done enough damage to this realm.
No one belonged here but the dragons. That was fact. Everyone else had made Earth their home. The result was the end of an era with the dragons and the Kings hiding their true power. But she didn’t think it could be hidden for much longer. Whether any of the Kings wanted to admit it or not, the time was coming for the world to know of them.
Melisse wasn’t sure what would happen to the mortals once that happened. There couldn’t be another war with the Kings, because this time, the Kings wouldn’t stand aside. They had already lost everything. They were backed against a wall, and a group as lethal and fierce and strong as the Dragon Kings would retaliate in the only way they knew how.
Death.
Destruction.
Annihilation.
And, honestly, she wouldn’t blame a single one of the Kings for such an action. They had been pushed and pushed and pushed until they couldn’t be pushed any more.
She blew out a breath in exasperation at the idea that she was defending the Kings, even to herself. After what they had done to her … well, that wasn’t easily forgiven. If she could forgive them at all.
The easiest thing to do would be to just leave the realm. Thanks to watching other Fae, she knew the doorways, and Melisse had made sure to mark them for herself. There was another way for her to leave, as well, but that was only as a last course of action. If she did that, she would announce herself to everyone on the planet.
With so few options available, she didn’t know why it was difficult for her to choose one. All she had to do was make a decision and then stay the course.
The problem was that she didn’t like her choices. In fact, she hated all of them. She kept trying to find alternatives, but there weren’t any.
The sudden quiet of the birds told her that she wasn’t alone. Bloody hell. That wasn’t what she wanted. All she could do now was pray that it wasn’t a Dragon King, because if it were, she would have to fight them—and damn the consequences.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement. Her head turned to the side, and her gaze landed on none other than Henry. She drank in his brown hair, hazel eyes, and incredible body. He hadn’t shaven in a few days, but she didn’t mind the beard. It accentuated his strong jawline.
“Melisse?” he asked in his refined British accent, a frown furrowing his brow. Before she could say anything, he took a step toward her. “I heard your voice. In here,” he said as he tapped his temple. “I heard you call my name.”
“That’s not possible.” She shook her head, not wanting to believe what she’d just heard.
“Did you call for me?” he pressed.
She parted her lips to deny it when she remembered whispering his name.
A grin split his wide lips. “You did.”
“You should return to Dreagan.”
“Come with me.”
“No.”
His frown returned. “Why? They’re good people, and they can help if you’re in trouble.”
“I’m not the one in trouble. All of you are.”
“What are you talking about?”
Melisse wished she’d kept her mouth shut. She licked her lips and pushed away from the tree to face him. “You have a lot of power within you. You need to unlock it. Quickly. You and Esther can do a lot together.”
Instead of being glad at her words, he became wary and took a step back. “How do you know about Esther and me?”
“I know a lot.”
“Apparently.”
He was pulling away from her, she could feel it. And while she knew it was for the best, she couldn’t seem to let the connection fail. “I’m your friend.”
“Are you?” He shook his head. “I’m not so sure. If you were, you’d tell me what you know.”
She briefly closed her eyes. “I can’t.”
“Can’t? Or won’t?” he demanded.
“Both.”
He nodded and glanced away. “Then why did you come?”
Lie. You have to lie. Say anything but what you really want to tell him. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know. Right.” He turned on his heel and started to walk away.
Melisse watched him. She even bit her tongue when she wanted to call out his name. He got fifty feet away before she could no longer contain herself. “Henry. Please, stop.”
To her shock, he came to a halt. But he didn’t turn to face her.
She drew in a deep breath and started toward him. Melisse came to a stop a few feet from him. She reached out her hand, wanting to touch him, but she held back. No one had touched her. Not in … so very, very long. She’d forgotten what it felt like.
The fact that she yearned to put her hands on him, to feel his warmth and the hard muscles beneath his skin frightened her. That … longing … could spell trouble for her.
Could? she asked herself with a snort. Look where I am. It’s already causing me problems.
“What do you want?” Henry demanded.
She swallowed, trying to find the words. “You” was on the tip of her tongue, but she managed to keep that to herself. “No matter what else you believe, I’m your friend.”
“You aren’t exactly acting like it.”
Her gaze lowered to the grass at her feet. “There are things I can’t explain now. I might never be able to. I shouldn’t even be here, but I came because I wanted to see you.”
At that, he slowly turned to face her. “I’m glad you did. I’ve been thinking about you.”
Her heart leapt for joy. It was the worst thing he could’ve possibly said because it made her want to stay with him forever—even as she knew she couldn’t.
“Stay safe, Henry. And stay vigilant. Your powers are just beneath the surface. Trust yourself, and you’ll be able to use them.”
He reached out for her but dropped his hand before he made contact. “Don’t go. Please.”
“I’ll see you soon,” she promised and hurriedly walked away.
CHAPTER TEN
There had to be someone else on the Fae Realm. Cain was sure of it. How else could the shield exist?