Cain hated to admit that Ulrik had a point. “As Noreen said, no one goes to the Fae Realm anymore since it’s been destroyed. Why would the Fae use it now?”
Ulrik shifted toward him, his face set in lines of worry. “I can understand that part, but the location, no’ so much.”
“What about it?”
“The field surrounding the ruins is wide open, giving no cover to anyone. I’ve seen Fae doorways in weird places, but this one seems especially odd.”
Cain gave a shake of his head. “I doona care. It got me and Noreen away, and it’s going to take me back to her.”
Ulrik lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Well, since we can no’ see the doorways, do you remember where it is?”
“I marked it,” Cain said with a grin as he made his way into the castle and up the stairs.
Ulrik chuckled when he saw the two small stones set the width of a doorway apart when they entered the chamber. “That was smart.”
Cain was smiling when he walked through the door. Ulrik was right on his heels. He paused, giving Ulrik time to take a look at the absolute devastation of the realm.
“This way,” Cain said and gripped Ulrik’s arm before touching the cuff.
He didn’t want to take the time to walk to the barrier when he had the ability to jump to it. Ulrik didn’t seem fazed by it at all. Instead, he stared straight ahead at where the barrier was.
“I didna feel it before,” Ulrik said. “But I do now.”
“Walk through it.”
Ulrik lifted a foot and stepped through. Cain quickly did the same. Once on the other side, he began looking for signs of Noreen. She’d said that she’d wait for him, but she could be anywhere within the area of the shield, which was fairly large.
“I’m sure she’s around,” Ulrik said.
Cain nodded. “I told her it might be a while before I could get back. I thought I’d stay through the battle. If I’d known that I would return so quickly, I would’ve asked her to remain close.”
“There are other ways to find her,” Ulrik said. “Shift.”
Cain laughed. Of course. That would be the quickest and easiest way to locate Noreen. If she wasn’t looking up, she’d hear his roar. “You joining me?”
Ulrik shook his head. “I’ll stay on the ground for now and have a look around.”
“I’ll be back soon with Noreen.”
Cain shifted and jumped into the air. As he flew, he kept wishing that Noreen was on his back. She’d been the first person to ride him, and he’d liked it.
He flew fast and low, gliding over the area of the lake where they had made love, and into the forest. He roared as his gaze scanned for any movement, but he didn’t give up. It wasn’t until he’d made a sweep of the entire area that he grew concerned. Noreen should be there, and she should hear him. Was she hiding? Hurt? Scared?
All kinds of thoughts rushed through his mind as he turned back. As he swung around, he saw a figure step from the trees to the edge of the lake.
Relief filled him at the sight of Noreen. She beamed up at him, waving.
And that’s when he knew he loved her.
CHAPTER THIRTY
The excitement that ran through Noreen was so great, she felt dizzy from it. She couldn’t believe that Cain was back already.
At first, she’d thought the roar she heard was her imagination. The second time, she knew for sure. That’s when she looked up through the dense forest canopy for some sign of him. She was about to jump to the lake when she wondered if it was Cain or another Dragon King.
It didn’t help that the erratic dreams from the night before kept playing in her head. So, she ran to the lake instead. The moment she saw his navy scales, she burst from the trees.
Happiness bubbled up inside her as he dove from the sky, rolling into a ball and shifting back into human form right before he landed naked on bent knees, his fingers touching the ground. She didn’t even wait for him to stand as she rushed to him.
He straightened in time to grab her as she flung herself at him. It seemed as if a million years had passed since she had tasted his lips, and she couldn’t get enough of him.
“By the stars, I’ve missed you,” he said between kisses.
“Shhh,” she told him and threaded her fingers into his black hair.
He chuckled, but it soon turned into a moan. She felt his arousal hot and thick between them. Her heart skipped a beat, because even now, she couldn’t believe he desired her.
“Wait,” Cain said and pulled back to look at her.
She gazed up at him, waiting for him to speak. When he didn’t, she leaned in for another kiss, but he held her still.
“You’re beautiful.”
Noreen smiled at his flattery and let her gaze travel his body. “And you’re gorgeous. What are you doing back so quick? Is it all finished?”
“Nay,” he said with a shake of his head, his expression filled with regret. “I’ve shared all you told me with Con and the other Kings. The planning for the battle is being done now.”
“Why aren’t you there?” she asked. “You should be there.”
He gave her a lopsided smile and smoothed a strand of hair from her face. “I wanted to see you. And I’ve brought someone for you to meet.”
She was instantly on guard, though she didn’t know why exactly. It wasn’t as if Cain didn’t believe her and had brought someone to check her story. Then again, it wasn’t as if they could check her story anyway.
Her mind flashed back to the dream where she hadn’t been able to move or open her eyes and heard Moreann’s voice.
“Noreen?”
She blinked and looked at Cain. “Yes?”
“Are you okay, lass? Your face paled for a moment, and you looked a million miles away.”
It felt as if she were being pulled from him, which was silly since he was right here, holding onto her. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? Because if you doona want to meet Ulrik, you doona have to.”
“The King of Silvers is here?” she asked, shocked.
Cain continued to study her. “Aye.”
“He, too, left the planning for the Others to come here? To meet me?” Yeah, she wasn’t buying that at all. “They don’t believe what I told you, do they?”
“I believe you, and they trust me.”
She shot him a dry look. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“Doona read too much into this.”
“It’s hard not to.”
He sighed and lowered his gaze to the ground briefly. “You saw the betrayal Mikkel and Nala set up for Ulrik. Con has long believed that another such betrayal will befall one of us.”
“And he thinks it’s me?” Noreen got so angry, she pulled away from Cain. “I risked everything to go to the Kings to tell you what I know. And this is the thanks I get?”
“You have every right to be angry, but please understand where we’re coming from, as well. We have to double- and triple-check everything.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and raised a brow. “That’s the thing. You can’t verify anything I’ve told you. It’s my experiences, my memories. You either believe me, or you don’t.”