He’d give her some space. He’d find her soon enough and make his offer. She was intelligent. She’d realize that what he could give her was more than she could get while out on her own.
A thread of worry still dangled, however. Brian had told Noreen that two Others were looking for her. If Brian was one of them, that meant there was someone else nearby. Cain really wanted to find out if there was and get a picture of them, as well.
“Cain? Where are you?” Ulrik’s voice filled his head.
Cain gave his friend the location. A heartbeat later, the King of Silvers and his mate, the Druid, Eilish, walked into the pub. While everyone else took notice of the handsome couple, Brian didn’t even look their way.
Ulrik pulled out a chair for Eilish and waited until she sat before he lowered himself into his seat. He glanced at Brian. “Interesting choice.”
Cain nodded to Eilish before he looked into Ulrik’s gold eyes. “You could say that. He’s too into the women to notice us.”
Eilish rolled her green and gold eyes before flicking her long, dark hair over her shoulders. “What an idiot,” she said in her mix of American and Irish accents.
“That’s what makes them so special, love,” Ulrik told her. Then he swung his attention to Cain. “I hear you’re going on a wee trip.”
“I figured some space is needed.”
“Good idea,” Eilish said with a nod.
Ulrik leaned back in his chair. “It’s going to be dangerous.”
“When are things no’?” Cain asked with a chuckle.
Ulrik didn’t crack a smile. “You shouldna be on your own. Another should be with you.”
“Everyone needs to stay at Dreagan. If anything happens to me, it’s just me and no’ two of us.”
“I doona like it,” Ulrik stated.
Eilish leaned forward and put her hand on his arm. She gave it a squeeze and looked at Cain. Eilish lowered her voice to a whisper. “We all know firsthand how dangerous they are. We don’t know what could happen.”
“I’m verra aware of the stakes.” Cain looked from Eilish to Ulrik. “But we need this.”
“I can no’ dispute that,” Ulrik said with a resigned sigh. “I just wish you were no’ going alone.”
Cain flashed a smile. “I’m no’.”
“Spoken just like a single man,” Eilish said with a chuckle.
That had all of them laughing for a brief moment.
Ulrik jerked his chin to Brian. “What about him?”
Cain leaned forward and told them the story of how he’d come upon Brian and Noreen.
Ulrik raked a hand through his long, black hair and grinned. “Oh, I believe my darling wife would love to put him in his place.”
“You’re damn straight, I would,” she stated, anger shooting from her eyes.
“Find her,” Ulrik said as he held out his hand. “And be safe.”
Cain clasped his hand and felt the silver cuff in his palm. He gave a nod to Ulrik. “I willna let any of you down.”
“I know Con would agree with me, so I’ll say that we’d rather you come home and live to fight another day if it comes to it.”
Eilish tapped Ulrik’s arm. Just as she was about to follow Brian and the women out, Brian teleported away with them.
“Damn,” Cain murmured.
Eilish gave a loud snort. “It’s too bad he got away. But there will be a next time.”
“Go,” Ulrik said. “Find the Dark and get us answers.”
Cain nodded to the couple before they left. He put the silver cuff on his wrist and waited five minutes before he rose and walked outside. He stood silently for a moment, thinking of where a Dark might go if she were trying to hide.
She wasn’t using magic, which meant she also wasn’t using money to pay for anything. Instead of flashing her smile and getting her way with her looks, Noreen was keeping her Fae allure dampened. It was as if she didn’t want anyone to notice her.
Cain turned right. He walked back to the intersection where he’d seen Brian earlier. Then he crossed the street and kept walking. There was no sign of Noreen, but he hadn’t expected there to be. The village was rather small. There weren’t a lot of homes around, but he guessed that Noreen wouldn’t be too close to town. Nor would she be too far away.
It took just a few minutes talking with Ryder for Cain to pinpoint exactly where she was. It took him twenty minutes to walk there, and when he arrived and spotted the derelict cottage, he knew it was exactly the place the Dark had chosen.
There was a stream running along the back of the dwelling. It was a quaint, beautiful setting. Cain couldn’t believe no one lived there now.
He walked to the door and rapped on the wood. “I know you’re in there, lass.”
Only silence met his words.
Cain sighed. “I can stay here the rest of the day and all night if need be. It willna hurt for you to listen to what I have to say. You’re just listening. Surely, that can no’ get you into any sort of trouble.”
“You’re going to make things worse by being here,” she said, her Irish lilt muffled.
He held back his grin. At least she was talking to him now. “I can help you.”
The door flew open, and she stood there looking irritated and angry, sparks flying from her red eyes. The fire that ran through Cain’s blood didn’t surprise him at all. He’d always been partial to women with spirit, and Noreen certainly had that.
The attraction he felt only made him want this mission to succeed even more. Though he wasn’t going to give in to the desire. He had enough control not to let that happen.
“Leave,” she demanded.
“I can make sure they doona find or hurt you.”
She rolled her eyes before tucking a strand of her long, black and silver hair behind her ear. “Right. Because that’s worked out so well for your people.”
“I can make sure you are no’ found.”
All the anger went right out of her. “Is this some trick?”
“I doona trick people.” He held out his hand, waiting for her to take it.
CHAPTER FIVE
The Dragon King was her only hope.
And he knew it.
Noreen slowly extended her hand and slid it against his palm. His long fingers softly closed around hers as he smiled.
It wasn’t an arrogant grin. It was a pleased expression, and somehow that made her happy. Noreen didn’t delve into that too much because she didn’t want to think about liking his smile—or the fact that it was directed at her.
But she did give herself a moment to take in how it felt for him to touch her. It was … nice. Actually, it was much more than nice, but if she thought about it too much, she wasn’t sure she would like the road it took her down. Besides, she needed to keep her focus on staying alive, not worrying about getting the hot Dragon King out of his clothes so she could have her way with him.
Hmm. That wasn’t a bad thought, actually. She swallowed, thinking about removing his clothes with a snap of her fingers and getting a real good look at that fine body of his. Although, at the moment, her gaze was on his mouth. No doubt he was a master kisser. And she loved a man who knew how to kiss.