“Then why are my dreams different each time?” he asked aloud.
Vaughn made his bed, carefully pulling the covers taut and smoothing out any wrinkles in the tan tweed comforter. He meticulously placed the two black and tan windowpane-patterned euro shams in place. Next were the two copper suede shams, followed by an accent pillow in faux fur.
He strode into his closet and looked at the rows of suits, dress shirts, and ties. It was rare that he went a day without wearing his uniform, as Rhys called it. Vaughn quite liked his suits, as was evident in the number of them he owned. Today, however, he couldn’t decide on one. Ever since he’d woken from the dream, he’d felt…off.
To put off making a decision, he showered and shaved. After he put on underwear, he found himself back in his closet, still unable to pick out a suit. A knock on his door pulled his attention.
“Enter,” he called.
The door opened, and Kendrick came up behind him a moment later. “You look like shite.”
“Thanks,” Vaughn replied without looking at him. Kendrick was silent for so long, Vaughn turned to him.
Kendrick quirked a dark brow. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
Kendrick’s green eyes regarded him solemnly.
Vaughn sighed. “I had a rough night.”
“That, I can believe.” Kendrick relaxed and leaned a shoulder against the doorway. “Since you are no’ dressed, I guess you’ve no’ heard.”
“Heard what?”
“Rhi found a Fae doorway on Dreagan.”
Vaughn instantly went on alert. “Where?” he demanded.
Kendrick’s lips curved into a smile. “You sure are in a hurry to get to the other realm.”
“Because of our dragons.”
“Others might buy that, but I doona.” Kendrick glanced at the floor. “The doorway is in the Dragonwood.”
Vaughn watched Kendrick closely. “Why do you no’ believe me?”
“We all want our dragons again, but these are no longer ours. There willna be any of ours left after so long. Who’s to say we’re no’ challenged when we get there?”
“You think I’m ready to die?”
Kendrick shook his head slowly. “I think there’s something else driving you.”
“What?”
“I’m no’ sure. Are you?”
Vaughn stared at him before looking away. “I can no’ explain my need to get to the other realm.”
“To look for the mystery woman you’ve searched for all these years, perhaps?”
Vaughn’s gaze jerked to his friend. “How did you know about that?”
“You got drunk one night long, long ago and spoke about her.”
That was one of the reasons Vaughn didn’t like to drink in excess. Because everything always came back to her.
“Is she your mate?”
Vaughn shrugged. “I’m no’ sure. It could be nothing more than me wanting to find her.”
“If she’s mortal, she’s long passed, brother.”
“I know.”
Kendrick’s brows drew together as he pushed away from the doorjamb and dropped his arms to his sides. “You think she’s more?”
“I didna feel any magic, but then again, I wasna looking for it.”
“Even if she was a Druid, her life span would still be that of a mortal.”
Vaughn stopped him with a look. “I have no answers for you or me. You’re asking the same questions I’ve asked for far too long. I wish I knew why I couldna forget about this woman.”
“If you want to go to the other realm, you’d better get dressed. Con and Rhi are headed there shortly.”
Vaughn spun around and reached for a shirt and jeans, yanking them on. He was halfway down the hall before he realized that he didn’t have shoes. He used magic to call boots to him without breaking his stride.
“Are you coming to the other realm,” he asked Kendrick.
When silence met his words, he looked around to find Kendrick gone. Vaughn rushed down the stairs to look for Constantine. When he couldn’t find the King of Dragon Kings, Vaughn took the stairs three at a time to get to Con’s office on the third floor. The door was open when he arrived, so Vaughn walked in to find Con sitting at his desk, sorting through a file of papers.
Con glanced up, then did a double-take and lifted his blond head. “Vaughn.”
“I heard about the doorway.”
Con set the papers and his Montblanc pen aside. “I can no’ remember the last time I saw you in jeans.”
“What does my attire have to do with anything?” Vaughn heard the anger in his words, but he wouldn’t be refused. He was going to the other realm. One way or another.
Con sat back in his chair and laced his fingers together over his stomach. “You do understand there’s a real possibility the twins may challenge any Dragon Kings who go through the doorway? My children might rule the dragons, but individual Kings going to their realm may shift the hierarchy.”
“If I’m challenged, then I’m challenged.”
“Every King wants to see their dragons again. Believe me, Vaughn, I und–”
“It’s more than that,” he said over Con.
The look in Con’s black eyes grew intense, though his calm expression never changed. “Explain.”
It wasn’t a request, and Vaughn didn’t treat it as one. “I’m looking for someone.”
“Your mate?”
“I wish I knew. An eon ago, I happened across a celebrating Celtic tribe. I stayed to observe. The magic that night was…” He paused, searching for the right word. “Piercing. Its power felt by even the humans, though they had no idea what it was. We are made of magic, so you can imagine what it felt like.”
“Euphoria.”
Vaughn nodded and ran a hand down his face. “Across one of the fires, I saw a woman. I’ve never felt such instant attraction and recognition before. It was a night I’ve never forgotten. In the morning, she was gone. Like she never existed.”
Con said nothing as he stood and walked to the sideboard, pouring a dram of whisky. He turned to Vaughn and handed him the glass. “It’s early, but you look like you need it.”
Vaughn accepted it and drank.
Con poured another and took it back to his desk, setting it down. “I suppose you looked for this woman?”
“Everywhere. I stayed a week with the tribe, hoping she would return. No one knew her. I continued my search, extending outward, bit by bit, thinking she might be in the next tribe. Years turned into decades. Decades to centuries. Centuries to millennia. I know if she was human, that she’s long dead.”
“But you keep hoping.”
Vaughn looked into Con’s eyes. “I know she’s out there. I feel it. Here,” he said and pointed at his chest.
“You want to check another realm.”
“Would you no’?”
Con grinned. “You know I would’ve.”
“I’m going to this new realm. You can try to stop me, but I’ll find a way.”
“I never intended to stop you.”
Relief poured through Vaughn.
“Doona get too happy yet,” Con cautioned. “Only three of us are going. I doona want to overwhelm the twins or the occupants of that realm. I also doona expect we’ll stay long. This is the first time Rhi and I will have met our children. We’re hoping the doorway is their idea of a peace offering.”