Midnight's Captive(93)

The solidarity of the men reminded him of the Warriors at MacLeod Castle. Further proof that Charon had no one but himself to count on.

Phelan was the closest thing he had to a friend, but Charon didn’t know if Phelan would allow himself to be called friend. Not to mention that Phelan was notoriously difficult to get ahold of if he didn’t want to be found.

“You know these glens and mountains,” Charon said. “Wallace knows nothing of you, and we can use that as an advantage. A surprise attack he’ll never see coming.”

Con clasped his hands behind his back. “There’s no doubt you’re a good battle strategist. I think it’s one of the reasons your god chose you.”

Charon looked at the floor. He didn’t know what Con was getting at, but he didn’t like—nor want—to talk of his past. “If you say so.”

“I say so.” Con chuckled then. “You’re immortal, Charon, but you’ve lived only six hundred years. I’ve lived for thousands of millennia. I’ve seen countless battles and wars. I’ve even watched you fight as a Warrior. I know what I’m talking about.”

“Then the problem is?”

“Cheeky bastard,” Guy mumbled with a grin.

Charon scratched his cheek with only his middle finger, causing Guy to have to cough to cover up his laughter. Banan, Hal, and Laith all ducked their heads to hide their smiles.

Con turned to face Charon. “You seem verra confident that Wallace can be beaten. Have you forgotten the outbreak in Edinburgh? Five more people have died, including a little boy.”

The cocky grin Charon had worn a moment before dropped as anger took its place. He was careful to keep his god tamped down, because while he wasn’t afraid of the Kings, he needed their help.

“While you and the other Kings have whiled away your years in luxury and privacy, the Warriors have defended the entire fucking planet from evil. I have no’ forgotten a damned thing. We’ve lost friends, innocents, and our families because none of you did a thing about Deirdre.”

“She wasna a priority.”

The fury Charon kept tightly controlled erupted. Fangs filled his mouth the same instant his claws elongated from his fingers. He didn’t need to look down to know his skin had turned copper.

“Wasna a priority?” Charon repeated in a low, dangerous voice. “Do you know the havoc she wrought? Can you even comprehend what she did to us and the other Druids? Or were you too wrapped up in no’ having your precious dragons to order around?”

Con leaned forward, his hands resting on his desk as his lip curled in anger.

“Struck a nerve, did I?” Charon taunted.

Con tucked his chin, and Charon bent his legs ready to fight when the door was thrown open and Laura rushed in to stand before him.

Her hands were braced against his chest, and even though Charon had his lips peeled back as he growled, it didn’t seem to faze her.

“Enough,” she said. When neither he nor Con relented, she tried again. This time she yelled. “Enough!”

Hal crossed his arms over his chest. “Brave woman.”

Charon straightened, but he didn’t tamp down his god. He had come to the Kings for help, but it looked as if he had ruined that.

Perhaps Phelan had been correct when he said neither he nor Charon were meant to be a part of anything.

“Look at me,” Laura coaxed Charon.

He wasn’t ready to give any ground to Con, but Laura wasn’t giving up.

“Charon, look at me,” she demanded in a louder tone.

He blew out a harsh breath and lowered his gaze to her. “You shouldna be here.”

“And where should I be while you and our new friends are about to fight? Luckily for you, Cassie happened to be walking by and heard the exchange. She came to get me.”

Hal rolled his eyes and shifted from one foot to another. “Happened to be walking by, my arse,” he mumbled.

Laura could feel the fury rolling off Charon in waves. He stood against five Dragon Kings without so much as a tremor. His copper skin glistened in the lightning flashes, and he was careful to keep his claws away from her.

She let her hand trail down his chest before she turned and faced Con. “Charon is right. You stood by while thousands died. Did I hear wrong, or were you able to shift from dragon to human so you could protect the humans?”

“Humans doona need protecting. It’s the rest of the world that needs protecting from them,” Con said with his teeth clenched. He pushed away from his desk and glared at Charon.

Laura sighed. She had hoped by coming into the office, she might help defuse the situation, but she’d been wrong. She faced Charon, knowing she had one more chance with him.