Her arms dropped to her sides as she gave him a sad look. “Do you know why I came to you that first time?”
A smile pulled at his lips when he thought back to the seventeenth century. “Nay. I believed at the time you were the one in need, but I get the feeling you’re going to tell me you were the one helping me.”
She laughed, her eyes filling with tears that she blinked away. “I admit that I might have told myself I wanted to meet you because you needed a little push, but the truth is, I needed a friend.”
“We both needed a friend.”
“It doesn’t matter how many different names I used or excuses I made to visit you, I’ve always been your friend.”
“And I, yours.”
She licked her lips and took a step toward him. “Then please listen when I say there are many who want to help you.”
“No one can help with what I have to do.”
“That isn’t true, and you know it.”
Con shook his head. “Erith, I know what I have to do.”
She searched his face for a full minute before her mouth fell open, and her gaze narrowed on him in a mixture of outrage and surprise. “You can’t be serious.”
“It’s time. It’s well past time. No one was meant to be King of Kings for this long.”
She closed her mouth and slid her lavender gaze out the window. “Have you told the others?”
“Ulrik.”
“Which explains why he’s demanding to talk to you.”
Con frowned as he realized that the banging from Ulrik hadn’t commenced again. No sooner had that thought gone through his head, than he saw something out of the corner of his eye. When he turned to glance out the window, he spotted Ulrik outside, in dragon form, looking into the third-floor window. His nostrils flared, letting Con know he was pissed.
Erith let out a little laugh. “You’ve been a master of your emotions for so long that I think you’ve forgotten what it is to share things.”
“None of the others really want to know the things I have to do or decide on.”
“It’s not their place to know such things. Just like it isn’t with my Reapers and me. I never told Cael such things when he was leading the Reapers, but I do now.”
Con slid his gaze back to her. “He’s your mate.”
“Now, yes. Once that happened, I had to open up and share things with him. It’s called a relationship. But you don’t have to be romantic with someone in order to share.” She pointed to Ulrik outside. “The proof is right there. You told me Ulrik was more of a brother than a friend. Your brother is waiting for you to open up.”
In response, Ulrik stomped his foot, shaking the manor.
Con drew in a breath and then slowly released it. “I appreciate your words.” He looked at Ulrik and opened their mental link. “I want to share, but I can no’. No’ now.”
“As long as you know I’ll be here when you can,” Ulrik replied.
Con gave him a nod. With that, Ulrik spread his silver wings and leapt into the air, flying off.
“What’s your plan?” Erith asked.
Con scratched the back of his neck. “Make sure the Others can no’ harm us. We were so close to ending Moreann. If only we’d been able to do it. But once more, luck wasna on our side since Usaeil showed up and took her. I thought they were enemies.”
“I’m not sure what is going on with Usaeil and Moreann. I might send one of the Reapers to find Brian, the Light Fae who was part of the Others. I have a feeling he can shed some light on things.”
“Maybe. We know Noreen spoke the truth when she said that Moreann and Usaeil were enemies. I can no’ figure out why Usaeil saved her from us.”
Erith lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “It might have something to do with the binding spell they used when they joined forces.” The goddess paused and glanced to the side.
If Con didn’t know better, he’d think Erith was nervous.
“There’s something else you should know.”
Just what he needed. More bad news. Con braced himself. “What is it?”
Once more, Erith paused. She studied him for a moment, then lifted her chin and said, “The Light have a queen again.”
“Usaeil came out of hiding? She retook the throne?” he asked, suddenly eager to go into battle once more. After everything Usaeil had done to the Kings and …