Smoke and Fire: Part 4 Read Online Free PDF Page B

Ulrik who stood still as a statue against the wall. “She failed me. I can’t believe you asked such a question. You were King of the Silvers. You above all else knows what it means to keep those below you in line.”
    “Without a doubt.”
    “Then why ask me that?”
    Ulrik stepped from the shadows and leaned his hands on the desk. “Because of what she’s done for you.”
    “Others can take her place,” Mikkel said with a wave of his hand. “All her work has been saved so anyone can step in at any time.”
    “You believe it’s that easy?”
    “I do.”
    Ulrik slowly straightened. “Just as you believe anyone can be a Dragon King.”
    At this Mikkel smiled. “Not at all. It takes a special kind of dragon. You took what was meant to be mine.”
    “Stronger. Braver. Smarter. More powerful. With more magic.” Ulrik paused. “Aye. A special dragon.”
    Mikkel didn’t like this attitude Ulrik was showing. It was time Mikkel reminded him who was in charge of who. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with Muriel of late. You favor her.”
    “She’s good in bed.”
    “Kill her.”
    Ulrik showed no emotion as he stared silently at Mikkel. “I’ll no’ kill one of Taraeth’s favorite slaves on your whim.”
    “I’m telling you to do it,” Mikkel said. “You will do everything I say.”
    Ulrik tugged the cuff of his dress shirt at his wrist and buttoned the suit jacket. “You can no’ start killing off the Dark.”
    “I’m not. You are.”
    “So you want Taraeth’s anger directed at me.”
    “What I want, nephew , is for you to remember your place.”
    Ulrik’s silver gaze hardened for a split second. “How can I? You remind me of it constantly.”
    “Then you should know I’ll no’ stand for any back talk, nor will I allow you to grow a spine.”
    Ulrik could kill him. Right then. It wouldn’t take much. He had Mikkel at a disadvantage, though Mikkel didn’t realize it yet. The thought of seeing Mikkel’s surprise as the life drained from him was exhilarating.
    But he had a plan for his uncle. Ulrik needed to remember that before he lost what little control he had over his anger and showed Mikkel exactly who was King of the Silvers.
    He was tired of hearing what Mikkel was going to do when he took over. His uncle would never get close to ruling. The fact Mikkel didn’t even realize that Ulrik had all of his magic back and was once more the King of the Silvers proved how unprepared Mikkel truly was.
    Ulrik was going to enjoy bringing Mikkel low. Though it wasn’t time. Right now he got pleasure watching as Mikkel upset the order of things at Dreagan.
    Though it didn’t go unnoticed by Ulrik of just how they were using Kinsey against Ryder. A betrayal. And not just any betrayal. Ulrik had seen Ryder with Kinsey. They were mates, regardless of whether Kinsey had accepted it or not.
    Ulrik knew how it felt to have a woman he thought to be his deceive him in such a way. That didn’t sit well with Ulrik in the least.
    It was time he went to Dreagan and took a look at the situation. Obviously Con wasn’t there or Kinsey would already be dead.
    Ulrik cut his hand through the air at whatever Mikkel was saying that he didn’t care about. “I’m no’ killing Muriel. You want to take your anger out on me, then take it out on me.”
    “What better way to hurt you than taking something you care about?”
    Ulrik chuckled wryly. “Oh, uncle. If you really knew me, you’d know I doona care about anyone. Now, I need to return to the store.”
    “I’m no’ finished with you yet.”
    A third slip in less than half an hour. Mikkel wasn’t nearly as in control of himself as he led others to believe. Ulrik would have to remember that. It could be used against his uncle.
    “Then what do you need of me?” Ulrik waited impatiently as Mikkel tried to think of something for him to do. “Exactly. When you need me, you know where to find me.”
    Ulrik walked from the office and down the hallway to