That’s when Bram headbutted the bastard again. You know . . . on principle.

“Owwww! Why do you keep doing that?”

Chapter 8

Ghleanna awoke with a snarl and demanded, “Why am I human?”

“Calm yourself or you’re likely to open your wound again.” Bram stood next to her. He was also in human form, dressed in a plain cotton shirt, black breeches, and black boots. They were in a rather large bedroom with a closed door. She’d guess it was locked.

“Answer me.” And her voice sounded weak to her own ears. “Why am I human?”

“Why do you think?” He sat down on the bed. “Because you’re a much bigger threat when you’re dragon.”

“When last I woke, some Fin was standing over me with a blade.”

“Aye. You handled him, though.”

“Good.” Ghleanna tried to sit up, but she was too weak to do it on her own and Bram wouldn’t let her. With his hands against her shoulders, he gently eased her back to the bed. “Relax, Ghleanna. You’re not going anywhere until that wound heals.”

She panted from even that small exertion but she hated feeling like this. Like she couldn’t defend them both if need be.

“You look exhausted,” she told him. “Have you not slept at all?”

“Not much. But that’s all right.”

“Where are we, Bram?”

“Palace of the Sea Dragon Empress Helena.”

“I thought an Emperor ruled the Fins.”

“He did—until his untimely death. Now it’s Helena’s empire to rule. And, unfortunately, Helena has heard about you, I’m afraid, or at least your kin. Hence your current human form.”

Bram reached over and brushed her neck with the tips of his fingers. That’s when Ghleanna realized something was on her. She touched her throat, felt the metal around it.

“A collar? They put a collar on me?”

“It’s a sorcerer’s tool that’s keeping you human. It’ll be removed when we leave. Is it uncomfortable?”

“Not really. But it annoys me to know it’s there.” Ghleanna closed her eyes in disgust. “But no less than I deserve. I’ve f**ked this all up royally.”

“What are you talking about?”

“This.” She glanced around the room. “This is all my doing. Because I was weak and stupid.”

“How the hells can you blame yourself for any of this?”

“Who else should I blame?”

“Gods, I don’t know . . . the traitors who set upon us perhaps?”

“I should have listened to Rhiannon. I should have insisted on more warriors.”

“None of us took this seriously except Bercelak and Rhiannon. And even they never thought there would be such an attack.”

Ghleanna let out a breath. “But I should have known.”

“Why you?”

“Because I’m smarter than all of you when it comes to general evilness and trickery. There are Elders who have many Dragonwarriors and soldiers in their debt for one reason or another. If they wanted to stop you from making this trip, they’re the lot who could do it. I should have remembered that and planned accordingly. But I was too busy feeling sorry for myself and trying to recover from that bloody hangover.”

“There were forces greater than you or I who were busy trying to stop us, Ghleanna. I realize that now. Those who will never accept Rhiannon as rightful queen. To stop me, to have me killed, would reflect very poorly on her and her young reign. Now here.” He slipped a hand under her shoulders, lifted her a bit, and placed a cup against her lips. “It’s water. Drink it.”

“Sea water?”

“Is this a time to joke?”

Who said she was joking?

She sipped from the cup Bram held, relieved it was clean drinking water.

When she pushed the cup away, she asked the question that she dreaded the answer to—yet she had to know, “My brothers?”

“It sounds as if they’re alive and well.”

“Sounds?”

“Warriors matching your brothers’ descriptions were spotted on the beach chopping the limbs and wings off the surviving traitors. Needless to say the Fins who spotted them did not stick around to verify it was your kin.”

“I need to know, Bram.”

“I know you do. But you’re still weak and the Empress’s sorceress guild has protections up. You’ll never be able to contact them on your own.”

“Unless you want my brothers coming down here and ripping this place apart—”

“I didn’t say we wouldn’t try.” And gods, he sounded so exhausted. “But you’ll need my help.”

“Right now, peacemaker? I need you more than I’ve ever needed anyone. And I’m sorry if I sound like I’m threatening. I’m not. It’s just my brothers . . .”

“I know well.” His smile was sweet. “And I understand more than you can ever realize.” He slipped long, strong fingers into her hand. “So we’ll do this together, yes?”

Ghleanna nodded and she felt power flow from Bram and into her, giving her the temporary strength she needed to force her way through the barriers the Fins had protecting this place so she could contact her blood-related kin with her mind.

Sister. Thank the gods. Addolgar’s relief at realizing Ghleanna still lived was palatable, zipping through her like a bright wave. That’s when her first tear fell.