“Oh . . . that’s why.”

“There has to be someone else, Rhiannon. Anyone else.”

“No one you’ll be as safe with as Ghleanna.”

Bram sighed and tried to think of how to carefully explain this to his dangerously unstable queen without insulting her or her recently acquired kin. At least now, though, they were in her privy chamber and away from the prying eyes and ears of her court.

“These are delicate negotiations, Rhiannon. The Sand Dragon King has to be handled with care. Infinite care.”

“Och! These moody foreign royals. How do you tolerate such moodiness, my friend?”

Did she even listen to herself? Probably not.

“With patience,” he answered. “And none of the Cadwaladrs are known for their patience.”

Rhiannon’s head tipped to the side, her blue eyes watching him. “But we are not speaking of the Cadwaladrs, are we, old friend? I sense that if we were speaking of any of Bercelak’s other kin this wouldn’t be such an issue. But we’re not. We’re speaking of Ghleanna.”

Bram swallowed. “So?”

The queen began to circle Bram, the tip of her tail drawing little signs in the dirt floor as she moved. “Pretty, strong, defiant, difficult, and scarred Ghleanna.”

“I know who she is, Rhiannon. I just don’t see—”

“All those scars from all those battles, littering her body. Her long, strong body. Even her tail has scars—and an extra long . . . tip.”

“Stop.”

“And when she gets angry, Bram . . . when she gets right up close and is threatening and vicious and cold; and you know in that second that you’ll never meet someone as deadly as—”

“Please stop.” Bram realized he was panting.

“We’ve been friends a long time, Bram. Do you really think I’ve forgotten?”

“I didn’t think you’d noticed.” No one else ever had—especially Ghleanna.

“Ghleanna is like the rest of her kin. Wonderful, but dense as thick marble.”

“That’s lovely, Rhiannon.”

“I adore them all but you need to be more direct with them when you want something.”

“She doesn’t know I exist. She never has.”

“Because you aren’t direct with her. You’re direct with everyone else, but once Ghleanna comes around you’re suddenly a shy schoolboy.”

“So? I should be like Feoras the Fighter instead?”

Rhiannon winced. “Heard about that, did you?”

“Everyone’s heard about it because the bastard’s told everyone.”

“That annoying little rodent. I should have his veins removed.” When Bram didn’t say anything, Rhiannon noted, “No calls for mercy, peacemaker?”

“Not this time, no. And stop looking at me like that. I never like cruelty from anyone. So it’s not as if I’m being particularly vicious here.”

“It’s endearing that you think not calling for mercy is vicious.” Rhiannon waved all that away with her claw. “Look, when it comes to males, Ghleanna the Black doesn’t know what she wants. So you’ll have to show her.”

“Show her?”

“It’s the perfect time. She’s absolutely ripe for the plucking.”

Bram blinked. “What?”

“Vulnerable. That’s the word. So it’s the perfect time for a good, worthy dragon to swoop in and get her.”

“Rhiannon!”

“What? I’m only trying to help.”

“That’s not helpful. That’s sneaky and deceitful.”

She gave a soft snort. “Two words you’re well acquainted with.”

“Only when we’re discussing politics. Ghleanna is not politics. She’s . . . she’s . . .”

“Scarred? Perfectly, perfectly scarred?”

“Stop, Rhiannon.”

“So many scars,” the viper whispered in Bram’s ear. “All from the different weapons of those trying to kill her. She has a scar here”—her tail drew a long diagonal line across Bram’s back—“from hip to shoulder where an ogre from the Dark Hills tried to cut her in half. He didn’t succeed, though. And Ghleanna slaughtered their entire army. And when the healers sewed her up”—Rhiannon went on—“she insisted on being awake so that she’d fully understand that even a moment of being unaware had drastic consequences.”

She pulled back slightly. “Why, Bram, you’re shaking.”

Because he was desperately trying to control his cock. It wouldn’t do to get hard in front of his queen. No matter what the vision of Ghleanna getting her battle wounds tended did to him.

“You’re cruel, Rhiannon. You were cruel when we were young—and you’re cruel now.”

“My mother was cruel, Lord Bram. I’m merely honest.” She kissed his snout. “And don’t ever say I’m not a good friend. I’m the best friend a dragon like you could hope for.”

He turned slightly, both of them very close to each other, and smiled. “Best friend, my ass.”

She laughed until that black snout pushed between them, forcing them apart, pitch black smoke streaming from the nostrils.

“Oh, hello, my love,” Rhiannon said to her consort. “I was just giving Bram here a pep talk before he goes to face those difficult Sand Dragons. Wasn’t I, Bram?”