“What do you mean?”

“Something vexed her, but she would not tell me what.”

The handsome dragon nodded and patted her shoulder as he quickly moved by. “Thank you, Elina.”

With a fresh target in place, Elina automatically turned her head far left, then glanced right, to take in her surroundings. But when she turned her head back toward the left she saw someone moving silently up behind her. She had her bow raised and the arrow loosed before her mind could actually make out who that someone was.

Thankfully, her target was fast of hand and the arrow was caught before it made contact.

Holding the arrow, the head pointed right at where his heart was, Celyn calmly explained, “This is one of two ways to quickly kill a dragon in human form. So let’s avoid doing that to me or anyone in my family.”

Elina turned her whole body and snarled at Celyn, “My left side will forever more be my blind side, you dolt! Move toward me from that direction and I will shoot arrow first and mourn your loss second.”

Grinning, he leaned in and kissed her. “And a good morning to you, too, ray of suns-shine.”

Elina snatched back her arrow. “Foolish dragon! What do you want?”

“I have to return to the queen’s side for a bit—”

“It is your job to protect the Dragon Queen, is it not?”

“—and I was wondering,” he continued on, “if you and your sister could escort my father and young Var back to Bram’s home?”

Elina smirked. “That Northland female wants us gone from Garbhán Isle, yes?”

“Just for a day or two. Until the sting of your sister twisting her nephew like dough around her naked body is more of a faint memory.”

Elina rolled her eye. “I do not understand these Northland females at all. It is not like Kachka made him one of her husbands.”

“She has husbands?”

“Not yet, but she will. She has much to offer a cadre of handsome men.”

“Well . . . she can offer whatever a cadre is to someone who is not related by blood to Dagmar Reinholdt.”

“Will we ever be allowed to return here?”

“Yes,” Celyn said, his voice vehement. “I said a day or two, not a lifetime. And I have no intention of hiding you and your sister away on Devenallt Mountain to live life among those snooty royal dragons.”

“Why would we live there?”

“Because I’m there.” He kissed her again. “And where I am—” And again. “—I want you to be.” And again.

When he pulled away, Elina licked her lips and nodded. “That is acceptable for now.”

“For now? Really? And when should I start expecting you to leave?”

“Eh.” She shrugged. “I am Daughter of Steppes. I have more time than most, so I am in no rush to make such a decision. But do not become too comfortable, Dolt. I could make change of mind at any time in the next century or two.”

“I’ll attempt to remember that,” he murmured as he leaned in for another kiss.

“Morning, sister and her dragon whore!” Kachka’s voice boomed, startling Celyn away from that tantalizing kiss. Much to Elina’s annoyance. “I hope death finds both of you well this glorious morning!”

Elina glanced over at her sister. “You have caused problems, Kachka.”

“Me? How? I did not start one fight last night, just as I promised you. Nor did I spit again on floor after first time, and I set nothing on fire.”

“Fire?” Celyn asked.

“That is what we do when we raid town,” Elina explained. “Burn everything to ground as warning to other towns that dare challenge us. We also sometimes do that to individual people . . . when they annoy us enough.”

“How lovely.”

Elina faced her sister. “You fucked that boy—”

“He is certainly man now.”

“—and the Northlander female is not happy.”

“We should have wiped the Northlanders out and taken their men when we had the chance.” She nodded at Celyn. “No offense.”

“None taken. I’m a Southlander.”

“Well, we did none of those things,” Elina went on, “and now the Northland female whines. So we will go with Bram the Merciful to his home. Protect him and the boy.”

“The little smart one?” Kachka nodded. “He takes after father and one day he will be glorious to look upon.” She grinned. “And I will still be here, waiting for that day.”

“I am begging you,” Celyn said, his eyes briefly closing, “never say that again, ever, within a thousand leagues of this place. Not unless you are hoping to be executed. Just . . . never.”

Kachka reached up and patted Celyn’s face with the tips of her fingers. “I see why my sister likes you so. You are so adorable when there is fear in your black, soulless, dragon eyes.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Just as Bram landed in the courtyard of his castle home, the two Riders came through the gate that, once again, he’d forgotten to close.

“Am I that old?” he asked Var. “That I can’t out-fly horses now?”

“Those are Steppes horses, Uncle Bram,” the boy patiently explained as he slid off Bram’s back. “They are known for their speed and endurance.” He patted Bram’s side. “And you are getting old.”

Bram nodded. “Thank you, dear boy. Your honesty is so refreshing in this day and age.”