Annwyl thought they would travel for long distances across land. She guessed wrongly. Morfyd instead went straight up. Higher and higher until they reached the crest of Devenallt Mountain just above the clouds. It contained the court of the infamous Dragon Queen. Believed to be a myth, she, like Fearghus, turned out to be all too real. And little did Annwyl know a whole community of dragons were always so close. They truly did keep their lives secret from humans. And now, here Annwyl was. A common bastard girl, walking into the majestic halls of the queen’s court. As she entered the main hall with Morfyd, all conversation stopped. The dragons all turned to her. They watched her. Closely. Annwyl felt naked and alone. She wished that Fearghus accompanied her, but she knew he’d never let her come. He wouldn’t risk it. He wouldn’t risk her. The thought brought a smile to her face and she didn’t notice Fearghus’s father until she practically climbed on top of the old bastard. Still in dragon form, his claw and tail freshly bandaged. His damaged snout smeared with some kind of ointment, probably to stop the bleeding.
He glared down at her with those cold eyes and Annwyl felt that desire to run again. But she wouldn’t give the old bastard the satisfaction.
“How’s the claw?” she called up to him. Morfyd gasped and seized her arm, dragging her up another set of steps and into another hall.
“Please try not to get yourself killed, Annwyl. Fearghus would never forgive me.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.” As they entered the next hall, she again halted all dragon conversation. Instead they watched her walk by.
“They all stare.”
“Yes. It’s been hundreds of years since a human has been here.”
“You mean a human who wasn’t brought here as a meal?” Morfyd shrugged but would say nothing else.
“I see.”
A dragon walked toward Annwyl and Morfyd hissed at him. “Keep back, Kesslene.”
“I just wanted to see the pretty thing,” the dragon announced to the room.
“Oi!” Annwyl snapped. The last one who referred to her as a “thing”—Lorcan—she had every intention of killing soon.
Morfyd kept Annwyl moving, although the large dragon kept pace with them. “Don’t be cute, Kesslene. Besides, she’s with Fearghus. And you remember what he did to you the last time you caused his displeasure.” Morfyd went down another flight of stairs this time and the dragon Kesslene stopped following, but he wasn’t done.
“With Fearghus? Really? Then why has he not ‘Claimed’ her?”
“Claimed me?”
“Worry about that later, Annwyl.” After several minutes, they stopped in front of another set of stairs.
“You dragons really like stairs.”
“Up these stairs and inside. You know what to do.”
Annwyl nodded once, took a deep breath, and walked up the steps and into the queen’s chamber.
The great queen tossed her mane of white hair out of her eyes, and turned the page of the book she read. As she did, the chain linked to the collar around her throat rattled lightly and she smiled. Then a familiar scent hit her nostrils. She sniffed the air.
“Fearghus?” She closed the book in her hand and turned, her chain rattling more. But it wasn’t Fearghus standing in front of her, but a tiny human.
“And who are you?” She always liked to chat with her meals before disemboweling. You never knew what you might learn.
The human female did not answer. She just stared at her. A typical response when humans saw her. She stood much larger than most dragons.
She snapped two talons together. “Hello?”
It came alive, clearing its throat. “Um . . . I am Annwyl.”
“Annwyl. Annwyl. I do not know an Annwyl. So, are you my dinner?”
“No.” It took a step back. “No. I’m not dinner. Let’s never say that again. I am Annwyl of the Dark Plains.” The queen stared at it.
“Annwyl of Garbhan Isle?” Still nothing. It sighed.
“Annwyl the Bloody.”
“
It looked slightly defeated. “Yes.”
“You are awfully tiny to be Annwyl the Bloody.”
“I’m taller than most men.”
“That simply does not impress me.”
Morfyd should have warned her. She should have let her know that she would be facing a being this large and imposing. How could the dragon before her be anything
She reminded Annwyl of Morfyd. Her scales a glossy white. Her mane the color of fresh snow. But she stood as tall and wide as Fearghus, if not a little bigger than that.
“Is Fearghus here? I smell him.”
Annwyl now wished she had bathed before leaving the campsite, but there hadn’t been time.
“Uh . . . no, he’s not here.” She cleared her throat.
“That’s me . . . you . . . uh . . . smell.”
Intense blue eyes shifted and the queen leaned in closer as if to get a good look at her.
“You? He’s been with you? A human? Whatever for?”
This was one of those times where Annwyl had a really crude remark at the ready. Something that would include the word “suck.” But she kept her tongue in check. Controlled her impulses. It wasn’t easy.
“He loves me.”
“Does he now?” The queen sat up and for the first time Annwyl noticed she wore a collar around her throat with a chain connected to it. The chain led to a stone wall, securely attached to a thick metal circle. She frowned but didn’t have much time to think about it as the queen moved closer to her.
“Whether he does or doesn’t, concerns me not. Why are
“I must fight Lorcan of Garbhan Isle in a few hours. . . .”
“I do not concern myself with the problems of humans.”
“But my problem isn’t human, lady. It is Hefaidd-Hen.”
“Ah, yes. Bercelak told me of his involvement with your brother.”
“Morfyd said you could give me some kind of protection. He will surely use Hefaidd-Hen against me.”
“Are you afraid you’ll die, human?”
Annwyl shook her head. “No, lady. That has never been my worry. I worry that I will not be able to kill my brother
“And what of Fearghus?”
“Fearghus said he will fight with me.”
“So you risk his life as well as your own?”
“My life is forfeit, lady. All I care about now is killing my brother. He must die this day so that my people can be free. And I truly believe I’m the only one who can do it. Fearghus can take care of himself.”
“But if you die, what of Fearghus?”
Annwyl shrugged, uncomfortable with these questions.
“He will find another, I guess. I don’t know.”
The queen snorted. “You don’t know dragons at all, do you?”
“I never said I did.”
“And if Fearghus dies, but you live. Then what?”
Annwyl’s face tightened. The thought of something—anything—happening to Fearghus caused her anger to vibrate right below her flesh. Her voice low, her rage barely contained, “You best pray that never happens, lady. For if he dies and I live, then I will tear this world apart with my rage. And no one will be safe. I promise you
