Bideven jumped up and charged and Ailean lowered himself, waiting for the hit.
But Kyna stepped between them, grabbing both brothers by the hair and shaking. Ailean would have to admit—it hurt.
“Stop it. Both of you.” She shoved them apart while Kennis helped Arranz to his feet. “Is this about Shalin?”
Ailean frowned, confused by the question. “No.”
“Then what are you three up to?”
The brothers all shrugged. “We were bored,” they said at the same time.
Disgusted, Kyna paced away from them. “That’s brilliant.”
“What’s wrong?”
“She’s gone,” Kennis informed them.
“What do you mean she’s—” Ailean pushed past them and walked into the chamber they’d put her in. All that was left—a piece of parchment.
“I’ll be back,” Bideven read over Ailean’s shoulder.
“Is that a promise or a threat?” Arranz asked.
Ailean crumpled the parchment in his hand at the same time he expanded his wings, sending both of his brothers flying across the chamber.
Shalin walked into her father’s work chamber and smiled. How could she not when she found the old dragon on his knees and under the enormous wood desk he used to work on? His tail lazily swung back and forth while he dug through books and muttered to himself. Her heart swelled at the sight of him. Even that sight. Gods, she loved him so much.
“Father,” she said softly, as not to startle him. But he jumped anyway, slamming his head into the desk.
He moved out from under it and smiled at his daughter. “Shalin!”
“Hello, Father.”
“What are you doing here? Is everything all right?” He walked closer to her. “You look tired?”
“North dragons came for me.”
“Oh, dear.” He leaned in a bit, his face solemnly sincere. “I feared as much. Do you need me to protect you?”
Shalin snorted, and her father smirked. “Thank you very much, Daughter.”
Covering her snout, Shalin shook her head. “Forgive me, Father. I didn’t mean—”
He waved her words away. “We both know I’m no warrior.”
“But you’d die to protect me.”
“Of course.” He hugged Shalin. “You mean everything to me.” He kissed her brow. “Sit and you’ll tell me why you’re here.”
Her father motioned to a spot closer to the pitfire.
“Now I have some delicious wine here somewhere. If I could just remember where I put it.”
Shalin smiled. Her father misplaced everything. It used to drive her poor mother insane.
“Ahh. Here.” He grabbed two goblets and what looked to be a very old bottle of wine before he sat down across from his daughter.
“Are you hungry?”
“Not really.”
“Like your mother with that. Won’t eat when something worries you.” He pushed the filled goblet closer to her with the tip of his claw. “Drink then talk.”
She sipped the wine. “It’s very good.”
“I found it just the other day. I think I put it away three or four hundred years ago.” He shrugged. “Or maybe it was last week. I never remember.”
Her father sipped his wine and said, “So what is it, Shalin?”
“I’ve made a decision.”
“About Ailean?”
She nodded. “He told me he loves me.”
“And do you love him?”
“I do.”
“Then why the hesitation to admit you want him as your mate?”
“Father, they call him Ailean the Whore.”
“Aye. They do. They also call him Ailean the Deadly. Ailean the Powerful. Ailean the Decimator, which is my personal favorite. He has many names you can be proud of.” Her father thought for a moment. “If you’re a dragon,” he added for good measure.
“But there are so many of them, father. There’s Ailean, his two brothers, an untold number of aunts and uncles. Cousins. And the twins. I’m not used to so many around me.”
“It’s time you had kin of your own, Shalin. You’ve never been like your mother and me.”
That surprised her more than she could say. “I haven’t?”
“No. Don’t you think a father knows? You were lonely. And bored. When the queen asked for a companion for her daughter, I sent you there thinking it would be good for you to get out and meet others. I had no idea the princess was a vindictive little bitch, though.”
Shalin almost spit up the wine she just drank. “Father!”
“It’s true. If I’d known how bad she was, royalty be damned.”
“It was a good experience. I’ve had access to books and knowledge I never would have, had I not been part of the court.”
Her father smiled at her attempts to soothe him. “And you’ve become quite the diplomat as well.”
Shalin laughed. “I guess I have.”
“The Cadwaladr Clan needs that, Shalin. They need you. Ailean needs you.”
“He does?”
“Gods, lass. Are you that oblivious?” She couldn’t believe her father, of all dragons, had the nerve to actually say that. “He’s lost his heart to you, Shalin. Make no mistake.”
“And I’ve lost my heart to him, Father. That’s why I’ve decided to stay with him.” She placed the glass down and ran her claws through her hair. “But—”
“But what, Shalin? What has you so worried?”
“I promised her. Promised I’d become an Elder and I doubt I can do that if I’m the mate of Ailean the Whore. His reputation alone will—”
“Promised who?”
“Mother. Before she died. I promised her.”
Her father stared at her for several long moments, then said, “She’s dead, Shalin.”
“Father!”
“She is. I miss her every day, but she’s dead. And I will be soon enough. Will you go on living for me as well? Long after I’ve gone?”
“I don’t want to disappoint her.”
“It’s impossible to disappoint the dead. You made promises to a dying dragoness when you were barely fifty winters.” Actually thirty, but why argue with him now? “Still a hatchling, in my estimation.”
“And you, Father?” she asked the question that bothered her more than anything. “Will I disappoint you?”
“Disappoint me? If you don’t become an Elder? I’ll be more disappointed if you don’t allow yourself some happiness.”
Annoyed that her father saw some things so clearly, she muttered, “I never said Ailean made me happy.”
Her father laughed, his old voice cracking. She remembered when it was strong and clear, ringing out through the cave chambers.
“If he didn’t
