“You called?” Ailean asked, reaching for her again.
“No!” she squealed, slapping at his hands. “Rest! I need rest!”
He snuggled in close. “Fine. Another ten minutes.”
“Very generous.”
“Keep that tone and it goes to five.”
Ailean’s arms were wrapped tight around her, keeping her warm and safe.
“Where did you go this morning?” he asked, one hand stroking her forearm.
“To see my father.” She turned her head and looked at Ailean. “He means too much to me not to have talked to him before—”
“There is nothing to explain to me, Shalin. I understand.” And he did. She could see that in his eyes. “You know, Shalin, there’s this nice little cave not far from here, close to my mother’s. If we fixed it up nice, think he’d mind living there?”
“It—it depends,” she stuttered in surprise. “Knowing my father, we could probably move him and all his things without him ever complaining as long as we don’t disturb his current work.”
“We’ll do that, then. I worry about him. He’s older and alone. I know you’d feel better with him closer.”
Letting out a shaky breath, Shalin said, “That would mean much to me, Ailean. Thank you.”
“Nothing to thank.” He kissed her temple, her cheek. “Family is family, luv.”
He stared at her intently and said, “Rest is over, Shalin.”
“That was not ten minutes.”
“Too bad.”
She batted at his hands and slipped out from under him. “Wait. Wait. I want to see.”
She scrambled off the bed and went to the tall mirror in the corner of the room. She had to wipe off all the dust first since it seemed never to have been used and probably belonged to the humans who’d once lived there.
Turning so her back faced the mirror, she looked over her shoulder at what Ailean had burned into her flesh. “Huh,” she said in surprise.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s so small.” It truly was. A lounging dragon burned into her lower back. The point of its tail aimed right above the cheeks. Over the years she’d seen and heard of some very elaborate Claimings. Brands covering an entire arm or leg, sometimes an entire back or chest. One day, she’d mark Ailean as her own as well, but not right away. It was a male thing and she didn’t bother trying to understand it.
“You don’t like it?” He stood in front of her, his hands on her waist and leaning over her shoulder to take a better look.
“No, no. I do like it. Very much. It’s just so…so…”
“So…what?”
“Subtle.”
He glared down at her. “Your point being?”
“Nothing.”
“You don’t think I’m subtle?”
“I didn’t say that.” But the laughing wasn’t helping, either.
“Your rest is over, dragoness.”
“I’m not done—”
“Later,” Ailean told her, walking her back to the bed until he could push her on it.
But as Ailean moved over her, they both stopped and stared at the window.
“What is that?” she asked.
“You don’t want to know.”
Slipping out from under him again, Shalin walked to the window and pushed out the thick glass encased in a metal frame. In shock, she stared down into the courtyard.
“Told you,” Ailean said, now standing behind her, again looking over her shoulder.
They all stood out there, all the Cadwaladr kin, cousins, aunts, uncles, and brothers of Ailean. Now her kin. Ale in hand, they all stood outside the window—singing.
For the life of her, she’d never be able to tell a soul what they’d been singing—it was unintelligible—but she knew it came from their drunken hearts. And gods, they were so very drunk.
“Congratulations, you two,” Kyna called up.
“We’re so happy,” Kennis added, sobbing for no apparent reason.
“Does this mean we’re royals too?” another cousin asked.
“Let’s fly to Devenallt Mountain and ask the queen!” cried his aunt Briaga. “Who’s with me?” She didn’t get far, though. She fell backward seconds later. Out cold.
Shalin grinned, trying not to laugh instead, until one of Ailean’s uncles called out, “The royal there…she’s got nice tits, eh?”
Ailean kissed Shalin’s cheek and let out a sigh. “Welcome to the family, luv.”
She looked down at her chest and back up into his beautiful face. “Thank you?”
Epilogue
“Oiy, brother!” The bed went up and crashed back down. “It’s time.”
Shaking his head and yawning, Ailean dragged himself out of bed. “Good. I want my mate back where she belongs.” Under him. Over him. As long as he was in her, all was right.
“So selfish,” Arranz chided.
“I’m not the one been complaining about no stories at mealtime, you whiny bastard.”
Ailean tugged on a pair of leather leggings and walked past his brother and out into the hall. At midday, the house was its usual busy self. Servants and young ones under foot, along with kin who’d dropped by for whatever reason. He walked past one of the bedrooms and saw one of his younger sons in human form leaning out the window, flirting with one of the local girls.
Arranz smiled and stepped back as Ailean snuck up behind the young dragon. He stood behind him a good five seconds and the little fool, so busy trying to seduce the blacksmith’s daughter, didn’t even realize he was behind him.
Grinning, he slammed his hands against his son’s back, sending him flipping out the window. So stunned, the little bastard didn’t even shift to dragon and instead landed on the hard, unforgiving ground. Although the girl moved fast enough out of the way. Not too bad for a human.
“You need to learn to pay attention, boy!” Ailean yelled down, earning a snarl and a curse that would have his mate yanking someone’s tail in reprimand.
Brushing his hands together, he walked back into the hallway and to his brother.
“I’m surprised your children haven’t tried to kill you in your sleep, Ailean.”
“They hate me now, but they’ll learn to appreciate me when they go into battle.”
The brothers went down the stairs and across the hall. Ailean took flight as soon as he made it outside, and he arrived at his destination in minutes. He walked into the brightly lit cave,
