Dragon On Top

leaves your custody.

About to return to her bed — even if she were completely healed, she wouldn’t be making a run for it without Bram — Ghleanna heard someone call out, “My Lord General!” She looked over and saw a large dragon stop at the end of a hallway and turn to face whoever had called him.

Realizing how the sleeping Fins would look — and having been in the same position more than once when left on duty too long — Ghleanna went to the guards and lifted the eyelid of one, then the other.

“Get up,” she said low. “Your commander is coming.” She gestured with her free arm. “Get up, get up, get up!” They did, scrambling to their claws and standing at attention just as the General made his way down to her room.

“What’s she doing out here?” the General demanded.

“I’m looking for my companion.” Not much of a lie. “Where is he?” “I have no idea. But I want you back in your room.” “Just admit it.” She walked up to him, leaned her head all the way back so she could see that far up. “You’re afraid I’m going to take you on. Right now. Just like this.” She held up her one fist. “Let’s go, General. Let me show you my skills.” The General chuckled and shook his massive head. “Get some rest, Land Dweller. Perhaps, when you’re feeling better, we’ll have that challenge. Until then. .” “Your fear amuses me, General.” She grinned and headed back to her room.

The General moved on and one of the soldiers let out a breath. “Thanks for that.” “No problem. But if you’ve been here for more than a day, you need a break. Have someone else take watch as soon as you can manage it. Besides—” she shrugged and headed inside her room—“it’s not like I’m going anywhere at the moment.”

“You sent for me, Empress?”

“I did, Bram. Please.” She motioned him closer. And he was surprised to find Helena in her human form, her bright blue dress glittering in the glowing light coming from the walls. “What do you think?” she asked when he stood beside her.

“It’s beautiful, my Lady.”

They stood on a landing that overlooked an enormous hot spring.

“Would you like to try it out?” “No thank you, my Lady.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I’ll never be able to relax while I’m in it.” “Because of Kleitos?”

“Because of all of you.”

The Empress smiled. “I do like your honesty. You know, Bram, when I sent you off the last time I truly never thought to see you again. And I never expected to see my lover return — but you did as you promised. You got him released.” “I did. But I haven’t seen him since my arrival. Is he—” “I had him executed,” she told him flatly. “For treason, a few years back.” She shrugged, not appearing remotely fazed by that. “Long story. Anyway,” she went on, “I’m relying on your innate nature now.” “I don’t under—”

“A truce, peacemaker.”

“With me?”

“With Rhiannon.”

Bram blinked. “Rhiannon who?” “Your queen.”

“The one you called wide ass?” “One time. Gods that viper forgets nothing!” “If you want my honesty, Empress, there is no way—” “Make it happen.”

“Rhiannon will—”

“You’re not hearing me, peacemaker.” Helena stepped closer to Bram. “You will get me a truce. I want it and you’ll get it for me.” “I can’t force Queen Rhiannon to do anything.” “You can persuade her. You’re very good at that.” “Yes, but—”

“And I am trying so very hard to keep your low-born pet safe. Yet Chancellor Kleitos loathes her. I have him on a tight leash, but. .” Helena briefly pursed her lips. “What if that leash slipped from my grasp?” Bram clenched his jaw, but said nothing.

“I’m sure you remember your time with Kleitos, yes? I’m sure I need not remind you.” “No, my Lady. You need not remind me.” “Excellent. Then you’ll promise me, yes? A truce. A favorable truce with your queen.” “Aye. I promise.”

“Excellent,” she said again. “Excellent.” Then Helena walked off, leaving Bram to stare off across the cavern, rage and hatred making him unable to move for quite some time.

Ghleanna waited up as long as she could manage, hoping to see Bram before she fell asleep. Human servants came in, bringing her food and a tub so she could bathe. She’d done that and eaten — but still Bram had not returned.

And while she’d debated whether she should go out and track him down — she’d fallen asleep. Yet now she sensed Bram’s return, and knew he stood over her — staring.

Ghleanna opened her eyes and gazed up at him.

“What’s wrong?”

“I didn’t think it was possible — but this situation has managed to get worse.” “But you’re so calm,” she observed.

“That’s usually when you can tell everything has gone to shit.” “I’ll make sure to remember that.” Ghleanna struggled to get up with one arm. She’d left the other tied down because she’d fallen asleep before she could take off the binding. “Perhaps it’s not as bad as you think.” Bram caught her around the waist and lifted her until she was sitting up.

“I rarely blow things out of proportion, Ghleanna. When stakes are this high, I simply don’t have the luxury.” Ghleanna leaned forward and caught Bram’s hand. She winced a bit from the pain, and he said, “I should leave you to sleep.” “Like all the hells you will.” She tugged. “Come. Sit beside me.” He did, stretching his long legs out on top of the fur.

“Now talk to me, Bram. What has you so worried?” “She wants me to build a truce.” “A truce? Between. .” When Bram didn’t answer, “The Fins — and us?” Bram nodded. “She wants a truce with Rhiannon?” Ghleanna laughed. “Good luck to her then. Rhiannon hates her.” “And Helena her.” Bram’s voice was cold, his gaze across the room. She could see that he was drawing in on himself. Protecting himself for some reason. She didn’t think it was anything she’d done, and he created truces every day. Why should this one bother him? “But her subjects tire of their limits. They want to travel farther inland and, in return, we’ll be able to use the seas. Especially during wartime.” Ghleanna instantly saw the benefit of that. The thought of moving up the Northern Coasts and striking at the Lightnings almost made her tingle.

“That seems reasonable.”

“I am a peacemaker, Ghleanna. Not a miracle worker. Rhiannon will never agree to a truce with Helena. Never.” Ghleanna winced. “Because of that wide ass comment? When Rhiannon took the throne?” “It was said Helena’s exact words were, ‘I can’t believe that wide-ass cow now rules the Southlands.’” “And after Rhiannon heard that, Bercelak’s, ‘I love your wide ass’. . not really helpful.” Ghleanna waved all that away. “No matter. Simply tell Helena no.” Bram didn’t move. He didn’t speak. And yet Ghleanna could feel him recoil. Not from her, but from everything else.

Ghleanna pushed the fur off and got to her knees beside Bram. “What aren’t you telling me, Bram?” “Nothing you need to know.”

“Are you protecting me?”

“You’re still healing. You need rest — not tales of the past.” Fed up and worried for her friend — she didn’t remember ever seeing him like this before — Ghleanna straddled Bram’s lap.

He blinked hard, brought quickly back into the moment. “What are you doing?” Ghleanna tugged off the cotton material that held down her arm and had covered her breasts.

“Ghleanna—”

“Look at me, Bram.”

He smiled a little. “I can hardly look away.” “I meant look at my eyes, you pervy bastard.” She laughed and said, “Now hear me well. I am no weak female who cannot handle hard news. I am a