Dragon On Top

“You must be joking.”

“What’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing. He’s just. . just. .” “Just what?”

“A peacemaker.” And she’d dropped her voice to a whisper. “What would I do with a peacemaker?” “The same thing I did with a whore.” And Shalin the Innocent sounded highly superior at the moment. “Made him mine.” “I have no intention of making Bram the Merciful anything. Mine, yours, or ours.” “Foolish girl! Right in your face. Right there. And has been. . for years! Yet you continue to ignore what’s right before you, then you whine—” “I do no such thing.”

“—about worthless scum like Feoras.” “Mum. . ”

“Fine. Fine. Don’t listen to your mother who is never wrong. See how far you get.” Then she lifted the hem of her skirt and flounced away. Her mother was an excellent flouncer. A skill Ghleanna had thankfully never learned. Instead she stomped like a proper warrior and threw Hew and Cai away from the table and head-butted Adain so she could get some food.

“This is excellent, Bram. Excellent work.” “Thank you. I’ve been slaving over it for months.” “Rhiannon give you a lot of changes?” Bram shrugged and Ailean laughed, leaning back in his chair. “I wouldn’t worry about it. You’re handling her well. Just stay clear of the boy.” “I try. She won’t let me. I think she’s trying to get me killed.” “She’s using you to make her mate jealous. I’m sure she doesn’t want you dead. Although if it happens, I’m not sure she’d lose any sleep over it. But that’s Rhiannon and that’s what you get dealing with monarchs, which is why I don’t.” He tapped the parchment Bram had given him. “But this, Bram. . this will get you killed. You do understand that? There are royals who don’t want Rhiannon any more powerful than she already is.” “But how would killing me stop this? Delay it perhaps but—” “Your death would make Rhiannon look weak and that will make her even more of a target. Besides, do you think anyone has your skill, Bram? To get dragons of all stripes to meet and agree on terms.” Ailean lowered his head. “Do I need to remind you of exactly how good you are at what you do, boy?” “No, sir.”

“Good. But I am glad my Ghleanna is traveling with you. You need her protection.” “It’s too blatant,” Bram admitted, knowing Ailean would understand. “I was trying to keep this quiet. Trying to make it seem. . of no consequence. But with a good number of your brood escorting me around the Southlands, it’s obvious this alliance will change things.” “It was already obvious to those who’d give a centaur shit anyway. Trust me, Bram. You’re better off with my girl watching out for you. She’s a solid choice by Bercelak. And her and Addolgar together? A mighty force. Let them protect you. At this point, there can be no subtle.” Bram relaxed back in his wood chair. “I guess you’re right.” “Don’t worry, son. What you’re doing is right. That’s all you need to know.” “Thank you, Ailean.”

“Any time. And feel free to visit more. Perhaps when this is all over.” Ailean handed the parchment to Bram and stood. “I’ve missed you. So has Shalin.” Bram stood and lifted his gaze up to see the giant blue dragon in human form. “I’ve missed you both as well. And when this is all done, I might take you up on that visit.” “Good. And you can bring Ghleanna with you.” Bram slammed the war room door shut before Ailean could walk through it. “Don’t start this again.” “And don’t you be a fool. You going to let her get away?” “She doesn’t even notice me, Ailean. She forgets I exist on this planet.” “And you forget everyone exists on this planet. When you’re working. That’s how it is with my girl. When Ghleanna works, she forgets everything but her troops and who her enemy is. Honestly, Bram, the pair of you were made for each other.” “I’m not the problem.”

“If you don’t go after what you want, lad, you definitely are the problem.” Frustrated — and knowing Ailean was right — Bram yanked the door open. “Can we just go please?” “You were the one who stopped me.”

As promised, the stay was short and within the hour, Ghleanna was hugging her mum good-bye.

“You’re crying again, Mum.”

“Because I’ll miss you.” She pulled away from Ghleanna and reached up so she could hug Addolgar. “I’ll miss all of you.” “Mum, all we gotta do is babysit this one.” Addolgar said as he pointed at Bram. “Easy job.” Bram sighed. “Yes. I do adore being equated to a human child.” After saying good-bye to her sons, Shalin returned to Ghleanna. They gazed at each other for a long moment.

“I love you, Mum.”

“And I you, my daughter.” They hugged again and then Ghleanna quickly turned away before she started to blubber like her mother. But she came face to chest with her father.

“And do I get nothing?” His voice lowered a bit. “Will I be paying for my past forever with you, my Ghleanna?” Ghleanna looked up at her father. Gods, she adored that face. But still. . “You do make it so very hard to be your daughter.” “But worth it, yes?”

“Some days, Da. . I really don’t know.” She walked around him and tried to ignore the hurt she heard in his voice when he whispered, “Good-bye, little one.” Ghleanna walked through the gates that surrounded her family home and toward the clearing where they could take off.

“You all right?” Bram asked her, his long stride matching hers.

“Aye.”

“You know, your father—”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” “—he adores you like the suns.” Ghleanna stopped abruptly, spun to face him. “Did my mother tell you that?” “No. He did.”

“When? Today?”

“Once, years ago when I’d stopped by to discuss some strategy with a difficult Duke who’d decided dragons needed to be hunted by his army—” “Why didn’t you just kill the Duke and his army?” “Which was why I spoke to your father, but that’s neither here nor there. Anyway, you walked in, slammed a blood-covered axe on the table and said, ‘Thanks for the axe, Da. Worked like a charm.’ Then you walked back out and he sighed and said with great pride, ‘I adore that girl like the suns.’ Then we went back to our conversation — with that blood-covered axe sitting there the entire time.” Bram gazed off. “I tried not to take it as an unspoken threat.” Ghleanna shook her head a little. “Is that really true?” “I lie when I have to, Ghleanna. Like when I tell people our queen is utterly sane or that ‘No. Of course Bercelak would never kill your offspring while you slept.’ But on something like this? That is not something I’d lie about.” “You don’t understand. I am judged by my father’s past deeds because, as usual, he didn’t think past his cock. I am Ailean the Slag’s daughter, after all, which to many means I’m no more than a slag myself.” “You are judged by your father’s past because you allow yourself to be. Because you allow yourself to feel shame for the life he decided to live. How is that Ailean’s fault? Perhaps you should accept him as he is — the way he’s accepted you.” “Know so much about my family, do you, royal?” “Well. . I did live with your parents for a year while I studied alchemy under your mother.” Ghleanna frowned. “You did? When was that. . well, don’t walk off mad! It was an innocent question!”

Chapter 5

They flew the rest of the day and late into the night until they reached the outskirts of the city of Baynham. Instead of sleeping outside, though, they all decided to go into town, get some warm food and soft beds.

But it had been someone’s brilliant idea for them all to stay in the pub for the night and share a single room with several beds. There was just one problem — the Cadwaladr males’ ability to snore in a way that suggested very loud temple construction.

It wasn’t even that Bram was a light sleeper. He wasn’t. Far from it, having slept through all manner of things during the time he traveled the length and breadth of the Southlands for several years. But four Cadwaladr males in one room? That was too much even for him.

They didn’t even snore in unison, but instead created a wall of sound that surrounded him so that Bram