Dragon On Top (Dragon Kin #0.4)(15)

“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—”