Dragon On Top (Dragon Kin #0.4)(43)

“Hardly. They just want what’s fair.”

“I decide what’s fair.”

“Every strong monarch I’ve known has understood that their soldiers are their life’s blood. Deny that at your peril.”

“What do you want, Land Dweller?”

“What your soldiers want. Representation for them in your Senate—and for your Senate to have some actual power in your empire.”

“I am the one who rules here. As my father did before me.”

“Isn’t he dead now?” Ghleanna asked. “By poison, I think.”

Cold blue-green eyes locked on Ghleanna. “That’s never been proven.”

Ghleanna chuckled. “Of course. But imagine how loyal your soldiers will be to you if you do this? Who would dare risk their wrath by angering you, knowing you have several legions at your back? And, of course, I can help you with this.”

The royal smirked. “And what will that cost me, I wonder?”

“Not much, my Lady,” Ghleanna told her. “Not much at all.”

Chapter 16

The gold collar was removed from Ghleanna’s throat and Bram watched her shift back to her natural form. She shook out her hair and wings and unleashed a nice bout of flame at the cave ceiling—something else that had been denied her by Helena’s yoke.

“Good gods,” Helena muttered to the sorceress who had placed and then removed the collar from Ghleanna. “Even her bloody scales have scars.”

“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Bram asked with a smile.

“Land Dweller,” she sneered.

Ghleanna put on armor given to her by the soldiers. It was quite . . . elaborate and spoke of how they felt about her.

Her battle axes were tied to her back and her sword to her side.

“Excellent,” Helena said, prodding. She couldn’t wait to see the back of them. “So you’re off.”

“We are.” Bram faced the Empress. “Thank you for everything, my Lady.”

“You’re very welcome, Bram the Merciful. Good and safe travels to you.” She looked over at Ghleanna. “And to you, Captain.”

“Thank you, my Lady.”

She didn’t mention the truce because she didn’t have to. She knew Bram would keep his end of the bargain. It was a tragic flaw in his nature.

The Empress motioned her entourage to leave and Kleitos took the opportunity to slither over to Bram.

“Good-bye, old friend.”

“Shut up.”

The Fin sneered and turned to Ghleanna. “And good-bye to you, Captain.”

She gazed at the Fin. “And to you, Chancellor Kleitos.”

Bram turned, thinking they were done with all the formalities when he saw a flash of steel. He spun back around as Ghleanna’s sword rammed into Kleitos’s gut.

“Ghleanna!”

Gods, what had she done? What had she done?

Ghleanna twisted her sword, and Kleitos dropped to his knees. She pressed her back claw to his chest and shoved him off her blade. The Fin dropped to the ground, his insides pouring out from the hole Ghleanna had made.

Yet Bram began to notice something—no one did anything. Nothing. Not to him, not to Ghleanna. There was no shock, no confusion, no outrage.

Ghleanna wiped off her blade and put it back into its sheath. She walked to the Empress, and stopped, briefly bowing her head. “Empress.”

“Captain.”

Completely confused, Bram followed Ghleanna to the tunnel they’d take back to the surface. “Ghleanna?”

She stopped, faced him. “Did you really think I’d let Kleitos live? After what he did to you?” She raised a brow. “Really?”

“I told you that Kleitos was not to be touched. You said you understood.”

“And I did. I understood that you wanted me to leave Kleitos be. I never said I would. Never agreed to that.”

“Gods,” he sighed in awe, “my father will adore you.”

Catching his tail with hers, Ghleanna tugged. “Come, peacemaker. My kin awaits.”

Chapter 17

Bram landed on the ledge and waited for Ghleanna. She landed beside him.

“So Helena agreed?” he asked.

“She hated Kleitos and so did most of her army. Plus he firmly represented her father’s reign. Getting rid of him was a favor she was more than happy to allow.”

“And?”

“And?”

“You don’t like Helena, Captain. You’d do her no favors unless it was in your best interest.”

She shrugged. “Well, I wanted Kleitos dead and . . .”

“And you still have the loyalty of her army, in case she ever tries to cross us. And you’ll most likely have that loyalty for a very long time after the rights you’ve won them.”

“Perhaps.”

Bram grinned. “And if you’d been completely wrong? Miscalculated even the tiniest bit?”

“I’d have let you fix it.” She nuzzled his snout with her own. “Now let’s get out of here.”

Good plan. He was done with the memories of this place. He’d faced it again, and had conquered it—again. But there’d be no nightmares this time.

“Come. This way.”

Another mile to the surface they went, cutting tree roots that were in their way until they reached the mouth of the cavern. It was brilliantly hidden behind a close-by hill and together they maneuvered around it and headed toward the ocean.