Dragon On Top (Dragon Kin #0.4)(44)

But suddenly Ghleanna stopped.

Lifting her face, she gazed up, past the trees of the surrounding forest, at the two suns. “I didn’t realize how much I would miss them until they were gone from my sight for so long.”

“I don’t know how the Fins do it,” he admitted. “Living under there without the suns. The moon. It’s not like our caves, is it? Where fresh air and freedom are just a short walk or flight away. And the short time we were down there, I began to feel . . .”

“I know. Me, too.”

Ghleanna caught Bram’s claw and tugged, her eagerness clear. “Let’s go. My kin wait for me on the beach.”

They walked until they reached the edge of the forest, but Bram stopped and gazed out. “How long do you think they’ve been standing there like that?”

He watched Ghleanna smile at the backs of her kin. They all stood on the beach, looking like statues, staring out at the ocean, waiting for Ghleanna to appear. She’d originally told Addolgar she’d be coming from the ocean because she hadn’t known there was another exit. One that placed them directly on land.

“Hours. Perhaps a couple of days.”

“And how much longer—”

“Days. Weeks. Eventually, though, they’d take turns. One bunch would have first watch and then another bunch would have second . . . that’s just how they are. How we are.”

“Amazing.”

Ghleanna put a talon to her snout, then crept up behind the group of warriors. The number had substantially increased from the original group who’d been escorting Bram and he suddenly began to worry that he’d have all these Cadwaladrs escorting him into the Desert Lands.

Uh-oh.

Once Ghleanna was right behind her kin, she screamed. Like a wild banshee.

And her kin screamed in return, spinning around, raising weapons and shields.

“Did you lot miss me?” Ghleanna asked with a smile.

“You mad cow!” Addolgar yelled, shoving her with his shield. “That was about to be the second time you got a sword in the chest!”

“As if you’ve ever been that fast, brother.”

Then they were hugging and Bram knew nearly everything was as it should be.

Ghleanna accepted hugs, shoves, punches, and hair yanks for what they were. Familial affection—the Cadwaladr way. A way she’d missed so much.

“But you’re all right, yeah?” Hew pushed. “You sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine.” She held her forearms away from her body. “Look at me. Better than ever. Them Fins have good surgeons, they do.”

“Thank the gods for that,” Kyna said. “Isn’t that right, Kennis?”

“It is. For them. ’Cause if they hadn’t sent our girl back to us—”

“—we’d have grown gills and gone down there ourselves to their watery pit to tear the scales from their flesh and those bloody fins from their backs.”

Ahhh. Nothing like the true love and caring of the Cadwaladr Twins.

It was all as she’d expected and she was damn grateful for her kin. But what Ghleanna hadn’t expected . . .

“The Twins would have been the least of the Fins’ problem if they hadn’t sent my girl back to me alive and well.”

Eyes wide, Ghleanna faced her father. He was in his battle armor, weapons strapped to him and ready. He hadn’t left her mother in ages to go into battle. He left that “to me brats.”

“Da?”

“I’m so glad you’re home, girl. So glad you’re safe.” Ghleanna swallowed past the lump in her throat before she threw herself into her father’s arms. Let them all say what they would about Ailean the Wicked—none of it mattered. His heart was as big as any ocean and the love he had for his offspring as mighty and strong as any mountain.

“I’m glad, too, Da. And what I said to you before—”

“It’s forgotten, Ghleanna. Don’t even think about it.” He pulled back. Smiled at her. “Understand?”

“Aye.”

“Good. And Bercelak’s sorry he couldn’t be here—”

“He can’t leave Rhiannon when we have traitors in our midst.”

“—but he said you’d understand.” Ailean gazed down at his daughter and Ghleanna saw in that one look how proud he was of her. “Now, what do we do next? Escort you and our Bram to the Sand Eaters? Or take you back to Rhiannon first?”

“First Feoras dies.”

As one, all the Cadwaladrs faced the forest behind them . . . and Bram the Merciful.

Frowning, Kyna asked, “What was that?”

“Feoras dies,” Bram repeated.

“And why is that then?”

Bram walked toward them, his reliable traveling bag around his shoulder. “Because he betrayed the throne, betrayed our queen, tried to stop an important alliance that I’m sure he’ll try to stop again and, most importantly . . .” Bram stood in front of Ghleanna now, his claw brushing along her jaw. “. . . he tried to kill my Ghleanna. For that offense alone he dies.”

Cai rested his elbow on Ghleanna’s shoulder and asked, “But ain’t you the merciful one?”

“I am.” And, with his gaze never leaving Ghleanna’s, “But there are limits to my mercifulness, I’m afraid.”