Feel the Burn (Dragon Kin #8)(103)

That’s when Elina asked, “Have you two been f*cking again?”

Before Kachka could reply, Gaius leaned down, smiled, and said, “Yes!”

Kachka rubbed her forehead.

“She won’t admit it, Elina, but it’s been great.”

“Go away.”

“To our room?”

“It is not—” Kachka stopped. Took a moment. “Just go,” she said finally.

Gaius leaned in and kissed Kachka on the cheek. He started to walk down the stairs, but suddenly turned around and fled back inside. Elina didn’t know why until Keita charged up the stairs after him, yelling, “Yoo-hoo! King Gaius! You must see the new colors of patches I have for you and your missing eye!”

“So,” Elina said, trying not to smile, “a king husband. That is impressive, sister.”

“He is not my husband.”

“No. But I have seen that look before. Fearghus has it when Annwyl screams at the walls that she will not be forced to hire the stonemason. Briec has it when he argues with Talaith about damaged fruit. Gwenvael has it when he watches that tiny, weak Northlander order big soldiers around and they listen. She cannot even take down an elk, but there you go. And King Gaius . . . he now has that look for you.”

“I do not want to have this conversation.”

“Because you know I am right.”

“Because you need to shut up.”

Trying to pretend that she wasn’t bonded to that Iron dragon, Kachka motioned to all the activity in the courtyard.

“They’re getting ready?” Kachka asked in their native tongue.

“Yes. They will be going to war. As will you, I’m guessing, sister. Now that you are the Scourge of Gods.”

Kachka shrugged. “I guess.”

“You should. You are very good at it. Even our mother could never deny that.”

“And you?”

“Stay here. Like a man, I will guard the children here.”

“The children here need no guardian. But protecting the home has no shame either. If they get past us, the tiny Northlander will need someone like you at her side.”

A sudden din of loud voices stopped the sisters’ conversation and they watched the Kolesova sisters come down the stairs, hugging and greeting each other with loud cheers.

“Elina Shestakova!” Zoya Kolesova greeted. “Are you as happy to see your sister as I am to see mine?”

Staring straight at her, Elina replied flatly, “No.”

Kachka snorted and quickly looked off.

“Me, too!” Zoya replied, her arms around two of her sisters, as Nika led the way, most likely to the closest pub.

“What are Zoya’s sisters doing here?” Kachka asked when they’d gone around the corner of the house.

“They’ve come here to seek an honorable death at Annwyl the Bloody’s side.”

“Oh,” Kachka said with a nod. “That makes sense.”

Aidan found his sister where he least expected it. On the top of the battlements of Queen Annwyl’s home. In her dragon form, staring out over the land that she’d never seen before.

He landed beside her.

“I thought you’d be at Devenallt Mountain.”

Eyes closed, letting the wind blow against her face, Orla replied, “Queen Rhiannon sent me here. Don’t know why.”

“She has a good sense of things, our queen.”

“She kept Mother and the others close by, though.”

“Of course she did.”

“Will they be safe?”

“As long as they’re not stupid.”

Orla finally looked at him. “So . . . no then?”

Aidan laughed, glad his baby sister’s sense of humor hadn’t left her completely.

“You’ll be safe here, Orla,” he promised her.

“But you’re not staying. Are you?”

“I can’t. Not now.”

“And Father?”

Aidan blew out a breath. “With the dwarves. I guess. I don’t know if we’ll see him again. At the very least, we probably won’t see him for a while.”

She shrugged. “He never liked me anyway.”

“You will stay here, won’t you?”

“Where would I go?” she asked forlornly.

Aidan nodded in agreement before noting, “Your darkness is magnificent, by the way.”

“It is a lost art.” She gave what some might call a very small smile. “Cheeky bastard.”

Gaius was on his bed, letting his sister know he’d be home soon and to get the vote from the Senate so the legions would be ready to move as soon as he was there, when Kachka walked into the room, slamming the door behind her.

“What is wrong with you?” she demanded.

“So many things, actually. Yet my handsome face and strong nature make it all meaningless.”

“My sister thinks we are bonded now.”

“We are. Just admit it.”

“I will admit nothing. But I will especially not admit that.”

“So,” Gaius said, choosing his words very carefully, “you’re saying you’re not strong enough to love me?”

Kachka, her hand on the doorknob, froze. “What?”