Feel the Burn (Dragon Kin #8)(74)

Brannie was about to answer that with a fist to Aidan’s big, giant, stupid, handsome face, but then there they were! Suddenly. Walking and talking. Coming from absolutely nowhere!

“You can’t do this,” Gaius was telling Kachka, which seemed like a bad idea if he really didn’t want Kachka to do something.

“I am over one hundred. I have killed many enemies. And I have never been slave. I can do as I like, lizard.”

“Not with the Western Mountain Dwarves.” He caught Kachka’s arm, pulling her up short. “I know them, Kachka. They will not help you. They won’t even see you.”

“No,” Aidan piped in. “But they’ll help me.”

Gaius raised a brow. “Really?”

“You forget who my kin are, King Gaius. The House of Foulkes de chuid Fennah are sworn to protect the Western Mountains from the invasion of the awful Irons. That would be you, my lord,” Aidan finished on a whisper.

“So?”

“That requires a healthy relationship with the Western Mountain Dwarves. One I’m not above exploiting. If I’m asked nicely,” he added, leaning a little too close to Brannie.

“Do it, imperialist dog,” Kachka ordered. “We leave in morning.”

“This discussion isn’t over,” Gaius called after her seconds before he realized the Rider was clearly not listening to him.

“That woman is frustrating,” he growled, stomping off after her.

Aidan smiled at Brannie, and she snapped, “Shut up.”

The dragon threw up his hands. “I didn’t say anything!”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kachka woke up just as the suns began to rise. The others were still asleep, all of them with weapons at hand, ready to be grasped and used.

But she quickly noticed that Gaius was not among them, his bedroll empty.

She stood. Stretched. Then followed his tracks down to a small stream. A stream he was pissing in while yawning.

Kachka bit her lip and eased up behind the dragon, being sure not to make a single sound or—

“Stop that,” Gaius said without even turning around.

“Senses like wolf.”

“Senses like a dragon.”

“Why do dragons need such senses?” she asked, curious. “You are so large and have fire and talons and wings.”

“You humans can’t help yourselves. You always have something to prove, and killing a sleeping dragon seems to bring you the highest honors.”

“Not humans. Men.”

He put his cock away, adjusted his chain-mail leggings, and crouched down to wash his hands in the stream.

“You don’t have a very high opinion of males, do you?”

“Of course I do. I love them. But they have many flaws. It is not their fault, though. They are born with weakness. It is the weakness of their sex that makes them so hysterical and egotistical.”

“You do understand that none of the races can survive without both genders? We need each other.”

“Yes. Of course. Who else would take out our trash? Lift heavy things?” She grinned, and the dragon shook his head, but still laughed.

“I’ve truly missed you, Kachka.”

“You have?”

He ran wet hands through his hair. “Yes. I have. I’ve thought about you often when I was traveling the last few months. Especially,” he sighed out, “when Caswyn and Uther would have . . . debates.”

“Debates? About what?”

“Whatever their tiny little brains would deem interesting.” He looked up at Kachka. “It’s been a long eight months. You helped keep me sane.”

“And I was not even there. I never knew I was so gifted.”

“Well, you are female.”

“Very true.”

Gaius stood and took a step, moving close to her. “Did you think about me?” he asked, gazing down into her face.

“Not often,” she admitted. “Mostly just when I masturbate.”

Gaius closed his eye. “You do that on purpose, don’t you?”

“Do what? Tell truth?”

Sliding his hands into her hair, he tilted her face up. “Evil harpy.”

“Imperialist dog.”

His grip tightened and he leaned down as Kachka went up on her toes, their lips a hairsbreadth awa—

“Morning, my friends!”

Kachka gritted her teeth and growled, “I will kill her.”

Gaius massaged Kachka’s skull with the tips of his fingers, as if he was trying to soothe a dangerous animal. “Morning, Zoya.”

“Such a beautiful day!” she announced.

“Looks like rain, comrade.”

Gaius, laughing, kissed Kachka’s forehead before releasing her.

“Do you come with us, Rebel King? To retrieve these eyes of god?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

Gaius shook his head. “Really, Kachka? Really?”

“I am the one who needs to retrieve this thing. You need to return to your kingdom and your royal life.”

“My sister reigns with a fair claw and hard heart. She’ll be fine without me. This is more important.”

“And why do you believe that?”

“Because I’m here. And I don’t think that’s by accident.”