Last Dragon Standing (Dragon Kin #4)(103)

you seem so vapid.”

Gwenvael flinched, but Keita only laughed. “I do, don’t I? And mostly I am. Except when it comes to the throne. I will protect that with my dying breath, if necessary.”

“Hopefully, it won’t be,” the Lightning cut in, and Gwenvael couldn’t help sneering at the bastard.

“What do you have to do with anything?” When the Lightning didn’t reply, Gwenvael looked at his sister. “Keita? What’s going on with you two?”

“I’m simply using him for sex.”

“Of course you are. But that doesn’t explain why you’ve still allowed him to hang around you once you’re done.”

“He’s very good?”

Dagmar pressed the back of her hand to Gwenvael’s chest, her gaze on Keita and Ragnar. “Is this about the Sovereigns?” she asked, and when both their expressions turned perfectly blank, Gwenvael knew his mate had guessed right.

Keita studied the human Gwenvael had mated himself to. “How much can she be trusted?” she asked her brother.

“I’ve already trusted her with my life and the lives of everyone in this family. Her loyalty is not in question. Even Father trusts her.” Surprised, Keita raised a brow. “Indeed?” She nodded. “Then I’ll make this quick and what I tell you goes no farther than these walls.” When they all agreed, she continued. “There’s a distinct chance Overlord Thracius hopes to put me on the throne. Mother thinks he’s already secured the assistance of someone in her court. She believes they’ll approach me soon, but to speed that process up a bit…I need it to get out that I’ve known where Esyld has been all this time.”

Her brother shook his head. “Are you insane? If the family finds out—”

“It’s a risk I have to take. And I think you can help me, Dagmar.”

“You want me to get the rumor about you and Esyld out?”

“Can you think of anyone better to make that happen?” Dagmar smirked. “Not really.”

“I don’t like this, Keita,” Gwenvael said.

“I know you don’t, but I need the traitors to present themselves much sooner. I fear we’re running out of time.”

Gwenvael began to argue, but his mate cut him off.

“She’s right.” Dagmar let out a breath. “We’ve become fairly certain the Sovereign human troops are raiding small towns and villages near the Western Mountains. Dividing Annwyl’s troops, hoping to pull more dragon troops there to help.”

“And it seems Styrbjörn the Revolting may be helping Thracius,” Ragnar added. “Everything is moving into place. As much as I hate this as well, we must push this along.”

“And what about the safety of my sister?” Gwenvael demanded, glaring at the Northlander but making Keita feel a touch more special than she had a few minutes ago.

“I will protect your sister with my life. I swear it on the Code and the name of my kin.”

“Which means what to me?” Gwenvael demanded.

“Everything,” Dagmar told her mate. “It means everything.”

“Keita?” Gwenvael asked her. “What say you?”

“I trust Ragnar the Cunning as I trust you…or actually more like I trust Ren.”

Gwenvael pouted. “You trust Ren more than me?”

“At least he’s reliable.”

“You can’t seriously still be blaming me for that, little sister! I was late one time!”

“And I nearly lost this amazing head! If it hadn’t been for Ren, my perfection would have been lost for the ages. I still don’t know how you live with yourself after that!”

“Because my perfection would have remained. And that’s all that matters!”

They eventually left the warehouse, the pairs separating. As they headed back to the castle, Gwenvael took his mate’s hand.

“Well?” he asked.

“I can’t believe you never told me.”

“It wasn’t my information to tell. And she’s my sister.”

“Reason help me, she is so your sister, Gwenvael.”

“What does that mean?”

“I hope Ragnar understands what he’s about to get himself involved with.”

“He’s already f**ked her—how much more involved can he get?”

“He hasn’t.”

“He hasn’t what?”

“As you so eloquently put it, f**ked her.”

Gwenvael stopped, pulling his mate to a halt. “How do you know that?”

“Instinct. Body language. Your sister is very smart. She knows having a very secret relationship with Ragnar, a low-born enemy dragon—no matter how many alliances your mother agrees to, many of your kin and other noble dragons still consider the Northland dragons enemies—Keita comes off even more of the bored royal itching for her mother’s throne. She plays stupid because it makes her seem controllable. Too bad she’s more like her mother than either of them seems to realize.”

“Don’t ever say that loud enough Keita can hear you. She’ll rip your throat out.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She tugged, and they began to walk again.

“But they will be soon enough, I’m guessing.” Gwenvael had learned over the years that his mate had a tendency to jump from conversation to conversation because that’s how her brilliant mind worked. Most beings could barely manage one or two cohesive thoughts at a time; Dagmar seemed to manage hundreds.