Last Dragon Standing (Dragon Kin #4)(114)

“You bastard,” Briec hissed at him, and Gwenvael laughed.

“He’s good.”

The beautiful human witch walked over. “What’s wrong?” He leaned in and whispered, “I’m off for a secret rendezvous with Keita, but her brothers blocked my way. Can you help me?” Fearghus stared at him with his mouth open. “Gods, you are such a bastard!”

“What is wrong with all of you?” Talaith demanded. “Why can’t you leave him alone? He’s so sweet!”

“Gods, Briec,” Gwenvael noted, “she’s been drinking.”

“Not really,” Talaith argued. “I only had two glasses of wine.” But she held up four fingers when she said that. To help her, Ragnar folded down her pinky and ring finger. “That is sooooo sweet. You are sooooo sweet.” Then she turned on the three Fire Breathers blocking his way. “You leave him alone! ”

Eternally grateful to Dagmar Reinholdt for the helpful tip on how to handle Keita’s brothers, Ragnar walked around them and headed out the way Keita had. Once outside, he sniffed the air and caught her scent. He started off after her, tracking her past dog kennels and horse stables. He knew when he neared Keita, her wonderful scent growing strong. But he stopped short and quickly stepped back into the shadow of an empty guard house.

She was hugging two older dragons in human form, both wearing long brown cloaks. One was a Blue, the other a Red.

“Elders Gillivray and Lailoken! How good to see you both!”

“My lady, please,” one said. “Keep your voice down.”

“Oh.” Keita briefly covered her mouth with her hand. “Sorry.” She stepped closer. “Is there a problem?”

“Not a problem. Not really,” one said.

“Although we are glad to have you back at home. Where you belong.

With your people.”

“And I am glad to be back.” She glared at the castle. “Although my mother doesn’t make it easy for me to stay.” Her face a study in concern, she caught the hand of each Elder and said, “I heard about the unfortunate event with Elder Eanruig. I am so sorry.”

“Thankfully, neither of us was there to witness it, my lady.”

“Nor I.” She shook her head. “Still. Such a tragedy. He’s always been so loyal to our kind and the House of Gwalchmai fab Gwyar.” Ragnar’s eyes crossed. Gods! Did the royal Southland names have to be so complicated? “I was shocked and, I must admit, disturbed when I heard what happened.” She took a deep breath. “I’m afraid to ask, but…was my mother behind it?”

“There is no evidence of that, my lady,” one of them said in a low voice.

“I didn’t ask if you had evidence, Elders. What does your gut tell you?”

“What does your gut tell you, princess?” the other pushed.

She let out a breath and briefly gazed off. “You both know me well enough to know what I think. My mother’s loathing of Elder Eanruig was known to any in earshot, and as you know, Elder Gillivray”—she motioned to the old blue dragon—“I’ve never understood that. He was always so sweet to me. So honest and sincere. And quite protective.”

“The blood in you, princess, clearly flows from your grandmother’s veins.” The red dragon—Elder Lailoken, Ragnar supposed—grinned. “She would have adored you more than words can say.”

“It hurts me I was never able to meet her. From what I’ve heard, she and I would have much in common.”

“You do, princess.” Lailoken stepped in closer. “And that is something that you’ll need to remember in the coming months. Something that you must never forget.”

“Why?” Keita asked, her eyes wide in apparent confusion.

The two Elders looked at each other, Lailoken nodding at Gillivray.

“It’s time, princess,” Gillivray explained softly, “for you to start thinking about your future among your people—and claiming your rightful place on the throne.”

Keita’s head lowered the slightest bit while her brown gaze swept the empty courtyard around her. When she was done, she leaned in a bit, her fingers carefully brushing her dark red hair behind her ear. “My royal blood connection to my grandmother is something that I never have and never will forget, my great lords. But I do have grave concerns over the safety of my father and my brothers—”

Lailoken raised his free hand to stop her. “There is no need to fear there. In fact, if your mother understands that change is for the better, I’m sure something beneficial to all can be worked out.”

“But how?”

“Don’t worry about that. We’re not in this alone, you see. And we’ve made sure our…friends are well aware of what your concerns and demands might be.”

“And who are these friends, my lords?”

“That will come out in time. For now, my lady, you simply need to understand that your chance for true glory and power is nearly upon you.

Are you ready for that?”

Keita nodded her head and stepped back. She glanced around again before saying, quite simply, “Proceed as you wish, my lords. I am ready for whatever the world has in store for me. Now go…with my blessing.”

“Thank you, my lady.”