The Dragon Who Loved Me (Dragon Kin #5)(62)

“She’s returned to Dark Plains,” he admitted.

“Alone?”

“With Ren.”

“Why?”

“For her safety.” It wasn’t a lie. He’d agreed to Keita’s return because he knew she’d be safe in the Southlands. But he needn’t mention the rest of it, because Keita, as always—he’d grudgingly learned—was right. They couldn’t afford to lose the soldiers and Dragonwarriors the two Fire Breather princes led, especial y since most of the Cadwaladrs would go with them if they returned to Dark Plains to protect the children. For that Clan it was al about protecting their kin, especial y the hatchlings.

So Ragnar kept his answers short and vague. It was the safest route when dealing with Keita’s brothers.

Fearghus, the smarter of the pair—or perhaps the more devious—circled around Ragnar.

“She just let you send her back? Without question?”

“Yes. But I’m being careful with what I eat over the next few days.” For good or il , Keita was known for her vengeful nature and her method of vengeance usual y involved slipping certain herbs in the offender’s food. Even if that offender was kin.

“Probably for the best,” Fearghus murmured.

“But why now?” Briec pushed. “Why send her back now?”

“Because we’re almost finished with the tunnel. And once that’s done, we’re not going to wait before we move. I don’t know about you two, but I want this done and the Irons out of our lives for good. Now if you two wil excuse me . . .”

“Where’s your brother?” Fearghus asked.

“Which one?”

“The only one that is around you constantly. I’ve seen your cousin Meinhard, but I haven’t seen Vigholf in days. Where is he?”

“I asked him to accompany Keita and Ren.”

“Ren doesn’t need a Lightning for protection. Ren doesn’t need any protection.”

“I’d feel safer if my brother was with them. He’l be back in a couple of days, so I wouldn’t . . .” Ragnar’s words faded out when he saw Fearghus’s gaze straying to the ceiling.

Briec watched his brother. “What is it?”

Fearghus raised his front claw, lifted one black talon. “Don’t you hear it?”

That’s when Ragnar heard the distinct whistling sound, his body instinctively tightening, waiting for the impact as something large and extremely heavy hurtled into the cave wal s.

“Siege weapons,” Fearghus said, before he turned and charged out of the cavern, al of them fol owing.

They pushed past scrambling soldiers and warriors, al of them speeding toward the north side, where a circle of mountains kept the Fire Breathers and Lightnings separated from the Irons.

They made it to the wide cavern opening. The forces that usual y protected this important area were diving for cover as giant boulders hurtled over the mountaintops and rammed into their stronghold.

“Pul back!” Briec ordered, grabbing Fearghus by the neck of his armor and yanking him away moments before a boulder crashed where Fearghus had just been. “Pul back!”

Ragnar helped two of his kin to their claws and pushed them toward the entrance. “Inside! Everyone in! Now!” The air around Ragnar changed and he used his wings to quickly drag his body back, away from the entrance. “Briec! ” he cal ed out, seeing the boulder hurtling toward the back of Keita’s brother. But the dragon was busy helping others. He didn’t see. And that boulder slammed into the back of the Silver with a mighty force, ramming his big body into the far wal .

Chapter 22

Dagmar fol owed the captain of the guards to the barracks. As they walked in, the guards and soldiers moved out of her way, none of them speaking to her or each other.

“We found them last night. Just . . . lying there.”

Dagmar studied the soldiers. The morning light streaming in through the windows making it easy to see that their throats had been slit but no other damage had been done. There were no signs that they’d fought back. Perhaps they didn’t have the chance.

“Did you see any signs of Tribesmen inside the castle wal s?” Dagmar asked the captain. “Perhaps when they left the bodies. Because this is clearly the work of their assassins.”

“That’s just it, my lady. We don’t think the bodies were left, as you say.”

“One second there was nothing there,” one of the soldiers volunteered. “The next second . . . there they were.”

“They just appeared?”

“Aye, my lady.”

Dagmar raised her hands, palms out, to silence them although none had said anything. “The fact that we have no idea how these bodies got here is irrelevant. Al we do know is that assassins were inside castle wal s. This cannot happen again.”

“We’l take care of it.”

“Deal with the bodies first. Quietly and quickly. We can give them a proper burial later.”

“Aye, my lady.”

Dagmar headed to the exit, her dogs by her side. She motioned to the captain to fol ow. “You won’t discuss any of this,” she told him. “They must al swear to it.”

“Aye, my lady. But why?”

“Not sure yet. Just . . . let’s keep it quiet, eh?”