by G. A. Aiken
Bram gazed at the page. “I’m sensing this isn’t good.”
The page shook his head. “No, sir. It’s not.”
Ghleanna was sitting on the bed, trying to pull off her boots, when the door slammed open. She looked up, expecting a foolish Kleitos—but it was the Empress.
“You,” the royal snarled. “You did this.”
“I did what, my Lady?”
“Don’t lie to me, barbarian!”
Slowly Ghleanna stood, and she towered over the monarch. “I don’t appreciate being called a liar by you or anyone else, my Lady. I’m not one of your subjects.”
The Empress didn’t let Ghleanna’s size overwhelm her. Far from it. “But you could easily become one of my victims, Cadwaladr. You’re in my territory.”
“Aye. I am. But I have what you need, my Lady.”
“Ghleanna.”
Ghleanna heard Bram’s voice, but she didn’t move her gaze from Helena’s until the Empress sniffed and stormed out, taking her suffering entourage with her. Gods, to do nothing all day but follow that viper around. Like a form of hell.
Bram closed the door once they were alone and that’s when he asked, “Do you want us to die here, among the Fins? Is that your purpose, Captain? To get us both killed?”
“No.”
“Ghleanna . . .”
“It all happened so fast,” she explained. “One minute I was showing them how to fight with a battle axe and the next”—she shrugged—“revolution.”
Bram walked over to the bed and sat down. “Don’t use that word. Not if you want us to live through the night.”
Ghleanna sat on the edge of the bed. “The soldiers have no representation in her court. No one watching out for them. And no say in decisions that affect them directly. How is that fair?”
“Fair? Captain, we are hundreds and hundreds of miles under the ocean and at the whim of a dictator.”
“A dictator not nearly as powerful as her father. A dictator who needs her army, who needs our queen. A dictator whose tiny head I could easily crush between my big, meaty hands.” She smiled. “A dictator who needs you. And now . . . she needs me.”
“But why? Why do you want her to need you?”
Ghleanna leaned in, kissed Bram once, twice. “My reasons are my own.” She kissed him again. “But for now”—another kiss—“we’re going to let her stew.” And another.
“And while she’s stewing whatever will we do to fill the time?”
Ghleanna climbed into Bram’s lap, facing him. She put her arms around his shoulders and said, “Fucking, my Lord. We’ll be fucking.”
“Well . . . if we must.”
Laughing, Ghleanna nipped his throat. “We must, my Lord. We must.”
Chapter 15
Bram held Ghleanna’s hips, pulling her in tighter, gripping her hard with his hands while she gripped him hard with her pussy.
Sweating and gasping, the pair rolled, Bram on top once again.
He dragged his tongue along the new scar Ghleanna had where the sword had torn through scale and flesh and bone.
Ghleanna’s legs wrapped around his hips, her head thrown back and Bram buried himself inside her body again and again.
She groaned, loud and long, her body shaking beneath his as she came hard, his name a whisper on her lips.
Bram, grateful she’d climaxed because he was unsure he could hold on much longer, held Ghleanna against him as he came hard inside her.
Blindly, he lifted his head from her neck and sought her mouth, found it. They kissed, their tongues sliding, teasing, tasting—enjoying. And they’d been enjoying each other for hours.
Too bad nothing wonderful could last forever.
The bedroom door flew open.
“Are you two still at it?” the Empress snarled. “My empire is falling apart and you two are swallowing each other’s tongues—and other body parts?”
Bram pulled out of the kiss and asked, “Is there a problem, Empress?”
“You damn well know there’s a problem. She”—and the Empress pointed right at Ghleanna—“has turned my soldiers against me. Her death is mine for the betrayal.”
Bram kindly suggested, “It seems a foolhardy move since she is the only one who currently has control of your soldiers, my Lady.”
“I should have killed her when I had the chance.”
“But it’s too late for that now. We have to deal with what we have. Here. At this moment.”
Pointing at the door, the Empress ordered, “Get out, peacemaker.”
“Empress, I don’t think it’s—”
“Pull your cock out of her cunt and get out.”
Ghleanna pressed her hand against Bram’s chest. “It’s all right.”
He gazed at her a moment. “You sure?”
“Positive. Besides, you need to finish that truce.”
He did need to finish it. The quicker the better.
Once Bram was gone, Ghleanna sat up. She didn’t get dressed, didn’t wipe the sweat from her body or Bram’s seed from her pussy.
Instead, she smiled and said, “My Lady.”
“You’ve turned my soldiers against me.”
“Hardly. They just want what’s fair.”
“I decide what’s fair.”
“Every strong monarch I’ve known has understood that their soldiers are their life’s blood. Deny that at your peril.”
“What do you want, Land Dweller?”
“What your soldiers want. Representation for them in your Senate—and for your Senate to have some actual power in your empire.”
“I am the one who rules here. As my father did before me.”
“Isn’t he dead now?” Ghleanna asked. “By poison, I think.”
Cold blue-green eyes locked on Ghleanna. “That’s never been proven.”
Ghleanna chuckled. “Of course. But imagine how loyal your soldiers will be to you if you do this? Who would dare risk their wrath by angering you, knowing you have several legions at your back? And, of course, I can help you with this.”
The royal smirked. “And what will that cost me, I wonder?”
“Not much, my Lady,” Ghleanna told her. “Not much at all.”
Chapter 16
The gold collar was removed from Ghleanna’s throat and Bram watched her shift back to her natural form. She shook out her hair and wings and unleashed a nice bout of flame at the cave ceiling—something else that had been denied her by Helena’s yoke.
“Good gods,” Helena muttered to the sorceress who had placed and then removed the collar from Ghleanna. “Even her bloody scales have scars.”
“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Bram asked with a smile.
“Land Dweller,” she sneered.
Ghleanna put on armor given to her by the soldiers. It was quite . . . elaborate and spoke of how they felt about her.
Her battle axes were tied to her back and her sword to her side.
“Excellent,” Helena said, prodding. She couldn’t wait to see the back of them. “So you’re off.”
“We are.” Bram faced the Empress. “Thank you for everything, my Lady.”
“You’re very welcome, Bram the Merciful. Good and safe travels to you.” She looked over at Ghleanna. “And to you, Captain.”
“Thank you, my Lady.”
She didn’t mention the truce because she didn’t have to. She knew Bram would keep his end of the bargain. It was a tragic flaw in his nature.
The Empress motioned her entourage to leave and Kleitos took the opportunity to slither over to Bram.
“Good-bye, old friend.”
“Shut up.”
The Fin sneered and turned to Ghleanna. “And good-bye to you, Captain.”
She gazed at the Fin. “And to you, Chancellor Kleitos.”
Bram turned, thinking they were done with all the formalities when he saw a flash of steel. He spun back around as Ghleanna’s sword rammed into Kleitos’s gut.
“Ghleanna!”
Gods, what had she done?
What had she done?
Ghleanna twisted her sword, and Kleitos dropped to his knees. She pressed her back claw to his chest and shoved him off her blade. The Fin dropped to the ground, his insides pouring out from the hole Ghleanna had made.
Yet Bram began to notice something—no one did anything. Nothing. Not to him, not to Ghleanna. There was no shock, no confusion, no outrage.
Ghleanna wiped off her blade and put it back into its sheath. She walked to the Empress, and stopped, briefly bowing her head. “Empress.”
“Captain.”
Completely confused, Bram followed Ghleanna to the tunnel they’d take back to the surface. “Ghleanna?”
She stopped, faced him. “Did you really think I’d let Kleitos live? After what he did to you?” She raised a brow. “Really?”
“I told you that Kleitos was not to be touched. You said you understood.”
“And I did. I understood that you wanted me to leave Kleitos be. I never said I would. Never agreed to that.”
“Gods,” he sighed in awe, “my father will adore you.”
Catching his tail with hers, Ghleanna tugged. “Come, peacemaker. My kin awaits.”
Chapter 17
Bram landed on the ledge and waited for Ghleanna. She landed beside him.
“So Helena agreed?” he asked.
“She hated Kleitos and so did most of her army. Plus he firmly represented her father’s reign. Getting rid of him was a favor she was more than happy to allow.”
“And?”
“And?”
“You don’t like Helena, Captain. You’d do her no favors unless it was in your best interest.”
She shrugged. “Well, I wanted Kleitos dead and . . .”
“And you still have the loyalty of her army, in case she ever tries to cross us. And you’ll most likely have that loyalty for a very long time after the rights you’ve won them.”
“Perhaps.”
Bram grinned. “And if you’d been completely wrong? Miscalculated even the tiniest bit?”
“I’d have let you fix it.” She nuzzled his snout with her own. “Now let’s get out of here.”
Good plan. He was done with the memories of this place. He’d faced it again, and had conquered it—again. But there’d be no nightmares this time.
“Come. This way.”
Another mile to the surface they went, cutting tree roots that were in their way until they reached the mouth of the cavern. It was brilliantly hidden behind a close-by hill and together they maneuvered around it and headed toward the ocean.
But suddenly Ghleanna stopped.
Lifting her face, she gazed up, past the trees of the surrounding forest, at the two suns. “I didn’t realize how much I would miss them until they were gone from my sight for so long.”
“I don’t know how the Fins do it,” he admitted. “Living under there without the suns. The moon. It’s not like our caves, is it? Where fresh air and freedom are just a short walk or flight away. And the short time we were down there, I began to feel . . .”
“I know. Me, too.”
Ghleanna caught Bram’s claw and tugged, her eagerness clear. “Let’s go. My kin wait for me on the beach.”
They walked until they reached the edge of the forest, but Bram stopped and gazed out. “How long do you think they’ve been standing there like that?”
He watched Ghleanna smile at the backs of her kin. They all stood on the beach, looking like statues, staring out at the ocean, waiting for Ghleanna to appear. She’d originally told Addolgar she’d be coming from the ocean because she hadn’t known there was another exit. One that placed them directly on land.
“Hours. Perhaps a couple of days.”
“And how much longer—”
“Days. Weeks. Eventually, though, they’d take turns. One bunch would have first watch and then another bunch would have second . . . that’s just how they are. How we are.”
“Amazing.”
Ghleanna put a talon to her snout, then crept up behind the group of warriors. The number had substantially increased from the original group who’d been escorting Bram and he suddenly began to worry that he’d have all these Cadwaladrs escorting him into the Desert Lands.
Uh-oh.
Once Ghleanna was right behind her kin, she screamed. Like a wild banshee.
And her kin screamed in return, spinning around, raising weapons and shields.
“Did you lot miss me?” Ghleanna asked with a smile.
“You mad cow!” Addolgar yelled, shoving her with his shield. “That was about to be the second time you got a sword in the chest!”
“As if you’ve ever been that fast, brother.”
Then they were hugging and Bram knew nearly everything was as it should be.
Ghleanna accepted hugs, shoves, punches, and hair yanks for what they were. Familial affection—the Cadwaladr way. A way she’d missed so much.
“But you’re all right, yeah?” Hew pushed. “You sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine.” She held her forearms away from her body. “Look at me. Better than ever. Them Fins have good surgeons, they do.”
“Thank the gods for that,” Kyna said. “Isn’t that right, Kennis?”
“It is. For them. ’Cause if they hadn’t sent our girl back to us—”
“—we’d have grown gills and gone down there ourselves to their watery pit to tear the scales from their flesh and those bloody fins from their backs.”
Ahhh. Nothing like the true love and caring of the Cadwaladr Twins.
It was all as she’d expected and she was damn grateful for her kin. But what Ghleanna hadn’t expected . . .
“The Twins would have been the least of the Fins’ problem if they hadn’t sent my girl back to me alive and well.”
Eyes wide, Ghleanna faced her father. He was in his battle armor, weapons strapped to him and ready. He hadn’t left her mother in ages to go into battle. He left that “to me brats.”
“Da?”
“I’m so glad you’re home, girl. So glad you’re safe.”
Ghleanna swallowed past the lump in her throat before she threw herself into her father’s arms. Let them all say what they would about Ailean the Wicked—none of it mattered. His heart was as big as any ocean and the love he had for his offspring as mighty and strong as any mountain.
“I’m glad, too, Da. And what I said to you before—”
“It’s forgotten, Ghleanna. Don’t even think about it.” He pulled back. Smiled at her. “Understand?”
“Aye.”
“Good. And Bercelak’s sorry he couldn’t be here—”
“He can’t leave Rhiannon when we have traitors in our midst.”
“—but he said you’d understand.” Ailean gazed down at his daughter and Ghleanna saw in that one look how proud he was of her. “Now, what do we do next? Escort you and our Bram to the Sand Eaters? Or take you back to Rhiannon first?”
“First Feoras dies.”
As one, all the Cadwaladrs faced the forest behind them . . . and Bram the Merciful.
Frowning, Kyna asked, “What was that?”
“Feoras dies,” Bram repeated.
“And why is that then?”
Bram walked toward them, his reliable traveling bag around his shoulder. “Because he betrayed the throne, betrayed our queen, tried to stop an important alliance that I’m sure he’ll try to stop again and, most importantly . . .” Bram stood in front of Ghleanna now, his claw brushing along her jaw. “. . . he tried to kill my Ghleanna. For that offense alone he dies.”
Cai rested his elbow on Ghleanna’s shoulder and asked, “But ain’t you the merciful one?”
“I am.” And, with his gaze never leaving Ghleanna’s, “But there are limits to my mercifulness, I’m afraid.”
Chapter 18
Ghleanna waited for Feoras about five miles from where Rhiannon had tracked the bastard down. The queen’s skills had, as Bram had said, gotten mighty. It seemed she could track nearly
any dragon she wanted without ever leaving Devenallt Mountain unless the fugitive had the protection of a witch as strong as she. And Rhiannon had tracked Feoras here, not more than fifteen miles from where he’d tried to kill Ghleanna.
As Bram had said, Feoras and the rest of the soldiers he’d bribed, were waiting for Bram to return so they could finish the job that had been started.
And here Bram was, relaxing next to a tree, still in his dragon form, quietly scratching away on some parchment. Did he ever pay attention to anything going on around him that wasn’t on a piece of paper or in a bloody book? She doubted it. But he seemed to have complete faith in her. He still trusted her to protect him and that was all she needed to know.
She heard Feoras and his soldiers moving through the trees. They were quiet enough but Ghleanna knew what to listen for. The flutter of a leaf, the warning of a bird . . . the slither of a tail.
Feoras came around a boulder, but he stopped when he saw Ghleanna standing there. He reared back in surprise, golden eyes blinking wide.
“Ghleanna?”
“Feoras.”
“I . . .” His gaze shifted and he saw Bram leaning against that tree, still writing—and blatantly ignoring him.
“You . . . ?” she pushed when he stopped speaking. “You . . . what? Thought I was dead?”
Feoras focused on her again. “I knew you wouldn’t go down that easy.” He leered. “You never did . . . go down easy.”
“Not unless I want to.” She moved forward, pulling out her axes, holding one in each claw. “I am going to stop you here.”
“You’re going to try.” Soldiers moved out of the trees, some stopping and staring at her, also seemingly shocked to see her alive. If she survived this, her name would be legendary. “You going to take us all on? Are you into that now?”
“Your disrespect to Captain Ghleanna,” Bram said from his tree, his voice soft, “offends me.”
“Does it now?” Feoras said with a laugh. “Oh, well. Don’t want to offend Bram the Merciful. He might bore us to death with his vast knowledge of nothing.” Feoras sauntered closer but not close enough to Ghleanna’s axes. “So, Mercy . . . you seem quite attached to the fair Captain. Tell me, did you two get close while she was trying to survive the wound I gave her?”