Supernatural. Part 52

"Don't, Ghleanna," Feoras begged. "Please. Don't."

Ghleanna stared at the dragon for a moment. "I never loved you at all," she murmured. "I know that now.

"Of course-" Ghleanna hefted both axes-"that makes this so much easier."

She brought both axes together, not stopping until the blades met in the middle of Feoras's neck. The dragon's head popped off clean, landing on the ground at Ghleanna's claws while blood shot out and covered his comrades.

She stepped back and slowly looked over the other warriors and soldiers who were waiting. Waiting for their next orders. Their next decision. Ghleanna gave it to them.

"Death to all traitors!"

Her kin roared in agreement before descending on Feoras's foolish sycophants. She walked through the slaughter and over to Bram. He, again, leaned against a tree-waiting for her. And beside him stood her father.

"You off then, Da?" she asked.

"Aye. Too old for all this killing." And to prove that, her father turned and brought his axe down on the head of a traitor that had gotten too close. Spun once more and cut off the legs of another.

He faced them again. "Need to get back to my rocking chair and some hot tea."

"Clearly." Ghleanna hugged her father. "Tell Mum I'm fine and when this is all done, I'll be back to see her."

"You better. She will track you down if you don't." Ailean smiled at Bram. "Take good care of her, royal. She means the world to me."

"I will, sir."

Her father walked off and Ghleanna looked at Bram.

"That-" and he motioned to the pieces of Feoras's body-"was a bit showy."

"I like to give the lads a bit of a show. It's good for morale."

He leaned down, pressed his snout against hers. They held like that a moment and then he told her, "You have more killing to do."

"And I thought you'd try to stop me."

"My mercy has never extended to traitors, Ghleanna."

She stepped away from him, twisting her axes in both hands. "Then I'll get to work."

"Good. Because when we're done here, we still have a contact to meet in Alsandair."

"Overachiever," she accused him with a grin, before she turned and killed every traitor in her path.

Chapter 19.

The Sand Dragon King's first born son and his entourage of fifty, a count that did not include his battalion of warrior dragons, gazed down at Rhiannon for several minutes. He said nothing as he watched the queen, then sniffed and turned from her.

Bercelak had his sword out and almost embedded in the Prince's back but the black dragon was taken down by at least four of his brothers and three of his sisters.

"I'll sign," the Prince said, sounding more bored than he'd been on the trip-which was no small feat. He represented his father on this, the king refusing to sign anything until he or someone he trusted had met with the new queen. So instead of Bram getting the signature he needed and returning to Rhiannon with alliance in claw, he'd been forced to bring the Prince and his entourage back to the queen's court. It would have been an intolerable and long trip, too, if not for Ghleanna.

Bram held up the parchment and handed him a quill. The Prince scratched off his signature and walked out, his entourage and guards following.

Ghleanna motioned to several of her cousins, "Escort them to the Borderlands. Keep 'em safe until they cross."

Once the Prince had left her court, Rhiannon snarled, "The arrogance!"

"He is the Dragon King's first born and heir to his throne," Bram reminded her.

"A throne of sand. As if that's anything to brag about." Rhiannon closed her eyes and roared, "Bercelak! Would you leave your brothers and sisters alone!"

"They started it!"

Rhiannon opened her eyes and smiled at Bram. "So my Lord Bram, it seems there are traitors in my midst."

"Aye, my queen."

"Did you get any names from Feoras?"

"Well . . ."

"I took his head before we had the chance," Ghleanna admitted.

"Honestly!" Rhiannon shook her head. "Just like your brother. Kill first, ask questions of the corpse later. Well . . . I guess I'll just have every Elder interrogated until someone admits his involvement-"

"Or," Bram quickly cut in, "I could do a quiet inquiry into the matter. Perhaps I can find more accurate information than torture can provide."

"Did I say torture? I don't remember saying torture. But your mercy, as always, leads the way. So you have my permission."

"Thank you, Majesty. And the truce?"

"Truce?"

"The one you wanted with Empress Helena?"

"The squid? Oh, yes. Yes." Although Ghleanna knew the conniving cow forgot nothing. "Leave the doc.u.ments with Elder Margh."

"Very well, my queen."

"And thank you, Lord Bram, for all your excellent work and sacrifice."

"I'm at your service and the service of your throne."

She smirked. "I know." Rhiannon glanced at the alliance doc.u.ment the Sand Dragon had signed. "But I must say that when Bercelak and I have our offspring, we will never allow them to be as arrogant as that!"

Ghleanna pa.s.sed one quick glance to Bram before they both replied, "Uh-huh."

Please don't hug me. Please don't hug me.

But she did. And now Bram had two sets of black eyes glaring at him.

Finally, he said out loud, "It's not me! I swear!"

Rhiannon laughed and leaned back from Bram. "So cute! Isn't he cute, Bercelak?"

"No."

"Bercelak's only teasing."

"No, I'm not."

And then Ghleanna was there, prying Rhiannon's forearms from around Bram's shoulders.

"Back off, she-viper! This one's mine. You've got yours. Now you're stuck with him!"

"Oy!" Bercelak bellowed.

Bram pulled Ghleanna away from the one Dragonwitch who could turn her blood to acid. "Everyone just calm down. There's no point in-"

"And what the h.e.l.ls is going on with you and my sister?" Bercelak demanded.

"Uh . . ."

Ghleanna stepped between Bram and her brother.

"I wouldn't challenge him if I were you, Bercelak."

The greatest Dragonwarrior snorted. "Is that right?"

"He's got skills."

"What skills?"

"He's a right good head-b.u.t.ter. You should see what he did with the Fins."

Good G.o.ds, had the female gone mad?

Bercelak moved in. "Their heads are soft-like pudding. Not like mine. Hard as granite."

That's when Ghleanna said, "Addolgar says his head is harder than yours."

"That's 'cause it is," Addolgar happily tossed in.

"Centaur s.h.i.+t."

"Come on then, brother. Try me."

Bercelak refocused his attention on his brother and Ghleanna grabbed Bram's claw and dragged him out of the throne room.

"Wait . . . are they really going to-"

"Head b.u.t.t each other until one pa.s.ses out or dies of blood on the brain? Yep. They really are."

"And they protect our queen and lands. How rea.s.suring."

"You'll get used to it."

"Ghleanna." And Bram stopped, bringing her up short.

"What is it?"

"I'm a dragon. I naturally a.s.sume I always get what I want. But there are no guarantees with you, I'm afraid."

She grinned. "Are you asking me now what you should have asked me a fortnight ago when we were lounging in the Sand Dragon King's salt springs?"

"Well, I couldn't rightly ask with your brothers, sisters, and cousins constantly popping in to stare at us and say, You two ain't done yet? What exactly are you doing in there anyway? '"

"Good point. But you are asking me now?"

"I am."

"To be your mate?"

" I am."

"Because you love me as I love you?"

"Aye."

"Because you can't imagine your life without me?"

Bram cupped Ghleanna's jaw with his claw, stroked a talon across her scales, and in a heartfelt whisper replied, "Aye."

That's when Ghleanna crossed her forearms over her chest and demanded, "Are you going to keep hugging that Rhiannon?"

"But it's not me!"