“Annwyl remembers bloodshed. And fights. And betrayal. So, you really don’t want her to remember you when she’s not seeing you every day.”

“Oh,” Lady Agrippina said, the sarcasm heavy, “well, that makes me feel better.”

“You’re under the protection of both queens, no one will touch you. Now tell me what you need.”

The two Iron dragons looked at each other and some unspoken communication passed between them. Then the king said, “Is there a way you can get me or our representatives into the Desert Lands?”

“Not without many months, possibly years, of treaty negotiations. The current treaty we have with the Sand dragons took me a decade and even then . . . the signing was not a simple thing. May I ask why you’d need to go into the Desert Lands?”

Again, the twins looked at each other. After a moment, Agrippina admitted, “Our spies tell us that our cousin Vateria is now in the Desert Lands.”

“Is Vateria still considered a threat?”

“Oh, yes. She has every intention of getting the Provinces back under her family’s banner and she’ll do anything necessary to make that happen.”

“You’re worried about the Sand dragons striking against your troops?”

The king nodded. “We are. Any relationship we’d hoped to have with the Sand dragons was destroyed by our uncle during the early years of his reign.”

“Aye. I remember. He kidnapped and killed one of the old king’s daughters. The late King Abasi.”

“Exactly.” The king looked at his sister. “Perhaps I can get in there. Undetected.”

“I wouldn’t suggest that, my lord,” Bram said in his most soothing I-want-Rhiannon-not-to-kill-everyone-in-the-cavern voice. “The Sand dragons are not to be trifled with.”

“I’m not going there for the Sand dragons. I’m going there for my little traitor of a cousin.”

“I understand but—”

“You understand nothing. She . . . tortured my sister. For months.” The king glanced at her, but she was staring out the window. “For that alone—”

“Tell me, my lord, is this about protecting your people and your reign or getting even with the dragoness who abused the sister you love?”

“Does it matter?”

She’d blocked him, so it took some time for Talan to track down his sister. He should have known to look in the trees. Since she could walk, she’d spent most of her days in the trees. It had always driven their nanny, Ebba, insane. She was a centaur and climbing trees, no matter her form, was not one of her favorite activities.

Ebba. He missed her. Although she planned to come back, she’d gone home for three months because her father was unwell. A shame really. She’d always had a way with Talwyn and, most importantly, kept the Kyvich leader at bay.

But all that was meaningless now, wasn’t it? Because his sister had made up her mind. And, like the two suns in the sky, that was something that would never be changed.

Talan grabbed hold of the lowest branch and pulled himself up into the old tree. He climbed until he reached the branch his sister sat on. He dropped down next to her, letting out a relaxed sigh once he was comfortable.

“So were you going to let Odda kill our mother or just let her wound her grievously instead?”

“Mum’s not exactly a weak flower.”

“Mum’s not a witch either. Like a pit dog, she’ll fight anyone, but that doesn’t mean she should. And it’s not like she and Odda got along in the first place.”

“It wasn’t that bad.”

“Mum kept calling Odda The Twat.”

“She calls everyone she doesn’t like The Twat. Especially men.”

Talan studied his sister. “So you’re really going to do this?”

“I have to.”

“Oh? Has someone put a crossbow to your head?”

“You may be against this, but I’m sure Mum will get over it.”

“It’s not Mum I’m worried about. It’s Rhi. We both felt the power of what she was unleashing at the training ring. If we hadn’t been there—”

“I know.”

“And yet you think it’s a good idea to leave her? Now?”

“So I have to stay while you go?”

Talan looked away from his sister’s steady gaze. And that’s when she snapped, “Gods . . . you idiot.”

“It’s for the best I stay.”

“It is not for the best. They’ve sent for you. I’ve done the research, brother. That is not common.”

“Are you not going to miss us at all?”

Talwyn slumped a little. “This isn’t about that and you know it.”

“All I know is that we’re strongest when we’re together.”

“And all I know is that the only thing we’ve been doing the last five years is coasting. Our skills haven’t grown.”

“Our skills or our power?”

“Both.”

“What is it, sister? Do you hope to be both Dragon Queen and Southland Queen?”

“No. I hope to keep this bloodline alive and thriving for the next few millenniums. And if you think the three of us can do that sitting here while Mum and Dad take care of us, you’re an idiot.”

“Oy. You two.”

They both leaned over and looked down. Izzy stood under the tree. Behind her stood Éibhear and Rhi. “Come on.”