“I like when you add the ‘loveliest’ part.”

“You are the loveliest.”

“Adore. You.”

“So what’s really bothering you, my friend?”

“Can’t you tell?”

“Is it the current width of your brother’s neck?”

“No. Although that is disconcerting.” She leaned her head back, and looked up at her friend. “I’d like to know why those Lightnings are taking my brother back to Dark Plains.”

“To ensure he gets home safely, I’d assume.”

“Well, of course, as a royal he’d need an escort. I’m not questioning that. But Ragnar the Cunning? Current Dragonlord Chief? And his second in command, Vigholf? Meinhard and a few of their warriors would have ensured the same thing.”

“I see your point. Your mother then?”

“Most likely, which makes me nervous. Mother doesn’t call on foreign dragons for no reason.”

“Think Éibhear will know the answer?”

Keita smiled and petted Ren’s cheek. “That’s so cute you’d think that.”

Ren laughed. “Not one for questioning the obvious, is our Éibhear?”

“Hardly. He still thinks the best of everyone.” Keita stepped away from Ren and smoothed her dress down. “I’ll need to find out the answer myself. And since I’m forced to endure that bastard barbarian’s presence until we get back to Devenallt Mountain, I might as well get what information I can.”

Ren brushed his finger against Keita’s cheek, his teasing gone. “Are you all right, luv? Seeing him again?”

It had been Ren that Keita initially ran to when she’d left Ragnar the Cunning alone and bleeding in the forests outside Garbhán Isle. It had been Ren who listened to her rage until the cave walls around them shook. And it had been Ren who suggested that Keita go to Anubail Mountain to get some much-needed training in the fine art of fighting while human—the fact that that situation didn’t turn out well at all was, of course, not Ren’s fault. But that had been two years ago, and to be honest, Keita had sort of…well…

“You forgot about him, didn’t you?” Ren demanded.

“I had other things on my mind.”

“How do you do that? How do you just…let it go?” Keita lifted her hands and dropped them. “What can I say? I’m much too beautiful and benevolent to hold grudges. Besides”—she took her friend’s arm—“isn’t being mad at a Northlander like being mad at a stampeding bull or a rabbit that keeps breeding or a startled bear that mauls?”

Ren gazed down at her. “Are you actually comparing a fellow dragon to dumb, mindless animals?”

Keita’s grin was wide as they headed back to the Northlanders. “Why yes, Ren. Yes, I am. And that’s what makes me so lovely—because I accept them despite their faults.”

“By the gods of thunder, Keita—you are giving.”

“I know!”

Chapter Five

Several hours later they landed in a dense forest in the Outerplains.

An area Keita knew quite well. Too well. It was the place her aunt had chosen to live quietly and anonymously the last few centuries. The aunt her mother and court still considered a traitor.

Feeling a tinge of panic, she glanced at Ren, who could only shrug.

“Are we camping here for the night?” she asked the warlord while her baby brother went off in search of something warm and bloody for them all to eat. And, for the first time since they’d taken off from outside Bampour’s lands, Ragnar spoke to her. “Not unless we have to.”

“We’re just taking a break here then?”

“Yes.”

She waited for something more, but he ignored her after that, and began whispering to his brother. When he was done, Ragnar walked off, and Keita did not like the direction the Lightning went in.

Keita brushed up against Ren, appearing impossibly playful, her tail tugging with his. But as she giggled and teased, she leaned in and whispered,

“Do you see where he’s headed?”

“Aye. I do.”

“I’ll kill him. You take care of the other two.” She started to follow after Ragnar, but Ren pulled her back.

“Are we still forced to have this conversation?”

“What would you suggest then, Duke No-Kill?”

“You delay King Big Head. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Fine.”

Ren kissed her cheek and backed away from her. He moved around until he caught the attention of the other two Lightnings. It wasn’t hard—they’d been watching Ren with something very close to fear since they’d first seen him. At least, as much fear as any Northlander was willing to show. All they knew was that Ren was different; and clearly different made them nervous.

While they watched, Ren leaned up against a small hill—and vanished.

“What the bloody—”

Knowing the Lightnings would spend ages searching for him, Keita followed after Ragnar.

Dagmar Reinholdt, also known as The Beast among her Northland kinsmen, went to the kennels to do a midday check on all the dogs. Her latest batch of puppies were doing well, and the men she’d handpicked to train and work the dogs during battle were better than she’d hoped.

Always thinking ahead, Dagmar planned to be prepared with strong battle dogs for the Southland Queen and her troops.