“Al right then. When are we leaving?”

“Within the hour,” Keita said. “But remember, not a word to anyone.”

“And you’l tel me what’s going on once we’re on our way?”

“I wil . Promise.”

Rhona met the triplets in what they cal ed their “safe place.” The one place their mother would never be seen. In other words . . . the makeshift library.

She motioned them behind some tal piles of books and took another look around.

“What’s wrong, Rhona?” Edana asked.

“Nothing. But I need your word that you’l not repeat what I’m about to tel you.”

“Of course not,” Nesta promised. “You know you can trust us, sister.”

She smiled at the She-dragons whom, with her father, she’d raised. Of al her siblings, the triplets made her the most proud. They’d make mighty warriors one day and even better leaders.

“I’m off for a few days. Shouldn’t be gone long.”

“Off? To where?”

She couldn’t help but rol her eyes a little at Nesta’s question. “To protect the Royal Princess Keita on her way back to the Southlands.” Edana frowned. “And we can’t repeat that . . . why exactly?”

“I have no idea. But Keita was adamant that I could tel no one.”

“But you’re tel ing us,” Breena remarked, smirking. “Bad She-dragon.”

“I know. I know. But this is Keita I’m dealing with. Who the hel knows what she’s up to and why she feels the need to keep it quiet. But I at least want you three to know, in case something happens. Especial y if Mum finds out. The last thing I need right now is for her to think—”

“You’re a deserter?”

“Exactly.”

Nesta shook her head. “Mum knows better than that.”

“Wel , she’s a little pissed at me right now. So I don’t want to test her.”

“Good idea,” Edana agreed. “So where exactly are you taking Keita?”

“Back to Dark Plains.”

“Awww,” the triplets said at the same time. “You’l see Daddy!”

That made Rhona smile. “Aye. I wil .” Her father had been working Annwyl the Bloody’s forge since the war began. It was a huge forge and her father had many talented blacksmiths under him. Some dragon, others human. It was a good place for him to be since he didn’t get along too wel with those in Devenal t Mountain, the Southland dragons’ stronghold. He especial y didn’t get along with Uncle Bercelak, as those two had never been friendly. “I’l make sure to bring you a few weapons from his col ection.” Nesta and Breena clapped and cheered softly, stil conscious of how sound traveled around cave wal s, but Edana, always the more serious one, frowned. “Be careful, Rhona. I adore our cousin, but Keita is reckless and plays where she should not.”

“I’m wel aware of how our cousin operates, sister. I have my guard up. Now I need you to do the same.”

“Don’t worry, Rhona,” Edana told her with a smal smile, “we’l handle Mum.”

Keita watched the big Lightning leave before she faced the dragon she adored—although she stil hadn’t told Ragnar that she adored him. It wasn’t good to give a male that sort of information too early in the relationship. And yes! Five years was stil too early in the relationship, no matter what her pesky aunts may believe.

“Why did you insist Vigholf go?” she asked.

“Because he would have driven me insane until Rhona returned. He won’t admit it, but he keeps an eye on her.”

“Whatever for?”

He smiled. She loved that smile. “Because he fancies her and has since the very beginning, I’d wager.”

“That’s unfortunate,” Keita admitted. “She hates him. Cal s him the pest. One should never be a pest to a Cadwaladr female. That never works out wel .”

Ragnar pul ed Keita against him. “You shouldn’t underestimate my brother. Besides, the more protection you have, the happier I’l be.” Ragnar placed both claws on either side of her face, gazed deep into her eyes. “Please, Keita. Please . . . don’t be stupid.”

“Thank you very much,” she said on a laugh.

“You know what I mean. You are, on your best day, foolhardy. You take dangerous chances. Especial y when it comes to ensuring the safety of your kin.”

“I won’t do anything that wil stop me from helping my kin.”

“Are you sure we shouldn’t tel your brothers?” Keita’s three eldest brothers commanded their own troops with three generals reporting directly to each and the respective number of legions under each prince’s banner. It had been many years since Fearghus, Briec, and Gwenvael had led troops into battle, but they’d done wel from the beginning, impressing even the hard-to-impress Northlanders with their skil s.

“If Fearghus and Briec find out, they wil leave and take half of Mother’s army with them, and the Cadwaladrs. You can’t afford that right now and my brothers wil not be stopped. Not when it comes to this and no matter the protection you think is in place in Garbhán Isle. But Ren and I can handle this without going through al that.”

“And bringing your cousin?”

“Merely a formality to ensure our safety. Ren wil be working Magicks, and his strength wil be diminished. As wil his focus. But Rhona wil watch out for us like a ferocious demon dog from the underworld.”