Contents

Synopsis

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Epilogue

Synopsis

Even for a dragon, Ailean the Wicked has a bad reputation. For 150 years he's been renowned for his fighting prowess, but now he's got a new conquest in mind--a gorgeous dragoness known as Shalin the Innocent. Ailean suspects she's anything but. And while he's saving her from her enemies, he plans to prove that, even in human form, a bad-boy dragon can show a girl a good time that's truly off the scale...

1

“You whore!” Ailean the Wicked, veteran Battle Dragon of the Dragon Queen’s Armies, third-born son of Afton the Hermit, and one of the many from the Cadwaladr Clan, leapt naked and wet from the tub and made a mad dash for the door. Unfortunately, town guards and one blindingly angry father waited for him right outside that door, so he quickly turned and charged hard for the open window.

“Stop him!”

He heard the guards coming into the room, but he didn’t waste time looking over his shoulder to see how close they were or bid good-bye to the damsel he’d had his full of the night before. He’d done this enough times in his life to know you never stop and you never look back. Even if you feel their breath on your neck, you never look back.

Several floors up, Ailean dived right through the window, bracing his human body for impact and rolling when he felt the ground beneath him.

By the time he pulled himself back to his feet, the soldiers were on the first floor, barreling through the door.

Ailean took off running through the city of Kyffin. An ancient city many leagues away from Dark Plains and Devanallt Mountain, the seat of power for the dragons of Dark Plains. Winding and congested with people, it was easy to disappear in Kyffin.

Unless, of course, you were a completely naked male with dark blue hair. Humans had a tendency to notice that sort of thing.

But he wouldn’t be caught. He should have known the woman wanted more from him than a simple tumble for the night. It had happened before. He goes to bed with a woman who promises no commitments and wakes up to a lass whose father wants Ailean dead for “deflowering” his daughter. A daughter the man had planned to sell off to the wealthiest lord looking for a wife.

After all these years there were still some things about humans Ailean would never understand.

And, clearly, they’d never understand him. For Ailean lived life on his own terms. He answered to no one. Not the human lords of this land, nor the dragon lords of his own. He lived as he wanted, fucked who he wanted, and never had a moment of regret about it.

As the years had passed, he’d collected many names. Ailean the Beautiful. Ailean the Killer. Ailean the Bold. Ailean the Wicked, which was still his personal favorite. And, over the last thirty years specifically, Ailean the Whore. Brutal but honest, depending on who you spoke to.

What he didn’t plan to take on for a name anytime this millennium was Ailean the Captured by Some Female Who’ll Try and Tie Me Down.

No, that name would have to wait for another four or five hundred years.

With so many females to taste and enjoy, he had no desire to lock himself in. Why waste all his talents on just one?

Ailean felt the soldiers move closer. He could shift to his true form and destroy them where they stood, but what fun would that be? Besides, he’d kill other humans who happened to be standing around. He had no desire to do that. Not when he enjoyed humans so thoroughly. They had their many flaws, but that was to be expected of any lower creature.

Picking up his pace, Ailean lost the soldiers, at least for a time, when he dashed down a busy street filled with sellers and buyers. He kept moving, charging up a set of steps and inside a building. He immediately recognized it as a school. Perhaps a training ground for sorcerers or those who simply enjoyed learning. He considered himself a “learner,” but what he learned he never got out of a simple book. The world taught him all he needed to know.

His dragon hearing picked up the sound of the soldiers heading down the street, so Ailean went up many flights of stairs until he ended in an enormous room filled with books. They were everywhere. On bookshelves, piled on the floor, and on the tables. Students kept their heads down, not even noticing him. Perfect. Nothing had become more tedious than explaining his blue hair. After so many years, simply telling people his poor mother had been cursed while he slept in the womb seemed to quickly end the conversation and had many women going out of their way to prove it didn’t matter—which he never minded.

Moving among the stacks, Ailean slid to a stop in the very back, near an exit and another window—in case he needed that as well. Then he caught a scent. It was deliciously familiar. He sniffed the air again. A dragoness. He grinned. Oh...he knew that scent quite well.

After more than three decades, he’d never forgotten the owner of that scent. How could he? She’d thrown his own battle ax at his head.

Among his kin, that was merely a declaration of never-ending love.

No longer thinking of the soldiers searching for him, he let his nose lead him. The library went deeper than he realized, the scent luring him into near darkness among old, dusty tomes he’d never give up a second of his life reading. When he finally stopped, he stared at the human form sitting on the floor. She had her back against the bookshelf and wore the robes of a human acolyte, the brownish-red tint of the cloth suggesting alchemy as the area of study.

Ailean stared at the top of her head, the hood of the robe slipping off a bit to reveal golden hair.

He’d never expected to see her living as human. Fascinated, he crouched down in front of her and stared, waiting for her to lift her head up. He wanted to see her face again.

It took her a bit to pull herself out of her book, but eventually she looked up at him. Ailean took in a sharp breath at the sight of her.

Gods of hellfire...she really is gorgeous.

She had a pretty enough face and those always-intense gold eyes. But it was those spots splattered across the bridge of her pug nose and onto her cheeks that fascinated him most. Freckles, the humans called them.

And below that...he almost sighed. Those lips. They were ridiculously full and the softest pink. He could spend hours enjoying those lips.

Hours.

Breaking into a wide grin, knowing he was the last being on the planet she’d ever wanted to see again, Ailean said with glee, “By all the gods of blood and death—if it isn’t Shalin the Innocent! Did you miss me?”

Oh, gods. Not him!

Anyone but him.

The one dragon she’d give anything to have in her cave, in her bed—

anywhere she could get him.

But even now, just having him here in the library put her at risk.

Especially with him naked.

Ahh, but what a beautiful naked he was.

No. No. She couldn’t think like that. Ever. First off, what exactly would she do with him? She’d had lovers before. Well...she’d had two. But two nice, quiet, well-schooled ones. But Ailean the Slag... well, he was the stuff fantasies were made of. So very tall and wide, all of it sturdy strength and powerful muscle. Whether as dragon or human, he stood much taller than those around him. Then there was that hair. A silky mass of midnight blue she could easily imagine sliding through her fingers, draping over her body. It was long and luxurious and simply... och! She was doing it again.

But how could she not? Especially with those bright silver eyes watching her and that adorable grin on those decadently full lips. Even his nose, which clearly had taken considerable abuse as human, made her think all sorts of distracting, I’ll-never-be-an-Elder-if-I-keep-this-up thoughts.

Fool, Shalin!

And she was a fool. The one dragon she could never again go near, the one dragon she could never even think of talking to, was Ailean the Wicked. Also known as Ailean the Whore, Ailean the Slag, and a host of other names, depending on who you talked to.

Why? Why did she have to deny herself the one thing every other dragoness and human female seemed able to enjoy since Ailean had been no more than twenty winters?

Because of that night. That one damn night when he’d become the absolute obsession of Princess Adienna. The dragoness spoke of him constantly. Obsessed over every move she’d heard he’d made. Although she’d never demean herself by tracking him down herself, Adienna still waited for him to return. And every female who had graced his bed before or since—and there had been so very many—became the enemy of this one irrational female.

Adienna said she loved him, but Shalin had a hard time believing love and obsession were the same thing. Would the princess be so “in love” with Ailean if he’d come back to her begging for more time in her bed?

If he’d crawled to her on his belly, professing a never-ending love? Or would she have tossed him aside like quite a few others?

But Ailean had done none of those things. He’d run from her bed as though the gods of despair and loathing chased him, and he never came back. In fact, he never came back to Devenallt Mountain again. And every day Shalin prayed to any god who would listen that this would be the day when Adienna would stop talking about him, thinking about him, living for him. But, invariably, at some point, Adienna would find something that would bring her back to that point. Back to Ailean.

Even worse, Adienna blamed Shalin. Especially once the rumors spread that Ailean had left Adienna’s bed specifically to search out Shalin.

Shalin almost snorted. If only that were true. But she knew better. That night, when Ailean had found her alone in the royal archives deep in the bowels of Devenallt Mountain, that had been nothing more than pure luck. He’d been looking for a quiet escape from Adienna and Shalin had been looking for much needed time alone.

If Adienna hadn’t come looking for him, who knows where things would have led. But the bitch had come looking for him. Shalin scented her before Ailean, who’d been quite intent on convincing Shalin to come with him to a human town to find a pub and a meal. “We can spend a bit of time together,” he’d said. “Get to know one another.”

Looking into those silver eyes, all Shalin had wanted to do was push him to the ground and have her way with him. But that couldn’t happen, not with Adienna coming ever closer. Yet Ailean wouldn’t listen to her when she tried to explain. He kept cutting Shalin off, trying to convince her he was worth her time. And the more he cut her off, the more frustrated she became.

Her temper was a rarely seen thing. But when she’d heard the flap of Adienna’s wings and knew Ailean wouldn’t stop talking, proving once again how everyone had a tendency to ignore her, she let a bit of that temper take control and she did the only thing she could think of...

She threw his battle ax at him.

In retrospect, perhaps she could have thought of something better. She felt especially bad when it grazed his temple and the blood began to spurt.

Then the rumors took hold.

At first, Adienna paid little attention to them, although her teasing toward Shalin became a little crueler, her venomous tongue a little more pointed. The more time that passed, however, the more Adienna began to turn on her. “You are the reason he has not returned,” she’d finally accused. “You are the reason he stays away from me.” Soon the situation had gotten so unstable, Shalin’s father met with the Elders and the decision was made to send Shalin out among the humans sooner rather than later. She’d been studying in Kyffin for five years now and not once had she missed the hallowed stone halls of Devenallt Mountain.

Now, nearly thirty winters later, she had the one dragon she could never stop thinking about, dreaming about, or lusting over standing right in front of her—naked.

Of course, he was also the one dragon who could get her killed.

“Ailean,” she somehow managed to squeak out. “Good morn to you.”

“And to you, Shalin. You look awfully beautiful today.”

The fact he could say that and sound like he meant it was probably why so many females fell under his spell. Yet Shalin couldn’t be fooled. She had mirrors, did she not?

“Thank you. So why are you—”

“Och!” he cut in as he always did. The dragon rarely took a breath, it seemed. “You won’t believe my morning, Shalin. You truly won’t. Mind if I sit?”

“Uh—”

“Good. Thanks.” He dropped down beside her. All that dragon as naked human male. It took every ounce of her strength not to reach out and touch him. Like that solid thigh brushing against her robe-covered leg, to see how it felt under her human hands. She’d never been with a male as human. She’d heard it could be...entertaining.

“So there I am, taking a bath, as she said I could, when suddenly her father comes in.”

“Oh, that must have been—”

“Horrible, right. Because she told me that we were alone in that house. But apparently not. I think she wanted me to Claim her or marry her or whatever they call it.”

“Even though you’re—”

“A dragon, right. She doesn’t know that bit, you see. Best to keep her in the dark about that, don’t you think?”

“Well—”

“Especially for just a night of entertainment. Why she’d want me as a mate, I have no idea. So what are you reading?”

It took her a moment to realize he’d asked her a question he expected her to answer. “Alchemic Formulas from the Nolwenn Witches of Alsandair.”

“Is it interesting?”

“A—”

“I don’t know how you can read so many books. I get bored after a few pages.”

“So,” Shalin found the courage to ask, “you’ve never read the books about yourself?”

Ailean groaned, rested his elbows on his raised knees, and dropped his head in his hands. “Tell me you haven’t read those.”

Read them? She’d devoured them.

“Well—”

“Because I didn’t authorize those to be written.”

The books had begun to show up among humans and dragons nearly ten years before. She’d only just finished reading volume three the previous night and word of volume four being available soon had her nearly breathless. Each volume had two editions. One for humans and one for dragons written in the ancient language of their people. A language the humans of this world could never hope to learn with their much weaker minds, ensuring the fact dragons roamed among them freely remained a well-kept secret.

“The books aren’t true, then?”

Based on his wince, she knew they were as true as they could be. “I never said those things didn’t happen. I just said I never authorized them being written about.” He turned his head and looked at her, those silver eyes hot on her face. “I don’t want you to think I run around telling tales about my relationships, Shalin. I can keep a secret quite well.”

And how tempted she was to take him up on his unspoken offer, but that would be cutting her own throat. She’d officially be an enemy of Adienna then, and she simply wouldn’t risk her life for any male.

“I—”

“Perhaps I could tempt you away from your interesting book with promise of a delicious meal at one of the nearby taverns?”

Shocked, Shalin gripped the book in her lap tightly. He wanted to take her out? In public?

What should she say? I’d love to? How about dinner in my room?

Forget that, let’s go for it right here, right now?

Instead what she heard herself stuttering was, “I...I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Both.” She shot to her feet, the book still in her hands. “I have to go.”

He stood and towered over her as no human could. “Don’t go, Shalin.

Spend the night with me.”

She should be insulted. He’d just left another female’s bed and now, still naked and wet from the woman’s bath, he’d asked Shalin to warm his bed. But this was Ailean the Whore. He wasn’t doing anything out of character. She actually felt kind of proud he’d asked her at all. Although she knew that to be pathetic. And she’d never admit it out loud.

Shalin focused on the book in her hands. “That’s very kind of you, but... but I...I—”

Big fingers lightly gripped her chin and tilted her face up to his.

“Gods, Shalin. You do so tempt me.”

She nearly melted at his words. Melted right into a big puddle at his feet.

“Ailean, I—”

Shalin stopped talking when she realized guards stood behind him.

“There you are,” one of them said, slapping his hand down on Ailean’s shoulder.

Ailean gave a short snort. “And such a good job finding me, since I’ve been standing here for the last twenty minutes.”

With a snarl, the guard motioned to the others and large steel manacles were locked onto Ailean’s wrists.

“Don’t look so, Shalin.” Ailean grinned. “I have every intention of coming back for you.”

Shalin opened her mouth to say something, but no words would come out. He’d rendered her completely speechless. But since he really didn’t let her get a word in edgewise, this wasn’t exactly an incredible feat.

Holding the book close to her chest and pulling the hood of her acolyte robe down over her face, she nodded, turned, and fled.

The city guards handed Ailean the pair of leggings he’d left behind.

Ailean pulled them on, the steel manacles on his wrists clanking against the chains as he did so, while the guards asked him questions about his intentions toward the lady. He’d had none except for what they’d done the evening before. But when they demanded to know if he was aware he’d bedded a virgin, Ailean had laughed outright.

At that point, they led him downstairs to the great front doors of the school. As he walked out into the bright morning, he saw Shalin standing on the front steps talking to an aged human male who wore the robes of a master.

Although she nodded and made noises as if she paid attention, Ailean knew Shalin was fully aware of his presence.

“Shalin.”

Shalin stopped talking to her teacher and, with a nod, faced Ailean.

“Yes?”

He glanced at the guards who grudgingly allowed him to step closer.

“I am sorry.”

Shalin frowned. “Sorry? Sorry about—what are you doing?”

“Doing what I’ve been dying to do since I saw you in the royal archives.”

Before she could even think to ask what that might have been, Ailean’s manacled hands gripped the front of her robe and yanked her close, forcing her to rise on her toes. She gasped and then his mouth was on hers. Startled, she automatically slammed her fists on his shoulders and, if he were actually human, she might have crushed him where he stood.

But with a Battle Dragon it was like hitting a mountain. His head tipped to the side and she felt his tongue slip between her lips and into her mouth. She drew her tongue back but his only followed until it had the poor thing cornered. Then it stroked and stroked and Shalin’s human body heated, everything beginning to ache, demanding the dragon finish what he’d just started.

But as she reached for him, Ailean abruptly pulled away. He stared down at her, his eyes wide in shock.

“I never thought...” Ailean shook his head, looking confused. Finally, he said, “I promise, Shalin, I will be back for you.”

Not sure she understood, she asked, “Back for me?”

“It might be a bit, though.” He took several steps back, holding up the chains and manacles that had been clamped to his wrists, only now he held them in his hands. “And, uh...sorry. Think of it as retribution for that bloody ax.”

Ailean dropped the chains and gave her a wicked smile and wink seconds before he took off running.

Watching him bolt down the street, that big grin on his handsome face and the town guards right behind him, Shalin could do nothing more than laugh. Even as the school masters took her back inside the school to calm her “hysteria” after her brutal “assault,” she continued to laugh and laugh as she never had before.

2

“Wake up, brother.”

Ailean felt the bed lift when his brother’s big foot kicked it. His big, cold, lonely bed.

It had been nearly a full moon since he’d had a female in his bed. The father of the woman whose name he could no longer remember still searched for him, so Ailean had taken up residence in his home. A castle buried in a valley between the Taaffe Mountains of Kerezik. He knew he could find a female—many females—to share his bed, but he didn’t want that. He wanted to go back and get Shalin. He knew from that kiss alone the name “Innocent” had been wrongly given. Until things calmed down a bit, however, he’d have to wait to go back to Kyffin. But not much longer. He didn’t think he could wait much longer.

“Go away, Arranz,” he grumbled, turning his face away to bury it deeper into his pillow.

“You did this,” his brother replied in that calm way he had that barely hid a veneer of ruthlessness Ailean appreciated during a time of war.

“You need to fix it.”

“I did what?”

“Shalin the Innocent.”

Realizing his brother wouldn’t leave, Ailean rolled to his back but still did not leave his bed. “What about her?”

“You’ve caused her much trouble, brother. And you have little time left to go and protect her.”

“What are you talking about?” No one believed she’d helped him, did they? He would have taken her with him that day if he thought for a second she’d be in any danger. “Are you telling me the city guards are planning to punish her for what happened?”

His brother, a silver dragon nearly three decades his senior, dropped into a chair across from him. “City guards? This has nothing to do with them.

It’s your princess I speak of.”

Cringing at the mere mention of her, Ailean snapped, “That viper is not my anything.”

“Someone told her you two have been together. You were seen kissing the little gold outside that human school she attends. The princess seems to think you love Shalin.”

“Love her?” With a laugh, Ailean shook his head. “I don’t know where that fool Adienna got that idea but—”

“She’s sold her, brother.”

Ailean’s grin slowly faded. “I’m...I’m sorry. What?”

Violet eyes stared at him. “She’s sold her. To old Tinig.”

Sitting up, Ailean growled, “The Lightning dragons? She’s sold her to the Lightning dragons?” Their greatest enemies and some of the most dangerous warriors.

“Tinig has nineteen sons.” Like the humans of that desolate place, those in the Northlands bred few females. Instead they stole them from wherever they could find them. “Adienna sent word she had a female to sell. He was reluctant when he heard she was no great beauty, but when he found out Shalin could read and write, he doubled his offer, and they settled on a price.”

“And you’re telling me Shalin is all right with this?” If so, then he needed to speak with her. He wouldn’t allow her to leave her people over this ridiculous situation.

But Arranz shook his head. “Shalin does not know, brother. But I have a lover in the court. She told me all this. She’s always liked Shalin and thinks this is unfair.”

“Of course this is unfair!”

“Then you best get up. The Lightnings are coming for her. I’ve heard they near Kyffin as we speak.”

Ailean tossed off his bedcovers, rage singing through his veins. “How could Adienna do this? Shalin is her friend.”

“That beast has no friends. I warned you, brother. I warned you not to involve yourself with her.”

“I know. I know. Don’t you think I know?” he said, yet again, as he temporarily dragged on leather leggings so he wouldn’t walk through his castle naked. The humans always seemed so flustered by that. “It was barely one night. And trust me, it was not up to my usual standards, because I couldn’t wait to get out of there.”

“You bruised that mighty ego of hers. If you’d crawled back to her on your knees, this wouldn’t be a problem. But you ignored her like you do all the rest.”

“I don’t ignore the rest. I ignore her because she makes my skin crawl.”

Together the brothers strode from Ailean’s bedchamber and down the hall. As they made it to the top of the stairs, the second oldest of the brothers rushed up. “There you are. Have you heard?”

“Aye.”

Bideven shook his head. “What did you do to that poor dragoness?”

“Nothing.”

Bideven had always been the meddlesome worrier of the three, which was why they sometimes called him “Biddy”—which he hated.

“I don’t understand all this,” Ailean continued. “It was a kiss.”

“A kiss in front of everybody in Kyffin, including one of Adienna’s spies. Seems she’s had Shalin watched for years. She’s been sure you two were lovers, but she’d had no proof—until you kissed her.”

“And, brother,” Bideven added, “you seem to forget that rumors have swirled around you and Shalin since the morning after you lay with the princess.”

“Rumors? What rumors?”

Arranz shook his head. “How do you remain so oblivious to all that is around you?”

“Skill.”

“The rumor,” Bedevin continued, “that you left the princess’s bed to track down Shalin.”

“I didn’t track her down. I stumbled upon her when I was making my escape.”

“And that she threw an ax at your head to protect her innocence.”

“That’s not what happened. Although I must admit, the rumors are much more interesting.”

As was their custom since they were young, Ailean grabbed hold of one brother, Bideven, in this instance, while the other deftly turned and opened one of the windows carved into the stone wall.

“Ailean! Don’t you—”

Using both hands, Ailean chucked his older brother out the window.

Bideven didn’t hit the ground below—for once—and instead shifted midair. “Bastard!” he snarled while hovering outside the window they’d chucked him through.

“You need to learn to be prepared at all times,” Ailean stated simply before Arranz closed the window.

“Whatever the truth, Ailean, your princess believes much differently.”

The brothers quickly walked down the stairs, heading toward the Great Hall and the courtyard.

“She’s not my anything, so I wish you’d both stop saying it.”

They made it out into the front courtyard. The two suns hung low and bright as the wintertime inched toward them.

“You know if you interfere, Ailean, you risk the wrath of the royals.”

Ailean shrugged as he easily stepped out of the way of Bideven’s swinging tail. “I don’t care. It’s like father used to say: it’s one thing to fuck up your own life—”

And with a smile the brothers finished the words together, “—but shit all to fuck up another.”

Shalin, sitting in a field no more than several hundred paces outside Kyffin with her back comfortably resting against a large tree, studied closely the parchments she’d brought with her. Deciphering ancient text remained one of her top skills and one she was woefully behind on.

Lately she’d found herself easily distracted with thoughts of a kiss so blindingly intense, she often couldn’t focus for hours.

Now, however, she’d begun to get back into the swing of things. She had no choice. Ailean had not returned for her and that was best. Time with him would only get her killed. So she threw herself into her work, hoping she’d eventually forget all about him.

So completely lost in the moment, she didn’t know she wasn’t alone until she heard a low voice say, “You read?”

She looked up and saw three males in front of her. They all wore black capes, the hoods pulled over their heads. Shalin’s nose twitched. They were dragons in human form. Fully dressed.

Her nose twitched again—but not dragons of Dark Plains.

She forced a smile, trying to remain calm. “Aye.”

“That is a skill we value, dragoness.” The tallest of the three crouched in front of her. She could now see his face and he was...beautiful. She’d always heard the Northland dragons were anything but. They lived in a hard, brutal land and their faces, their bodies, showed that clearly. This dragon bore scars, but nothing that detracted from the natural beauty his body possessed.

But Shalin was no fool. Although the tenuous treaty had been agreed upon at the end of the last war, the North dragons were still considered dangerous enemies of Shalin’s people and had been for hundreds of centuries. They had no overall ruling body and instead lived in kinrelated fiefdoms. Again, just like the Northland humans. And, like the land they came from, they were a brutal lot. Cruel—many said heartless —and Shalin would concur, based on what she’d read.

“Sweet dragoness, how would you like to come to a land where you’d be appreciated for your intelligence as much as your beauty?”

She had to admit, that sounded wonderful. Although her “beauty” had never been much revered in Dark Plains but education was hard to come by in the Northlands and they searched for females who could help with that. Just being a beauty meant nothing to the North dragons.

“That’s very kind, but I don’t want to leave my home.”

“We waste our time, brother,” one of them snarled. “Let us just—”

The dragon’s words were cut off when his brother stood and spun so quickly, all the other could do was stumble away.

“We discussed this, brother. It is my rule you follow on this trip.”

While the brothers argued, Shalin slowly stood. She knew something was wrong here, she simply didn’t yet know what.

But she knew no Northland dragon would be this far south without a reason.

The hairs on the back of her neck began to stand, and Shalin quickly called up spells she could use if necessary.

The brothers seemed to come to some sort of silent agreement, and the one she’d been speaking to all along faced her again.

“Sorry for that, Shalin. My brother knows not when to keep silent.”

Shalin gave herself a moment of calm. She felt the bark of the tree against her back. She could hear crows over her head, talking to each other as they did. She smelled the earth beneath her bare human feet and the warm suns over her head.

When she knew her voice was steady, she asked, “How do you know my name?”

Sharp blue eyes watched her closely. “We’ve come for you, Shalin the Innocent. To take you to your new home.” He said it kindly, but Shalin knew if she ran they’d simply drag her back to their lands in chains.

“Let us show you what we can offer someone like you.” He took a step closer and she had to lean her head back to look at him. “I’ll do all in my power to make sure you never regret coming with us.”

Shalin swallowed hard, her gaze trapped by his.

“Brother,” one of his kin said with a chastising tone, “you know the rules. We all get a chance to prove ourselves to the dragoness.”

“I have not forgotten,” he murmured while staring at her mouth. “I forget nothing.”

He stepped back from her and held out his hand. “Come, Shalin.”

Still staring into his eyes, she realized she reached for him. Her hand slipping into his firm, dry grasp...

And like that, he was gone.

She watched the dragon knocked across the field by a blast of flame so hot it almost singed off the front of her dress.

“Battle Dragons!” one of the brothers warned too late and then they began shifting to their dragon form.

Shalin escaped into the woods, knowing if she didn’t move fast, she could easily be crushed before she could shift. She burst through the trees into another clearing. With a thought, she shifted from human to dragon and took to the air. She’d barely gotten off the ground when another set of strong dragon arms wrapped around her from behind, blocking her wings from fully extending.

“Got you!”

She went to spit out a spell until she saw midnight-blue scales on the arms that held her. Shalin looked over her shoulder and started in surprise. “Ailean?”

“I can explain everything.”

What kind of greeting is —

Her eyes widened. “This is your fault, isn’t it?”

“Why assign blame here?”

“Wait. What?”

“No time for answers, dragoness. We have bigger problems at the moment.”

Northland dragons bursting from the clearing and heading straight for them proved him right.

Ailean pushed her away. “Fly, Shalin! Toward Kerezik. Go! Now!”

Shalin did as ordered, turning away from Ailean—barely noticing that the dragon had on his battle armor—and heading toward the land of Kerezik. Although what waited for her in Kerezik, she had no idea.

The first blast of lightning hit him dead in the chest, knocking Ailean back a hundred feet. Thank the gods for his battle armor. The breastplate protected him from the power of their attack. At least until they went for his head.

They sent out another blast and Ailean spun to his left. As the purple bastards took in breaths to assault him again, he unleashed a line of flame, hitting the one in the front. The dragon flew back right into the range of Arranz, who hit him with a breath of flame that shoved him into one of his kinsmen. Bideven swooped up from underneath and took aim at the weakest spot on any dragon, the underbelly. While Ailean’s armor protected him from that, the Lightning dragons wore no armor. Probably because they’d felt safe coming into Dark Plains territory at the behest of the princess.

Too bad Ailean had never been known for following the dictates of anyone but himself. Hence why his time in active duty in the Dragon Queen’s Army had been short-lived. He was too good a fighter for them to take his rank completely, but he was only called to battle when they needed him. Otherwise Ailean had been too much trouble to tolerate among the general rank and file.

The Lightning dragons screamed in agony as Arranz circled around them, his battle sword drawn. “Go, little brother. We’ll follow.”

“Are you sure?”

“Go!” Arranz ordered before unleashing another blast of flame.

Ailean turned and followed Shalin.

Not far from Kerezik, Shalin waited until the blue dragon passed beneath her. Ailean hadn’t told her everything, and waiting until he’d come up with a satisfactory excuse didn’t sit well with her. Besides, she was angry and felt the need to take it out on someone.

Eyes narrowing, she dived into Ailean, crash-landing on his back.

“What the—”

“What did you do?” she demanded, grabbing handfuls of his hair and yanking.

“Ow! Have you lost your mind?” Ailean bellowed, angering her more for some reason.

“What did you do? I know this is your fault!”

She yanked again, knowing how much Ailean the Wicked prided himself on his hair. True, it was shinier and more beautiful than most, but that only made Shalin want to rip every hair from his head!

Ailean headed toward the land below them but, tricky bastard dragon that he was, he waited until the last moment before flipping onto his back. Shalin slammed hard into the soft lakeside dirt, the weight and speed they’d been going pushing her until she slammed into ancient trees half-circling the lake.

Yet even after all that, Shalin still refused to release his hair.

Ailean scrambled off her, not wanting to crush her. She was small for a dragoness and he was bigger than many dragons. Add in his armor, and he could easily crush her.

But still...his hair!

Yet when he went to stand, he realized she still held on to his hair with both claws and kept yanking. Not only did it hurt, but he could feel hair ripping from his head.

Mad cow!

“Release me, Shalin!”

“Not until you tell me what you did! I’ll rip every hair from your enormous head if I have to!”

To prove it, she did just that, strands of hair tearing right from his scalp.

Snarling, Ailean slapped at her claws. When that didn’t work, he grabbed hold of her wrists and slammed her forearms to the ground, using his weight to pin her into place. Startled, she released him, but he knew she might go for his hair again if he didn’t calm her.

“Shalin, stop this. Now!”

“Tell me what you did, Ailean the Whore!” she spat into his face. “Tell me!”

Sitting back on his haunches, he released her, holding up his claws. A placating gesture. Seemed the little innocent had quite a temper. “Just...

calm down.”

“I won’t calm down,” she promised, scrambling back to her feet and away from him. “Just tell me.”

“Someone told Adienna about the kiss I gave you outside the school. She seems to believe you’ve betrayed her.”

The rage went out of her, replaced with confusion.

“I don’t understand. What do the North dragons have to do with Adienna? Or with me for that matter?”

“We can talk about this later.” He wanted to get her back to his home, where he knew she’d be safe.

“No. You’ll tell me now.”

Gods, where was the mouse he was used to? The shadow who silently followed Adienna? The female calmly ordering him around was far from the Shalin the Innocent he’d heard about all these years.

“Fine. Adienna sold you to the Lightnings.”

“She...” Shalin sat back on her haunches and stared at him. “She sold me?”

“Aye. To old Tinig. I’ve fought him in battle. I took his eye. It just made him look crazier.”

Taking in a deep breath, Shalin nodded. “She sold me.”

“Shalin—”

Shalin held up a claw to silence him. “And you,” she looked directly at him. “You took me from the Northerners.”

Ailean nodded solemnly, completely comfortable with his role as hero and rescuer. “I couldn’t let this happen to you, now could I?”

Years later he’d admit—he never saw that tail coming.

Covering his jaw where the sharp tip of her tail had slashed him, Ailean glowered. “Is there a reason you did that?”

“You brought war to our people and you stand there looking smug?”

“I brought war?”

“Yes. You.” She shook her head, turning as she did. Ailean took a step back to avoid that tail. He wasn’t frightened, but he wasn’t stupid, either.

“I have to go back,” she finally said and looked as if she were seconds from taking flight.

Ailean grabbed hold her arm. “What are you talking about?”

“I have to go back, Ailean. It hasn’t been that long.” She glanced up at the sky to confirm. “And if your brothers haven’t killed them yet, I can fix this.”

He knew from her words and her expression what she planned to do.

Sacrifice herself for the greater good of her people.

“You’ll fix nothing, Shalin.”

She tried to walk away from him. “Ailean—”

Ailean yanked her back, harshly, making sure he had her attention. He did.

“You’ll. Fix. Nothing.”

“Get your claws—”

He gave her a hard shake. “Listen well, Shalin. I’ve created this, but I’ll fix it. But I’ll be damned if I let you sacrifice yourself because of that mad bitch.”

“She’s not mad, Ailean. She’s mean. Meaner than you or I.”

“I don’t care.”

“You have to know she won’t stop. She won’t stop until I’m gone or dead. I think gone is better.”

“So you’ll...run?” The word was foreign on his tongue. Male or female, young or old, his Clan never ran.

“Why not? I’m quite speedy. And I have this odd love of having my neck attached to my body.”

With a growl, Ailean turned, dragging her behind him.

“What are you doing?”

“We’re going to my home, if I have to drag your pretty ass there myself.”

“But won’t your family be there?”

Finally, his full anger snapped and he turned on her. “You think you’re not safe with my family?”

Now Shalin held her claws up in a placating gesture. “That’s not what I mean at all.”

“Then what do you mean?” he demanded.

He watched her gather her courage before saying, “You’ll be putting them at risk, too. Adienna will stop at noth—”

Amazed she seemed more concerned with everyone but herself, Ailean calmly cut in, “If Adienna crosses my family, she’ll soon learn how little her royal title means.”

“Ailean—”

“We’re not discussing this anymore. You’ll come with me.”

Her mind turned. He could see it, see her trying to figure anyway out of this. Her gold eyes furtively glanced around, desperate, but he only had to flash a fang to make it clear how far he’d go.

“Fine,” she said with an absurdly tragic sigh. “I’ll come with you. But...

my father. He’s not safe.”

“I’ve already sent two of my cousins’ mates to protect your father.”

“Only two?”

“Trust me. These two...your father will be fine.”

“Knowing my father, he’ll want to go to the queen. To see if he can fix this.”

“And they’ll go with him when he’s ready. His own personal guards. No one will get near him.”

Shalin sighed again, and Ailean knew he’d won. At least he’d won this particular argument. He sensed other fights wouldn’t be so easy.

“I’ll go with you.”

Ailean forced himself not to grin. He sensed she wouldn’t appreciate it and his scalp still stung. “Thank you.” With that, he took several steps back from her and extended his wings in preparation to take flight, but stopped a moment, compelled to make something very clear.

“Shalin?”

She’d just unfurled her wings, ready to follow, when she looked up at him.

“There’s something you should know.”

She merely tilted her head, waiting for him to continue.

“I am sorry this happened, and I’ll do what I can to fix it—but I’m not sorry I kissed you.” He winked as her eyes widened in surprise. “She’ll not make me regret that.”

3

Shalin had so many things that annoyed her at the moment, she wasn’t sure what topped her list.

Perhaps the dress she had to wear? A brazen dark red that was much too big for her, since it belonged to one of Ailean’s cousins. Big enough that she constantly tripped over the hem and couldn’t seem to keep both sleeves on her shoulders at the same time. Every time she adjusted one side, the other slid off and every male eye in the house seemed to focus right on her.

Or perhaps the fact she wasn’t in a lovely cave. No, she was in a...a...

Shalin glanced around and barely contained her annoyed growl.

She was in a castle. A bloody castle. What dragon willingly lived in a castle? A nice enough castle, to be sure, but a castle. If she shifted and spread her wings here, she’d take out a good portion of the Great Hall.

Or perhaps that, because she was in this castle, she had to remain human —all the time. When they’d first arrived, Ailean had actually shown her to a bedroom...with a bed in it! A bed he expected her to sleep on!

Now, true enough, she’d been living among humans for quite some time, but that had been different. A necessity. The sacrifice she’d been willing to make to further her knowledge. But to live this way on purpose irritated her.

And although all those things annoyed Shalin to the point of distraction, she’d begun to realize that what annoyed her most of all, what had her teeth grinding, her hands tightly clenched in her lap so she wouldn’t unleash her claws, and kept her gaze focused on the floor to stop herself from showing the growing rage and annoyance in her eyes...

What annoyed her—was them.

Not just Ailean’s brothers. Or an uncle or two. But all of them. The entire Cadwaladr Clan from within a league. And, even worse, they never shut up. She’d never heard anything like it. Like a tree full of hungry crows, but with much more rough language and abrupt changes of topic. Now Shalin understood why Ailean cut her off so often...they all did it to each other constantly. If one wanted to be heard among this brood, one literally had to scream.

Since Shalin didn’t scream, she merely kept her hands in her lap, her head bowed, her eyes on the floor, and her mind as far away from this place as she could imagine. While they all shouted at each other, Shalin flew in the bright bronze skies of Alsaindair. She’d only gone once to the desert lands with her father, but she’d never forgotten. And the desert dragons themselves had fascinated her. The same colors as the dragons of Dark Plains but there was a shiny bronze overlay to their scales she absolutely adored. They’d looked like jewels to her, and she’d been fascinated by their history and language and lifestyles.

So focused on her own thoughts, it wasn’t until someone gently tapped her shoulder that she realized they’d all finally gone silent. Yet she sensed that was only because they were waiting on her to say something.

What exactly, Shalin had no idea.

Clearing her throat, she looked up and found them all watching her.

Good gods, what exactly had they asked her?

“I’m sorry, I—”

“Now, no need to apologize, lass,” one of Ailean’s aunts told her while patting her hand. “This isn’t your doing, now, is it?”

Before Shalin could respond, the entire room erupted into angry shouts about Adienna, and Shalin lost the thread of conversation yet again.

Frustrated, Shalin pulled her right dress sleeve onto her shoulder. Of course, that only meant the left fell off the other side, hanging low on her arm. Knowing he watched her, Shalin glanced over and, as she suspected, Ailean stared at her from behind several rows of his kin. He smirked and raised an eyebrow. If she could have reached him, she would have slapped his face.

She wished she’d aimed her tail lower. Perhaps cutting his vocal chords would have eased her growing resentment.

Enjoying that vision more than she should, Shalin let her gaze slide back to the floor and back to the images of her flying.

Flying anywhere but here.

“You’ll need to leave her be, Ailean.”

Surprised, Ailean glanced at his aunt. One of his mother’s bloodline.

When his mother had died, his Aunt Briaga had done what she could for Ailean and his brothers, when not dealing with her own offspring or in battle.

“What are you talking about?”

“You and the innocent. Stay away from her.”

“Why?”

His aunt gave him that look she used to when he’d bang his head into walls to see how long before he could actually break through. “Look at her. Poor, shy little thing.”

“Shy? Her?” He watched Shalin for a moment and saw how his aunt could make that mistake. Sitting there with her back straight, the dress she wore slipping off all the best places, but still managing to look innocent and untouched, hands in her lap, eyes downcast. But Ailean was no longer fooled by Shalin the Innocent. “She’s not shy.”

“Och! Deniela, tell him.” One of his father’s many sisters, Deniela had two things to her name. Her lethal way with a battle ax and that she was the mother of the Cadwaladr Twins.

“Tell him what?” Deniela asked, chewing on what better be dried cow.

Ailean forbid the eating of humans on his territory. He’d already had to clear up a few things for Shalin when she’d casually asked, “Is she dinner?” as one of his servants had walked by with two water buckets from the kitchens. The buckets hit the floor, and water went everywhere.

And then there had been the hysterical screaming...

That was when Shalin realized the humans in his territory knew exactly who and, more importantly, what he was. That had confused her, which he had to admit, he enjoyed doing. The look on her face was comical and adorable all at the same time.

Briaga leaned across Ailean and said to Deniela, “Tell him he can’t be bothering the little dragoness. Look at her up there.”

“Och. I know. Isn’t she a sad little thing.”

“What are you two looking at?” Because all he could see was the viper who ripped the hairs from his head. And the discovery of some bald spots did nothing but make him want to return the favor to the little royal.

Deniela pinched Ailean’s arm lightly and it took all his strength not to scream out in agony. “You stay away from her, Ailean the Blue. Look at her. Poor wee thing.”

“Oh, come on! She attacked me, you know?”

“Aye,” Briaga agreed. “Threw that ax at you to protect her innocence.”

“That is not what happened, and that’s not what I’m talking about. Just today she attacked me. Pulled hair from my head.”

“Why do you lie to me?” Deniela laughed. “We both know I’m smarter than you. That wee thing would never attack you, so stop making up stories. Don’t you feel bad for her?”

“No!”

“Ailean! I expected more from you.” She leaned in closer and whispered louder, “Look at her face. That deformity.”

“What?” Ailean looked at Shalin. “What are you talking about?”

“Those horrible things on her face.”

“Oh, no, no,” Briaga explained, incorrectly, “that’s just mud. She needs a bath.”

“It’s neither. It’s freckles.”

“Then I was right. Deformity.”

“And you know,” Briaga whispered, “she’s probably a virgin. And you, Ailean the Slag, are not the dragon for virgins.”

“What does that mean?” And was Shalin a virgin? Ailean shuddered a bit. He didn’t entertain virgins. Much too much responsibility for his liking.

“She must be. How else would she get such a name?”

“Especially living at court,” Deniela muttered, pulling more dried beef out of the little carry bag she kept tied to her sword belt. “All the fucking that goes on there.”

“So you just keep your claws and your cock to yourself, Ailean the Whore,” Briaga warned him, “or I’ll be pulling your father out of his cave to deal with you and he’ll be none too happy.”

He definitely wouldn’t be happy. For other dragons—a normally unsocial group—to call Ailean’s father Afton the Hermit said a lot. Still, it was better than his earlier name. Afton the Murderer. But there had been a reason for that. A very good reason.

“Fine. I’ll stay away from her.” At least while she was at his home, under his protection, since that could easily be misunderstood. And how hard could it be? Once this had all been straightened out and Shalin went back to her school and Kyffin, he could finish what had been started that night in the royal archives. “But you two hags leave me be.”

He covered his head with his arms as soon as he said the words, laughing while both his aunts slammed fists into his head. He didn’t appreciate the kidney shot from Deniela, though.

Sneaking away had been a lot easier than Shalin thought it would be. No sneaking really involved; she simply stood up and walked out. So engrossed in their own disturbing conversations, none of the others even noticed her leaving.

Thank the gods.

She really didn’t know how much more she could take. Her first thirty winters it had been only her, her father, and mother. Thirty winters of reading, quiet contemplation, and soft-spoken discussion on any topic from politics to religion. Her parents had taught her how to think, how to reason. They’d taught her how to survive without lifting a weapon. Good thing, since she was as hopeless with a weapon as Ailean was with a book. That thrown battle ax being nothing more than a lucky shot.

But the Cadwaladr Clan didn’t really have quiet contemplation or soft-spoken discussions. There was nothing soft or quiet about these dragons.

Now, all Shalin wanted was some time to herself. Blissful silence. But would she ever find it?

“Need some help, m’lady?”

Shalin looked at the sturdy woman before her. One of Ailean’s servants but, Shalin had quickly noticed, none of them looked downtrodden.

She’d never seen servants who seemed happy and comfortable with their lot in life. Simply going about their day without misery.

“Yes...uh...”

“Madenn, m’lady.”

“Shalin. Just Shalin.”

“As you wish.”

“I know this may be a tall order, but is there anywhere that I can...some place I can...”

“Get some quiet?”

Shalin almost dropped from gratitude that the woman so immediately understood her. “Yes.”

“Just the place.” She held one finger up and quickly went into the kitchens—with a clan this large, Shalin wasn’t surprised Ailean needed more than one. When Madenn returned, she had a basket of warm scones, a chalice, and a wine-filled pitcher. “This way.”

Madenn silently led Shalin down a winding path of hallways. The castle was enormous and Shalin wondered how Ailean could afford it. The Cadwaladr Clan was not born of wealth or title and had no inherited riches the way most of the royals and nobles did. Anything they had, they stole from humans. But Shalin couldn’t imagine Ailean attacking some unsuspecting caravan.

“Here you are, luv,” Madenn said while she pushed a door open with her foot. She’d gotten comfortable quickly and Shalin didn’t mind. “Will this do you?”

Shalin sighed in absolute pleasure as she stepped into the well-lit and dust-covered library. “Aye. Very much.”

“Thought it might. Ailean’s kin—well, they’re not much for reading, are they?”

Grinning, Shalin said, “So they won’t be down here, is your point?”

“Luv, I don’t think they know the castle has one, much less where this room is. You should be fine here for quite a bit. Especially when they make battle plans. They can do that sort of thing for hours.”

Madenn placed the scones and drink on a long wooden table. “I don’t have any cooked meat for you yet, but I’m guessing the scones will hold you for a while.”

Slowly walking down one row of shelves, looking at each title, Shalin said, “You know what I am. What we all are.”

“Aye. I do. We all do.”

“But you’ve never told.”

“We never have, we never will. But it’s a long story and not one I’m much in the way of telling at the moment. Besides, it’s more Ailean’s story to tell than my own. I wasn’t there, ya see.”

Shalin grabbed a book she’d never read and pulled it off the shelf. “I understand.”

Madenn walked toward the door, but before she left, she added, “We protect Ailean and his kin as he’s protected us and ours. Our loyalty is deeper than any you’ll find and well-earned.”

Sensing some kind of warning, Shalin turned to look at Madenn, but she’d already walked out the door, silently closing it behind her.

The chant for food started when the suns set. It turned to cat-calls and loud screaming until the servants began bringing out the platters of hot food and placing them on the tables.

“Where’s Shalin?” Ailean asked Arranz, who only stared at him.

Blankly.

“You lost her?”

“We didn’t lose her. She’s around somewhere. We’ll look after we eat.”

Of course Arranz said that around a mouthful of food.

Afraid she might have gone off to handle all this on her own, Ailean searched the castle for her.

He went to her room first but found it empty. He went down to the small dining hall in the back of his home, thinking she might have gone there in search of food. But he found that empty as well, except for a few of the dogs playing on the floor.

Ailean walked into the kitchen, getting more desperate by the second.

“Something we can help you with, Ailean?” asked Madenn. An older human, she’d worked for him since she’d been a young girl, as had her mother and her mother’s mother. He liked Madenn very much. She made him laugh.

“The lady I brought home today? Have you seen her?”

“Last I saw her, she was in the library.”

Ailean tilted his head to the side and stared at Madenn. After a long moment’s pause, “I have a library?”

Madenn snorted. “Aye, m’Lord,” she replied, not bothering to hide her laughter. “With books and everything!”

“Truly?” He grinned now that he knew Shalin was safe and not sacrificing herself for the dragon nation. “I never knew.”

“As I’d guessed.”

“Fascinating.” He started to walk away, then gestured to the door. “Uh...

can you point me...”

With a good-natured shake of her head, Madenn walked with Ailean out to the hall, giving him quick directions. “Once you’re in that part of the castle,” she finished, “go down the hall, all the way to the end, turn left, and the very last door on the right.”

“Thank you.”

“Welcome.”

Ailean followed Madenn’s directions and, as she suggested, he found Shalin in the library. Still wearing that dark red dress and barefoot, she sat on the floor, completely engrossed in a book. She probably had no idea how late the time had grown.

Even more fascinating, she had one of the new batch of black-furred puppies asleep in her lap. When Ailean had taken over this land, he’d begun to breed the animals to create bigger, more battle-ready dogs.

They were wonderful pets and companions but could easily tear the limbs off a good-sized man. And had when the situation called for it.

“Shalin?”

“Mhhm?”

He couldn’t help but grin. “Shalin?” he called again.

She finally lifted her head. “Yes?”

“It’s time for evening meal.”

“Evening...” She turned her head toward the window. “Oh. It is dark.”

“Aye. It is. And I’m starving.” He held his hand out for her. “So let’s go feed, then.”

“No.” She waved him away. “I’ll be fine until later.”

“You will?”

“Aye.”

“If you’re sure...”

“Of course.” She ran a hand down the puppy’s back while staring at her book. “This little one will tide me over until I—oiy!” she barked when Ailean reached down and grabbed the puppy from her lap. “He’s mine!”

“Not if you’re planning to eat him.”

“What else would I do with him?”

“He’s a pet, Shalin. A companion animal. If you wish, you can keep him as such. But if you’re planning to eat him—no.”

“That’s unfair.”

“On my territory we don’t eat dogs.”

“You have the most ridiculous rules. You do know you’re not human, yes?”

“I’m well aware of that, Shalin.”

The puppy, now awake, yawned and tried to scramble out of Ailean’s arms and back to Shalin. When Ailean held him tight, he began to cry and paw at his hands.

“You’re hurting him,” Shalin accused, quickly getting to her feet.

“You were going to eat him.”

“Give him back to me,” she ordered as only a royal could.

Ailean moved away from her grasping hands. “Only if you give me your word you’ll not eat him.”

“Fine. I give you my word.”

“Good.” Ailean shoved the puppy back at her and Shalin snuggled him close. “He seems to like you. I’d hate for that affection to be betrayed.”

“It won’t be.” She giggled when the puppy licked her face and nipped her nose.

“Then he’s my gift to you.”

Shalin looked at him in surprise. “A gift? For me?”

“Of course.” He reached over and stroked the puppy’s head, smiling when the little bastard tried to bite his finger off. “While you’re here, I’ll show you how to care for him.”

“No one but my father and mother has ever given me a gift before.” She smiled, and Ailean wondered if he’d ever seen anything so beautiful.

“Thank you.”

He cleared his throat and stepped back from her, wondering why he had this sudden, almost overwhelming desire to give her everything he owned and fuck her beyond reason. He’d never felt both tenderness and lust at the same time for anyone and he didn’t much like those feelings now.

“Let’s go in and eat. You can bring the puppy.”

With the puppy and the book she’d never released still in her hands, she peered up at him. “I don’t spend much time with others, Ailean. I mostly keep to myself.”

That surprised him a bit. “But all that time in Devenallt Mountain with Adienna...?”

“I just followed. No one ever expected me to do or say anything.” She gave a devious little smirk. “Very few at court find me very interesting.

And I’ve found if I stay unbearably boring long enough, they wander away and stop talking to me altogether. I like when they don’t talk to me. Before I went to school in Kyffin, I could sometimes clear a chamber simply by entering it.”

Ailean laughed, tugging her forward until her bare feet touched his bootcovered ones. “Tragically for you, I haven’t been bored yet. So I know how fascinating you truly are.”

“And you’d know that how? You never let me finish a sentence.”

His own smile fell at the innocent barb. “Are you saying I talk too much?”

“Well—”

“Because I don’t. I don’t talk too much.”

“All—”

“I have things to say, sure. But it’s not like I can’t shut up if I have to.

Because I can.”

“O—”

“And do! When I have to.”

Shalin stared up at him once again, her mouth closed.

“Well?” he demanded. “Answer me.”

“You’re right. You don’t talk too—”

“Exactly! Now come on. You can even bring your book if you like and read at the table. This lot will never even notice.”

It was like watching wild animals feed with much snarling, growling, and food stealing. But to make it uniquely theirs, there was also much laughing, taunting, and yelling. Shalin said nothing because she really didn’t have to. With Ailean on one side of her having either a running argument or an animated conversation with his brothers—she didn’t know which—and his infamous twin cousins on the other side, yelling at different family members across the room, Shalin didn’t have to say a word. Instead, she devoured her delicious food, hand-fed the puppy comfortably ensconced in her lap and, much to her delight, read her book. That she would have never done at court. Ever. She’d have been forced to keep up some boring patter to entertain whatever noble sat beside her or she would have had to listen to Adienna softly mock everyone in the room.

Truth be told, Shalin hadn’t had a meal this lovely since she’d lived with her father. He’d always brought work or books with him to their evening meal of a freshly butchered cow or two. They’d eat, read, and barely speak and were both quite comfortable doing so.

The hour had grown late and she’d devoured half a cow’s worth of ribs before she finally lifted her gaze from her book.

“What you reading, then?” one of the twins asked.

“It’s a book on the Northland pirates. The ones who come down along the coast and raid the small towns there.”

“I heard about them. Oh, I’m Kyna by the way. This is Kennis.”

Kennis greeted Shalin with a grunt, since she had a mouthful of food.

Shalin had never met the twins before, but like every other dragon in Dark Plains, she’d heard of them, the pair having cut a bloody swath through the enemy during the last battle against the North dragons. They were feared as much by their own people as by their enemies.

“So go on,” Kyna insisted, “tell us about the pirates.”

Shalin glanced at the book and shrugged. “Well, there was this one story that was kind of interesting about how one of the raids went horribly wrong.” Shalin leaned in a bit and proceeded to tell the cousins what she’d read, adding in some additional details about the town and the Northland pirates that she’d read in other books. Since the twins never looked bored the way most others did when she spoke for longer than a minute or two, she kept talking.

“He knew, then,” she said.

“Knew what?” Kyna all but demanded.

“He knew he either had to cut her throat or watch his men die.”

It was the silence Shalin noticed first. Neither Ailean nor Ailean’s kin were ever quiet. Yet for a brief moment she thought that only she and the twins remained. But when she glanced around, she gave a little start of surprise. They were all watching her. If she hadn’t known she had Ailean’s protection, she’d have feared for her very life, the way they all watched her.

Then, finally, from the back of the room someone snarled, “Well...go on, then!”

“Aye,” one of his many—many—aunts demanded. “Finish the story.”

A chorus of “ayes” followed and Shalin briefly debated making a run for it.

“You best finish,” Ailean murmured near her ear. “They’ll tear this castle down around us until they get what they want. Besides,” and the smile he gave her nearly had her melting in her chair, “I’m dying to hear the end as well.”

Realizing she really did have their undivided attention and that she didn’t much mind, Shalin continued. “But for the captain neither of those options worked for him. But if he was going to save them all, he’d have to move fast...”

The dinner ended and his family went off on their own, heading out to check Ailean’s territory or simply enjoy the quiet night before the storms came. Storms were blowing in from the east, but it was the rainy winter season in Kerezik, so no one was particularly surprised or worried.

Ailean silently watched Shalin head up the stairs to her room, the puppy in her arms.

“Don’t even think about it.”

Ailean turned away from the tantalizing sight of Shalin walking away to that of his twin cousins, Kyna and Kennis.

“Don’t think about what?”

“Now that is an innocent face, isn’t it, Kyna?”

“That it is, Kennis. That it is. You’d never think he has nefarious plans for Shalin the Innocent.”

Ailean rolled his eyes and laughed. “I do not have any plans for anyone.”

“Not sure I believe that, cousin. Who can resist a female with the moniker ‘the Innocent’?”

“Your lack of faith in me, Kyna, hurts.” He held his hand to his chest.

“Deep inside.”

His cousins, two of the greatest Battle Dragons he’d ever known, laughed and each punched one of his arms. He gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the pain.

“They have a point, though, brother.”

Forcing himself not to rub where the twins had hit him, he focused on Bideven, who stood over him. “What are you talking about?”

“You with a fresh, untried female under your roof. I’m concerned.”

Ailean pushed away from the table he’d been leaning against and stood tall. “Concerned?”

“Aye, brother. Concerned. Shalin the Innocent is not like your other—”

“Whores?” Kyna added helpfully.

“Aye. She’s not.”

Ailean felt his rarely used anger growing. “I never said she was.”

“But I saw how you looked at her.”

“I have eyes. I was looking. It doesn’t mean that I’ll—”

“Take advantage?”

“I don’t take advantage. I’ve never had to before.”

“She’s naive, Ailean. Sheltered. She’s never been away from her library and her books before.”

“And?”

Kyna stepped between the two brothers who were now toe to toe. “And she might misunderstand or expect more. More than you’re willing to give. No one wants her hurt. Least of all you, I’m guessing.” She rested her hand on his chest. “You have the biggest heart of us all, Ailean. But sometimes you make the mistake that everyone thinks like you. Or us.

She’s not like us. She’s cultured and that, isn’t she, Kennis?”

“Aye. Cultured and soft.”

Kyna brushed her hand against Ailean’s jaw. “Breakable, Ailean. So be careful what you do.”

He took his cousin’s hand, kissed the back of her knuckles. “You’ve a good heart yourself, little cousin.”

She smiled, seconds before she slammed him hard across the face with her free hand. “Don’t try and sweet-talk me, you wily bastard.” But she grinned just the same.

“We’re off, then,” Kennis informed them all, heading toward the door.

“We’ll go up north a bit, make sure there’s no other surprises from the Lightnings. We’ll be back later tonight.”

“And if you find more of them?” Ailean asked. “More of the Lightnings?

What will you do then?”

Kyna grinned as she followed after her twin. “Then we’ll have more horns to add to the ones already on our den walls, won’t we?”

Ailean turned back to Bideven, but his brother did no more than sniff in disgust before storming off.

“What is wrong with him?” Ailean snapped, knowing Arranz stood behind him.

“Don’t know. He’s been strange all day. So are you going to fuck her?”

Ailean sighed and walked off.

“It was just a question.”

4

It really galled him that his own kin thought so little of him. Thought he’d take advantage of Shalin or any female merely to sate his lust without a care for the female. He didn’t need to take advantage of anyone and it insulted him anyone thought he would.

Passing Shalin’s door, Ailean heard her cooing to her new puppy. Her scent had him pausing a moment. She always smelled so...delightful.

Enticing.

His knuckles almost struck the door before he stopped himself.

Gods, I am weak.

Before he did something foolish, Ailean went to his bedroom, stripped, and got into bed. He ignored his desire to crawl back down the hall and scratch on Shalin’s door like that puppy. He’d leave her alone. He would.

An hour into that chant, and the knock on his door came.

He ignored it, hoping she’d believe him asleep.

“Ailean,” Shalin whispered urgently through the door. “I need you!”

When he still didn’t answer, she began banging on the door.

“Hold on,” he snapped, getting out of bed and wrapping a fur around his waist. He snatched the door open, ready to order her back to her own bed when he saw tears streaming down her face. “Gods, Shalin. What is it?”

She grabbed his hand. “I think he’s dying!” Then she dragged Ailean toward her room. Once she got him inside, she dragged him around her bed where her puppy was hunched over.

“Do something!” she demanded, her panic tugging at his heart.

Ailean crouched next to the pup and said, “Well, luv, there’s not much we can do.”

Shalin looked at him with something close to abject horror. “You’re just going to let him die?”

“No. I’m going to let him bring back up whatever he’s been eating.”

And that’s what the little bastard did.

They both moved back, disgusted.

“Oh, that’s vile!” Shalin gasped, covering her nose and mouth.

“That it is.” Ailean glanced around until he found a few rags piled in a corner. He grabbed them and quickly cleaned up the mess while the puppy whined softly and crawled into Shalin’s lap.

“He’s still sick.”

“His stomach ails him, is all.” He took the rags out into the hall and dumped them where the servants could find them in the morning. When he came back in, closing the door behind him, he found Shalin staring down at the pup like she feared he might gasp his last breath at any moment. “Shalin, he’ll be fine. You just have to watch what he eats.”

Ailean washed his hands in the wash bowl before walking back to her side.

“Why don’t you get some sleep?” he asked her, sitting beside her on the bed.

“What if he dies while I sleep? I’ll never forgive myself.”

It took all Ailean’s strength not to roll his eyes. He knew she meant every word. “He won’t die while you sleep, Shalin. He merely ate something that didn’t sit well with him. You’ve no need to fret so.”

“He’s mine. My responsibility. I’ll sit with him until he’s better.”

“No. You’ll get some sleep.” Ailean took the pup from her lap. “I’ll stay up with him so you can rest.”

“That isn’t fair.” She smiled and stood, taking back the puppy. “We’ll stay up together.”

“Uh...”

But he didn’t have much choice, since she crawled into the center of the bed and sat down, her legs crossed so her ailing puppy could rest right in the middle. She patted the space across from her and Ailean reluctantly moved there, desperately clutching the fur covering against him.

They sat silently for several minutes, until Shalin said, “I enjoyed dinner tonight.”

“Good. You, uh, blended in quite nicely.”

“Did I?”

“Aye. They all like you. Oh, and I got word from the ones protecting your father. He’s fine and safe.”

Shalin briefly closed her eyes. “Thank you. I worry about him so.”

“Why? I’ve never met him, but I’ve always heard he’s well-respected.”

“He is. Very well-respected, especially among our scholars. But, he can be a little...a little...” She suddenly smiled. The softest, warmest smile Ailean had ever seen. “He can be a bit befuddled at times.”

“Is that why he’s not an Elder?”

“He and the Elders don’t see eye to eye on much. He never understands why anyone has disputes if they’re not related to something scholarly.

He’ll argue for hours over some tiny historical fact or another, trying to prove his point, but he won’t fight for his territory. And without much prompting he’ll just give you his gold. He doesn’t understand why our people can be, as he likes to put it, ‘so bloody violent all the time.’

Eventually even he had to admit that being an Elder was not for him.”

Ailean began to relax, realizing he wouldn’t leave her this night. She seemed to need him, although her puppy was just fine. Besides, he enjoyed her company more than he could say. “And what about you?”

“What about me?”

“I’ve heard it told you intend to be an Elder one day.”

“Intend and will are two different things. I’ve a far way to go before I hope even to be considered.”

“But it’s not what you want, is it?”

And the way her entire body jerked at his question, causing her puppy to whine in annoyance before snuggling back to sleep, he knew he was right.

“Why would you ever think that?”

“Because I see no excitement in your eyes when you talk about it.”

Excitement? In her eyes? Was that even physically possible? “What?”

With a yawn, Ailean leaned back on the bed and Shalin felt a little guilty for not letting him go back to his room. But between her sick puppy and the fact she liked having Ailean around—especially when all he had on was that fur covering around his hips, giving her a delicious view of that chest—she had no intention of sending him away.

Could she do it, she wondered. Could she lure Ailean to her bed? True, she had him in her bed, but could she make him want her? Even she had to admit she’d never been known for her seduction tactics. And she couldn’t bring up the courage to simply pounce.

“When you talk about a library or being alone, your eyes light up. Or when you were telling that story to everyone downstairs. There was excitement in your face and your voice that wasn’t quite there when you discussed becoming an Elder one day. Looked more like you were going to the gallows.”

“That’s not true. I...I’m just tired. I’m not very enthusiastic about anything when I’m tired.”

Although Ailean was a bit correct. The thought of becoming an Elder almost made her queasy. All the politics. All the centaur shit. She’d rather bury herself in a library than face that life on a daily basis. But she’d promised.

Because she didn’t want to think of it any more, Shalin asked, “And what about your father?”

Ailean stared at her while he put one arm behind his head and Shalin immediately became fascinated with the way his muscles bulged from the action. Gods, he makes a beautiful human. “You know my father, Shalin.”

“I know of your father. Can’t say as I met him. Afton the Hermit.”

“He’s had other names. In the past.”

If a dragon lived past his first hundred winters, he or she would start to gather many names over time. It was nothing to be ashamed of, yet Ailean appeared...troubled. “Like?” she prompted.

“Afton the Cruel. Afton the Murderer.”

“Oh.” Shalin pushed her hair behind her ear and she briefly noticed Ailean’s eyes followed her hand while she did it. “Your father is that Afton? I always thought the Hermit and the...uh...Cruel were two different dragons.”

“No. Just one.” Ailean’s gaze moved to the ceiling. “He wasn’t always like that, you know. He didn’t earn either of those names until after my mother died.”

Now, that she understood. More than most, she was sure. “My father was lost after my mother died. Inconsolable for a while, and completely lost. She was equally brilliant, you see, and understood him so well, but much less befuddled. She kept everything organized and logical. Now when I go to visit, I find him under desks, behind desks, searching through piles of gold that turn out to be nothing more than brass coins merely painted gold.” She shrugged at Ailean’s smirk. “He can never tell the real from the fake. And I don’t think he bothers to try.”

“How did she die?”

“As only one of my parents can. She went out for a snack and picked up a bull instead of a cow. Its horn lodged in the roof of her mouth, piercing it. Nothing any healer did could fix it, and eventually she caught a brutal fever and died.”

“How old were you?”

Shalin thought a moment. “Barely thirty winters. Young.” With the puppy asleep, she rested her elbows on her knees and her chin on her fists, focusing on Ailean. “And you?”

“Eleven winters.”

“Och. You were a babe, Ailean. I’m so sorry.”

Ailean stared hard at the ceiling. “It was my fault, you know.”

“Your fault? How could it be?”

“Because I didn’t stay put. My father took my brothers hunting and I wanted to go with them. So I followed.”

“At eleven winters? Could you even fly?”

“Barely. So of course my father told me to go back home. I did, but I was so low to the ground—unable to get any real height—soldiers spotted me and they thought I’d be fun to hunt.” He suddenly closed his eyes. “They had me, too. Cornered. About half a battalion’s worth.”

“For a hatchling?” Sometimes humans truly disgusted her.

“And then she came. A battle dragon like all the other females of her line. She decimated them, but one of them...one of them had good aim.

He wounded her, and though she saved me and destroyed them all, she couldn’t save herself.”

“And your father went on to become Afton the Cruel.”

“Aye.”

“Did any humans survive?”

To her surprise, Ailean opened his eyes and smiled. Truly, the most beautiful thing about him had to be that smile. “Some. You see, my father was gone for days, but three human females found me. All sisters.

One a healer, one a barmaid, and the other a servant in the duke’s castle.

For three days they stayed with me. The healer, a witch, she tried to help my mother, but there was nothing to be done. So they made sure I ate and soothed me when I cried. Then my father came home. When he didn’t find us in the cave, he tracked us down. He almost killed the women until I stopped him, told him what happened. He left the villagers alone after that. They’d suffered enough, you see. The Duke, his men, they took the villagers’ food and used their women, sometimes even the young ones barely old enough to breed themselves. They left untold numbers of babes of their own lying around but they never claimed them. But that duke and his soldiers—they didn’t survive my father’s wrath.”

“So that’s how your father got his name.”

“Actually...no. No one thought he was cruel then—just angry. Then word spread that the duke was dead and others came to claim the land as their own. But my father always met them first, and he’d kill them all.

He was still angry, you see. If it moved, he killed it. Eventually they all stopped coming and my father went into his cave and rarely came out.

My uncles, my aunts, they all taught me and my brothers how to fight, how to survive.” He glanced at her and shook his head. “No, Shalin. No one among my kin ever blamed me. At least not as much as I blamed myself.”

“You were a babe,” she reminded him fiercely, annoyed he’d even think otherwise.

“I should have stayed put. I didn’t. And she died, all because I couldn’t fight for myself.”

“Fight for yourself? Ailean you were too—”

“Don’t say I was too young. A dragon can never be too young to learn to protect himself. Not in this world. My sons and daughters will be able to fight from hatching.”

“Ailean, isn’t that a bit of a tall order?”

“No. My brothers and I came up with a training method that will get them started early. My hatchlings will be prepared for anything.”

Shalin felt for the future hatchlings of Ailean the Wicked. They wouldn’t have easy lives. Then she frowned for a moment when she wondered who exactly he’d fall so in love with he’d settle down and have hatchlings with. But she quickly pushed the feeling away when she realized it was none of her business.

“Did all this happen here?” she asked, trying to distract herself.

“Aye. Madenn’s kin were the ones who stayed with me. Her great-great-grandmother and aunts. My father wanted nothing to do with any of them. Although he spared them, he still felt nothing for them. My brothers could go either way, but I knew these people needed protection.

Human males can’t stay away from unclaimed territory for long. It’s like this overwhelming need they all have to conquer anything they’ve even heard about.”

“So you stayed.”

“Seemed natural, really. I’d already spent so much time with them and they never told my secret. Eventually the entire village knew about me and no one said a word.”

“But didn’t you hate them? The humans?”

“For the actions of a few? No. Doesn’t seem fair to do that.”

He had to be the first dragon Shalin had ever heard say something like that.

“You look tired,” he suddenly told her.

“No. I’m fine.” And to prove it, she yawned.

Smiling, Ailean turned on his side and picked up the puppy from her lap, laying the little fur ball lengthwise on the bed. Then Ailean patted the mattress. “Come on now. Stretch out here.”

“But, the puppy...” Yet she was already stretching out on her side, facing Ailean, the puppy between them, her eyes rapidly closing. The day had caught up with her so quickly.

“He’ll be fine,” Ailean murmured, and she felt him take her hand. “And tomorrow, Mistress Shalin, we’ll discuss his diet.”

5

Ailean didn’t know what woke him up first. The two suns shining in his eyes—or the paw repeatedly slapping at his head.

Yawning, he glared at the little monster trying to claw him to death. “Oh, now you’re feeling fine, aren’t you?”

He yipped in answer and that’s when Shalin murmured in her sleep.

That’s also when Ailean realized Shalin was asleep on his chest.

Slightly terrified, Ailean desperately tried to remember if they’d done anything the night before. He didn’t think so and, when he looked down at her, she still wore the red gown from yesterday and the fur covering he’d brought with him still lay between them.

He let out a breath, but still didn’t know what had come over him. He might not have touched her, but all the things they’d discussed...

Ailean never talked about his father with anyone but his brothers, and those two never mentioned the old dragon unless necessary. Ailean definitely never discussed his mother and what happened that awful day.

His own kin knew never to mention it. Nearly a century ago, one cousin drunkenly brought it up after a family hunting party and lost both his horns when Ailean snapped them off.

But Ailean had told Shalin pretty much everything. Gods...why?

The puppy yipped again and Shalin’s head snapped up from his chest.

“Wha—where—?”

“You’re safe, Shalin,” he told her, seeing the confusion and panic on her face. When she looked at him, her panic seemed to pass and she smiled at him with real warmth.

“Good morn, Ailean.”

“Good morn to you.”

She turned a bit to look at the puppy, but she seemed more than comfortable cuddled up to his chest. “And look at you, Lord Terrify Me.”

The dog yipped again and Ailean said, “You best let him out, Shalin. Or there’ll be more mess to clean up.”

“Let him out?”

“Just open the door. He’ll find the rest of the dogs.”

“All right.”

He thought she’d roll away from him, but instead, she moved across him to get to the edge of the bed. Ailean gritted his teeth and willed his body not to react. It had to be one of the hardest things he’d ever done and he’d gotten in a fight once with a giant octopus.

“Will he come back?”

“I’m sure. He’s bonded to you, Shalin.” And he knew how the little bastard felt. Ailean knew if he left this moment, he’d probably come back, too.

“Come on, then, you little terror.” Shalin picked the dog up and walked to the door. Ailean heard it open and then Shalin’s strangled, “Uh...”

“What’s wrong?” He rolled to his side, raising himself up on one elbow, and looked toward the door. “Shit,” he barely had a chance to mutter before Bideven pushed past Shalin and stalked in, Arranz and the twins right behind him.

“You dirty bastard. Couldn’t keep your hands off her, could ya?”

Ailean slid off the bed and stood in front of his kin, the only thing holding up that fur covering his hand.

“I’m not quite sure what it has to do with you, brother.”

Bideven moved toward him but Shalin calmly stepped between them.

“He never touched me.”

Arranz sighed. “Shalin, love, could you move? You’re in the way of some lovely violence.”

Giving no more than an annoyed sniff, she didn’t respond to Arranz and instead said again, “He never touched me, Bideven.”

“Then why was he here?”

“I needed help with my puppy.”

Arranz and the twins started laughing and didn’t seem inclined to stop while Bideven’s accusing gaze shot daggers at Ailean.

“You bastard!”

Shalin rested her hand against Bideven’s chest. “Stop this now.”

“Shalin, you’re an innocent about this sort of thing—”

Ailean didn’t realize he’d snorted out loud until they all looked at him.

He glanced at Shalin and shrugged. “Sorry.”

“—and his intent,” Bideven finished. “We’re just trying to protect you.”

Shalin folded her arms over her chest. “Do you think so little of your own brother?”

The confusion on their faces would be something Ailean remembered for ages.

“What?”

“Do you think so little of him? That he’d take advantage of me. Force me.”

“I never said—”

“Is that truly what you expect of your own kin? I thought the Cadwaladr Clan loyal to each other.”

“We are.”

“I haven’t seen it. Not when you barge in here and accuse your own brother of being all manner of lizard.”

“I never meant to—”

“Then you should apologize.”

“Apologize?”

“Yes.”

“You can’t be—”

Shalin’s foot began to tap and Bideven growled. “Fine. I apologize.”

Patting his shoulder, Shalin ushered Bideven and the rest out. “Now don’t you feel better?”

“Not really,” Bideven shot back, but Shalin had already closed the door in his face.

Ailean stared at Shalin. “That was...brilliant!”

Shalin held her finger to her lips while she bent over silently laughing.

“He’ll hear.”

“Good!” Ailean watched her walk across the room. “How did you do that?”

She shrugged before falling back on the bed, her grin wide and happy.

“Years of court life, my dear dragon.”

It happened so fast, Shalin thought a wizard must be involved. But no. It was simply rainy season in Kerezik and that meant sudden darkness and sudden storms.

Well, she thought, that might at least keep the beasts from the door for a little while. Lightning dragons, from what she’d read, didn’t much like traveling in this sort of weather. Not only did they possess lightning within them as her people possessed flame, but they attracted lightning.

Which could make for painful, if not lethal, travels during storm seasons in the different regions.

Running a comb through her freshly washed hair, she looked at the courtyard beneath her window. Not surprisingly, very few of the human servants were about and the few that were quickly scurried toward one of the many buildings so they were out of the rain. Then she saw him, marching through the rain, not caring that his clothes were getting soaked.

Ailean stopped and spoke to a large, burly human. She’d guess the woman was the local blacksmith, based on her dress and the size of her arms. Laughing at some joke of his, the female placed her hand on his forearm, and Shalin’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

With a quick hug, the blacksmith walked away and Ailean continued on to his destination. She watched until he walked into the stables.

Stables?

“Yum...horse.”

Ailean gently brushed his favorite mare’s coat and softly hummed. Black Heart liked when he hummed.

He loved doing this. It was one of those things he could do and still focus on something else completely. Like why his family had suddenly lost their collective minds. Never before, in his nearly hundred and fifty years, had they ever cared about what he did or who he did it with. But now, suddenly, he had the lot of them trying to push him away from Shalin as if they thought he’d purposely hurt her.

Could involving himself with Shalin only lead to hurting her more than anyone else because she truly was innocent? He hated the thought of hurting her and hated the thought of never lying with her even more.

So focused on his thoughts and feelings—something Ailean rarely paid attention to for more than three seconds at a time—he didn’t notice Black Heart’s growing nervousness until she bucked suddenly. Ailean placed his hand on her flank, felt the tensing muscles. He crooned to her softly while he slowly, carefully stood. It wasn’t like Black Heart to be so jumpy around him. He’d ridden her and many from her line into local battles when he’d fought as human. She’d never balked before, although she could smell what he was.

“What is it, girl?” he asked softly. “What has you so nervous?”

“Is she for tonight’s meal?” that sweet, innocent voice asked.

And Black Heart kicked at the stall door, forcing Shalin to back up.

“Hmm. She may be tough of hide, Ailean,” Shalin said in all seriousness. “She’ll be hard to chew.”

Ailean quickly stepped in front of Black Heart before she could knock down the stall door. “Ssssh,” he sang softly. “It’s all right.”

Once he had her relatively calm, he glanced over his shoulder at Shalin, forcing himself to ignore how beautiful she looked in another one of his cousin’s gowns, this time a deep blue. Like before, it was too big for her and kept falling off her shoulder, giving just enough to tantalize and tease but still hold everything back. “She’s not dinner, Shalin.”

“She’s not?”

“No.”

“Then what are you doing with her?” she asked, honestly confused.

“Grooming her.”

“For what, if we’re not going to eat her?”

“Because I like to.”

“Oh.” Shalin looked down the long rows of stalls. “What about that one?” She pointed at Dragon’s Gold. “She looks like she’d be tasty and enough for two.”

Dragon’s Gold, only a few feet away, jerked back and kicked her stall door.

“Shalin!” he snapped, startling her attention back to him. “We don’t eat horses here.”

“You don’t?”

“No. These are working animals. Just like the dogs.”

“Aren’t you running out of food options?”

He couldn’t help but chuckle. “We make do.”

“I see.”

She wandered off, glancing into each stall.

Ailean took a moment to brush his hand over Black Heart’s snout. “It’s all right, girl. It’s all right.”

Black Heart clicked her teeth together and motioned with her head.

Ailean looked up in time to see Shalin open one of the stalls and step in.

“Gods, Shalin! Not that one!”

Ailean shot over the stall gate, not able to take the time to open it, and charged after the dragoness. He stumbled to a stop when he found her petting the enormous pitch-black horse inside.

“I can see why you enjoy this,” she murmured. “It’s quite soothing.” She looked up at him. “What’s his name?”

“Nightmare.”

“Hmmm.” She ran her hands through the horse’s long mane of hair.

“He’s not as clean as the others and his mane’s a mess. Why?”

Ailean smiled at the accusation in Shalin’s voice and crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s because no one else has ever been able to get near him except to give him a little food and water. He’s known for having broken more ribs, arms, legs, and heads than any other horse in my province. He’s mean, cranky, and foul-tempered. No one trusts him and we think he enjoys hurting people. Hence the name Nightmare.”

At his words, Shalin shrugged. “He seems to like me well enough.”

“That he does.”

“I’ll clean him myself, then.”

“Shalin, wait—”

“It’s not fair. All the others tended to and not him.” Shalin grabbed a bucket and headed out to get water. “I know what it’s like to feel like an outsider among your own,” she said so softly he almost didn’t hear her.

“I’ll take care of him,” she said again before disappearing out the stable door.

Ailean watched her go. It still astounded him Shalin was born a royal.

She never acted like it.

And perhaps Nightmare wasn’t as big a bastard as they’d all originally thought if Shalin found some good in him. Ailean almost believed that too, until Nightmare reared up on his hind legs and brought his forelegs down on Ailean’s chest, sending him flying back into an empty stall. A human might have been killed, but—like Black Heart—Nightmare knew exactly what Ailean was and how much he could take.

As Ailean tried to get his breath back, Shalin reappeared with a bucketful of water and one of the stable boys to assist her. She glanced down at him.

“What are you doing?”

When he didn’t answer, mostly because he still couldn’t, she shook her head. “So lazy, Ailean the Wicked.”

6

It took her several hours to groom the horse to her particular standards. In the time it took her to do one, Ailean and the stable hands had done all the others. And while she groomed the horse, her puppy ran around and around until he’d drop wherever and sleep. Only to snap awake a little while later and do it all over again.

In all honesty, Shalin had never been so entertained before while doing absolutely nothing. She and Ailean never really spoke unless they asked each other specific questions, and yet she thoroughly enjoyed his company.

“You doing all right over here?”

She smiled as she ran the brush through Nightmare’s mane, yet again. It took her hours to get all the brambles and things out of it, but it was worth it. “Aye.”

“It shines.”

She patted the horse’s neck. “As it should.”

Ailean pulled open the stall door. “You missed dinner.”

Surprised, Shalin looked up. “I missed dinner?”

He nodded. “You’ve been out here hours. Didn’t you notice you’re the only one left in here?”

“I guess I missed that.” Her fingers slid easily through the horse’s mane.

“Such a simple task and yet so...soothing.”

“Are you hungry, Shalin?”

“I am.”

“Then come. Madenn has food for you.”

Shalin stroked Nightmare’s forelock, which fell across his forehead.

“He’s a fine horse, Ailean.”

“He’s your horse now.” When Shalin only stared at him, Ailean shrugged. “No one else can handle him, Shalin. No one else wants him. I tried to sell him once and he nearly bit the man’s hand off. You are the only being who has ever been able to get this close to him. He’s chosen you, so you might as well accept it.”

“I can’t take your horse.”

“He’s not my horse. He hates me. He’s always hated me. And to be honest, I hate him, too. It’s a mutual hate.”

“I don’t understand you.”

“You sound like my kin. They never know what to make of me, either.”

He held his hand out. “Come on, then. He’ll still be here in the morning.”

Shalin nodded and patted the horse’s neck. As she walked out, the puppy charged past her and out of the stables.

“Where does he disappear to?”

“To play with his brothers and sisters. He’ll return when there’s food.”

Ailean locked the stall door, and together they walked out of the stables.

“The rains stopped,” she said, feeling the need to say something.

“Hours ago. You really do get lost in what you’re doing, don’t you?”

He didn’t sound mocking, merely curious. “There’s always noise and such at Devenallt. In order to get any work done, I’ve had to teach myself to shut it all out. To focus only on what’s important.”

“That’s a fine skill. No wonder you handle my family so well. You simply ignore them.”

Shalin laughed. “If it works. But I’m sure you have the skill. When you’re in battle.”

“In battle I become aware of everything. I can’t afford to shut anything out except my own fear.”

“You don’t seem afraid of anything, Ailean.”

“I have fear. Anyone with sense has fear. You simply have to focus it where it’ll do the most good.”

“That first night we were here, your kin talked of going to Devenallt Mountain.”

“They did.”

“To—if I remember correctly—raid it.”

“Aye. That was what we in the family call a Twin Battle Plan.” At Shalin’s frown, Ailean elaborated. “Anything that requires us to go into the most impenetrable fortresses in the land and kill everyone not friend is called a Twin Battle Plan. Because the twins are usually the ones who suggest it.”

“There’s a reason they’ve never been invited to Devenallt Mountain, isn’t there?”

They paused at the steps leading into the Great Hall. “The Twins make the royals nervous. They’re short on temper and long on bloodlust. The royals want them to fight their battles but they live in fear of having them around. Since my cousins care nothing for politics, they stay away.

It makes no difference to them.”

“Does anyone among your kin care about politics?”

“Only Bideven. But only enough to help when any of us get into trouble.”

“And you?” she asked, smiling up at him. “Do you care about politics?”

“Not even a little.” Big fingers brushed across her cheek. “Dirt,” he explained.

With a nod, Shalin walked into the Great Hall, desperately trying to ignore the way her skin tingled where Ailean had touched her.

Ailean paced the length of his room again. Since he’d knocked the wall out of three rooms to create it, this was no short trip.

For two hours he’d tried to sleep. For two hours he’d tossed and turned and masturbated until he feared his hand would fall off. Yet nothing could alleviate the burning, clawing need he had at the moment.

And Ailean wished with all his heart that this need was merely sexual.

That all he wanted from Shalin lay between her thighs. But he wanted more than that. He wanted to sit and talk to her again. He’d never been so at ease with anyone not blood, and he never had to yell over her to be heard. She listened to him and that meant more than anyone could realize.

“This is ridiculous,” he told the air. “I’m a grown dragon. I can do as I like.” And they would only talk. Like they had the night before.

Confident in his intent, Ailean stormed to the door, snatching it open—

and froze.

“Good evening, brother,” Arranz said calmly. He sat in a chair just outside Ailean’s room, cleaning his weapons.

“What are you doing?”

“Just...keeping watch.”

“Keeping watch outside my room?”

“This hallway, brother. Danger is everywhere. Even you. You’re in danger, too, Ailean. We have to be ever vigilant with you as well as Shalin.” Arranz looked at his brother, all innocence and naïveté, which Ailean knew for a fact was nothing more than centaur shit. “But Ailean, where are you off to so late? Is there something you need, brother?

Something I can get you?”

Ailean’s eyes narrowed and Arranz grinned.

“You have money on this, don’t you?”

Arranz went back to wiping his weapon down. “How you think of me, brother. As if I’d bet hard-earned gold on something like this.”

Snarling, Ailean stepped back into his room and slammed the door shut.

He hated his kin.

Hated. Them.

Shalin jumped when a door slammed. Biting her lip, she charged across the room, sliding to a stop in front of her own door and placing her ear against it. She listened but could hear nothing that would lead her to believe Ailean made his way to her room.

Damn the gods! Why were they torturing her so? Putting her in arm’s length of her greatest desire but keeping it just out of reach.

And the gods did not give her the kind of bravery that would allow her to march out of her room, down that hall, and to Ailean’s chamber. To demand he take what she offered.

Instead she waited in her room like a frightened mouse, hoping someone would put the cheese before her.

Gritting her teeth, Shalin paced back to the window, the puppy stumbling behind her.

Would her life always be this unfair? This brutally cruel? Would she ever get what she truly wanted or would she always yearn for what she could never have?

“Do the gods have some vendetta against me, little one?” she asked as she picked up her puppy and held him close. “Some vendetta against my ancestors that I’m unaware of? Or do they simply enjoy toying with me?”

Since Shalin came from a most boring line of dragons, she felt quite confident that the gods merely toyed with her.

“Bastards,” she muttered before heading to her bed.

7

Shalin had not slept well. She’d pretty much done everything but sleep. She’d read. She’d tossed and turned. She’d played with the puppy until he fell asleep. Now all she wanted to do was spend some time with her horse.

She walked down the stairs and into the Great Hall.

“We need to get you a dress that fits,” Arranz said in lieu of a proper greeting. “And some boots.”

“Are you done?” And her clipped words had Arranz staring at her.

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

“No. Not at all. Feel free to comment on anything. My hair all right with you? My face? Anything else I can fix to your satisfaction?” When he didn’t answer, Shalin looked at the rest of the Cadwaladr Clan. “Truly.

Feel free while I’m standing here to comment on anything you like.

No?”

Unable to stop sneering, Shalin grabbed a loaf of bread and walked out to the courtyard.

Ailean walked into the Great Hall. He passed by his kin, the lot of them nearly filling the room, grabbing a loaf of bread from the table. Before he went outside, he stopped and asked, turning back to his kin as he did so, “I need to train. Anyone up for—”

In the ten seconds since he’d started to ask his question, all but three of his kin remained. The twins stood.

“We’ll—”

“Sit down,” their mother ordered. And they both obeyed. She remained the only being on the planet who had full control over them. “What’s going on with you two?” Deniela asked Ailean.

“What are you talking about?”

“That sweet, innocent dragoness—”

At Ailean’s snort, Deniela’s eyes narrowed, and he held his hands up, indicating she should continue.

“She was in a foul mood and I’m blaming you.”

“How is it my fault?” Although deep in his soul, he prayed it was his fault. He shouldn’t be the only one not sleeping.

“She’s an innocent, Ailean. Don’t play with her.”

“I haven’t. And she’s not an innocent.”

“She’s probably a virgin.”

“Don’t be daft.”

“Have you asked her?” Deniela demanded. “Maybe you should before you set your sights on dirtying her up.”

“I have to say, Aunt Deniela, that I don’t appreciate you suggesting her being with me would dirty her up.”

When the old cow only stared at him, he walked out.

Shalin glanced up and that’s when she saw Ailean staring at her—again.

She’d found him doing it several times since he’d walked in to groom the horses a few hours before. Finally, unable to stand it anymore, she asked, “Is something wrong?”

“No. Why do you ask?”

“Because,” she said, focusing back on Nightmare, “you keep staring at me.”

“Sorry.” But he didn’t stop staring.

“Ailean,” she finally said, “you haven’t done anything wrong.” In fact, he hadn’t done a damn thing and she’d gotten tired of waiting for him to.

“I know that.”

“Then why do you look like you’ve ravished me and left me pregnant like some human?”

“No, I don’t.” He finally grinned. “There’d be much more running away involved.”

She petted Nightmare’s neck. “I appreciate your family’s desire to protect me, but I don’t need them to protect me from you.” She forced a smile. “I’m sure when this is all over we’ll be the best of friends.”

“Friends?”

Shalin’s lip curled. “Is there a reason you snarled that?”

“Are you a virgin?”

Rearing back a little, Shalin wondered at the abrupt change of conversation. Her anger sliding away from her in seconds. “Sorry?”

“You heard me.”

“I...uh...”

“Yes or no.”

“No. But I’m not sure it’s—”

“You sure?”

“Am I sure? Am I sure I’m a virgin or not?” She stepped away from Nightmare. “Is there something wrong with you? Mentally?”

“Yes. Or. No.”

“Yes. I’m sure that I’m not a virgin. I haven’t been one for quite some time although it’s none of your damn business.”

“No reason to get snappy. It was a simple enough question.”

“I don’t get snappy. Now if you’ll—”

“Ever been with anyone while human?”

Shalin let out a long breath. “Why is this conversation getting stranger?”

“Answer me.”

“You want me to answer you? Fine.” Placing her feet in between the slats of the stall gate, Shalin rose up so she could look him right in the eye. “Here’s my answer. No. I’ve never been with anyone while human.

But after reading those books about you, I’ve always thought if there was anyone who could show me how good it could supposedly be, it would be you. Little did I know at the time that you were insane!”

Ailean carefully wiped off the bit of spit that hit his eye when she’d hissed that last part at him. “Good, because—”

“Ailean?” the human female said from the front of the stables.

Shalin realized it was the blacksmith from earlier and she growled, causing the woman to step back.

“Uh...” the blacksmith stammered, “...you said you wanted to see the blade as soon as it was done.” She held up something long and wrapped in soft cloth. “I have it here if you’d—”

“Yes, yes. I’ll look at it now.”

“You’re leaving?” But he hadn’t finished what he’d been saying! Good because what? Good because what? Dammit!

“I’m not flying to the suns, dragoness. I’ll be back.”

And he thought she’d still be here?

He walked away, heading toward the blacksmith and Shalin jumped down from the stall door. She looked at the horse. “Would you like to teach me how to ride?”

In answer, Nightmare slowly lowered himself enough for her to easily mount him.

“Oh,” she sighed, “if only they were all like you.”

Once he’d approved the blade, Ailean walked back to the stables. His body almost vibrated with the thought of getting inside Shalin. Teaching her exactly how enjoyable a human body could be. To be the first to do so.

Still, that little voice of doubt wouldn’t shut the hell up. Constantly asking him if he should do this with someone he’d sworn to protect.

Would that turn him from Ailean the Whore to Ailean the Right Bastard?

Ailean stepped in front of Nightmare’s stall and stared blindly inside.

When one of the stable boys walked past, Ailean asked, “Where’s Mistress Shalin?”

“She took Nightmare out a few minutes ago.”

He turned on the boy and yelled, “And you let her?”

“Well...she didn’t actually ask my permission.”

Ailean snarled and went to Dragon’s Gold, his fastest mount. It wasn’t that Shalin had walked away from their conversation. It was that she’d rode away with that demon horse. It was one thing for her to feed him and groom him, but riding that big bastard was another matter altogether.

If he threw her and she landed the wrong way, her human neck could snap.

He saddled and mounted his horse quickly and took off after Shalin, using her scent to guide him. It didn’t take him long to find her. Typical dragon. She’d gone to the lake. To water. Something his kind were elementally drawn to.

“Have you gone mad?” he demanded, dismounting before the horse had even stopped.

She’d already dismounted and stood staring out over the lake at the next coming storm. He, too, could see the dark thunder clouds approaching, which fit his mood quite nicely.

“He could have killed you.”

“Well, you know us virgins. We just run off half-crazed.”

“I can’t believe you’re still upset about that.”

“Upset that you were discussing my intactness with your kin?”

“It wasn’t like that, Shalin.” Well...not much like that.

She waved him off. “At the moment, I really don’t care.”

Ailean gently swiped a hand down her back. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I’ve just...” She let her hands fall at her side. “I’ve just never seen that before.”

He followed her line of sight before returning his gaze to her face.

“You’ve never seen storm clouds?”

“Of course I’ve seen storm clouds. I’ve just never seen storm clouds.”

“Perhaps we should get you inside, Shalin.”

“Don’t be dull,” she said before walking away from him.

“I beg your pardon?”

“You heard me. I don’t want to go inside. Nothing is wrong with me.”

Ailean entertained the idea she might be right until she took off running and did a somersault—for no apparent reason.

“In fact,” she announced, “I feel amazing. At least a hundred years younger.”

“Shalin, you’re not old.”

“No. I just feel like it most days.” She suddenly did a handstand and Ailean briefly closed his eyes and groaned. He couldn’t help himself once he realized she was completely naked under that dress.

“Shalin—”

“You know,” she flipped forward and landed on her feet, “I don’t do anything. I go where they tell me. Do what they tell me.” She put her hands on her hips and said, “I almost handed myself over to the Northland dragons because I thought it was the right thing to do. I’m tired of living for others.”

“Then don’t.”

“Don’t?”

“Don’t. Gods know, I don’t.”

“It’s easy for you. No one expects anything from you.”

“Thank you.”

“I mean...” Again she waved her hand like she was waving away a fly.

“Why lie? I meant what I said. All they expect from you, from your kin, is to kill on command. That’s your skill. Your gift to our people. When you’re not killing, they really don’t care what you do.”

“But you...”

She laughed, but there was no humor in it. “From me, they expect much.”

“Your life is your own, Shalin. That’s the true beauty of being dragon.

Even our gods know not to demand much of us.”

“It’s not the gods I care about disappointing.”

“Your father?”

She nodded. “I love him too much to ever want to hurt him. Failure—my failure—would hurt him.”

“But, Shalin—your father’s not here. And, based on those clouds, he won’t be here for quite a bit. So, perhaps you can allow yourself a chance to just be. For once.” He grinned. “Who knows what you’ll discover about yourself?”

She frowned a bit. “I guess I can do that.”

“You guess?”

She snorted. “I don’t know how to throw all caution to the wind like you do, Ailean.”

“Then isn’t it time you learned?”

“How do you—”

“You just do it. You simply see what you want and you go after it. That’s what I do. Trust me, Shalin, there’s no one here who will hold you back.”

“Truly?” And she looked afraid to hope.

“Truly. You may not always get what you want. But I’ve found it never hurts to at least have tried.”

Shalin nodded. “All right, then.”

Then she took off running—right at him. He barely had a chance to stumble back before she slammed right into his chest. If he hadn’t been hit with so many other unexpected things over the years, he’d never have been able to stay on his feet.

Shalin wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

She stared into his eyes for a long moment before she said in no uncertain terms, “I want you to fuck me, Ailean.”

She couldn’t tell if he looked horrified, appalled, or merely stunned.

Shalin swallowed and gave him a way out. “You can say no, of course. I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to—”

“Shut up, Shalin.”

Ailean closed his eyes, and she could hear him gritting his teeth. He looked as if he was in physical pain.

“What do you want from me, Shalin?”

That seemed like an odd question, and he seemed so angry, she decided retreat might be her best option. “Nothing, Ailean. Nothing.” She tried to pull out of his arms and he yanked her back. That’s when she felt his erection pushing against her sex.

“You don’t understand me. What do you want from me, Shalin?” She shook her head, still unclear what he meant. “Are you a romantic, Shalin? Do you need the soft light of candles and the gentle touch of your lover?”

“Uh—”

“Normally, I could give you anything you’d want. I’m known for my versatile skills. But I can’t promise that right now.” He pushed a wind-blown lock of her hair behind her ear. “I’ve wanted you too long to be much of a sensitive lover. All I can promise you at the moment is a rough ride right here in the dirt. If you don’t want that, then walk away from—”

“Put me down, Ailean.”

He looked so disappointed, she almost felt guilty for how happy that made her.

With a curt nod, he carefully placed her on the ground and she stepped back. “Give us your shirt.”

“What?”

“Your shirt.” She motioned to the linen shirt that fit him perfectly but would hang on her like one of his cousin’s dresses. “Give it to me.”

Not sure why she wanted it, he still reached back and grabbed up the shirt with both hands, dragging it over his head. He handed it to her and she took it but stopped a moment to simply stare at him. Gods, he had a nice body. And he wasn’t even naked yet.

Clearing her throat, she shook the linen shirt out and placed it on the ground. “Until you’ve actually had dirt up your bum, you really can’t appreciate how uncomfortable that could get.”

She stood, brushing off her hands. “Now make sure to get me there.”

She pointed at the shirt. “You know, when we actually get to that point.”

He seemed to struggle between wanting to glare at her and smile. “Did you hear a word I said to you?”

“Quite clearly. I have excellent hearing.” She moved closer to him and Ailean’s body tensed. “I appreciate the warning, though. It was very sweet of you to give me the option to run away...”

Ailean’s hands were fisted at his side while he eyed her. She had the feeling he would not make the first move. He needed her to prove that she wanted this.

Wanted this? Gods, she needed this. Perhaps her only chance at getting something she really, truly wanted that had nothing to do with anyone or anything else. No matter how temporary, she needed this.

Now Shalin stood so close to him their bodies nearly touched. She raised her hand and let her fingers skim along a jagged scar across his upper chest. Ailean’s big body trembled beneath her exploring fingers, and she felt a surge of confidence and lust she’d never known before.

She moved her fingers to another scar, this one on his shoulder. And while her fingers toyed with that, Shalin leaned in close and licked Ailean’s nipple. His entire body jerked so she did it again. The fists at his side relaxed.

Shalin laid her hands flat against his chest while she licked his other nipple. Ailean groaned and it reverberated through Shalin’s body, making her feel hot all over, her skin itchy. She wanted to strip and rub herself all over him.

Big, strong fingers speared through her hair, and Ailean pulled her head back. His eyes roamed over her face and she tried hard not to shrink back from his examination. She was used to shadows. She liked shadows, liked blending into walls. But Ailean and his kin wouldn’t let her. She tried to hide and they only pulled her back out again, but not out of cruelty. Not as a way to hurt her.

And that was why she kept her eyes on his. Because she wasn’t afraid to meet his gaze, to challenge him as he was challenging her. He looked for fear, and she’d show him none. Not now, not ever.

Ailean groaned once, and then he kissed her. And Shalin knew she’d made the right decision.

She wanted him. And not in some shy, innocent way, begging him to lead. When he kissed her, she met him with as much passion as he felt.

Her tongue met his, bold and demanding. Her hands slid up to his shoulders and around his neck. She raised herself on her toes, tipping her head to the side to get a better angle. For a dragoness who’d never been with a male as human, she seemed to know her way around. He truly thought she’d be lost without her tail.

Shalin’s small hands reached for his leather leggings, tearing at them, trying to get them off. Her passion for him making her as rough as he’d threatened to be. Ailean pushed her hands away, so he could deal with her dress, doing his best not to rip it in the process. It was so large, it took no effort to push it off her shoulders and down her body. Once the dress cleared her arms, Shalin went right back to removing his leggings, sliding them over his hips. As she lowered them, she went along, crouching in front of him, her lips leaving a delicious trail down his naked hip and thigh.

His cock sprang free of his clothing, clearly begging for her mouth. And when she licked her lips, Ailean knew he had to get control of this situation or come before it even truly started.

“No,” he said simply before digging his hands back in her hair and yanking her to her feet. He pulled her tight against his body and took her mouth again. Only now it was flesh against flesh and nothing had ever felt so wonderful to him. Gods, there had been so many others, but none like Shalin.

He didn’t understand it. Maybe it was that innocent honesty. No lies or deceits. No seduction. Simply knowing what she wanted and making it clear. Now it was his turn to know what he wanted and to make it clear.

Ailean released her hair and slid his hands under her ass. Lifting Shalin up, he dropped to his knees and placed her on the shirt she’d laid out, careful not to slam her head into the ground.

Moving down her body, he kissed and licked her flesh, pinning her to the ground with his hands against her waist. Sliding between her thighs, Ailean pushed her legs apart and nuzzled her sex until she growled and grabbed hold of his hair.

“Don’t pull,” he warned.

“I’ll pull every hair from your head if you don’t—if you don’t—”

“If I don’t what?” He gently ran his finger along the already wet slit, her body jerking from the light touch. “If I don’t what? Tell me.”

He grinned, waiting to see her struggle with the words. But his little innocent grabbed his hair as firmly as any soldier during battle, yanked his head up, and snarled, “Fuck me with that tongue, Ailean the Whore, or I swear by all the dark gods you’ll be bald before nightfall.”

Ailean pulled back a bit and for one horrible second she feared he’d walk away, leaving her to teeter on this precipice. Her fear almost had her begging until Ailean smiled. His hands slid under her backside and lifted, her legs going over his shoulders. She watched his face disappear between her thighs. His tongue slid inside her and Shalin’s eyes crossed.

To say this dragon had talent would be a gross understatement. This wasn’t a talent. This was a gift from the gods.

Blindly, she dug her hands into the soft soil around her, panting as Ailean’s tongue stroked and flicked and teased her beyond anything she’d ever felt before. While his tongue played there, his nose helped out in other areas until Shalin shook beneath him. She could feel the explosion coming, her breathing harsh and uncontrolled. Then, while keeping her legs on his shoulders, Ailean’s arms slid under her hips and around her waist to her chest. His fingers took firm hold of her nipples, pulling and rolling until Shalin’s climax crashed into her. Her screams of release echoing around the lake, the horses nearby restlessly pawing the ground.

Shalin’s hands dug into Ailean’s hair and held his head in place, her back lifting from the ground as another wave cut through her, ferociously stronger than the first, her screams turning to pitiful cries.

After several moments, her grip on him weakened, and Shalin dropped back to the ground. Before she even had a chance to get her breath, Ailean was there, on top of her, his hands now in her hair, his lips against her neck.

“Shalin...I’m sorry...I can’t...”

Shalin knew what he needed. It was what she needed. She opened herself to him and said, “Don’t wait, Ailean. Please.”

He didn’t. He entered her with one brutally hard thrust. Shalin gasped seconds before his mouth covered hers and he drove into her again and again, giving her the rough ride he’d promised. She didn’t care. She loved every second of it, holding him tight as he took her.

His lips moved from her mouth and down her jaw to her neck. She felt his teeth press against the skin and then he bit down, sending her flying over the edge again as he climaxed with her, his body pinning her to the ground as he emptied himself inside her.

Ailean couldn’t move. Wouldn’t. Why should he when he’d never been so comfortable before in his life?

Cool hands stroked his back, his hair; her soft voice sighed in his ear.

“Are you all right?”

Ailean laughed in surprise. No one had ever asked him that before. “I’m fine.” He lifted up a bit so he could look into her face. “And you?”

She tried to hide her smile but she snorted, which started her laughing with him.

“I’m doing quite well, thank you,” she finally managed.

“Good.” He kissed her neck and felt the first drops of rain on his back.

“Damn.”

She ran her hand down his cheek. “We better get in. I got ill once while human—” her eyes rolled, “—took me days to recover.”

Ailean chuckled. “Well, we can’t have that, now, can we?”

Slowly, he pulled out of her, both of them groaning when he did.

Unfortunately, once Ailean was out, all he wanted to do was get back in.

Steeling his resolve, Ailean stood on shaky legs and reached down to help Shalin to her feet. She gripped his forearms and he sensed her legs were as shaky as his.

Making sure she could stand without him, Ailean then grabbed Shalin’s dress and carefully pulled it over her head. “Will you be all right to ride?”

“Of course. Nightmare takes very good care of me.”

Ailean grunted, suddenly feeling jealous over a bloody horse.

“He should still have a saddle,” he said while pulling her arms through the armholes of the dress.

“I’ll not put a saddle on him, Ailean.”

“But, Shalin—”

“Is he mine or not?”

Ailean raised an eyebrow. “I certainly don’t want him,” he informed her before pulling on his clothes.

“Then he’s mine to manage as I see fit.”

“‘Then he’s mine to manage as I see fit,’” he mimicked back to her in a high-pitched voice that had her slapping at his shoulders in a pitiful attempt at an assault.

Laughing, Ailean grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close again. “You have quite the temper, don’t you?”

“Don’t sound so mocking. I do have quite the temper. Few, though, make me angry enough to show it.”

“I’ll have to work on that. I’d like to see you truly angry.”

Shalin’s face fell and she looked a little...terrified. “No, Ailean. No you wouldn’t.”

Before he could ask her more questions, the skies opened up and rain poured down on them. Quickly setting the dragoness aside, Ailean pulled on the rest of his clothes and boots.

While he did, he watched Shalin merely crook her finger to get Nightmare to trot over to her side. Without any further prompting, he lowered himself so Shalin could mount him easily.

“Meet you back at the castle?” she asked, using Nightmare’s hair for reins.

“We’ll be right behind you.” He whistled for Dragon’s Gold. “Stay on the path and head straight home, Shalin. I don’t desire searching for you in this downpour.” Ailean placed his hand on her thigh. “Oiy.”

“Yes?”

“No kiss?”

Leaning down a bit, she kissed him and Ailean felt no cold blowing in from the storm. He only felt warmth and desire, his hands reaching for her automatically.

“No, no,” she laughed. “We have to go.” Shalin sat up straight, her hand stroking his cheek. “Thank you for today.”

He grinned at her, completely unaware that his clothes were already soaked through. “And are you leaving this afternoon?”

Shalin looked up at the sky. “In this storm? Of course—”

“Then we’re not done. We can thank each other another day. For now...”

“For now...what?”

“For now we’ll need to find a way to avoid my family’s involvement.

Unless you’re hoping what we do every day turns into a nightly topic of discussion at dinner.”

“Gods no!”

“Between us then?”

She surprised him by looking impossibly relieved and he didn’t understand the bit of resentment that caused. Usually he adored the ones who wanted to keep their involvement between the two of them rather than spreading so many rumors it turned into another edition of those damn books.

“Yes. Between us.”

“Then ride and I’ll see you back at the castle.”

Smiling, she pushed her soaking golden hair off her face and said to Nightmare, “Go.”

And to Ailean’s shock, the beast did just as she’d asked.

What power did this female possess over wild animals?

“Well, she has no control over me, Dragon’s Gold.” When the horse snorted at him, he glared until she looked away.

8

A meal had never been so delightful for Shalin. Especially with so many others around. But none of Ailean’s kin bothered to note or question the two of them putting their horses up together or quickly going off their separate ways. Instead they were too busy arguing, because apparently that’s what they did when trapped in close quarters for any length of time. Any length of time being about five minutes, because it really hadn’t been raining that long.

So Shalin spent the rest of the afternoon in the library. The entire time she had a book open, but she never actually read it. She couldn’t focus.

Not when she kept thinking about Ailean and what they’d done that afternoon. And the fact that he wasn’t done with her. Perhaps they could meet again at the lake tomorrow. Or someplace else on his territory out of his kin’s line of sight. On her ride earlier in the day she’d noticed a nice little cave built into a small mountain. A perfect place to spend some time alone.

But that would be tomorrow and she still had to get through the night.

Still, not too hard when it involved the Cadwaladr Clan. What she never expected, though, was for the twins—who sat on either side of her so they could keep her laughing through the entire meal—to turn to her and say in unison, “So tell us another story.”

The room immediately fell silent at their request and all eyes were on her.

“Me?”

“You told us one before. Didn’t she, Kennis?”

“Aye. That she did, Kyna.”

“It can’t be hard, then, to tell us another.”

Without even thinking about it, her eyes focused on Ailean at the other end of the enormous table. She knew he could see the panic in her face, but instead of rushing to her rescue, he simply gave her a warm smile and winked at her.

And like that...her panic melted away.

Swallowing, she asked, “Humans or dragons?”

“Och,” Kyna said with a wave of her hand. “We know all the dragon stories. Give us some human ones.”

“Uh...all right.” She thought a moment. “There’s the story of the blind warrior who challenged an entire army to get back the woman he loved.”

His family sat enthralled by Shalin’s softly spun tale. Yet he felt like a right bastard because he couldn’t stop thinking about her naked. And coming. Naked and coming. He had to see her like that again.

Ailean had never known himself to be so enthralled by anyone. He’d lusted, panted even, but never been enthralled. He wasn’t exactly sure how to handle enthralled. Although he knew what he wanted to do, but he felt pretty confident Shalin would tear his balls off should he simply grab her up and take her to his bedroom to finish what they’d only just begun by the lake.

The room erupted into laughter from something she said and Ailean tried again to focus on her words and not the way the green dress she’d put on before dinner draped over her curves, or the way her body loosened up the more comfortable she became while telling the story, or the way her breasts rose each time she took a deep breath. He really had to stop focusing on her breasts.

Knowing he had to do something or risk everyone in the room noticing his lust, Ailean tried focusing on his breathing and thinking about the new cattle he’d recently purchased and the weapons he’d ordered. He tried thinking of anything, but nothing worked. His gaze kept moving back to Shalin, sitting there in front of his kin, appearing so innocent and shy—he knew better now.

Gods! How much more could he take?

He forced himself to see where in the story she might be, perhaps she neared the end...but he quickly realized the blind warrior of this story had not yet gone blind! Since Shalin’s audience seemed more than happy to let her ramble incessantly about some not-even-blind-yet bastard, Ailean had no choice but to sit and wait until the evening ended.

Oh, but then he’d get what he so desperately needed.

“No, no. Books are not for chewing.” Shalin dragged her tenacious little puppy off one of the books she’d found carefully stacked in a corner of her room. The books hadn’t been there when she’d changed before dinner, so she could only guess Ailean had them sent up for her. The gesture made her smile. “We need to get you something else to chew on.”

She glanced around the room. “Here. Use this chair.” She crouched down and unleashed him on Ailean’s furniture. It had seemed like a good idea until she watched the puppy go after that chair leg like she went after grazing cows. She reached for the hungry little demon again when she heard a soft tap at her window.

Looking carefully through the thick glass, Shalin didn’t see anything.

But the soft tap came again. This time she put her hands against the glass to keep out the glare from the torches and pitfire and leaned in close.

“Are you going to open the window—” a voice snarled at her, making her jump back several feet “—or just keep staring at me?”

She took a deep breath before she snatched the lock back and pulled the window open. “You scared the life from me!”

“I couldn’t figure out what you were doing.”

“Trying to see you.” She blinked. “I still can’t see you.” She leaned out the window only to bump into Ailean’s snout. “Oh!” It took her a moment and then she exclaimed, “You’re a chameleon!” Which meant he’d been able to blend into the night and the building perfectly. Unless one was right on top of him, they’d never know until it was too late. It was a rare gift among the dragons of Dark Plains.

“Must you shout that?” he whispered. “My kin don’t know.”

“Why?”

“Because it irritates them when they don’t know how I get past their defenses. And their irritation brings me such good humor. Now, are you going to let me in or make me stay out here in the cold?”

Shalin placed her hands where she knew his head to be and leaned forward, trying to see the rest of his body. “Ailean, this is simply fascinating—and stop sniffing me!”

“I can’t help it.” His snout pushed through the window and nudged her groin. “You smell so good.”

His moaned words had her stumbling back into the room and, after a moment, Shalin watched the dragon shift from nearly invisible to clearly visible and human. He flipped himself into her room and she quickly looked away from the sight of all that lovely nakedness. Drooling would do nothing but embarrass her.

“What is that vicious animal of yours doing to my furniture?” Shalin turned in time to see the chair tip forward because the puppy had eaten through one of the legs.

“Oh!” She picked up the puppy and turned the chair around so it leaned against the wall. “Bad puppy!” she chastised, but he seemed much too happy to care about her harsh tone. “Your teeth seem unnaturally strong for someone so young.”

“I bred them that way.”

“I see. I’m sorry, Ailean,” she said, turning to face him. “I’ll get you a new—oh!” He stood right behind her, all naked and warm and sinfully delicious. “Chair! I meant to say, I’ll get you a new chair.”

“Later.” He took the puppy from her hands and set him down. As soon as those little paws touched the floor, the puppy ran right back to the chair and, Shalin thought with some despair, the remaining legs.

Ailean’s hands slid into her hair, massaging her scalp while his firm lips skimmed across her cheek, her jaw, down to her throat. Teeth nipped at flesh while hands began to purposely move. Pushing her dress off while brushing here, touching there.

Shalin groaned when teeth nipped a bit of flesh hard enough to bruise.

“They lied, you know,” he muttered, walking her back to the bed and going down with her on it.

“Lied?” She found it hard to concentrate when he kept nipping at her with his teeth before laving the same area with his tongue. “Who lied?”

“Whoever named you ‘Innocent.’ They lied.” He rose over her, his hips between her thighs. As if he belonged there, he slid inside her and Shalin let out a gasp of pure pleasure.

“Trust me,” she panted, her hands gripping his shoulders, “it was better than my other options.”

His first stroke was slow. The second equally so, only he’d moved a bit.

The same with the third and fourth, moving a bit each time.

Frustrated, she demanded, “What are you doing?”

“Figuring out what you like.”

She frowned. “Figuring out what I—oh, oh, gods!” Shalin’s torso arched, and she barely had time to bury her face against his shoulder and moan desperately into his neck.

“Aye. That’s the one.”

He didn’t have to sound so smug. Until he did it again a few more times and Shalin realized he could sound any damn way he wanted to.

Ailean kissed her, his mouth slowly moving over hers, his tongue exploring. Lazy was the word for it. Lazy and wonderful.

“I can make you come like this,” he murmured. And she knew he wasn’t boasting. Any moment, she’d come all over him. “But I’m not going to.”

His rhythm changed and Shalin’s eyes opened wide in panic. “What—

wait—why?”

“That would be boring, wouldn’t it? Making you come the same way every time.”

She desperately grasped his face between her hands. “Please. Feel free to bore me. At least this time. Or, if you’re so inclined, the rest of the night.

I like being bored.”

Ailean grinned. “You’re funny.”

“Ailean—”

“Sssh.” He took her hands in his own, pushing them to the bed, one on either side of her head. He nuzzled her cheek. “Trust me, luv.” Now he nuzzled her jaw. “I’ll get you there,” he whispered before nipping her earlobe, hard. “When I’m ready.”

Ailean gritted his teeth and stared up at the ceiling. He tried counting to ten. Thought about the weather and tried to focus on the storm that had come back to life outside this room.

But nothing, absolutely nothing, could distract him from Shalin’s mouth on his cock.

She lifted her head, releasing him with a “pop” sound that made him shudder.

“Is everything all right?”

Ailean fisted his hands in the fur coverings beneath him. “Yes, Shalin, everything is fine.”

“Are you sure?”

He glared down the length of his body at her. She’d been doing this to him for the last hour. Keeping him on edge, torturing him, really. And she knew exactly what she was doing. She kept that innocent expression on her face but Ailean knew all that innocence for the lie it truly was.

“Yes. I’m quite sure.”

“Well...if you’re sure.” But she rested back on her heels. “Although I’d hate to disappoint you.”

Ailean closed his eyes, tried the counting thing again. It still didn’t work.

“Shalin.”

“Ailean.”

“Everything you’re doing is perfect.”

“Perfect? Really?”

His eye twitched. “Yes. However—”

“However?”

“However, you must keep going in order for it to remain perfect.”

“Ohhhh. I didn’t realize that.”

“I think you did realize that.” And slowly, he sat up, going on his knees.

“I think you know exactly what you’re doing to me, Shalin the Not Really Innocent.”

Laughing, she backed away from him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do.” He reached out, snatching her around the waist and yanking her close. “You’re a cruel, vicious vixen.” He kissed her hard.

“Admit it.”

Her arms went around his neck and she relaxed against him. Nothing had ever felt better. “You’re right.” She kissed his jaw, his throat. “But I can make it up to you.”

“Think you can, do you?” But she was already making his eyes cross simply from kissing a line across his shoulders.

“Well, Ailean,” she said in his ear after she’d kissed her way back up, “I think I can definitely try.”

And who was he to stop someone from at least making the effort?

They’d fallen asleep with Ailean cuddled up behind her, his arms tight around her waist. And he was still like that when Shalin felt the first thrust as he took her from behind.

Gods. Insatiable. This dragon was insatiable. And she absolutely loved it.

“It’s almost dawn,” he murmured in her ear while he used one hand to pull her hair off her neck. “I’ll have to go soon.”

“I understand.”

“Unless you want me to stay.”

She did want him to stay. But she didn’t want to end up in one of his books. Another Ailean the Wicked conquest for the annals. No thank you.

“No. Go.” She gripped his thigh, digging her small nails into the ungiving, hard muscle. “But come back. Tonight.”

One hand slid down to her sex, his fingers stroking her, while his other hand roughly grabbed her hair. Holding her, he took her harder, his cock hitting that wonderful spot inside her that he had found earlier. This time he didn’t stop, this time he didn’t change his rhythm. Instead he kept up the pressure, the harshness of it until Shalin’s entire body shook in his arms.

“I’ll be back, Shalin,” he growled against her neck. “You won’t be able to keep me away. Understand?”

She couldn’t answer, not with that climax ripping through her.

“Understand?” he pushed.

Shalin nodded and buried her face into her pillow so she could muffle her cries. Then Ailean pulled out of her and flipped her onto her back.

He drove into her again, another climax washing over her.

“I love looking at you when I fuck you,” he told her plainly, each harsh thrust extending the life of her climax until she feared the intensity of it would tear her apart.

Ailean kissed her as he came inside her, his shout of pleasure lost in her mouth.

When he finally pulled away from her, he covered her sweat-soaked body with furs and kissed her cheek.

“I’ll see you tonight, my little innocent.”

She tried to say something meaningful to him but all she could manage was a rather undignified grunt.

9

Ailean had barely stumbled into his own bed when his brothers knocked on his door and walked in without actually waiting for him to tell them to.

“What?” he barked, his forearm covering his eyes from the now invading light of the two suns blasting through his window.

“The old dragon is on the move,” Arranz informed him, dropping down on the foot of the bed.

“Where?”

“Devenallt Mountain. He’s arranged for a meeting with the queen.”

“And he’s still protected?”

“Of course.”

“Don’t give me that look. If anything happens to Shalin’s father, she’ll never forgive herself and I’ll never forgive myself for making her unhappy. And we all know I hate when I’m miserable.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Bideven asked, his eyes watching Ailean closely.

“Nothing. I’m tired.”

“The twins will take her to their home if you don’t want her anymore.”

As much as Ailean wanted to simply respond, “Hell, no!” he knew that would be a mistake. Instead he gave a long suffering sigh. “No, no. She’s my responsibility.”

“If you’re sure,” Arranz told him, and Ailean could hear the smirk in his voice. Later, he’d toss him out the closest window for it.

“Aye. I’m sure.”

“So...are you a witch?”

Shalin swallowed the porridge she’d spooned into her mouth. “No. I mean...” She sat back and thought a moment, trying to answer Kyna’s question. Questions she’d had to ask herself a long time ago. “I know spells. Many. But I wouldn’t call myself a witch. I don’t have that kind of elemental power.”

“What are you studying, then?”

“Alchemy.”

“That’s turning brass to gold, yes?”

Shalin laughed. Everyone wanted to change things to gold. “I don’t think of alchemy that way. Changing one thing to a complete other thing doesn’t make sense to me. I think of it more like taking a branch and making it a tree. Expanding on what it already is.”

“That’s boring.”

Shalin nodded. “It is. But you could also make a dagger a sword. A sword a lance.”

“Imagine that, Kennis,” Kyna said before diving back into her porridge.

“Imagine how deadly we’d be in battle.”

“I’ve heard you already are deadly. They talk about you at Devenallt Mountain.”

The twins shrugged and continued to eat.

“What makes you such good warriors?” Shalin asked casually, enjoying a conversation that had nothing to do with scholarly endeavors or throne politics.

“We like to kill,” Kyna replied simply.

Shalin choked up her porridge, barely covering her mouth in time to stop it from flying across the table.

“You all right?”

She nodded.

“And we hate to lose,” Kennis elaborated.

“I see.” Shalin cleared her throat. “Don’t think I’ve heard any other warriors put it quite that way.”

“I doubt they enjoy the killing as much as we do. Our mates, they say we have the bloodlust. Can’t really argue with them, can we, Kennis?”

“No. We really can’t.”

It amazed Shalin there were two dragons out there brave enough to be mates of the twins.

“You take Ailean. He loves a good battle and he’ll kill when he has to, but I don’t think he enjoys it.”

“Unless someone pissed him off, eh, Kyna?”

“Exactly, Kennis. Then he enjoys it as much as we do. But when the war ended, we found other wars to join and he came back here. To his horses and his...uh...”

Shalin smirked. “His women?”

Kyna gave a little wave of her hand, clearly deciding not to go down that road. “Only we fight as human in these wars.”

“So you spend most of your time as human, too?”

“Not as much as Ailean. ’Course, don’t think anyone does.”

“That’s true,” Kennis agreed.

“We do like it. Doubt we could live this way forever, though.”

Kennis made a face. “Och! Never.”

“Is it true you plan to be an Elder?”

Shalin tensed at the sudden change of topic. “Aye.”

“You don’t seem like an Elder.”

“Well, I’m too young at the moment. Another three or four hundred years at least.”

“Even then.” Kyna pushed her empty bowl away, as did her sister.

Always the same, those two. They moved the same. Talked the same.

Nearly everything synchronized. It was...strange. Especially because Shalin felt the twins did it all on purpose.

“Even then what?”

“Even then you don’t seem like an Elder. Is that what you really want?”

For one hundred and forty-nine years, no one had asked her that before.

Now she’d been asked twice. She looked down at her half-empty bowl of porridge, suddenly feeling no hunger at all.

“They say I’ll make a good Elder. Fair.”

“That’s not what I asked you, luv.”

Shalin pushed her bowl away. “I promised her.”

“Promised who?”

“My mother. I promised my mother I’d become an Elder.”

“The dead one?”

Two pairs of eyes locked on Kennis and she winced. “Sorry. That came out wrong.”

“How does that come out right?”

“What my sister means, Shalin, is how can you base your future on something you promised someone who has long left this world for another?”

“Honor. That’s how. I promised her.”

“What about what you want?”

“I didn’t say I didn’t want to be an Elder.”

Kyna shook her head. “That’s not what we mean, Shalin. And you know it.” But before Shalin could press them on what they did mean, the twins abruptly pushed back their chairs, and stood. “We have to train.”

“Something wrong?”

“Not at all.” Kyna patted Shalin’s head and Shalin realized she’d have a lovely headache from that “gentle” touch. “We just realized how late the day is and more storms coming.”

Shalin didn’t like the twins’ abrupt ending of their conversation, but she decided to ignore it, since they were too frightening a pair to push about anything.

She slipped out the book she’d stowed away under her chair and flipped it open. She didn’t know how long she was reading before she sensed someone had sat next to her. Glancing up, she smiled. “Good morn to you, Arranz.”

“And to you, mistress. Everything all right?”

“Fine.”

He leaned in a bit and whispered, “I was wondering, Shalin, if you could help me with something.”

Other than reading, she had absolutely nothing to do. “Of course.”

Ailean stomped down the hallway toward the kitchens. He needed a new rag and Madenn’s skills to stop the bleeding on his arm. But he abruptly stopped in the middle of the hallway and took several slow steps back.

He looked into the room that held all the maps and documents necessary for when they made battle plans. He glared.

Arranz sat at one of the tables, his feet up on the thick wood, his hands laced behind his head. Shalin stood before him in a dress Ailean had never seen. Even more annoying—she’d been posing when he walked in.

“What in all the hells is going on?”

Shalin gave him a quick, shy smile that had his entire body burning.

“Arranz wanted to see this dress on me to see if it would look nice on his lady friend.”

“Lady friend?”

“Aye,” his brother answered, smugness personified. “She’s a tall human.

About Shalin’s size and I wanted to make sure the dress would look good before I gave it to her. Since it looks divine on Shalin, I’m sure it will do wonders for my friend.”

Shalin blushed and nervously combed her hair behind her ears with her fingers. “Stop it, Arranz.”

“Aye,” Ailean growled. “Stop it, Arranz.”

“I only speak the truth, sweet Shalin.” It annoyed Ailean even more that his brother ignored him. “But now that I look at you, I don’t have the heart to take that frock back.”

Frock? Ailean had seen and purchased enough dresses over the decades to know a casual frock and a dress made for a woman. And this dress, off-white with gold thread weaved through, had been made for Shalin.

“I can’t keep it, Arranz. It’s too fine.”

“It’s perfect for you.”

Too perfect.

“Arranz, if this is about the other morn...”

The other morn? What about it?

“No reason to bring that up, Shalin. You’ll keep the dress and tonight we’ll pull the tables back and dance.”

Shalin’s eyes widened and she stepped back. “I don’t know how to dance.”

“I’ll teach you.”

Over my dead carcass...

“Arranz, students of the Magickal arts don’t dance. Instead we walk around giving disapproving looks at such activities.”

“Really? Can you show me?”

Shalin leaned forward a bit and drew her brows down.

Arranz laughed. “I’ve seen that look.”

“I believe you and all your kin have seen this look.”

“You’re not with some stodgy acolytes, Shalin. You’re with the Cadwaladr Clan, and you’ll dance.”

Arranz swung his long legs off the table and stood. “Brother,” he said as he passed Ailean.

“Bastard,” Ailean muttered back.

Once he knew his brother had walked a good bit away, Ailean stepped farther into the room and closed the door with his foot.

“You don’t like this dress on me, do you?”

“What?”

“The dress. You don’t like it.” Shalin smoothed the front down, and Ailean knew she loved the dress.

“You look beautiful in that dress.”

“Then why are you—what happened to your arm?” She rushed over to him, and he turned from her. “Ailean?”

“You’ll get blood on your dress.”

“Don’t be foolish.” She rushed around him and latched on to his arm.

“Shalin—”

“Let me see.” She lifted the cloth and frowned. “Gods, Ailean, what happened?”

“That demon beast you call a horse did this.”

“Nightmare?”

“Who else?”

“Why? What did you do?”

“What did I—” Ailean pulled his arm away from her grasp and took a few steps back. “This is your fault, wench.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Beg all you want. This is your fault. You’ve bewitched the males here and now they’ve all gone mad.” Him included, because all he could think about was tearing her lovely new dress from her body and burying himself inside her until the two suns burned from the sky.

“You’re insane, all right. But it has nothing to do with me.”

Slapping the bloody rag back on his still bleeding wound, Ailean snarled, “Stay away from my brothers, Shalin.” He stormed to the door and yanked it open. “That is not a request,” he informed her before marching out in search of Madenn—and Arranz.

Shalin must have sat on that table with all the detailed maps for an hour, her mind blissfully blank for once. But she didn’t understand...was Ailean jealous? Of his own kin? About her?

It didn’t make sense. None of this made sense. She looked down at the gown she still wore. She’d never had anything so fine. Before her time in Kyffin, Shalin had spent little time as a human, so there’d been no need for dresses. And as an acolyte at the school, she wore the requisite robes.

So a dress this beautiful and regal was something she never thought to have.

And why had Arranz given it to her? It would have made sense coming from Ailean because of their...uh...tryst? No, that word didn’t seem quite right. Not anymore. Liaison? No. Too fancy for the way she and Ailean...uh...fucked, as Ailean loved to say.

Perhaps this was simply some sibling rivalry that had nothing to do with her. And she refused to see anything beyond that. She knew her heart to be a fragile thing and she’d encased it in ice long ago. She’d not thaw it now.

No. She’d simply enjoy this...this...thing for what it was.

Resolved, she stood and turned in time to see Arranz fall by the window, landing hard on the ground. Convinced that his seemingly hard head could handle such a drop, she went out to check on her horse. But she still chuckled when she heard Arranz yell, “You blue-haired bastard!”

10

“What exactly did you do to my horse?” Shalin accused him lightly as she dropped into a chair next to Ailean and watched his family and many of the humans who lived on the territory dance. What had sounded like a simple little get-together after their evening meal had turned into a large party. Not that Shalin minded. She liked parties, although she never really participated before. She usually sat in a corner and watched. It seemed, however, that sort of thing wasn’t allowed among Ailean’s kin.

“Me? That evil bastard bit me.”

“You must have done something. It took me ages to calm him down and I had to feed him by hand.”

“Och!”

“What?”

“You are so easy, Shalin. He’s trained you like you’ve trained that puppy. Only he’s done a better job of it.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing.”

He’d seemed miserable all night and she didn’t understand why.

She turned in her chair, her knees grazing his leg. “You should dance.”

“I don’t want to dance.”

“Dance, Ailean. I’m sure any of these ladies would love to dance with you.” The glare he gave her had her rearing back. “What was that look for?”

“For someone so smart you can be so...” He bit off his next words and growled, looking away.

“If you’re going to be like this, I’ll go.” She went to stand up but Ailean’s hand clamped onto her arm.

“You want me to dance? I’ll dance.”

Then he stood and dragged her with him.

“Wait! Ailean!” She’d danced with both his brothers and several of his male cousins, but she’d been horrible at it. In fact, she’d been quite grateful for their jovial attitude regarding her lack of skill. “I can’t—”

He turned and yanked her in close. “You can dance with my kin, but not with me?”

Her eyes widened at his growled words. His family, dancing around them, seemed quite oblivious.

“I’m not good at it.”

“That didn’t stop you before.”

“Because I don’t care if I make a fool of myself with them.”

And like that, Ailean’s anger seemed to evaporate. He grinned, placing one of her hands on his waist and gripping her other hand tight. Pulling her close against his body, he said, “Trust me, Shalin. I’ll teach you.”

“You won’t laugh?”

“At you? Never.”

Even though a fast jig played, Ailean started off slow, taking her carefully through each step. He kept her spirits up and when she was moments from quitting, and before she even realized it, they’d danced around the floor as if they’d been dancing together forever. Fast music or slow, Shalin handled all of it as long as she stayed in Ailean’s arms.

She’d lost track of how long they’d been dancing when Kyna patted her shoulder. “We’re going up, luv. Care to come with us?”

Shalin looked around and realized they were one of the few couples left.

Others were enjoying late-night meals or had already left.

Shalin pulled out of Ailean’s arms, hoping to control her human body’s weakness of blushing.

“Of course. I didn’t realize it was so late.” She smiled up at Ailean.

“Thank you for the lessons.”

“My pleasure, Shalin.”

Hoping he’d still come to her room later, Shalin followed the twins up the stairs.

Ailean went to Shalin’s window as he had the night before. As dragon, but using his camouflage skills to hide his presence from anyone, even another dragon, who might be watching. She’d left the window open for him this time and when he pulled himself through, she stood with her back to him, a fur covering wrapped around her.

“Shalin?”

She didn’t face him when he called to her, but instead asked with horror in her voice, “Ailean, I found chains and a metal neck collar in the small closet back here. Why are they there?”

Ailean winced and gritted his teeth. He’d forgotten to clean out this room before Shalin took it and Arranz had unusual...tastes.

He took a deep breath and prayed she’d believe the truth—although he couldn’t promise he would have if the roles were reversed. “Shalin, you need to believe me when I say that Arranz—”

“Because I took them out of the closet and stupidly tried them on.” She finally turned to face him, her head bowed, completely naked under the fur that she parted just enough to tease. Naked, that is, except for the metal collar locked around her throat and the chain hanging from it.

“And now I can’t get them off.”

Slowly, so slowly he thought he’d explode right there, she raised her eyes to look at him. “Do you think, Ailean the Wicked, you can help me with this?”

Ailean let out a breath and walked toward her, watching as she dropped the fur covering to the floor.

“Aye, Shalin the Innocent,” he growled, reaching out and taking firm hold of the chain hanging from the metal collar. “I do believe I can help you.”

Winding the chain around his hand, he tugged her close. “But first, I need your help.”

Looking shyly up at him through her lashes, she said softly, “Anything you want, m’lord. I am yours until the chain comes off. Until then, until you release me, I am yours to do with as you will.”

“Then I need your help with this intense ache I have.” He tugged down on the chain and, with a small smile, Shalin slowly went on her knees in front of him. “I need you to give me relief, Shalin.”

Shalin gently ran her hand down the length of him, her small smile growing until she fairly leered at him. “Oh, it’ll be my great pleasure, m’lord,” she said, before she took him into her mouth with one deep swallow.

“You have to tell me,” he said softly.

Shalin, who’d found a comfortable position with her head on Ailean’s flat abdomen while his fingers combed through her hair, glanced away from the window and at him.

“Tell you what?”

“Who, Shalin?” And he smiled in disbelief. “Who in all the bloody hells named you Innocent?”

With a chuckle, Shalin kissed his stomach, loving the way the defined muscles jumped at the touch of her lips. “Adienna.” She chuckled at the surprised expression on his face. “Adienna named me Innocent.”

“Why?”

Shalin repositioned herself a bit so her chin rested high on his stomach by his ribs and her right arm wrapped tight around his waist. “Because I kept rejecting her cast-offs. She kept tossing these dragons at me with these little comments as to how they were as lovers and why I should try them out. As if she were giving them a go first for my benefit. When I rejected one of Ceanag’s sons—I forget which one—she started calling me ‘innocent.’ And I decided not to argue the point.”

Ailean ran both his hands through her hair as he so often did and gazed into her face. “But you didn’t see me as a cast-off?”

Her eyes narrowed and she saw the look of concern on his face. “I won’t say she didn’t want you from the beginning, Ailean. But I can assure you that her knowing I wanted you so badly made it extra special for her.”

When he only stared at her blankly, she admitted, “She knew I wanted you. And she made it her mission to get you. And afterward, every time she obsessed about you or talked about the night you shared, she did it to make sure she hurt me. Adienna likes to see others in pain.”

Ailean took a deep breath, let it out, and said, “I’m sorry.”

Shalin shook her head. “I don’t need you to be. I’m completely aware of how enticing she is. Of how much others desire—”

“No,” he said softly, cutting her off. “I wish I could tell you I wanted her because I had to have her. Because I desired her so much. But it was really because I couldn’t believe a princess could want me, the lowborn.”

“I hate that term. It’s cruel.”

“But how we’re viewed. I went to her bed that night for every wrong reason there is and as soon as I got there I regretted it more than I thought possible. I always felt like these past years with her obsessing over me was some sort of punishment for not doing what I normally do.”

“Which is?”

“Fuck the ones I want.” He laughed, but it was bitter. “I didn’t even fuck her. I brought her pleasure but that night I found none myself. I pushed her until she passed out, and then I ran like some startled kitten.”

“You wouldn’t be the first who ran,” Shalin said. “Although you may be the only one who didn’t come back out of fear. I do think you may finally be free, though. I’d heard a bit before the North dragons arrived that the queen has chosen a mate for Adienna. And Adienna is none too happy about it.”

“I feel sorry for the poor dragon sharing his life with her for the next six hundred years. I’d rather swallow glass.”

Before Shalin could respond to that, Ailean gripped her shoulders and pulled her up until they were face to face. “I’m sorry, Shalin.”

“Stop it. There’s nothing to—”

“I should have done what I’d planned to do that night, but I was stupid.”

His hands went from her shoulders until they cupped her face. “It was you I was going to see that night. You I was walking toward. Then someone stopped me, I don’t remember who, and asked me some questions. When I turned back around, you were gone.”

Shalin stared at Ailean as that night came back to her with stunning clarity. Finally, she gave a soft laugh and shook her head. “That bitch.”

She stroked his chest with the tips of her fingers. “She came to me that night, telling me to track down one of her personal guards. I searched everywhere. Every cavern, every chamber. After more than an hour I returned and found her guard already there. But the two of you were long gone. That explains why her friends were snickering at me the rest of the night, but I didn’t pay it much mind. They did that a lot, anyway.”

Ailean pulled her head down a bit and kissed her forehead. “I should never have listened to her. She told me you ran from me. That me, my reputation, scared you. And, like a fool, I believed her.”

“She’s very good at making a body believe whatever she tells them.

Trust me when I say I won’t hold it against you. However,” she kissed his jaw, his throat, “that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make it up to me.”

Ailean roughly grabbed her rear and pushed her up his body until her breast hung over his face. His tongue flicked against the nipple, making Shalin gasp until he took it into his mouth and she groaned.

He sucked and teased until Shalin gripped his head and held him tightly to her. That’s when he flipped her onto her back, him on top.

“I promise, Shalin,” he said, his mouth already moving to the other breast. “I’ll make it up to you all night long.”

Ailean looked down at Shalin again. Asleep, she had her head resting against his chest, one arm around his waist, the other fisted against his shoulder. Her legs were intertwined with his and she slept peacefully, positive she was safe in his arms. She trusted him when she trusted no one else but her own blood kin.

How did he let this happen? How did he let her dig her way into his heart and became mistress of it all? But she had, hadn’t she? His little dragoness.

Yet, what now? Once this all got straightened out—and he was sure the queen would do what was right—Shalin had her life to return to. Her school. Her future as an Elder. Although it didn’t seem like she truly wanted any of that. Did she really want to sit through painful, dead boring council meetings over fights for territory between dragons? Did she want to live her life in Devenallt Mountain? As an Elder, she’d be required to live there at least part of the year.

Yet after spending all this time with her, it looked to Ailean as though Shalin wanted nothing more than to be left alone to read.

If she promised her nights to him, he could give her that time alone and so much more. Gods, there was so much he wanted to give her if only she’d let him.

The little dragoness brought him so much joy. And not merely in his bed.

While he knew he made her feel physically safe, she had yet to realize that she made him feel safe too. Safe talking to her, being with her. She made him laugh one minute and lust for her the next. And sometimes she broke his heart because she felt so alone. He could see it on her face, the way she watched his family. Her expression torn between envy and annoyance.

Yet Shalin still hadn’t realized what had become so clear to Ailean. She fit into his life, among his kin, perfectly.

She was the one he’d been waiting for all this time and neither of them had known it.

Ailean stroked her hair and smiled when she growled softly in her sleep.

“Who knew?” he asked the puppy staring at him from the end of the bed, the giant bone Shalin had given him slobbered over but uneaten and resting by his tiny paws. “Who knew I’d fall in love with Shalin the Innocent?”

11

“How long are you going to pretend we don’t already know?” Kyna demanded, dropping into a chair next to him.

Ailean didn’t bother looking up from the hot porridge and bread he shoveled into his mouth. Shalin had already gone out to the stables and he wanted to meet her out there before he got in some training later that day.

“Already know what?”

“About you and Shalin. We guessed it before, but the party last night only confirmed it.”

“It’s no one’s business until we decide it is. Stay out of it.” He reached for another loaf of warm bread, tore it in half and gave a piece to each sister. Kennis thanked him with a grunt as she dived into her own porridge, but Kyna wasn’t so easily distracted.

“Come, Ailean. Really. Do you think it’s fair to toy with her?”

“I’m not toying with her.”

Kyna snorted. “Then what are you doing? Planning to have hatchlings with her?”

Ailean finished his porridge, grabbed another loaf of bread, and stood.

He smiled down at his cousin. “That’s exactly what I’m planning.”

Enjoying the way the twins froze in shock, Ailean went out to the stables.

Shalin ran the brush through Nightmare’s mane again and stepped back.

“How about some braids today?”

“Because you’re a big mare of a stallion, aren’t you?”

Glaring at Ailean over the stall door, she corrected, “Warrior braids.”

“For him? He’s never been in battle.”

“How do you know? You only found him a few months ago.” She stalked up to Ailean and shook the brush at him. “And if I want to give my horse warrior braids, I’ll damn well do it. Understand?”

Turning away from him before she got an answer—because she knew she wouldn’t get an answer she’d like—she still heard the sudden grunt of pain and spun back around.

Ailean rubbed his head—and the lovely hoof print in the middle of it—and glared daggers at Nightmare.

“Oh, Ailean.” But even as she went to him to comfort him, she still couldn’t stop the laughter. “Are you all right?”

“As if you care.”

“I care.” She placed her feet on the slats of the gate and stood until they were eye to eye. She kissed his forehead and did her best not to laugh in his face. “I’m sorry. He’s very sensitive.”

“He’s mad, Shalin.”

“He’s mine,” she reminded him. “You promised him to me, did you not?”

“Yes. But I might be willing to temporarily change my rule on eating horse in Kerezik.”

Nightmare moved forward but Shalin held up her hand. She knew she was the only thing standing between these two beasts getting into an ugly fight.

“Stop it. Both of you. Honestly, it’s like dealing with two young ones.”

“He started it.”

Disagreeing, Nightmare slammed his front hoof down.

“I said stop this.” She motioned to the partially eaten loaf of bread in Ailean’s hand. “Give me some of that, would you? I’m taking Nightmare for a ride.”

“Alone?”

“Yes. Alone.”

“I’ll go—”

“You said you have training and I’m only going to the lake. Besides, Nightmare will take care of me.”

“That does not bring me ease.”

“Bread,” she ordered, holding out her hand. He tore what remained in half and gave it to her. “Thank you.” Shalin kissed him, her tongue slipping between his lips to tangle with his own. They both groaned and Shalin realized she’d have to pull away or Ailean would take her right here in the stables. Not that she would have minded, but still—it seemed a tad inappropriate.

“We won’t be long.”

“Meet me in your library later.”

Shalin blinked. Her library? “Yes. All...all right,” she stammered, stepping down from the gate and unlocking it. She walked out and Nightmare followed.

“Be careful, Shalin.”

“I will.” She smiled before she took Nightmare out the less used exit at the back of the stables. She took him that way since he had a tendency to bite and kick anyone he passed.

“You like that horse better than me, don’t you?” Ailean called after her.

“Sometimes...yes!” she replied and got a little nuzzle for her trouble.

“And take care of the puppy!” Although her puppy seemed more than happy to spend his time during the day with the pack of dogs who had free rein of the castle grounds and surrounding forests, only to appear suddenly at her feet during mealtimes, clearly expecting to spend that time in her lap with food at his disposal.

Once she’d awkwardly mounted Nightmare—she really would have to learn to do that a bit better—he immediately took off at a full gallop. She didn’t mind; she liked how it felt. Together they made a quick turn around the grounds right outside the castle before heading out to the lake. Once there, Shalin dismounted just as awkwardly and fed him apples from the leather pouch she’d tied around her waist. While she did, she chatted with him and petted his head and neck.

Eventually she held up the last apple and said, “I’ll give you this apple...

if you promise to stop hitting Ailean in the head with your hooves.”

The horse snorted and turned his head away.

“Oh, come on!” she laughed, until he startled her by charging back a few feet before turning around.

Standing in front of her, Nightmare rose up on his hind legs and Shalin prepared herself to shift.

She stepped beside Nightmare and the twin males examined her from head to toe. They were fire dragons, but she didn’t recognize them.

“He’s protective,” said one.

“Aye. That’s good,” said the other.

She placed her hand on Nightmare’s neck to calm him. “Who—”

“Is Ailean about?” one of them asked abruptly.

“Castle.”

They nodded and walked off. One decided to push the other, so the other pushed him back. Then there were headlocks and fists thrown—all while they kept walking.

“They’re like that—constantly.”

Shalin turned at the new voice and grinned.

“Daddy!”

Ailean dived for his blade, but Kennis slammed her lance down in front of it and raised an eyebrow. “You’ll need to be faster than that, cousin.”

He hated training with the twins. They were brutal and fierce and bloody mean. But he and his brothers knew—if they could hold their own with the twins, they could defeat anyone else. Kennis and Kyna were, by far, the greatest warriors of their clan and the most deadly of the Battle Dragons of Dark Plains.

Still, training with them was never fun.

He sensed but never heard Kyna as she moved up behind him and brought her lance toward his head. Kennis went for the legs.

Before the twins could even fly, they’d taught themselves how to fight in tandem. With fourteen older brothers, they really had no choice. They could use almost any weapon, but favored the lances they’d designed and helped forge themselves, which could adjust to their smaller human size or extend when they were in dragon form.

Ailean maneuvered back, reaching for the lances but below the always-sharpened steel tips. Yet, like him, they sensed it and quickly adjusted, Kennis now going for his head and Kyna going for the legs.

He ducked the blow aimed for his head, but Kyna took him out at the legs, dumping him on his back.

Each slammed a foot against his chest and grinned down at him.

“Sloppy, sloppy,” Kennis chastised.

“Perhaps he has something—”

“Or someone.”

“—on his mind, eh, sister?”

“I say we put him out of his misery.”

“Good idea.”

Together they raised their battle lances and Ailean cringed. They’d never kill him, but one never knew what damage they would decide to do.

“Oiy! Female!”

Kennis lowered her weapon and turned. When she saw her mate, she squealed, dropped her lance, and charged toward him, throwing herself in his arms.

“Don’t make me come get you,” Kyna’s mate warned.

She snorted at Ailean. “Lucky for you.” Then, like her sister, she dropped her weapon and charged her mate, landing in his arms.

Ailean raised himself on his elbows and stared at the quartet. How Kyna and Kennis had found their true mates with another set of twins, he had no answer. Especially when sets of twins were as rare among his people as white dragons.

“Oiy,” he said to the males. “What are you two doing here? You’re supposed to be watching old Baudwin.”

“We did and we are. We left him by the lake with his daughter.”

Ailean stood, and Arranz, still bleeding from the head wound Kennis gave him, and Bideven, still limping from one of Kyna’s blows, walked over to him. “What about that?”

“What about what?”

“Her father. Here.” Arranz gave a little smirk. “You going to tell him what you’ve been doing with his daughter the last few nights?”

“I find it amusing you didn’t think we’d know,” Bideven sardonically sneered.

“That old dragon may be weak, but a father is a father. He won’t like what you and Shalin have been up to.”

“I’m not too worried.” Ailean wiped blood from the wound over his eye.

Arranz snorted. “Oh. You’re not?”

“No. Once he finds out I love her and we’re going to be together forever, he’ll be fine.”

Ignoring the shocked expressions on his brothers’ faces, Ailean headed over to the well for fresh water.

“Ailean,” Bideven rushed up behind him and asked, “have you actually mentioned any of this to Shalin?”

“No.” He shrugged. “Why should I?”

Shalin hugged her father again before stepping back. She really saw his age when he was in human form and it hurt her heart. She knew she only had another hundred years with her father. Maybe two, if lucky, but no more. Her parents had waited until very late in their lives to have Shalin and although it never really bothered her, she also knew it made her different from all the other dragons who grew up with parents young enough to take them on long flights and teach them the proper way of hunting and fighting.

But Baudwin the Wise only hunted up that which stood right outside his cave. And although he could give detailed histories on every war that had taken place among the dragons and humans, he was a worthless fighter himself.

None of that mattered to Shalin, though. Her father meant everything to her. Always had.

“I’m so glad you’re all right, Father.”

“And I you.” He pulled back, examining her carefully. “You don’t look any the worse for wear.”

She smiled. “No. I’m just fine.”

And that’s when her father’s sharp brown eyes narrowed. “Are you?”

Clearing her throat, she said, “Oh. Yes. Just fine. We should go.” She walked around him to get to the clearing.

“Go where, Shalin?” he asked in that calm way of his. “Do what? And shouldn’t we have those two oversized beasts with us?”

Turning around, Shalin chewed on her lip. “I guess.” She nodded.

“You’re right, of course.”

“And aren’t you interested in what the queen has to say?”

It took Shalin a moment to remember she hadn’t been on Ailean’s territory merely for sexual satisfaction. And if she hoped to conceal what happened between her and Ailean from her father, she’d better act more like she cared.

“Oh! Of course. Yes. What was the decision?”

“No decision. Not until the council meeting.”

“A...a council meeting?”

“Calm yourself, Shalin. I see the panic in your eyes.” He rubbed a soothing hand against Shalin’s back. “The queen and Elders wish to have the case presented in front of all the court. And to everyone’s surprise, the Northern dragons have put in a demand for the deal struck with Princess Adienna to go through as planned.”

Shalin crossed her arms in front of her chest. “To everyone’s surprise because who would want me?”

Her father shook his head in confusion. “What are you talking about? I mean surprising because we all assumed the Northerners would simply try to take you rather than follow the usual rules of etiquette. That’s usually how they do things.” Baudwin sniffed. “Barbarians. The lot of them.” He nodded at his daughter. “That oldest one seemed much more civilized than his brethren. I assume it was his decision to put in the claim. I believe he truly likes you.”

“Well, I can read,” she said on a chuckle.

“Of course you can. You’re my daughter.” Her father glanced around impatiently. “Where do you think those two bickering ninnies went?”

“Drive you mad, did they?”

“Don’t misunderstand me, daughter. I will appreciate until my dying day their protection. Truth be told, I knew with all certainty they would kill anyone or anything that moved within a dragon’s tail of me. But the constant chatter—” He shuddered. “—it drove me to distraction.” Which was her father’s quiet way of saying if he could have killed them both...

“I should take Nightmare back anyway. I’ll get them and bring them back here.”

“Nightmare?”

She motioned to the horse. “Nightmare. My horse.”

Her father frowned. “You named your midmeal? Shalin, you know better than to—”

“No, no. He’s not...” she cleared her throat. “They don’t eat horses or dogs here, Daddy. They’re considered pets and working animals.”

Her father made a small gesture with his hands. “I can’t...they’re just...

the entire Cadwaladr Clan simply confuses...”

Shalin kissed her father’s cheek. “I completely understand. And for that reason I won’t mention the puppy Ailean gave me.”

“Puppy?”

Shalin laughed. “I won’t be long.”

She walked off and Nightmare dutifully followed behind her. She led him back to the stables and to his stall. She made sure he had ample food and water. She rubbed her hand down his muzzle. “Now listen to me. I want you to let them feed you. Please. I have to go away and—” she swallowed “—and I won’t be back. So I need you to take care of yourself and to let them take care of you. I’ve already had a word with that stablemaster.”

Leaning forward, she kissed his muzzle and stepped back. “I’ll miss you.”

Then, before she did something horrifyingly human—like cry—she walked out the back door.

And right into Ailean.

Legs braced apart, arms folded over his chest, he stared down at her with one brow raised.

“They warned me you would simply try and leave and I didn’t believe them. But you were, weren’t you?”

Shalin sighed. “Don’t you think that’s for the best?”

“No, Shalin. I don’t.”

“I fear if my father sees us together, he’ll know. And we both agreed this would be kept between—where are you going?”

But she knew exactly where Ailean was going and what he most certainly planned to do.

Ailean could hear her charging up behind him, demanding he stop and talk to her. But he had nothing to say to her. He knew exactly what she’d been planning to do and it made him blindingly angry even to think about it.

So he marched on until he arrived at the clearing by the lake. The old brown dragon stood as human, staring up at one of the trees. He seemed to be studying the birds. Why anyone would do that was lost on Ailean, but at the moment he really didn’t care.

“Lord Baudwin?”

The older dragon turned, looked up at him, and took a hasty step back.

“Ailean the Wicked? Gods. Did your mother perform spells before your hatching to get you that size?”

Ailean blinked. “Not that I know of.”

“You are simply gargantuan! I thought those twins you sent were big, but you...simply frightening.”

“Well—”

“How do you get around as human? Does no one question someone of your size lumbering around?”

“I don’t lumb—”

Shalin pushed her way between the two males. “Father, we have to go.”

“Where are those large fellows? Aren’t they coming?”

“No. We’ll go without them.”

“Like hell you will,” Ailean snapped.

“Don’t,” Shalin warned, “get in my way, Ailean.”

The old dragon glanced between the two. “Is there something I should know?”

“No!”

“Yes!”

Baudwin sighed. “Somehow I sense I won’t like this, will I?”

“I need to speak with you,” Shalin said softly before walking away from her father.

Ailean followed and when she felt they stood far enough away, she said, “What are you doing?”

“Don’t you know?”

“You have to know this is over. You must.”

“That unhappy with me?”

“Of course not.” She’d never been happier. But she had to be realistic as well. Passion and multiple climaxes did not a future make. And she had to think of her future. She had to stay on this path. “We both know I had a wonderful time here, but we also knew it would end.”

“Why does it have to end, Shalin?”

“You’re mad if you think I’ll become one of your regular trysts.”

“That’s not what I—”

“I go to see the queen and the Elders today to get their ruling,” she cut in. It horrified her when the thought of having any time with Ailean sounded better than none. The fact she’d sunk so low as to even consider spending her life as one of the females he regularly dropped in on when in certain towns made her stomach turn. She deserved better than that.

“What happens from now on is no longer your concern. I appreciate everything you’ve done, and it will never be forgotten, but we both knew it couldn’t go any further. So please, don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”

She’d kept it direct and calm, never once raising her voice or losing her temper. Considering how angry she was, she felt extremely proud of herself.

Suddenly, Ailean asked, “Do you love me?”

Startled, Shalin took a quick step back. “What?”

“You heard me. Do you love me or not?”

“What kind of question is that?”

“A simple one. Yes or no, Shalin. Do you love me or not?”

She forced herself to remain perfectly calm, perfectly in control. “No.”

Ailean snorted. “You lying cow.”

“I beg your—”

“Fine. I’ll tell your father the truth myself.”

Shalin grabbed Ailean’s arm. “Don’t you dare!”

“I’ll make it quick,” he said casually. “I promise.”

He started walking, heading over to her unsuspecting father as well as the two males who’d been protecting him, Ailean’s brothers, and the twins who’d just arrived. A veritable audience!

“Ailean, I’m not joking!”

“Nor am I. I understand why you’re nervous. So I’ll handle it.”

It was his calm, casual tone. His relaxed nature. As if telling her father they’d been sharing a bed for days was something of no real concern.

Shalin jumped in front of him, slamming her hands against his chest.

“You’re not understanding me, Ailean. You’re not to tell my father anything.”

He leaned forward a bit and whispered loudly, “Don’t you think he’ll notice?”

“Notice what?”

“That I’ve Claimed you as my own. He’ll definitely notice after the first hatchling.”

Somehow, she still managed to control her temper—but it was definitely getting harder to do so. “You won’t be Claiming me. Not you.”

“Why not me?”

“Do you really need me to give you a list?”

“A list?”

“Don’t yell, Ailean. Simply accept it.”

“Like hell I will. You love me, why won’t you just admit it?”

“And why won’t you admit I only wanted one thing from you, I got it, and now I’m done?”

She saw it for only a moment, a flash deep in his eyes, the grim set of his mouth. She’d hurt him. But the part that wanted to soothe him, to see him smile again, she ruthlessly battered into submission. She’d shake this dragon from her tail even if she had to make him cry.

But Ailean didn’t cry. He didn’t argue. He did slightly flinch, but it was so small only she would have noticed it.

Without another word said between them, Ailean gently gripped her by the shoulders and moved her out of his way.

Shalin watched him walk over to her father and knew he’d ignore her wishes. Like everyone else, he assumed she’d be compliant. Adienna certainly thought so. She thought Shalin would quietly go off with enemy dragons to live in the North until she became ancient. And what made Shalin wince was the truth of it. Before Ailean and his brothers showed up, she had been taking the Northerner’s hand. Without a fuss, she would have gone with them even as her heart screamed for her to fight, to flee. To at least try to stop them.

So, perhaps it was no great surprise Ailean thought the same of her. Like everyone else, he thought she’d comply. Bend to his will for her “own good.”

To get what he wanted, he was willing to embarrass her in front of her father while his kin stood and watched. Then years later they could joke about weak little Shalin and how her futile protests were ignored. The pain of it ripped through her, leaving her shaken and angry. So angry, she could barely see or hear.

In that instant, something inside her snapped—and there’d be no going back now.

Ailean stood only a few feet away from the old dragon when Shalin suddenly stepped in front of him. The cold expression on her face surprised him. Wait. Not cold. Icy. An icy rage.

The instincts he’d honed in battle and war screamed at him to step away from her, but he didn’t understand why. This was his sweet Shalin. And she’d simply have to understand this would be better in the long run.

They were meant to be together and there was no use in fighting it any longer. Besides, Ailean had no patience to wait for her to realize it.

Ailean reached for her to again move her out of his way and, hundreds of years later, he’d refer to this as “one of the stupidest things I’d ever done.”

In one fluid moment, as her father and his kin quickly scrambled out of the way, Shalin turned and her human body shifted to dragon. As she did, the razor-sharp tip of her tail lashed out and ripped across his human throat, slicing it from ear to ear.

Ailean’s hands wrapped around his neck and he dropped to his knees.

Blood flowed between his fingers and dripped onto the forest floor.

“Shift, you fool!” Shalin’s father shouted. “Shift now!”

Ailean did, calling up the ancient spell and shifting right where he kneeled. His scales quickly covered his body, preventing him from bleeding to death right there.

As his body changed and tried to right itself, he watched Shalin motion to her father and take off from the clearing. Confusion on his face, the old dragon followed.

“Gods, Ailean!” His brothers stood on either side of him now in dragon form, trying to figure out the best way to help him while the twins tried to go after Shalin and most likely kill her in the air. But their mates held them back until Ailean, shaky from the loss of blood, stood.

He couldn’t speak, not with his vocal chords sliced in half and still trying to mend, so he motioned to the twins’ mates to follow Shalin and her father. To keep them safe. They understood and did as he bade.

While his cousins continued to rant and swear blood oaths to Shalin’s death, Ailean placed his blood-covered claws on each of his brothers’

shoulders.

They’d grown up together. Fought together. Killed together. He didn’t need words for them. Never had.

They knew they’d be going after Shalin themselves.

And then, Ailean would settle all of this.

12

Shalin waited outside the queen’s meeting chamber. Soon she would have to enter and plead her case. Unfortunately, she really didn’t care.

“I’ll speak for you, Shalin.”

She shrugged. “As you wish.”

His claw brushed her cheek. “Look at me, daughter.”

She did, but she quickly tried to turn away, unable to bear his gaze. But her father’s other claw came up and gripped her other cheek.

“Do not turn from me.”

“I’m so sorry, Father.” Tears began to flow and she couldn’t stop them.

“I know I’ve disappointed you.”

“Och! What is this? How have you disappointed me?”

“Ailean,” she said simply.

“Because you tried to kill him?”

“No.” Her tail nervously swished across the stone floor. “Because he and I...um...”

“You and he what?”

“I’d prefer not to spell it out, Father.” Although she had no doubts their story would become known throughout Dark Plains before the next full moon.

“Spell it...oh. Oh!” He absently patted her head before brushing nonexistent crumbs off his chest. “Yes. Of course you did, dear. You’re not made of stone and he is quite a virile specimen.”

Only her father could make it all sound so...medicinal. “And you’re not ashamed of me?”

“Ashamed of what?” He quickly combed his claws through his gray and brown hair. “What were we talking about again?” he asked. It wasn’t that he was confused, merely not interested. But when this was all over and settled, then he’d want to discuss it in complete detail and she didn’t look forward to it. Nothing was worse than her father turning to her after a day, a decade, or even a century, after something she’d thought had long gone away and suddenly demanding, “Wait. What just happened?”

Stepping back, he motioned to her eyes. “Dry those tears, little one. This queen detests weakness. And when you are called, come in with your head high. Understand?”

She nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Good.”

“Baudwin the Brown,” one of the heralds called out.

Her father patted her cheek and gave her a quick smile before entering the meeting chamber.

Once his tail disappeared after him, Shalin took several soothing, calming breaths and wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks with the backs of her claws.

Her father was right. She needed to get her emotions under control, but it would not be easy after that rage she’d let loose on Ailean. Unlike many of her brethren, Shalin kept her temper under control with a will of iron.

In her mind, to show rage was the same as showing sadness, which meant showing weakness. She’d learned during her time at court that to show emotion of any kind merely gave Adienna what she needed to destroy those who crossed her.

Then Ailean came along and he had this uncanny ability to get all sorts of emotions out of her—irritation, affection, rage. Even worse—love.

“As lovely as I remember,” a voice said near her. She turned and blinked. It took her a moment to recognize him in dragon form, though the purple hair and scales were clear enough. But it was the eyes. Such a startling blue. Simply beautiful.

“Are you here to drag me away while I scream and cry?”

He laughed. “No, no, dragoness. That had been my father’s idea. He still follows the old ways. I have, however, come here today in the hopes of convincing you to come with me of your own free will.”

Now Shalin laughed. “I barely know you and you expect me to become your mate?”

“No. But I would love for you to come with me so I can show you my home. It’s a rugged land, but you’ll find more beauty there than any other place that you’ve seen.”

Shalin looked away. “And if I don’t come? There will be war amongst our people?”

The herald called to the dragon and, with a sigh, he headed toward the meeting chamber. “That I do not know. My brothers have different ways of dealing with females.” He glanced at her over his shoulder. “They may not stop until there is war.”

He entered the chamber, and she watched his tail disappear inside. For the first time, she noticed that the tip wasn’t purple like the rest of him, but more like burnished silver. She sensed he sharpened it. Smooth and charming he might be, but a predator just the same.

Many long minutes passed until the herald returned. The green dragon stared at her. “Shalin the Gold. You have been summoned.”

Ahh, yes. The Gold. When you entered the royal meeting chamber, the name you had earned over time was stripped so no one was above another.

Knowing she’d have to face Adienna, Shalin briefly closed her eyes, refusing to panic. Then, she raised her head proudly and walked into the meeting chamber where they all waited.

Ailean and his brothers landed at the entrance of Devenallt Mountain.

He allowed Bideven to lead the way, knowing his brother knew the world of politics better than he or Arranz. All three brothers were dressed in their battle armor, but that was for show and rank rather than actual fighting. Although he’d do whatever necessary to get what he wanted.

“This is the meeting chamber,” Bideven whispered.

With a nod, Ailean headed toward it.

“Ailean, wait. You can’t just go in there!”

A large green dragon, a herald most likely, stepped in front of the chamber’s entrance. Ailean grabbed him by the snout, yanked him away, and entered. As he’d been trained to do, he quickly took in everything around him so he could act accordingly.

The Elders sat on a dais built out of solid rock. The queen sat on a separate rock protrusion but hers was neither higher nor lower than the Elders. Although she was queen, the Elders still held great powers among the dragons of Dark Plains. Only during a time of war did the queen’s decisions outrank the Elders’, simply because they didn’t have the time to vote and debate when lives were in jeopardy.

On the far side of the chamber he saw one of the purple dragons who’d originally come for Shalin. A good, solid fighter and strong, he’d be a worthy opponent. But when it came to Shalin, Ailean would tear the purple beast apart scale by scale to keep her.

The bastard sat with an audience made up mostly of royals...and Adienna. The smugness on her face made Ailean want to rip off her head himself. But his main concern was Shalin.

She stood alone, in the middle of the chamber in the center of a rune design etched into the cave floor. She held her head high and stared at each Elder without flinching. He felt unbridled pride watching her. She’d give him hatchlings to be proud of.

“Shalin the Gold,” said Elder Cilydd—he had to be nine hundred years old if a day and, last Ailean heard, very nearly blind—“we’ve made our decision on this matter.”

The herald strode up behind Ailean with his brothers right behind him.

Ailean reached back and batted the green dragon out of his way and grabbed Bideven’s shoulder and dragged him forward.

He motioned to his brother and Bideven only stared, so Ailean slammed his fist into his shoulder, hard enough to break something.

“All right. All right. Don’t hit me.”

Bideven stepped forward. “Elders. My Queen. I must interrupt these proceedings in the name of Ailean the Blue.”

Ailean slammed his brother with his claw and Bideven hissed at him. “In this chamber all monikers are stripped save for the one given to you at birth. Now would you shut up and let me handle this?”

Forcing a smile, Bideven turned back to face the Elders and the queen.

The queen looked over at the brothers. “I’ve known Ailean the Blue many years, Bideven the Black. Can he not speak for himself?”

Bideven cleared his throat and glanced at Ailean. All Ailean could do was shrug and Arranz agreed with a shrug of his own.

“Actually, my Queen, he cannot. At this time.” Another throat clear, and this time a furtive glance at Shalin, who refused to look at any of them.

“His throat was cut while human and it still heals. It will be a few more hours or even days before he’ll be able to speak without pain.”

The queen’s body went rigid and her eyes lashed across the hall to the Lightning dragon.

“Is this down to you, Theodoric?”

“Not I, Queen. Nor my kin—that I’m aware of. I sent them back to the Northlands yesterday.”

“Then who did this to Ailean?” She looked around the chamber and finally settled her clear blue eyes back on Bideven. “Who, Bideven?”

Bideven scratched the back of his neck with his tail and stared down at his claws. “Uh...well, my Queen...uh—”

“I cut his throat,” Shalin suddenly piped in, grabbing everyone’s attention. But it was Ailean she now stared at and, with a viciousness he never heard from her before, she added, “And I’d do it again at the asking.”

The room fell deathly silent and Ailean raised an eyebrow. Something Shalin took as challenge. Gasping, she stormed toward him but Arranz stepped between the pair.

“Now, now, hatchlings,” his brother chided with obvious amusement, “let’s be calm here.”

“This is your fault,” Shalin snarled over Arranz’s shoulder. “Your fault. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”

Frustrated that he couldn’t speak, Ailean grabbed Bideven by his hair and dragged him forward.

“Ow!”

He hit the black dragon on the shoulder and gestured at Shalin. Looking between the pair, Bideven shrugged. “What do you want me to say?”

Gritting his teeth, Ailean pointed at Shalin, pointed at himself, made circles in the air with his claw, and slammed his fist into the palm of the other.

Bideven’s eyes grew wide. “Am I supposed to understand any of that?” he demanded.

But Shalin gasped and stepped back. “I’m being unreasonable. How can you say that? I’d told you to leave my father to me, but you wouldn’t listen. Like always!”

Ailean slapped his claw against his chest, pointed at the ground with it, and then slashed both arms across each other, accidentally hitting Bideven in the snout.

“Ow!”

“Ho, ho!” Shalin barked. “Do you actually expect me to believe that? Or to base my whole future on that load of centaur shit?”

Ailean flashed his fangs and smoke curled from his snout.

“Don’t you dare threaten me, Ailean the Slag!”

Resting his fists on his hips, Ailean slammed down his back claw, accidentally crushing Bideven’s claw in the process.

“Ow!”

“No,” Shalin answered with a haughtiness he’d never noticed before.

Damn royals. “Absolutely not.”

He brought his tail forward to make his point, accidentally slapping Bideven in the back of the head and shoving his kin forward.

“Owww!”

“That’s enough.” And then the queen was there, gently lifting Bideven’s massive head, examining his wounds. “Much more of this conversation and your brother will be dead before the two suns set.”

She gestured Bideven and Arranz away and stood between the pair.

Enormous, and one of the rare white dragons, Queen Ganieda towered over Shalin while meeting Ailean eye to eye. “I have to tell you two that all of this complicates things. When your father came to me, Shalin, this was all very simple. Simple because what happened to you was and is unacceptable. Dragons don’t sell dragons. I don’t care if you’re a lowerborn, a royal, or future heir to the throne.” Glittering blue eyes cut across the room to a glaring princess. “It was something that was understood, but now the Elders and I have been forced to put that down in writing so there is no mistake ever again.” The queen sighed. “And once that decision was made, well, all need be done was track you down and let you know you could safely return to your life among the humans. Return home to your father. Or, if you so wished, and as Theodoric of the North so humbly offered, go with him into the Northlands and see if you could find your mate there. The choice, of course, was yours.”

She took several steps away from the pair before turning back to face them. “Now, however, things have changed, haven’t they, Ailean the Blue?”

He nodded, his eyes locked with Shalin’s. Without a word, without moving, the greatest battle took place between them. The greatest and the most important.

“You wish to Claim her as your own, do you not?”

Ailean gave one determined nod in agreement.

“No!” The word rang out over the chamber, but it wasn’t Shalin who spoke. She’d only shaken her head to let him know she’d rather eat stone than be his mate. It was from the princess.

She pushed past the other royals into the middle of the chamber. “I demand to speak,” she snarled.

Her mother chuckled. “Denied. Your mate has already been chosen for you.”

“I have not agreed—”

“You’ll do as I say or regret that I ever gave you life,” the queen hissed.

“Your future mate waits for you. Go to him. Now. And on the next full moon, he’ll make you his own.”

“You can’t make me—”

Ailean grabbed Shalin by the arm and yanked her against him as a line of flame lashed by, hitting the princess in the chest and sending her flying back across the chamber. Then Queen Ganieda, in a rarely seen full rage, stormed forward. She grabbed the heir to her throne by the neck and lifted her from the floor.

“You dare tell me what I can and can’t make you do? You betray your friend, break our laws, and bring the potential of war down on our heads, and you think you have rights to tell me anything?”

Adienna gasped and slapped at her mother’s claw, but the dragoness was simply too powerful. Even Ailean would have thought twice of challenging Ganieda. But he would have—for Shalin. For Shalin he’d take on an entire army of Lightnings and even his own kin.

“And you do all this,” the queen continued, “for a male. A male who never loved you and never will. Now,” she threw her daughter across the chamber to the exit, “go to your chosen mate before I can no longer control my temper.”

Palpable rage radiating from her, Adienna dragged herself to her feet.

The onetime friends locked eyes, but Shalin never backed down. She never looked away.

Then Adienna’s gaze moved to Ailean and although he expected to see the same rage, he saw nothing but an obsessive longing that unnerved him more than the rage could have.

Without another word, the princess left, and the queen let out a disgusted sigh and shook her head. “Honestly. These hatchlings today.”

She turned back to face Ailean and Shalin. “And as for you two—”

“My queen,” one of the Elders gestured to her and she went to him. The queen and the council whispered amongst themselves while Shalin snatched her arm out of Ailean’s grip and stepped away. She glared at him and didn’t seem to appreciate when he blew her a kiss and winked at her.

“I agree,” the queen finally said and turned to face them all. “I have one question for you, Shalin the Gold. Did you give yourself willingly to Ailean or did he have to seduce you into his bed?”

“What does that have to—”

“Answer me, dragoness.” Shalin gritted her teeth and the queen smiled, showing many rows of bright, white fangs. “You’ve already seen how I handle my daughter’s impudence. Do you really want to test me as well?”

Shalin glanced once at her father before looking away and answering, “Willingly.”

“I see. Then yes, we have no choice but to follow the law regarding this. Ailean the Blue has until the next full moon to mark you as his own.

Shalin the Gold will stay on his territory until that time. If she is not marked by the full moon, Ailean, you must leave her be. Is that understood?”

Ailean nodded and he could see it in Shalin’s eyes. She had no intention of letting him mark her... ever.

“That being said, Shalin the Gold, Ailean can use anything in his, shall we say, arsenal to convince you to remain with him forever. Except, of course, violence or the threat of violence against you or your kin.”

Suddenly Shalin’s father moved up behind the queen and whispered to her. She frowned in confusion and added, “Or against your...dog?”

Shalin’s father whispered something else, “Or against your...horse?”

The queen blinked and shook her head. “You have a dog and horse?”

Shalin nodded, her head down to hide the rage Ailean could feel like he could feel the cold wind whipping through a hole in the cave wall.

“As pets?” Shalin nodded again. “How...fascinating.” Although the queen sounded more disturbed by it than fascinated. “That is the decision of this council,” she walked back to her dais. “We wish you both good luck.” She smiled again, her rows of fangs twinkling from the light of the pitfire nearby. “I sense you’ll both need it.”

Livid beyond all reason, Shalin stormed to an exit that would take her from Devenallt Mountain. That’s where Ailean caught up with her, grabbing her arm and pulling her around.

She slammed her two front claws against his chest and pushed. Of course, she might as well have pushed the mountain instead, for all the good it did.

“I hate you, Ailean the Slag. I’ll always hate you and I’ll never be your mate!”

She tried to pull away, but he held fast. He swallowed and she saw him wince from the pain. She ignored the pang in her heart that ordered her to soothe him. To take him to a healer and help control the pain. She ruthlessly tamped that desire down as ruthlessly as she’d cut his throat in the first place.

“Shalin, wait.” His voice, always low, sounded like the hardest gravel and she knew each word caused him immeasurable pain. “Please.”

“No. I’ll come back to Kerezik as I’ve been ordered, but I’ll not stay in your bed or even in that blasted castle. But I’ll be on your territory until the full moon. Then I’ll be heading back to school, and I never want to see you again.”

She yanked her arm away and walked to the edge of the exit, ready to take flight.

“I’ll come for you, Shalin. I don’t care if you’re on my property or living in a desert cave in Alsandair. I’ll not give you up. You’re mine. I am yours. Face it.”

Shalin didn’t even turn around. “The only thing I have to face is that I’ll be paying for the foolishness of leaping into your well-used bed for decades to come.” With a sigh, she glanced at him over her shoulder and the look in his eyes nearly tore her heart from her chest. She ignored it.

“Leave me be, Ailean,” she forced herself to say. “I’m sure there are thousands of females who’ll happily warm your bed. Someone more suited to you and your life—for it is not me.”

Shalin let her wings stretch out, but before she took off, she felt compelled to add, “And I wouldn’t shift to human anytime soon. You’ll only bleed to death if you do.”

Without another word or another glance back, she pushed off from the edge and headed back to Kerezik.

Ailean stood at the edge until his brothers arrived. Without bothering to look at them, he managed to ground out, “We need to find a healer.”

“I know,” Bideven answered. “My snout is still bleeding.”

Rolling his eyes, Ailean snapped, “Not for you, you big baby.”

“You really do love her, don’t you, brother?” Arranz asked, awe in his voice.

Ailean nodded rather than answering. With every spoken word, pain ripped through him.

Arranz grinned. “Then we’ll help you, Ailean. We’ll get you your dragoness.” Abruptly looking off, Arranz stroked his chin. “In fact...I think we should round up the entire clan.” When his brothers only stared at him, he shrugged. “Trust me, Ailean. We may be low-born Battle Dragons, but we’ll do whatever necessary to help one of our own. If you want that royal...you’ll get her.”

Ailean smiled, loving his brother more than he ever thought possible. He placed his hand on Arranz’s shoulder and Arranz did the same to him.

“If you two are done having this moment of brotherly bonding, I am possibly bleeding to death here.”

Ailean gave a small shrug at Arranz before using his tail to ram Bideven in the back, shoving the poor bleeding—and now screaming—bastard out of the cave.

He hit the side of Devenallt Mountain three times before he could catch flight.

“He’s going to get you for that,” Arranz warned.

“Perhaps,” Ailean said, ignoring the pain so he could get this out. “But it was so worth it.”

13

It started the first morning she woke up in that cave she found on Ailean’s territory. Big and roomy, she’d nearly crashed into it, immediately falling asleep in the first chamber she found. She’d been more exhausted than she realized and slept a good twenty hours. She awoke when something indescribably small and adorable nipped at her snout and climbed up onto her head.

He’d brought her the puppy.

A few hours later she found Nightmare in one of the caverns with lots of hay and water.

The next day books began to appear. All sorts of books. Many she’d read. Quite a few she hadn’t. She’d find piles of them in chambers, lined up against walls. Everywhere.

Then his kin came to visit. His aunts first, in teams of two or three.

“Just talk to him,” they’d say.

“You know you love him,” they’d accuse. “Why are you fighting this?”

Her favorite comment of the day? “I heard you were smart. You couldn’t be that smart.”

After the aunts, the uncles and male cousins arrived the following day.

But they said very little and mostly brought flowers or cows before hastily leaving.

If only the same could be said of the female cousins. They came back and stayed for hours. They talked. They cajoled. They outright threatened. Except the twins. They never spoke to her and instead sat on the edge of the cave entrance sharpening their weapons. Every once in a while, they glared out over the land. Their silence hurt the most because Shalin had grown so fond of them. But unlike the rest of Ailean’s kin, they clearly had “not forgiven you for the whole slashing throat incident,” as Ailean’s Aunt Briaga put it.

By the fourth day, and as the full moon neared, they all stopped coming.

Leaving her alone to fully realize exactly how much she missed Ailean.

Gods, and she did miss him. With her very soul she missed him.

Determined not to focus on the acute ache in her heart, Shalin shifted to human later in the day and put on one of the dresses the aunts had left for her, since the cave could get quite chilly for human flesh. She groomed and fed Nightmare, appreciating the way he kept nuzzling her, trying to cheer her up.

Once done, she didn’t bother to shift back and instead walked to the cave entrance and sat down, her legs hanging over the edge. She stared out over the land. It was quiet. Not like the busy streets of Kyffin, where it was never quiet unless it was a religious holiday or a public execution was taking place.

Shalin didn’t know exactly when Ailean sat down beside her but she wasn’t really shocked.

“I’m surprised to find you as human, Shalin.”

She gave a little shrug. “It’s easier to tend Nightmare.”

Glancing at him, she saw that his wound had healed but it had left a nasty scar behind. Would take a decade or two for that one to fade.

“Are you all right out here? Need anything?”

Shalin couldn’t help but smile. “Hardly. I’ve had quite the influx of your kin stopping by with gifts.”

“Good. Madenn sent up some food for you as well. It’s cooked, though.”

“That’s fine,” she said casually, although she’d already scented the food and her mouth had begun to water. Nothing like fresh meat she’d torn open herself, but she’d learned to enjoy the herbs and seasonings the humans used to enhance their cooked meats and fish. She’d definitely begun to miss it.

Not that she’d ever admit that out loud.

“Thank you for bringing my puppy and Nightmare.”

“I had to.” He chuckled. “Big bastard wouldn’t eat and nearly stomped one of the stableboys when he tried to groom him. And the puppy whined incessantly when he couldn’t find you at evening meal.”

As if sensing they spoke of him, the puppy yipped and charged forward, but Ailean easily caught him before he slid right out of the cave. “You ever going to name this little one?” he asked as he placed him back on the floor and patted him back inside.

“Name him?”

“You have to name him, Shalin. We can’t keep calling him ‘puppy.’

Especially once he gets to be about two or three hundred pounds.”

Ailean slid his hand under hers, big fingers intertwining with her smaller ones.

“I’ve missed you, Shalin. I’ve missed you so very much.”

She closed her eyes, trying to block out the sound of his voice and the words. But she didn’t have the heart to shake his hand off. She liked how it felt against hers.

Ailean leaned in close and nuzzled her neck. “Let me stay the night, Shalin.”

“I—”

“I promise I won’t Claim you until you want me to.”

She snorted. “So sure I’ll want you to?”

“Not sure. Hopeful.”

He kissed a trail down her neck to her shoulder, tugging the dress down a bit so he could toy with the flesh beneath.

“If I let you stay,” she whispered, already losing the battle, “you know it won’t mean anything.”

Ailean reached around, sliding his hand into her hair and gripping the back of her head. He forced her to look at him. “We both know that’s a lie. But if it makes you feel better this night, I won’t argue.” His gaze traveled to her mouth. “Gods,” he moaned, “I’ve missed you, Shalin.”

Shalin opened her mouth to speak, to tell him to go before she lost any more of her heart to him, but before she could get the words out, he kissed her. And, as always, her human body nearly burst into flames from the passion of it.

She couldn’t fight him. Not when she’d missed him so much. So she released herself into that kiss. At least for the moment, she let go the anger and stubbornness and simply unleashed the desire she’d been bottling up for days.

Gods, he truly had missed her. Just the feel of her mouth on his or the way she pressed her body into his. Whether human or dragon, she always fit him perfectly. For days he’d been longing for her, following his kin’s dictate that the time wasn’t right. His aunts were insistent.

“When a dragon pushes a dragoness, he ends up very lonely... and very bloody.”

Without prompting, Shalin straddled his waist, her knees on either side of him. She dug her hands into his hair and kissed him with as much need as his own.

Desperate and unable to wait, Ailean pulled the skirt of her simple peasant dress out of his way and entered her in one powerful thrust. He found her wet and hot, more than ready for him.

Shalin wrapped her arms around his shoulders, buried her nose in his neck, and it all felt so perfect. Ailean didn’t move. They simply held still like that.

When Shalin began to shyly kiss his neck and jaw, Ailean pulled back a bit to look at her. “Tell me what I did wrong.” When she only stared at him, he said again, “Tell me what I did wrong and I’ll do whatever necessary to make it right.”

Her gaze lowered until she seemed firmly focused on his neck and she admitted, “You didn’t listen to me. I’m ignored by everyone. I never thought I’d be ignored by you as well.”

“I didn’t ignore you.”

She gave an adorable little snort and looked away from him completely.

“I didn’t ignore you,” he said again. “But I was fighting for my life. For our future. I knew if I’d let you go, you wouldn’t come back.”

Those bright golden eyes suddenly locked on him and he could see the bitter anger in them. “Isn’t that my right? To choose my own lovers, my own mate? Or do you wish to control that, as Adienna does?”

“Don’t throw her at me, Shalin. That’s not fair and you know it. Don’t you see or are you so blind? I would have broken any law, destroyed any army, done anything to keep you as my own.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you so determined to ‘keep me’? Is it because I’m sweet and innocent like the puppy? Or solid and reliable like Dragon’s Gold? A good work horse to breed you sons?”

And it was at that very moment, before he could stop himself, that he laughed at her.

Snarling in outrage, Shalin tried to scramble out of his arms, but he grabbed her around the waist and kept her right on his lap and his cock.

“Oh, no, you don’t. You’ll not run away from me again until we’re done here. Until you hear everything I have to say.”

“Then say it and let me go.”

“Fine, then. You’re not sweet, Shalin. Oh, I know you fool everyone else into thinking you are, but I know better. And you? Like Dragon’s Gold? More like that beast you love sitting in his chamber plotting his next attack.”

She gasped in anger, but his grip merely tightened on her waist, holding her still.

“You’re just like him, you know. Just like Nightmare. Exactly. He, too, stands by appearing placid and mild. Then, when you get close enough to touch him, he proves how dangerous he truly is. Just like you. Nor can I call you a reliable work horse since I never see you actually working, lazy sow.”

“Ailean!”

“Anytime I look for you, I always find you in the library reading. I’m relatively certain three hundred years from now that’s exactly where I’ll find you still.” He chuckled again. “You’re the most dangerous kind of dragon, Shalin. Like the sand dragons, you blend into your environment and you wait. You wait until the very last second, until there’s no hope for escape or mercy, and then you strike.”

Shalin shook her head, confused. “If I’m so horrible—”

“I never said you were horrible. I said you were dangerous.”

“And a lazy sow!”

“You are a lazy sow,” he taunted back. “A spoiled royal, expecting everyone to serve you.” And he punctuated that “you” by slapping her ass... rather hard.

Startled into action, she reached for his face with fingers bent into human claws but Ailean easily caught her hands and forced them behind her back, laughing the entire time.

“You’re a bastard!” she hissed.

“A mad bastard, according to my kin.” He blinked and with false shock said, “Why, Shalin? You’re getting even wetter! Enjoy that slap, did you?”

She screamed and fought to pull her arms away.

“Gods,” he gasped. “Like a vice. You like a bit of a struggle too, I see. And,” he added before kissing her throat, “you like when I won’t let you go.”

“Lies,” she moaned, melting against him. “These are all lies.”

He moved up her throat, across her chin and cheek. He held her arms crossed behind her back but his fingers continued to stroke her skin, teasing her.

Ailean rocked up into her while he pulled her body down. Shalin threw her head back, the feel of him inside her nearly more than she could bear.

“Kiss me, Shalin,” Ailean panted. “Kiss me now.”

She looked at him then, but didn’t understand what she saw. What she knew he was trying to tell her with his expression alone. Yet even though she didn’t understand, she was still drawn to him as she’d never been drawn to another. And, she feared, as she never would be again.

Shalin kissed him and the power of it tore through them both. Holding her arms tighter, Ailean slammed her down as he pushed up, the rhythm of it bringing her to climax within seconds, her surprised screams disappearing into Ailean’s mouth. He groaned in absolute pleasure and kept going, kept taking her. She exploded a second time, reduced to nothing more than whimpers and soft mewling.

Finally, when she didn’t think she could take much more from him, he brought her down hard and held her in place as he climaxed inside her.

His face buried against her neck, he groaned and gasped as his pleasure seemed to roll on and on, yanking her over the edge a final time. She nearly passed out from the intensity of it and could do nothing more than let her body go limp against his.

Ailean released his grip on her arms and Shalin brought them forward, too weak to do much of anything but drop them around his shoulders.

“Oiy,” he said softly. “Lazy sow.”

She knew she should be insulted but she was simply too tired to argue with him at the moment. “What?”

“There’s another reason I like to keep you around.”

“And that is?”

“I love you.”

Shalin tensed at the words, but Ailean’s hands rubbed her back, soothing her. “Sssh. No need to panic. I just wanted you to know everything for when you make your decision.

“I’ll stay the night,” he added.

Arms around him, Shalin laid her head against his shoulder and nodded.

14

Shalin awoke early to the puppy scratching at her head. She dragged herself up and gave him water and food. She checked on Nightmare, who seemed to be enjoying his solitary life quite well. She gave him some fresh water and hay before pulling on another little frock left by Ailean’s kin. Once dressed, she set off to find Ailean.

It had been a long and delightful night with the dragon. He hadn’t let her get much sleep but she didn’t really feel the need to complain about it.

Besides, after their night, she’d come to a decision. But there was one thing she had to do first, and she wanted to let Ailean know.

Eventually she tracked him down by the cave entrance. Still human as well, he stood naked at the very edge, staring out over the land. She walked up to him and immediately knew something was wrong.

“What is it?”

Ailean nodded toward the east.

She looked and immediately her heart fell. “I see lightning.”

“And not a cloud in the sky.”

Shalin let out a little sigh. “I guess Theodoric’s kin didn’t abide by his decision.”

“I had a feeling they wouldn’t.”

She nodded. “As did I.” Shalin began to pull off the dress, preparing to change and not wanting to ruin it, but Ailean stopped her.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“If you shift, and they catch up to you, they’ll take at least one of your wings. Stay human as long as you can.” He took her hand and dragged her back inside. “Take Nightmare back to the castle.”

“No.” She stopped, and he turned to face her. “If I go there, they’ll only follow.”

“They’ll go there anyway. I need you to protect the castle and my people.”

“Me? How can I protect them?”

“Think of something,” he said plainly, again dragging her toward where they’d bedded for the night and where Nightmare was standing. “You’ve read enough books. You must have some ideas.”

He stopped long enough to open the gate built into the cavern walls and let Nightmare out. Shalin quickly grabbed the puppy, but Ailean shook his head.

“He’ll be safer here.”

She nodded and placed him back on the ground. Ailean again grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the chamber and down deep into the catacombs, Nightmare right behind them. It took some time, but eventually she saw a shaft of light and she finally knew how he and his kin had been getting in and out of this cave. Which quickly brought her to another realization.

“This was your mother’s cave, wasn’t it?”

“Aye. I was born here.” And close to where his mother had died.

Once outside, he released her hand and she mounted Nightmare’s back and took firm hold of his mane.

“You know your way back?”

“Aye.”

“Then go. Protect our people, Shalin.”

Ailean slapped Nightmare’s rump, forcing her horse to sprint off into the forest.

Ailean waited until they were far enough away, then he shifted and grabbed hold of the outside cave wall. He easily climbed it until he reached the top. Then he lay flat against it, using his gods-given skill to change his coloring to blend into the rock face.

He waited, and it wasn’t long before four of them came into sight.

Ailean closed his eyes, his other senses taking over. Their scent moved closer, but Ailean waited until he heard their wings and felt the air around him move. When he knew they’d passed him, Ailean rose up into the air and grabbed one, his arm wrapping around the Lightning’s throat.

The outsider roared and his comrades turned to face them. That’s when Ailean unleashed a ball of flame that forced them back. While he had the moment, Ailean flipped the smaller dragon in his arms upside down and used his talons to rip apart his soft underbelly.

Ailean had only just reached inside the screaming dragon and yanked out his intestines when a harsh bolt of lightning hit him in the shoulder.

He dropped his prey and slammed into a tree, the leaves surrounding him, momentarily confusing him. Once he’d pulled himself out, another Lightning waited for him.

Before Ailean could react, the bastard unleashed a bolt of lightning aimed right at his head. Ailean began to move out of its way when a glint of metal momentarily blinded him. He jerked to the side and his vision cleared. One of his aunts hovered in front of him, her large shield up. The lightning hit it and bounced off, slamming back into the sender.

“Go!” his aunt yelled. “I’ve got them. Go!”

Nightmare tore through the forest while Shalin held on to his mane and kept low. She did know the way back, but she didn’t need to.

The horse kept close to the trees, using them as cover, and kept away from the clearings. But no matter what they did, unless they wanted to go days out of their way, they’d have to cross the clearing near the lake.

And, as Shalin had predicted, as soon as Nightmare made it out of the forest, he had to scramble to an abrupt halt. They dropped from the sky, stretching out in a line from the lake, and across a good portion of the clearing. They didn’t attack. They didn’t want her hurt.

They wanted her to shift, hoping she’d panic and try to go over them.

The glint of their sharpened weapons told her exactly what they’d do.

With one wing, she wouldn’t be going anywhere and then they could carry her wherever they’d like. She’d read that’s how they kept dragonesses they stole, but Shalin had always hoped those were merely lies told by their enemies. Now she saw there was truth to it. And although Theodoric obviously had hoped for more from his kin, some of the old ways were simply too hard to give up when desperate. For although they could sate their lust with a human, they could never breed with one.

“Dragoness,” one said, and the voice sounded familiar. She remembered him.

“You’re Theodoric’s brother.”

“Aye. Erdmann. Twelfth oldest.”

Shalin didn’t even want to know how many they had in total to warrant that answer.

“Theodoric won’t be happy with what you’ve done here today,” she told him.

“Not at first. But once we battle for the right to be your mate, he’ll understand.”

“Ailean will come for me.” And she knew it to be true. She knew it with all her heart. “He’ll destroy all of you to get me back.”

“We smell him on you,” one of the others remarked. “But I’d bet gold he hasn’t marked you. So how attached could he be?”

A few of them moved in a bit closer, slowly trying to surround her.

Nightmare stood perfectly still but Shalin could tell by his tense muscles he knew what was happening; he was just waiting for the right moment.

“It doesn’t matter, Shalin the Innocent, if he comes for you,” Erdmann told her softly. “The queen of this land will never send an army out to bring back one dragoness. And if he comes alone, he’ll die alone.”

Slowly, Shalin smiled. She’d heard nothing, she’d always remember that, but still somehow she knew. “Ailean the Wicked needs no army to bring me back—and he never fights alone.” Her smile grew wide. “He has his kin.”

Moving as silently as the smallest mouse, Kyna landed on Erdmann’s back, bringing her tall steel shield down with her. She slammed it into his neck, slamming him to the ground. The sharp end of her shield rammed into the purple scales with such force it ripped through them and into the flesh until it was buried in the dirt and Erdmann’s head thudded to the ground.

Kennis landed on the back of another dragon and buried her lance in his spine.

Kyna looked over at Shalin and Shalin no longer saw anger. At least, not toward her. “Go!” Kyna ordered, jumping off Erdmann’s still flailing body as the blood from his neck continued to spay across the clearing.

Nightmare must have understood Kyna because he took off with no prompting, running under and around the battling dragons as more of Ailean’s kin dropped from the skies, weapons in hand, and ready to kill.

They tore back to the castle and burst through the courtyard gates as bells rang in warning, and Ailean’s human soldiers prepared for battle, the servants scrambling for someplace safe to hide.

Nightmare slid to a halt right in front of Madenn.

She let out a breath when she saw Shalin on the horse’s back. “I feared —”

“I know.” Shalin reached down and grabbed a soldier trying to dart by.

“Get the gates closed—now.”

With a nod, he took off running as Shalin slid off Nightmare’s back.

“What good will that do?” Madenn demanded. “They’ll simply fly over it.”

“Leave that to me. Get everyone—” Shalin cut herself off as she grabbed Madenn around the waist and yanked her out of the way, the bolt of lightning hitting where the woman had been standing.

Shalin pushed her away, staring up at the sky. “Go. Now.”

Moving quickly to the center of the courtyard, Shalin finally shifted.

Going on memory alone, she drew a circle of ancient symbols in the dirt.

Once done, she looked around desperately until she spotted another soldier.

“Your shield,” she shouted at him. “Give it to me.” He tossed the metal shield at her, and Shalin caught it easily, placing it carefully on the ground inside the circle.

Lightning danced around her, but she knew none would hit her directly since they couldn’t afford for her to be hurt. She kept her wings tucked in close to her body and focused all her energy into the shield. As it pulsed to life, she slammed her claw down on it and the metal flattened, turning to liquid. She chanted a recently learned spell and the liquid disappeared inside her hand. It tore through her. Through her organs and veins, tearing up through her lungs.

Shalin raised her other claw, palm up, and liquid burst out and up, heading toward the sky. It exploded over the castle and the courtyard, creating a solid metal bubble over all she visualized. A shield now for the entire structure.

She heard roars of anger, then screams as unleashed lightning bolts slammed back into those who sent them.

“By the gods,” she heard Madenn whisper.

For some reason that made Shalin chuckle—just before everything went black and her head took out the front of the castle where she landed.

Ailean held the head while Arranz held the back claws and Kennis happily chopped away at the neck. Once they separated head from body, they let it drop.

It hadn’t taken long, wiping out a small army of Lightning dragons.

Well, it would have if he’d been fighting with the queen’s army. There were rules to follow and those who gave orders to listen to.

But a family free-for-all, as his father liked to call it, usually ended pretty quickly. Although it was quite enjoyable while it lasted.

Glancing around, he saw that his kin had it under control, so he motioned to Arranz and Bideven. “Back to the castle. We need to—”

Ailean abruptly stopped talking. His head tilted to the side as he stared out over the trees toward his home.

“What’s that?” he asked his brothers, pointing at the silver thing glinting from the early afternoon sun.

“I...I have no idea,” Bideven responded. And since he was the smartest of them all, if he didn’t know, none of them knew.

Panic flooded through him and Ailean charged forward, heading toward the castle. As he neared, he saw several Lightning dragons lay on the ground. They weren’t dead, but they were unconscious.

His brothers were on either side of him, Kyna and Kennis hovering behind him.

Slowly, he moved around the foreign thing above his castle. It fit snuggly against the gate surrounding his castle. A perfect fit. Eventually, not knowing what else to do, Ailean leaned forward a bit and rapped on it with his fist. It was metal. Solid metal.

“What in all the hells is this?”

Arranz tapped his shoulder and pointed to the middle of it. “Brother...

isn’t that your crest?”

It was. The crest his human soldiers wore on their shields and surcoats.

Ailean laid his claw flat against it, and the solid metal suddenly wobbled a bit before dropping away completely. Stunned, he watched the metal shrink and change back into the small human shield it once was, landing with a loud clatter at the clawed feet of Shalin.

“Oh, gods!”

He quickly landed beside her, his brothers and the twins right by his side, Nightmare anxiously pawing the ground near her left shoulder.

“Shalin?” He pushed her hair from her face, leaned in close and said loudly, “Shalin! Can you hear me?”

She winced. “Don’t scream.”

Ailean let out a breath and glanced back at his kin. “She lives.”

In answer to that, Shalin coughed and a piece of metal flew out of her mouth, landing near the shield. Arranz picked it up and held it next to a small open hole toward the base.

“Look at that...it fits.”

“That’s it.” Kyna stood. “I’m going out beyond the castle gates to kill the rest of the Lightnings. That I understand. This—” she motioned to the shield Arranz held “—I don’t.” She took flight, her sister right behind her.

“Shalin...what did you do?”

“Did what you told me to. I protected our people.”

Ailean gave a small smile. “Yes, luv, you certainly did.”

But she didn’t answer. She’d passed out again.

15

Shalin woke when she heard arguing. She rolled her eyes. Can they never get along?

Glancing around, she realized they had her back in the cave. She lay on a huge pile of furs, a large pitfire nearby, and the disgusting taste of metal still in the back of her throat.

She pushed herself up until she could sit back on her haunches. The cave shook as the arguing between kin became more...insistent.

Shalin didn’t know what they were arguing about and she didn’t care.

Instead she focused on finding a bit of parchment and a quill.

Shaking blood out of his eyes, Ailean slammed his fist into one brother’s face and used his tail to toss the other across the cave floor.

Bideven jumped up and charged and Ailean lowered himself, waiting for the hit.

But Kyna stepped between them, grabbing both brothers by the hair and shaking. Ailean would have to admit—it hurt.

“Stop it. Both of you.” She shoved them apart while Kennis helped Arranz to his feet. “Is this about Shalin?”

Ailean frowned, confused by the question. “No.”

“Then what are you three up to?”

The brothers all shrugged. “We were bored,” they said at the same time.

Disgusted, Kyna paced away from them. “That’s brilliant.”

“What’s wrong?”

“She’s gone,” Kennis informed them.

“What do you mean she’s—” Ailean pushed past them and walked into the chamber they’d put her in. All that was left—a piece of parchment.

“I’ll be back,” Bideven read over Ailean’s shoulder.

“Is that a promise or a threat?” Arranz asked.

Ailean crumpled the parchment in his hand at the same time he expanded his wings, sending both of his brothers flying across the chamber.

Shalin walked into her father’s work chamber and smiled. How could she not when she found the old dragon on his knees and under the enormous wood desk he used to work on? His tail lazily swung back and forth while he dug through books and muttered to himself. Her heart swelled at the sight of him. Even that sight. Gods, she loved him so much.

“Father,” she said softly, as not to startle him. But he jumped anyway, slamming his head into the desk.

He moved out from under it and smiled at his daughter. “Shalin!”

“Hello, Father.”

“What are you doing here? Is everything all right?” He walked closer to her. “You look tired?”

“North dragons came for me.”

“Oh, dear.” He leaned in a bit, his face solemnly sincere. “I feared as much. Do you need me to protect you?”

Shalin snorted, and her father smirked. “Thank you very much, Daughter.”

Covering her snout, Shalin shook her head. “Forgive me, Father. I didn’t mean—”

He waved her words away. “We both know I’m no warrior.”

“But you’d die to protect me.”

“Of course.” He hugged Shalin. “You mean everything to me.” He kissed her brow. “Sit and you’ll tell me why you’re here.”

Her father motioned to a spot closer to the pitfire.

“Now I have some delicious wine here somewhere. If I could just remember where I put it.”

Shalin smiled. Her father misplaced everything. It used to drive her poor mother insane.

“Ahh. Here.” He grabbed two goblets and what looked to be a very old bottle of wine before he sat down across from his daughter.

“Are you hungry?”

“Not really.”

“Like your mother with that. Won’t eat when something worries you.”

He pushed the filled goblet closer to her with the tip of his claw. “Drink then talk.”

She sipped the wine. “It’s very good.”

“I found it just the other day. I think I put it away three or four hundred years ago.” He shrugged. “Or maybe it was last week. I never remember.”

Her father sipped his wine and said, “So what is it, Shalin?”

“I’ve made a decision.”

“About Ailean?”

She nodded. “He told me he loves me.”

“And do you love him?”

“I do.”

“Then why the hesitation to admit you want him as your mate?”

“Father, they call him Ailean the Whore.”

“Aye. They do. They also call him Ailean the Deadly. Ailean the Powerful. Ailean the Decimator, which is my personal favorite. He has many names you can be proud of.” Her father thought for a moment. “If you’re a dragon,” he added for good measure.

“But there are so many of them, father. There’s Ailean, his two brothers, an untold number of aunts and uncles. Cousins. And the twins. I’m not used to so many around me.”

“It’s time you had kin of your own, Shalin. You’ve never been like your mother and me.”

That surprised her more than she could say. “I haven’t?”

“No. Don’t you think a father knows? You were lonely. And bored.

When the queen asked for a companion for her daughter, I sent you there thinking it would be good for you to get out and meet others. I had no idea the princess was a vindictive little bitch, though.”

Shalin almost spit up the wine she just drank. “Father!”

“It’s true. If I’d known how bad she was, royalty be damned.”

“It was a good experience. I’ve had access to books and knowledge I never would have, had I not been part of the court.”

Her father smiled at her attempts to soothe him. “And you’ve become quite the diplomat as well.”

Shalin laughed. “I guess I have.”

“The Cadwaladr Clan needs that, Shalin. They need you. Ailean needs you.”

“He does?”

“Gods, lass. Are you that oblivious?” She couldn’t believe her father, of all dragons, had the nerve to actually say that. “He’s lost his heart to you, Shalin. Make no mistake.”

“And I’ve lost my heart to him, Father. That’s why I’ve decided to stay with him.” She placed the glass down and ran her claws through her hair.

“But—”

“But what, Shalin? What has you so worried?”

“I promised her. Promised I’d become an Elder and I doubt I can do that if I’m the mate of Ailean the Whore. His reputation alone will—”

“Promised who?”

“Mother. Before she died. I promised her.”

Her father stared at her for several long moments, then said, “She’s dead, Shalin.”

“Father!”

“She is. I miss her every day, but she’s dead. And I will be soon enough. Will you go on living for me as well? Long after I’ve gone?”

“I don’t want to disappoint her.”

“It’s impossible to disappoint the dead. You made promises to a dying dragoness when you were barely fifty winters.” Actually thirty, but why argue with him now? “Still a hatchling, in my estimation.”

“And you, Father?” she asked the question that bothered her more than anything. “Will I disappoint you?”

“Disappoint me? If you don’t become an Elder? I’ll be more disappointed if you don’t allow yourself some happiness.”

Annoyed that her father saw some things so clearly, she muttered, “I never said Ailean made me happy.”

Her father laughed, his old voice cracking. She remembered when it was strong and clear, ringing out through the cave chambers.

“If he didn’t make you happy, you wouldn’t be worried about staying or going. You would have already left. Sweet the world may see you as, Daughter, but I know better. And so does that frighteningly large dragon you love, I’d wager. You always get what you want in the end. Not only that—” Her father took her goblet and poured what was left of her wine into his glass. “—you bring out the best in each other. There are some who bring out the worst, but you and Ailean...” He nodded. “A good, solid match.”

Shalin threw up her claws in exasperation. “I’ve tried to kill him. And I’ve tried to pull the hair out of his head. Actually, I’ve tried to kill him twice—although that first time was a necessity.”

“And both times, I daresay he most likely deserved it. But you’re dealing with the Cadwaladr Clan now, my love. They don’t want the weak in their bloodline. Every time you fight him, challenge him, you make him yours. And, if I thought for a minute he meant nothing to you or he was a bad match, I’d tell you to send him a very stern letter and get back to your studies. But he means everything to you, Shalin, and we both know it.”

She sighed in resignation. “True.”

“And think of it this way—among that family, you’ll always be the smartest.”

“Father!”

“Yes, dear?”

“So you’re just going to sit here? And wait?”

“Yes,” Ailean stated to Bideven—yet again. “I’m just going to sit here and wait.”

He thought when he began sharpening his swords and spears, his brothers and cousins would leave him be. No such luck.

“And what if she doesn’t come? What if she stays in her school?”

“Then she’ll have made her decision.”

One of his cousins angrily tapped a finger against the Great Hall’s worn wood table. “I say we tear the school down stone by stone until she agrees to come back to you.”

Ailean held his blade close to his face and studied the edge, examining it for any nicks or jagged edges. “And why would I do that, cousin?”

“So she’d understand her place belongs with you.”

“Should I cut off one of her wings too, so she can’t escape? Then we can be just like the Lightnings.”

“I never said—”

“No. You didn’t. But you might as well have.”

“The full moon is tonight, brother,” Bideven pointed out—yet again.

“Yes. I’m well aware of that fact.”

“And if she doesn’t come tonight, Ailean? Or any night? Then what will you do? Find another?”

“There is no other, Arranz. We both know that.”

“Then perhaps our cousin is right. Perhaps—”

“No. This is her decision to make. I ignored her wishes once before and she cut my throat. And that I’d happily risk again, but I won’t risk losing her.”

As one, all of the kin cluttering his Great Hall began shouting at him, telling him what they thought he ought to do. Most of it involving violence against anyone who would possibly step between him and Shalin.

But Ailean’s patience waned, and in one movement, he stood and brought the blade of his favorite broadsword down on the thick oak table, splitting it into two.

Not surprisingly, that brought immediate silence.

“Now,” he said calmly, “I’ll ask again. Does anyone else have anything to say?”

“No,” they all said as one.

16

It took Shalin a bit longer to get back to Kerezik, since her father decided to drink a bit more than was good for him and she had to stay to ensure he didn’t pass out. But she had a few hours before the moon would rise. Enough time for something to eat and some time to talk to Ailean before tonight. Before he made her his.

She landed outside the castle gates and shifted. A guard standing outside immediately handed her a robe. What she found fascinating was that he wouldn’t look at her.

“Something wrong?”

“No, ma’am.”

“All right.” She pulled the robe on and tied it at the waist. The gates immediately opened and she walked inside. It took her only moments to realize that, although they all nodded to her in greeting, no one looked her in the eyes.

Madenn met her on the stairs, a basket of warm bread in her hands.

“Don’t worry. They’ll get over it.”

“I scared them.”

“A bit. But they’re grateful. Give them time. Our ancestors were scared of Ailean in the beginning as well.”

Wincing at the state of the front of Ailean’s castle where her head had crashed into it, she asked, “Is Ailean in his room?”

“No,” Kyna told her from inside the castle walls where a makeshift door had been erected. “He’s not here.”

Patting Madenn on the shoulder, Shalin walked into the Great Hall.

“Where is he, then?”

“Out with his brothers. He should be back soon.”

“You just left,” Kennis accused.

“That’s between me and Ailean.”

“Fair enough.”

Shalin nodded at the two and walked toward the stairs. She had her foot on the first step when she was propelled forward. She never hit the stairs, though, as hands gripped her tight and pinned her arms behind her back.

Looking over her shoulder at the twins, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Handling this.”

The pair forced her up the stairs as Shalin tried to shake them loose.

“You can’t do this!”

“We can,” Kyna told her.

“We are,” Kennis confirmed.

“We know you two. You’ll talk and talk and the full moon will pass.

That won’t work for us.”

“Work for you?”

“Aye. And don’t screech so. Makes me head ache. Don’t it, Kennis?”

“That it does, Kyna.”

“I’ll shift,” she threatened. “I’ll shift and take this whole blasted building with me.”

The twins stopped walking. Kyna moved right up next to her and said against her ear, “And kill all these lovely humans? Would you really do that, Shalin the Innocent?”

“From protector to murderer in the beat of a heart,” Kennis said with a smirk.

Shalin glared at them. “I hate you both.”

“Hate us today. Love us tomorrow,” Kyna laughed while she and her sister shoved Shalin through Ailean’s bedroom door.

Ailean walked out of the stables and into Madenn, who was about to walk in.

“What?” he grumbled.

“Still in a bad mood, I see?”

“And it’s getting worse. What is it?”

Madenn gave a small smile. “She’s back and—oh!”

Ailean kissed her forehead and ran off toward the castle. He was up the stairs and heading toward his room when the twins stumbled out, laughing hysterically. But when they saw him, they immediately stopped, which had his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“What have you done?”

Kyna and Kennis passed him, both patting his shoulders.

“Just helping,” Kyna said on a giggle.

“But you better get in there,” Kennis added.

“Before she tears the walls down around us.”

Then they took off running.

Ailean walked to the door and opened it. His first thought was, When did I get a headboard?

Shalin heard the door open again, but when she looked over her shoulder, it wasn’t the twins.

“Oh, gods,” she groaned, then again desperately tried to get loose of the leather bonds the twins had tied around her wrists and to the headboard that, according to the twins, had only been put up that afternoon while Ailean was away.

And she thought the North dragons had laid in wait for her.

“Well, well, well,” Ailean said jovially, closing the door behind him.

“Look what we have here. A gift for Ailean!”

“I’m going to kill all of you. It will be my mission in life.”

Bad enough they’d tied her up at all, but they’d bound her wrists so close to the wood headboard that she faced the wall. And although they’d tossed a fur over her, she still had her ass sticking out to the world —and to Ailean!

“Now, now, my sweet, innocent Shalin. No need to get so testy.”

Shalin closed her eyes as Ailean slowly pulled the fur off her body.

“I do have the best family,” he groaned.

“Ailean—”

“Do you know why the ancestors began marking each other while human?”

“I—I never really thought...” Ailean’s hand brushed down her back to her thigh. “I have no bloody idea,” she laughed, reveling in his touch.

The way his fingers stroked her.

“Damn.” And he laughed with her. “I was hoping one of us would know.”

The bed dipped as Ailean moved in behind her. He brushed his head against her back, his hair trailing along her skin like the finest silk, his lips against her spine.

“Where should I mark you, Shalin?”

He’d already stripped and the heat from his naked body nearly seared hers. His hands landed on either side of her own, his big body braced over hers.

Ailean pressed his hips forward and Shalin groaned at the contact.

“Tell me.”

“I don’t care,” she finally admitted.

“The breast?” One rough fingertip circled her nipple, toying with it. “Or perhaps the neck.” He kissed her on the back of her neck while his hand moved lower. “Perhaps your belly or something lower...”

Shalin pushed back against him. “I don’t care where, Ailean,” she panted out. “Just make me yours.”

Ailean briefly buried his face between Shalin’s shoulder blades and let what she’d said wash over him. She wanted him as her own. She wanted him until their ancestors called them home.

“And Ailean?” she said softly. “I do love you.”

That was more than he could stand. More than he could ever hope to handle.

Rising up, he dug his hand into her hair, turning her head so he could kiss her, plundering her mouth with his own. Their tongues tangled and stroked until Shalin pulled back.

“Don’t make me wait. Not a second longer.”

He didn’t. Kissing his way down her back, Ailean gripped her breasts with both hands. He massaged them and toyed with the nipples, loving how hard they were against his fingers.

Ailean kissed her lower back where her hips met her ass. He released one breast and used that hand to stroke her pussy, already wet and hot and all his.

Then, when he had her writhing, had her begging, he dragged his tongue across her lower back. Shalin gasped and groaned in pain even as her body shook under his, even as her pussy gripped his fingers. He stroked her clit while his tongue continued its journey across her lower back.

“Gods,” she moaned desperately, her body shaking. “Ailean...”

“I love you, Shalin,” he told her as he pushed her over the edge, the mark of his Claiming burned into her flesh. “I’ll always love you.”

“I know,” she sobbed before she came all over his hand.

Then Shalin was his.

Reaching up, he untied her bonds, determined to keep the leather thongs for later. Ailean grabbed Shalin’s hips and flipped her over while pulling her down on the bed and under him. He kissed her and pushed his cock inside her, gasping at how hot and tight she was.

He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs and rested his forehead against hers. “I love you.”

She smiled, her hands cupping his face. “Finish it, Ailean.”

Ailean started off slow, taking his time so he could enjoy every second.

He kissed her as he drove into her, wanting to touch every part of her.

Shalin’s legs wrapped around his waist, her grip on him near-painful.

“Gods, Shalin,” he told her, “you feel so good.”

He took her harder, deeper, until Shalin climaxed again. He came with her, his head thrown back, his own body shaking in release.

Gasping, exhausted, Ailean collapsed on top of her. He grinned when he heard her grunt, laughed when she started hitting him.

He rolled onto his back, bringing her with him. “I only needed a moment to relax.”

“You’re as big as an ox,” she growled at him.

“I was recovering,” he said before he pulled her close and started kissing her throat.

Shalin giggled and pushed at his shoulders. “I thought you were recovering!” she squealed desperately.

Grinning, Ailean pushed her to her back, “I recover quickly.”

“I don’t.”

“Guess we’ll have to work on that,” he sighed as he sunk into her again.

Shalin stared up at the ceiling in the dark bedroom and wondered how late it was. She’d lost track of time hours ago. Ailean simply didn’t give her time to think about anything but him.

“Ravenous beast,” she whispered softly, smiling.

“You called?” Ailean asked, reaching for her again.

“No!” she squealed, slapping at his hands. “Rest! I need rest!”

He snuggled in close. “Fine. Another ten minutes.”

“Very generous.”

“Keep that tone and it goes to five.”

Ailean’s arms were wrapped tight around her, keeping her warm and safe.

“Where did you go this morning?” he asked, one hand stroking her forearm.

“To see my father.” She turned her head and looked at Ailean. “He means too much to me not to have talked to him before—”

“There is nothing to explain to me, Shalin. I understand.” And he did.

She could see that in his eyes. “You know, Shalin, there’s this nice little cave not far from here, close to my mother’s. If we fixed it up nice, think he’d mind living there?”

“It—it depends,” she stuttered in surprise. “Knowing my father, we could probably move him and all his things without him ever complaining as long as we don’t disturb his current work.”

“We’ll do that, then. I worry about him. He’s older and alone. I know you’d feel better with him closer.”

Letting out a shaky breath, Shalin said, “That would mean much to me, Ailean. Thank you.”

“Nothing to thank.” He kissed her temple, her cheek. “Family is family, luv.”

He stared at her intently and said, “Rest is over, Shalin.”

“That was not ten minutes.”

“Too bad.”

She batted at his hands and slipped out from under him. “Wait. Wait. I want to see.”

She scrambled off the bed and went to the tall mirror in the corner of the room. She had to wipe off all the dust first since it seemed never to have been used and probably belonged to the humans who’d once lived there.

Turning so her back faced the mirror, she looked over her shoulder at what Ailean had burned into her flesh. “Huh,” she said in surprise.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s so small.” It truly was. A lounging dragon burned into her lower back. The point of its tail aimed right above the cheeks. Over the years she’d seen and heard of some very elaborate Claimings. Brands covering an entire arm or leg, sometimes an entire back or chest. One day, she’d mark Ailean as her own as well, but not right away. It was a male thing and she didn’t bother trying to understand it.

“You don’t like it?” He stood in front of her, his hands on her waist and leaning over her shoulder to take a better look.

“No, no. I do like it. Very much. It’s just so...so...”

“So...what?”

“Subtle.”

He glared down at her. “Your point being?”

“Nothing.”

“You don’t think I’m subtle?”

“I didn’t say that.” But the laughing wasn’t helping, either.

“Your rest is over, dragoness.”

“I’m not done—”

“Later,” Ailean told her, walking her back to the bed until he could push her on it.

But as Ailean moved over her, they both stopped and stared at the window.

“What is that?” she asked.

“You don’t want to know.”

Slipping out from under him again, Shalin walked to the window and pushed out the thick glass encased in a metal frame. In shock, she stared down into the courtyard.

“Told you,” Ailean said, now standing behind her, again looking over her shoulder.

They all stood out there, all the Cadwaladr kin, cousins, aunts, uncles, and brothers of Ailean. Now her kin. Ale in hand, they all stood outside the window—singing.

For the life of her, she’d never be able to tell a soul what they’d been singing—it was unintelligible—but she knew it came from their drunken hearts. And gods, they were so very drunk.

“Congratulations, you two,” Kyna called up.

“We’re so happy,” Kennis added, sobbing for no apparent reason.

“Does this mean we’re royals too?” another cousin asked.

“Let’s fly to Devenallt Mountain and ask the queen!” cried his aunt Briaga. “Who’s with me?” She didn’t get far, though. She fell backward seconds later. Out cold.

Shalin grinned, trying not to laugh instead, until one of Ailean’s uncles called out, “The royal there...she’s got nice tits, eh?”

Ailean kissed Shalin’s cheek and let out a sigh. “Welcome to the family, luv.”

She looked down at her chest and back up into his beautiful face.

“Thank you?”

Epilogue

“Oiy, brother!” The bed went up and crashed back down. “It’s time.”

Shaking his head and yawning, Ailean dragged himself out of bed.

“Good. I want my mate back where she belongs.” Under him. Over him.

As long as he was in her, all was right.

“So selfish,” Arranz chided.

“I’m not the one been complaining about no stories at mealtime, you whiny bastard.”

Ailean tugged on a pair of leather leggings and walked past his brother and out into the hall. At midday, the house was its usual busy self.

Servants and young ones under foot, along with kin who’d dropped by for whatever reason. He walked past one of the bedrooms and saw one of his younger sons in human form leaning out the window, flirting with one of the local girls.

Arranz smiled and stepped back as Ailean snuck up behind the young dragon. He stood behind him a good five seconds and the little fool, so busy trying to seduce the blacksmith’s daughter, didn’t even realize he was behind him.

Grinning, he slammed his hands against his son’s back, sending him flipping out the window. So stunned, the little bastard didn’t even shift to dragon and instead landed on the hard, unforgiving ground. Although the girl moved fast enough out of the way. Not too bad for a human.

“You need to learn to pay attention, boy!” Ailean yelled down, earning a snarl and a curse that would have his mate yanking someone’s tail in reprimand.

Brushing his hands together, he walked back into the hallway and to his brother.

“I’m surprised your children haven’t tried to kill you in your sleep, Ailean.”

“They hate me now, but they’ll learn to appreciate me when they go into battle.”

The brothers went down the stairs and across the hall. Ailean took flight as soon as he made it outside, and he arrived at his destination in minutes. He walked into the brightly lit cave, now decorated with torches and tapestries along the walls. Shalin had made the space her own and he was happy to have life in it again as it had when his mother breathed.

And this time, the cave was always protected. Shalin and their offspring were always protected, even when he was leagues away. He never worried for their safety because his kin made sure he never had to.

Ailean walked past a new batch of puppies, direct descendants of Shalin’s first dog—whom she never did get around to naming. A few more steps brought him past the cavern where she kept her favorite horse. Right now that meant direct descendant of Nightmare whom Shalin called Dragon’s Heart but whom everyone else called Insane Bastard.

Ailean found Shalin in the hatching chamber. With gentle flame, she blew on the egg and brushed it with her claw while holding a book with the other. After eight sons and daughters already, the whole process seemed to have lost most of its allure for his Shalin.

“Well?” he asked, walking in.

“Give it time,” she said without raising her head from her book. “You’re too impatient.”

“I miss you,” he growled and Shalin smiled, finally looking up at him.

“And I miss you, you old bear. But only a dragoness can protect her egg properly.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means yelling at your own that they need to get a move on because you’re bored is not how the life-giving process works, my love.”

“That was one time.”

“You’re much better once they’re out of the egg than while they’re in it.

But barely.”

The shell cracked and Shalin grinned, motioning him forward. He’d missed the last three because he’d been off in battle against the Northland dragons. But he’d been very glad to be here for this one.

He stood over the egg and watched as a small black fist punched through the shell. He went to remove more of it but Shalin slapped at his claws.

“Leave it be, Ailean. They must do this on their own.”

He sighed impatiently and stared. A few more punches. Several long pauses. And then the top of the shell broke off. Ailean leaned over even farther and looked in. Pitch-black eyes nearly covered by pitch-black hair glared up at him.

“Is he supposed to frown like that?”

Shalin leaned over like her mate. “He’s serious, is all.” She leaned in a bit closer. “And I’m not sure he likes you.”

Ailean smirked. “Thank you.”

The hatchling finally looked away from him and at his mother. The glare faded to a much more neutral frown and Shalin reached for him.

“Let’s see you, little one.” She lifted him up and said, “A male.”

“Another one? We need more daughters.”

“Must you complain? I’ve given you nine all together. Four of them daughters. You’re lucky you got any hatchlings at all.”

His son wrapped around Shalin’s neck, his long black tail looping around her arm.

“Maybe this one will be a scholar, eh?” Ailean said hopefully.

“I don’t think we should hold our breath for that anymore.”

Ailean leaned in close to get a better look at his son. “What will we call him?”

“I don’t know.”

The dragon turned and glared at his father and then unleashed a puff of smoke that, when he was older, would be a deadly ball of flame.

Coughing, Ailean stepped back. “Little bastard.”

Shalin laughed out loud, no longer remotely shy after so many years around his kin. “Ailean,” she chastised. “Be nice. You’re probably scaring him.”

“This one doesn’t look scared of a damn thing.” A good warrior he’d make with his horns already growing in. Although Ailean did hold out hope that at least one of their offspring would be more reader than born killer. At least for Shalin’s sake.

“I know what we can name him,” he finally said, once he brushed the soot off his snout.

“It better not be ‘little bastard.’”

“No. No. That name your father always liked. What was it?”

Nearly a decade ago, Shalin had lost her father and it had devastated her.

And although she’d gotten through it as they all knew she would, Ailean still knew she missed the old brown dragon every day.

Shalin looked at her son. “Bercelak. He always liked the name Bercelak.”

“Aye. That’s the one.” They’d already named their oldest Baudwin, so Ailean thought they could use one her father had liked. “What do you think, little bastard? Bercelak the Black fit you well enough?”

“Stop calling him little bastard.”

“He is a little bastard.”

Glaring at her mate, she pulled her son off her neck and into her arms.

“Would you like that, my son? To be Bercelak the Black?”

Still too young to answer, the small dragon instead studied his mother intently. Small black claws petting her cheeks, down her snout. She nuzzled him and Bercelak nuzzled her back.

“Aye,” she finally said. “I think that name fits him well.” She hefted Bercelak in her arms. “He needs to sleep now and, later, he’ll feed.”

She turned to walk toward the pitfire and that’s when the little demon lashed at Ailean with his tail, almost taking out an eye. The glare he gave his father over his mother’s shoulder told Ailean all he needed to know about this one.

“You’ll stay?” Shalin asked as she stretched out by the fire, her son tucked tight into her arms.

“Aye. I will.” Ailean settled in behind her and kissed her neck. “Now tell me what’s wrong. You’re worried. I hear it in your voice.”

“With Adienna on the throne now? Of course I’m worried.” But she still tangled her tail with his own—gods, he loved when she did that.

Whether as dragon or human, Shalin made every moment they shared perfect.

“Don’t be. They’ll all be ready when the time comes. Especially this one. Look at that angry face, Shalin. He’ll take care of himself just fine.”

“Aye, Ailean,” Shalin teased, rubbing the frown lines on her son’s forehead, “but besides us, who will ever love him with such an angry frown?”

“Who says I love him?”

She slammed her elbow into his stomach so hard he could only gasp.

And, for the first time, the little bastard grinned.

“I’ll find him someone,” Ailean vowed through gritted teeth, watching as his newest son fell asleep against his mother’s shoulder.

“Think he’ll ever find what we have?” she whispered, her voice sounding drowsy, her body relaxing against his.

Holding his family close to his heart, Ailean whispered back, “We can only hope he’ll be that lucky.”

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