“Or,” Bram quickly cut in, “I could do a quiet inquiry into the matter. Perhaps I can find more accurate information than torture can provide.”
“Did I say torture? I don’t remember saying torture. But your mercy, as always, leads the way. So you have my permission.”
“Thank you, Majesty. And the truce?”
“Truce?”
“The one you wanted with Empress Helena?”
“The squid? Oh, yes. Yes.” Although Ghleanna knew the conniving cow forgot nothing. “Leave the documents with Elder Margh.”
“Very well, my queen.”
“And thank you, Lord Bram, for all your excellent work and sacrifice.”
“I’m at your service and the service of your throne.”
She smirked. “I know.” Rhiannon glanced at the alliance document the Sand Dragon had signed. “But I must say that when Bercelak and I have our offspring, we will never allow them to be as arrogant as that!”
Ghleanna passed one quick glance to Bram before they both replied, “Uh-huh.”
Please don’t hug me. Please don’t hug me.
But she did. And now Bram had two sets of black eyes glaring at him.
Finally, he said out loud, “It’s not me! I swear!”
Rhiannon laughed and leaned back from Bram. “So cute! Isn’t he cute, Bercelak?”
“No.”
“Bercelak’s only teasing.”
“No, I’m not.”
And then Ghleanna was there, prying Rhiannon’s forearms from around Bram’s shoulders.
“Back off, she-viper! This one’s mine. You’ve got yours. Now you’re stuck with him!”
“Oy!” Bercelak bellowed.
Bram pulled Ghleanna away from the one Dragonwitch who could turn her blood to acid. “Everyone just calm down. There’s no point in—”
“And what the hells is going on with you and my sister?” Bercelak demanded.
“Uh . . .”
Ghleanna stepped between Bram and her brother.
“I wouldn’t challenge him if I were you, Bercelak.”
The greatest Dragonwarrior snorted. “Is that right?”
“He’s got skills.”
“What skills?”
“He’s a right good head-butter. You should see what he did with the Fins.”
Good gods, had the female gone mad?
Bercelak moved in. “Their heads are soft—like pudding. Not like mine. Hard as granite.”
That’s when Ghleanna said, “Addolgar says his head is harder than yours.”
“That’s ’cause it is,” Addolgar happily tossed in.
“Centaur shit.”
“Come on then, brother. Try me.”
Bercelak refocused his attention on his brother and Ghleanna grabbed Bram’s claw and dragged him out of the throne room.
“Wait . . . are they really going to—”
“Head butt each other until one passes out or dies of blood on the brain? Yep. They really are.”
“And they protect our queen and lands. How reassuring.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
“Ghleanna.” And Bram stopped, bringing her up short.
“What is it?”
“I’m a dragon. I naturally assume I always get what I want. But there are no guarantees with you, I’m afraid.”
She grinned. “Are you asking me now what you should have asked me a fortnight ago when we were lounging in the Sand Dragon King’s salt springs?”
“Well, I couldn’t rightly ask with your brothers, sisters, and cousins constantly popping in to stare at us and say, ‘You two ain’t done yet? What exactly are you doing in there anyway? ’”
“Good point. But you are asking me now?”
“I am.”
“To be your mate?”
“ I am.”
“Because you love me as I love you?”
“Aye.”
“Because you can’t imagine your life without me?”
Bram cupped Ghleanna’s jaw with his claw, stroked a talon across her scales, and in a heartfelt whisper replied, “Aye.”
That’s when Ghleanna crossed her forearms over her chest and demanded, “Are you going to keep hugging that Rhiannon?”
“But it’s not me!”
Epilogue
“Bram?”
Bram looked up from his work and smiled. “You’re back quick.”
His mate shook her head. “We’ve been gone eighteen months battling bloody Lightnings.”
“Oh.” He pointed at the document he worked on. “This is the truce for that. If it makes you feel—”
“It doesn’t.”
Oh, well. Best not to dwell, and changing the subject was always a good way to go. “Did you know they insisted I add a clause just for your nephew? What exactly was Gwenvael doing in the north?”
“You really don’t want to know.” She came around his chair and dropped into his lap. “Just wished you’d been there to calm that situation down.”
“Or you could stop bringing Gwenvael with you anywhere .”
“That’s our next option. At least not until he has a mate who can control his whorish ass. He’s beginning to rival my father!”
“Beginning?”
“Och! Let’s not speak of it.” She kissed him and Bram held her tight.