not fighting by her side was incomprehensible to him. Aislinn gave him a quick hug, sprang upright, and wove magic into a shield to mask their power and render them invisible. The battle raged around her, and the air thickened with smoke, dragons’ fire, and the coppery, metallic stench of blood. The humans stood tall, fighting courageously. Even after everything, they hadn’t lost their pluck. Proud to be a part of her kind, she targeted a pair of Lemurians and sprinted to what she hoped would be a decent vantage point.
* * * *
Dewi didn’t bother making her landing elegant. So what if it rattled Arawn’s bones? She took them across the Irish Sea to a crumbling castle in Scotland and snarled, “Get off me.”
“As madam dragon wishes.” Power flashed and the god of the dead ended up standing in front of her with his arms crossed over his chest. In contrast to his mild words, his dark eyes glinted dangerously.
“Explain yourself.” Fire streamed from her mouth, and she didn’t take care to divert it. Arawn rolled his eyes and warded himself.
“I could have done so back in Inishowen,” Arawn said. “This side trip was entirely unnecessary.”
“Your opinion. Not mine.” More fire; a small wooden building went up like a torch. “I’m waiting.”
“Ye canna keep secrets,” Arawn said. “’Tis that simple. Plus, ye were in a fine muddle once Nidhogg disappeared and ye lost your clutch. Half mad as I recall. It wasna the time to tell you Odin targeted your dragons to even the score because Nidhogg was gone.”
“I would have confronted that slimy poor-excuse-for-a-god and burned him to a cinder. That ridiculous Valhalla of his too.”
Arawn nodded. “I rest my case. ’Twas precisely why we decided to remain silent.”
“We?” Dewi’s temper escalated another notch.
“Aye. Bran, Gwydion, and myself.”
“Of course,” she growled. “The dynamic threesome. Why didn’t you include Fionn?”
“He was closer to you than the rest of us after Nidhogg was taken. We worried he’d soften and tell you.” Arawn hesitated. “Ye’ve forgotten how distraught ye were.”
Oh no, I haven’t. More fire spewed from her mouth as she regarded the god of the dead.
Arawn uncrossed his arms and let them swing free. “Look at the bright side—” he began.
“What bright side?” Fire splashed off Arawn’s ward, leaving dark, singed places.
“Ye have four living dragons who would likely have been maimed or dead if I hadna intervened.”
Anger burned so hot, she almost couldn’t contain it. “You think I was incapable of protecting them?” she demanded.
“Of course not. If ye’d set your mind to it. Ye’ve already said ye’d have gone to Asgard and called Odin out. Between him and his Valkyries and Vikings, ye’d scarcely have emerged unscathed.” Arawn shook his head. “Even if ye lived through that confrontation, Odin would have targeted you too. He left you out of his original plans out of deference for you being one of the Celtic gods.”
“And you know this how?”
“The information network used to be much more accurate before men filled the air with electromagnetic radiation. Odin figured if he left you and the geriatric dragons near you alone, he might escape notice killing the other four. Actually,” Arawn furled his brows, “ye should thank me.”
“Because you hid the presence of my subjects from me and allowed me to go half-crazy with believing myself the last of my kind?”
“Nay, because I ferreted out Odin’s plot in time to subvert it.”
Dewi stomped around what was left of the castle’s side yard. “Were you ever going to tell me?”
“Och aye. And verra soon. Once Nidhogg was safely returned to us, I figured he could take on Odin, plus we needed Kra and the others for the battles to come. The more dragons, the better our chances of prevailing. ’Twas why the miracle Nidhogg crafted by dousing your eggs with dragon’s fire and resurrecting half the clutch
* * * *
Dewi didn’t bother making her landing elegant. So what if it rattled Arawn’s bones? She took them across the Irish Sea to a crumbling castle in Scotland and snarled, “Get off me.”
“As madam dragon wishes.” Power flashed and the god of the dead ended up standing in front of her with his arms crossed over his chest. In contrast to his mild words, his dark eyes glinted dangerously.
“Explain yourself.” Fire streamed from her mouth, and she didn’t take care to divert it. Arawn rolled his eyes and warded himself.
“I could have done so back in Inishowen,” Arawn said. “This side trip was entirely unnecessary.”
“Your opinion. Not mine.” More fire; a small wooden building went up like a torch. “I’m waiting.”
“Ye canna keep secrets,” Arawn said. “’Tis that simple. Plus, ye were in a fine muddle once Nidhogg disappeared and ye lost your clutch. Half mad as I recall. It wasna the time to tell you Odin targeted your dragons to even the score because Nidhogg was gone.”
“I would have confronted that slimy poor-excuse-for-a-god and burned him to a cinder. That ridiculous Valhalla of his too.”
Arawn nodded. “I rest my case. ’Twas precisely why we decided to remain silent.”
“We?” Dewi’s temper escalated another notch.
“Aye. Bran, Gwydion, and myself.”
“Of course,” she growled. “The dynamic threesome. Why didn’t you include Fionn?”
“He was closer to you than the rest of us after Nidhogg was taken. We worried he’d soften and tell you.” Arawn hesitated. “Ye’ve forgotten how distraught ye were.”
Oh no, I haven’t. More fire spewed from her mouth as she regarded the god of the dead.
Arawn uncrossed his arms and let them swing free. “Look at the bright side—” he began.
“What bright side?” Fire splashed off Arawn’s ward, leaving dark, singed places.
“Ye have four living dragons who would likely have been maimed or dead if I hadna intervened.”
Anger burned so hot, she almost couldn’t contain it. “You think I was incapable of protecting them?” she demanded.
“Of course not. If ye’d set your mind to it. Ye’ve already said ye’d have gone to Asgard and called Odin out. Between him and his Valkyries and Vikings, ye’d scarcely have emerged unscathed.” Arawn shook his head. “Even if ye lived through that confrontation, Odin would have targeted you too. He left you out of his original plans out of deference for you being one of the Celtic gods.”
“And you know this how?”
“The information network used to be much more accurate before men filled the air with electromagnetic radiation. Odin figured if he left you and the geriatric dragons near you alone, he might escape notice killing the other four. Actually,” Arawn furled his brows, “ye should thank me.”
“Because you hid the presence of my subjects from me and allowed me to go half-crazy with believing myself the last of my kind?”
“Nay, because I ferreted out Odin’s plot in time to subvert it.”
Dewi stomped around what was left of the castle’s side yard. “Were you ever going to tell me?”
“Och aye. And verra soon. Once Nidhogg was safely returned to us, I figured he could take on Odin, plus we needed Kra and the others for the battles to come. The more dragons, the better our chances of prevailing. ’Twas why the miracle Nidhogg crafted by dousing your eggs with dragon’s fire and resurrecting half the clutch
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