Last Dragon Standing
Page 100

“I won’t explain the relationship I have with my daughter to anyone.
Not to you—”
“Not to her.”
“Not to anyone. What I do and why I do it, is mine to know and understand.”
“I see. Then perhaps we should address what you want with me.”
“I need you to head west and—”
“No.” Ren shook his head. “I’ll not leave so you can have Keita at the will of that Northlander.”
“He worries you.”
“He was able to hurt her when no male I’ve known has ever managed before.”
“Which means what to you?”
“That she’s vulnerable to him. I don’t like it.”
“It’s not yours to like or not like. Keita may be vulnerable to him, as you put it, but I have no doubt that will only make it harder for him to get near her. But separating you two isn’t my goal here.”
“Then what is your goal? What can only I help you with?”
“I need you to look into something for me.”
“Which is?”
She tossed something at him, and Ren caught it in his claw. He studied it. “A gold Quintilian coin.”
“A Sovereign coin. There is a difference.” He knew that. A Quintilian coin could be found anywhere and was used throughout the lands. A Sovereign coin, which held vastly more value because it was pure gold, was only found in the Quintilian empire and usually only among the nobles. “It was found buried under the remains of another town destroyed by what we had believed to be one of the barbarian tribes.”
“But you no longer think it’s the barbarians?”
“Whoever is doing this kills everyone and take no slaves. Barbarians of the Western Mountains always take slaves. That’s how they make their money.”
“You truly think it’s the Sovereigns?”
“I know it’s the Sovereigns. But I need hard proof. Not only for the Elders, who have never felt good about my alliance with the Lightnings, but for my offspring. They think I only want war.”
“Don’t you?”
She threw her claws up, reminding him of her daughter. “Yes! But only with those I know I can destroy—and that, my friend, is not the Irons.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“You are a Protector of the Throne?” Dagmar nodded at Keita’s admission, and leaned close to Gwenvael. “What is that exactly?” It was so rare that there was something— anything! —his mate did not know, he would admit he took a moment to enjoy the sensation. Until she said, “Well?”
“They’re like…special agents to the throne, I guess.”
“You mean spies?” Dagmar asked, focusing on his sister. “You?
You’re a…spy?”
“I prefer Protector. Spy sounds so sordid, don’t you think?”
“You? ” Dagmar said again, forcing Gwenvael to bump her with his hip. So far Keita seemed to like Dagmar; he wanted to keep it that way. He’d ended up on the wrong side of Keita’s rage more than once, and spending three days doing nothing but vomiting up whatever she’d slipped into his food or wine was not a fate he’d want his lovely mate to endure. “It’s just…
you seem so vapid.”
Gwenvael flinched, but Keita only laughed. “I do, don’t I? And mostly I am. Except when it comes to the throne. I will protect that with my dying breath, if necessary.”
“Hopefully, it won’t be,” the Lightning cut in, and Gwenvael couldn’t help sneering at the bastard.
“What do you have to do with anything?” When the Lightning didn’t reply, Gwenvael looked at his sister. “Keita? What’s going on with you two?”
“I’m simply using him for sex.”
“Of course you are. But that doesn’t explain why you’ve still allowed him to hang around you once you’re done.”
“He’s very good?”
Dagmar pressed the back of her hand to Gwenvael’s chest, her gaze on Keita and Ragnar. “Is this about the Sovereigns?” she asked, and when both their expressions turned perfectly blank, Gwenvael knew his mate had guessed right.
Keita studied the human Gwenvael had mated himself to. “How much can she be trusted?” she asked her brother.
“I’ve already trusted her with my life and the lives of everyone in this family. Her loyalty is not in question. Even Father trusts her.” Surprised, Keita raised a brow. “Indeed?” She nodded. “Then I’ll make this quick and what I tell you goes no farther than these walls.” When they all agreed, she continued. “There’s a distinct chance Overlord Thracius hopes to put me on the throne. Mother thinks he’s already secured the assistance of someone in her court. She believes they’ll approach me soon, but to speed that process up a bit…I need it to get out that I’ve known where Esyld has been all this time.”
Her brother shook his head. “Are you insane? If the family finds out—”
“It’s a risk I have to take. And I think you can help me, Dagmar.”
“You want me to get the rumor about you and Esyld out?”
“Can you think of anyone better to make that happen?” Dagmar smirked. “Not really.”
“I don’t like this, Keita,” Gwenvael said.
“I know you don’t, but I need the traitors to present themselves much sooner. I fear we’re running out of time.”