Without a word, he put a metal cuff around her neck, took hold of the chain, and dragged Rhiannon from her throne and to their bedchamber.

* * *

After watching a laughing Rhiannon the White dragged from her own throne by a half-mad dragon, Xinyi looked at her son and asked, “Why are we here again?”

“Shhhh,” Ren said, leaning in close. “Ma. Be nice.”

“It was a valid question. I mean, what did I just see?”

“Love.”

Xinyi curled her lip in disgust. “Gods, these peasants.”

“Rhiannon is a queen.”

“Fine. Barbarians then. When are we leaving?”

“After the party.”

“Must we go?”

“Yes. Now be nice.”

Trying not to act disgusted by dragons who insisted on living in caves when they had gold to buy very nice palaces, Xinyi forced a smile at some Southland lord or other nodding at her in greeting and glanced around the chamber until she saw who was sitting behind her.

Blinking in surprise, Xinyi asked, “What are you lot doing here?”

Her eldest daughter frowned, and her siblings walked away, making obvious sounds of annoyance.

“We’ve been here,” Fang reminded her.

“Have you? Doing what?”

“Fighting in the battle with your army. Helping to save the world from a mad god. Remember?”

“No. But that was very nice of you.” She reached back and patted her daughter’s paw with her own. “Aren’t you a good . . . uhhhh . . .”

“Daughter?” Fang asked with a sneer.

“I know you’re my daughter. I remember! Usually.”

After Fang stalked off, Ren whispered to his mother, “You know you’re going to hell, don’t you, Ma?”

Giggling, Xinyi admitted, “From what I’ve heard about Annwyl’s time there, it’s not that bad.”

* * *

Arlais spun once. “What do you think?”

“Perfect!” Keita crowed about the dress she’d picked out for Arlais. “Gods, I’m good. I don’t know why anyone in the universe bothers to question my decision-making.”

“Because they’re all idiots.”

“You are so my favorite. Now”—Keita grabbed a few things off her dresser and headed toward the bedroom door—“come with me. The feast will be starting soon but there is someone you just have to meet.”

“Och! It’s not another simpering boy, is it?”

“As if I’d ever waste your or my time.”

Arlais followed her aunt out of the bedroom and down into the Main Hall. The servants had already put the food out and guests were starting to arrive.

Keita stopped at one of the tables and held up a teal-colored eye patch.

Letting out a very long, pained breath, Elina Shestakova looked away from the Riders she was speaking to and said, “Go away, demon female.”

“I told you!” Batu the tribal leader said, slamming his fist on the table. “I told all you females that Keita the Viper is demon. But no one listens.”

“Because you are penis-haver,” Zoya told him.