Brannie took a step back. “What does that mean?” She looked him over. “And why aren’t you destroyed? You should be lying in a pool of your own sick right now.”

“Branwen, don’t you know me yet? I deal with unreasonable dragons all day, every day.”

“So?”

“So your kin wasn’t exactly a challenge. The only one I really had to worry about was your father. And by the gods was he pissed.”

“He was?”

“You’re his baby. He adores you like the suns.”

“So what did you say?”

“That I loved you and I was willing to do anything to make you happy and make you my mate.” Aidan shrugged. “That was all he needed to hear.”

Brannie fought hard not to smile. Not ready to give in just yet.

“And the rest of them?”

“I just gave them some gold.”

“What?”

Aidan laughed. “I’m kidding. Your father reasoned with them and they went off with the Riders to get more of that vile ale they insist on burying.”

“My father was able to reason with Uncle Bercelak?”

“Oh, gods no. He actually growled at him. It was rather uncomfortable. But then Keita stepped in.”

“And said?”

“Who else would love such a large-boned She-dragon?”

“That cow! And stop laughing!”

* * *

Aidan slipped his arm around Brannie’s waist and pulled her in close. “Don’t be mad at her. She was trying to help.”

“By insulting me?”

“I know it’s hard to believe but yes. I mean, I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

“Excellent point.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “I’m really sorry. I was just—”

“Panicking?”

“Aye.”

“You’re not used to panicking.”

“Oh, no. I panic all the time. Just not in battle . . . or with males.” She took a deep breath and admitted, “But I’ve never been in love before, so . . . that could have something to do with it.”

Aidan nodded but he made sure not to smile. He didn’t want her to think he was laughing at her. He wasn’t.

He was ecstatic. Branwen the Awful loved him. She loved him.

“You’re smiling,” she told him.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to.”

“It’s all right. I’m over the hard part. But you know it’s not going to be easy for you.”

“As long as you don’t hit me with any more fireballs—”

“No, no. I mean . . . it won’t be easy. My father’s easy, of course, but the rest of my kin . . . are . . . uh . . . they’re . . . uh . . .”

Brannie was staring at something over Aidan’s shoulder so, without letting her go, he looked and his mouth dropped open.

Together they watched Annwyl the Bloody ride by on the back of one of the demon animals that had appeared at their last battle.

“Isn’t that one of those corpse-eater things that she was supposed to send back to hell?” Aidan asked.