“—you can easily understand,” he went on, “how she is feeling. We were buried under a mountain. Poor Uther and Caswyn are injured.”

“My Mì-runach babies!” the queen gasped. “Perhaps I should go to them.”

“Mum!” Keita snapped. “We have a problem here. Now! Your pets can wait.”

“Can they travel?” Rhiannon asked Aidan.

“With a healer and a good night’s sleep, I don’t see why not.”

“Take care of that, Keita.”

“Mum—”

“Do as I say. You have a stop tonight anyway.”

“Which is what I need them for.”

“Then it should all work out, shouldn’t it?” Rhiannon snapped.

Brannie finally yanked Aidan’s hand away from her mouth. “I never said that I would—”

Now Aidan’s forearm covered her face so that she could again not speak.

Bastard!

* * *

Aidan was having the hardest time keeping Brannie quiet. As human, they were nearly the same tall height, which made putting his arms around her easier, but also made her his equal in a fight. And she was fighting.

He didn’t understand. Why didn’t she see that he was simply trying to protect her from her own Cadwaladr stupidity? No matter who she was, whom she was related to, or what rank she held, at the end of the day . . . Rhiannon was queen and she had only so much patience with those who questioned her orders.

How could Brannie not see it? How could she not see how much power the queen wielded? Not just as queen but as a witch. They were standing in what Rhiannon called her “sacred space.” A place with trees that had fresh fruit that could be eaten, one sun, and squirrels. There was one right there, climbing up a tree behind the queen. That was power. That was a She-dragon who could eat the world if she so chose. So what made Brannie think that she could get away with questioning Rhiannon’s orders?

Brannie managed to pull away by slamming her foot against his instep. Aidan stumbled back as she swung her arms wide to force him farther away.

“Get off! Get off! Get off!” she barked.

“He’s merely protecting you, Branwen.”

“Protecting me from what?”

Rhiannon smirked. “Me, silly girl.”

“I take my orders from your generals, Your Majesty. And until I hear from one of them, I will be heading back to my troops.” She turned to make a strong exit, but quickly realized they didn’t know how to exit Rhiannon’s world.

“You want orders?” Rhiannon asked.

“Actually, I want to get out of here.”

“Then orders you shall have.” Rhiannon raised her left hand and snapped her fingers.

Ghleanna the Decimator suddenly appeared. Wherever she’d been, she’d been leaning over. Perhaps at a desk. Probably going over battle plans. But the desk was no longer there and Ghleanna hit the ground hard.

She came up cursing. “What the unholy fuck—?” she bellowed, stopping short when she got to her feet, her eyes taking in the one sun above.