She caught Talaith’s arm and pulled her close. “Nika and Oksana want to know if our Var is a demon who eats souls.”

The two women stared at each other for a long moment before they faced the Kolesova sisters and said together, “Yes. Yes, he is.”

“Thank you, Elina Shestakova; Talaith, the brown one—”

“I wish you’d stop calling me that.”

“—we now know to avoid the boy. But I think the Northwoman is safe with him. He seems to like her. As much as a demon can like anyone.”

Talaith nodded. “Excellent point.”

The Kolesova sisters walked off and Elina let out a breath. “Thank you, Talaith.”

“Let me ask you, Elina . . .” Talaith put her hand on Elina’s shoulder and leaned in close. “. . . can we kill them with honor? You know, give them that glorious death they’re so desperate for? So we can stop having these bizarre conversations in the hallway.”

“Sadly, Kolesovas are very hard to kill. I know this because many have tried.” The two women made their way to the Main Hall and dinner. “But I am sure that if anyone can figure out how to kill them . . . it will be Dagmar Reinholdt.”

“And she is so close, my friend.” Talaith sighed out. “So close.”

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Aidan awoke before the two suns rose. He sat up and ran his hands through his hair, immediately noticing that Brannie was gone.

Getting up, he glanced over at the only other one who was awake. Rhona. Her hair was wet and she was already dressed to face the hard travels ahead.

Aidan motioned to Brannie’s empty bedroll and Rhona jerked her thumb west, through the trees.

Yawning, he eased his way out of the camp so he didn’t wake the others and headed west. Eventually he heard running water. He came through the trees just as Brannie broke the surface of the water, heading straight up into the still-dark sky. Her dragon form spun several times, hovering over that lake—and Aidan couldn’t look away.

What short tail? Her tail was . . . perfection.

Brannie spun one more time, turned over, and shot back down until she hit the lake.

Aidan jerked back but not fast enough, and he ended up drenched from head to foot.

With his arms spread out from his body, Aidan watched Brannie step from the lake in human form. She dug her fingers into her medium-length hair and shook the black strands out. It wasn’t until she flipped her head back that she saw Aidan standing there. And laughed.

“Yes, yes. Very funny,” he said with a smile.

“Just shift,” she told him around her laughter. “That’ll dry you off quick enough.”

Aidan did as Brannie suggested and she was right. When he went back to human, he and his new chain mail were completely dry.

“Anyone else up?” she asked, combing her hair off her face with her fingers.

“Just Rhona.”