Eletea stretched to her full height of seven feet and spread her wings wider than she was tall. “It’s so beautiful here,” she murmured. “I forget as time passes.”
Angus considered asking why she’d traded the desolation she found so appealing for the wet, misty Highlands, but remained silent.
She glanced at him. “I hate having anyone astride me, but you may as well jump on my back. It’s a long walk to the caves where our council meets.”
“I know where it is. I could use magic to get there.”
Her eyes spun faster. “Get on. I won’t ask again. Next time I’ll blast you where I want you with dragons’ fire. I already told you we’re late.”
Angus smothered a broad grin. He’d always wanted to ride a dragon. Even if they weren’t going very far, it still thrilled him. He summoned power and vaulted to her broad back at the base of her neck. “Ready when you are.”
“I’ll just bet you are, human.” Twisting, she blew smoke and steam in his face before she spread her wings and took off.
****
Arianrhod fidgeted, waiting out the time it took to get to Fire Mountain. She wished there was an easier way, but this was the only road into the dragons’ home. Not that dragons couldn’t teleport in and out more directly, but no one else could. She redid the laces on her boots. Before she was quite finished with the second one, it was time to leave. She chanted the incantation to halt the time shaft, and it ejected her so harshly she landed on her stomach, splayed on red sand.
She sucked in a breath, followed by another. The hot, dry air stung, but it was better to dive in and move past the initial shock when it fried the delicate tissue lining her nose and throat. Thank Danu the suns were down, but volcanic fires that burned day and night kept this world from total darkness. She glanced about, taking her bearings. She never ended up the same place twice, probably a function of dragons manipulating when and where visitors showed up in their world.
As if to corroborate her theory, a golden dragon winged its way toward her, dropping lower by the moment. Since it was clear the dragon—no doubt the greeting party—was headed her way, she squared her shoulders and waited. It touched down a few feet away and lumbered toward her.
“Welcome moon goddess, goddess of the silver wheel, and virgin huntress.”
The last words were devoid of inflection, but Arianrhod grimaced. Had rumors of her dalliance with Keene become common knowledge among dragonkind? She inclined her head.
“I’m afraid ye have me at a disadvantage. Ye know all my titles, but have yet to share any of yours.”
“I am Kristel. No titles. I was sent to meet you and make certain you joined the other two who arrived earlier to address the same sorry business.”
So much for pretending I’m considering becoming a dragon shifter.
Probably better this way.
“Aye, there are indeed two others I’m to meet here,” she replied. “All of us were sent by Ceridwen, goddess of the world. We seek a First Born to settle a question of—”
Kristel rolled her eyes and snorted steam. “You humans are long on titles,” she broke in. “And short on wisdom. The others are there.” She pointed with a wingtip. “One league distant.”
Arianrhod shrugged off annoyance at being interrupted and characterized ashuman. It wouldn’t help, nor would it encourage the dragon to act differently. “Fine. ’Tis a lovely evening for a walk.”
The dragon ground her double rows of teeth in a noise not unlike an angry buzz saw. “I was sent to escort you there.”
“Excellent.” Arianrhod shot a sunny smile her way. “Walk with me.”
“Shut up and get on my back.”
She didn’t wait for a second invitation. Nothing compared with flying atop a dragon. Nothing. She’d enjoyed flying Keene as much as she enjoyed fucking him.
“Are we the only humans here?” she asked conversationally once she was mounted.
“We?” The dragon didn’t bother to turn her head.
“Angus and I.”
“Why would there be others?” The dragon flapped hard and vaulted into the air. Heat from her hide baked through Arianrhod’s leathers. Between the air temperature and the dragon’s warmth, she began to sweat.
“Don’t mages still show up here in their quest to become dragon shifters?”
“We’re rethinking that.” Kristel did turn around then. Whirling green eyes settled on Arianrhod. “The bond brings far more to the mage than to the dragon. Mayhap ’tis time for us to refuse further supplicants.”