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“They were called from some hell pit. Demons. You called demons to help you. That doesn’t bother you? That they’re evil?” “Evil? What makes you think they’re evil?” Keeley asked, truly confused. She pointed her sword. “Flames. They all have flames instead of eyes! That doesn’t bother you?”
“Come on,” Caid said to his sister, motioning to Farlan and Cadell. “We’re going with her.” “And we’re just going to ignore the demon dogs she’s friends with?” “Demon wolves and yes.” He turned his sister around by her shoulders and pushed.
“Is something wrong?” Cadell asked. “The sister knows what we are,” Caid replied. “Should we kill her?” Farlan asked. When Laila closed her eyes in frustration and let out a little growl, he added, “What? That’s a valid question.”
but she refused to find someone so eternally pissed off attractive. Life was too short to be that angry.
“My sister?” “The current expression on your face,” he said, “makes me feel like your sister may be currently unsafe. Like I should warn her to run away.”
Ahhhh. The women in her family. They were amazing. And insane. Because you needed to be both if you wanted to survive this world the way they did. Making their own choices and rules and ignoring all the men who tried to tell them no.
“I wasn’t wondering actually, but feel free to fuck off,” Gemma shot back before stomping off after their guests. Keran glanced at her. “You know, I could be wrong but . . . it seems that nuns have changed since my day.”
“Are you going to help me?” he finally asked her. “But she likes you.” “She threatened me with a nonexistent hammer all through dinner.”
“I can’t tell if you’re trying to scare me or seduce me.” She shrugged. “Whatever. I want to see.”
“You have a trebuchet?” Caid asked . . . because he couldn’t think of anything else to say. “Mum made it. She gets bored when she’s pregnant.” “Huh.” “It’s very handy.” Keeley gave a sad sigh. “But I hate hurting the horses.” She hefted her hammer onto her shoulder. “All right then. Let’s go kill the rest so we can get the children to safety.”
As they walked across, Caid said to his sister, “You know, the longer we know this family—” “Yes. It’s true. Our kin is not nearly as insane as our father insists we are.”
“I’d rather set us both on fire!” “That’s enough, Da!” Keeley stood beside Gemma. “You two are brothers. You shouldn’t be doing all this ridiculous bickering over nothing.” “She’s absolutely right, Daddy.” Her father stared at her, stared at her sister, and then said, “Are you two fucking kidding me?”
“Let’s hold hands for a little while,” she teased. “Woman, give me my hand.” She laughed harder. “You are so easy to irritate.” She tossed his hand away. “Has anyone told you that?”
“The Dark Lands.” He briefly went pale, his gaze locked on her. “Woman, are you mad?” “Don’t tell me you’re frightened.” “They have dragons there.” “Probably not that many. And I’ve done lots of research. Those things can be killed.” “And then there’s that human queen. The crazy one?”
“Your sister lives,” she announced with no preamble. “The gods must have heard our prayers.” “More like she’s too pissed at whoever did this to her to die,” Keran said. “Whatever it is, so far it’s working.”
There were eight of them. Seven surrounded Keeley’s bed but one . . . one stood directly on her bed, at Keeley’s feet, and snarled at them, warning away anyone who might be a danger to Gemma’s sister. “I did not call them. We worship the gods, not demons.” “Then where did they come from?” Keran stepped in beside Gemma, took a look, and casually announced, “Oh! Those are Keeley’s friends.”
“Are all your sisters evil?” the witch asked Gemma. “Keeley is not evil! She just happens to love animals.” Gemma looked at the beasts snarling in warning from across the chamber. “Even animals with eyes of pure fire, drool of blood, that have clearly been birthed from one of earth’s many hell pits. . . .”
“What are you doing?” the cousin demanded. “What you told me to. You said interrogate her as I’d been trained. That’s how monks interrogate witches.” “Or you could ask her your questions like a normal person. That’s always an option.” “I guess . . . although this seems faster.” “Does it really?” The monk rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll ask her nicely.” “Again with the sarcasm.” The monk stood once more before Belinda’s throne. “I have a question,” she said with a forced smile.
“Not until he understands,” Quinn said, his voice disturbingly calm. “Because no one aims arrows at my sister. I should tear this leg off just for that alone.” Then he tugged again.
But his gaze was locked on her and did not waver. “Your brother watches me,” Gemma said to Laila. “Is he a vengeful sort?” “Very!” she tossed back with a smile. “But don’t worry. You’re with me.” “What does that mean, exactly?” “That he’ll give you ample warning before he has you killed.” “Oh . . . that’s . . . lovely.”
“Of course. I shouldn’t have insulted you. But in spite of the fact that a god came to you—” “Gods.” His mother blinked. “Pardon?” “Gods. I met gods. As in plural.” “You met someone other than Ofydd Naw? Who else?” Keeley shrugged. “Not sure about the name, but he was a giant version of my wolf friends.”
Keeley laughed. “Three?” “She’s had ten thousand,” Caid said. “She has not had ten thousand,” Keeley quickly corrected. “There are twelve of us.” “With another nine thousand on the way.”
“Nothing,” Gemma replied. “We just need to get moving.” She stood, hands on her hips. “Time to face the day, my friends!” Caid glared up at her. “I hate you and your cheery personality.” “So does Keran. That reminds me! I think I’ll go sing her awake!”
“Huh,” Quinn said to them, sounding shocked. “I did not see that coming.”
Caid watched with his mouth open as a battle-ready blacksmith and her murderous War Monk sister sobbed over a dead dog. It wasn’t just sobbing either. It was hysterical sobbing.
The roar that exploded from inside the cave caught them all off guard, but only Quinn was crazy enough to immediately move in closer. Then he laughed. “I love these women!” he crowed, oblivious to any danger. As always.
“Hey!” Keeley yelled up at him, ignoring the startled gasps behind her when she grabbed a rock and threw it at the dragon’s chest to get his attention. “I’m speaking to you!” Eyes wide, the dragon slowly looked down at her. “Did you just throw a rock at me?” “Yes. I’m trying to talk to you.”
“You know,” Archie said as they waited, “I built this place out of stone so they couldn’t set fire to it and trap me inside.” Angus glanced at him. “Do you worry often about people trying to kill you with fire?” “Yes.”
“I looked into being a War Monk when I was younger.” “Oh.” “But the thought of human men telling me what to do set my teeth on edge, so . . . you know . . .” “As a human woman, I have to admit, I feel the same way.”
“You really love doing that, don’t you?” he had to ask, briefly ignoring the fighting going on around him. “Scaring the unholy shit out of them when they see what you really are?”
“Where did all those extra demon wolves come from?” “Why do you ask me questions when we both know the answers will only upset you?”
It was official now, Caid realized, when Keeley winked at him as she tortured his father with affection and then got her sister and cousin to join in. It was official that he loved her. How could he not love a woman who purposely tortured his father?
