Chapter 7
7
K illian watched as his little brother slipped away with Elise and tried to hide his smile. He had seen more than one couple do the same throughout the night. It was good to know that some things never changed, and midsummer shagging was a tradition worth keeping. He planned to disappear with Bron himself, but first, he had a peace treaty to see to.
Moira Ironwood was the little sister he'd never had. She was turning into a teenager before their eyes, and sometimes, he would panic about it. With the combination of Ironwood training and what she was learning with the fae warriors she followed about, she was already scarily proficient with blade and bow and would be a downright terror when Kenna finally agreed to take her on hunting missions.
Despite that, Moira still had a fondness for pretty dresses. Tonight was no exception. She had been learning about Vikings and was wearing a traditional pinafore dress, complete with brooches and chains. It was embroidered with elvish and Viking runes, and she had her hair in battle braids.
Sometimes, she seemed nothing but a girl growing up, and sometimes, she looked at you like some eldritch witch sizing up your worth. Killian had never been on the receiving end of the latter because he was her favorite uncle, but he almost felt bad for the ancient dragon knight standing before her.
Avallach's arrow wound had healed, but Moira's animosity toward him hadn't, so Bron and Killian were staging an intervention.
Avallach couldn't understand why she was so offended by him calling her a little girl to begin with.
"The thing you need to understand, my dear dragon, is that they are Ironwoods first and everything else second," Killian had tried to explain. "Before gender and mates and everything under the sun. Ironwoods don't forget offenses, and I have a scar on my ass to prove it. So you will make this right before you leave, or when she comes of age, she will go dragon hunting."
That had given the knight some pause. Killian could see it from his perspective, and in a way, he, too, felt the whole reaction was ridiculous. But Moira was his little sister, and he didn't like seeing her hurt or offended. So Avallach would make amends before he returned to Faerie even if Killian had to tie him up and hold a blade to his throat to do it.
Avallach was a legend throughout the whole of Faerie. Killian remembered him visiting his parents when he was Moira's age and growing up, hearing stories about the legendary warrior. Avallach's long hair was bound up in braids and silver bands that matched his eyes and dragon form. He had trimmed his beard and looked his best for the moment.
The dragon knight joined the three of them by the fire as planned. He knelt down on one knee before Moira.
"Moira Ironwood, I have caused you great offense, and my honor as a knight demands that I make this right with you before I journey back to Faerie for my king," Avallach said formally.
Bron was trying not to laugh behind Moira as the smallest Ironwood fixed her eldrich stare on the knight and lifted her little chin. She said nothing, and the dragon actually squirmed. He pulled a long, beautifully made dagger from his belt. One look and Killian knew it had been forged in the legendary dragon city of Mag Argatnél.
"I offer you this blade as a peace token so that I may leave knowing that there is no bad blood between our houses," Avallach continued.
Moira sniffed and took the blade, sliding it from its sheathe to admire it. It was large enough to be a sword for her. Killian hadn't expected him to give her a weapon—gods knew she had enough—but he didn't try and stop her from taking it. She couldn't have a finer blade to use.
"Why are you leaving?" Moira asked, ignoring his apology.
"Your uncle Taran needs someone to see to problems in the north of his lands. I am being sent back to guard the borders," Avallach answered.
It wasn't just the human world that had its issues with magical monsters waking up. Magic being realigned had unleashed all sorts of terrors and powered up creatures, magic users, and other monsters.
The Fae Kings were journeying back and forth between their realms, as was Killian, but it made sense to have some of the knights stay behind on guard. The dragons were protective of their cities and their secrets.
"How long will you be gone for?" Moira continued with a child's tenacity.
Avallach frowned. "I don't know. Time moves differently in Faerie."
"Who is going with you to fight these monsters?"
"Yelena and Emyr will return with me for a time but will come back before me. I'm going to stay on to be the Seneschal of the North to look after it for your Uncle Taran. I will have other dragon knights with me. Why? Are you worried for my safety?" Avallach asked, a teasing smile on his lips.
"No." Moira's eyes narrowed again, and Killian shot him a warning look. Avallach loved to tease, but that was what got him into trouble last time with Moira.
"Cora said that your hair is so long because you said that you would only cut it if you were defeated in battle," she continued, looking at the warrior's long braid.
Avallach's smile slipped a little. "Yes, that's true."
A triumphant light shone in Moira's eyes, and Killian was suddenly afraid.
"In that case, when you return, I will be big, and then we will fight, and when I defeat you, I will cut your hair with this pretty knife you have given me. Don't die, dragon. I'm looking forward to our fight," Moira declared before walking away with her head held high.
"Dagda spare me, that girl is going to be an unholy terror when she hits puberty," Avallach said, his grey eyes wide with awe. "She's never going to let me live this down, is she? I even got down on one knee and gave her my favorite knife, Killian, and she still hates me."
Bron shook her head in exasperation, but she was still smiling after Moira, with sisterly pride on her face.
"Bloody Ironwoods," Killian said fondly. "You did your best, Avallach, but dueling and death threats are practically an Ironwood family tradition."
Avallach rose to his feet. "I'm kind of relieved to be heading back to the wilds of the north, to be honest. I'm less likely to get my throat cut in my sleep."
"There is no threat of that with Moira," Bron said, her smile bright. "She wants to fight you fair and square. I get it. She's the smallest and wants to defeat the biggest and baddest warrior she knows to prove herself. Really, you should be flattered she thinks that's you."
"You've got to be joking," the dragon said with a shake of his head.
"Bron's not joking. It's why she crept into Morrigan's keep and broke me out. It was the most dangerous thing she could come up with," Killian said, tucking one of Bron's burgandy locks behind her ear.
"Well, Taran can't accuse me of not trying to make things right," Avallach sighed. "Good luck to you both dealing with her when she decides to start dating."
"I have a plan that involves a tower and a massive lock," Killian said. The breath whooshed out of him as Bron's elbow dug into his ribs.
"You will not lock up my sister."
"My darling love of my life, she will enjoy the challenge of getting out," Killian replied. "It would only be to keep her mind distracted and off anyone trying to go out with her."
"You might want to add a moat to that tower," Avallach grumbled. "Dark gods, I need a drink."
"Well, that could have gone worse," Bron said, watching as the dragon disappeared toward the nearest mead keg.
Killian rubbed his chin. "You know, what you said makes sense. Moira has been fascinated with the knights since they arrived. You don't think..."
"That she was waiting to pick a fight with him? Absolutely," Bron said with a grin. "She will keep that knife sharp until their duel, that I can promise you."
Killian kissed her cheek. "You Ironwoods are as devious as you are terrifying."
"That's why you love me."
"One of many reasons." Killian stroked his hand between her wings, making her shiver. "It's a nice night for flying, my pretty mate."
"Hmm, it is. You want to get out of here?" Bron asked, biting her bottom lip in a way that hit him straight in the dick.
"More than anything in the world. I know of a nice private lake not far from here we can go skinny dipping in," he said. In fact, he had purposely scouted it earlier in the day and had left a bottle of her favorite wine nestled in a safe place.
"Then let's go. There are plenty of other people about to keep an eye on Moira if she decides to attack Avallach with that knife," Killian said.
Bron took his hand. "You say that like my mother would try to stop her instead of encouraging her."
Killian only shook his head and laughed. There really was nothing like Ironwoods.