Page 23 of Made

“Maeve’s older son, the king, and daughter-in-law are having a first baby. Any time now. And Maeve has procured a dragon egg. It’s purported to be the last one.”

Ilmr scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Every dragon egg found is purported to be the last one.”

Vidar smiled. “True. Or so I’m told.”

“What does that have to do with my rank?”

“Be patient. I’m getting there. The dragon egg is a gift for the baby.”

Ilmr’s eyes widened. Scandinavian fae are not cat or dragon people. “She’s giving her granddaughter a dragon.”

Vidar nodded. “Apparently Maeve has had a pet dragon since she was a child.”

“Really?”

Vidar nodded again. “The creature is quite old now, but I heard it spends its time atop the tallest turret of her castle so that it can keep watch from sea to sea. Some say the aforementioned turret is not tall enough to support that claim, but people repeat it anyway.”

“Typical.”

“Quite. It’s the same in Asgard.”

Ilmr chuckled. “So, it might be said that we fae are godlike?”

“When it comes to gossip? Yes.”

“Tell me more.”

“Well, you know that one of my powers is communicating with all manner of beasts. They will do my bidding.” Ilmr sat up straight, beginning to understand where this was going. “I was thinking that I might befriend Niall and be invited to court.”

“And there you would talk to the young dragon? Once it’s hatched?”

Vidar smiled, feeling pleased that the female with whom he’d chosen to spend time was quick-witted. “There are few creatures who can control a dragon bent on destruction. Even a small one.”

“If it hatches.”

“I have a feeling.”

“If word got out that Maeve couldn’t control a dragon she gave her infant granddaughter, her standing would sink fast.”

With a wide grin, Vidar said, “Exactly. You’re quick.”

Feeling the joyful abandon of a young girl, Ilmr threw herself backward onto the couch and laughed long and loud.“And you are a genius. Brilliant. Brilliant. You are brilliant, my love.”

“Am I your love, Ilmr?”

Her laughter subsided. “How could I not be bewitched by your beauty, your special ways in bed, and your gift of a plan to raise my rank while the mighty Maeve falls?” She came to sit close enough to Vidar to initiate a long, slow kiss that held the promise of a long, slow coitus in front of a roaring fire. When she pulled back, she asked, “What could go wrong?” Vidar sighed. “You said there are few creatures who can subdue a distressed dragon? That means there are some.”

“Well, aside from gods, whom I assure you have no interest in such things, there’s only one in this dimension.”

Vidar watched Ilmr’s expression change from curiosity to recognition.

“Sephalion,” she said.

“Yes. One of them, the court enforcer, is also husband to the magistrate.”

“Who happens to be the other grandmother. Is that a problem?”

“Could be. But chances are that we will have caused problems enough to damage Maeve’s reputation before the enforcer can step in and contain the creature.”

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