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“I could accompany you. Hurry things along.” Ceridwen shot a disingenuous smile her way.
“I’d love to have your help, but ye canna enter Caer Sidi. ’Tis my magical realm, and mine alone.”
Ceridwen frowned. “Och, and I’d forgotten that.”
Like hell ye did.
“If ’tis all the same to you, I’ll take my leave.” Arianrhod ginned up a smile. “If the dragon shifters are still a problem when I return, I’ll pick up the banner then.”
Ceridwen’s spell crashed about them. It made such an unholy racket Arianrhod started, but she recognized dismissal and hurried across the breadth of the huge, circular room.
Almost. I’m nearly out of here.
Before she made the doors, they swung open, and Arawn and Gwydion marched through. “Sister!” Gwydion bowed low.
She rolled her eyes. “Welcome to you too. I was just on my way out.”
“Obviously. To where?” Arawn’s dark gaze held what looked like more than mild curiosity.
She squared her shoulders. “’Tis my time to enter contemplation in Caer Sidi. The moon and tides require my full attention.”
“Not so fast.” Gwydion latched a hand around her upper arm. “What exactly did ye have to do with Cathbad finding Angus?”
“I resent that.” Arianrhod glared at him. “Cathbad found his kinsman easily enough when we were closer to his own time. I merely came along for the ride.”
Gwydion examined her through slitted eyes. “Aye, but there’s more to that story.”
“Nay, there’s not. Let go of me.” She wrenched her arm from his grasp.
“Humph.” Arawn swept the room with discerning eyes. “Where’s the Morrigan?”
“She left.” Arianrhod spat the words out.
“Just as well,” Gwydion muttered. “I wasna looking forward to telling her Angus dinna wish her company.”
Ceridwen made her way to where they stood. “Hello, men,” she purred. “Welcome.”
“Och, whenever she sounds like that, she wants something.” Gwydion made a face that looked like he’d bitten into something rotten.
“Now that ye mention it,” Ceridwen continued, her voice silky sweet, “we must craft a plan to locate the missing dragon shifters—”
“I’ll leave you to it then.” Arianrhod bolted for the door before anyone could react and call her back. Relief ran deep once she exited Inverlochy’s ruins, and the damp air of the Scottish Highlands enveloped her.
In case anyone chose to track her energy, she summoned a spell to split the worlds and take her to Caer Sidi. She’d remain long enough to make certain everything in her realm remained untouched before heading for the Selkie pod swimming in the Irish Sea. Angus would be there. She felt certain of it, and she wasn’t ready to give him up.
Not quite yet.
The End
