“So the crown passed to the eldest.” Rory adjusted in his seat. “Me father was assumed to be the eldest and ruled for many years. Then when the midwife became dotty with age, she seemed to think Conlan’s father was born first. That doubt caused the rift between the brothers. Some human knights aligned with one and some with the other, hopin’ to gain a powerful place in the court of the victor.”
“I think we’ve gone over the rest,” Conlan said with finality.
Kristine looked between her mother and now the men who were possibly her cousins. “So we’re Irish? But our last name is Scott.”
Amy looked at her and shrugged. “Not very original, but if my father was trying to hide his Irish heritage, changing his name from Arish to Scott would make sense.”
Drake said, “My mother died not long ago, so I canna confirm all the information. All I know is that I have found two I can call sister and niece when I thought I had no family left.”
He laughed. “So I guess you outrank me in this convoluted heir-to-the-throne businessifyour father is the mysterious dragon who disappeared from Ballyhoo, Ireland.”
“Not so fast,” Conlan said. “Rory’s younger sister, Chloe, is queen and living in the castle that she and her husband are restoring as we speak.”
“So how did Chloe become queen when she’s not the oldest?” Amy asked.
Rory and Conlan glanced at each other.
“Rory is eldest, and I would be next in line…had everything gone smoothly,” Conlan explained. “Chloe was third. Rory abdicated the throne in order to stay here in Boston and open this B and B with his ladylove, Amber.”
The two of them gazed at each other and exchanged loving smiles.
Conlan continued, “Me brothers and I did not want to cause another rift like our fathers had, so we made no claim to the throne at Ballyhoo. We have our whiskey business in Belfast, and we live like kings there.”
Amber gave Conlan a sly smile and wink. “And besides, the Ulster cousins have an important mission. They’re in search of a single female dragon in order to keep the line going. As you know, dragons can only create life with another dragon.”
Conlan glanced at the two female dragons. “Perhaps there’s hope for the species yet.”
Kristine held up her hands. “Don’t look at me…”
“I’m not lookin’ atyou,luv.” Conlan stared at Amy and Amy at Conlan.
“But we might be cousins,” Amy whispered to him.
“But we might not be.” Conlan waggled his eyebrows.
Everyone in the room laughed.
“There’s one more thing,” Drake said. “My parents met in Canada. It’s only a rumor or speculation, but I think my father’s family made it to Greenland a few centuries after the St. Patrick debacle…with the Vikings.”
Rory slapped his leg. “Of course! The Vikings! Mayhaps they scooped up some survivors. They were sailin’ all around the North Atlantic. There’s evidence of their having made it to Greenland more than a thousand years ago.”
“I wouldna be surprised to learn that they found some displaced dragons on outlying islands and brought them along,” Conlan said.
“And who could survive a cold, hostile environment like Greenland?” Drake asked. “Dragons! I’ve always figured that Scotland had to be the origin of my father’s side simply because of my last name. And now my mother’s side—Scottish, Irish, or whatever—could be sitting right next to me.”
Amy and Drake rose and hugged each other. Then Drake held one arm out to Kristine. She stepped into the group hug. She let out a sigh of relief. Not just that she may have found some legitimate family—but that the wordlegitimatedidn’t come up in conversation.
“And what about your father, Kristine?” Conlan asked.
Suddenly Jayce jumped up and said, “I almost forgot. We have dinner reservations. If we leave right now, we’ll just make it before they give away our table.”
Kristine gave him a grateful smile and followed him to the coat closet.
“Quick thinking,” she whispered.
“Actually, I was thinking about it all along but didn’t want to interrupt. It didn’t seem like the right time.”
“Your timing was perfect.”
