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"If you wish to be granted the gift you've requested," the Dagda said sternly, "this is the only offering I will accept."

Fionn, his head hung low, spoke clearly. "Very well."

"Very well?" Babd pied up—it was less a question than an objection. "Your revenge, Father, means more to you than your own daughters?"

Fionn approached Babd and gently touched her face. "I see your mother in your eyes. In Anand, I hear your mother in her voice. And in Macha, I sense your mother in her grace. It is not that I love you less, Babd, than I demand my revenge—it is that I cannot stand to live with her memory haunting me the rest of my life. The Dagda is powerful—the most powerful god of all. He will give you a greater life than I ever could and, should I say, he will treat you better than I have."

For a moment, Babd wanted to slap her father. He was right—he hadn't treated her well. But he was herfather.She clenched her fist as Fionn leaned over and kissed Babd's cheek, the did the same to Macha and Anand.

Fear Doidrich approached and took Babd by the hand—she yanked it out of his as quickly as she could. He took her hand again, this time clasping his hand around her more firmly before giving her hand to the Dagda. Then, he gathered Macha and Anand, neither of whom resisted at all.

Babd looked up at the Dagda. His eyes were suddenly aflame with magic—red magic. The Dagda blinked.

Fionn screamed as his body expanded and changed. Massive wings sprang from his back. His bones popped loudly as they grew. Scales formed on his skin. In a matter of moments, he'd change completely. He'd become a dragon.

With a flap of his wings and a cloud of dust kicked up beneath him, he took off into the skies. He released a torrent of flames into the clouds—the flames coalescing into a single, flat, oblong portal of some sort. He flew into it and disappeared.

Babd looked at her sisters. They were both in tears, overcome by the sheer horror of what they'd seen. But not Babd... she bit her tongue. She'd always known her father was a monster. Now, he was inbothappearance and temperament. And to think that this was what he wanted... that becomingthatwas worth the cost of each of his daughters. For a moment, Babd pitied her father. So much rage. So consumed with vengeance.

"You see," Doidrich said. "This one, the one I say is a witch, was unaffected by her father's transformation. It's as though she's already familiar with such magic!"

"Enough," the Dagda said, interrupting Doidrich. "Bring them together. It is time the three shall become one, that I might have my wife."