“So, am I leaving?” Talaith asked softly.
Annwyl frowned. “I don’t know. Are you?”
“I’m asking you. Fearghus seemed determined that I go.”
“Don’t worry about Fearghus. I reasoned with him and we came to an understanding that satisfied us both.”
Morfyd glanced at her oldest brother’s mate and queen of the land. “You forgot to put your bindings back on after having your dirty, disgusting way with my brother.”
Annwyl’s hands immediately went to her chainmail-covered, but unbound br**sts. “Shit.”
“No, no, Annwyl. Truly.” Talaith reached over and patted Annwyl’s shoulder. “I do appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made for me.”
Annwyl threw one forearm over her eyes, ignoring Morfyd’s laugh. “Sarcastic cow.”
* * *
Talaith relaxed back in the tub, the water steaming around her. By the time she and Morfyd finished gathering all the supplies, she was a little sore and covered in dirt and sweat. Yet nothing a hot bath couldn’t cure.
She wished she could go with Morfyd tonight and do some spellcasting, but it had been much too long. Although Arzhela had returned her powers to her, Talaith’s skills were still extremely weak. Get on the wrong side of one of Morfyd’s spells and she could end up someplace she’d rather not be with no way home. Or open a doorway she could not close. No. She’d wait. Actually, Morfyd had given her a few books to get her started and promised she’d train her in those basics she’d most likely forgotten.
When Talaith finally thought long and hard about it, she realized she wanted to be the witch she was born to be. She wanted to heal the sick, protect the weak, destroy those who would bring pain and destruction to those who were unable to defend themselves. What she definitely didn’t want to do anymore…kill for a goddess. Her days as an assassin were over now. She no longer wanted that in her life and she wouldn’t have Izzy subjected to it.
To be quite honest, she had enough scares watching Izzy watch Annwyl. That wasn’t merely admiration or awe she witnessed in her daughter’s eyes. That was envy. And, to Talaith’s horror, it had nothing to do with Annwyl being queen. No, her daughter watched her while she trained with her men or rode that giant of a horse.
Talaith had a sinking feeling her daughter’s ambitions had nothing to do with court life or catching the eye of the cutest knight.
Sighing, Talaith slipped farther into the tub, not surprised when a few minutes later her daughter knocked and walked in.
“Is it all right if I have dinner in my room tonight?”
Talaith looked up and couldn’t help smiling at how beautiful her daughter was. And how lucky Talaith was. Not only to have finally gotten to meet her after all these years, but that her daughter survived with her wits and heart intact. Unlike Talaith, there was no bitterness in Izzy. No callous distrust of everyone. A glowing, happy girl who loved life but didn’t fear death.
How did I get so lucky?
“Of course you can. Is everything all right?”
“Aye. Just don’t feel like smiling and being polite tonight.”
She knew exactly how the girl felt, but if Talaith didn’t go, she knew Briec would think it was because of him. Of course, he’d be right.
“I understand. Feel free to eat in your room. You know, Izzy, you don’t actually have to ask me that. I’m sure you can decide where you’d like to eat without my help.”
Izzy shrugged. “I know.” She rubbed her hands against her leggings. “It’s just…”
“It’s just what?” she prompted when Izzy stopped.
“I don’t know what I should and shouldn’t be asking you. I mean, this is all a bit new to me.”
Talaith held her hand out and her daughter took it gratefully, crouching beside the tub and holding Talaith’s hand close to her heart.
“I have no idea what I’m doing either, love. So we’ll figure it out together. You and me. Does that sound about right to you?”
“Aye. Except….”
“Except what?”
“What about Briec?”
It took all Talaith’s strength not to pull back her hand in shock. “What about him?” Damn. She didn’t mean to sound so angry. A bit of a clue something was wrong.
“Shouldn’t you both be making decisions together?”
“And why would we do that?”
“Because he loves you.”
Dammit. “Does he now?”
“Aye. And it hurt him you didn’t tell him that after he told you.”
Now Talaith did snatch her hand back. “And how do you know that?”
“He told me after I fell out of the sky.”
Briec…quickly forgotten. “Pardon?”
Now Izzy showed true annoyance. “Well, you can blame Éibhear for that.”
“I can?”
“Aye. If he’d just taken me flying when I asked him too, I never would have grabbed on to his tail which led him to drag me through the trees trying to get me off.”
All those muscles Talaith had unknotted when she first got in the tub were now tight and painful.
“You did what?”
“Why are you yelling at me? You should be yelling at Éibhear.”
“You ask me if you can eat dinner in your room, but you don’t ask me if you can torture Éibhear to take you flying?”
Truly perplexed, Izzy asked softly, “Why would I ask you that?”
* * *
Éibhear lifted up the heavy bed, with Briec face down on it, and checked again.
“What are you doing?” his big brother asked, voice muffled by the bedding he’d buried his head in.
“Looking for my sword. The one Annwyl gave me. I was going to wear it at dinner.”
He dropped the bed back down and Briec grunted.
“Exactly how long are you going to mope over this, Briec?”
“Until I die of old age. Now you won’t have to ask me that damn question again.”
Éibhear opened his closet and rifled through there. “I hate seeing you like this.”
“Aye,” Gwenvael agreed from his safe position on the windowsill. “You are quite pathetic.”
“I will kill you,” Briec warned without lifting his head from the bed.
“Well, what did you expect Talaith to say to you?”
“I expected her to tell me she loves me.”
“Maybe she doesn’t…ow! What the hell was that for?”
Éibhear shook his hand out. It was true. Gwenvael did have an amazingly hard head. “Accident.”
Gwenvael’s body tensed and Éibhear prepared himself for a fight when a loud banging at his door stopped them both. They figured it was Fearghus from the sound of it.
“Come.”
The door opened and his worst nightmare walked in, pushed by her mother who had firm hold of her shoulder.
“What do you want, little girl?”
“Be nice,” Briec growled without lifting his head from the pillow—until he heard Talaith’s voice. Then his head snapped up and he stared at her.
Aye, his brother truly did love her. Éibhear could see it in the dragon’s violet eyes.
“Say it, Izzy,” Talaith snapped.
“I don’t think I should…ow!”
Éibhear bit back his smile when Talaith tugged her daughter’s hair.
“Don’t make me tell you again.”
The girl’s light brown eyes locked on his and he raised an eyebrow, thoroughly annoying her. But it seemed she didn’t want to test her mother. “I’m sorry…” Her glare became worse when he gave her a huge, taunting grin.
“Finish it,” her mother ordered.
“I’m sorry I grabbed on to your tail.”
“And…”
Sighing, “And I’m sorry I harassed you about taking me flying.”
“Good.” Since Talaith was behind her daughter, she never saw the spoiled little brat stick her tongue out at him. “Now to your room.”
Practically frothing at the mouth, the girl stomped off. Talaith shook her head. “I’m sorry, Éibhear.”
“Not a problem.” No point in telling Talaith, a woman he adored, that she’d spawned a demon.
Talaith turned to go and that’s when she saw Briec. He used his arm to prop his head up.
“Lady Talaith. Is that what you’re wearing to dinner tonight?”
Talaith looked at her dressing gown. Clearly she’d just gotten out of the tub. Her hair, soaking wet, reached down her back in big curls and she hadn’t put shoes on.
“And exactly when did I start owing you an explanation for anything I do?”
“She’s got you there, brother.” The pair turned on him so fast, Gwenvael stumbled back against the window, almost falling out of it. “Don’t bother. I’ll accidentally hit myself in the head later.”
Muttering to herself, Talaith glared at Briec and left.
Growling, Briec jumped off the bed and followed.
Once the couple were gone, Éibhear headed back to the closet, but Gwenvael’s next words caused him to hit himself with the closet door.
“What I don’t understand is why everyone keeps hitting me.”
* * *
“Talaith, wait.”
“No.”
He caught up to her, grabbing her arm and turning her around. “Please.”
By the dark gods, did he actually say “please”? Ignore it, Talaith. Ignore it. “Why did you tell Izzy what you said to me?”
“To be quite honest, her timing was impeccable.”
“I know. She’d fallen out of the sky.” Talaith pointed an accusing finger. “That’s what you were trying to hide from me, wasn’t it? Her and Éibhear.”
“Talaith—”
“So what you said was merely to distract me. I should have known.” She tried to walk away again, but he yanked her to him, pinning her arms behind her back.
“I meant every word I said to you, Talaith, Daughter of Haldane. And don’t ever suggest again that I didn’t. I don’t say things lightly or merely to get someone into bed. I love you, Talaith. You might as well get used to it.”
“I don’t want to get used to it or you.”
“What are you so afraid of, little witch? Of losing your heart? Of falling in love with me?”
Falling? She’d fallen. Face first off the highest spire. But she’d dare not tell him. She dare not speak the words that would hand her heart over to this dragon for the next six or seven centuries.
“Let me go, dragon.”
He pulled her closer, leaning down a bit to let his lips brush against her forehead. “Why do you keep fighting me, Talaith? We both know you love me. Why won’t you admit it?”
“Is there ever a time you’re not an arrogant bastard?”
“Is there ever a time you’re not a difficult bitch?”
“No.”
“Then I guess that makes us perfectly matched, now doesn’t it?”
He grinned and she couldn’t help but smile back.