Like every morning since she’d been at Garbhán Isle, they brought hot water for her bath. She waited while they filled the tub and then she dismissed them.
Talaith closed the door and made her way to the tub. Dropping the fur at her feet, she stepped into it and eased herself into the water, her body screaming in protest the entire time. Once she was in, she dunked her head under the water and proceeded to scrub herself clean.
Her exhaustion bone deep, every muscle sore. Her lips, nipple, sex sensitive to the touch. She had no idea what happened last night, but she’d be feeling its effects for days.
Over and over again, Briec took her. He was relentless and she was demanding. Sometimes he’d take her four or five times in a row. As soon as he’d cli**x, he’d flip her over and, still erect, start again.
She wished she could say the whole thing was some kind of horrible experience, but she’d be lying. Except for the aftermath to her body and the accidental burning of her back during the night, she enjoyed every second, and quickly lost count of her cli**xes. The few times he did stop, the break wouldn’t last long. And just as she began to slip into a deep sleep, he’d start kissing her again, f**king her again. Making her beg for everything he had to give.
Finally, when the first rays of the two suns peeked out, he’d cli**xed one last time before passing out on top of her. Thankfully she had enough energy left to heave herself out from under him before dropping off to sleep as well, or he would have awoken to a crushed Talaith.
After soaking until the water turned cold, Talaith dropped herself from the tub and dried off. She bit her lip to keep her moans and groans in as her muscles screamed at all her movement. She knew enough of healing to know if she went back to bed, as much as she may want to, her body would cramp up and she would be unable to walk or do much of anything for days.
Somehow she managed to pull on a soft black dress, since the thought of anything touching her sex, even leggings, almost sent her into a crying tantrum. She brushed her hair off her face, and headed toward the Great Hall. She got halfway down the stairs when she stopped and sat down heavily, unable to go a step farther.
Talaith had no idea how long she was sitting there like that when Morfyd found her.
“Gods, sister. Are you all right?”
She couldn’t hold back the tears any longer…her entire body hurt more than she could say.
“No.” Talaith shook her head as tears streamed down her face.
Morfyd crouched beside her. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“My entire body hurts. I can’t walk.”
“You mean sore? Or something else?”
“Sore.” So very, very sore.
“All right. I’ve got something for that. Come, sister.” The witch slipped an arm around her waist and lifted her up. Being that she was actually a dragon, Talaith didn’t worry she might be too heavy for Morfyd. The female basically carried her to the Great Hall.
It surprised her to find it deserted. Usually, this time of morning, the Great Hall fairly buzzed with activity. But today it was merely the two of them.
“Where is everyone?”
Morfyd sat her in a chair at the dining table.
“Recovering, I suspect.”
“Something happened last night. What?”
“I don’t know. I passed out by the lake last night. I woke up with…um…I woke up and had no idea where I was or how I got there. Although I think I’m glad I left. I’d hate to think what would have happened if I were actually here.”
Morfyd dug into her satchel and pulled out several jars of herbs. She grabbed a bottle of wine, poured some into a chalice and then mixed in some herbs.
“Here. Drink this. Straight down.”
With shaky hands, Talaith took the chalice from Morfyd and did as she ordered.
“Good.” Morfyd took the now-empty chalice from her. “Give it a few minutes and you’ll be amazed how well it works.”
“What about everyone else here?”
“Those who lived away from the castle are fine, although from what I can tell they slept quite deeply. The few servants who’ve been bustling around this morning are all those who lived with their families off the castle grounds.”
“And the ones who live here?”
Morfyd winced. “Aren’t much better than you, I’m afraid. But I’ve already made them a batch of what I just gave you.”
As Morfyd said the words, a soft warmth spread throughout Talaith’s body, and the brutally painful soreness seemed to wash away like so much sand during a high tide.
Morfyd studied her closely. “Feel better?”
“Aye.” Talaith smiled in relief. “Aye, I do. Gods, thank you, Morfyd.”
“You’ll have to drink some more tonight before you go to bed. But by tomorrow you should be completely fine.”
Talaith wanted to hug the woman, but decided against it. Instead, she stood and took several tentative steps. Her smile turned to a grin. Even the soreness between her legs had melted away.
“I’m getting the ingredients to that miracle concoction, Morfyd.”
Morfyd laughed as rose to her feet, watching Talaith walk around in front of her. “Of course. With your skills I have no fears you’ll make it wrong.”
“Mmmhm. It even helped with this burn.” She very lightly reached back and brushed her fingertips along the burn marks peeking out from under her dress.
“I have to admit…that did surprise me.”
“Why? Have you never accidentally burned one of your lovers during a lusty bedding?” she joked.
Morfyd took the chalice back from Talaith. “Accidentally?”
“Aye. Do you have something for burns? I’d prefer not to have to live with the scars if I don’t have to.”
Coughing out an uncomfortable, awkward laugh, Morfyd pulled the shoulder of Talaith’s dress down a bit. “Uh…Talaith. This was no accident.”
“What do you mean?” That didn’t make sense. Briec had never hurt her, intentionally or otherwise. Even last night, when his lust got the best of him, he still made her feel cherished, cared for, and so very loved.
“I mean Briec marked you last night. He Claimed you as his own.”
He’d Claimed her. Briec’s desperately spoken words floated back to her, “Tonight I Claim you. Tonight I make you mine.”
“Didn’t he tell you?”
“Does it look like he told me?” Talaith screamed in fury, the full weight of what he’d done slamming down on her. “That arrogant bastard. I’ll kill him.”
“Talaith, I don’t think it was anything he could control.”
She stalked up to Morfyd, ignoring the fact the female towered over her. “Are you saying if the kitchen maids were with him last night, he would have done the same? Are you telling me this is meaningless?”
“No. That’s not what I mean at all. What I think is that Claiming you was something he’d already planned. Knowing Briec he’d planned to wait. To discuss it with you first. At the very least tell you he was going to do it.”
“Really? Is that what you think, sister? How fascinating your load of centaur shit is.”
“Perhaps you should calm down.”
“Perhaps you should f**k off!”
Talaith stalked over to the open archway of the Great Hall and stared out over the courtyard. Trying to get control of her enormous panic. He’d Claimed her. Gods, what did that mean? Exactly what would he expect of her? She wouldn’t lie to herself, if Briec had asked her, she would have said “yes” and stayed with him forever. Not hard, because she loved him. But, more importantly, it would have been her choice. That’s all she wanted these days. To have a choice. But he’d taken that from her.
Trying desperately not to cry, she watched the soldiers prepare for the presence of Lord Hamish and his army in a few weeks time.
Talaith stared and debated what she would do. And that’s when they came around the corner. Éibhear in chainmail shirt and leggings and Iseabail in the leather leggings and the soft oversized cotton shirt she’d been wearing the night before.
Iseabail, talking non-stop as always, followed behind Éibhear like a puppy. They reached the steps of the Great Hall entrance and Éibhear stopped, turning around to grab Izzy by her shirt and pulling her onto her tiptoes.
“Please. For the love of all that’s holy, woman—stop talking!”
“Well you don’t have to yell at me. I was merely saying…”
Éibhear, growling like an enormous bear in the woods, released her daughter and stalked up the stairs. Izzy still behind him. Still talking.
As Éibhear walked past her, muttering, “Good day, Talaith,” she briefly wondered when everything turned a bright, blood red.
Thoroughly branded, thoroughly f**ked, and thoroughly pissed off, Talaith let the full range of her anger loose…and she let it loose on Éibhear.
Talaith grabbed Éibhear by the front of his chainmail shirt and, using the strength of her ancestors, swung him around and slammed him against the wall.
One hand shoved against his throat, she pinned him to the spot, while retrieving her blade with the other and placing the point of it against his jugular.
“What did you do?” she shouted in his face.
“What? What are you talking about?”
“To Izzy! What did you do to Izzy?”
“Nothing.” Éibhear stared at Talaith, his silver eyes desperate. “I swear!”
“Mother, let him go!” She could hear her daughter pleading with her, but barely. The rushing in her ears drowned out almost all other sounds.
This…this was the final straw. If these dragons thought they’d get her daughter too—not in her lifetime.
“Tell me what you did!”
“He only took me flying last night,” Iseabail fairly screamed.
Talaith glared at Éibhear. “Is that what you told her it was called?” she yelled in his face.
“No!”
Morfyd stood on the other side of her, “Woman, get your hands off my brother.”
“Not ‘til he tells me what he did to her. This way I’ll know whether to cut off only his balls or the entire bloody thing!”
Éibhear’s eyes darted to his sister’s. “Morfyd…”
She sighed. “Éibhear, tell us what happened.”
Éibhear kept his focus on his sister, then spit it all out in a rush: “I was out flying last night when I saw this one alone, far from the castle. I was going to make her come back here, but when I looked I saw the moon and it just didn’t look right and it was hovering over the castle as if suspended there. I was afraid to bring her back here, so I took her flying. I showed her around Dark Plains until I grew tired. We were near Dark Glen, so I took her to Fearghus’ den, because I knew it would be safe. We stayed there the night, but I swear I never touched her!”
“It’s true, mum,” Iseabail pleaded. “I swear it.”
He spoke true. She could see it and sense it. But she still hated all dragons at the moment. “Then you best keep it that way, dragon.”