About a Dragon (Dragon Kin #2)(105)

“Why not,” he muttered into her neck. “They play games like this, Annwyl, and they risk the outcome. They risk losing.”

“So what are you saying?”

“I want to raise them with one goal in mind. One purpose.”

“You want them to challenge gods?”

Fearghus didn’t answer her, but instead kissed his way down her neck and to her shoulders.

“You can’t be serious,” she said again. No, no. This was wrong. There had been a few in history who’d challenged gods. Some lost. Some barely survived. And very few ever won.

“It’s what they deserve.”

Annwyl pulled herself away from Fearghus. She had to. His kisses were completely distracting her. She turned her body in the large tub so she faced her mate.

“You want us to raise the killers of gods?”

“No. I want to raise warriors who aren’t afraid to challenge gods.”

“Have you lost your mind, dragon?”

“No, I haven’t lost my mind. Think about it, Annwyl. They’re already being hunted—apparently by everyone. As are you. If for no other reason, we need to make sure they can protect themselves. And eventually us in our doddering old age.”

“Fearghus,” she gave a weak smile, “you’ve gone mad.” But already the idea had grown on her. Even as she knew the wrongness of it—she didn’t care.

“They’ll be feared,” he insisted.

“More like hated.”

“Respected. No one will ever use them. They won’t be killed. They’ll be too mean to die.”

“I thought that was your father.”

Grinning, Fearghus grabbed her around the waist and dragged her onto his lap. She felt his erect c**k pressing against her. “Imagine, Annwyl,” he teased as he stroked her body with his hands and set it on fire with his tongue, “hatchlings even my father will fear.”

“Now, dragon,” she moaned, arching into him as he slowly pushed his c**k inside her, “you’re just trying to sweet talk me.”

* * *

Briec felt the tap on his shoulder and forced his eyes open. Izzy stood over him.

“Is everything all right, Izzy?”

“Oh, yes. Everything’s fine. I just wanted you to know I was going to bed.”

Rubbing his eyes, Briec sat up. Very early morning light spilled through the windows. He glanced down at himself, relieved to see his exhaustion so deep the previous eve, he’d dropped on his bed fully dressed and immediately fell asleep. Good. Otherwise this could have been a very awkward situation. “You’re going to bed now?”

“We talked a lot last night. So I’m exhausted.”

“All right.” He still didn’t know why she felt the need to tell him this information.

“So I’m going to my bed now and I’ll be asleep there for hours. I left Mum alone.”

“Izzy!” Briec laughed.

She held her hands up. “I’m merely making sure everyone knows exactly what’s going on. And what’s going on is I’m going to bed—my bed—and have left my mother all alone.”

“Iseabail.”

She gave him that smile that always reminded him of Talaith, kissed him on the cheek, and skipped toward the door.

“Izzy?”

She stopped right at the door and looked at him over her shoulder. “Yes?”

“I’m glad you’re back.”

“Me, too—Daddy.” She winked at him and left. He always detested precocious children…until now.

No, he’d definitely be proud to call that mad little girl “daughter”. She already fit in so well with the rest of his kin, and his mother would love her…and not as a meal either.

Briec rolled off the bed and went straight to Talaith’s room. The fur coverings pulled up to her chin, Talaith slept soundly. Not surprising with all she’d been though over the last two days. Trying not to wake her, but needing to be near her, Briec removed his clothes off and slipped into bed with her, wrapping his arms around her waist and snuggling her from behind.

“Izzy?”

“That’s just ridiculous,” he growled.

She glanced at him over her shoulder. “It could have been worse. I could have said Gwenvael.”

“And forced me to kill my own brother.”

* * *

She was safe. She was home. She had her daughter. And she had the most arrogant dragon in the universe. She had her Briec.

Gods, is that happiness I feel? No, no. Best not to question it. That would only bring disaster.

“And what exactly are you wearing?” Briec demanded.

“A nightdress. You can’t expect me to traipse around naked with my daughter now can you?”

“Of course not. But she’s gone to her room to sleep.”

Lifting herself up so that Briec could remove her nightdress without ripping it, which she knew he would do, she frowned. “How do you know that?”

“Because she came to tell me she was going to bed—her own bed—to sleep for many hours.”

Talaith covered her face with her hands. “Why does that girl insist on embarrassing me?”

“She wasn’t trying to.” Briec threw the nightdress across the floor, dangerously close to the pitfire. He pulled the silver chain he had around his neck off and returned it to her. Making sure that once it was on, the pendant fell right between her br**sts and against her heart. “She wants you to be happy, Talaith. And she knows I’m the only one who can do that for you.” He pushed her back on the bed.