About a Dragon (Dragon Kin #2)(19)

Even the dragon who had her for nearly two days never asked her that—as if he couldn’t be bothered. “Talaith. I am Talaith.”

“Very pretty name, m’lady.”

Still stroking the silky hair, Talaith finally gave a very small smile. “I am no lady, dragon. Merely the only daughter of a merchant.” And the chosen one of a goddess who is to…hmmm, probably shouldn’t mention that.

“I’ve met many with rank. You’re more royalty than most of them.”

Laughing, “You don’t even know me.”

The enormous dragon lifted his head and beautiful silver eyes focused on her. As he looked her over, she didn’t feel naked and uncomfortable at all, as she seemed to when the silver dragon did the same thing. No, she knew in her heart this dragon was simply assessing the situation before him.

His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Lady, what happened to your neck?” His snout gently brushed her throat where she’d hung from the town noose while they prepared the stake.

When she didn’t cringe at him being so close, she felt quite proud.

Shrugging, “My entire village tried to hang me yesterday morn.”

And as easily as he showed kindness, he grew angry. “Why would anyone do that to you?”

“Because I am a witch.”

He sniffed with indignation. “Well, of course you are. I can see the Magick all around you. But what about your family? Was there no one to protect you?”

She couldn’t help it, she chuckled. “My husband led them, Éibhear.” Gods, Talaith. That’s not funny.

He growled low and black smoke curled from his nostrils. “Do you want me to kill them? I can destroy a village you know? I can destroy them all.”

“That is very, um, sweet of you. But do not waste your time. Leave them to their ignorance, Éibhear. I can no longer be bothered.”

Staring a moment more, he nodded before placing his head back on her knees. “As you wish. But please let me know if you change your mind.”

Talaith grinned as she hadn’t in ages. “I will, Éibhear. I promise.”

* * *

Gwenvael held up his claw. “Stop. Stop.” He wiped his snout and looked at his gold talons. “Ack! Blood. I’m bleeding! Death comes for me!”

Briec rolled his eyes, annoyed beyond reason by his idiot brother’s antics. “Oh, grow a spine.”

Gwenvael roared and crouched down, prepared to charge him again, when Briec suddenly noticed his human had fled.

“Where’s the woman?”

Immediately Gwenvael became distracted. One just needed to mention something female and he became distracted. Gwenvael’s sexual prowess rivaled only by their grandfather’s.

“I don’t know.” He glanced around. “She was standing here a moment ago.”

Briec glared at his kin. “You scared her off.”

“I scared her off?”

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Briec sniffed the air and followed her scent. Not surprisingly, Gwenvael followed right behind him. Nosy bastard.

“So where did you find her? She’s quite lovely.”

“At her village. And stay away from her.”

He had the nerve to sound affronted, when he said, “Why, brother. I would never—”

“Don’t bother. Fearghus already told me what you did with that mate of his.”

“I was only playing. Honestly, none of you have a sense of humor.”

“And from what I heard, neither did his mate. By the way, how is your neck? I heard she put a dagger to it.”

“It’s fine, thank you. And why don’t you ever use her name?”

“Don’t see a reason. She is of no consequence to me.”

Briec stopped walking and again sniffed the air. Gritting his fangs, he turned to Gwenvael and together they said, “Éibhear.”

* * *

Talaith glanced up as the silver and gold dragon stomped into the chamber. As soon as the silver saw her, his eyes narrowed, and she had the overwhelming desire to protect Éibhear.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Éibhear, who’d shifted back into human and graciously put on a pair of black breeches out of respect to Talaith, fairly ignored his brother as he tilted her head back a bit more to get at her wounded neck.

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

“Don’t backtalk me. I asked you a question.”

“And I don’t see the need to answer it. As it is, I’m so angry at you right now, I don’t even want to see your face.”

“What are you talking about?”

Unable to stop herself, Talaith sucked her breath in between her teeth and cringed. Éibhear’s face softened as he looked at her.

“I’m sorry. This will only take a minute or so more.” By the gods…that voice! She nearly envied the woman who would wake up every morning to that voice greeting her. Of course, the silver dragon’s was nothing to sneer at. Only his made her think of dirty, dirty things.

“That’s all right. I’m fine.”

By sheer force of will, Talaith stood her ground while Éibhear gently smoothed on more cream. He said his sister, a fellow witch, had created it and that it would manage the pain of the rope burn on her neck. The blue dragon had been horrified when he realized his brother had not taken care of her wound. Of course, Talaith knew she would have never let the silver dragon get that close to her.