About a Dragon (Dragon Kin #2)(34)

“You’re too hard on him.”

“And you are like every other female that allows him much leeway.”

Frowning, Talaith looked up at him, but he would not face her. Instead he stared down at the jewelry as if considering each piece carefully. “I give your brother no leeway and never will.”

“I didn’t see you moving his hands away while he held that dress against you.”

“First off, you didn’t give me the chance. And second, you sound awfully jealous.”

“Me? Jealous?” Briec finally turned and faced her. “Of him?”

“Don’t yell at me,” she replied calmly. “And yes, you sound very jealous of your brother. Like it’s making you insane with rage.”

“Why you evil little—”

“You two argue,” Éibhear cut in, “while I starve to death.” His big hands rested on his lean hips. “If someone doesn’t feed me soon, I will get cranky.”

“Can this not wait until we’re done,” Briec snarled.

“No. You two argue constantly.” Éibhear grabbed her hand and Briec’s eyes narrowed at where their fingers touched. “Argue later. Feed me now.”

Without another word, Éibhear dragged her off yet again, this time toward the local inn.

Talaith glanced back at Briec and she immediately understood the look on his handsome face. His patience waned—greatly. No, Briec the Arrogant wouldn’t tolerate his brothers’ interference much longer. And thoughts of what he might do when that patience ran out had her knees nearly buckling.

* * *

Glendower, Son of Glewlwyd stumbled out of the Great Hall of Garbhán Isle castle and into the arms of Eryi, captain of the guards.

“Ho, Glendower!” the man laughed. “Too much drink, my old friend?”

Not bothering to answer, he turned in Eryi’s arms and grabbed the collar of the man’s chainmail shirt. He yanked him out of the way as flames burst from inside the Great Hall and out the door, nearly singeing them both on the spot.

The two men, now facedown in the dirt, looked up at each other.

“What in all that’s holy…”

Glendower, who had stupidly offered to be temporary Garbhán Isle vassal until the queen and her army returned, shook his head. Who knew suggesting the rotation of crops over to the south side of the castle grounds would cause the queen’s consort to get so terse. “I believe our lord misses the queen…greatly.”

“That woman,” Eyri panted, “cannot return fast enough.”

And Glendower most heartily agreed.

* * *

She’d been nervous since they walked in. Her legs under the table bounced incessantly. An already annoying habit he was hoping to break her of, but this was intolerable. And her eyes kept straying across the room to look at them.

Finally, Briec couldn’t stand it anymore. “Is there a problem, Talaith?”

Her eyes snapped back to the three dragons sitting at the table with her. “No. Why?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s the way you keep staring at those four men over there.”

Gwenvael leaned back as far as he could manage, trying to get his body comfortable in the tiny table setting. Clearly no one designed these inns with dragon patrons in mind. “Do you know them?”

Her hand strayed to the rope burn on her neck. It’d turned into a lovely shade of purple and green, but at least, according to her, the pain plagued her no more. “Um…I know of them.” She shrugged. “They’re soldiers. Lord Hamish’s soldiers.”

All three of the brothers turned and stared at the men.

“Don’t stare at them,” she whispered fiercely.

“They look like travelers or priests,” Éibhear offered.

But Gwenvael shook his head. “They’re much more than that, little brother. They’re well-armed under those robes.”

“Oh.” Éibhear was silent for a moment. Then, in that Éibhear way, he said, “Let’s kill them then.”

Now all their attention turned to Éibhear.

“What? What did I say?”

Briec caught Talaith’s eyes and they smiled at each other. Every once in awhile Éibhear reminded them all he was still a young dragon.

“They haven’t actually done anything, pup,” Briec somehow managed to say without laughing. “We can’t just kill them.”

“Clearly Talaith feels threatened. Isn’t that enough?”

“No,” Gwenvael chuckled. “That’s not enough.”

“Well, it should be,” Éibhear grumbled as he took the rest of Gwenvael’s meal as his own.

“Have they ever hurt you,” Briec asked. If her answer was “yes”, then Éibhear would get his wish.

Talaith shook her head. “No. No. Nothing like that. I’m just wondering why they’re here. Little far from Madron, wouldn’t you say?”

She had a valid point.

“Aye. I know some who wouldn’t like the idea of any of Hamish’s men this close to Dark Plains.” And Garbhán Isle. Fearghus became awfully testy when he thought that viper he called mate might be in danger. Of course, the woman had been out with her army for months. How Fearghus tolerated that, Briec didn’t know. Simply thinking of Talaith leaving anytime soon gave him this very odd feeling in his chest. He didn’t know what it was, but he knew he didn’t enjoy it.