About a Dragon (Dragon Kin #2)(52)

“And who died to give you this?”

She looked affronted. “No one. But I do have someone for you to meet.” She motioned to three knights who quickly headed their way, angrily eyeing Briec.

“They don’t know everything about me, brother,” she whispered. “So I’d appreciate it if you not mention it yourself.”

Briec shook his head. His sister was absolutely shameless and yet she never embarrassed him like Gwenvael often did. He found her entertaining.

The knights strode to a stop beside Keita, surrounding her.

“And who is this, m’lady?” One of them asked, glaring at Briec as if he’d done something.

“This, my loyal knights, is my brother, Briec.”

Once they realized he was kin, they all visibly relaxed and nodded greetings.

“Isn’t he handsome? As all my brothers are.” She winked at Briec. “If you’re kind to him, perhaps he’ll let us stay in his home.”

Briec knew exactly what his little sister was up to. She must have grown bored with these men, but those days of using humans for sport and then dinner were long gone. With Fearghus having a human mate and their queen awarding the Mad Bitch of Garbhán Isle the loyalty of all dragons, it would be in bad taste to toy with them.

Besides, he knew Talaith wouldn’t appreciate it one bit. And that was enough to ensure he not get involved.

“Unfortunately, little sister, that will not be possible.”

The pout returned. “Oh?”

He looked at the three men. “Perhaps another time.”

Keita took his arm. “Would you excuse us a moment, gentlemen?” She walked off, not bothering to wait for their answer. “You have changed, brother.”

“Not really. We all have to grow up eventually.”

“Why? I’m only a hundred and ninety winters. I have years to go before I have to be as boring as Fearghus or Morfyd.”

Chuckling, Briec leaned down and kissed his sister’s forehead. “Do be careful, brat. You play with fire too often.”

“Ah, but we are fire, brother.” She patted his chest and trounced off, but as she reached the men, she spun back around. “Should I mention to Daddy that I saw you?”

Only Keita called Bercelak the Great, one of the most feared dragons in this region or any other for that matter, “Daddy”. And she was the only one he’d allow to get away with it.

“No.”

Nodding, she said, “That’s what I thought.”

She walked off and, like well-trained dogs, the knights followed.

The wind picked up a bit, and Briec knew another storm was coming. He wanted to get back to Talaith. To see her beautiful face and perhaps start another argument over…he stopped to think a minute. Ah, yes. The fruit. He bet she ate all the fruit.

He shrugged. That would work for a good argument.

* * *

She looked up at the goddess who had been the bane of her existence for sixteen years now. She hated Arzhela, the goddess of light, love and fertility. Talaith hated the bitch for what she’d made her do, and what she still needed her to do. Talaith hated her for taking her away from her people and leaving her in that village where she would always be an outsider.

But what she truly hated the bitch goddess for most of all? Taking away Talaith’s daughter.

“You summoned me, goddess?”

Bathed in gold light, a wreath of gold and white flowers adorning her golden head, the goddess smiled at her. “You always say that with a sneer, my darling girl.”

“Do I? I hadn’t noticed.”

Talaith no longer looked at the goddess. She feared what her eyes would show. So she stared at her neck. Smooth, pale, and long, Talaith dreamed of dragging her blade across it.

“Of course you noticed,” Arzhela stated brightly. The goddess always looked bright and cheery. It hid the dark soul beneath. “But it matters not to me. For your time is coming.” She clapped her hands together. “And I am so excited!”

“Yes, goddess.”

Arzhela pouted. “You don’t sound excited.”

Cruel, heartless bitch!

“Whatever brings you joy, goddess, brings me joy.”

“There’s that tone again,” she remarked cheerily, but without a trace of genuine humor. “Be that as it may, everything is falling into place just as I planned.”

Talaith frowned, her eyes still focused on the bitch’s throat. “Sorry, goddess?”

“Well, your presence here. Did you really think a dragon would want you?”

Arzhela wanted Talaith to believe Briec was one of her many pawns like her priestesses or Lord Hamish who even now held her daughter in his fortress, and had these many long years—assuring her daughter was so close and yet so very far. But Talaith knew Arzhela’s power didn’t move past the humans. “If there is one thing I know, is that you do not control the dragons. Especially this one.”

She heard the guttural hiss a split second before the goddess used Magick to lift Talaith and throw her against the outside cave wall.

The wind knocked out of her, it took Talaith a bit to push herself back to her feet. But by then she understood completely what had been going on. Arzhela had no control over the dragons. Her Magick couldn’t breech what the dragons considered their very basic defenses. No wonder Talaith hadn’t heard from the bitch Arzhela in over a moon—she couldn’t touch her when Talaith was with the dragons. But as soon as Talaith left Briec’s cave and his protection…