About a Dragon (Dragon Kin #2)(53)

“Don’t test me, Talaith. I am in no mood.”

“Sorry if I offended you, goddess.”

Arzhela took a deep breath, most likely working hard to control that monumental rage. Once she’d calmed herself, her voice again took on the light lilting tone Talaith had come to loathe.

“Oh, don’t apologize, dear. It’s all right. But perhaps I should make some things clear to you. He’s noticed her.”

Panic, cold and brutal, swept through her limbs, making her immobile. Making her helpless. For the first time in the last five years, Talaith looked the bitch in the eye. “What?”

“Hamish has noticed her. Not surprising, Talaith. She’s the same age you were when you had her. Although much more attractive, but you’ve always been a bit plain. Guess she took after her father, more so than you.”

Talaith fought her desire to scream. To fight. To kill. She even fought her desire to wretch.

“Now, don’t panic, love. I see it on your face. If you follow my instructions, you won’t have anything to worry about.”

“You promised you’d protect her.”

“And I will. Just as I promised.” The goddess’ face turned ugly as her true nature swept across it. “But don’t think for a moment that you’ll be able to get out of this. Don’t think for a moment anyone or any…thing can protect you from me.”

The goddess lifted her hand, two fingers out, and it felt as if Talaith’s throat was back in that noose, choking her. Killing her. Her fingers scratched at her bare neck, fighting to remove a noose that wasn’t there.

“You know what you need to do, Talaith. And you will do it. And you’ll do it well.” Arzhela made a fist, and the feeling worsened, getting tighter around Talaith’s throat. Not only cutting off oxygen but soon, crushing bone. “Do it well, or your throat won’t be the only one I crush. But I’ll make sure he has her first. I’ll make sure he makes her love it.”

Fear for her child overrode fear for herself. She no longer cared about her death. She only cared about her daughter. The daughter they’d ripped from her arms before she’d taken her first breath. The daughter she worried about every moment of every day. The daughter whose name she didn’t even know.

“Yes,” she tried to scream, but was only able to barely choke out.

“Good.” Arzhela released her and Talaith dropped to her knees, hands around her throat, taking in deep gulping drags of air. “I’m so glad we understand each other so well. Tomorrow you’ll leave here and head toward the rising suns. Understand?”

“The weather?”

“I’ll protect you from that.” Which told Talaith Arzhela hadn’t been responsible for all these storms. Surprising.

“The suns will rise tomorrow. And I’m sure you’ll know what to do once you arrive at your destination, yes?”

Talaith shut her eyes. “Aye.”

“Wonderful. Wonderful.” Arzhela turned and headed off into the forest. “Oh, and I’ve returned your powers to you. By tomorrow, you’ll be back where you were when you pledged yourself to me.” Pledged herself? She never pledged herself to anyone or anything. The bitch was insane. “Don’t forget, Talaith. Once this is all done and your task complete, you can take your daughter and your Magicks and return to your people and your desert gods. But you mustn’t fail me.”

She actually still wanted Talaith to believe she’d survive this task. She must believe her truly stupid.

“Sleep well, Talaith. Tomorrow begins a brand new day.”

Then Arzhela was gone.

Chapter Thirteen

Briec stared at Talaith across the dining table. She hadn’t spoken since he arrived home, appearing lost and in pain. She’d pulled her bare feet up onto the chair, her chin resting on her knees, her arms tight around her legs.

“Are you not hungry?”

Without looking at him, she answered softly, “Not really, no.”

“Talaith? Talaith, look at me.” She did, those dark brown eyes turning to him. His chest tightened at the sight of the pain in them. “Gods, woman. What happened while I was away?”

“Nothing. Really.” She forced a smile, it seemed as if doing so caused her physical discomfort. “I’ll be fine in the morning.”

Leaning back in her chair, she took a deep breath before speaking again. “So, how did it go in town today? Is everyone all right with these storms?”

“Aye. It’s a little muddy, but surprisingly not too much damage. I feared the river would overflow, but it hasn’t.”

Her forced smile turned bitter. “The gods must be protecting us then.”

Briec didn’t know what to do with Talaith like this. She seemed ripped apart from the inside out, while at the same time, she seemed dangerously angry. And the fact that it brought out some unnamed emotion in him, gave him no ease.

“I bought something for you.”

“Oh?” She didn’t sound the least bit interested.

“Aye.” He stood and walked around the table until directly behind her. “I had this made for you.”

He slipped the silver chain on her neck, quickly latching the clasp. As he released it, the pendant dropped to hang down her gown, right between her br**sts. Talaith grasped the pendant and looked at it carefully while Briec crouched beside her. He’d given her a dragon. Not large at all, but modest in size, ensuring Talaith would feel comfortable wearing it. With wings expanded from a detailed back, fangs bared, its claws and tail holding on to a single jewel he’d pulled from his own treasure.