About a Dragon (Dragon Kin #2)(54)

“Do you like it?” he asked softly.

“Briec, it’s beautiful. But why—”

“I wanted you to have something from me.”

She stared at him for a long time, almost making him uncomfortable. Then she asked, “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why did you want me to have something from you? Why do you care?”

“Because…” His brain scrambled for some answer he could understand. “I’ve enjoyed having you here with me.” Did she still want to leave him? Did she still plan grand escapes? Or did she realize this was where she belonged?

“For now,” she pushed.

He blinked, then nodded, extremely confused. “Um…yes. For now. That was what I’d always said.”

Her smile turned sad and resigned and Briec had absolutely no idea what to do about it. What he never expected, though, was for her to take his face between her hands and kiss him.

* * *

What did she expect him to say exactly? That he loved her? That he wanted her with him forever? Her mother’s words came back to her as she kissed Briec. The words she said to her when Talaith told her she was with child.

“Foolish, foolish, Talaith. You keep expecting to find happiness—and you never will. Not for us.”

“Us” being the Nolwenn witches. The most powerful witches in Alsandair. And the loneliest. Nolwenn witches had consorts, but only for physical needs or Magicks requiring sex. When the men became too old to perform, the witches sent them on their way. They may have favorites among them, but never enough to care once they were gone.

Talaith loved her daughter’s father, which was unheard of. Of course, having her daughter at sixteen was absolutely unheard of, too. Especially since her own mother didn’t have her until it was well past her two hundredth winter.

Yet the Nolwenn way of life wasn’t what Talaith wanted. Not for herself and especially not for her daughter.

His hands gently gripping her shoulders, Briec pulled back from her. It wasn’t easy for him. She saw that in the way his violet eyes watched her. As always he wanted her…for now.

“Talaith, what is it? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She stroked his jaw, loving the rough feel of it against her hand. “Just take me to bed, Briec.”

He didn’t have the answers he wanted—the answers he’d never get—but knowing the dragon as well as she did now, she knew he expected to get it out of her tomorrow.

He picked her up out of the chair and carried her to the bed they’d been sharing together.

She’d make this night memorable for both of them, because soon memories would be all she’d have.

Chapter Fourteen

Danelin, captain of Queen Annwyl’s elite guard, checked his sword carefully for any nicks. It was the one thing that kept him from crying out of pure boredom. Exactly how much more rain and mud could he be witness to? They’d barely moved more than a league in the past week. He wanted to go home. He had a small bit of land Annwyl gave him after she took her brother’s throne. On it was a small house with an even tinier garden. But it was his and he loved it.

Yet all the men felt like that lately. They’d been away from Garbhán Isle for too long now. They wanted to see their wives, mistresses, children…even their mothers. They were weary of battle and definitely weary of this weather. Although Danelin had no doubt in a few months they’d be clamoring for another battle, another war, they still needed the occasional break from it.

The one who needed the break from it most of all, however, was their queen. They all knew she’d been away from her mate for far too long. The longer they were separated, the sharper her tongue. And woe to the small war party that accidentally crossed their path. Often the rest of them didn’t even have to fight…she did all the work for them.

Aye, only one was brave enough to face her when she got this way. Only one dared to irritate her.

Morfyd stormed from the queen’s tent, but she stopped when a book—thankfully soft of cover—hit her in the back of the head. Swinging around, the dragon in human form yelled, “You are the most insufferable, difficult bitch I’ve ever had the displeasure of knowing and I can’t wait to be rid of you!”

Danelin glanced up at his commander and Brastias sighed. With a shake of his head, he stepped in front of Morfyd before she could stomp away. “What is going on with you two?”

Morfyd looked at Brastias, then at the men watching her. After taking a deep, calming breath she shrugged. “Nothing. Why?”

* * *

Briec, smiling while still half asleep, reached for Talaith. His hand grasped nothing but bedding and he pulled himself fully awake.

“Talaith?”

He’d been hoping to find her still lying next to him. He had plans for her this morning, and they all involved her legs resting on his shoulders. So finding her already up and about did nothing but irritate him. Plus, he still had many questions to ask the wench. Her sudden mood swings the previous night did nothing but confuse him, and he realized he didn’t enjoy that confusion one damn bit.

Briec looked around the chamber and frowned when he didn’t find her in one of the chairs reading as he usually did. He sat up, pushing his hair off his face. “Talaith?”

He slid out of bed and left the chamber, heading toward the main area where they ate. She wasn’t there and no fire burned in the pitfire since the previous eve.