About a Dragon (Dragon Kin #2)(57)

“Your name?”

Answer her, you idiot. “Talaith.”

The woman nodded. “I am Annwyl.”

Without thinking, Talaith stumbled back from her. “The Blood Queen?”

Blinking, the woman looked startled, then…well…then she looked hurt.

“Oh, shit,” the witch mumbled beside her. Then she and the good-looking warrior passed annoyed glances.

“Is that what they call me?” Annwyl threw her hands up. “That is so unfair!”

The witch shook her head, “Annwyl…”

“I work hard to protect the land—”

“Annwyl.”

“—to keep them all safe—”

“Annwyl.”

“—and this is how they repay me?”

“Annwyl!”

“What?”

“Let it go. We need to get back. Or do you wish to keep your mate waiting any longer?”

Good God. This big bitch has a mate? That had to be one brave man.

Annwyl growled. Literally. Then turned on her heel. “Fine.” She looked over her shoulder at Talaith. “But don’t call me that again.”

“Uh…” Talaith glanced around at the other warriors and realized they were working hard not to laugh. Some had to turn away. “Of course, my, uh, queen.”

She saw the men wince as Annwyl stopped in her tracks. Without bothering to turn around, she barked, “Don’t call me that either.”

“My liege?”

“Not even close.”

Talaith had grown tired of this big bitch barking at her like she were a small child and, as usual, Talaith’s mouth ran much faster than her sense. “Is there anything I should call you? Or should I just grunt and point in your direction?”

When the men and witch all stared at her, she had a feeling she might have gone too far—again.

Slowly, Annwyl turned back to her. Talaith had a feeling very few people said much to the Blood Queen of Garbhán Isle.

But, instead of taking her head or cursing her to those nasty pits she seemed so fond of sending people to, the queen smiled. A really sweet smile, taking Talaith completely by surprise. “I think Annwyl will do, don’t you?”

“Uh…” Talaith shrugged “Yes?”

Her smile broadened. “Yes. And you best come with us.”

“What? Why?” Well that was definitely not the right response, but Annwyl—nor Arzhela—appeared to notice.

“Annwyl,” the witch murmured. “I’m sure that Talaith has somewhere else to—”

“You think this was the only band of scavengers roaming these forests, sister?” Annwyl cut in quickly. “They’re one of many. You know that better than most.” To Talaith she said, “Come with us now. We’ll get you some food and some safety. You can decide what you want to do from there. All right?”

She made it sound like a request, but Talaith knew better. Dread filled Talaith’s being. Most of the gods knew she shouldn’t go. But she had no choice.

She had absolutely no choice.

* * *

Briec stared out over his land. As human he sat at the very edge of the highest entrance to his cave. He knew eventually his brothers would arrive, and when they sat next to him, one on either side, he wasn’t surprised. And, he had to admit at least to himself, he was quite grateful.

“What happened?” Éibhear asked.

“What does it look like? She left me.”

Gwenvael leaned over to stare down at the sheer drop to ground level. “Planning to throw yourself from here as human and end it all?”

“Of course not.” He let out a deep sigh. “I just got home, truth be told. I’ve been looking for her for days.”

Éibhear raised one leg and rested his arm on it. “Why did she leave?”

Briec’s head dropped forward in abject misery. “I don’t know.”

He sensed more than saw Gwenvael lean down a bit to get a good look at his face. “Are you really that upset?”

Bellowing in fury, he turned on his brother, “Do I look happy to you?”

His brother held his hands up. “Calm down. I was just asking. I didn’t realize you’d become that attached.”

“How could you not see that?” Éibhear asked. “Lofal the Blind One could have seen that.”

“When has Briec ever cared about a female beyond the bedding?”

“Talaith was different,” Briec seethed.

“Ah, yes. The woman whose name you didn’t even care to know at first.”

“Shut up, Gwenvael. Or you’ll quickly find out if your human body can fly.”

“You sure you’re just not mad because she had the audacity to leave you—Briec the Mighty?”

Normally Briec would shove his brother’s face into the dirt, but he didn’t even feel like doing that. For four days he searched everywhere he could think of for her and nothing. Not even a trace of her. Finally, he gave up and returned back to his lair, which suddenly seemed way too big and extremely lonely. He didn’t realize how much he’d come to enjoy her very presence. The scent of her. Her voice. Her extremely acid tongue. The way she kept tripping on his tail.