About a Dragon (Dragon Kin #2)(93)

Giving one last glare to Éibhear, her daughter stormed off, brushing past a slow-moving Annwyl who practically crawled down the stairs.

Somehow the warrior queen managed to dress in what Talaith now knew to be Annwyl’s everyday wear as opposed to her battle wear—sleeveless chainmail shirt, leather leggings and leather boots.

“Morfyd,” she whined.

“It’s all right, Annwyl.” Morfyd’s voice sounded tight and angry, but clearly she decided not to push a confrontation. Good plan. Talaith may not be dragon, but at the moment she could kill anything mortal.

As Annwyl slowly made her way to the dining table, Morfyd quickly mixed up another chalice full of her brew, using her finger to stir all the ingredients. A servant passed her when she was done, so she handed it to him and motioned to Annwyl.

Annwyl took it, but before drinking said, “Well, I know I like finger with my wine.”

“Drink it, you whiny cow.”

“Someone’s in a bad mood.” Annwyl swigged the wine back with one gulp, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She dropped the chalice to the table. “How long before this works?”

“Couple of minutes.”

“Good.” Using both hands, Annwyl leaned against the dining table.

But it seemed fate played against Annwyl this beautiful morning as one of her soldiers stepped into the Great Hall. “Annwyl, we need you.”

Annwyl sighed and, even though the drink most likely had not worked yet, somehow forced herself to straighten up and walk toward her soldier. Talaith guessed it wouldn’t do for the queen to be indisposed because her mate f**ked her silly the night before.

Talaith admitted the woman had some mighty strength, though. Where Talaith cried and simpered like a babe, Annwyl simply pretended it never happened. Better woman than me.

Annwyl slid past Morfyd and Talaith who’d kept their backs to each other.

But as soon as Annwyl passed the women, they both knew. Startled, they turned and looked at each other, their moment of anger quickly forgotten. They watched Annwyl make her faulty way toward the archway. Once she got there, she suddenly grabbed the wood molding and doubled over.

Morfyd and Talaith ran to her side, but by then she was throwing back up everything she’d drunk. Not surprising. Talaith saw the kind of herbs Morfyd had in that drink. Ones that, among many other things, would prevent a woman from becoming with child.

Too late for that.

Morfyd took hold of one arm while Talaith grabbed the other. Morfyd motioned to the soldier. “Find Brastias or Danelin. They must help you. The queen is ill.”

The young soldier nodded and ran off while the two women dragged Annwyl back into the castle.

They sat her down at the dining table and Morfyd crouched in front of her. “Annwyl? Can you hear me?”

Annwyl frowned at the witch. “Of course I can hear you. Gods, Morfyd, I’m only sick from last night’s antics. And you can blame your virile brother for that. So stop looking as if I’m at death’s door. I already feel better.”

Morfyd rubbed her eyes with two fingers. “All night, Annwyl? You were with him all night?”

Annwyl’s frown deepened. “Of course, I was. Where else would I be? Besides,” she muttered softly, “he wouldn’t let me go.”

She looked between the two women. “All right, witches. Fess up. What’s going on? Why do you both look like that?”

Morfyd took Annwyl’s hands within her own. It seemed a caring gesture, but Talaith guessed it was because Morfyd wanted to control where those hands went when Annwyl found out the truth.

“Sister—”

“Spit it out, Morfyd. I grow more annoyed by the second.”

“Fine. There’s something you should know.”

“Which is?”

“Annwyl…you are with child.”

Annwyl snorted. “Of course I am. I lay eggs in two days time.” She chuckled at her own joke until she realized the two witches weren’t laughing. She glanced between them. “You’re wrong, of course.”

“No, sister. I’m not. You’re with child.”

Pulling her hands back, “So what are you saying? That I betrayed your brother? That I was with another? Because that never happened.”

“I know. Yesterday you weren’t with child. And today, after the entire night with Fearghus, you are.”

“You said humans and dragons could not breed. You said it was impossible.”

“And, normally, it is.”

“Normally?”

Morfyd shrugged. “The gods sometimes change their minds.”

The two witches barely moved in time, Talaith finally having the chance to experience the full extent of Annwyl’s rage as it exploded around them.

* * *

Briec sat on the end of his bed. Freshly bathed and dressed, he held his head in his hands.

By the dark gods of fire, what had he done last night? What had he done to Talaith? Would she ever forgive him? Could he ever forgive himself?

He wasn’t surprised when his door slowly opened and Fearghus stood in the doorway. His black hair hid half his face and he could barely meet Briec’s eyes.

Fearghus shook his head. “So this is shame, brother?”

“Aye…and I like it even less than heartbreak.”