About a Dragon (Dragon Kin #2)(95)

“You believe it’s mine. Why does that not fill me with confidence?”

“It’s definitely yours.”

They all turned at the sound of Iseabail’s voice. “And ‘it’ is ‘they’…twins, my queen.”

Her hands in tight fists at her side, Annwyl’s rage-filled gaze focused on Izzy seconds before Briec stepped in front of her.

“Don’t even think about touching her,” he growled.

“No, no, brother. I want to know how this little girl seems to know so much.” Annwyl leaned over to look at Izzy, a cat keeping an eye on a mouse.

Talaith climbed down from the statue and circled around toward Izzy.

“I’m waiting for an answer.”

“You can wait until the earth crumbles beneath your feet. Stay away from her.”

“Stop. Please. You’re all looking at this the wrong way.” Izzy stepped around Briec, moving away from him when he tried to grab for her.

“Izzy,” he warned but she waved him off, her entire attention focused on Annwyl.

“Don’t you see? You’ve both been chosen, Annwyl. You and Fearghus. Both chosen by a god.”

“What god?” Fearghus demanded.

“Rhydderch Hael, of course.”

Briec and Morfyd looked at each other. Good gods. The girl’s protector was Rhydderch Hael?

“What do you mean ‘of course’?” Fearghus snapped.

But Annwyl had bigger issues. “Chosen by Rhydderch Hael to do what, Izzy?”

The girl grinned. “Create the future.”

Annwyl moved so fast, they barely had time to even register, much less move out of her way. Luckily, Annwyl still took her rage out on the furniture. She lifted up another chair and slammed it into the floor, smashing it to pieces.

“Annwyl!”

“No, Fearghus. Stay away from me.” She walked toward the stone wall and away from Fearghus. “You did this to me. You and all your kin!”

“Me? Do you think for a moment I had anything to do with this?”

“How could you not know? Last night…” Annwyl turned from her mate, her arms wrapping around her body. “You took me again and again and again all night. And it was only to—”

Fearghus, his anger finally spilling out, reached Annwyl in two long strides. He grabbed her arm and swung her around. “Is that what you think? Do you actually think I’d do that to you?”

“What am I supposed to think?”

“You’re supposed to think it’s a gift from the gods,” Izzy said in that calm, happy way she had.

Annwyl and Fearghus looked at her and said together in complete exasperation, “Shut up, Izzy!”

* * *

Talaith should be angry the way they spoke to her daughter, but she would have said the same thing to Izzy. She knew the gods and their selfish ways, and she dreaded the day Izzy found out her god differed in no way from Arzhela or any of the others.

Placing her hand on her daughter’s shoulder, she said, “Leave it be, Izzy.”

“I can’t. He needs me to tell them.”

“Are you his messenger now?”

“No.” She shrugged. “I think I just happen to be here.”

Gods, Izzy. Talaith would laugh if she didn’t feel for Annwyl. It had all fallen in to place, hadn’t it? Rhydderch Hael ensured Annwyl’s arrival back at Garbhán Isle before the Black Moon. In order for this to work, the couple needed to be together. It could have easily been Talaith as well except she’d had her “one”. Thank the desert gods for something.

Still, that all begged the question of what part Izzy and Talaith played in all this? It was Annwyl and Fearghus Rhydderch Hael needed. Little Izzy couldn’t merely be the messenger of his less-than-happy news.

Fearghus seemed to calm down first. Gently, he pulled Annwyl into his arms. Her body shuddered with each breath.

“Gods, Fearghus…what the hell is in me?”

Fearghus looked to Morfyd who could only shrug.

“They’re your children, Annwyl,” Izzy piped in cheerfully. Before Talaith could yank her back, Izzy walked up to Annwyl and Fearghus. “Don’t you see? He didn’t choose you two because you were convenient. Or even because you were loyal to him—which, you’re actually not. But he chose you because he could think of no other strong enough to not only bear these children, but to protect them until they could protect themselves. Many will want them dead, Annwyl. Many have already started.”

“Arzhela?”

Izzy nodded at Morfyd’s question. “She’s the goddess of birth, among other things. She doesn’t want your children to live and she wasn’t above killing you to stop this.”

“Are they dragon or human?” Fearghus asked, his arms tightening around Annwyl. Holding her close and under control all at the same time.

“They’re both. They’re both of you. But nothing this world has seen before.” Izzy stood right in front of Annwyl. “He didn’t choose lightly, Annwyl. Your bravery, your strength…even your rage, all played a part in his choice. He likes you,” she finished simply.

Suddenly Annwyl laughed, pushing Fearghus’ arms off her body, and Talaith winced at how insane it sounded. All she wanted to do was grab her daughter and run for their lives. But she knew making any sudden moves could set Annwyl off.