Dragon Actually (Dragon Kin #1)(38)

Gwenvael appeared beside her, is golden scales glinting brightly in the moonlight. He sniffed the air and looked at the still-smoldering remains of the soldiers.

He smiled at his sister. “Dinner.”

It had gone on for days. The two of them constantly “at it.” Like two mating beasts. Gwenvael shook his head in disgust. He understood lust. Actually, he appreciated lust greatly. But love? A strictly human emotion. And although he enjoyed gallivanting around town as human, he had no intention of making a muddle of his life as they all seemed to.

Of course, he would never have thought Fearghus the Destroyer would either. If there was one thing he could always count on from his large, less-than-social brother, it was his seemingly innate ability to feel nothing for anyone. So, to now watch him moon over some slip of a girl made Gwenvael question all his beliefs.

His head snapped up and he studied the sky. For a moment he thought he’d heard the flap of large leather wings. But as he searched the sky he saw nothing. He dismissed it and went in search of his sister. The soldiers from the previous night were not sitting well in his stomach and he needed one of her soothing concoctions.

She always did have a tendency to overcook their food.

* * *

Annwyl followed the sounds of retching. She found Morfyd by the stream. Her arms around Gwenvael’s shoulders as he vomited into the water.

“He all right?”

Morfyd shrugged. “He ate too much. But he’ll be fine. And I have a message for you from”—she cleared her throat—“Brastias.”

Annwyl frowned. Did Morfyd just blush? “What message?”

“Your brother plans to attack the closest village in three days time. Maybe less. I tried to tell you last night but you were sound asleep.”

Annwyl shrugged. “All right. Thank you.” She’d already planned to return to her troops in the next day or two.

“Is that all your brother warrants? A shrug and a thank you?”

“As a matter of fact, yes,” Annwyl snapped, unable to help herself. “I have other things on my mind besides him. Oh . . .” she waved her hand. “I’ll come back later.” Annwyl made to go, but Morfyd stopped her.

“Wait. Annwyl. What is it?”

“I can’t go on like this.”

Morfyd dropped Gwenvael, his head slamming into the stream. Annwyl grinned as Gwenvael cursed the woman.

Morfyd moved over to Annwyl and looked at her. “You can’t go on like what?”

“My days with the knight. My nights with the dragon. It’s becoming impossible.”

“Annwyl, talk to him.”

“I tried that. I can’t think when I’m around him. He does this thing with his tongue. . . .”

“Annwyl! I mean the dragon. Talk to the dragon.”

“I tried last night, but . . . I think he grows tired of me. And what if he laughs?”

“He hasn’t. And he won’t.” Morfyd smiled. “Trust me.”

“But . . .”

“No. I don’t want to hear it. Just tell the big bastard how you feel. How you feel about him. He needs to hear it. And you need to say it.”

“But the knight . . .”

“Don’t worry about him. Talk to the dragon. The knight can wait.”

Annwyl took a deep breath. She had to do something. Soon she would face her brother and most likely death. She didn’t want to go to her grave knowing that her weakness held her back from the one thing that truly mattered to her.

She nodded and headed back to the cave. Back to her dragon.

Fearghus followed the sound of retching. He found his brother doubled over and Morfyd patting him on the back.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“He ate too many soldiers last night.”

“Soldiers? Here?”

Morfyd nodded. “Lorcan’s men. Don’t worry. I took care of them.”

“But this means they know Annwyl is here.”

Morfyd shook her head as she rubbed Gwenvael’s sweaty brow. “Not necessarily. It looked more like they were just checking the area. You know, a scouting party.”

Morfyd looked up at her brother and frowned. “Why are you here?”

“What do you mean why am I here?”

“I just sent Annwyl to find you. She wants to talk to you.”

“Talk to me?” He pointed to himself. “Or to me?” He pointed toward his cave.

Morfyd laughed and seemed about to answer when she stopped and stared off behind him.

Fearghus turned around. “What are you doing here?”

Briec, next in line behind Fearghus, leaned against a tree and watched his siblings quietly. Naked, fresh from shifting, his long silver mane of hair stretched down his back and fell across his face and shoulder.

“When there was no answer from you or Morfyd and baby brother didn’t return . . .”

Fearghus shook his head. “Not this again.” He didn’t want to hear it. He wanted to find Annwyl. Hear what she had to say. And no matter what she said, he would tell her the truth. Tell her everything. He couldn’t go on like this anymore.

“I told you not to ignore him.” Morfyd chastised as she helped a very green Gwenvael to his feet.

“Go back to the old bastard and tell him to stay out of my life.”