How to Drive a Dragon Crazy (Dragon Kin #6)(118)

This Magick . . . it didn’t touch her. It didn’t hurt her. Not the way it was supposed to. Not the way it would hurt anyone else.

Instead, the Magick seemed to be doing something else to Izzy. It made her stronger. Éibhear didn’t think that strength would last, but it was giving her enough power to move forward. Guards that would give their lives to protect the Nolwenns suddenly appeared, running in from hidden doorways, weapons out and at the ready. They charged Izzy and she unsheathed her sword and axe. With both hands, she tore into those attacking guards. Blood and pieces of those men flew around the hall, splattering all that beautiful marble and the witches who maintained it.

Izzy cut her way through those guards and over to Éibhear. Dropping her weapons, she used her bare hands to reach down and pull off the bonds he’d been unable to see or feel. She released him and he got to his claws.

More guards ran in and Éibhear unleashed flames that burned the flesh from their bones and turned them to ash where they stood.

“Enough!” Haldane’s voice rang out. Three witches had helped her to her feet, their hands keeping her steady.

She eyed Izzy and finally said, “Your mother.”

Izzy stepped in front of Éibhear. “My mother what?”

“She did this. She protected you while you were still in the womb. From us. From other witches. When Magick strikes you, it does nothing but give more strength to those oversized muscles you have.” Haldane gave a soft laugh. “My child was always smarter than she pretended to be.”

“Because she knew you’d try to destroy me.”

“If I could have rung your neck before you took your first breath . . . I would have. And she knew it.”

“You could always try now. I’m right here.”

“That will be unnecessary,” another voice chimed in and all the witches fell to their knees—even Haldane. The older woman walked from behind Éibhear, smiled at him and Izzy. “Hello to you both.”

“Who are you?” Izzy demanded.

“The name is Elisa. I’m a Nolwenn Elder.” She leaned in and whispered to Izzy—although Éibhear could hear her well enough—“And your great grandmother.”

Izzy’s eyes grew wide. “You must be a million years old.”

“Izzy.”

She looked up at Éibhear. “What?”

Izzy could see some of Talaith in this witch’s face. Not as much as there was in Haldane’s, but she could see the resemblance. In her eyes, her cheekbones.

“Mum never mentioned you.”

“She had no reason to. I gave her little thought. I assumed that she, like her mother, like my mother, like I, would follow the path of the Nolwenn. What was there for me to do with her until she was older and had some real power?”

“Because she’s your blood? Because you are her grandmother?”

Elisa laughed. “You are truly your mother’s child.”

“And proud of it.”

“I know. I can see it. Feel it even.”

She motioned to the witches and guards filling the hall. “All of you . . . out.”

“My lady—” one of them began, but dark brown eyes unfaded by age locked on the witch and she immediately closed her mouth and bowed her head.

“Don’t make me say it again,” Elisa ordered. It took less than a minute for that chamber to clear out.

The witch faced them. “Tea?”

“Ooh,” Éibhear said. “I’d love a cuppa.”

Izzy spun around, her hands raised, her mouth open, top lip curled.

“What?” Éibhear demanded. “I like tea!”

Chapter 37

Izzy was still nursing her first cup of tea while Éibhear—now in his human form and dressed—and Elisa were well into their second. The witch had also pulled out biscuits and she was pleasant enough, but, at the moment, it meant nothing to Izzy. Nothing. Not after what had just happened between Izzy and her grandmother. That horrid bitch. Izzy had always known that woman wasn’t worthy of having even a second of Rhi’s precious time. But then Izzy kept going back to the bigger issue of what Rhi did need in her life.

“Your rage comes off you in waves, Iseabail.”

Izzy looked up at her great grandmother, Elisa. Based on what she could guess, Elisa was a good six hundred years old, and yet she looked no more than fifty winters or so. Izzy had to admit . . . she liked the idea of going into her sixth- or seven-hundredth winter looking this good.

Other than that, though, she was just pissy about the whole thing.

“I hated that woman before I ever saw her,” Izzy said plainly, “and now I hate her even more.”

“You’re so like your mother. She was honest like you.”

“She still is.”

“And Haldane hated her for it.”

“Then I’m glad I could carry on my mother’s legacy.”

“So am I. Of course, I never liked my daughter much either. So it seems you’re carrying on my legacy as well.” She held up a plate. “Biscuits?”

Izzy took the plate from her and threw the whole thing against the wall. Biscuits and all.

“Oy!” Éibhear snapped. “I was going to eat those.”