How to Drive a Dragon Crazy (Dragon Kin #6)(126)

“Éibhear.”

“What?” he snapped.

Aidan shrugged a bit, Caswyn and Uther now standing behind him also looking concerned. “Who are you talking to?”

“I’m talking to—” Éibhear blinked, looked at his comrades. They stared at him like he’d lost his reason. Because they couldn’t see the other dragon, could they?

He faced the god, stared hard at him. “Where is she?” he asked flatly.

“They’ve always underestimated you, haven’t they? Big, sweet Éibhear with the heart of gold. They thought you’d be like that forever.”

“Where is she?”

“But Izzy . . . my little Izzy always had faith in you. Even when you were breaking her heart. Even when you were accusing her of all manner of beastly things. Tell me something, little blue dragon, when you find her body, will you feel guilty?”

Éibhear swallowed past what felt like definite panic. “Are you trying to tell me you won’t keep protecting her? That you don’t have plans for her?”

“Is that what you think? That I protect her? Do you have so little faith in my Izzy?”

“She’s not your anything. She’s never been yours. Izzy doesn’t belong to anyone.”

“Perhaps. Then again . . . if that’s true, why should I bother helping her?”

Chuckling, Rhydderch Hael turned to walk away.

Éibhear’s mind scrambled and he quickly called out, “What about your precious Vateria?”

“What about her?” the god asked, walking away, his long hair dragging in the sand-covered cobblestones.

“You still need me to find her, don’t you? The word the Nolwenn used was ‘rescue,’ I believe.”

The god stopped. “What about your poor Izzy?” he asked, not bothering to even look at Éibhear.

“Izzy can take care of herself.”

“What the hell are you doing?” Aidan snapped.

Éibhear raised his hand, silencing his friend.

“You still need me to do that, eh?” Éibhear pushed the god.

“Try where you started,” the god cryptically told him.

“What is going on?” Aidan asked.

Brannie ran toward them, her arms spread out from her body. “Oy! You lot? What are you doing?”

Éibhear looked at his cousin. “Go with the Guard into the tunnels.”

“And what are you going to do?”

“Just do as I say, Brannie. Protect them. There’ll be Sand Eaters all over that tunnel. Now go.”

Brannie let out a frustrated growl, spun around, and ran back toward the others.

“And what are we doing?” Aidan asked.

Éibhear looked in the direction the god had walked. “What we’re supposed to do.”

“Which is?”

“Rescue that bitch, Vateria.”

“But Izzy—”

“Isn’t our problem. I made a commitment to the Nolwenns.”

Caswyn stared at him. “Are you kidding?”

“No.”

Uther stepped closer to him. “You want to rescue Vateria over finding Iseabail?”

“I’m Mì-runach. I made a commit—”

“For the love of the gods, shut up about that!” Uther bellowed.

“Wait, wait.” Aidan stepped between them, faced Éibhear, studied him. “You sure about this, mate?”

“I’m positive.”

Aidan blew out a breath. “Then let’s go.”

“Yeah, but—”

“Stop asking questions,” Aidan barked at the others, “and let’s just move. Now.” He looked at Éibhear, nodded. “We’re with you, Éibhear. Mì-runach to death.”

“Uh-oh,” Vateria said. “You poor thing. You’re bleeding. It must hurt so.”

Izzy laughed. She couldn’t help it. And Vateria laughed with her, but Izzy knew there was no real humor in it.

“What’s so funny?” Vateria asked her.

“I was just thinking how strange it is.”

“How strange what is?”

Izzy leaned in a bit. “I’m supposed to be rescuing you.”

“Rescuing me? From what?”

“The crazed zealots.” Izzy glanced over at the eyeless ones. “Isn’t that right?”

“Darling girl,” Vateria said, slowly moving around Izzy. “Why would you need to rescue me from this? I’ll admit,” she went on. “It’s not what I’m used to. I do prefer the comforts of my homeland. But this . . . this will lead me back there. This will be my army. And after I claim what’s rightly mine in the Sovereign Provinces . . . I’ll be coming for your bitch queen. And she will know pain.”

“The woman’s been dead. Then brought back. And then went about raising children referred to as the Unholy Ones by many priests—and surviving said unholy children. So you really can’t believe that you are going to scare her. Do you?”

“And you’re not going to scare me.”

“But I already have. Because you know I’m right.”

“No. You’re not.”