How to Drive a Dragon Crazy (Dragon Kin #6)(13)

“I was sent to get you,” he explained, watching her closely. Probably confused as hell. Good! Let him be confused. “To bring you back to Garbhán Isle.”

“Why? I’ve heard nothing from my mother or Rhi,” she said, mentioning her baby sister.

“I was just told to bring you back.”

“By who?”

“Ragnar.”

Izzy groaned at that. “Oh, gods.”

“What?”

“If you heard from Ragnar, he heard from Keita who heard from Morfyd or Briec, which means—”

“Tell me this ends at some point.”

“—Mum and Rhi are going at it again.” She shook her head and walked over to the large, plain wood desk that was covered in maps and missives and weapons. “I don’t have time for this.”

“You don’t have time for your mother and sister?”

She faced him. “You have nerve to talk. When were you home last?”

Instead of answering her direct question, he pointed at her arm and asked, “Your arm . . . it’s healed rather quickly.”

Now she didn’t answer him. The last thing she needed was for Éibhear the Blue to know about her conversation with Rhydderch Hael. Gods . . . what a mess that would be.

“I’m not going back to Garbhán Isle, Éibhear.”

“You’re not?”

“If it was important, Annwyl would have sent messengers for me. So my mother and Rhi will have to work this out on their own or wait until I’m done here.”

“Until you’re done doing what?”

Izzy focused on the map spread out on the table, looking for places the enemy might hide. “The Queen wants the ogres wiped clean from this region. And that’s what I’m going to do.”

“All right then.”

But instead of leaving, Izzy looked up to see the big bastard take off his fur cape and toss it onto a nearby chair. Then he began to remove the many weapons he had strapped on his body.

Fascinated—gods, was he getting naked? And would she mind?—Izzy walked around the table and leaned her butt against it, arms crossing over her chest. Éibhear removed the majority of his weapons until he finally was able to drop onto her bed and stretch out with his arms behind his head, incredibly long legs crossed at the ankles.

When he closed his eyes and let out an exhausted sigh, she finally asked without rancor, “What the battle-f*ck are you doing?”

“Me?”

“Yes. You.”

“I’m Mì-runach. I don’t stop until I fulfill my duty.”

“Which means what exactly?”

“That until you’re ready to go, I’m here with you. By your side. Attached to you until I can deliver you to Garbhán Isle.”

“Attached to me?”

“Aye.”

“Like a parasite?”

“I prefer loyal companion. But don’t worry.” He smiled up at her. “You’ll get used to me.”

Somehow, Izzy doubted that.

Chapter 5

Princess Rhianwen, Daughter of Talaith and Briec the Mighty; Granddaughter of Dragon Queen Rhiannon and Bercelak the Great; Sister of the feared General Iseabail the Dangerous; Nolwenn Witch by birth; Niece of Morfyd the White, Fearghus the Destroyer, Keita the Viper, Gwenvael the Handsome, Lady Dagmar, Beast of the Northlands, and Annwyl the Bloody, human Queen of Dark Plains; and future great artist of the Southland realm, sat in the forest doing what she loved best. Drawing.

Rhi loved getting away from the castle when she could, spending some time on her own. Especially when outside royals staying in the guest homes had the whole house buzzing with activity—for the servants—and annoyance—for Rhi’s kin. Auntie Annwyl didn’t like outsiders or royals, so both combined . . .

But that was all right. Because the visiting royal, Lord Pombray, had a son of seventeen winters. And he was quite handsome and tall. He was human, but Rhi was at least half human. Her mother was a Nolwenn witch and her father a mighty Southland dragon prince. It wasn’t easy being made of two completely different species—many believing it was an abomination that she and her twin cousins even existed, though that wasn’t something Rhi allowed herself to worry about—but there were definitely benefits.

For instance, Rhi’s superb sense of smell allowed her to scent Lord Pombray’s son nearly a mile back. He smelled very good, so she didn’t mind much.

Glancing around, Rhi quickly swiped her hands down her hair and fluffed out the edges of her gown. Then she picked up the board she’d pinned a piece of parchment on and pretended to sketch while simultaneously looking serene. She knew she looked serene because she often practiced in the mirror in her room. She’d found that boys responded better to a serene countenance than to an angry, kill-everything-in-my-way one. A major reason why Rhi’s cousin Talwyn had pretty much given up on boys in general.

“Princess Rhianwen?”

She slowly looked up, smiled, and nodded her head at the young royal. Not even eighteen and he’d already begun to grow a very nice beard and he had such a handsome smile. He stood before her now with his arms behind his back and what looked to be his best clothes on. “Lord Albrecht.” She carefully lowered her drawing to the ground. “Is everything all right?”