How to Drive a Dragon Crazy (Dragon Kin #6)(43)

“Macsen adores me!” Rhi pushed her way through. “You’re so mean!”

Laughing, Izzy stepped out and said to the trees, while hoping not to disturb her nearby neighbors, “You can sleep on my floor.”

“No thank you,” came back to her. She shrugged and went inside, closing the door behind her but leaving it unlatched. She knew if the twins didn’t come inside, they would stay in the trees all night, ensuring Rhi’s safety.

Izzy walked into her bedroom to find her sister wrestling with Macsen on the bed, the dog trying to get the stuffed bear she’d brought along with her.

“Give it, you vile beast!”

“If you two aren’t going to play nice . . .”

“You two?”

Macsen tore the bear from Rhi’s hands, leaped off the bed, and began to prance around the room. Almost like a small horse.

“Now you’re just being mean, Macsen!”

“That’s it.” Izzy held her hand out. “Toy. Now.”

Macsen stopped, stared at her. “Now.”

He spit the toy at her feet and Izzy swiped it up, putting it on a shelf that, in theory, he shouldn’t be able to reach.

“On the bed,” she ordered. And to her sister, “Under the covers. No crowding.”

Giggling, Rhi dived under the sheets. Knowing her sister was so happy to see her really did mean a lot to Izzy. As a general, there were days her men loved the sight of her, and other days when they absolutely dreaded it. But no matter the day, Rhi was always excited. Izzy got in the bed behind her sister.

“Your feet are freezing!” Rhi complained.

“Then you should have stayed in your own bed, whiner.”

As soon as Izzy relaxed, Rhi was there, her arms wrapping around her sister’s waist, her head against Izzy’s shoulder.

“You were missed at dinner,” Rhi said into the dark.

“I know. I’m sorry I didn’t come.” Izzy hugged her sister a little tighter. “I just . . . couldn’t face it. I knew you’d understand.”

“Oh, I did! I wish I could miss dinner more often.” She was quiet for a moment, then added, “Uncle Éibhear looked particularly disappointed.”

“Rhianwen—”

“Uh-oh. Full name used.”

“Exactly. So hear me well, sister. There is nothing and will be nothing to discuss when it comes to your Uncle Éibhear. Do you understand?”

“I do.”

“We can’t mention him at all?” a male voice said from the dark and Izzy quickly realized that the twins were now in her room, on her bed. Stretched out across the bottom of it.

“I thought you two were going to sleep in the trees.”

“It was less comfortable than we thought it would be,” Talwyn said around a yawn.

“So we came in,” Talan added.

“And where’s the dog?”

“Between me and Talwyn.”

Rolling her eyes, Izzy snapped at Macsen, “Good protection there, you dozy bastard.”

“Ssssh,” Talwyn whispered. “He’s asleep.”

Deciding there was no point in fighting this, she closed her eyes and tried to go to sleep.

She knew the attempt would be a waste of time, however, when the giggling started, followed by the complaining about the giggling, and then the snoring. By the gods, the snoring!

Chapter 14

“You look like battered shit.” Light brown eyes glared up at him and Éibhear quickly held up his hands. “Just an observation.”

“Well, you can take your observation and shove it up your big, fat—”

“Happy morn, Uncle Éibhear!” Rhi nearly shouted while jumping between him and Izzy.

“Hello, little niece.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You look beautiful this fine morning.”

“‘You look beautiful this fine morning,’” Izzy sneered under her breath while Rhi showed off her dress.

“I think it’s the dress. Auntie Keita says the color brings out my eyes.”

Abruptly, Izzy stood tall and looked quite awake. “Keita’s here?”

“Aye. She arrived earlier this morning.”

“Good. Now maybe I can find out who the bloody hells summoned me here.”

“Are you still wondering about that?” Éibhear asked.

Izzy’s jaw tensed. “As a matter of fact, I am. And stop talking to me.”

“But you’re so friendly.”

Rhi pinched his arm and whispered, “Stop it.”

“But she makes it so easy.”

She sighed in disgust, and then looked behind Éibhear. “Morning, Frederik.”

“Uh . . . morning . . .” The boy frowned and they watched him stand there . . . frowning.

Finally, fed up, Rhi reminded him, “Rhianwen.”

“Right. Right.” He nodded. “Rhianwen. I just have to remember . . .” Then he flicked his hand in her general area, and Éibhear decided it was probably best not to ask what that meant.

Instead, he focused on the training ring nearby. In the ring was Talwyn and one of the Kyvich witches. A woman with black tattoos on her face and arms, and, if Éibhear was seeing correctly, several fingers missing from both hands. It looked as if those fingers had been hacked off.