How to Drive a Dragon Crazy (Dragon Kin #6)(51)

“Oy! Branwen!”

Aidan sighed. “That doesn’t sound nice, idiot.”

Éibhear caught up to his cousin.

“What?” she snapped.

“Where’s Izzy off to?”

“No idea,” she lied. And he knew she was lying. So he handled it like he used to when they were still hatchlings. He grabbed his cousin by her legs and flipped her upside down, shaking her.

“You going to answer me now?”

“Piss off!”

“Still not nice,” Aidan complained.

“Quiet,” he snapped at his friend. “Tell me where she’s going,” he ordered his cousin.

“I’ll tell you nothing, bastard! Now let me up!”

“I’ll let you up when you tell me what I want to know.”

“Do you know who I am?” Brannie demanded. “I’m a captain of the Dragon Queen’s army! You’ll do as I say, Mì-runach scum, or face my—”

Éibhear slammed his cousin into the ground head first, holding on to her leg so he could yank her up again. “What was that?” he asked . . . nicely.

Aidan sighed, shook his head. “Branwen, dear, you had to know that was not the best way to come at a Mì-runach . . . I mean, really.”

She was on the road for about an hour when Macsen suddenly stopped in his tracks, his gaze moving up, his long tail sticking out straight, hackles up.

Izzy quickly dismounted Dai and pulled her sword.

It was a mistake made by many warriors who’d never fought with or against dragons before. But staying mounted on your horse when fighting dragons—the idea being the warrior could ride away quickly if necessary—was a foolish thing because for a dragon, catching horses was like catching chickens for a fox. They did it for a meal or sometimes just a treat. So when facing dragons she didn’t know, she always dismounted and pulled her weapon—and waited.

The air around her stirred, trees beginning to sway, and she knew large wings were flapping her way.

Izzy lowered her body, readying herself to strike.

Claws dropped to the ground and blue wings and hair temporarily blinded her as she heard Éibhear bellow, “It’s me! It’s me! Don’t do anything!”

When Izzy was able to finally see again, she saw that Éibhear had one claw over his eyes, his head turned. She almost laughed, realizing he was expecting her to strike. Although that was a good expectation.

She re-sheathed her sword. “What are you doing here, Éibhear?”

Spreading his talons, he peeked at her through the clear space.

Izzy held her hands up so he could see she’d put her sword away. The big baby!

Relaxing, he dropped his claws and faced her. “Thought I’d come along. Keep you company.”

“I don’t need company. In fact, what I need is some time to myself.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

“Because why?”

“Because I said so.” Izzy quickly held up her hands again to stop what could easily become a childish spat. “I’m merely going to your Uncle Bram’s house to pick up some papers that he left behind. I’ll be back in the morning.”

“Oh. All right then.”

With a nod, Izzy re-mounted her horse and settled into the saddle. Éibhear stepped back, allowing her to pass. But she held the reins and looked up at him. “You’re going to follow me anyway, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

He said it so simply, it made her feel kind of stupid. Like she should just understand that he’d be following her to Bram’s whether she wanted him to or not.

“Why?” she decided to ask, rather than yell.

“There’s some dangerous roads between here and Uncle Bram’s.”

“There’s dangerous roads everywhere. I’ve never needed you to follow me around before, so why would I need you now?”

“You’ve had an army at your back before. Now it’s just you. I’d rather not take the risk.”

“You’d rather not take the risk? You?”

“Aye.”

“You’d rather not take the risk with my life?”

“Aye.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“Well, you and my brothers agree on something.”

Tired and worried about more important matters, Izzy said, “Do as ya like, Éibhear. You always do.” Then, with a touch of her knees, her horse moved forward. Macsen eventually followed but only after barking at Éibhear until they went around the bend in the road.

Éibhear landed about a half-mile from his uncle’s home. A small castle near the Bolver Fields. He shifted to human and changed into his clothes, walking the last bit to the castle.

By the time he walked through the open gate, Izzy was dismounting her horse. He expected her to snarl at him again for coming along, but she didn’t. Instead she looked around and asked, “Uncle Bram always leave that gate open?”

“He used to until Ghleanna became his mate. Nothing drove her crazier than to find the gate open. Is that how you found it?”

She nodded and, taking the reins of her horse, walked toward the main building.

“What’s his assistant’s name again?” he asked.