How to Drive a Dragon Crazy (Dragon Kin #6)(89)

“We’ve been attacked! And betrayed!” Rhiannon announced.

Annwyl instantly stood, her hand on her sword, and Fearghus quickly ordered her to “sit down. Now.”

Grumbling, the human queen did just that. Fearghus had definitely gotten faster over the years at stopping his mate before the killing could commence. Something they all appreciated about Fearghus.

“Who’s attacking us?” Keita asked, needing this information so she could plot which poison would work best.

“Those bloody Sand Eaters have attacked my salt mines.”

“King Heru?” Fearghus asked. “He sent his troops to attack the salt mines? Is he in desperate need of salt?”

“No, he does not—” Rhiannon cut herself off. “He’s not attacking the salt mines, idiot. He’s attacking us!”

“Us as in all of us?” Briec asked. “Or us as in the royal you?”

“Bercelak!” Rhiannon bellowed.

Their father quickly took over, stepping in front of their mother and saying, “All we know is that the salt mines were attacked just a little while ago by a battalion of Sand Eaters.”

“Sent by King Heru?” Fearghus pushed.

“We don’t know.”

“Have we lost ground?” Briec asked.

“No.”

Fearghus and Briec glanced at each other and Gwenvael.

Frowning, Fearghus asked, “You’re saying that the troops we have on the Southland border repelled a full-on assault by Sand Eaters? Those troops did that?”

Because they’d had peace on that border for so long and the weather was so miserable, usually only the worst of their troops went to the salt mines. And, if they were attacked, it was assumed that those dragons would just give the rest of them enough time to gather resources and prepare to repel any efforts to push farther into their territory. Honestly, they were nothing more than disposable guard dogs.

Bercelak looked back at Rhiannon and she shrugged. “Tell them.”

Nodding, Bercelak said to them, “There were Mì-runach at the salt mines.”

Briec shook his head, confused. “Why were Mì-runach in—’”

“By the gods,” Talaith gasped. She shot to her feet. “Izzy!”

“She’s safe,” Bercelak quickly assured her. “Rhiannon talked to Brannie and she says Izzy is fine. Éibhear’s keeping her safe.”

“Éibhear’s with Izzy?” Briec turned accusing eyes on his mate. “And you knew, didn’t you?”

“Of course I knew. I guess I just don’t see what your problem with it could possibly be.”

“Don’t see the problem? How can you say that?”

“They’re not blood related, Briec. Unless, of course, it’s the fact that my daughter is not of royal blood that bothers you.”

“What?”

“Just admit it. That’s what this is really about. You don’t think my daughter’s good enough for your royal brother.”

“Actually,” Gwenvael clarified since Briec had become so angry his human face was almost as purple as Ragnar’s hair, “we don’t think that idiot is good enough for our little Izzy.”

“Little Izzy?” Dagmar asked.

“Relatively speaking, of course.”

“You lot are so mean to poor Éibhear.” Annwyl glared at the males. “No wonder he hasn’t been home in ten winters.”

“He’s Mì-runach,” Fearghus explained.

Sounding frustrated, Annwyl snapped, “I still have no idea what that means.”

“It means we don’t want our little Izzy getting mixed up with Éibhear the Contemptible!”

“He’s your brother!”

“Not by choice!”

Bercelak slammed his meaty fists onto the table. “What does any of that have to do with our current problem?” their father demanded.

“Nothing,” Gwenvael replied. “But it’s tons more interesting than some boring Sand Eaters.”

“I should have smashed your egg when I had the chance,” Bercelak shot back at Gwenvael.

“Father!” Gwenvael gasped, his hands to his heart. “That’s so hurtful. Don’t you love me at all?”

“No!”

“Excuse me!” Rhiannon snarled, pushing past her mate and staring down at her children. “Don’t any of you,” she demanded, “care about my poor sweet baby boy and the danger he’s in?”

“No,” every adult male in the room replied.

By following that damn dog, Éibhear was able to eventually catch up to the Sand Eater who’d taken Izzy. The dragon held her in one claw while careening low over the land. Éibhear had no idea what the bastard had done to her, but to say he was pissed off was really an understatement. He picked up speed, closing the distance, but just as he was near enough that he could swoop down and snatch Izzy from the Sand Eater’s claw, the dragon suddenly dived first. He dropped to the ground, Izzy cradled close to his body. Then, before Éibhear could reach him, the Sand Eater’s wings came up and around, slamming closed with Izzy inside.

Éibhear blinked, surprised. He’d never seen that before. The Sand Eater went from dragon to tortoise in seconds, but Éibhear had no idea why. Then, as he hovered there, confused, he heard it. The sound roaring toward him. He looked up and watched the wall of sand bearing down. He raised his gaze and realized that if he moved quickly, he could go far enough up and wait the sandstorm out.