How to Drive a Dragon Crazy (Dragon Kin #6)(90)

He lifted his snout, ready to shoot up, but he heard barking and again focused on the ground.

That dog. That damn dog. He was barking at the Sand Eater’s protective shell. Barking and scratching and trying to chew a hole in it so he could get to Izzy.

Éibhear knew he should let that damn dog be carried away by the storm. Carried away and never seen again. No more drool or smell or gas.

And yet . . . and yet, Éibhear couldn’t stand the thought of Izzy’s broken heart. She loved that damn dog and he couldn’t just fly away and leave the big idiot to fend for himself against nature.

So, while calling himself stupid the entire time, Éibhear dove toward the ground and that damn dog. He’d just scooped the beast up in his claw, his wings unfurling to take them both back out, when that wall of sand rammed into him and tossed him—while still holding that damn dog—around like a rag doll.

Izzy was wondering where she was when the storm suddenly came. It sounded awful, but she was quite comfortable and dry and . . . and not alone.

Izzy opened her eyes, one hand reaching out in front of her.

“Your poor human eyes,” a voice from the darkness said. “Let me help you with that.” She heard what sounded like rock scraping against rock, saw a flicker, and then light. A small torch and a brown dragon with vibrant green eyes gazing down at her. He had that same bronze overlay to his color, sparkling even more in the dim light.

“There,” he said. “That must be better.”

Izzy looked around. “Where are we?”

“You’re safe.”

“Safe from what?”

“Sandstorm. They happen out here all the time.” He rested his massive dragon head in the middle of his claw. “Gods, you’re beautiful for a human.”

“At least you didn’t say delicious.”

He laughed. “No. You’re safe with me.”

“Safe with the dragon who kidnapped me?”

“Rescued. There is a difference.”

Izzy shook her head. As her mother always liked to say, Dragons and their bloody centaur-shit semantics.

“Such a huge difference, too, between rescued and kidnapped.”

“You’re safe, are you not?”

“I don’t know you, and you definitely don’t know me. I don’t even know why you felt the need to ‘rescue’ me.”

“I was sent to fetch you. To keep you safe from those nasty traitors.”

“Traitors?”

“To the great King Heru. He rules over these beautiful lands with an even and steady claw. But like your Southland queens, he does not brook traitors to his dominion.”

“But why would he send anyone for me? How did he even know I was here?”

“Our magi are powerful. They see much. Especially when the human granddaughter of Rhiannon the White is heading toward territorial lines.”

Izzy sat up, resting her back against . . . well, against this dragon’s shell. “What does being the granddaughter of Rhiannon have to do with anything?”

“You don’t know?”

“I know I’m a general in Annwyl the Bloody’s army. My grandmother hasn’t had to babysit me in quite some time.”

The dragon chuckled. “The Dragon Queen often seems as if she lets her offspring run wild and free, uncaring if they return to her alive or dead. But we, the other dragon kingdoms, understand quite well what her offspring do not.”

“And what’s that?”

“That the bitch is cruel and unforgiving. And if you really want to piss her off, allow one of her offspring to be harmed. So although you are merely a granddaughter and not blood, as you are clearly a child of this land, the other kingdoms are well aware of her affection for you.”

“That’s quite sweet, but if it’s true, what about her son?”

“Which one?”

“The one who traveled with me. Did your powerful magi not tell you about him?”

“Oh. The youngest male,” he sneered. “Yes. They were well aware.”

“And?”

“And what? He’s a Mì-runach. Not only would King Heru never let such a despicable beast into his court, we assume Éibhear the Contemptible can take care of himself. With that in mind, the only instruction I received was to retrieve you.” He smiled, bright white fangs gleaming in the dark space. “And I am so happy that I have.”

“You won’t be for long, though,” she softly told him.

“And why is that?”

“Because I know my family.”

“What does that—aaaaaahhhhh!”

Izzy ducked her head, watching as the Sand dragon and his shell-like wings were flung away from her.

“Comfortable?” Éibhear demanded, glaring down at her through all that sand in his hair.

“You’re blaming me? I was kidnapped!”

“Aye. You clearly look terrified!”

He couldn’t believe this! He’d come all this way, saved that damn dog, and what did he find Lady Love-A-Dragon doing? Flirting! With a Sand Eater! Oh, the hypocrisy!

Izzy got to her feet and proceeded to wipe sand off her tight ass. “Éibhear—”

“Stay here,” he ordered her. “First I kill him and then we’ll discuss this.”