Last Dragon Standing (Dragon Kin #4)(112)

“Aedammair is helping poor Vigholf forget his tragic hair loss.”

Briec shook his head at Keita, smiling. “You really are a heartless cow.”

Instead of being insulted, Keita laughed and replied, “I know!”

“By the way,” her brother said, and Ragnar wondered how one dragon could possibly sound so bored all the time. “Ren wanted me to tell you he’ll be back soon.”

“Wait. What?” Keita stood straight. “Ren left? When?”

“Sometime this afternoon.”

“Where did he go?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did you not think to ask?”

“Do you actually think I care?” Briec asked, before walking off.

“Well, you don’t have to be rude!” Keita began to play with the gold bracelet she had on her wrist.

“You’re worried.”

“It’s not like Ren to leave like that. He always tells me when he’s going off.”

“Maybe he wasn’t planning to be gone for long.”

“Perhaps.”

“You’re obsessing.”

“I don’t obsess.”

“You’re obsessing right now.”

“I am not.” She quickly stepped to the side as Vigholf slammed into the table.

“By the sweet shit of gods, help me!”

The captain walked up to them. “What’s wrong with him anyway?”

“He’s shy.” Keita leaned in and whispered, “And I think he’s a little sweeter on Gwenvael than you.”

“Oh. Like that, is it?”

“I’m afraid so.” Keita pointed across the room. “But there’s his cousin. Meinhard.”

“Meinhard. I like that name.” And off the Brown went.

“You are cruel, Princess Keita,” Ragnar chastised.

“And here I was trying to be helpful.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Éibhear let the duke’s daughter lead him through the forest to a

“deserted little spot” she knew. She was pretty enough, but, more importantly, she was nice! If he wanted to be talked down to and have food thrown at his head, simply because he was trying to be helpful, he could have stayed in the north.

But he wouldn’t let thoughts of Iseabail the Bitchy ruin what he was sure would be an entertaining finish to a magnificently shitty night.

“Have you been here before, my lord?” she asked.

“No, I haven’t.” He was lying, of course. There were few places this close to his brother’s cave and Annwyl’s castle that he’d not explored. But the duke’s daughter wanted to believe that she was showing him something new, and why should Éibhear disabuse her of that? Especially when she was pretty and eager. He liked eager.

She led him up a ridge that looked out over one of the many lakes in this territory. It was a quiet place, and he thought she’d chosen well until she stopped, tilting her head, and put her finger to her lips. “I think I hear someone,” she whispered.

Together they continued up the ridge, but kept quiet. Éibhear had the distinct feeling the duke’s daughter was a bit of a snoop. He’d have to tell Dagmar. She might prove useful to his brother’s mate. Dagmar did like snoops.

As they neared the top, they dropped to the ground and crawled the rest of the way, both laughing a little as they did.

But Éibhear’s laughter died in his throat when he saw it was Izzy by the lake—and she was alone with Celyn. Even Branwen was nowhere to be seen. Only that damn puppy he’d already told her twice to return to Dagmar.

Did she not hear a word he’d said? Did she not understand anything?

And was she stupidly doing this just to get under his scales?

With the dress Keita had finally found her pulled up to her knees, Izzy had her feet dangling in the water, and Celyn swam from one end of the small lake to the other. When he reached her, he stopped.

“Are you going to be like this all night?” Celyn demanded.

“Yes.”

“I don’t know why you let him get to you this way.”

“I don’t know why you keep bringing him up.”

“Because you’re sitting here pouting about it.”

“True, but I was pouting alone.”

“You weren’t alone.”

“The puppy hardly counts, Celyn.”

Celyn swam in a little closer. “You didn’t tell him about us, did you?” Izzy planted her palms flat on the ground behind her, the puppy lying against her hand. “About us?”

“About our relationship.”

“We don’t have a relationship.”

“What would you call it then?”

“Not a relationship.”

“Why? Because of him?”

“No. Because of me. I have no plans to get attached to anyone in the immediate future.”

“Why was that again? Oh, right. You’re going to be general one day, and you can’t let me get in the way of that.”

“I am going to be general.” And she said it with such certainty that Éibhear believed her. He was glad she was being smart and not letting Celyn dissuade her from going after what she wanted. Although Celyn was being a little pushier than Éibhear would expect. And what relationship?