Light My Fire (Dragon Kin #7)(125)

“Just get them out of here for a day. Maybe two.”

“And where, exactly, do you want me to take them?”

“Your father is going back to his house and taking Var. Let the sisters go with them. They can keep an eye on the boy.”

“I’m surprised Dagmar’s not sending you to watch out for Var yourself.”

“She tried, but unlike my mate, I’m confident he’ll be just fine under your father’s boring care. But your Riders will be great protection with their bows and bad manners.”

“I don’t know why you’re being so mean to them,” Celyn chastised. “Kachka herself told me that you’d fetch nearly a kingdom of gold among the tribes for your good looks.”

Gwenvael grinned. “Really?” He shrugged. “Well . . . I am beautiful.”

“And I’ll still happily slice that pretty face right open.”

“Stop saying that! Bastard. Just get your women out!”

“Only one is my woman,” Celyn barked back. Then he grinned, realizing the meaning of his statement. “Aye. One is my woman.”

“And surprise. She’s not Izzy.”

Celyn had his blade out, but Gwenvael immediately covered his face with both his arms.

“You cover your face but leave all your major organs exposed?” Celyn demanded, disgusted by his royal cousin. Always so disgusted.

“I’m protecting the most important thing about me besides my hair.” Gwenvael peeked around his arms. “According to castle rumor, it is worth a kingdom of gold.”

Celyn rolled his eyes, already regretting telling Gwenvael that, and tucked his sword back into its sheath. “You are pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.”

“But I am handsome.”

A young squire placed more arrows in Elina’s quiver and then brought a bucket filled with even more arrows, which he placed at her feet.

She nodded her thanks and nocked another arrow, waiting as a second squire moved in a new target since the last one was now covered in the arrows she’d already unleashed.

It was hard going, adjusting to the loss of her eye. But she was glad to see her aim getting better with each arrow shot.

“Elina?” Fearghus asked as he moved next to her from her sighted side. “Have you seen Annwyl this morning?”

She nodded at Fearghus’s question. “I have. She was standing in the courtyard, staring off toward the trees.” She gestured with her bow. “She seemed . . . preoccupied.”

“What do you mean?”

“Something vexed her, but she would not tell me what.”

The handsome dragon nodded and patted her shoulder as he quickly moved by. “Thank you, Elina.”

With a fresh target in place, Elina automatically turned her head far left, then glanced right, to take in her surroundings. But when she turned her head back toward the left she saw someone moving silently up behind her. She had her bow raised and the arrow loosed before her mind could actually make out who that someone was.

Thankfully, her target was fast of hand and the arrow was caught before it made contact.

Holding the arrow, the head pointed right at where his heart was, Celyn calmly explained, “This is one of two ways to quickly kill a dragon in human form. So let’s avoid doing that to me or anyone in my family.”

Elina turned her whole body and snarled at Celyn, “My left side will forever more be my blind side, you dolt! Move toward me from that direction and I will shoot arrow first and mourn your loss second.”

Grinning, he leaned in and kissed her. “And a good morning to you, too, ray of suns-shine.”

Elina snatched back her arrow. “Foolish dragon! What do you want?”

“I have to return to the queen’s side for a bit—”

“It is your job to protect the Dragon Queen, is it not?”

“—and I was wondering,” he continued on, “if you and your sister could escort my father and young Var back to Bram’s home?”

Elina smirked. “That Northland female wants us gone from Garbhán Isle, yes?”

“Just for a day or two. Until the sting of your sister twisting her nephew like dough around her naked body is more of a faint memory.”

Elina rolled her eye. “I do not understand these Northland females at all. It is not like Kachka made him one of her husbands.”

“She has husbands?”

“Not yet, but she will. She has much to offer a cadre of handsome men.”

“Well . . . she can offer whatever a cadre is to someone who is not related by blood to Dagmar Reinholdt.”

“Will we ever be allowed to return here?”

“Yes,” Celyn said, his voice vehement. “I said a day or two, not a lifetime. And I have no intention of hiding you and your sister away on Devenallt Mountain to live life among those snooty royal dragons.”

“Why would we live there?”

“Because I’m there.” He kissed her again. “And where I am—” And again. “—I want you to be.” And again.

When he pulled away, Elina licked her lips and nodded. “That is acceptable for now.”

“For now? Really? And when should I start expecting you to leave?”

“Eh.” She shrugged. “I am Daughter of Steppes. I have more time than most, so I am in no rush to make such a decision. But do not become too comfortable, Dolt. I could make change of mind at any time in the next century or two.”