The Dragon Who Loved Me (Dragon Kin #5)(108)

Briec picked his daughter up and sat her in his lap, lifting her chin with the tip of his finger so she looked right at him.

“I need you to do me a favor, Rhian.”

“Not tel anyone about what I can do?”

Smart girl. “Aye.”

“Because they won’t understand?”

“Aye.”

“Al right.”

“You’re not upset about that?”

“No. Sometimes people and dragons are stupid. Why should I help them be even more stupid?” Briec chuckled, knowing that he was so blessed to have been given such amazing daughters. “Has anyone told you how bril iant you are?”

“Mommy has, but then she says ‘But don’t tel your daddy because he’l just say’”—and his daughter’s voice dropped amusingly lower—“‘Of course she is! She’s my daughter.’ Then Mommy smiles.” His daughter looked up at him with eyes so much like his own. “She missed you every day you were gone.”

“She told you that?”

“No. I felt it. She likes it when you argue.” His daughter smirked. “You like it too.”

“I do. But ssssh. Don’t tel . It’s our secret.”

“Al right.” She twirled his hair around her smal fingers and asked, “Wil I grow up and argue with someone I love one day, Daddy?”

“As part of this family, Rhian? Absolutely.”

They rested against the fence surrounding the training field, passing a warm loaf of bread back and forth between them. Rhona’s father stood next to her, his elbow on the fence, his chin resting in the palm of his hand.

The sounds of steel crashing against steel rang out over the courtyard, luring other Cadwaladrs to the fence. Some were eating their first meal, bowls of hot porridge in their hands, and others were simply watching. How could they not? It wasn’t every day one could witness two children, not even nine winters yet, who could sword fight like that. Uncle Bercelak final y walked away from the twins and motioned to Vigholf. “What’s that doing here?” he asked Bradana.

“And a happy hel o to you, too,” Vigholf said with enough cheer to choke a pig.

Bercelak gave one glare at the Lightning, then looked back at his sister. “Wel ?”

“Wel , what?”

“Isn’t it bad enough we have one around?” And Ragnar, standing next to Ghleanna, waved. “Now we’ve got two?” Bradana suddenly stood tal , glaring at her younger brother. “He’s with me Rhona, ain’t he? So you watch how you talk. Ya ain’t too old to tear the wings off of, Bercelak the Black . ”

“Fine then. You deal with him.”

“I need to be dealt with?” Vigholf asked softly, but Rhona bumped him with her hip to shut him up. Her mother just defended Rhona and her choice of mate to Bercelak. This was a monumental moment in her life and she wouldn’t have it ruined by gods-damn Lightnings!

“I got enough to deal with,” Bercelak was saying, “training these two.”

“Nice work on those swords and shields, Daddy,” Rhona said, smiling at him.

“They’re al right, I guess,” Bercelak muttered and nearly everyone cringed when Sulien’s eyes narrowed on his mate’s brother. “Heard you did some nice work on Annwyl’s weapon, though,” Bercelak said to Rhona, surprising her that he’d already heard.

“Of course she does nice work,” Bradana snapped. “What did you expect? My daughter has talent, she does.” And at that point they all turned to Bradana, gawking at her, Bradana’s offspring with their mouths open.

“What are you al looking at me like that for?”

“Wel —” Rhona began, but Vigholf covered her mouth with his hand.

“Let’s just enjoy this moment, shal we?”

Rhona nodded in agreement until he yanked her back, the smal sword Rhona’s father made, flipping end over end past her—aimed right for the head of the monarch walking up to the training ring.

But a steady hand caught it before it reached its destination. The newly promoted Izzy glaring at her young cousins. “Oy!” she snapped.

“Give me that!” Annwyl growled, snatching the sword out of Izzy’s hand and marching over. “No more training for you two! In the house!” The twins stood in the middle of that ring, staring at their mother. It had been five years. Rhona remembered wel the reaction of her siblings when their mother would return home from a battle, trying to order them around, and none of them responding until Rhona gave the signal. It seemed like it would be that kind of moment now until Rhona remembered this was Annwyl they were dealing with. Not Bradana.

The queen, seething that her children weren’t jumping at her commands, suddenly slammed her entire, wel -trained, muscular body into the sturdy and wel -built wood fence of the training ring. The wood splintered and she rammed into it again, destroying the section. She pushed the pieces out of her way, pointed at her children, and roared, “Get in the house! ”

Eyes wide, the twins took off. When they ran past her, Annwyl added, “And every time you use my head for target practice, you lose weapons privileges!”

Annwyl stalked after them, but she stopped long enough to add while pointing at the sword, “Nice work, by the way.” She said it to Sulien casual y, no longer angry. And that somehow made the whole thing . . . scarier.