Briec seemed to enjoy their time together as well. If he wasn’t reading or sneaking out to find a cow or lamb, he was with Talaith. True, there were a few times he’d ask her, “Please by the love of all that is holy…stop talking!” Which, of course, she completely ignored. Leading them into one of their many arguments. They didn’t argue because they were angry, they argued because it drove them both wild.
It had become quite the joke. They’d find the most ridiculous things to argue over. One day, she yelled at him because the butter for her toast had gone bad. Another time he growled at her because she left a wet cloth on his cave floor. But no matter what they argued about, they always ended up the same way—f**king. Like two wild beasts in heat.
Talaith felt as if she were making up for the last sixteen years of her life where her husband would lay on top of her, bounce around a bit, roll off and go to sleep. True, it didn’t start out that way, but within the year that was the best she could hope for. Shutting off his desire for her with a spell turned out to be absolutely no loss.
Ah, but Briec. For a being not human, he truly understood a woman’s body. And he worked hers in a way even thinking about it in passing made her knees weak. Some days, after a particularly hearty argument, they’d couple fast and furiously. Each taking what they wanted and giving back only what was necessary. It was selfish and deliriously fun.
Other times, he’d spend all day in bed with her, taking her slow and long. Toying with her. Teasing her. Like he had all the time in the world. Both worked wonderfully for her and she’d already begun to plan their argument for the night. She had the feeling the fruit he’d brought in the other day wasn’t ripe enough.
Aye. That’ll work.
Smiling, Talaith crouched beside the cave entrance watching the rain fall. This way in was at ground level by a stream and was not big enough for Briec to enter in dragon-form, which could explain why he knew nothing about it. He still thought there were only two entrances into his cave, but she’d discovered five others. When the time was right, she’d tell him about those extra entrances. No matter how this all ended, she’d want to make sure he remained safe long after she was gone.
Looking up at the dark sky, Talaith hoped Briec would be all right. He’d left nearly an hour before with promises of returning with something special for her besides the fresh supply of bread she truly needed. She couldn’t begin to guess what his “something special” may be, but she didn’t care. Trinkets, gifts, even his treasure meant nothing to her because wealth couldn’t buy her what she needed.
The torrent of rain stopped suddenly and she glanced up at the two suns shining brightly overhead. Startled, Talaith looked around. Unwilling to miss this opportunity of getting out of the cave for even a few minutes, she stepped away from the entrance, breathing in the fresh scent of a rain-doused forest.
She’d only gotten a few feet away when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. Her eyes closed and she almost moaned in despair.
“Hello, Talaith. Miss me?”
Shaking with rage and fear and outright hatred, Talaith slowly dropped to her knees and bowed her head before the deity. “My Goddess.”
* * *
“Guess who?”
Blinded by small hands over his eyes, Briec smiled at the teasing voice in his ear. “Hell and damnation?”
“Well that was just mean.” He turned and his baby sister punched his arm. “You’re all so mean to me.”
“No we’re not…except Morfyd.”
The beautiful redhead smiled and he marveled at how much she reminded them all of Gwenvael, only female. And a tad bit lustier.
“That’s because she lets me torture her. I don’t know why she blames me for her own weakness.”
“Brat.”
She giggled and threw herself into her brother’s arms. “I missed you, brother. I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Aye. I’ve been busy.”
His sister pulled away, smiling up at him. “And with whom were you busy?”
“That, baby sister, is none of your business.”
She pouted and he bet that worked on all the males, human and dragon, who had graced her bed. “You’re no fun.”
“And you are a spoiled brat. Guess that makes us even.”
Keita the Red Viper Dragon of Despair and Death—as one unfortunate town named her after their failed attempt to enslave her with chains so she could be their guardian—twirled around showing off her expensive gown. “Isn’t this lovely?”
“And who died to give you this?”
She looked affronted. “No one. But I do have someone for you to meet.” She motioned to three knights who quickly headed their way, angrily eyeing Briec.
“They don’t know everything about me, brother,” she whispered. “So I’d appreciate it if you not mention it yourself.”
Briec shook his head. His sister was absolutely shameless and yet she never embarrassed him like Gwenvael often did. He found her entertaining.
The knights strode to a stop beside Keita, surrounding her.
“And who is this, m’lady?” One of them asked, glaring at Briec as if he’d done something.
“This, my loyal knights, is my brother, Briec.”
Once they realized he was kin, they all visibly relaxed and nodded greetings.
“Isn’t he handsome? As all my brothers are.” She winked at Briec. “If you’re kind to him, perhaps he’ll let us stay in his home.”
Briec knew exactly what his little sister was up to. She must have grown bored with these men, but those days of using humans for sport and then dinner were long gone. With Fearghus having a human mate and their queen awarding the Mad Bitch of Garbhán Isle the loyalty of all dragons, it would be in bad taste to toy with them.
Besides, he knew Talaith wouldn’t appreciate it one bit. And that was enough to ensure he not get involved.
“Unfortunately, little sister, that will not be possible.”
The pout returned. “Oh?”
He looked at the three men. “Perhaps another time.”
Keita took his arm. “Would you excuse us a moment, gentlemen?” She walked off, not bothering to wait for their answer. “You have changed, brother.”
“Not really. We all have to grow up eventually.”
“Why? I’m only a hundred and ninety winters. I have years to go before I have to be as boring as Fearghus or Morfyd.”
Chuckling, Briec leaned down and kissed his sister’s forehead. “Do be careful, brat. You play with fire too often.”
“Ah, but we are fire, brother.” She patted his chest and trounced off, but as she reached the men, she spun back around. “Should I mention to Daddy that I saw you?”
Only Keita called Bercelak the Great, one of the most feared dragons in this region or any other for that matter, “Daddy”. And she was the only one he’d allow to get away with it.
“No.”
Nodding, she said, “That’s what I thought.”
She walked off and, like well-trained dogs, the knights followed.
The wind picked up a bit, and Briec knew another storm was coming. He wanted to get back to Talaith. To see her beautiful face and perhaps start another argument over…he stopped to think a minute. Ah, yes. The fruit. He bet she ate all the fruit.
He shrugged. That would work for a good argument.
* * *
She looked up at the goddess who had been the bane of her existence for sixteen years now. She hated Arzhela, the goddess of light, love and fertility. Talaith hated the bitch for what she’d made her do, and what she still needed her to do. Talaith hated her for taking her away from her people and leaving her in that village where she would always be an outsider.
But what she truly hated the bitch goddess for most of all? Taking away Talaith’s daughter.
“You summoned me, goddess?”
Bathed in gold light, a wreath of gold and white flowers adorning her golden head, the goddess smiled at her. “You always say that with a sneer, my darling girl.”
“Do I? I hadn’t noticed.”
Talaith no longer looked at the goddess. She feared what her eyes would show. So she stared at her neck. Smooth, pale, and long, Talaith dreamed of dragging her blade across it.
“Of course you noticed,” Arzhela stated brightly. The goddess always looked bright and cheery. It hid the dark soul beneath. “But it matters not to me. For your time is coming.” She clapped her hands together. “And I am so excited!”
“Yes, goddess.”
Arzhela pouted. “You don’t sound excited.”
Cruel, heartless bitch!
“Whatever brings you joy, goddess, brings me joy.”
“There’s that tone again,” she remarked cheerily, but without a trace of genuine humor. “Be that as it may, everything is falling into place just as I planned.”
Talaith frowned, her eyes still focused on the bitch’s throat. “Sorry, goddess?”
“Well, your presence here. Did you really think a dragon would want you?”
Arzhela wanted Talaith to believe Briec was one of her many pawns like her priestesses or Lord Hamish who even now held her daughter in his fortress, and had these many long years—assuring her daughter was so close and yet so very far. But Talaith knew Arzhela’s power didn’t move past the humans. “If there is one thing I know, is that you do not control the dragons. Especially this one.”
She heard the guttural hiss a split second before the goddess used Magick to lift Talaith and throw her against the outside cave wall.
The wind knocked out of her, it took Talaith a bit to push herself back to her feet. But by then she understood completely what had been going on. Arzhela had no control over the dragons. Her Magick couldn’t breech what the dragons considered their very basic defenses. No wonder Talaith hadn’t heard from the bitch Arzhela in over a moon—she couldn’t touch her when Talaith was with the dragons. But as soon as Talaith left Briec’s cave and his protection…
“Don’t test me, Talaith. I am in no mood.”
“Sorry if I offended you, goddess.”
Arzhela took a deep breath, most likely working hard to control that monumental rage. Once she’d calmed herself, her voice again took on the light lilting tone Talaith had come to loathe.
“Oh, don’t apologize, dear. It’s all right. But perhaps I should make some things clear to you. He’s noticed her.”
Panic, cold and brutal, swept through her limbs, making her immobile. Making her helpless. For the first time in the last five years, Talaith looked the bitch in the eye. “What?”
“Hamish has noticed her. Not surprising, Talaith. She’s the same age you were when you had her. Although much more attractive, but you’ve always been a bit plain. Guess she took after her father, more so than you.”
Talaith fought her desire to scream. To fight. To kill. She even fought her desire to wretch.
“Now, don’t panic, love. I see it on your face. If you follow my instructions, you won’t have anything to worry about.”