“Sometimes. But nothing that ever kept me up nights. I do know I don’t like to be used.”

And that was Annwyl’s biggest problem with all this. Gods having fun with her body and with her and Fearghus’ love for each other. “Aye. That pisses me off as well.”

“Still…”

“Still what?”

“Imagine the kind of children we would have.”

She’d been doing that all day, in between the killing of course. “Bloody nightmares is what we’d have, Fearghus.”

“Aye.”

“Killers,” she added.

“Destroyers.”

“Warlords.”

“Definitely.”

“So what’s your point, dragon?”

“They’ll be ours to raise as we sit fit. They’ll be ours, Annwyl.”

“Aye. They’ll be part Fearghus the Destroyer and Annwyl the Bloody. Two of the most violent and vicious beings known in recent history as I was told the other day by an old wizard passing through town.”

“Aye. We are that.”

“And do you really want to release the unholy product of our union on the world?”

“No, Annwyl.” He pulled her wet hair to the side. “I want to release the unholy product of our union on them.”

Annwyl tried to sit up, but Fearghus kept a tight grip on her with his arms while he kissed her neck. “You can’t be serious, Fearghus.”

“Why not,” he muttered into her neck. “They play games like this, Annwyl, and they risk the outcome. They risk losing.”

“So what are you saying?”

“I want to raise them with one goal in mind. One purpose.”

“You want them to challenge gods?”

Fearghus didn’t answer her, but instead kissed his way down her neck and to her shoulders.

“You can’t be serious,” she said again. No, no. This was wrong. There had been a few in history who’d challenged gods. Some lost. Some barely survived. And very few ever won.

“It’s what they deserve.”

Annwyl pulled herself away from Fearghus. She had to. His kisses were completely distracting her. She turned her body in the large tub so she faced her mate.

“You want us to raise the killers of gods?”

“No. I want to raise warriors who aren’t afraid to challenge gods.”

“Have you lost your mind, dragon?”

“No, I haven’t lost my mind. Think about it, Annwyl. They’re already being hunted—apparently by everyone. As are you. If for no other reason, we need to make sure they can protect themselves. And eventually us in our doddering old age.”

“Fearghus,” she gave a weak smile, “you’ve gone mad.” But already the idea had grown on her. Even as she knew the wrongness of it—she didn’t care.

“They’ll be feared,” he insisted.

“More like hated.”

“Respected. No one will ever use them. They won’t be killed. They’ll be too mean to die.”

“I thought that was your father.”

Grinning, Fearghus grabbed her around the waist and dragged her onto his lap. She felt his erect c**k pressing against her. “Imagine, Annwyl,” he teased as he stroked her body with his hands and set it on fire with his tongue, “hatchlings even my father will fear.”

“Now, dragon,” she moaned, arching into him as he slowly pushed his c**k inside her, “you’re just trying to sweet talk me.”

* * *

Briec felt the tap on his shoulder and forced his eyes open. Izzy stood over him.

“Is everything all right, Izzy?”

“Oh, yes. Everything’s fine. I just wanted you to know I was going to bed.”

Rubbing his eyes, Briec sat up. Very early morning light spilled through the windows. He glanced down at himself, relieved to see his exhaustion so deep the previous eve, he’d dropped on his bed fully dressed and immediately fell asleep. Good. Otherwise this could have been a very awkward situation. “You’re going to bed now?”

“We talked a lot last night. So I’m exhausted.”

“All right.” He still didn’t know why she felt the need to tell him this information.

“So I’m going to my bed now and I’ll be asleep there for hours. I left Mum alone.”

“Izzy!” Briec laughed.

She held her hands up. “I’m merely making sure everyone knows exactly what’s going on. And what’s going on is I’m going to bed—my bed—and have left my mother all alone.”

“Iseabail.”

She gave him that smile that always reminded him of Talaith, kissed him on the cheek, and skipped toward the door.

“Izzy?”

She stopped right at the door and looked at him over her shoulder. “Yes?”

“I’m glad you’re back.”

“Me, too—Daddy.” She winked at him and left. He always detested precocious children…until now.

No, he’d definitely be proud to call that mad little girl “daughter”. She already fit in so well with the rest of his kin, and his mother would love her…and not as a meal either.

Briec rolled off the bed and went straight to Talaith’s room. The fur coverings pulled up to her chin, Talaith slept soundly. Not surprising with all she’d been though over the last two days. Trying not to wake her, but needing to be near her, Briec removed his clothes off and slipped into bed with her, wrapping his arms around her waist and snuggling her from behind.