“In another six moons.”

“And I refuse to allow myself to be chased around a bed like some untried virgin.”

“Good.” He went for her again and Talaith squealed and ran. He caught up with her by the door and she knew if he got his hands under her dress she was doomed. But before he could get his hands anywhere, a knock at the door pulled them up short.

“Piss off,” he barked at the door.

“Come in,” she yelled over him.

She batted at his hands as the door swung open. When Izzy’s smirking face came around the corner, Briec stepped away from Talaith. “I told you to get your hands off me, woman… I’m a respectable dragon. Not some whore you picked up on the street.”

“Briec!” She slapped his shoulder. “That’s not funny.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt Briec’s mauling, Mum.”

“Iseabail!” The two of them together were absolutely impossible.

“But I need to talk to you about something. Something important.”

“Of course. Come in.”

“Do you need me to leave?”

“Oh, no. Not at all.” Izzy shook her head at Briec’s question. “Actually, I’d like to talk to you both.” She closed the door and walked into the room.

Briec sat on the bed and Talaith continued to stand by the door. She could see Izzy getting up her courage for this discussion, which worried Talaith more than a little bit.

Finally, with a deep breath and after wiping her hands on her leggings, which Talaith now realized was her daughter’s nervous habit, Izzy turned and faced them. “I’m just going to say this.”

“It’s probably best,” Talaith encouraged, working really hard not to panic.

Her only daughter smiled. “I’ve joined Annwyl’s army.”

“You what?”

Briec stepped between mother and daughter before Talaith could get her hands around the girl’s throat.

“Perhaps we should discuss this calmly.”

“Calmly? What is there to discuss calmly?” She pushed Briec aside. “You go down there right now, Iseabail, and you tell Annwyl you made a mistake.”

Swallowing, her daughter again shook her head. “No.”

“What do you mean, ‘no’?” Talaith fairly growled. Had she risked everything so this little whelp could give her life on the field of battle to that insane wild woman who had recently become one of her best friends?

“I mean, I’m old enough to make this decision. I hope to become part of Annwyl’s elite guard one day. Her squire to start if I’m lucky.” Her daughter stood straighter. “And I start training tomorrow.”

“No you will not start training tomorrow. Tomorrow I’m sending you to a temple somewhere to become a priestess. Or something equally safe.”

“There is nothing safe in this world. I have no Magick like you, Mum. All I have are sturdy thighs, a spine made of steel, and approximately six hundred years to fill. If you think I plan to do that bowing and scraping as an accolade, you are sadly mistaken.”

“I will have no daughter of mine being the squire of that bloodthirsty bitch!”

“You were just laughing and eating with her this morning.”

“We’re not talking about me.”

“You’re being unreasonable.”

“It’s in the blood, luv. Get used to it.”

“A year.”

Mother and daughter looked at Briec who coolly leaned back against the bed.

“What?” Talaith snapped, unable to stop the images of her daughter with a sword through her chest from invading her mind.

“Give it one year. That seems fair, don’t you think, Izzy?”

“Aye,” she replied eagerly.

“Talaith?” He looked at her and she felt her eyes narrow. She could physically kill him from this distance.

If she argued now, she’d seem like a right prat. And the arrogant bastard knew that. “Fine. A year than.”

“Yes!” Iseabail hugged her mother, giving her a big, wet kiss on her cheek. Then she ran to that traitor who called himself her mate and kissed him on the forehead.

“I have to get dressed. I hope there’s dancing tonight!”

As soon as the door closed, Talaith turned on Briec. “Why did you do that?”

“Because it made sense.”

“What difference will a year make?”

“Now that Annwyl’s decided to keep her and Fearghus’ demonspawn, she won’t be traipsing off to any battles in other territories at the very least for the next year, more likely two.”

He had a point there…the bastard.

“And what about after the year?”

Briec stood. “Be realistic, Talaith. If this isn’t right for her, then she’ll know that in a year, if not sooner.”

“And if it is right for her?”

“Then you best let her do this.”

“But—”

He took her hand. “If you don’t, you’ll lose her. Just like your mother lost you. And like you, Izzy will get what she wants even if she has to find another army to join. But it won’t be Annwyl’s where they’ll treat her like the daughter of royalty she truly is.”

Right again. Bastard. But she still had to laugh. “My family’s not royalty.”

“No, but mine is. And she’s one of us now…as are you.”