“Oh.”

Briec took a step toward her. “You did know that, didn’t you?”

Talaith took a step back. “Um, well, I hadn’t really considered it.”

“You’ve been marked by me, Talaith. Claimed. Which means we’re mated. For life. Izzy’s my daughter. I may not be her father by blood, but she’s mine. To protect and cherish.”

“Oh.”

“You keep saying that.”

He kept advancing and she kept retreating. “I simply didn’t see the full ramifications of our, uh, relationship.”

Her back slammed into the wall and suddenly Briec’s arms were on either side of her, caging her in. “Do you see the ramifications now, princess?”

“Uh…”

Before she could answer another knock came on their door, and she thought for sure Briec would set the castle on fire. Instead, he yelled, “What?”

Éibhear stuck his head in. “Where’s Izzy?”

“She went back to her room. Why?”

“No reason. She just has something of mine.” He grinned at them. “Carry on.”

The door closed and Briec looked back at her. “That’s it. We’re leaving.”

“What? Where?”

“My den. We’ll leave tomorrow.”

“I don’t think that—”

“Not forever, Talaith. But I need some time alone with you. I grow weary of my kin. Very, very weary.”

“Well, when you put it like that…”

“Good.”

“But we can’t be gone long. I want to be here for Annwyl. I fear what she may do to others if she’s not kept calm.”

He rolled his eyes. “If you must.”

“And Izzy—”

“Another reason for us to leave for a bit, don’t you think? It would be a bad idea for you to be here when she starts her training.”

The dragon definitely had a point there. “Fine. But like I said. Not for long.”

“Good. Now,” he leaned into her, “kiss me, woman.”

“Briec,” she stretched his name out by whining it. “We can’t.” But his hands were already under her dress, smoothing up her legs and across her bare hips. For him, she wore nothing under her clothes while alone in their bedroom except for her dagger and sheath—which he insisted upon—and he grinned his overwhelming appreciation. Holding her thighs tight, he lifted her up and settled her legs around his waist. At some point the overeager dragon pulled his leather leggings down to his knees. She felt his c**k press against her, hot, hard and pulsating. Her hands went around his neck, her forehead resting against his.

Gasping, they stared into each other’s eyes as he slowly impaled her with his shaft. Taking her, inch by slow delicious inch. She moaned and he “shushed” her. “You don’t know who may be on the other side of that door, little witch,” he whispered, pushing more of himself inside her willing body. “Anyone could be listening.”

His words made her shudder and hold him tighter. She bit her lip to stop from making noise, even as he slammed the last inch of his erection inside her.

“Remember,” he growled in her ear, “you’ll need to be quiet.”

Not likely when he pulled his hard erection out of her grasping depths, only to ram it back in. Again and again and again.

Hoarse sounds unwillingly burst from her throat, which only goaded her dragon on. As usual, he showed her body no mercy and it felt wonderful. She dug the heels of her bare feet into his lower back and her hands into his hair. Her climax crawled up her spine, moving through her body like fire. Unable to hold it back, she opened her mouth to scream but Briec was there, covering her mouth with his own. His tongue tangling with hers, groaning as she exploded over the edge and came. Briec held her tight, rocking with her and, she sensed, enjoying the way her sex gripped him tight, spasms clutching him.

He kept on until a second, more powerful climax took hold of her and that’s when, with a loud groan of his own, Briec came. He shot hot and hard inside her, whispering her name into her neck, shaking as the climax drained his body and, for the moment at least, his strength.

“Look what you’ve done to me, little witch.” Briec nuzzled her cheek. “You’ve weakened me.”

She laughed. He held her as easily he would a babe. “I don’t think I weakened anything, dragon. You still seem quite strong to me.”

Smiling, he kissed her nose and her forehead, gently lowering her to the ground. “Don’t move.” He stepped away from her, but only for a moment to get a cloth and fresh water. She held her dress up as he took his time cleaning her. Then she returned the favor. Before she knew it, he’d pinned her against the wall again.

“Oh, no you don’t.” She slid under his arm and went toward the door. “We’re not starting that again. I’m sure they’re all waiting on us.”

She snatched the door open, only to find Gwenvael quickly pulling his ear away from where he had it against the wood. He grinned at her and she knew he’d most likely heard everything.

“Oh,” he said, trying to act surprised. “Hello, sister. I was looking for Briec. I think we need to talk about Morfyd and Bras—ow!” He grabbed his bleeding and broken nose. “What the hell was that for?”

* * *

Turning to face her mirror, Izzy studied herself in the dress Briec had specially made for her. She shook her head and gently pulled the left shoulder of her gown down, wincing as pain danced through her system. She stared at the still-healing dragon brand burned into the flesh of her shoulder. She really didn’t know if the dress was doing a good enough job blocking the damn thing.