“Who said it was easy?”

“You walked from that alley without a hair out of place or sweat on your brow, little witch.” Another step forward. “You hadn’t even dirtied your gown.”

“Wait!” She stumbled back, her entire body trembling. Placing one hand on a large boulder, she took a deep breath. “Just wait.”

“I can smell so many emotions swirling around you, little witch. Rage. Hate. Resentment. Even panic. But you know what I don’t get from you, sweet Talaith?” He smiled as her dark brown eyes stared at him. “The scent of fear.”

That’s when she bolted.

* * *

Where she thought she might be going, she had no idea. He’d blocked off the exit with a spell she knew to be as old as time itself and then proceeded to stalk her around the cavern demanding answers. Answers she could never give.

She’d tried once to tell someone what was going on. An old healing woman in the village she thought might be able to give her some help. Talaith barely mentioned Arzhela’s name when pain so intense she felt she’d die on the spot racked her young body. For ten days and nights, Arzhela kept her like that. Kept her alive but in blinding pain.

Talaith learned her lesson the first time. She never spoke of Arzhela again, and that was the day she knew she’d always be alone. She’d always fight this battle on her own. That no one would ever be able to help her.

Not even handsome dragons who seemed to enjoy snatching human females from their homes.

Not surprisingly, Briec caught her easily, pulling her body up against his. Her back to his chest. Honestly, why couldn’t these dragons shift into clothes? As it was, she was weak from the long day and frightening night.

As soon as the soldier grabbed her, Talaith’s training kicked in with a vengeance. It hadn’t occurred to her someone might be merely trying to distract the dragon brothers so they could get hold of her. But by the time the soldier pulled her into that alley, she’d already retrieved her dagger from the holster tied to her boot.

“Scream and it’ll be the last thing you ever do,” he warned her. But she had no intention of screaming, silence and stealth her weapons as much as her dagger. He lowered her to the ground and his hands loosened around her body. That’s when Talaith quickly pulled one of the small pins she kept nestled in the leather wrapped around the hilt of her blade. She spun on her heel, slapped her free hand over his mouth, and stabbed him with the long thin pin. She hit six key points in his throat in less than four seconds.

Her trainers would be proud.

Grabbing his throat, the soldier—who turned out to be older and with only one eye—stared at her in shock, unable to say a word. The poison she’d chosen from her collection ensured quick action. She lightly pushed him on the shoulder once. He fell back like one hard piece of stone, crashing to the ground as the poison worked its way through his system. By the time she slipped the pin back into the secret spot on her dagger and the dagger back into its sheath, he was dead.

Now, her dagger lay off in a corner with her boots. Dammit. Poor planning, Talaith.

Especially with Briec’s impossibly warm hands holding her close against his naked body while she struggled to keep her gown up above her br**sts. It was a battle she was currently losing.

“Let me go, Briec.”

“Not until you tell me the truth. Not until you tell me what’s going on.”

“Nothing is going on.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.” She really wasn’t. No orders sent to her. No demands for her at all. In fact, the goddess had been frighteningly quiet these days past. Talaith didn’t know why, but she’d enjoyed the loss of Arzhela’s presence surrounding her…smothering her. Holding for ransom the only thing that had ever mattered to Talaith these long, painful years.

He held Talaith easily, her back against his chest. The bastard was right—she felt no fear. Not from him. Not anymore.

“Let me go, Briec.”

His arms tightened around her the tiniest bit. “I need answers, Talaith.”

“There are no answers I can give you.”

He lowered her to the ground and turned her to face him. His gaze held such confusion. “That’s a strange thing to say, little witch.”

“Not really.”

“Why won’t you trust me?” If she didn’t know better, she’d swear he sounded hurt. But she did know better. This was Briec the Arrogant. He felt nothing, especially for her.

“Trust you? I trust no one. Why would I trust you?”

The smallest smile curved those delicious lips. “You do have a point I suppose.” Violet eyes swept down the length of her and her trembling started again. A look from this male had her shaking with desire.

“Fine. I will leave you to your secrets. It’s not like you’ll be staying forever.” She fought hard not to let him know how much that statement hurt. “But there is still something I must know, Talaith.” He swept her hands away from her dress. “And I must know this right now. No more avoiding.”

She stared up at him with narrowed eyes. “What?”

“My kin…family. I need to protect them as they would protect me. So if they’re in any danger—”

Startled, she shook her head adamantly. “No, Briec. I’d never hurt your family. And Gwenvael doesn’t count.”

Briec finally grinned at that. “You’re actually right.”