How could she not be? She looked exactly like her. Except her eyes were a much lighter brown as was her hair and she was a good bit taller. Other than that, they were mother and daughter.

“She never told me of a daughter.”

Gwenvael snorted. “I see you built up a wonderful level of trust there, brother.”

“That’s not fair,” the girl snapped. She looked at Briec. “She couldn’t tell you. She really couldn’t tell you.”

“Why?”

She moved closer and Briec saw exactly how young she was. “She was protecting me. And, to a degree, herself. She would have hurt her if she told you anything.”

“Who would have?”

“Arzhela.”

Gwenvael stood. “The goddess?”

She nodded. “It’s complicated.”

“It’s not like we had any plans this eve,” Éibhear teased. Iseabail smiled but her eyes grew wide as the moonlight suddenly peeked out and spilled across Éibhear.

“Is your hair blue?”

“Uh…”

“Can I braid it?”

“No!”

“Izzy.” Fearghus easily drew her attention back to him. “Focus, girl.”

She sighed. “Do you really want me to tell you?” The dragons nodded. “You won’t like it.” Her light eyes flickered to Fearghus. “You especially won’t like it.”

“Why especially me?”

“Because it was your mate she was sent to kill.”

* * *

“You…and Briec?”

“That’s the eighth time you’ve said that.”

“But it’s just…” Annwyl stared at her with her mouth open. “You…and Briec?”

Talaith, shaking her head, stalked over to the window of Annwyl’s bedroom. It had to be the most enormous bedroom she’d ever seen. Obviously it took much to get Fearghus the Destroyer to spend time at Garbhán Isle.

“Well, what’s he like?”

“Don’t you know? He is your family.” Plainly there was much more to Briec than she knew. She thought Morfyd, Fearghus and Briec were merely all dragons. The same breed. It never occurred to her they were all family. Kin, as Briec would say.

Annwyl laughed. “You must be joking. He hates me.”

“You did hit him,” Morfyd chastised.

“He was in my way.”

“No, he wasn’t.”

“Close enough.”

Talaith buried her face in her hands. “This is a nightmare.” She turned accusing eyes on Morfyd. “You said he never comes here!”

“Normally, he doesn’t. And don’t yell at me.”

“So you hate him?”

Affronted, Talaith whirled on Annwyl. “I do not hate him.”

Confused, Annwyl scratched her head. “Then what’s the problem?”

“Everything.”

“Why are you making this so complicated, Talaith? If you still want him, be with him.”

“I can’t. I have to think of Izzy.”

“Exactly how much longer are you going to use her as your excuse?”

Talaith turned away from the window to face Morfyd. “Pardon?”

“She’s sixteen winters, Talaith. Soon she’ll be trying to figure out what she wants to do. Maybe help here or she’ll meet someone and want to start a family. Let’s face it, even with her Nolwenn blood, she’ll never be a witch. She has absolutely no powers.”

“That’s my fault,” Talaith sighed. “There were spells I should have cast. Sacrifices I should have made.”

“Haven’t you sacrificed enough?” Annwyl asked, silencing Talaith.

“Well,” Morfyd continued, “she doesn’t seem to miss it, so I wouldn’t concern myself too much. But you can’t build your life around hers because she’ll be starting her own life soon. Then what will you do? Stay here and be lonely? Perhaps become the wife of one of the knights? Is that what you really want?”

What she wanted was Briec. She’d always want Briec.

“Briec is not an option.”

“Why not?”

She glared at Morfyd. “Because he made it clear I was only temporary. Something to pass his time with.”

Annwyl threw herself into a large, winged-back chair. “He didn’t act like you were temporary. He acted like you broke his heart.”

Talaith shook her head. “That’s not possible.”

“He looked like you ripped his heart out of his chest, threw it to the ground, and stomped all over it while singing a jaunty tune.” Annwyl shrugged at Morfyd’s bemused expression. “I might have seen that look before on his brother.”

“Perhaps when you stabbed our father?”

Annwyl laughed. “No. Then he just looked proud.”

“He’ll never understand,” Talaith sighed out. “He’ll hate me for what I was sent to do to you.”

“I’m fairly certain he honestly won’t care. The only one who’ll care is Fearghus. And I have no intention of telling him anything, so—”

The three females jumped, Annwyl’s words cut off, as Fearghus kicked the door in.

Annwyl stood. “What the hell is wrong with—”

“Everyone out! Now!”

Morfyd didn’t hesitate. “Night, all.” Then she was out the damaged door like a lightning strike.