Turning to his brothers, he said, “Call to the other dragons, then take to the skies. Destroy their supply wagons and as many of their troops as you can manage. But they know we’re here, so be careful. Morfyd…” He looked at his sister. “Go with Annwyl. Protect her as best you can. But don’t get close.”

“I had no intention of it, brother.”

Now those dark, dark eyes fell on Talaith. “Do you have healing skills?”

“Aye.”

“Then set up this hall to receive our soldiers. The servants will help you. There are other healers who will come to lend their aid.”

Talaith nodded, relieved he’d given her a task rather than telling her to get out. For whatever reason, it seemed the dragon had decided to forgive what she’d almost done to his mate. Then again he did have much more pressing concerns than some little assassin with a god on her tail. “It’s done. Should we set up another place for enemy casualties?”

“There won’t be any,” he said simply, before walking away.

Talaith understood why the dragon and Annwyl were together. Well matched those two, because no mere female could handle a dragon like Fearghus and no human male would ever be able to sleep soundly in a bed next to Annwyl.

Briec took her hand. “Talaith—”

“Wait.” She looked at Izzy. “Go to your room. Lock the door. You are only to let me, Briec, or Achaius entry. Understand?”

“But—”

Talaith narrowed her eyes at her daughter. “Don’t play with me, little girl. Do. You. Understand?”

Izzy gazed at the floor. “Aye. I do.” Poor thing. Talaith had been ordering her out of the room all day.

“Then go.” With that, Iseabail disappeared up the stairs, and Talaith turned back to Briec who hadn’t released her hand. “Go. Do what you need to do. And when you get back, this…” she waved dramatically indicating her back and new brand, “…will be discussed.”

He smiled, leaned over, and kissed her shoulder. She felt it all the way to her toes.

“As you wish, my soft and defenseless damsel.”

He left her. And Talaith didn’t stop watching him until a confused, half-dressed Gwenvael stumbled up next to her. “Is it me…or did I miss something?”

Chapter Twenty-Four

She was pregnant. With twins, no less. How was this possible? True, she loved her Fearghus. More than she thought she could love anyone or anything. But still…he wasn’t human. Did he betray her for his loyalty to the dragon gods? No. Not Fearghus. If there was one thing she could say about her mate, he obeyed no one but himself.

Besides, he’d been uncontrollable the night before. Not that she didn’t enjoy it, but her dragon had been unable to stop himself.

No, the dragon gods had used him as much as they’d used her. While the human gods preyed on Talaith and Izzy.

She’d really begun to detest the gods.

“Annwyl?”

Annwyl looked at Brastias. “What?”

He cleared his throat. “There are more over there.”

She glanced at the battalion of troops fighting her men. They’d been trying to run away…from her. But her men had swarmed over them before they got too far.

One of the thirty bodies at her feet moved and she realized she hadn’t killed him. She raised the blade in her hand and slammed it down with raging force. She assured herself this one had moved on to his next life, yanked her sword out of his body, and used the cloth Brastias handed her to wipe the blood off her face.

“Come,” she said calmly, handing the cloth back to him. “I want them all dead before the two suns are in the western skies.”

She headed toward the battling troops, watching her enemies flee from her giving her so little satisfaction.

* * *

Talaith ripped the large cloth into strips as other servants set up beds. They prepared for many wounded, although she hoped it wouldn’t get that bad. She was to blame for all this. Arzhela sent Hamish here to avenge the fact that Talaith didn’t do what Arzhela had sent her to do.

Now they’d all suffer for her disobedience. Still, she’d risk everything for Izzy. Absolutely everything.

Having changed into comfortable leggings, boots and shirt, Talaith was ready for anything. She finished ripping up the cloth and handed a large pile of the material to one of the healers. Nearly done, she thought with some quiet pride. Then she felt it. It was almost a physical thing.

The power of the dragons receding. Like a warm fur pulled off her naked body in a cold room. Frantically, she looked around. No one else noticed it. Not surprising. The only ones left were the humans—because the dragons had all gone out to fight against Hamish.

She remembered Morfyd telling her she’d passed out at the lake the night before. Which meant she’d been unable to reinforce any of her protections. Which meant…

“Gods…Izzy!”

She’d never moved so fast before in her life, dodging around soldiers, guards and servants as she tore through the Great Hall and up the stone stairs toward her daughter’s room.

She’d gotten within mere feet of the door, when it burst open from the inside. Achaius flung out and against the wall.

“No!”

She ran into Izzy’s room in time to see her daughter, stomach down on the floor, literally dragged from this world into another.

Desperate, Talaith dived for her, landing on her stomach, her hands lacing with Izzy’s. She saw her daughter’s frightened, tear-streaked face and then she was gone.