And was she stupidly doing this just to get under his scales?

With the dress Keita had finally found her pulled up to her knees, Izzy had her feet dangling in the water, and Celyn swam from one end of the small lake to the other. When he reached her, he stopped.

“Are you going to be like this all night?” Celyn demanded.

“Yes.”

“I don’t know why you let him get to you this way.”

“I don’t know why you keep bringing him up.”

“Because you’re sitting here pouting about it.”

“True, but I was pouting alone.”

“You weren’t alone.”

“The puppy hardly counts, Celyn.”

Celyn swam in a little closer. “You didn’t tell him about us, did you?” Izzy planted her palms flat on the ground behind her, the puppy lying against her hand. “About us?”

“About our relationship.”

“We don’t have a relationship.”

“What would you call it then?”

“Not a relationship.”

“Why? Because of him?”

“No. Because of me. I have no plans to get attached to anyone in the immediate future.”

“Why was that again? Oh, right. You’re going to be general one day, and you can’t let me get in the way of that.”

“I am going to be general.” And she said it with such certainty that Éibhear believed her. He was glad she was being smart and not letting Celyn dissuade her from going after what she wanted. Although Celyn was being a little pushier than Éibhear would expect. And what relationship?

“One day,” she went on, “I’ll be leading Annwyl’s armies into battle.

But thank you so very much for your faith in me.” She stood and tried to stomp off, but Celyn placed one hand on the lakeside dirt and reached up with the other, catching her arm and holding her there.

Éibhear’s hands turned into fists when he thought his cousin might just be going over the edge from being pushy to downright forceful. He wouldn’t let him force Izzy into anything.

“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, Izzy. I didn’t mean to.” Izzy took in several deep breaths before she crouched down next to the lake. “I never lied to you, Celyn,” she said. “I never promised you something I couldn’t give.”

“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?”

“Both. I won’t let anything get between me and what I want. I told you that from the beginning. You said you understood.”

“I do, but I never said I’d like it.”

“Not liking it sounds like your problem. Not mine.” And the teasing was back in her voice, the smile back on her face.

“You’d think you’d at least try to make me feel better,” Celyn complained.

“I thought you were here to make me feel better.”

“You’re right. That is why I’m here.” Celyn scrambled out of the water, the duke’s daughter gasping a little when she saw his naked human body lit by the moon overhead. But all Éibhear could think was that Celyn was naked and Izzy was alone with him.

Laughing, Izzy made a weak attempt to run, but Celyn caught her and pulled her into his arms, holding her against him.

“You’re getting my gown wet, and it’s not even mine!”

“I’ll get you another.”

“With what? You have no money.”

“I’ll steal some from Brannie.”

“And she’ll rip your scales off.”

“Will you nurse me back to health?”

“No. I’ll let you suffer. It’s wrong to steal from your own sister.”

“Come on, Iz,” Celyn practically begged, and Éibhear slowly rose up, ready to tear the pushy bastard apart for trying to force Izzy to do what she’d never done before when she wasn’t ready to…

“Don’t make me wait any longer. It’s been weeks since we’ve been alone.”

“Days, you big whiner.” She giggled, Celyn nibbling on her neck, while the puppy wandered off to the woods as if to give them some privacy.

A thought that absolutely horrified Éibhear. “We almost got caught that last time too.”

Caught? Caught doing what exactly?

“The last thing I heard,” Celyn said, “was my mother. ‘Iseabail, Daughter of Talaith and Briec, what are you doing out here naked?’ And your fast-thinking reply of, ‘Uhhhh.’”

Laughing hard now, Izzy put her arms around Celyn’s neck and brought her legs up and wrapped them around his waist. “I didn’t know what to say!”

“Well.” He stared at her lips. “We’re alone now, Iseabail, Daughter of Talaith and Briec, and my mother is still miles away. You going to keep me waiting?”

“Not tonight, no.”

She kissed him, and it was definitely not the kiss of some innocent who was desperately trying to hold on to her virginity.

Éibhear turned away, unable to watch a second more. He needed to be away from here. Far away. And he was halfway down the ridge before the duke’s daughter caught up with him. He’d forgotten all about her, and she’d been right next to him.

“Are you all right?”

“Aye. Sorry. I need to get back.”

“Oh.” She looked disappointed, but he couldn’t help her with that right now. Instead the most he could do was walk her back to her guest quarters and leave her to the care of her servants.