Chapter 16
Annwyl’s eyes flew open as the hand closed over her mouth. But once she saw Morfyd’s blue eyes, she relaxed. Morfyd took several steps back and motioned for Annwyl to follow, then she quietly slipped out of the tent.
Annwyl tried to move out from under the large possessive arm slung over her waist. But it tightened, and Fearghus snuggled into her back. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Smiling, she rubbed the hand at her waist. Just his low, rumbling voice gliding across her back had her wet and ready for him. “Can’t a girl have some time to herself? I’ll be back in a bit.”
His teeth nipped her shoulder. “Better be.”
She tumbled out of bed, grabbed a fur covering, and stepped out of the tent. She walked around the corner and found Morfyd impatiently waiting for her.
“What is it?” She liked Morfyd, but she really wanted to be back in bed, Fearghus’s arms wrapped tight around her. His cock inside her, hard and ready.
“I need you to come with me.”
“What? Where?”
“I can’t explain now. Here.” She handed Annwyl her clothes. She had no idea when Morfyd took these. Nor could she understand the secrecy.
“Morfyd, what is going on?”
“I need you to trust me, but we need to get moving before Fearghus comes looking for you.”
Annwyl put her clothes on while she watched Morfyd. “You too, huh?”
“Me too, what?”
“You and Fearghus. I never noticed before but you look a bit alike.”
“He’s my brother.”
“Big family.” Annwyl tugged on her boots, pulled her surcoat over her head, and wrapped a leather belt around her waist. Once dressed, she put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow. “What now, lady dragon?”
Morfyd watched Annwyl address her lieutenants. True, she’d seen a side of Annwyl that these men never had. The wounded warrior struggling to live. The woman who loved her brother. And the warrior woman she’d taken as a friend.
But she now saw why these men followed her. Annwyl radiated strength and determination. She was more than the leader of the rebellion. She was the heart of it.
“Move out tonight. We’ve gotten word that when the two suns rise tomorrow, Lorcan will attack the village. We can’t let him get through, or he’ll make for the Citadel of O Donnchadha and our women and children are there. Kill anyone that wears Lorcan’s colors. No survivors. No prisoners.”
“And you?” Brastias asked.
“I leave with Morfyd. Now. But I’ll be back by morning. Tomorrow I will face my brother.”
“And what of . . .” The men shifted uncomfortably, unwilling to meet Annwyl’s eyes.
She smirked. “And what of my dragon?” Morfyd blinked in surprise. Annwyl wasn’t even trying to hide her relationship with Fearghus.
Brastias cleared his throat. “Yes, Annwyl. What of your dragon?”
“Let him sleep. When he awakes tell him that I will return by sunup. Not too hard, is it?”
“And are we safe around him?”
Annwyl sighed in annoyance at the question, but Morfyd answered for her. “Yes. You are safe around him. But when you tell him about Annwyl, I wouldn’t stand around. I strongly suggest moving away quickly. Very quickly.”
Annwyl and her men stared at Morfyd. She shrugged at Annwyl’s raised eyebrow. “He is my brother. I know him well.”
The men, en masse, stepped away from her. All except Brastias, who stared at her. She realized that they were completely unaware that she, too, was a dragon. “Don’t worry. You’re safe around me as well.” She smiled but only Brastias and Annwyl smiled back.
“All right, then. We’re off.” Annwyl stepped away from the large table strewn with maps that she’d been leaning against. “I’ll see you all at dawn.”
Morfyd walked out of the tent, Annwyl behind her. Brastias’s voice stopped them.
“Annwyl.” The two females looked at him. He braved another smile at Morfyd before speaking to Annwyl. “Your weapons?”
“No.” Morfyd shook her head. “No weapons, Annwyl.”
Annwyl looked at Brastias and shrugged. “No weapons.”
“Then please be careful.”
Annwyl nodded and followed as Morfyd led her away from the camp to the clearing where she’d landed earlier.
The girl stepped back as Morfyd shifted, shaking out her wings and mane of hair. “You ready, Lady Annwyl?”
Annwyl grabbed on to the white mane of hair and expertly hauled herself up onto Morfyd’s back. “Aye, Lady Dragon. I’m ready.”
* * *
“I just don’t understand our brother. A human.” Briec gave a great sigh, causing Gwenvael to roll his eyes in annoyance.
“You don’t know anything, Briec. She’s different.”
“Don’t you really mean crazed, baby brother?”
Gwenvael saw Morfyd’s white scales swooping toward them. He stood up. Both he and Briec were already in human form and dressed.
“You’re just mad she slapped you around.” Gwenvael looked at his brother. “Like a bitch.”
Briec stood up. Slightly taller than Gwenvael, but still shorter than Fearghus, he tended to be just as much fun to torture as their older sibling. “I let her hit me.”
“You had to. Otherwise she would have killed you where you stood.”
Morfyd made one of her soundless landings and patiently waited while Annwyl dismounted. She shifted to human and Annwyl wrapped a fur covering around her shoulders.
He rushed down the stairs to meet them. “Lady Annwyl.”
“Gwenvael.”
“Feeling better?”
She couldn’t hide her smile or the blush to her cheeks. Now he knew what he’d always suspected—his brother was a brave, brave dragon. “Much, thank you.”
“Good.”
Briec now stood beside him. His arms crossed in front of his chest. “Lady.” He nodded coldly to her, and Annwyl glanced between Gwenvael and Morfyd.
“I’m sorry, do I know you?”
Briec blinked in surprise. “I am Briec the Mighty.”
Annwyl examined Gwenvael’s brother over from head to toe. “Really?” she remarked at last. “Did you give yourself that name?”
Gwenvael and Morfyd choked back a laugh before Morfyd pulled the girl away and up the stairs. “Come, Annwyl. We don’t have much time.”
Briec sneered after their retreating forms. “I hope the queen eats her marrow like pudding.”
Gwenvael scowled. If those two became enemies— Annwyl and the queen—who knew who would come out the winner. They were equally frightening females.
Gwenvael jogged up the stairs, Briec closely behind him. “Just remember, Briec. She almost took down Father. So we best hope they get along.”
