The young soldier nodded and ran off while the two women dragged Annwyl back into the castle.
They sat her down at the dining table and Morfyd crouched in front of her. “Annwyl? Can you hear me?”
Annwyl frowned at the witch. “Of course I can hear you. Gods, Morfyd, I’m only sick from last night’s antics. And you can blame your virile brother for that. So stop looking as if I’m at death’s door. I already feel better.”
Morfyd rubbed her eyes with two fingers. “All night, Annwyl? You were with him all night?”
Annwyl’s frown deepened. “Of course, I was. Where else would I be? Besides,” she muttered softly, “he wouldn’t let me go.”
She looked between the two women. “All right, witches. Fess up. What’s going on? Why do you both look like that?”
Morfyd took Annwyl’s hands within her own. It seemed a caring gesture, but Talaith guessed it was because Morfyd wanted to control where those hands went when Annwyl found out the truth.
“Sister—”
“Spit it out, Morfyd. I grow more annoyed by the second.”
“Fine. There’s something you should know.”
“Which is?”
“Annwyl…you are with child.”
Annwyl snorted. “Of course I am. I lay eggs in two days time.” She chuckled at her own joke until she realized the two witches weren’t laughing. She glanced between them. “You’re wrong, of course.”
“No, sister. I’m not. You’re with child.”
Pulling her hands back, “So what are you saying? That I betrayed your brother? That I was with another? Because that never happened.”
“I know. Yesterday you weren’t with child. And today, after the entire night with Fearghus, you are.”
“You said humans and dragons could not breed. You said it was impossible.”
“And, normally, it is.”
“Normally?”
Morfyd shrugged. “The gods sometimes change their minds.”
The two witches barely moved in time, Talaith finally having the chance to experience the full extent of Annwyl’s rage as it exploded around them.
* * *
Briec sat on the end of his bed. Freshly bathed and dressed, he held his head in his hands.
By the dark gods of fire, what had he done last night? What had he done to Talaith? Would she ever forgive him? Could he ever forgive himself?
He wasn’t surprised when his door slowly opened and Fearghus stood in the doorway. His black hair hid half his face and he could barely meet Briec’s eyes.
Fearghus shook his head. “So this is shame, brother?”“Aye…and I like it even less than heartbreak.”
Éibhear appeared beside Fearghus.
“Your woman is insane.”
Fearghus frowned. “Annwyl?”
“Not your woman. His woman. She almost cut my throat.”
Briec’s eyes narrowed. He felt more protective of her now than ever before. Of course, before he hadn’t taken her like an animal from night until well into the morn. “Why? What did you do?”
“I protected her daughter.”
Fearghus groaned. “Oh, gods…Izzy. Tell me she wasn’t here last night.”
“She wasn’t. I found her off playing with my sword.”
Fearghus finally laughed while Briec’s eye twitched. “What the hell does that mean?”
“She stole the blade Annwyl gave me. I found her training with it. Her words, mind you. I’m surprised she didn’t cut her own throat.”
Briec let out a breath. The thought of even one of his kin taking advantage of his woman’s daughter made him feel like Bercelak when it came to Keita and Morfyd. More than one dragon had lost his wing to Bercelak’s protective nature. And humans…well, Bercelak the Great had enjoyed many good meals made of his daughters’ human suitors.
“But before I could explain what happened, your woman put a blade to my throat. And I didn’t appreciate it.”
“My heart bleeds.”
“And how’s Annwyl?” Fearghus asked softly.
“Crawling. Gods, what did you do to her last night?”
Fearghus slammed his head against the doorframe. “She’s going to hate me.”
“Don’t worry, Fearghus. We’ll live together, bitter and alone. Like the Doane brothers,” Briec feebly joked.
Glaring at Briec, Fearghus snarled, “Never say that to me again.” No one wanted to end up like those two bitter old dragons.
“Well, I’m going to bed,” Éibhear sighed. “It was a long night putting up with that evil little cow.”
“Watch what you say about my—” Briec stopped speaking but his brothers were quicker than they usually acted.
Fearghus grinned, enjoying the demise of Briec’s less than loyal ways when it came to females. “Gods, brother. Were you about to call her your daughter?”
“What if I was?”
“Come on, Briec,” Éibhear begged. “You can’t make that annoying harpy part of this family. Don’t I suffer enough with you lot?”
“Too late, brother. I Claimed Talaith last night.”
“That was fast work. How did you get her to agree?”
When Briec looked at the floor his brothers laughed incredulously. “You Claimed her without her permission?” Fearghus demanded. “Have you lost your mind?”