He glanced over his shoulder, sensing her presence. “Well, hello, pretty lady.” He pushed thick golden blond hair out of his eyes and leered at her. Openly. Didn’t even try to hide his lust.
“Who the hell are you?” Considering almost all feared Dark Glen, there seemed to be many visitors here of late, her included.
“Gwenvael is my name. And you are?”
“Your worst enemy, unless you tell me your business here, knight.”
She glanced down at his surcoat and noticed it bore the same color and crest as the one worn by her knight. Another mercenary it seemed.
Gwenvael stood up to his full height and Annwyl tightened her grip on her sword, ready to unsheathe it if need be. He was enormous. And she had no doubt her knight and this man were brothers.
“I’m here to see the dragon.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“My, we are protective.”
“Yes. We are. Now answer my question.”
“I have a message for him. From family.”
“Really? Well, give it to me. I’ll make sure he gets it.” She held out her hand.
The knight smiled. “Actually, the message is in my head, sweet one.” He took her hand, and brought it up to his lips. Annwyl watched as he kissed the tips gently, all the while staring into her eyes. She let him finish, then pinched his nose between her thumb and forefinger. She twisted until she got a cry of pain from him.
“Don’t touch. I don’t like to be touched.”
“I see that.”
“Say you’re sorry or I’ll take it off.”
“Sorry. Sorry!”
She released him. He rubbed his nose and pouted. She couldn’t help but smile. So very cute. And so very charming. Of course she still wouldn’t trust him with her dead horse.
His sister was up to something. He could tell. He’d known her for over two hundred years and she’d been annoying him senseless that entire time. But she would tell him nothing now. She was still too angry at discovering his double life.
But she would never be as angry with him as he was with himself. Yesterday had been the final straw. He had no intention of touching Annwyl, much less kissing her. He, in fact, had started to walk away. But, once again, he couldn’t help himself. And when she kissed him back. . . .
Yet today would be different. Today he would get control of this human body of his. Today he would not touch her. He wouldn’t even look at her. Today he would face the fact she was human and he a dragon.
Fearghus sighed. When had everything become so difficult? When you just had to rescue her, you idiot. He now realized he should never have gone out to help. He should have let the humans fight their war as they’d been doing for centuries. As soon as he became involved, everything became difficult. Complicated. Now he had his sister and some human girl living with him. Who else exactly would appear to drive him insane?
He realized too late he should never have entertained that thought as he came upon them. They sat by the stream. His unmistakable charm oozing from every pore while she laughed loudly at whatever he’d just said. She almost looked as if she were flirting.
Brutal jealousy came up and choked him. He would throttle the little bastard. Send him back to their mother without the rest of his tail.
He walked out of the trees and Gwenvael looked at him.“Oh. Greetings, big brother.”
He gritted his teeth. Had the little bastard told her anything? Gwenvael, unlike the rest of their kin, did not believe in discretion. It didn’t take long to realize that if one asked Gwenvael a direct question about dragons or anything for that matter, he would give a direct answer.
“I’m here to see the dragon.” He winked at Fearghus. And Fearghus barely contained the near overwhelming desire to take the boy’s head completely off his shoulders and kick it right out of his glen.
“Is that a fact?” Fearghus spit out between clenched teeth.
“Oh, yes. Important family business has sent me this way.”
“Well, why don’t you find Morfyd? I’m sure she’s in the cave. She can help you.”
“Really? Do you think so?” Gwenvael’s glee almost caused the little bastard to froth at the mouth. He had Fearghus right where he wanted him and they both knew it.
“I’m sure of it.”
“Well, then. I guess I better go find this elusive Morfyd.” Gwenvael’s grin practically blinded him. But when the bastard caught Annwyl’s hand in his, and kissed it, Fearghus realized he would definitely have to kill the little toe-rag.
“I thought we discussed this, knight,” she chastised with a smile.
“We did. But I just couldn’t help myself, lady.”
Gwenvael stood up and walked toward Fearghus. “I’ll see you soon, brother.”
The two brothers stared at each other until Gwenvael disappeared out of sight.
Fearghus turned back to find Annwyl standing, brushing dirt off her backside. “You never mentioned a brother before. You two look very much alike.”
“What were you doing with him?”
She looked up startled and caught on to his implications almost immediately. “Anything I like.”
He snarled. She snarled back. He moved on her, his hands slipping under her arms, lifting her off the ground and pushing her back against a tree. He could smell the lingering scent of his brother surrounding her and he wanted that smell gone. If she smelled of a male, it would be of him and no other.