“All right. But just a small kiss. Just a little one. And then we have to get dressed for dinner.”
“Just a small one. I promise.”
Izzy began to lean in, but she suddenly stopped, eyes narrowing on him. “Are you lying again?”
“Mì-runach. Pussy. All we’re missing is the ale.”
“Ale, eh? Well . . .” She shrugged. “As long as I get something out of it.”
“When it comes to obtaining ale, the Mì-runach never lie.”
Izzy smiled and pressed her mouth to his. Their tongues met and Izzy wrapped her arms around his neck. He held her tighter, his hands tracing the lines of her scars while his c**k grew uncomfortably hard in his leggings.
Gods, he had to be inside her. He had to be inside her now. He couldn’t wait even a second longer.
“What are you two doing?”
Éibhear and Izzy froze at the same moment, Izzy’s eyes opening wide to look at him even though their mouths stayed fused together. He knew that she wanted to believe they hadn’t heard anything. But Éibhear knew better. Knew that they had heard what they didn’t want to believe they’d heard.
“I don’t believe you two,” that angry voice went on. “I’ve been worried sick and this is what you’ve been up to?”
Izzy pulled back, her hands immediately covering her chest.
“I have to say I don’t expect much from the boy, Iseabail. But I thought you learned your lesson after Celyn.”
Éibhear looked around. They were surrounded. Surrounded by beautiful trees and soft green grass and happily whistling birds. Things that he could not only see and hear but feel. Like the extremely large boulder he and Izzy now sat on.
“Mum—” he began.
“I don’t want to hear it, Éibhear. From either of you! And Izzy,” she went on, “to do this in front of your sister.”
Eyes getting impossibly wider, Izzy looked over her shoulder and Rhi waved at her from beside his mother.
“What the hells is going on?” Éibhear demanded, helping Izzy as she scrambled behind him to hide from his mother’s imperious glare and Rhi’s happily curious expression. Tragically, Izzy’s shirt had been left behind in that Desert Land chamber, so all she could do was use Éibhear’s bare chest as a shield. “Why is my niece even here?”
“Do you think it’s easy to bring those without any Magickal skills into a sacred space? Even for someone of my amazing skills? Well,” she went on before Éibhear could bother trying to answer that question, “it’s not. And I needed Rhi’s help. But little did I know what I would be exposing the poor girl to.”
“Mum.”
“I mean I expect little from you. . . . You’re a male. I’m just glad you can think of and speak full and complete sentences.”
“Mum.”
“But Iseabail, Daughter of Talaith and Briec, what are you thinking?”
“Me? Why are you putting all this on my shoulders?”
“Because you of all people should know how stupid anything with a penis is! And yet here you are, involving yourself with my son. As if that’s acceptable!”
Izzy gasped. “Why wouldn’t it be acceptable? We’re not blood related.”
“Exactly! So you were not born a royal. You were merely a commoner who has been very lucky. And if you think you’ll trap one of my useless sons with that common pu**y, you’re tragically mistaken!”
“Mum!”
“Oh, shut up! Now here. I came to give you this.” She threw down a piece of parchment. A rune drawn on it.
“When you don’t have your tongue down Izzy the Dangerous’s throat, feel free to keep a look out for that rune. You’ll most likely find it on those who’ve already tried to kill you once. And in case you were worried about your cousin Brannie and your three friends, which clearly you were not—they’re fine!”
“Mum—”
“Och! You stupid, stupid boy!” She turned away but then spun back again, her dragon tail almost taking off poor Rhi’s head. Thankfully the girl was quick and managed to duck in time. “And when you two get back, this whole . . . thing better be done with!”
“Don’t you dare try to order me to—dammit!”
One second he was in some lovely grove with a pretty pink sky and the next he was back here, in this stupid chamber. Damn that female!
“Princess Iseabail?” one of the guards asked from the entrance while he eyed them both. “Is everything all right?”
“Uh . . . yes. Yes. Everything is fine.” Éibhear didn’t have to look to know that Izzy was busy grabbing her shirt and pulling it on, using Éibhear to block the guard’s view.
“We sent you clothes, but no one could find you.”
“Uh . . . right. Went exploring. Sorry about that.”
“Dinner is about to take place. Should I ask King Heru if you could have more—”
“Time? No. No need.” She scrambled off the bed, smoothing the shirt down her unbound br**sts. “Let’s just go and get our meal. I’m starving.”
“Of course.” The guard nodded. “Right this way.”
He walked out and Izzy went to follow, but Éibhear grabbed her hand and pulled her back. “Don’t even think of losing your mind over this.”
“Too late!”