And gods, when he suggested it, he only got blank stares from the others.
That did sound perfect, though, didn’t it? A good book and a hearty meal at one of the local pubs.
Checking his pocket for coin—he’d stolen some from Briec’s room, it’s not like his brother needed so much—Éibhear set off.
He walked outside and immediately winced from the light searing his brain. It didn’t deter him from his goal, but it reminded him that drink was not always his friend. He simply didn’t handle it as well as his kin.
Taking his time and only able to keep one eye open, he walked down the Great Hall steps. As soon as his feet touched the cobblestones of the courtyard, he turned toward the side exit and started off.
“Hello, Éibhear.”
Éibhear stopped and looked back at the stairs. He’d thought he’d passed someone on the steps, but he’d been so focused on just getting down them without throwing up, he hadn’t really paid much mind.
Squinting, he leaned in a bit to get a better look. Gods, he might never drink again at this rate.
“Uh…hello.”
“Gods…have I changed that much in two years that my own uncle doesn’t recognize me?”
Éibhear’s eyes opened wide—both of them—and he ignored the pain doing so caused as he stared at her. “Izzy?” Her smile, as always, lit up her face and his world. He hated her for that smile. On those long, lonely patrols in desolate Northland territory, it had been that smile he couldn’t stop thinking about.
“How…how are you?”
“Fine. Found out my parents and entire family are”—and this she yelled up at the castle walls—“complete and utter liars! ”
“Oh, get over it already!” Talaith yelled back from somewhere inside.
“But other than that,” Izzy went on, “I’m fine. How about you?”
“I’m fine.”
“The Northlands have treated you well, I see. You’re bigger. All over.”
Don’t say it. Do not say it!
“Lots of hard work. How’s army life?” he asked quickly to change the subject.
“I’m still in formation,” she complained, rolling her eyes.“I move trees. A lot.”
She laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m sure in a few more years we’ll both be forces to be reckoned with.”
Éibhear pointed at her. “What have you got there?” She held up the ball of fur. “Puppy.”
“You didn’t get that from Dagmar’s kennels, did you? She’ll have your hide.”
“So telling her I found him wandering around outside won’t work?”
“Not even a little.”
She brought the puppy closer to her face, her nose to its wet snout.
“But he’s so cute.”
“And in a few more months, he’ll be able to take your face completely off.”
“Then I definitely want him.”
Éibhear chuckled. “I see you haven’t changed, Izzy.”
“It depends on who you talk to.”
It hit Éibhear at that moment, watching Izzy with her puppy, still wearing travel-soiled leggings and a sleeveless tunic, dirt on her cheeks and neck…he was over her. All those inappropriate feelings he’d had for her—and the gods knew how he loathed all those damn, uncontrollable feelings—were gone. He still couldn’t see her as his niece, or even a cousin, but she was still Izzy. Izzy that he had no interest in whatsoever.
The realization made his headache fade away, and he stepped a little closer. “I was about to go into town, stop by the booksellers, then get something to eat. Maybe you’d like to—”
“Oy!”
Éibhear looked across the courtyard and smiled at the sight of his cousin Celyn. He and Celyn used to be quite close when they were both younger until…well, until Celyn had met Izzy. But that didn’t matter now.
“Celyn?” Izzy asked, gazing at Éibhear’s cousin as if the dragon had somehow magically appeared. “What are you doing here?” Celyn stopped in the middle of the courtyard, gave a “why do you think?” shrug that had Éibhear’s back teeth grinding a bit. He wasn’t still trying to seduce little Izzy, was he? He had to know that was wrong and that Briec would kill him. He couldn’t be that stupid, could he?
“I came here to check on you, didn’t I?” Yeah. That’s right. Celyn could be that stupid.
Izzy placed the puppy down on the step and stood. She kept standing, too, the human female having grown at least three or four inches since Éibhear had last seen her. That didn’t seem normal for a human female, but Izzy was far from normal. Even worse was that her height wasn’t the only thing that had continued to grow on little Izzy. She’d filled out—a fact that made Éibhear hate her just a little because no one who called herself a warrior should have those kinds of curves.
Izzy charged over to Celyn and launched herself at the idiot. Even more offensive was how her legs went around Celyn’s waist and her arms around his shoulders while Celyn used Izzy’s innocent and playful show of affection as an opportunity to put his hands all over her ass.
What in all the hells was Izzy doing anyway? Without even realizing it, she was giving Éibhear’s lecherous cousin all the wrong signals. And, as usual, Izzy was completely oblivious!