Dragon Actually

“That message Gwenvael brought with him. They don’t want you involved with my war, do they?”

The dragon sighed, heavily. “What they want doesn’t concern me.”

“I won’t come between you and your kin. You saved my life, you owe me nothing more.”

He pulled his majestic head away from her. “This isn’t about owing you anything, Annwyl. I fight by your side because that is what I choose to do.”

He moved away from her. Restless, he didn’t stand still for long this night. She also sensed his anxiety and annoyance. And she knew that somehow she stood at the heart of it, but she didn’t know what she’d done. Unless, of course . . . “Is this about the knight?”

The dragon stopped moving, but he didn’t turn to face her. “If I asked you to stop seeing him, would you?”

Annwyl closed her eyes. Finally, the question she dreaded since this all began. But she only had one answer for the dragon. Only one answer that would not be a lie.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because you asked me to. And I am loyal to you and you alone. I’ll always be loyal to you, Fearghus.”

“Because I saved your life?”

“No. I owe you my life for that. If you hit me with a ball of flame I wouldn’t try and stop you. My life is yours to take. But my loyalty is not. That has to be earned. And you have.”

“How?”

“You’ve made me feel safe. When no other has.”

Annwyl drifted slowly to him. Once in front of him, she rested her hand on his snout. He closed his eyes at her touch. “For that you’ll always have my loyalty.”

She walked around the dragon and wrapped her arms as far around his neck as she could. She hugged him and, as always, he let her. “Good night, my friend.”

“Good night, Annwyl.”

She headed back to her chamber, but couldn’t help but slide her hand across his leathery wings and the scales of his body. Like she did every night.

Fearghus didn’t watch her leave, as he often did. His emotions a jumble in his head. The man that he played by day railed against the fact she could so easily give him up. The dragon agonized in confusion because she was willing to give up for him something that she clearly desired. But not once had she mentioned love. Only loyalty. Of course, he had not mentioned love either.

The little human managed to completely confound him and he wasn’t sure he would ever be able to forgive her for it.

She watched the soldiers quietly flow into the glen. She could smell their fear. They didn’t want to be in Dark Glen, no sane person would. So their other option must have been much worse. And once she recognized their armor, she realized it was. They were Lorcan’s men. He sent them to her brother’s glen. Sent them to find Annwyl.

She let them get farther in, away from any troops that might be waiting in safety outside the glen. She waited and she watched. When the time was right, she moved behind them, clearing her throat. The men stopped. At first, they wouldn’t turn around. Afraid of what they might find. But she waited, knowing their human curiosity would get the best of them. It did. When she saw their eyes, Morfyd let go a stream of fire that scorched them to cinders before they could scream.

Gwenvael appeared beside her, is golden scales glinting brightly in the moonlight. He sniffed the air and looked at the still-smoldering remains of the soldiers.

He smiled at his sister. “Dinner.”

It had gone on for days. The two of them constantly “at it.” Like two mating beasts. Gwenvael shook his head in disgust. He understood lust. Actually, he appreciated lust greatly. But love? A strictly human emotion. And although he enjoyed gallivanting around town as human, he had no intention of making a muddle of his life as they all seemed to.

Of course, he would never have thought Fearghus the Destroyer would either. If there was one thing he could always count on from his large, less-than-social brother, it was his seemingly innate ability to feel nothing for anyone. So, to now watch him moon over some slip of a girl made Gwenvael question all his beliefs.

His head snapped up and he studied the sky. For a moment he thought he’d heard the flap of large leather wings. But as he searched the sky he saw nothing. He dismissed it and went in search of his sister. The soldiers from the previous night were not sitting well in his stomach and he needed one of her soothing concoctions.

She always did have a tendency to overcook their food.

* * *

Annwyl followed the sounds of retching. She found Morfyd by the stream. Her arms around Gwenvael’s shoulders as he vomited into the water.

“He all right?”

Morfyd shrugged. “He ate too much. But he’ll be fine. And I have a message for you from”—she cleared her throat—“Brastias.”

Annwyl frowned. Did Morfyd just blush? “What message?”

“Your brother plans to attack the closest village in three days time. Maybe less. I tried to tell you last night but you were sound asleep.”

Annwyl shrugged. “All right. Thank you.” She’d already planned to return to her troops in the next day or two.

“Is that all your brother warrants? A shrug and a thank you?”

“As a matter of fact, yes,” Annwyl snapped, unable to help herself. “I have other things on my mind besides him. Oh . . .” she waved her hand. “I’ll come back later.” Annwyl made to go, but Morfyd stopped her.

“Wait. Annwyl. What is it?”