Her friend stared at her. “Uncle Éibhear?” she whispered.
Izzy chewed her lip. “Too much?”
Bent over, silently laughing, Brannie shook her head and leaned against Izzy. “You’re the best, you evil bitch!” she managed to squeal and whisper simultaneously. “The best!”
Then the friends held each other and laughed until Éibhear and the Mì-runach called for them so they could return to Garbhán Isle.
Chapter 10
“No. Absolutely not.”
Talaith got up and followed Briec while he stalked around their bedroom.
“I think you’re being unreasonable,” she told him.
“I’m being a father.”
“No. You’re being your father.”
“Well, you don’t have to get nasty,” he tossed back at her, looping around the bed again.
“Just let her spend the day with him. He must like her if he’s still willing to after what you did.”
Briec stopped and spun around to face her. “Of course he still likes her. She’s perfect. She’s—”
“Your daughter. Yes. Yes. We all know. Which means that you should understand exactly how stubborn and difficult your daughter can be when she doesn’t get her bloody way.”
“She’s too young,” he now argued.
“She’s sixteen, Briec. Not a dragon sixteen either, but a healthy sixteen-year-old girl who likes a boy. There’s no shame in that.”
“You want her involved with this . . . this . . .”
Talaith crossed her arms over her chest. “Human?”
“I was going to say cock-haver, but human covers it, too.”
Rubbing her eyes, she paced away from him. “All she wants is to go into town with him. Do a little shopping and have luncheon at the tavern. Not become his wife.”
“No.”
“I’ve already discussed it with Brastias and he says he’ll go with them. You know how protective he is of his niece.”
“Then why can’t I go?”
“Because now when that poor boy sees you, he pisses himself. So that’s not a good idea.”
“Weakness! Why should my daughter be around someone so weak and useless?”
“You could stop her if you’d like—”“Good.” He headed toward the door. “I will.”
“Just like my mother stopped me. Izzy is evidence of how successful that was.”
Briec stopped with his hand on the doorknob, his entire body tense.
“Do you really want to be called ‘grandfather’ by some byproduct of Lord Pombray’s bloodline?”
Her mate shuddered at the thought and Talaith bit the inside of her mouth to stop from laughing. When he didn’t move, she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She rested her cheek against his back and said, “The Pombrays won’t be here for long. Let her do this. Just one day, then they’ll secretly flirt until he leaves.”
“And Brastias will—”
“Keep a very close eye on them. I promise.”
“And if you’re wrong about all this?”
“You’ll be able to lord it over me from now until our ancestors take us home.”
He nodded. “As long as you understand that last bit.”
Izzy pulled her horse to a stop beside Éibhear’s and, like him, gazed down into the town below. Past that town she could see Annwyl’s castle, where the sight of dragons circling the tall spires of the building always told her that she was home again.
“You all right?” she asked.
“Aye. Just thinking about how long it’s been since I’ve been back here.”
“Sure you don’t want to see your mum first? I know for a fact she’s missed you greatly.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because she said, ‘I miss my son greatly.’”
He snorted a little, but the smile was there. “You don’t really go for general euphemisms, do you, Izzy?”
“I don’t even know what that means, so I’ll go with no. I don’t.” She adjusted the reins in her hand. “I can take your horse for you, if you want to head to Devenallt.” Devenallt Mountain was the seat of power of the ruling Southland dragons and where the Dragon Queen, Éibhear’s mum and Izzy’s grandmum-by-mating, lived in safety.
“And be forced to see my father at the same time?” He shook his head. “No. I think I’d rather deal with my brothers first.”
“I wouldn’t worry,” she teased. “I’m sure they didn’t even notice you were gone.”
“Thank you. That’s very nice.”
“Just getting you ready for the rest of the family. Isn’t that what nieces are for?”
Éibhear rolled his eyes. “We’re not back here again, are we?”
“Oh, dear old uncle.” She patted his cheek ever so gently. “You dear old thing. You know you’re my favorite old uncle.”
“Vicious cow,” Éibhear muttered under his breath. “Heartless, vicious cow,” he amended.
Laughing, Izzy spurred her horse on and headed toward home and whatever waited there for her.
Éibhear watched Izzy ride down the trail toward home. Brannie pulled up next to him, giving him a quick once-over. “Going to Garbhán Isle looking like that, are you?”