He reached the entrance and stepped in. She stopped dead in her tracks and waited.
Fearghus didn’t say anything. He wanted to see her reaction. She didn’t speak for several moments. Then, “I’m freezing me tits off. Where are the books?”
Fearghus blinked. “‘I’m freezing me tits off,’” he mimicked back to her.
Annwyl shrugged. “I’ve been with my troops for over two years now,” she muttered as if that explained everything.
Fearghus motioned to a corner of the room. “The books are over there.” He watched her clamber over gold, jewels, and the other riches he’d claimed over many, many years. She reached the books and examined them closely.
“So do you like to read or are you desperately bored?”
“No. I’m not bored at all. I’m actually enjoying myself quite a bit. It’s nice and quiet here.” She grabbed two books. “And I love to read. To learn. I should have been a scholar.”
“Why aren’t you?”
She shrugged as she walked back over the riches as if she stepped on old stones. “My father had other plans for me. He thought I’d make a fine noble’s bride.”
Fearghus couldn’t stop the laugh that burst from his snout. Annwyl glared at him. “Well thank you very much!”
“I mean no offense. I simply don’t see you worrying about the supplies for the kitchens or whether you’ll breed a son to carry on the family line.”
“Really? And what do you see for me?”
“Exactly what you’re doing now. Protecting your people from a tyrant.”
She smiled and he felt pride for causing it. She began to head back toward where she slept.
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“Wouldn’t you like some clothes?”
“You have clothes?” He motioned to several chests buried in a corner. She handed the two books to him and descended on the wooden boxes. She dug through the clothes quickly. She ignored the beautiful and richly made gowns, tossing them aside like a wench’s bar dress. But when she discovered a chest filled with men’s clothes, she began to take several articles for herself. Several pairs of breeches, shirts, and leather boots that she held up against her rather sizable feet to make sure they would fit.
Once she had what she needed, she took her new clothes and books, and headed out of the cave.
“Well, come on then,” she barked lightly at him.
And, like some idiot human, he followed her back to her room. Once there she dropped the clothes and books on her bed and the fur covering to her feet.
Fearghus tried his best not to watch her nak*d body. But he sadly failed in the attempt. He couldn’t help himself. She was beautiful and strong. A fierce warrior with the scars to show it. He desperately wanted to lick every one of those marks.
She pulled on a pair of breeches that were the right length for her, but a little big. When she turned around, showing her beautiful large br**sts, he barely bit back his groan in time. She ripped one of the shirts into long, wide strips, her chest moving seductively in time with her actions. When done, she used the strips to wrap around her br**sts, binding them in place. She pulled another plain shirt on over her head, pulled on the boots and stood before the dragon.
“Well? What do you think?”
I think you’re the most amazing female I’ve ever met. And I would like to f**k you all night long. Bend over.
“What do I think about what?”
She sighed. “Typical male.”
* * *
Annwyl sat on her bed and rubbed her eyes. Her side ached. Her body cold. But she finally had clothes.
“What’s wrong?” She looked up long enough to see the dragon settle down in the chamber, watching her. She found him doing that often.
“Just thinking about my men.”
“You are truly worried about them?”
Annwyl nodded. She closed her eyes again and rubbed her palms against them. It helped to relieve the ache that started in her head when she fell to the floor. “They are all good, strong men. But my brother’s troops . . .”
“Outnumber you?”
“Aye. Even with the help from the other kingdoms, my brother still has more troops. More supplies. More everything.” She lowered her hands. “And we have. . . .” She turned her eyes to the dragon and stopped.
Then she smiled.
If Fearghus were human, he would have run from the room simply from the expression on her beautiful face. He knew what she was thinking. So he decided to end this now. “No.”
“I haven’t asked you anything yet.”
“But you’re going to, and the answer is no.”
She released a frustrated little growl. “Why?”
“I don’t involve myself in the petty problems of men.”
“But I’m a woman.” She smiled again, and he would have laughed if he weren’t so annoyed.
“That you are. And the answer is still no.”
She pushed herself off the bed. “We could help each other.”
“Wouldn’t you rather just take all my gold and jewels, kill me in my sleep, and be done with it?”
She dismissed the riches he offered with a wave of her hand. “Gold I have. I need your power, dragon.”
“No.” He watched her walk around the cave floor, impressed with how quickly her body was healing. She already appeared stronger, which only seemed to make her more determined.
What have I gotten myself into?
“There must be something we can offer you. Something you want or need.”
He sighed dramatically and fell silent for a moment. “Well, I’m always in need of fresh virgin sacrifices.”
She rolled her eyes. “Very funny.”
“Annwyl, there is nothing that a human can offer me. I have everything I need. There’s a reason no one has seen me in nearly seventy years.”
She became so agitated he feared she might come out of her skin. “I’m not asking you to give up your life here. Help me defeat Lorcan, and then it can be like we never met. I’ll leave you to your solitude.”
For some reason that was the last thing he ever wanted to hear from her, but he ignored the pang of regret her statement caused.
“I can’t help you defeat your brother. You must do it yourself. And you must do it alone.”
“Why?”
“If you do not kill Lorcan yourself, your reign will always be in question. The other kingdoms will rise up against you and kill you and your precious troops. Is that what you want?”
“Of course not.”
“Then you best take his head yourself.”
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. “But you don’t think I can.” She walked toward him. “Do you?”
“No. Not really.”
There went that rage. “Why not?”
“Because you don’t think you can.”
Her rage came and went so quickly, it was quite the sight to behold. Her whole body seemed to deflate, her hand going to her wounded side. “You’re right. I don’t think I can.” She sat on her bed. “He’s so fast. His skill with a blade . . . I couldn’t even touch him.”
“You give up too easily. You just need training.”
“From whom? I know of no warrior as skilled as my brother.”
“I do.”
Annwyl looked up. “You know someone?”
“Uh . . .” Things just kept getting more and more complicated.
“Yes. I do.”
“Do you trust him?”
Only as much as he trusted himself. “Aye. I do.”
“And he will help me prepare to kill Lorcan?” Fearghus nodded. “Then, perhaps, you could help my army against my brother’s troops?”
“Annwyl . . .”
She leaned forward, wincing from the pain she caused her side. “Please, Fearghus. I know I already owe you my life. But if there’s anything . . . It’s just to have the power of a dragon behind us—”
“So I help you defeat your brother,” he cut in churlishly.
“And then what are your plans?”
Annwyl frowned. “My plans?”
“Yes. Your plans. You take your brother’s head, your troops are waiting. What is the next thing that you do?”
Annwyl just stared at him. He realized in that instant that the girl had no plans. None. No grand schemes of controlling the world. No plots to destroy any other empires.
Not even the plan to have a celebratory dinner.
“Annwyl, you’ll be queen. You’ll have to do something.”
“But I don’t want to be queen.” Her body shook with panic, and he could hear it in her voice.
“You take his head, you’ll have little choice.”
“What the hell am I supposed to do as queen?”
“Well . . . you could try ruling.”
“That sounds awfully complicated.”
“I don’t understand you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You command the largest rebellion known to this land.
From what I understand, your troops are blindingly loyal to you. And other kingdoms send you reinforcements and gold.”
“Your point?”
“You’re already queen, Annwyl. You just need to take the crown.”
She shook her head. “My father didn’t believe in crowns. There’s a throne, though.”
“Then take your throne. Take it and become queen.”
“I will. If you fight with me, dragon.”
“Will I get any peace if I don’t?”
“Sometimes queens have to do things they’re not always proud of,” she teased. “Including the torturing of handsome dragons, such as yourself. I could have people traipsing in and out of here all the time. Talkative people.” She smiled as she spoke—and called him “handsome”—but he wouldn’t put anything past her.
“Then you don’t give me much choice, do you?”
“No. I don’t.”
“Then I will fight with you, Annwyl.”
She grinned, and he felt pride for causing it.
Chapter 4
As the days passed and Annwyl became stronger, she began to venture out into the glen surrounding the dragon’s lair. She’d never felt safer than she did at this very moment. In the middle of a dragon’s territory with only a sword to protect her. And she could never be safer. He allowed her to do what she wished. Go where she wished. Which she did. Although she actively avoided the section where the smell of burned men still lingered.
Annwyl moved slowly among the trees and flowers. All so beautiful and hers to enjoy in solitude. Like everyone else in the surrounding kingdoms, she had learned to fear Dark Glen. And from the outside, it stood dark and imposing. But once inside, the dense forest created a place of tranquility and quiet. If she’d known as a child that she had nothing to fear, she would have escaped to it long ago.
She rubbed her side. Her wound still a bit tender, but nearly healed. The dragon and witch had done a brilliant job of keeping her alive.
Yet she agonized over the agreement she’d made with the dragon. Was she that desperate to defeat her brother? That desperate to see her brother’s blood on her sword that she’d risk the life of the dragon who saved her? Clearly the answer was yes.