"Are you here to challenge me?" I asked, and behind me, Brigid snorted fire.
The answer was obvious before he even opened his mouth. He took one deeply horrified glance at Brigid and then bowedlow. "No, Alpha Feargus." He stood straight, then seemed to consider something and bowed once more. "Omega Feargus."
Brigid's derisive disinterest was so profound in our bond, it thrilled me into a surprised smile. "That's enough, Barr."
He stood straight, but he kept his eyes on me, as if he ignored the huge and ferocious dragon—the woman he'd misused and discarded—at my side, she might vanish…or at the very least continue ignoring him.
"There is something I need to discuss with you," Malcolm said, clearing his throat nervously.
I was surprised he'd even mentioned it, but I decided he deserved to squirm, and we were far enough from the others not to be overheard. "The cottage," I guessed.
His eyes widened and his face went white, eyes bouncing up unavoidably to Brigid's dragon. "Y-you know?"
I did now. I nodded and watched him with narrowed eyes. Brigid hadnotknown, and I was curious to see her reaction. If she decided to exact punishment, I wouldn't stop her.
"I was dead drunk. An idiot. Didn't mean for it all to go up like th-that," he gasped out. "It wasn't meant as a threat. I was just…mad. I swear, Alpha. O-omega."
Which matched what the tavern owner in the nearby town had told me of Malcolm's brief stay in the area. He'd taken off late, barely steady, with a bottle of whisky, and then come back for his horse reeking of smoke and looking green and terrified.
"There will be recompense," I said when Brigid remained patient and unconcerned at my side. "Showing up today to defend your own damn home doesn't count."
"Yes, Alpha. M-milord," he burst out, still struggling not to look disgusted as he deferred to me. His eyes slid nervously up to Brigid.
"Unless you'd like some justice now, my love," I said, smiling up at Brigid and winking.
Malcolm stumbled back as Brigid snorted once more, this time managing to singe the grass where he'd just stood.
I don't care about him, Brigid thought to me.Do as you see fit.
"Fair enough," I said, reaching out to pat the rough hide of her leg. "We'll discuss it later," I told Malcolm, who looked as though he was just shy of pissing himself and fainting.
He apparently had enough dignity to keep from running outright, but he did do a strange sideways retreat, too nervous to give Brigid his back.
Can we go home now?Brigid asked.
"Why don't you go back to Tylane, and I'll join you soon?"
Brigid stomped restlessly and then shook her massive head.I can feel her too. She's safe. Finish quickly.
I opened my mouth to ask her more, how she could feel Tylane, but Brigid snarled a warning down at me. Even though I knew this was my mate, I still had the sense to obey, marching forward at a slightly more relaxed pace than Malcolm Barr.
"Ow."The sound escaped me, and I flinched, ducking my head.
"Stop it," Brigid snapped at me.
I pressed my lips hard together and stifled my groan as my body started to shake with repressed laughter.
On the bed, Tylane kicked her legs in the air and let out a gassy giggle. She'd apparently given Mairwen the lesson of a lifetime on baby dragons with wings, screaming her head off for the first hour and then managing to fly up to the rafters the second Mairwen had thought she'd calmed enough to be put to sleep. She'd been sticky and sleepy and hungry all at once when we'd finally made it back to the keep, and Mairwen had lookedlike she'd been caught up in a tornado. I suspected Ronson might have to wait a little longer for an heir.
Brigid snarled under her breath and yanked on the bandage, strangling my laugh under a fresh ache.
"Are you always this rough with patients?" I asked.
Brigid huffed and tossed her hair back to glare at me from where she was wrapping my ribs. "It's your own damn fault for not paying attention during the battle."
"I was paying attention?—"
"Tome!" she barked out.
