paced back to the window, the puppy stumbling behind her.
Would her life always be this unfair? This brutally cruel? Would she ever get what she truly wanted or would she always yearn for what she could never have?
“Do the gods have some vendetta against me, little one?” she asked as she picked up her puppy and held him close. “Some vendetta against my ancestors that I’m unaware of? Or do they simply enjoy toying with me?”
Since Shalin came from a most boring line of dragons, she felt quite confident that the gods merely toyed with her.
“Bastards,” she muttered before heading to her bed.
7
Shalin had not slept well. She’d pretty much done everything but sleep. She’d read. She’d tossed and turned. She’d played with the puppy until he fell asleep. Now all she wanted to do was spend some time with her horse.
She walked down the stairs and into the Great Hall.
“We need to get you a dress that fits,” Arranz said in lieu of a proper greeting. “And some boots.”
“Are you done?” And her clipped words had Arranz staring at her.
“Is there a problem?” he asked.
“No. Not at all. Feel free to comment on anything. My hair all right with you? My face? Anything else I can fix to your satisfaction?” When he didn’t answer, Shalin looked at the rest of the Cadwaladr Clan. “Truly. Feel free while I’m standing here to comment on anything you like. No?”
Unable to stop sneering, Shalin grabbed a loaf of bread and walked out to the courtyard.
Ailean walked into the Great Hall. He passed by his kin, the lot of them nearly filling the room, grabbing a loaf of bread from the table. Before he went outside, he stopped and asked, turning back to his kin as he did so, “I need to train. Anyone up for—”
In the ten seconds since he’d started to ask his question, all but three of his kin remained. The twins stood.
“We’ll—”
“Sit down,” their mother ordered. And they both obeyed. She remained the only being on the planet who had full control over them. “What’s going on with you two?” Deniela asked Ailean.
“What are you talking about?”
“That sweet, innocent dragoness—”
At Ailean’s snort, Deniela’s eyes narrowed, and he held his hands up, indicating she should continue.
“She was in a foul mood and I’m blaming you.”
“How is it my fault?” Although deep in his soul, he prayed it was his fault. He shouldn’t be the only one not sleeping.
“She’s an innocent, Ailean. Don’t play with her.”
“I haven’t. And she’s not an innocent.”
“She’s probably a virgin.”
“Don’t be daft.”
“Have you asked her?” Deniela demanded. “Maybe you should before you set your sights on dirtying her up.”
“I have to say, Aunt Deniela, that I don’t appreciate you suggesting her being with me would dirty her up.”
When the old cow only stared at him, he walked out.
Shalin glanced up and that’s when she saw Ailean staring at her—again. She’d found him doing it several times since he’d walked in to groom the horses a few hours before. Finally, unable to stand it anymore, she asked, “Is something wrong?”
“No. Why do you ask?”
“Because,” she said, focusing back on Nightmare, “you keep staring at me.”
“Sorry.” But he didn’t stop staring.
“Ailean,” she finally said, “you haven’t done anything wrong.” In fact, he hadn’t done a damn thing and she’d gotten tired of waiting for him to.
“I know that.”
“Then why do you look like you’ve ravished me and left me pregnant like some human?”
“No, I don’t.” He finally grinned. “There’d be much more running away involved.”
She petted Nightmare’s neck. “I appreciate your family’s desire to protect me, but I don’t need them to protect me from you.” She forced a smile. “I’m sure when this is all over we’ll be the best of friends.”
“Friends?”
Shalin’s lip curled. “Is there a reason you snarled that?”
“Are you a virgin?”
Rearing back a little, Shalin wondered at the abrupt change of conversation. Her anger sliding away from her in seconds. “Sorry?”
“You heard me.”
“I…uh…”
“Yes or no.”
“No. But I’m not sure it’s—”
“You sure?”
“Am I sure? Am I sure I’m a virgin or not?” She stepped away from Nightmare. “Is there something wrong with you? Mentally?”
“Yes. Or. No.”
“Yes. I’m sure that I’m not a virgin. I haven’t been one for quite some time although it’s none of your damn business.”
“No reason to get snappy. It was a simple enough question.”
“I don’t get snappy. Now if you’ll—”
“Ever been with anyone while human?”
Shalin let out a long breath. “Why is this conversation getting stranger?”
“Answer me.”
“You want me to answer