Chapter Four
AODH STOOD IN frontof the fire in his great hall, doing his best not to pace. It had been nearly two days since Constance first woke up, drank water then passed out again. Shannon had assured him all was well, and it seemed she was right. Constance had finally woken a few hours ago in much better health. Now, she was simply making her way back to her inner dragon.
She was in denial to a degree. Still distrusted him despite what he and Shannon had done for her. He didn’t blame her either because he trusted her no more than she did him.
He was, however, intrigued by her now.
To be expected, considering he’d never met another dragon before Ulrik. Certainly not a female. Never felt something so kindred yet foreign at the same time.
“’Twill not be long now,” Liam said, joining him. “Bea has made sure Constance received her dress, and she and Shannon have been helping her...adjust.”
As it happened, the dress he had dreamt about had been lying on the shore when they finally cooled Shannon down enough to leave the water behind. Laying there as if hand delivered by the gods when they knew she would need it most.
“’Twill be no easy task helping that one adjust, as ye say,” Aodh said gruffly, feeling Constance’s emotions. Her disgust over what she was. “She thinks herself a devil in the eyes of her god.”
“For now,” Liam granted. “But I suspect, with yer help, that will soon change.”
He frowned and took a swig of whiskey. “What help can I give her when I dislike my own inner beast?”
Fortunately, Ulrik had done much in the way of persuading Aodh’s men, who in turn convinced his people that Aodh could be trusted. His inner beast had been completely under Siobhán’s control. Something that would not happen again now he’d broken free. If that didn’t mend some sore hearts, returning with another druidess in his arms, then saving her, had helped a great deal. That didn’t mean he hadn’t had his work cut out for him these past few days trying to win his people over. Assuring them such would not happen again.
“Do ye still dislike yer inner beast as much as ye did before, then?” Liam drank and eyed Aodh curiously. “For I got the sense when ye saved not just me and my men but my kin that ye finally saw another side of yer dragon. Finally saw it was capable of good.”
“I did,” he admitted. “But ‘tis hard to see the good past all the bad. Past the weakness it felt at the hands of Siobhán’s magic.”
“Weakness we have all felt.” Liam shook his head. “Ye cannot blame yer dragon for being captive to such power. Rather, ye should focus on what it was capable of when freed. That it chose to save others rather than itself.”
“Mayhap,” he conceded. “Yet the fact remains it should never have been subjected to her in the first place.” He took another swig. “Likely never would have been had my human half not been so foolish when it came to her.” Because he saw it for what it was. How she’d broken down his human defenses to get to his dragon. Something he knew Liam didn’t realize because his brother assumed Aodh had suffered the same manipulation he had. And if the two of them were to start anew, he needed to be honest. “And Iwasfoolish, brother.”
When Liam shook his head, ready to argue the point, Aodh went on. “I reallywaswith Siobhán for a time in human form, and Ididlay with her.” Sadly, more than once. “’Twas not a delusion as it was for ye, brother. ‘Twas real, and I’m sorry for it. Sorry I not only left my dragon so vulnerable, but I had her despite knowing ye’d had her first.”
“Ye’re sure ‘twas really her in the flesh?” Liam frowned. “Because she can be very manipulative. I was entirely convinced I had been with her until I grew closer to Shannon, and Siobhán’s spell loosened its hold on my mind.”
“’Twas not a delusion.” He sighed. “Though I wish it were for more reasons than one.”
Liam eyed him for a moment, clearly seeing the truth of it. “Ye’re sure because ‘twas not as pleasurable as it should have been.”
“Not nearly as pleasurable as I suspect ye thought it was.” He perked a brow. “Even if my dragon didn’t sense it was real, why would she have ensorcelled me to think I laid with her and not make the memories as alluring as possible?”
“Ye make a good point.” Liam grimaced. “And ye’ve my forgiveness though I will admit ‘tis more concern I feel for ye than anything.” He shrugged. Remained honest. “And mayhap a wee bit of pity for she is a foul thing.” His brother considered him. “So if laying with her was not overly satisfying, what drew ye to the act more than once?”
“That is where I believe magic may have been involved.” He shook his head. “Because there was no real connection of the flesh. I was aroused enough to commit the acts but ‘twas hard finding fulfillment.”
He wasn’t sure why, either, until she controlled his dragon. Until his inner beast felt her filthy mind in a way his human half couldn’t. Felt the evil seeping from her pores.
