“You and his lordship will be dining as human. Princess Iseabail, clothes will be sent to you.”

“Thank you.”

“And we suggest you keep the dog in this chamber. It will be protected here, but through the rest of our lordship’s kingdom, it’ll just look like a running snack.”

“Understood.”

The guard nodded at Izzy. “Princess.” Glared at Éibhear and growled, “Prince.”

Once they were gone, Izzy said, “You do seem to make friends wherever you go.”

“Don’t blame me for this.”

“It’s not my fault either!”

“I never said it was!”

“Then why are we yelling?”

“I really don’t know!” Éibhear blew out a breath. “That was fun.”

“Sorry.” Izzy walked over to the bed and sat on it. “This shouldn’t have happened.”

“But it did, and we’ll handle it. We always do.”

“You don’t understand, Éibhear. You shouldn’t be here.”

Éibhear shifted to human and walked all the way into the chamber. Izzy glanced at him, then quickly looked away. “Put on some leggings.”

“Does my manliness overwhelm your delicate lady sensibilities?”

“You do know I’m still armed?”

“All right. All right.” He dug into his travel bag and pulled out a pair of leather leggings. He pulled them on, and sat on the bed beside Izzy.

“Do you really not want me here?” he asked.

“No, I don’t want you here.”

Ow. Well, no one could say that Izzy wasn’t direct.

“Izzy, you don’t have to worry. I have no plans to . . . prolong our relationship any further.”

Izzy looked at him. “What are you talking about?”

“I don’t want you to worry that I only followed you in the hopes of getting you into my bed again.”

“You don’t have a bed. Uther says you only have a bedroll.”

“I mean my proverbial bed.”

“Oh.” She stared at him a moment longer, then asked, “What does us f**king have to do with anything?”

“Isn’t that why you don’t want me here?”

“No.”

Éibhear took a moment to rub his eyes and breathe. When in battle, Izzy had the most amazing focus. But before and after battle . . . well, it couldn’t be helped. He had to work with what he had.

“Then what does it matter if I’m here or not?”

“I have no idea.”

Éibhear began to work on his temples with the tips of his fingers because that’s where his headache was settling. “And yet you don’t want me here?”

“Right.”

“Because . . . ?”

“Because Rhydderch Hael wants you here.”

Éibhear lowered his hands. “Rhydderch Hael? You haven’t mentioned him in ages.”

“We stopped speaking after the birth of the twins. But he showed up again right after you arrived to fetch me back to Garbhán Isle. Then I saw him again just before the first Sand dragon attacked me at the salt mines. He’s used me to get you where he needs you, and that just pisses me off.”

“Me? What does he want with me? You’re the one with the blood debt to him.”

“I know, but apparently he doesn’t want to waste my talents.” She smirked. “Seems you’re not as talented as I am because he’s throwing you right into the pit. I just wish I knew what that pit was.”

Éibhear shrugged. “Guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

“You don’t seem worried.”

“Should I be?”

“When a god makes you take a blood oath to him while he’s wearing your mother’s body like a suit of armor, I’d have to say this is a god you should be worried about.”

“You do have a point.”

“You should head back.”

“Are you coming?”

“You know I can’t. I have to see that Nolwenn bitch.”

“Then I guess I won’t be going back.”

“Éibhear—”

“We’re not arguing about it, Izzy, so you might as well let it go.”

“But if something happens to you now, it’ll be my fault.”

“What makes you think that?”

She started to say something but stopped herself, shook her head. “No reason.”

“You’re a bad liar. Keita would have sold that to me much better.” He studied her a moment. “Perhaps you should tell me what the god said to you, Izzy.”

“I’d prefer not to.”

“I’m sure you would, but we both know I can wear you down. So why delay the inevitable?”

“I don’t see why it—”

“Just tell me!”

She scratched her nose and muttered, “He seems to believe you’ll follow me wherever I go.”

“No,” Éibhear immediately replied.

“Exactly. I told him he was—”

“Not everywhere.”

“Wait. What?”

“I wouldn’t follow you everywhere. Unless you needed me to. Do you need me to?”

“I don’t need you to—” She bit her bottom lip, closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she said, “I don’t need you to follow me anywhere. And I don’t like gods using our kin to get what they want.”