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Annwyl looked again at the wounds Last night they had just been areas of burned skin She assumed that once she healed, scarred flesh would reon brand on each of her forearons clearly defined Easily seen Each dragon different from the other, both wrapped around her forearms Otherwise the flesh on her arms remained healthy and clear

"He really branded you," Morfyd added

"What does that mean?"

"I’ve just never seen one sodark before Except my mother’s These lines are coal black"

"He said it would be clear that on Your brother was not joking" Annwyl blinked as she reht She lifted the fur covering over her legs and sighed "Oh, honestly!"

Morfyd peeked over the fur covering and snorted out a laugh at the sight of Annwyl’s thighs Dragons, larger than the ones on her forearms, clearly branded on her flesh "He’s hed

"Well, I’ll not wear a chain I’ll leave that to the queen"

Morfyd leaned back, her s what a beautiful woman she was even with the scar "If you like I could have soauntletsunsafe"

Annwyl shook her head "No What are a few more scars, brands, burns? Besides, I’ll not hide my loyalty to your brother from any man" She stood and headed toward the tub "And if one of theon’s whore, I’ll take his head" She stopped and motioned to the tub "Now, can you do that trick with the water?"

Chapter 20

Brastias searched the castle for her She kept disappearing on the place, she would simply find another

One year had passed since Annwyl took her brother’s head and his place as leader of Garbhán Isle and Dark Plains For six months she squashed rebellions as quickly as they rose She also created alliances with other nearby kingdoms that hadn’t been in place for almost a century

But once the battles stopped and Annwyl’s kingdoly unhappy It didn’t take hi to realize that she was a wartiround That was all she knew

But Brastias also knew that if Fearghus had been by her side, she’d be on never came for her And she never returned to Dark Glen to find him

Morfyd, however, stayed by her side as counsel With ale trapped inside that beautiful body, she helped Annith the decisions involving peace and politics Brastias did what he could, but it was Morfyd who kept Annwyl froon, that one

He’d just passed an unused bedroom when he heard a sound froe

Brastias walked back and pushed open the heavy oak door He found her reading by a , a lone candle the only illumination in the room

"Annwyl?"

"What now?" Her snappish tone increased as the months passed

"We need you in theyou tributes"