Dragon's Moon by Lucy Monroe Read Free Book Online

matriarchy.”
    â€œIt does not matter; the Sinclair recognizes Scotland’s king. To be royalty among the Faol can have no meaning.”
    After seeing what the royal family of the Éan did for their people, Lais wasn’t sure he agreed. Besides, Scotland’s king had less sway in the Highlands than with the Lowland clans. “Laird Sinclair only submits to King David when he wants to.”
    â€œHe is a Highland laird and Chrechte as well.” Ciara gave Lais an almost-there smile. “How could it be any other way?”
    He chuckled. “It could not.”
    â€œAnd your prince? Does he intend to submit to Laird Talorc?” There was very real worry tingeing her tone now.
    â€œAs clan leader, yes.”
    â€œAs pack leader?”
    â€œOnly wolves belong to packs. Birds are flocks and ours knows no clan boundaries.”
    â€œThat won’t be easy.”
    â€œEirik is aware.” Anya-Gra had not let the prince forget it, voicing her concerns right up until the Éan left the forest, each of three groups taking a different direction.
    â€œWhy don’t you call him prince?”
    â€œBecause I am his friend.”
    Ciara recoiled.
    Lais sighed. “Eirik is no murderer.”
    â€œThat is your opinion.”
    â€œIt is yours as well, when you are thinking clearly.”
    â€œThank you for telling me my innermost thoughts.”
    â€œI understand wanting to believe those you hold dear are good people…and having to accept when you realize they were not.”
    â€œMy brother
was
a good person. He was deceived.”
    â€œDo you enjoy your life among the Sinclairs?” he asked, refusing to continue such an argument.
    She might well be right. He knew what it was to be deceived. Would her brother have shifted his thinking if exposed to the truth? There was no answer to that quandary in the violence of the past.
    â€œLaird Talorc and Abigail have been very kind to me.”
    â€œYou live with the laird?” Lais asked with surprise and humor he made no attempt to mask.
    Eirik had agreed to make his home in the keep until the Éan were settled amidst the clan.
    â€œI have a room next to their children.”
    That was an interesting way of putting it. She could have said that she was part of the family, or treated like family, but she avoided doing so.
    It probably made Lais a bad friend, but he could not help looking forward to the times to come with Eirik and Ciara under the same roof.
    There was something there. Lais had never seen Eirik shift so fast and not once into a dragon in front of his people.
    Eirik kept the dragon private and Lais thought he was probably the only Éan who understood why.
    Everyone else speculated it had something to do with the power or pride of the dragon, but Lais knew Eirik feared his dragon as much as he embraced it. To burn another Chrechte to ash was not an easy event to carry on one’s conscience.
    â€œEirik killed your brother in protection of the young of our race, but he saved your life this night. Will you let that go unremarked in your bitterness?”
    Ciara jerked so hard she almost fell off her horse but shook her head. “No. I would tell him of my appreciation.” A moment of silence passed. “I am not bitter.”
    â€œGood.” He thought about what he had to say next. “You can show your genuine appreciation and continue to maintain the secret of Eirik’s dragon.”
    â€œLaird Talorc does not know he is a dragon?” Ciara asked, anxiety coloring her voice and making her heart quicken.
    â€œAye, he does, but others do not. It is a closely guarded secret.”
    â€œBecause of Faol like Wirp and Luag.”
    â€œAye.”
    â€œPerhaps news of such a being would frighten them off.”
    â€œOr make Eirik the greatest target to them all.”
    â€œI will not betray his secret.”
    â€œThank you.”
    She was silent as they entered the lower