He’d been so wrong. She came home, of course, for leave, but always with her eye on getting back out there. Back to the muck and the mire and the blood and the danger and the harsh world of being a soldier in an active army. There were those who felt Izzy had only gotten her rank because of her family connection to Annwyl the Bloody. As fast as Izzy moved up those ranks, this attitude wasn’t exactly shocking. But the troops quickly learned that Izzy wasn’t just some daft royal who thought it would be fun to play with true warriors.

And those who pushed her, those who really didn’t want her as part of their army, soon learned she was not a girl—now a woman—to be pushed.

Briec never asked her for specifics of what her life in the military was like. He honestly didn’t want to know. But as long as she came home with her usual smile and happy attitude, he didn’t really worry about it.

Of course, if someone had hurt her, if someone had crossed those lines that Annwyl the Bloody insisted her troops respect, Briec wouldn’t have stopped until he’d caught the bastard and had him on a spit for the entire Cadwaladr Clan to feast upon . . . as was their way.

But Izzy had never needed his protection. Over time, she’d even earned respect from the most bigoted and hardened human soldiers who thought royals shouldn’t do anything but get out of their way.

Now she had control of three legions and was the right-hand woman of the queen and the queen’s second in command, Brastias.

Once the stump was pulled out of the ground, she ordered it to be taken off and broken into kindling.

Hands on her hips, she looked around the growing camp and tried to figure out what issue would next need to be tackled. That’s when she saw him.

Briec loved how her face lit up, her smile wide.

“Daddy!”

She ran to him, jumped up, threw her arms around his neck, and hugged him tight.

It was true. Izzy was not blood; her father had been her mother’s first love. But she was still Briec’s first daughter, as far as he was concerned.

“You’re here!” she said when he’d placed her back on the ground.

“We’re here.”

She suddenly took his hand and pulled him toward the general’s tent. Once inside, she faced him. “Where’s Fearghus?”

“With the twins. They said they need to talk to him alone. But why is that?”

An answer came from a dark corner. “The mad queen is missing.”

Father and daughter turned and watched the ancient Cadwaladr witch limp out of the shadows.

“Where did you come from?” Izzy demanded.

“Don’t whine so.”

“I wasn’t whining, Brigida. What do you want?”

“I’m here to help.” She made an expression that some might consider a smile but both Briec and Izzy stepped back from her.

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know why I bother with you idiots.”