Page 44 of To Hunt a Ruby Remedy

Scarlette’s smile grew impossibly wider. “It is rather sexy.” She laughed at my expression. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t actually thinking that long. I’ll cut it for you when we get back to the cottage.”

We rounded the bend and my twin saw me. She bent in half, laughing uncontrollably.

I walked around her, pulling Scarlette with me.

The next day I transformed into a dragon, scattering emerald scales across the clearing as I did. I still wasn’t sure what Rosalia’s explanations meant about how to adapt the shift, but I knew that I needed to shed those scales to get rid of Gideon, and I needed to get rid of Gideon to keep Scarlette safe, and that was enough.

My fear of messing up the transformation couldn’t compete against the fear of anything happening to her.

When I transformed back into a human afterward, my hair was the same length Scarlette had trimmed it to the night before—a little longer than I was used to, but not too much.

Rosalia and I collected the scales and carried them back to the cottage.

“We need to contact the hunter.” I told Grandmother and Scarlette as I let my armful of scales spill onto the table.

Rosalia added the ones she had carried.

“You did it!” Scarlette threw her arms around my neck.

I pulled her closer. For Scarlette, I’d do anything.

“I’ll go to Ortfel,” Grandmother announced. “If you fly me up, he might come to investigate or to watch for your return. I’ll spread the word among the villagers to tell him you want to make a deal. We’ll use the summons crystal if he agrees to meet.”

“I’ll do the same in Wulfkin,” Rosalia offered. “I know they banned him from the village, but if he is sniffing around down there, maybe we can pass on the message, anyway.”

Scarlette and I enjoyed two days alone in the cottage.

“I love my family,” I murmured, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her back against my chest, “but having the house to ourselves is nice.”

She tilted her head to smile at me. “If you want this pie, you have to let me finish preparing the dough.”

I nipped her ear. “I’d rather have you.”

She wriggled, turning to face me. Flour dusted hands landed on my shoulders.

Bang! Bang!

We jumped, spinning to face the front door.

“Dragon! You wanted to talk? Let’s talk.”

“He was supposed to go to one of the villages,” I grumbled, stepping away from Scarlette. “Stay here. I’ll talk to him outside.”

She shook her head. “I’m not letting you deal with him alone.”

“Dragon!” Gideon’s voice echoed through the cottage.

“He wants a dragon, not a man,” I pointed out to Scarlette. I crossed the room to the door. “I’ll be safe enough, but he’s already proven willing to use you to get at me.”

She huffed and crossed her arms. “Be careful,” she ordered.

I nodded and opened the door. The huntsman stood right there, his fist raised to pound on the door once more. I glared until he lowered his hand, then walked outside, pushing him aside without so much as laying a hand on him. The mighty hunter couldn’t stand his ground.

He covered his retreat with bluster. “I was told you wanted to talk.”

“If you heard that, then you know I have an offer for you.”

“I’m listening.”

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