“And I offer you my nose!” Ware chimed in as he lifted his schnoz. “We will find those rodents and dispose of them forthwith!”
“I had hoped you would remain here and protect Rose,” Will admitted.
Vargas scoffed. “As though there is any need for more than just me.” She made a point to flicker her eyes to Enna who sauntered into the foyer behind us picking her teeth.
“I’m going to earn my pay whether you’re here or there,” Enna warned her as she leaned her shoulder against the dining room entrance door frame. “So you may as well go with them.”
Vargas turned her nose up at her competition. “I will remain. You do not know our foe like I do.”
I hope she doesn’t learn I thought to myself.
“Regardless of the tasks, we will return before sunset,” Will promised us as he turned and grasped my hands. “Stay inside.”
I nodded. “Only too gladly, and I’ll make sure the window stays shut this time.”
He pecked a kiss on my forehead and reluctantly released me. I was equally reluctant to let him go as the other two and Will left. We three women followed them outside where the men turned to us. My eyes widened as wings sprouted from all their backs. Gray for Ware, brown for the good doctor, and my Will’s beautiful red. He gave me an encouraging smile before he leaped into the air. The other two followed him.
Vargas took a couple of steps onto the driveway with her eyes glued to the sky and one gray-winged dragon in particular. “You be careful, you old fool!” Vargas shouted. Ware lifted his arm and waved before they disappeared over the tops of the trees.
A small laugh came from behind us, and Vargas and I turned to find Enna now leaning against the frame of the front door. Her bemused gaze lay on the dragon. “I’ve never seen a dragon that smitten with another one. I thought you guys were supposed to look for mortals?”
Vargas lifted her nose. “I have no doubt you have seen very little of the world, what with your short lifespan.”
Enna didn’t look the least bit riled as she nodded at me. “Careful with those words. You’re insulting the lady of the house, too.”
The corners of Vargas’ lips tightened. She balled her hands into fists and marched past Enna and disappeared into the house. I remembered my promise to Will and only too gladly followed Vargas inside. Enna stepped in and shut the door behind us.
Vargas marched up the stairs and into her bedroom where she slammed the door. The echo hadn’t died down yet when I turned to Enna. “So. . .what now?”
She shrugged. “Now you don’t try to run away like last time and we get through this without any fuss.” I folded my arms over my chest and swept my eyes over the room. Enna frowned at me. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to figure out what I can do while waiting for Will to get back,” I mused as I sauntered around the foyer.
She walked over to a chair set against the wall near the door and took a seat. “Sitting still is a good idea.”
“It’s not easy doing that when someone out there you love is doing work that might be dangerous,” I countered as I stopped beside one of the beautiful tapestries that graced the wall. It showed a hunting scene where dragons preyed on wild boar. I paused and turned my head toward Enna. “Aren’t you worried about those two guys who are with you?”
She scoffed. “Blake and Saber? Those two can take care of themselves.”
I frowned. “But one of those things that’s after me was seen near that girl. They might be in trouble if they keep tracking her.”
Enna’s eyebrows crashed down and she leaned forward with her arms draped over the front of the chair arms. “What’s that about the girl being tracked?”
I shook my head. “I’m not sure if she was being tracked but one of the things that attacked me came up to her after we found her.” I folded my arms over my chest and stared hard at the floor. “Or maybe it was after me and she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Which is it?” Enna questioned me.
My shoulders slumped and I bit my lower lip. “I think if I knew the answer to that question I’d know who was controlling those things.”
“What makes you think they’re not working on their own?” she wondered as she slumped in her chair. “Maybe they just don’t like you.”
I snorted and rocked to and fro on the balls of my feet. “Well, if they’re who we think they are then no, they wouldn’t like us.”
Enna’s eyes brightened and she sat up. “What do you mean by that? Do you know what they are or not?”
I tamped down a mischievous smile as I strolled around the room. “Yes and no. Will and I blasted that thing into a million little pieces but it looks like some of those pieces decided to come back together and get its revenge.”
“What exactly did you almost destroy?” she persisted as she followed me with her eyes.