Page 95 of Love's a Witch
On it lay an entire platter of cheese.
Blue poked his head out, struggling to get out of my coat, but I held him tightly.
Snacks.
“Yes, I know there are snacks. But it is rude to go eat it all. So you are going to wait and be polite and eat the cheese slowly. Understood?”
But, why?
“Why do you have to wait to eat the cheese? Because you’ll get a sore stomach otherwise.”
Never. Dragons don’t get upset stomachs.
“I do believe you were a wee bit windy the other day,” I murmured in his ear, reminding him of his gas that had almost blown me off the couch.
I’m certain that I can’t recall.
Blue turned his nose in the air, and I laughed as I unzipped my coat. When he spread his wings and took flight around the room, Dorothy crowed in delight.
“Oh, would you just look at him? He’s incredible.” Dorothy’s eyes shone brightly as Blue circled, adding a few dips and dives for her.
“Show-off,” I murmured.
I am a majestic beast, Sloane.
I grinned as he buzzed past me and then hunkered down on the floor. Sliding me a glance, he reached a paw out and knocked a piece of cheese off the table.
Oops.
“Blue,” I warned.
Another brick of cheese went flying.
“Oh, cheeky monkey.” I shook my head at him, and he looked up, a mischievous expression on his face.
“Please, go on, sit.” Dorothy dropped into a chair, indicating I do so as well, her gaze fixated on Blue. “He’s really just so incredible, isn’t he? Just look at those wings. They blend perfectly with his coat, but his face is just the cutest.”
“It really is.” Blue snuffled the ground, searching for his cheese, and I eased back into the chair. “Thanks for having us over.”
“Oh, it’s my pleasure. It’s not every day I get to spend with a keeper’s daughter.”
“So you know about us, then? My dad? How is that possible?”
“I’m a historian for the dragons.” Dorothy beamed at me when my mouth dropped open. “I’m granted certain privileges others aren’t.And even then, I still have to beg and plead my way into having an audience with them. Even if it is to record their own history. Your father has the great honor of keeping them tethered to this world.”
“?‘Tethered’?” I raised an eyebrow at the word.
“Aye, lass. Without him, they’d float right through the veil to another realm. But they like it here and want to stay. Which requires someone affixed to this world. Your father, in this case. It’s why he can’t leave Briarhaven.”
“Surely they have a backup? What if he, I don’t know, slips on a rock and hits his head and dies? Would they just disappear?”
“Not instantaneously, no.” Dorothy pressed her lips together. “But eventually, yes. If they couldn’t find another who understood the role. And the heavy responsibilities of it. He’s a good man, your father. He’s given up a lot to keep the dragons here. I admire him.”
“Aye, he gave up his daughters.” I couldn’t help that my words were bitter at my throat.
“Did he, though? Or were they taken?” Dorothy’s tone held no censure, just curiosity.
I shrugged, uncertain how to respond, when a huge crashing sound exploded from outside. Metal crushed, sharp and cracking, and the sound of glass shattering shot me to my feet.
