Page 73 of A Fate of Blood and Magic
Despite myself, I laughed.
“Feel free to lay it on thick and make him squirm,” he continued as he walked away.
“You and Everly are spending too much time with Donnie and Ryenne,” I told his departing back. “You’re starting to talk like them.”
At the broken door, he looked over his shoulder. “I’ll make sure to tell Nate you neglected to add him as part of our group.”
“Ugh.” I grabbed a small cushion that had fallen to the floor and threw it at his back.
With a smirk, he caught it before tossing it back to me.
“I can’t stand you,” I shouted as he stepped outside.
He laughed.
Kieren shook his head in amusement from his position on the couch. I couldn’t help but wonder what he thought of us, especially of Elias, now that he knew us all better.
When George returned, Pietro followed, lingering just outside as if he were waiting for an invitation I didn’t want to extend.
“I’m sorry to ask this of you,” I told the guard. “I know we’ve had you running around all over town, but I’d like for Leah to come. Or another healer if she’s busy, but I’d prefer if it were Leah.”
“Are you unwell?” Worry deepened the lines around his mouth while his light brown eyes flared.
“I’d like her to see both Kieren andme.”
“Our healers are busy tending to the fae who were just returned to us from your realm,” he said, his tone heavy with disapproval. “If you’ll allow me to take you to the castle, I’m sure she could see you, but the young male . . .”
“Please bring her back here to see both Kieren and me,” I bit out.
Pietro narrowed his eyes at me before he nodded. “It would be good for her to check on your unborn babes at this time.” With that, he bent space in search of Leah.
“Asshole,” I muttered.
A thunderous roar came from overhead. Immediately, my heart stalled as I fought against the hope that clambered its way through my chest. I ran outside, down the front porch steps, and stared at the sky. Hoping the roar was in fact as familiar as I thought it was.
My heart thundered, carrying me to the center of our front yard with George and Kieren only a few steps behind. I cast a hand over my forehead to shield my eyes from the blaring sun as I searched.
Small snowflakes landed on my face, and I had to blink several times to see properly. That deafening roar came again, and the quiet blue sky was suddenly drenched in flames.
And there she was. The stunning green dragon I’d thought of every day since she’d left. The one whose portrait hung on the wall of our dining room.
Powerful wings fanned out as she tilted her massive body to the side to circle above us.
“Nalari,”I called out, unsure if she’d still have her end of our connection closed.
“Why is it I can’t leave you and Elias alone without you getting into trouble?”
I smiled up at the soaring dragon, watching her large wings beat as she flew toward us.
“His foolishness must be rubbing off on me,”I answered.
“It’s a good thing I’m back to rid you of that nonsense,”she said through another roar.
.
Chapter
Thirteen
