Page 45 of Sprite Wedding
Running my fingers up Lucas’s scales as high as I could reach calmed me. I had to keep it together for him.
“Lucas, can you hear me?”
LUCAS
I tried to answer Zoe.Yes, I can hear you.
No words came out of my stone mouth. Frustration boiled inside, and I yearned to scream. It was impossible. My mouth was locked shut as if stapled together. My lips couldn’t move. My limbs couldn’t move. Nothing could move.
I can see you. I’m here. Alive. Trapped!
No response from her. She couldn’t hear me.
Gianna and Sebastian rushed into the backyard.
“What happened?” Gianna asked.
“We came as fast as we could,” Sebastian added.
When they saw me as a stone dragon, Gianna gasped and covered her mouth. Sebastian swore.
He turned to Diego and snapped, “How could you let this happen?”
Diego stepped back and covered his chest. “What the hell could I have done? Escorted him outside like a babysitter while the sun was still out? Then he’d be looking for a new roommate to replace the one who’d turned to ashes in the back yard.”
Sebastian recoiled, flustered. “You could have found out what was going on before he went out.”
“You don’t think I tried, furball? He ran out. And why are you giving me a hard time about this? Were you here? No. You don’t know what happened.”
“You said you were arguing before he ran out to the back yard and this happened.”
“Talking, not arguing.” Diego shook his head. “Get your head out of your furry ass.”
“Why are you accusing him?” Nova asked.
“Sebastian,” Gianna added in an ease-up voice.
Great, this is all I needed. My friends arguing about the situation and blaming each other.
Zoe said, “Diego had nothing to do with it. We wouldn’t have even known what had happened unless he told us.”
There was my level-headed mate bringing some common sense to the situation. I wanted to thank her, but all I could do was stare.
“You’re right. I shouldn’t snap at you. I’m just—” He cocked his head and stared at me with wide eyes. “I can’t believe this.” He walked closer and touched a wing. “Lucas, are you in there, buddy?”
Yes!Still no words came out.
“Tell me what happened,” Sebastian said.
“I told you already,” Diego replied in an exasperated tone. “That’s all I know. He said he was going to deal with something out here, but what?” He threw his hands up. “There’s nothing out here but his garden!”
“Let’s look through it, see if we notice anything off,” Zoe said.
Great stars in the sky, I loved this woman. She got right to business to try to fix the issue. If I stood any chance of breaking out of this stone cage, it would be because of her, my resourceful mate.
They each started in the corner of the yard and used actual flashlights or the one on their phones as they worked their way in. They had the decency not to trample my plants or flowers, though, which I appreciated.
When they didn’t find anything, Gianna asked, “What else can we do?”
