Page 1 of Storm Dragon
1
“Is that the gorgeous gurgling of the coffee pot in the Grand Hall kitchen I hear?” “Yep.”
“So you’re already there?”
“No, I have a recording of that big, old, silver monstrosity that makes the best coffee in the world to keep me company when I can’t get up and walk the half a city block to hear the real thing.”
“At six-fifty-two in the morning?”
“If the hand at the end of Mickey’s short arm is pointing between the six and the seven and his other is between the ten and eleven, then yes, my friend, it’s six-fifty-two in the morning.”
“Damn, girl, you’re early.” Luke’s deep, Southern drawl rumbled from the earpiece of her cellphone, filling the room with a warm familiarity that just almost took the edge off the creepy feeling that had been bearing down on her for the past month or so. It was as if someone was looking over her shoulder… Or lurking in the shadows… Or had her in the crosshairs with their finger on the trigger. It was frustrating and irritating and made worse by the fact that with all the Power, Magic, and Mysticism running through her veins, she still couldn’t figure out what the creepy feeling was, where it had come from, or why it wouldn’t go the hell away.
“Still havin’ trouble sleepin’?”
“No,” she snorted sarcastically, pulled back to reality by his question. “I just love watchin’ the sunrise and sittin’ here in the Grand Hall all by my lonesome.”
“Yeah, right. And I don’t shift into an eight-hundred-and-eighty-eight-pound Black Bear when the mood strikes, nor do I love tofu stir fry more than a rare twelve-ounce ribeye hot off the grill. See there? I can top your sarcasm, and I haven’t even had a whiff of coffee yet this morning.”
“Wooohoo, give that boy a cookie.”
Smiling as Luke ignored her snide comment and tried with all his might to finish, she kept quiet as he added, “You can try to push me away, but it won’t work. I’ve known you for…”
Although she was exhausted and her mind was pretty much mush, Tamsyn still knew what was coming next, and she honestly didn’t want to hear it-and that was when she ditched silence for more snark. “Yeah, well, things change.”
“Sure,” he snorted with laughter. “Things change, but you, Tamsyn Elizabeth Ryder, most assuredly do not.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, so you remind me on a daily basis.”
“It’s one of my many talents. Something I am especially…”
“Oh… There’s more?”
“That’s about enough outta you,” Luke teased. “You know that…”
“Yeah, I know you love me.”
“And I would…”
“And you would do anything for me.”
“Stop. Let me finish a sentence.”
Smiling despite how tired she was, Tamsyn chuckled under her breath when the big, old Black Bear huffed with exasperation before continuing, “Annnnnnd, no matter how long I know you, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to you always knowing what I’m gonna say even though you’ve been doing it since we were kids.” “Sorry.” She tried-and failed-not to snicker.
“No, you’re not,” Luke chuckled. “I can hear how hard you’re tryin’ not to laugh. You’re a brat, and that’s on a good day. But I wouldn’t want you any other way. I’ll even take your sassy attitude.”
“Thank the Great Goddess, I’m too old to change.”
“Hey! Hold up there, if you’re too…”
“Dude, face facts… We. Are. Old.”
“Speak for yourself,” he chuckled. “I’ve known you for…”
“Forever and three days,” she finished his sentence, trying hard not to growl. After all, she wasn’t upset with him. Hell, she could count on one hand without using her thumb how many times she’d been mad at Luke. He was her ride or die, her buddy, her big, black teddy bear, her rock.
No, it wasn’t Luke who had her knickers in a twist. Her bad mood and even worse attitude were a mystery not even she could solve. It was maddening. She really wasn’t upset with anybody, nor did she blame anyone else. She was just tired…
