Page 40 of Rejected By Dragons

"Not that you're going to need it," Amy interrupts. To her mom, she announces, "Great news--Ember's decided to stick around for at least another month."

Rhiannon's brows rise along with her voice. "Has she now?"

I clear my throat. Yesterday, it felt like Rhiannon was peering into my soul. I was so exhausted, I wondered if I was imagining it, but today, there's no mistaking the intensity in her gaze. "I'd like to, in any case. Assuming I can find a place to stay. And probably some work."

"You're staying right here, silly." Amy says it so matter-of-factly, like she doesn't understand why I would even think of going anywhere else.

"Oh, no--I couldn't--"

"Stop." Amy holds up her hand. "I won't hear any arguments. We have the space, and you need a soft place to land after everything you've been through." She glances at her mother. "Isn't that right, Mom?"

Gently, Rhiannon says, "I think it's up to Ember to decide where she would like to stay." A soft, impossibly fond smile curls her lips as she regards her daughter and her over-the-top enthusiasm. It only fades slightly when she addresses me again. "But you are welcome, if you do decide to take Amy up on her generous offer."

I hesitate. I really don't want to impose on these kind people. Amy and I are apparently best friends now, but I've been burned too many times to just magically assume everything will be one hundred percent great.

That said, she's right--I have been through a lot. My savings won't last long if I end up putting them all toward rent or a security deposit. Plus, I have no idea how long I'll decide to stay. Until the next Emergence is a no-brainer, but beyond that, who knows?

I bite my lip before releasing it. I glance between the two women. "If you're sure it wouldn't be too much of an imposition--"

"Great." Amy clasps her hands in front of her chest. "I'm so happy that's settled. And as for a job--Mom, haven't you been saying you need to hire an assistant now for ages?"

Wrinkles appear between Rhiannon's brows. "I have..."

"I used to help out a bunch around here," Amy explains, "but I got this cool job as a virtual assistant for a wizard in the Fire Kingdom, and Freya hired me to do event planning for the town, and I've just been so busy, with all of my--" she gestures vaguely toward her potion-making supplies "--experiments. Mom said it was cool that I cut back my hours, but she really does need another person to help her run the place."

My heart leaps. This is really all much too good to be true. "I want to earn my keep. You could take rent out of my wages."

"You're our guest," Rhiannon says firmly. "But Amy isn't wrong. I do need another set of hands in the shop..."

"I have retail experience," I offer.

"Oh?" Rhiannon tips her head to the side. "This isn't a typical store. There would be a lot to learn."

There's a hint of skepticism in her tone. The weird masochistic part of me that was always standing up to bullies takes it as a challenge. "I'm not afraid of hard work."

"Just give her a shot," Amy urges her mom. "She'll do great."

Rhiannon eyes me up and down. I stand up straighter under her inspection, tilting my chin up and meeting her glinting, black gaze straight on.

"I suppose we can bring you on," she finally allows. "On a trial basis, of course."

I nod, relief flooding my chest. "And if it's not a good fit, I won't take it personally."

Amy squeals, clapping her hands and bouncing. She throws her arms around us both. "This is going to be so great! Just wait. I can already tell you're going to get on brilliantly."

Rhiannon smiles indulgently, but doesn't waste time extricating herself from Amy's hold. She pats Amy's arm. "Here's hoping."

Amy pulls her phone out of her pocket. "I have to tell Freya and Jett. They're going to love this." She starts typing away, still babbling about how amazing everything is going to be.

While she's distracted, Rhiannon catches my eye. Her smile slides away, replaced by a tentative sort of wariness. She clearly wants to trust me, but like me, she's not ready to jump into anything head-first. "You'll have to excuse my daughter. She can get a bit...carried away sometimes."

"I can see that." There's a warmth I can't hide from my tone. I've only known Amy for about eighteen hours, but her energy has already endeared her to me.

"People like you and me..." Rhiannon's voice lowers. Her gaze holds mine meaningfully. "We're not like that, though."

The warmth fades from my chest, replaced by a nervous energy. "No," I say slowly. "No, we're not."

It's strange, being regarded with such intense...neutrality. Almost everyone in Wynrath Crest sized me up immediately and found me wanting. Amy decided we were instant friends, and that's been great, but it's also so difficult for me to trust.

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