Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I’m on my feet and in front of the window in a blink, opening the latch with laughter bubbling from my lips. From somewhere behind me Aruan is calling my name, but I’m too ecstatic to acknowledge anything but the fact that Betty is here, safe and sound.
I make a beeline for the predator, who lowers her long neck to put her head at my eye level.
“Good girl,” I say, scratching her chin.
“Elsie,” Aruan says, this time with more warning than caution.
I turn around to face him like a giddy child, unable to squash my happiness and excitement.
“It’s back,” I cry out. “My power is back. Betty is safe.”
He holds out a hand, his arm stretched out toward me with the palm facing up. “Come to me, Elsie. Now.”
Understanding dawns. He thinks I’m going to fly off again.
He continues grimly. “Step away from that dragon—”
I narrow my eyes. “Do not say ‘or,’ Aruan, not if you want whatever we’re trying to do here to work. I won’t allow you to threaten Betty or give me ultimatums.”
A muscle ticks in his temple. “You’re testing my patience, mate.”
“I can’t live with you if you threaten the animals I love.”
“You neglected to mention that detail of your terms when you negotiated the safety of your friends on the island. You should’ve thought about making a list of your requirements before you offered me a deal.”
My joy turns to anger. “Don’t be like that.”
“Like what?” He drops his arm and comes closer. “Honest? You obviously care more for the dragons than for your own mate.”
“Are you jealous of Betty?”
The floor starts shaking, huge cracks that have nothing to do with Betty’s weight running up the walls.
“I just got you back, and I’m not losing you again,” he bites out.
“I’m not going anywhere.” To prove the point, I take a step toward him. “I just wanted to say hello to her. That’s all. Calm down, Aruan. Please.”
It takes a moment before the earthquake he brought on with his power passes, but it doesn’t completely stop until I place my hand in his. His grip around my fingers is almost painful.
I glance over my shoulder at Betty.
Catch you later, girl.
She takes off into the air with a screech, once more quaking the rock face of the palace.
“Come to the table,” Aruan says, pulling my attention back to him. “You have to eat.”
My hunger is all but forgotten. Giving my power a last test-drive, just to be sure, I reach out in my thoughts to Pip, the cute little anurognathus.
Aruan seats me at the table and pours water in my glass. Not a moment later, Pip plunges through the air and darts into the room through the open window. I squeal in delight when he perches on the edge of the table next to my place setting, eyeing the food on my plate with greedy little beady eyes.
“You did it,” Aruan says. “You summoned that pixie dragon.”
I meet his gaze, expecting an accusation there but only finding relief and pride.
“It seems the head injury only temporarily impaired your ability to use your power.”
I’m more relieved about that than disappointed that my plan to return to Earth failed. And that makes me a selfish jerk because what I should be doing is thinking about my parents. I mean, I am. I’m worried sick about them. Of course I still want to see them. I haven’t lost sight of that goal. The thought sobers me, putting a damper on my excitement, and as if reading my mood, Aruan turns broody.
We finish our meal in silence with me feeding bits and pieces of my food to Pip, who gobbles everything up before licking his paws and cleaning his whiskers like a cat. I dare to stroke his head and get away with petting him with all my fingers intact.
Once I’ve satisfied my hunger and thirst, I assure Aruan that I can’t take another bite, and then we walk to the quarters in the west wing of the palace.
Aruan stops at the end of a long hallway. The stones sealing an archway vanish to reveal a room that resembles Aruan’s, only bigger. Instead of one big sunken bed, several daybeds are lined up against the wall. Stone benches with padded cushions run along the other walls. An arched window with pink glass panes looks out over fields. The haphazard roofs of a village are visible on top of a hill in the distance.
Sandy and the rest of the women sit huddled together on the benches. They jump to their feet when Aruan and I enter the room.
Shooting an apprehensive glance at Aruan, Sandy rushes to me. “We were worried about you. Is everything all right?”
“I’m good. How’s everyone doing here?” I frown. “Where’s Karl?”
“Next door. He has his own room.” Her gaze darts to Aruan, who’s observing us with his arms crossed over his broad chest. “Can he understand us?”