Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Chapter 18
“Could we have the mates over here?” Brooks asked a few weeks later as he and Rogan ate breakfast together. Without any attacks or strange things happening, the dragons hadn’t had a reason to gather. That was good, but Brooks was getting bored staying home.
“Would you like to meet everyone for pizza?”
“I haven’t had pizza in forever,” Brooks sighed. A thought popped into his mind, and he sat up straight. “I wonder if Angelino’s is open.”
“It is. We’ve met there before. Want me to organize a meal there?”
“Yes. Can we go today?”
“Let me see if Angelino can feed us today. He might need supplies,” Rogan cautioned.
“Let’s go talk to him,” Brooks suggested.
“We’ve got a few hours until he’s at the restaurant. Let me check with the others and see what’s possible. Finish your breakfast, Brooks.”
“I’d rather fill up on pizza at lunch.”
“Finish your cereal, Brooks. You don’t want your bottom to be as red as the tomato sauce on that pizza.”
“Yes, Daddy.” Brooks quickly finished his cornflakes and lifted the bowl to drain the milk. “Are we going to go visit the others to talk to them?”
“I’ve already sent a message to the horde. We’ll hear back soon.”
“Okay. Can I go play outside?” Brooks asked.
Rogan hesitated, and Brooks knew what he was thinking about. After attackers had taken Skye from the lawn of Oldrik and Ardon’s mountain, Rogan made sure that either himself or an armed member of his staff supervised his activities. Rogan tried to be subtle about guarding him, but they both knew.
“I want to run down to the barn. There are loads of people milling in that area. I’ve heard there are newborn kittens there.”
“No kittens in the house. One will run by my face in the middle of the night and that will be the end of the fuzzy butt,” Rogan decreed.
“What? You’d snap and eat him?”
“I might.”
“You would not. You don’t forget I’m sleeping with you and eat me,” Brooks corrected him.
“Sure I do. And we both enjoy it,” Rogan teased.
Brooks glanced around to see if anyone listened to their conversation. Thankfully, they were alone. He whispered, “We do enjoy it,” before adding, “Come on, Rogan. I’ll be fine.”
“Send me a message when you get there and when you’re on your way back,” Rogan directed.
With a cheeky salute, Brooks agreed, “Yes, sir!” He jumped up and ran out before Rogan could reconsider.
The fresh air and sunshine felt good on his skin. Brooks jogged to the barn, calling greetings to each person he met along the way. At the door, he remembered to contact Rogan. I’m here. All is well.
Thank you, Adventurer.
He turned in a slow circle, searching for the kittens. The momma cat strolled out from between two hay bales to wrap around his legs. “Hi. May I visit your kittens?” he asked as he leaned down to pet her silky fur.
A few seconds later, a small face peeked out at him. Brooks sat down on the floor and held out his hand, but the kitten disappeared. The momma cat sprawled out next to him and rolled, silently asking for belly rubs. Of course, he lavished them on her as he kept an eye out for the kittens.
Brooks could hear them scurrying behind the hay bales. Scanning the stacks, he saw an orange face peering at him from around a corner. There must be a couple of entrances. With another pat to the cat, he stood and walked around the stack. In a niche missing several bales, the kittens played.
Grinning, he enjoyed their antics for a few minutes to make sure he’d counted all of them. Fluffy and different colors, the small creatures enchanted Brooks. He’d never had a pet as a child. Later when he traveled around, it hadn’t seemed fair to a dog to drag it from one place to another. Now, it appeared that he was staying here for a while. Maybe….
Settling down on the ground once again, Brooks held out a hand, wiggling his fingers to attract the kittens. The orange kitten pounced on him immediately. The others came forward more slowly after they’d decided he was safe. By that time, Marmalade already had a name and had curled up on Brooks’s lap to snooze.
I think I have a cat now, Brooks sent to Rogan. The image of dragon jaws snapping the kitten projected to him in return made Brooks laugh. Rogan wouldn’t munch on Marmalade.
He wondered when the kittens would be old enough to be separated from their mother. Someone had to know more than he did. He’d ask a few people working on the estate. Brooks scooped up the friendly kitten and placed him in the pile of now dozing siblings. He’d come back to visit each day until it was safe to take him into the mansion to make sure Marmalade didn’t forget him.