Page 82 of To Ignite a Dragon's Desire

“I’m starving!” Harper climbed onto the chair. “Can we eat now?”

I hugged Willow hard as I looked at the stack of pancakes in the middle of the table. It was tall enough to feed an army. Empty plates set for six sat waiting.

By the way Harper dug into the food, I could tell they’d been waiting a while.

I pulled back and looked Willow in the eyes. “Where’s Ember?”

“I thought she’d be here for breakfast, but maybe there was a miscommunication somewhere.” Willow shrugged, pretending it didn’t bother her.

I knew her better than that.

“Ugh. Ihatethose.” I pulled out a chair. “And they always seem to happen at the dumbest times. Like why as grown adults can’t we talk to each other before causing unnecessary drama? I should go find her.”

“They probably got caught up….” Willow looked at Harper and put quotation fingers in the air, “Studying.”

“Auntie Em and Kieran are always studying,” Harper explained. “Like all the time. They do it everywhere too. In the kitchen and at the table and in the living room.”

“Geez, what are you showing this kid?” I laughed at Willow’s mortified expression.

The sound of heavy boots on the front porch had my heart skipping a beat. Lucan stayed back to change into human skin and clothes, then insisted on carrying our luggage over.

Dobby had remained at home. He’d be all right for a few days and preferred not to travel anyway.

Plus, he was our excuse to leave early.

“Kieran and Ember can have fun studying without us.” I winked at Harper as I piled breakfast onto plates for both me and Lucan. “We get to eat their pancakes.”

∞

“Did Ember and Kieran ever come up with an explanation for these tattoos?” I looped my arm through Willow’s as we walked side by side through the cave.

Lucan led the way through the darkness, carrying a torch that smelled of sulfur and burned brighter than a flashlight. I liked the view from back here.

Harper kept pace beside him, swinging a basket of baked goods from her arm that Miss Agatha sent us down here with.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was a little spooky.

But I was sleeping with a dragon, so I wasn’t too afraid of things that went bump in the dark.

“They’re still not sure yet. We’re supposed to know more tonight.” Willow was tense. “Harper, careful please.”

The little girl started to skip ahead and tumbled over a rock.

“I’ve got her.” Lucan’s deep voice echoed down the cave tunnels as he scooped Harper off the ground. She belly laughed when he set her on his shoulders, walking in almost a squat so her head didn’t touch the ceiling of the cave.

“He’s good with kids,” Willow whispered, nudging me with her hip.

I couldn’t help but smile.

Before now, I wasn’t sure if I wanted kids. With Lucan, it was something to think about. I knew my biological clock was ticking. But my mom had me at thirty-seven despite being a ‘geriatric pregnancy’ so I knew I still had time to decide.

“I think I need a year or two more to… study,” I teased Willow as the cave opened up.

Lucan set Harper on her feet.

She reached out and held to his hand.

The two of them walked along in front of us.

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