Page 10 of Monsters In Her Head

Hesitant to cause another scene, like the last time I was there, I peered down at the fabrics with a longing in my chest before stepping back, turning to go. A female drake of cobalt scales waved her hand at me to stop. Her mouth moved, telling the other drakes to move on, before she gestured me forward.

Part of me didn’t want to offend her. It also drew another part of me to the glimmering fabrics. Chewing on my lower lip, I inched forward, my eyes flicking to the different shades on the counter. Emerald greens, blacks so dark that it sucked the light in around it, and a sparkling bronze.

The drake placed her hand on the bronze one and arched a brow. Her lips moved. “You like?”

Licking my lips, I nodded and smoothed my hand over the material. It caressed my fingers in a way I’d never felt before, and I couldn’t wait to feel it against my skin.

The female lifted the fabric and held it out to me with an eager smile.

I glanced at it and then back to her, shaking my head, gesturing at myself. I had nothing to pay for it. All of my money was back at the palace and besides, I didn’t think the drakes would take gold coins in payment. A quick glance at the other booths showed none of them were using coins to pay.

A hand on mine drew my attention back to the drake before me. She tapped the metal bracelet on my wrist. Something one of the other drakes had given me to wear. I frowned at her and then back at the bracelet. She tapped it again and then the fabric, flicking her finger between us as her lips formed one word.

Trade.

Blinking at her, I realized she wanted me to trade the bracelet for the fabric.

Nodding eagerly, I unclipped the bracelet and handed it over to her. Grinning brightly, the female drake handed me the fabric, her eyes focusing on the sparkling gems in the bracelet.

You should have asked for more.

I spun around, searching for the growling voice in my head only to find the drake king’s other brother, Desmond, standing behind me, carving an apple with a sharp claw. He popped a slice into his mouth and jerked his chin at the female drake, who frowned at the prince, brows furrowed in irritation.

What do you mean?

The prince stepped to the booth and his lips moved too fast for me to keep up as he talked to the female drake. Her face scrunches up at the prince’s words, glancing from the fabric to the bracelet and back. Whatever the prince was saying made her unhappy. Then she inclined her head once and held up another bit of fabric to me of an emerald, green color.

Desmond’s head twisted to me, and he tilted his chin toward it.Take it.

Face scrunching in confusion, I took the fabric offered to me and thanked the female drake. Turning to Desmond, I cocked my head to the side.What was that about?

You should be more careful out here on your own. The female was trying to cheat you. Your bracelet is far more valuable than the fabric she was offering. I simply made her give you what it was worth.

I frowned down at the fabric and then back at the female, who had turned to another customer. Then lifted my head to Desmond with a small smile. “Thank you.”

Desmond shook his head, the auburn color of his hair a deeper shade than his brothers, though they could almost be twins if not for the way Desmond’s lips twisted up into a mischievous grin, flashing a set of fangs at me.Don’t mention it. Let me walk with you.

I hesitated to accept.

I’ve had few interactions with the brother and none of them were pleasant. Why was he being nice to me now? However, I wanted to know what was in the drake’s mind and the only way to do it was to let him accompany me.

Come now, princess.Desmond teased my mind.I won’t bite unless you ask me to.

That’s what I was afraid of.

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