Page 26 of Monsters In Her Head

Hoping this was one of those times they were all busy, I rounded the corner and found the hot spring occupied by my very own handmaiden and... Desmond?

I blinked, not believing what I was seeing. They weren’t bathing or even doing anything unsavory that I’d need to wash my eyes out. In fact, I didn’t know what they were doing.

Aryn sat across from Desmond on the ground just off to the side of the hot spring. The handmaiden had the drake prince’s hands in hers, moving them into a certain position before shifting them to another. Desmond watched with keen interest, memorizing every movement, his tail tapping against the ground behind him like a happy dog.

Too far away to read her lips, I couldn’t understand what Aryn was telling him or Desmond’s response. They continued the hand movements for a few more minutes before I realized it.

That traitorous bitch was teaching them to sign!

No longer feeling the need to hide, I stepped out and into the hot spring. Desmond noticed me first even though his back was to me. Turning around, he smiled at me and greeted me with his hands. “Hello, how are you?”

I bared my teeth at him, pouring all my anger and frustration into my glare. Then I signed several things I knew he wouldn’t know for sure but would be blatantly obvious that I was mad at him.

Aryn gaped at my hands, jumping to her feet and grabbing my hands. Shaking her head at me, she twisted her head around and said something to Desmond before giving me a disapproving look.

“Upset or not.” Aryn signed to me, impatience clear in her movements. “There is no need for such language. If you are upset with me, then you need to tell me, not to take it out on the prince who only wanted to make you feel more at home.”

I stared at her hands and then to her face before glancing shyly over at Desmond who watched our exchange with great interest. Had he really been trying to learn sign language, so I’d feel more comfortable?

“How do I know they aren’t learning it to spy on us?” I signed back to Aryn with a frown.

Aryn smiled and gestured to Desmond to come over to us. Signing slowly so he could keep up, Aryn said, “Tell her what you told me.”

Desmond paused.

I could practically see the wheels turning in his head as he thought of how to respond. I had to admit I was curious to see how far along they had gotten in their lessons. How had I not known they were working on this? Did the others know how to sign as well now? A part of me was happy and irritated by that prospect.

Desmond moved his hands, his signs unsure and sloppy but clear enough I could understand him. “We want you to feel at home here. We want you to be able to stand up for yourself.” He paused once more, glancing at Aryn. She nodded her encouragement. “Like at the market.”

My cheeks warmed at his words, not knowing what to say. No one had bothered to learn for my benefit. They learned at the palace because I was the princess and they had to. Aryn learned because it was part of her job. My father learned because what other choice did he have? These drakes had no reason to learn my language other than to use it against me or... if what Desmond is saying is true, to make me feel more at home.

At a loss for words, I did the only thing I could. I pressed my fingers to my lips and pushed them toward him. “Thank you.”

Chapter 15

Desmond

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