Page 27 of His Greatest Treasure

I sat in the medical room after Glenwise had patched me up and Mother was allowed back inside (Glenwise got very strict about who was allowed inside when he was treating patients and not even Mother questioned him when he got hisstern look). I allowed Mother to stroke my hair and tell me off for going outside alone, even though I wasallowedto go out alone and it wasn’t as though anybody had suspected that a random lunatic would shoot at a dragon inside their own territory.

She only left when I promised I would go to bed and rest, and Glenwise said he would walk me to my room to make sure I got there okay.

Mother hurried away to talk to Father. I could see the bond with Morgan practically pulling her in that direction. I wasn’t sure whether to be sorry for Morgan that he was about to be Mothered because something happened to me, or whether to be glad that he would be coming home.

If I were being selfish, I’d be glad. It’s just that Morgan had started to enjoy himself out there. He felt safe and I wanted him to have a chance to spend time with the hot instructor he had a crush on.

As soon as Glenwise left me, I hurried out of my room and snuck down the stairs. I nearly ran into Aunt Isabella but I managed to duck away just in time because I spotted our bond rising up and hid before she turned the corner. I liked Aunt Isabella, even if she did only speak Italian because she washomesick for her birth clan. At least it meant that my Italian was excellent. I just didn’t want anyone to spot me.

I briefly thought about going outside to see Blaze, since I was doing so well at sneaking around. I didn’t, though. I crept along towards Father’s study where I could hear him talking to Mother. I wanted to know what they were going to do with Morgan so I could warn him about it before it happened.

Morgan hated surprises.

And, if they did decide to bring him home, I wanted him to have the chance to say a proper goodbye to the trainer he had a crush on.

I heard snatches of conversation. Lord Somerville’s coldly authoritative voice said, “I have been down to the borders myself and there is no sign of anybody getting across it. The shot came from outside.”

Mother asked, “How did it happen?”

“The borders are weak. I’ve put protections down and will add more tomorrow. Our Guardian has allowed the spells to deteriorate.”

“He is only one dragon. We used to havemore—”

She cut off whatever she was going to say, and Lord Somerville said, “It is the Guardian’s duty to protect the borders. I will be watching him closely from now on to ensure he is putting adequate protections down.”

“Will you continue to put your own spells down?”

“I will focus my protections around the castle.”

“Will you consider removingthat spell?”

“That is not necessary.”

“If he is in danger, he needs to be able to protect himself.”

“He is in no danger inside the castle.”

There was a moment of silence. I wasn’t sure why, until Mother said, “I’d like you to recall our son, Morgan. He should be at home.”

“He is training.”

“But if we are under threat in any way, we should have all of our clan here.”

“A weak dragon won’t be able to protect anybody. He’ll stay there until he’s learned to fight. Then he will be called home to do his duty to his clan.”

“At a time like this—”

“He’ll stay there and learnto earn his keep.”

“He’ll be more useful at home, surely, Lord Somerville?”

I noted that she added his title at the end of that sentence. She’d come dangerously close to arguing with him there, and my stomach twisted inside me. I didn’t want to think I wasworried. I mean, my father wouldn’t hurt my mother, even if she was disrespectful.

I did creep closer to his office door, though. Just in case. Something in me pushed to be closer to them, to protect what was mine. I couldn’t leave my own mother in danger.

I was so caught up in the sudden jolt of worry that I nearly missed what he said next.

“Morgan will be more use to the clan when I’ve got him mated to an ally.”

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