Page 72 of His Greatest Treasure

“You- you know about that?”

“Our bond has changed.”

Looking down, I saw the strong golden bond between us. I followed her gaze as she took in all the bonds in the room, saw her follow my bright, beautiful bond all the way to Blaze, and then she looked me in the eyes and smiled.

My mouth responded before the rest of me could decide whether that was a good idea. It would have been nice if my dragon could have sorted that out for me and stopped me being such a blabbermouth.

“This is Blaze, Great Aunt Evangeline. He’s a fire spirit and he’s my- my favourite person.”

The old woman smiled and there was joy and pity in that smile.

“Am I to understand that Blaze Fire has been granted permission to stay in Somerville territory?”

“Yes.”

She turned her attention to my mother. She looked, and I saw their bond flicker, though I wasn’t sure why. If I had to guess, I’d say that Great Aunt Evangeline was reading my mother the way I’d read Blaze through our bond.

She looked at Aunt Silvia. “Take her upstairs. She needs to rest.”

As Aunt Silvia obeyed, I saw Mother start to sag against her as though she’d just drank a sleeping potion, already falling asleep as she walked.

Then Great Aunt Evangeline turned to Blaze.

“Welcome, Blaze Fire.”

Inside me, my dragon made a weird, growly sound. I didn’t know why, so I ignored it.

“Have you shown him our territory?”

I shook my head. “He’s been—” I stopped myself before I could say ‘hiding’. That didn’t give a very positive impression, and I didn’t want Great Aunt Evangeline to look down on Blaze. Finally I said, “Outside. Blaze has been outside.”

She gave a gracious nod, and I felt somehow that this was a formal occasion, a ceremony as Blaze waswelcomed into the family. If Great Aunt Evangeline liked him, he must be welcome, right? And Father had said he could stay.

I grinned and looked at Blaze.

“Do you want to see the rest of the castle?”

He nodded and I dragged him out of the grand hall and down the corridor.

Chapter 30

Blaze

“Can we go and see your cook, Mrs. Wilson?”

Alfie beamed at me in a way that made me think he was pleased I’d remembered her name. Of course I remembered. She made the best food I’d ever tasted. And Alfie talked about her a lot, even if he didn’t realise he was doing it.

It was strange to me that he never said the sprites were his clan, but it was obvious that they were. They lived on their land and worked in their castle, and it was their elder’s protections which kept them safe.

I was going to ask them about it one day. Not today, though. I didn’t think they’d like me prying straight away.

Instead, I went down to the kitchen and looked around me. I was just as hungry again.

Mrs. Wilson was a short, plump woman and she looked at me with assessing eyes before saying, “Ah, you’re the one who’s been living in the woods, are you?”

“Yes, I am. Thank you for sending me so much delicious food.”

She smiled. “You’re welcome. I take it Lord Somerville has allowed you to stay?”

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