Page 74 of His Greatest Treasure

Given what I knew of Lord Somerville, I thought it was unlikely that he’d take back a dragon he had banished. But then Alfie knew that better than I did. I’d learned it from him, after all.

We were just walking out of the medical room – leaving all the equipment untouched – when Alfie startled and looked to the end of the corridor. I paused and followed his gaze and, sure enough, one of his bonds must have been telling him something because Lord Somerville rounded the corner, looking angry and cold.

“Alphonse, what is the meaning of this?”

“What do you mean, Father?”

“I told the fire spirit to stay in the grand hall, where he could be watched.”

“Oh. Did you? I didn’t realise. I- I mean, I thought you said he could stay in the castle. I was showing him round.”

I hated that his father made Alfie sound so unsure. He always stuttered and hesitated more when he was intimidated or uncertain. I didn’t mind him talking and talking because that was who he was, and I loved him, loved every part of him. But I knew he felt silly and small every time he did it, and I hated it for that reason.

Lord Somerville drew himself up and glared down at me. I was much smaller than he was, and I suddenly realised that he and Alfie were the same size. Alfie had grown in the past year, and I hadn’t even noticed as it happened.

“I will escort the fire spirit to his room and ensure he is secure.”

“Can- can I come?” asked Alfie.

“No. You will go to your own room. Tomorrow morning, you will start work learning how to use your powers to protect our territory. There are significant weaknesses that need addressing.”

I kept quiet. I didn’t dare to point out that I’d told him that already. That maybe he owed me some thanks for saving his defences from the hag’s nasty spells. That maybe he should show more respect to Alfie, since he wanted to use the power of the golden dragon for his own benefit. It seemed to me that the least Lord Somerville could do was to say ‘please’.

He didn’t.

He grabbed my arm and marched off. I recoiled from his touch and the chilling cold of it. It felt the hag’s grip all over again, though not quite as bad. Her grip on my wick had been excruciating, andLord Somerville was only hurting my arm, not the core of me.

I twisted round to say goodbye to Alfie, and saw him standing there, shaking.

“Good night,” I said, and tried to sound as cheerful as I could. I hated to leave my darling but if being locked up for the night would mean I got to stay in the territory, I’d take it.

I wasn’t sure whether Lord Somerville would take me to the dungeons or something, but he didn’t. He took me up and up, to one of the highest rooms. He must have known that I couldn’t fly or climb. I was fire, but I needed solid ground beneath me. Once he locked me inside the bedroom, I couldn’t get out except through the door.

The first thing he did was to lock the door, and then I felt the barbed-wire spells being layered over it. There was no way I’d get out again without him opening that door for me, not unless I wanted to be cut to ribbons by those spells.

So I stood in my new room and looked around me. It was a large room, easily more beautiful than any room I’d ever been in before. It seemed a little bare, as though some of the furniture was missing.

And it was cold. There was a draft coming from the window.

I wandered round, pointlessly touching things, not sure how I felt.

Alfie was a golden dragon. That was… way beyond anything I’d considered before. He would inherit his father’s title in time and I was sure that he’d do great things.

I just didn’t know where that left me.

It was clear that his father didn’t trust me. On the other hand, he’d let me stay. Maybe I’d get to stay in the castle and work my magic for the Somervilles and I’d get to see Alfie every day.

That seemed both wonderful and yet, somehow, so depressing.

Considering I’d spent months wishing to get into the castle, wishing Alfie’s family knew about me, now that I was here I found myself longing for the way it had been before, when it was just me and him and I knew he’d come and see me every day and snuggle against me and take my mouth with his.

I found my thoughts scattering and, as always when I got overwhelmed, I wanted to flicker into my flame form and just burn. That way I wouldn’t need to think. I went to the hearth, but it was coldand damp and there wasn’t anything in the room I could burn except the expensive-looking dresser. I didn’t dare to.

So I had to stay in my human form.

I pulled back the sheets, which smelled a bit musty, and crawled between them. I lay like that for minutes, listening to the sounds of the castle around me. I was sure I could hear talking in the distance but it was so faint I couldn’t hope to tell who it was, let alone what they were saying. I heard footsteps, briefly, and I heard doors closing. Each one shut with a final-sounding click.

Then I heard a snort.

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