Page 46 of Dragon Unleashed
Chapter13
Paige
By lunch, Morris has flashed enough charming smiles at me that his dimples have dimmed. I’m beginning to wonder what sort of world he comes from that he’s so very clearly hitting on a girl half his age. But, at least, he seems content to waste away hours in the alchemy section, which means I have plenty of time to do my own research under the pretense of helping him with his.
Pouring over dusty tomes that haven’t been cracked in ages, I look for a spell that will send Aries home. Even if the idea of doing so eats away at me.
There's nothing specifically related to opening portals, or at least not in a way that will break through the Athenaeum’s massive defenses against it. From the sounds of it, the only way to conjure the portal we need is with the help of a keeper.
That means my only real option is sweet-talking either Blossom or Mag into doing me a favor so huge it could very well get us all thrown out and our memories wiped clean. If Hoc doesn’t kill Aries first.
Either way, I can’t imagine Blossom agreeing to help. Friendship or not, she hates her role here and refuses to do anything that might jeopardize her release.
Mag is too mysterious for me to assume anything. Although, he does owe me for covering for him the other night. And, this really is all his fault when you boil it down.
Had he not left me in charge, I never would have accidentally released the king of all dragons.
Even as Iconsidergoing to him, I hate myself for playing the blame game. This is one hundred percent a Paige fuck up. I mean, seriously, screwing shit up might as well be my calling card.
You need the world turned upside down? Give Paige a call! She can do it in ten minutes or less, or you get your money back!
Ugh. Now I’m annoying myself.
Morris passes on the offer to join me in the visitor’s lounge for a quick meal, and secretly, I’m relieved. An hour away from his wide smiles and not-so-subtle winks sounds nice.
The pain in my side is a dull reminder of last night, and the ‘better than Folgers’ way I woke up this morning. I reach up and rub it—then freeze when I see Blossom headed straight for me.
“You okay?” Blossom asks, frowning as I attempt to walk by her without grimacing.
“All good,” I say.
“You sure? You look...pained.”
“I fell in the damned shower,” I admit quietly, and she just grins.
“Did you break a hip, old lady?”
“Very funny. I’m going to lunch.”
“He’s not done yet?” she asks, nodding at where Morris still prowls the stacks in search of his next resource.
“No, and he turned down lunch. He’s apparently really dedicated to this mission of his.”
She frowns. “See you in an hour.” She glances past me to Morris and adds, “Don’t be late. Dude gives me perv vibes.”
Honestly, I can’t disagree. Though I do find it humorous that a blade-wielding unicorn shifter such as herself is creeped out by anyone at all.
Mag walks out of the break room just as I start to walk in.
“Hey,” I say, stepping back so we don’t collide.
He glowers. “What?”
“Whoa, why are you looking at me like I ran over your puppy?”
He glances around and then says in a low voice, “Your near-miss the other night was the first strike in a string of issues. Hoc is breathing down my fucking neck.”
“Near miss?” I swallow hard, pretending like his words don’t cause me panic. “I told you, a wyvern got sassy, and I put it in its place. That was it.”
