Page 76 of Love's a Witch
But instead of incinerating the wee pup, the dragon bumped its head against Blue’s, sending the wee emberwolf spiraling into the air. Blue promptly righted himself and barked excitedly, looking eagerly between Sloane and the dragon.
“I think he wants to play,” Sloane said. Her mouth gaped open, and fine tremors ran through her body.
Turning, I held my hands in the air and released the dragon from the reins.
“Just a quick one,” I warned the dragon. “The tourists have already seen too much. Keep it low if you can.”
The dragon bowed its head, and Blue bounded over to Sloane.
“Yes, but be careful. He can light you on fire.”
Blue eagerly took off in his fat bumblebee air waddle, doing his best to quickly reach the dragon who had soared into the air. They tumbled around each other, Blue barking ecstatically.
“Why does the littlest dog in the park need to befriend the biggest?” Sloane murmured, her hand at her heart. “It’s terrifying.”
“Looks like Blue’s the one in charge here,” I pointed out, as the dragon followed Blue at a demure pace, allowing the wee emberwolf to bark and wheel erratically through the air, terrorizing a couple of birds out of the trees. Blue gave chase, and the dragon followed, happy to have a game on.
Sloane shivered, and I drew her close, wrapping an arm around her.
“Care to tell me what happened here?” I bit out, not even wanting to think about what other catastrophes were in store for me so long as Sloane’s magick kept misfiring.
“You warned me… about erratic moods and magick. That”—Sloane nodded toward the dragon, who was looking over its tail midair, waiting for Blue to give chase—“is our car.”
“Right. That’s…interesting.” And an entirely different type of alchemy. Sloane may be new to her powers, but she certainlywasn’t weak. Turning a car into a sentient being was advanced magick, the type that took years to learn, and she’d done it while distracted. But since her teeth chattered, and her body shook with adrenaline next to mine, I figured now likely wasn’t the best time to discuss such matters.
“And terrifying. Like… I just can’t. I can’t.” The shaking increased, and I decided it was time to get her inside. Particularly because the snowstorm was now reaching blizzard-like conditions. Giving a sharp whistle, I motioned for the dragon to return, with Blue at his side.
“Blue, want to come meet some new friends?” Blue gave the dragon one last head bump, and then flung himself into the arms of Sloane, who caught him with a soft grunt.
“There’s a large outbuilding around back,” I told the dragon who eyed me balefully. “Big enough for you to cozy up in some hay if you want a dry spot from the storm. I’ll instruct that food be brought out. If that suits?” You always walked a fine line with dragons. You wanted to show you were in command, but at the same time, it was only because they allowed you to have it. Respect was the most important piece of the relationship. When he bowed his head to me, I knew he was happy with the offering. Without another glance, he took off, his large wings spiraling snow into our faces, and I bundled Sloane toward the front door. Henry stood, blanket in hand, and immediately wrapped it around Sloane and Blue as we stepped over the threshold.
“Thank you, Henry.” Sloane’s voice was muffled under the blanket, and I flipped a corner down so she could see. Blue peeked his head up, and his grin widened when he caught sight of Haggis barreling into the front hall.
“Blue, this is Haggis.”
Play?Haggis looked at me.
“If he wants to.” I grinned at where Blue scrabbled at Sloane’s arms, wanting to be released, and she let him go. He flitted into the air, and Henry gasped.
“I haven’t seen an emberwolf since you were a lad,” Henry said, his eyes glowing with excitement.
“Pretty great, isn’t he?” Blue dropped to the floor, and Haggis wheeled forward, sniffing him.
Blue looked at Sloane.
“His back legs don’t work. The wheels help him get around. No flying, though. At least I don’t think so?” Sloane glanced at me, and I nodded.
“No flying, but Haggis is great on his wheels. You two have fun.”
Oswald strolled into the foyer, languid as could be, until he caught scent of Blue.
Blue froze.
“Blue,” Sloane warned.
Oswald’s back went up.
Blue gave us such a cheeky grin that I had to laugh, and then he took off after Oswald, Haggis happily joining the chase.
